Tuesday, May 29, 2007

India Is Wrong On Bhutan


One refugee killed as Indian police open fire; Home Ministry urges restraint NepalNews Indian police opened fire to prevent them from crossing Mechi bridge ...... at least 100 Bhutanese refugees were injured when Indian police used force to prevent them from crossing the Mechi Bridge on the Nepal-Indian border on the second day of their 'Long March' to Bhutan.
Indian police impede refugees' "Long March" The refugees staged sit-in at the bridge after they were stopped by Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) of India. India deployed a huge contingent of SSB to prevent refugees from crossing into India.

2007: The Year Of The Revolution In Bhutan
Bravo Moriarty
Moriarty Should Take His Offer Directly To The Bhutani Refugees
Tek Nath Rizal And The Bhutani Hostage Crisis
Solve The Bhutani Refugee Crisis: Send Them West

People from Nepal do not need paperwork to go into India. I would think the same is true for Bhutan. People from Bhutan can come into India, and from there they can go into Nepal.

I think the democracy activists in the Bhutani refugee camps have to get smart and not rely solely on being confrontational.

Democrats in West Bengal and Bihar should come to the rescue. Forget the Mechi bridge. Get out of Nepal any way you can, go into India, from there go over to Bhutan. It makes no sense to think of the Mechi bridge as the only way out of Nepal.

But the whole deal has to be thought through. Much logistics come into play.

What is the idea? You get 100,000 plus Bhutanis out of the refugee camps in Nepal into India. From there you get them into Bhutan. In Bhutan they engineer a replay of Nepal's April Revolution and shut the country completely down unless an all party government is formed to hold constituent assembly elections in Bhutan. The gameplan has to be something like that. The Nepalis already inside Bhutan have to be organized for the purpose.

It would make no sense to not think this thing through completely. Think all steps. Otherwise you just end up getting stuck at the Mechi bridge. Or you end up with tens of thousands of Bhutanis stranded in India. Or you end up with a demoralized population inside Bhutan.

En route to Bhutan, people are going to have to eat. Funds have to be raised to that effect. Indian democracy activists and human rights organizations must come to the rescue.

Shame on the government of India.

India's mishandling Bhutan is the reason why there is so much unrest in India's northeast. Delhi disrespects the sentiments in the northeast. Its fundamentally undemocratic attitude towards Bhutan shows why India is not a global power like it deserves to be. Delhi showers unconditional love on a dictator king because he agrees to be a semi-colony of India. That is not forward thinking.

Indian politicians like Chandrashekhar and VP Singh have to come out for Bhutan like they came out for Nepal.

Major Indian Support For Democracy In Nepal (February 28, 2005)

How the Indian establishment acts towards the democracy movement in Bhutan will tell us if or not India will become a global superpower any time soon. It is India more than America that is better positioned to spread democracy across the Arab world. Exporting democracy has to become a major pillar of India's foreign policy.

Al Qaeda Strikes India, Wants Hindu-Muslim Riots

Democracy comes from inside the human heart. It does not come from America. The Buddhist republics thousands of years ago were the earliest democracies ever on the planet. Buddhism and monarchy do not go together.

The ethnic Nepali Bhutani democracy activists and leaders have to be resigned to the fact that the future president of Bhutan will likely not be one of them. They are 10-20% of the population. Democracy has to be more than a tool for ethnic rights for the ethnic Nepalis. Democracy has to be presented as the need for all Bhutanis.

After Bhutan, Burma is next.

