Friday, December 01, 2006

Contents 2006 (2)

One Communist Party, One Congress Party, Total Two Parties
िफर से कह दो एक बार इन्िकलाब
The Idea Of One Communist Party In Nepal
पहाडी मधेशी दंगा, मधेशी जनजाित गठबंधन, र िनर्णायक, अिहंसात्मक अन्ितम अान्दोलनको खाँचो
सद्भावना रोडम्याप
नेपालमा दमजम अान्दोलनको अावश्यकता
Hamro Nepal: 50 Members
नेपालमा संसारको नम्बर एक लोकतन्त्रको स्थापना हुन सक्छ
Moriarty Should Take His Offer Directly To The Bhutani Refugees
Brian Cobb: An Illusion Of Peace
ICG Report: Making Peace Work In Nepal
SEBS Online Forum: Hate Speech On Madhesi Issue
Hisila Yami For President
राजतन्त्र, बाहुनवाद र भर्ष्टाचार समाप्त पारौं
राजतन्त्र, बाहुनवाद र भर्ष्टाचार समाप्त पारौं
Nepali Convention: Calling It Off
Devendra Raj Panday, Sunday, December 10, 7 PM, Satya Narayan Mandir
Transparent Party Finances: A Must In Interim Constitution
Interim Speaker: Chitra Lekha Yadav
National Anthem
Nepali Organizations In New York City
Management Of Arms And Armies Accord
Tackling Bahunbaad
Tek Nath Rizal And The Bhutani Hostage Crisis
Some Of The Latest Videos
Peace
Nabin Bhattarai
प्रस्तािवत संिवधान
Prachanda's Shiva Sena
If Congress Does Not Go For Republic, Left Front Will Win
वीपी र िगिरजाको कहानी
Proposed Constitution
Defense And Home Stay With The Congress
Kul Chandra Gautam: Message From Gulmi
ANONYC: Proposed Constitution
September 23 Helicopter Crash Memorial Service
Why Prachanda Wants Girija To Lead The Interim Government
The Virus Of The April Revolution
Nepali Congress Needs A Convention
Language Policy And University Of Pennsylvania
Kul Chandra Gautam: Home Trip
Nepali Mandir Meeting
Madhesi Movement: Online Resources
Human Rights Community Memo To Eight Parties
The 1950 Treaty
Madhu Acharya Of Asia Calling: The Need For A Truth Commission
50-50, 30-30-30-10
िगिरजा, माधव, प्रचण्ड सब एक जैसे हैं
Breakthrough
UML Regression On The Madhesi Question
The Maoists And The Mafia
Playing Hardball With The Maoists: Negotiating From A Position Of Strength
Langhali Association: Govind Thapa Magar
Dinesh Tripathi In Austin
Solve The Bhutani Refugee Crisis: Send Them West
Federalism: Four Layers Or Three Layers
Girija: A Ceremonial Monarch Wannabe
BK Rana: Paper On Kusundas
March And Rally For Full Immigrant Rights
Hamro Nepal Constitution
Maoist Transformation From Parallel State To Political Party: An Essential Precondition
Seven Party Delegation
Rename The Mahendra Highway After BP Koirala
Email To All Madhesis From Rajendra Mahto
Summit Talks And Obstinate Congressias
Summit Talks And Maoist Nonsense
Summit Talks: Four Heads Talking
Mero Sansar Videos
Televise The Summit Talks
The Summit Talks Will Succeed
Loktantrik Madhesi Samaj: Corrections To Interim Constitution
ANONYC: Association of Nepali Organizations in New York City
Pramukh Dar
Bye Bye Biplav
Nepali Faces 3
Don't Drag Your Feet: Not A Chicken Egg Situation
Nepal: Maps
DaMaJaMa Coalition: The Morcha Concept
Biplav's Satya Narayan Pooja
Nepali Convention Leadership Weekly Meeting
Interim Parliament: 300 Sounds Fine
The Revolutionary Parliament Should Bring Forth An Interim Judiciary
The KP Oli Event
Phirangee 2
Peace Roadmap: An Appeal To The Leadership Of The Eight Parties
CSC: Arms Management: A Part Of Politics
Raj Pandey: Poverty Report
KP Oli, September 24
BK Rana: Death Of A Democracy
Madhesi Rights
Peace Talks
Three Emerging Poles
If The Monarch Gets Restive, Dump Him Now
Anti Musharraf Rally
Sushil Koirala 2
Nepali Faces 2
Kamala Prasain Picnic
Sushil Koirala
Janajati, Madhesi: Too Vague, Dalit: Not Assertive Enough
Nepal In 2006 Is Not Russia In 1917
Parallel Governments Of Maoists And Moriarty
Conflict Study Center
Rajendra Mahto: नागरिकता विधेयक खोतल्दा
Phirangee
Baburam Bhattarai On The Impending Peace Talks
October 1: Sonam Sherpa Event: Movie
Nepali Convention: Management
Public Scholarships In Private Schools
Hands Off The Madhesi Activists
Girija Prachanda Brinkmanship
Neelam
Nepali Convention 2007: Venue Options: Flushing
Nepali Faces 1
Sushil Koirala In Jackson Heights
ANTA NYC Gathering In Prospect Park
No To Royal Dictatorship, No To Maoist Dictatorship
Bindeshwar Yadav: Restructuring Of The State
Arguing With The Maoists
Need To Revive The 12 Point Agreement Spirit
Citizenship Acquiring Process Eased
Sushil Koirala, September 9
The Maoists Have A Right To Peaceful Assembly, Peacefully Protest
Nepali Convention 2007 Shifted To Last Weekend In May
Deciding Now On Monarchy And Army
Bindeshwar Prasad Yadav: Prachanda On Madhesi
Sumit Pokharel: Maps
All Members To The Constituent Assembly Must Be Directly Elected
Prachanda, Madhav, Devendra
100,000 Maoist Militia Must Disarm
50-30-10-10: Four Layers Of Government
Dalit Diaspora Calls For 20 Percent Reservation
China
Media Can Distort Democracy
Google Books: Nepal
Hamas, Hezbollah, Maoist
How To Avoid An October Revolution
Janadesh: Rumblings Of An October Revolution?
Madhesi Self Hate
Hari Bansh Jha: Inclusion Of The Excluded Madhesis
Arms Management, Money Management
Voting Rights For Immigrants In New York City
How To Conduct A Meeting
Reform Is Hard To Push Through
Time For A New Nepali Congress
Madhesi Mahila (MaMa) Gathering In Ridgewood, NY
Teej Photos 5
Teej Photos 4
Teej Photos 3
Teej Photos 2
Teej Photos 1
Prachanda: Not In Tune With The April Revolution
नेपालको अन्तरिम संविधान
Critiquing The Interim Constitution
Text Of The Interim Constitution
Prachanda: Frank Or Scary?
Interim Federalism
Between The Maoists And The Congress
Hridayesh Tripathy's August Revolution
April Convention Venue Options 1
April Convention Market Research 1
Interim Parliament: 101 Members Total
Interim Bureaucracy
Bindeshwar Prasad Yadav: Human Rights For Half Of Nepal
1000 House Parties
Nepali Convention: Venue Options, Website, Core 200
Shobhakar Budhathoki: Imperatives Of Effective DDR
Community Center Idea: A Few Options
Shailesh Shrestha Recognized
My Work In The Ideas Department Is Complete
Gurung Not Katawal For Army Chief
Bindeshwar Prasad Yadav: Is Madhes A Colony?
Nepali Community Center
Who Will Tie The Bell Round The Cat's Neck
Language Policy
5 Weeks, 4 Weeks
Alliance, GFIPN: Audio, Video
Global Federation Of Indigenous People Of Nepal
Alliance Picnic 2
Alliance Picnic
The Next Revolution Will Be At The Ballot Box
Political Synthesis Nepali Style
Business Ideas
Janakpur Gherao
Indigenous People Kathmandu Declaration
Masterful Political Work: Compromise Takes Guts
Federal Republic Guaranteed
Mainstream Jay Krishna Goit Also
Memo For Transparency In Interrogations
Dr. Ram Prakash Yadav: Facts And Figures On Madhesi Marginalization
Mahendra Lawoti: Constituent Assembly
NIPF: Talk Program In Boston
Brikhesh Chandra Lal: Inclusive Democracy
Arms Management: Break It Down Into Smaller Pieces
Chandra Prakash Sharma 2
Chandra Prakash Sharma
Madhesi Caucus In Interim Parliament Needed
Nepal Vista Site Of The Month
UML Thoughts On Interim Constitution
Paying For Democracy
Hindi Is At The Core Of The Madhesi Identity
The UML Can Break The Deadlock
Critiquing The Nepali Congress Proposed Constitution
नेपाली कांग्रेसको संविधान मस्यौदा
April Convention: Creating A Glowing Core
Critiquing The Maoist Proposed Constitution
माओवादीको संविधान मस्यौदा
Critiquing Pitambar Sharma's Federalism
Baburam Bhattarai, Janadesh Article
What Is The SPA Report On The Maoists?
Fire Some Generals
Micro Investment
April Convention: Emerging Picture
Pitambar Sharma's Federalism
Girija, Resign
Interim Monarchy, Interim Army, Interim Parliament
Hridayesh
Chicago Convention September 2-4
Stop Arresting The Disabled
April Revolution, April Convention