In The News

Bhutan again votes for tradition as mock poll ends Reuters India, India
Bhutan holds second mock elections in presence of Indian observers DailyIndia.com
As Bhutan holds trial-run election, refugees demand to return home Globe and Mail The mock election, which began a month ago with four dummy parties running on imaginary manifestos, boiled down to a straight fight between the Druk (Thunder Dragon) Yellow Party and the Druk Red Party. ...... The Yellow Party stands for the preservation of tradition and values while the Red Party advocates industrial development. ..... The gate at the Indian end of the bridge was closed as troops sealed the border and stepped up security. ..... 17 years after being expelled for protesting against discrimination and in favour of democracy. ..... Thinley Penjore, leader of the exiled Druk National Congress, a party of refugees ...... In Bhutan, the ethnic Nepalese who stayed face widespread discrimination and have to obtain security clearances for jobs and places in schools for their children ...... Thousands have been barred from voting ...... a threat of bomb attacks by the Bhutan Tiger Force, the militant wing of the Bhutan Communist Party, a Maoist rebel group born in the camps in Nepal in 2003. ........ "The elections are anything but fair, and Bhutan will see more trouble as the refugees attempt a comeback seriously," said Laxman Rai of the Human Rights Organization of Bhutan.
HAD IT NOT BEEN INDIA, THE REFUGEES WOULD NOT HAVE LANDED IN NEPAL Telegraphnepal.com, Nepal
Curfew in Bhutan refugee camp as tension escalates NewKerala.com
UCAN: Bhutan’s only Buddhist convert yearns to bring Catholicism ... Catholic Online, CA
Shakira rocks Bhutan, as Shangri-la embraces modernity NewKerala.com, India
Shakira rocks Bhutan, as Shangri-la embraces modernity Malaysia Sun
Shakira Rocks Bhutan, As Shangri-la Embraces Modernity NEWSPost India
Bhutan's royal astrologers plan for 2008 elections NewKerala.com, India
Bhutan : Situation Of Ethnic Nepalis Gorkhapatra, Nepal
Bhutan votes in election dummy run Aljazeera.com, UK
Productivity slump benefits neighbours Calcutta Telegraph, India
Northeast at a glance Calcutta Telegraph
Hard currency limit raised to US $ 3000 Kuensel, Buhutan's National Newspaper, Bhutan
US unveils plan for migration of Bhutan refugees Gulf Times, Qatar

We've respected Koirala for his international image, says Dr. Bhattarai NepalNews "during daytime Baluwatar is surrounded by pro-palace elements and ambassadors" and, therefore, he said, "all decisions have to be taken at night when they are asleep."
NC constitutes task force, congress unification process starts Divided from the past five years, the unification process started after NC constituted a three-member task force to search the prospect of party unity with NC-D.
NT to launch 3G mobile services
NTA recommends full mobility to CDMA phones
Second stage verification to begin from mid-June
Another refugee dies in police firing; curfew in Beldangi; UNHCR urges restraint

YouTube

Tenzin Tsundue in NYC, March 10, 2007 Part I
Tenzin Tsundue in NYC, March 10, 2007 Part II
Tenzin Tsundue in NYC, March 10, 2007 Part III

Tenzin Tsundue Talk 03.20.2007 Part 1
Tenzin Tsundue Talk 03.20.2007 Part 2
Tenzin Tsundue Talk 03.20.2007 Part 3
Tenzin Tsundue Talk 03.20.2007 Part 4
Tenzin Tsundue Talk 03.20.2007 Part 5
Tenzin Tsundue Talk 03.20.2007 Part 6
Tenzin Tsundue Talk 03.20.2007 Part 7
Tenzin Tsundue Talk 03.20.2007 Part 8
Tenzin Tsundue Talk 03.20.2007 Part 9
Tenzin Tsundue Talk 03.20.2007 Part 10
Tenzin Tsundue Talk 03.20.2007 Part 11
Tenzin Tsundue Talk 03.20.2007 Part 12
Tenzin Tsundue Talk 03.20.2007 Part 13









Bhutan / เรื่องจริงผ่านจอ 1
Bhutan / เรื่องจริงผ่านจอ 2
Bhutan / เรื่องจริงผ่านจอ 3
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Monday, May 28, 2007

2007: The Year Of The Revolution In Bhutan


Refugees plan 'Long March' to their homeland Bhutanese refugees are planning to go on a "Long March" from Monday. ..... On the first day, 15,000 refugees – out of 106,000 – of all the seven camps will be heading towards Bhutan by crossing the Mechi bridge into India . ..... at the call of National Front for Democracy (NFD-Bhutan) ..... The local eight party leaders have decided to help the refugees by accompanying them up to the mid-point of the bridge – which separates Nepal and India. Likewise, representatives of Indian MPs and civil society will receive them at that point. The refugees plan to enter Phuntsoling town of Bhutan by walking across Jayagaon of India. ....... Balram Poudel, vice president of NFD, they are planning to make the agitation decisive ...... Indian security forces are learnt to have stepped up security in the border area and has deployed security personnel on high alert
Bravo Moriarty
Moriarty Should Take His Offer Directly To The Bhutani Refugees
Tek Nath Rizal And The Bhutani Hostage Crisis
Solve The Bhutani Refugee Crisis: Send Them West

It is high time all democratic political parties in South Asia expressed solidarity to the democracy movement in Bhutan. Looks like the Bhutani refugees are finally getting to take the lead. The solution will not come out of government level talks between Nepal and Bhutan. The regime in Bhutan is fundamentally opposed to justice and democracy. A regime that engaged in ethnic cleansing is not a regime that can be trusted.

I don't think the Indian security forces have the option to stop the refugees. The refugees, on their part, have to be ready for the eventuality, and should cross the border in human wave after human wave.

Local Indian democrats must chip in and help to the fullest.

2007 should become the year when Bhutan becomes a democratic republic. Jingme has to be ousted.

Nepal received Indian help for its democracy. Now is payback time. We have to help the Bhutanis in all ways possible. All moral and logistical help has to be provided.

This movement has to be fought the smart way. Base stations have to be established in all Indian towns by the Bhutani border. Logistical help goes a long way.

2006: Nepal
2007: Bhutan

On to a democratic republic in Bhutan.


In The News

Eight-party meet inconclusive NepalNews on the CA polls date and the issue of republic ..... the Nepali Congress, NC (Democratic) and Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi Devi) failed to put clear views on those issues. ....... the election date, electoral system and the deadlock in the interim parliament ..... differences grew on the UML’s proposal for proportional voting system. ...... separate meetings of the central working committees of the NC and the NC (D) today decided to go for mixed electoral system
UML for proportional voting system; NC, NC (D) stick to mixed system mixed voting system is the best system for representing the interests of different sections. ..... The NC also suggested the Nepali month of Mangsir (November-December) as the best time for CA polls.
Maoists, NC-D cadres clash leaves 13 injured, 2 critical At least 13 persons were injured, 2 seriously when Maoists and Nepali Congress (Democratic) activists engaged in a scuffle in Simikot, the headquarters of Humla district, Sunday following an argument in an all party meeting participated by representatives of the Maoist party and civil society, among others. ..... Maoists resorted to violence and pelted stones at the venue while the talks was in progress
MJF's report gives party clean chit in Gaur incident the March 21 Gaur incident has pointed out that the Maoist aligned Madhesi National Liberation Front (MNLF) and local administration were to blame for the carnage that took place, giving the MJF a clean sheet .... denies there were any incident of rape and that the weapons used during the incident had ‘no sharp edges’ ..... chaired by former Supreme Court judge Baliram Kunwar Singh and comprised of two other members -- Surendra Mishra and Lal Babu Yadav. ....... “An MJF programme was in full swing when cadres of the MNLF detonated bombs, explosives, and fired shots creating havoc among the programme participants. It was difficult to point out who killed whom in such a stampede,” the reports said and added “as the Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (Jwala Singh) and the Terai Cobra have already claimed responsibility for the incident, it is clear that the MJF is not guilty.”
Maoists storm RPP gathering in Parbat suddenly 50 -60 YCL cadres barged into the hotel room and started thrashing us

MJF ready to negotiate if charges are dropped against its cadres NepalNews Welcoming the decision of the cabinet to form a judicial commission to probe alleged atrocities committed during Madhes agitation, president of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) Upendra Yadav has said that he is ready to negotiate with the government if charges against MJF workers and leaders are dropped and their security guaranteed. ...... He made these remarks at Jaleshwore of Mahottari district on Saturday. ..... Yadav also accused the government of floating Chure Bhawar Ekata Samaj – which has demanded separate Chure Bhawar region within Madhes – to counter it.
Police nab three Maoist activists
YCL washes off its hand from stoning incident
Cabinet forms commission to investigate terai unrest
Interaction on the Fuel Supply