Contents 2006
Contents 2005
Audio Video Archive

Interim Speaker: Chitra Lekha Yadav

Interim Speaker: Chitra Lekha Yadav

Chitralekha Yadav: Speaker

Chitra Lekha Yadav was good enough to be Speaker during the long months of the democracy movement, but not after. That was wrong. Now is the time to make up for it. I am glad a Janajati person served, but now is the time of the backward caste Terai woman.

These symbolisms matter.

Everything else was decided by the House on consensus. But a vote was threatened on the Speaker issue. That was wrong. Let's make up for it now.

Republic Now

I am alarmed with reports the king has become politically active again. He has been busy holding meetings. The guy does not get it, does he?

The choice during the constituent assembly was to be between a strictly ceremonial monarch and a republic. But this guy does not get the concept. He does not seem to understand he may not hold political meetings.

If he tries to influence the election in any way at all, he should be shown the door right away. The interim parliament may declare the country a republic through eight party consensus.

The people should not have to struggle with the monarchy question during the elections to the constituent assembly. If we declare the country a republic right away, that will be good. Otherwise the monachy as an issue will be a diversion to the real issues of the people, primarily to do with state restructuring.

Okay If The Two Congress Factions Stay Separate

Girija is almost always the last to come to the table. Look at the republic question. The people are ahead of his cadres and leaders. And he is behind them all.

It might be healthy for democracy in the country if the two Congress factions stay separate. You can have one large, unified party with two internal factions, or you can have two separate parties. It is cleaner to have two separate parties.

The Congress acted like it were two parties for much of the 1990s. That is nobody's fault. When the largest party is too much larger than the second largest party, part of it becomes its own opposition.

So I do not see the two factions coming together. Actually the whole farcical unification talk by Girija might be his way to make sure Deuba does not spend too much time expanding his organization on the ground.

Congress (D) Can Grow Fast

It is not a given that the Nepali Congress will stay larger than its rival faction. If the Congress (D) can take the lead on the idea of a federal republic, it might grow fast. Even a party like the Nepali Congress perhaps has 100,000 members in a country of 27 million. That is a drop in the ocean. Voter loyalty can shift fast.

Congress (I) used to rule in Bihar. And then it got pretty much wiped out.