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Saturday, May 26, 2007

Proposed Constitution


Preamble
  1. Nepal is a federal republic, a total, transparent democracy, with the sovereignty resting with the Nepali people.
Article 1: The Legislative Branch
  1. There is to be a lower house, the Pratinidhi Sabha, with 300 members, and a upper house, the Rajya Sabha, with 100 members. Members of the Pratinidhi Sabha are to be directly elected through constituencies demarcated such that the largest has a population not more than 5% of the smallest, geographically in close approximation to a circle or a square, and protected from partisan gerrymandering by an autonomous Election Commission. The constituencies need to respect the state boundaries. In the Rajya Sabha each party's representation will be in direct proportion to the votes earned. Any party that earns at least 1% of the votes will be represented in the Rajya Sabha. The entire Sabha is dissolved en masse when its term nears expiration.
  2. Private and public sector media entities wanting to cover live the proceedings in the parliament may do so.
  3. For the upper house, each party submits lists of names before the election. At least every third name on the list must be female.
  4. All matters of national importance are to be decided by the national parliament through a majority vote unless otherwise stated. Parliamentary procedures are to be laid out or revised with a 60% vote margin.
  5. The legislatures are to elect their Speakers and Deputy Speakers. The legislatures shall assemble at least once every four months, and as often as necessary. The Speaker does not get to vote in the parliament.
  6. No parliamentarian may be arrested while the parliament might be in session except for felony charges. Their speech in parliament is protected from any and all oversight, legal and otherwise.
  7. A simple majority of the parliament will pass the budget. The annual budget is tabled by the President.
  8. All bills must be posted online in three languages - Nepali, Hindi and English - for at least one week before they may be voted upon.
  9. All regional and international treaties that Nepal might enter into will have to pass a 60% majority in the parliament.
  10. Political parties may not engage in fund-raising activities. Instead each national party, described as those that garnered at least 1% of the votes in the previous nationwide parliamentary elections for the upper house, will get an annual sum that will be directly proportional to the number of votes it earned. That money is to be used for party-building and electioneering activities. Details of expenses are to be posted online in the three languages to the last paisa on at least an annual basis.
  11. Tickets for all elections are distributed by parties through democratic methods involving members at or below the said level in their respective organizations.
  12. The Election Commission puts in place ceilings as to election expenditures. Independent candidates may not raise money, but may spend their own money that may not exceed the amount of the party candidate spending the most money. Once elected independent candidates may not join a national party for at least one year.
  13. A party may not charge its members more than Rs 60 a year.
  14. Every person on the state's payroll - elected officials, bureaucrats, judges, police, army personnel, teachers, health care workers - is to submit a Family Property Statement, to be posted online and archived and updated annually. Upon exiting the public sector, they may discontinue the practice, but the archives will remain, and the updates will resume should the individuals re-enter public service.
  15. Details of all expenses incurred by the state, to the last paisa, are to be posted online in the three languages. All contracts offered by the state to the private sector are to be bid for in a similar transparent manner from beginning to the end. All job applications and promotions in the public sector are to be similarly handled in a transparent manner.
  16. All formal political deliberations at all levels of government in the long run and at the state and federal levels in the short run are to be posted online in as real time as possible in the language that was used at the venue. Efforts are to be made to make the same available in Nepali, Hindi and English. All votes are to be similarly made public.
  17. Every elected official at all levels of government is to get a decent monthly salary.
  18. Anyone above the age of 18 is a legible voter. Members of the Pratinidhi Sabha will have to be at least 22 years of age, and that of the Rajya Sabha at least 25 years of age. The terms of members of the two bodies shall last four years. All elected officials are to have been citizens.
  19. Acts of impeachment require a vote of 65%. This constitution can be amended by the same vote margin.
  20. The parliamentarians may not increase their salaries in a way that might affect the members of the existing class. The same applies to the salaries of members of the cabinet.
  21. The parliament may create, merge and dissolve ministries, agencies and commissions as necessary.
Article 2: The Executive Branch
  1. The President is directly elected by the people. If a candidate not earn 50% of the votes, a second round is to be held within a month of the first when the two top candidates contest. The President serves a five year term.
  2. A candidate has to be a citizen and at least 30 years of age.
  3. The President may elect members to the Cabinet that might or might not be members of the parliament. But if a MP get into the cabinet, that parliamentary seat goes vacant.
  4. The President makes nominations to the Supreme Court and other constitutional bodies like the Election Commission (EC) and the Commission to Control Corruption (CCC) - both of which are autonomous - to be confirmed by a 60% vote in the parliament. The commissioners serve 6-year terms.