Bahunbaad Hampering UML Growth

The UML would have been in a much better position, but I don't think it is capable of shedding its overwhelmingly Bahun composition at the top.

What Shape The Constituent Assembly

205 seats by direct elections, and roughly another 200 through proportional representation.

One scenario could be a reflection of what we have. Congress 73, Maoist 73, UML 68, Congress (D) 40, and the rest to others among the 205, and Congress 60, Maoist 55, UML, 50, Congress (D) 35, and the rest to others.

You are looking at an all party government again, or a government run by the majority coalition. If somehow the Maoists were to emerge the largest party, it would be hard to argue how Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal may not become Nepal's first president. I love the idea of Nepal's first president being Janajati.

On the other hand, the Congress, UML and the Congress (D) could always gang up and show the Maoists they do not have the numbers. That polarization might rob the Maoists of the presidency, but that will give them a huge boost for the subsequent parliamentary and presidential elections.

Maoists: Largest Party?

That is extremely possible. A scenario where the two Congress factions do not unite, and where the Maoists send a whole bunch of women and ethnics into the interim parliament is like a Space Shuttle about to take off. I am surprised though that they are ceding ground to the Congress parties and to the UML in the Terai. What about Madhesi representation?

Maybe their strategy is to consolidate parts of the country where they are strong. They are not seeking to expand right away, and hence the Madhesi blindspot. If I were the Maoists, I would not write off the Terai so easily.

I would advise the Maoists to work towards acceptance by other parties should they emerge the largest party. If they emerge the largest party, and the other three big cats gang up against them, I would consider that a failure on the part of the Maoist leadership.

They should be able to get hold of the UML easy, by creating a Left Front of sorts. And they should be able to exploit the animus between the two Congress factions. This is not an ideological struggle. This is just plain bad blood and hence easier to exploit.

I guess I like the idea of seeing a Janajati president. The heck with the Bahuns.

Tackling Bahunbaad
Prachanda's Shiva Sena
If Congress Does Not Go For Republic, Left Front Will Win
Why Prachanda Wants Girija To Lead The Interim Government

In The News

India ready to assist Nepal’s effort to peace, democracy and development: Menon NepalNews
Koirala, Prachanda ask their student unions to stop muscle-flexing
House probe committee finds NA Colonel guilty of killing a UML MP
Moriarty says Maoists not committed to agreement
Senior official reveals India has proposed Comprehensive Economic Agreement
Senior Maoist leaders call for 'broader republican front'
Conspiracies on to hamper CA polls: UML general Secy. big willful bank defaulters are being protected by political leaders and high level judicial officials. ..... governor of Nepal Rastra Bank Bijay Nath Bhattarai complained on the lack of support by the government and the court to take actions against the willful defaulters
World HIV/AIDS Day: Voices of people with HIV/AIDS remained unheard
Judges to get security
No let up in Maoist excesses: Report A group of local landowners, supported by Maoist cadres at Bankatiya of Banke Wednesday looted paddy from around 150 farmers of the district .... In Ilam, Maoists continue to collect "donations" from teachers of several schools in the district.
HoR can declare Nepal a republic: Speaker Nemwang Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR), Subash Chandra Nemwang has said that the HoR can declare the state a republic if the eight political parties wish so ..... the current House of Representatives, which is revolutionary in nature, can announce establishment of a republican set up Attack on SC justice Giri Gupta said he had lost a case in the Supreme Court regarding a dispute with a tenant and wanted to pressure the judges to resign.

Rights group urges Nepal justice BBC News, UK
Indo-Nepal ties to change after Menon's visit Times of India, India
UN council backs quick help for Nepal peace deal Reuters AlertNet, UK
Nepal interim government delayed, but no snags seen Reuters AlertNet, UK
Nepal finalizes new national anthem People's Daily Online, China
Top Nepal Maoists freed Hindustan Times, India
Measuring how clean water improves health in Nepal Kansas City Star, MO
19 Percent Infected With HIV In Nepal Are Housewives