  5. Nepal does not have an army.
  6. The central bank is to be autonomous, and the governor, to serve a six-year term, is to be appointed by the President, subject to a 60% vote in the parliament.
  7. All appointments made by the President, except for his or her personal staff, will need a majority vote in the parliament for confirmation, unless otherwise stated.
  8. The President signs bills passed by the parliament. The President may also be the originator of bills to the parliament.
  9. The President may send back a bill passed by the parliament. But if the parliament send it back to him with a 65% vote, it has to be signed.
  10. If the President not respond to a bill within 10 days of it having been sent, it is to be assumed signed.
  11. Eash state is to similarly elect a Governor.
Article 3: The Judiciary Branch
  1. The judiciary will reflect the composition of the government, from village/town to state to the national level. Towns and cities with more than 25,000 people will be served with more than one court, the number to be decided through a formula by the state government. There will be a layer between the village/town and the state levels, the Appeals Court. The system is to be peopled like the civil service, on merit.
  2. The President makes nominations to the national Supreme Court. The Governor makes nominations to the State Supreme Court. Both are subject to their respective parliaments for 60% of the vote. Justices to the Supreme Court are to serve to the age of 65 or upto their voluntary retirement.
  3. The state and national Supreme Courts interpret the constitutionality of laws passed by the parliaments when thus challenged, but such interpretations may be overturned by the parliaments through a 65% vote.
  4. The parliament, federal or state, may not diminish the salary of a sitting judge.
Article 4: The States
  1. The country is to be divided into states as shown in the map above. Each state is to have a unicameral parliament. One constituency for the federal lower house is to become two for the state parliament.
  2. It is for each state to design the formation and functioning of its component town/city governments. The village units are to be called Grampalika, the town units are to be called Nagarpalika, and the city units Mahanagarpalika, and will form the third layer of government. Village/town/city elected officials are to be at least 20 years of age.
  3. Mayors for towns and villages are to be directly elected. Each directly elected official for an executive position must have secured at least 50% of the votes cast.
  4. The judicial and law enforcement services are to be operated as a meritocratic, inclusive civil services by the states and the federal government.
  5. The federal government will directly transfer 5% of its annual budget to the five poorest states measured by per capita income. This does not prevent further federal expenditures on those states.
  6. The income tax structure is to be as follows: 50% federal, 30% state, 20% village/town/city. The income tax is to be collected by the federal government, and funds transferred by the same to the other levels of government as per this formula, and is to be gradually phased in where none might be getting collected now.
  7. The federal revenue from all sources other than income tax is also to be similarly allocated. 50% stays at the federal level, the rest goes to the states in proportion to each state's population. Each state is also to send out 30% of its non income tax budget directly to the village/town/city in direct proportion to the population of each.
  8. The education system shall follow a tri-lingual policy up to Class 10, beyond which it is for each individual institution to decide on their own as to the language of instruction. The first language is to be the student's first language, the second language is to be Nepali. For those for whom Nepali might be their first language, the student may choose any language spoken in Nepal. The third language is to be English, the contemporary global language of science and commerce. This policy applies to schools in both the private and the public sectors. The language of instruction for all other subjects to Class 10 will be a decision to be made by the individual school board for the public schools and by the owners of the private schools: it is to be one of the three - Nepali, Hindi, and English - or a combination. Other languages spoken in Nepal may also be added to the list after an autonomous, federal Education Commission decides that enough educational material is available in the said language.
  9. It is for the state parliaments to decide on the use of a second local language as the language of government at the state and local levels. In some cases, even a third language may be allowed.
  10. Nepali is to be the language of government across the country.
Article 5: The Individual
  1. The individual is the most important component of the state and is to be protected and celebrated. The Universal Declaration Of Human Rights is the bedrock of this constitution.
  2. Every person has a birth right to freedom of speech, freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of religion, a right to a speedy, public trial, and a right to privacy, a protection from unreasonable searches and seizures. No person may be tried and punished for the same crime twice. No person will be compelled to testify against themselves. No person will be deprived of life, liberty or propety without due process of law. Private property may not be taken for public use without due compensation. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. The privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended. No ex post facto law shall be passed. No warrants are to be issued, except upon probable cause, and should specifically describe the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. A person charged with a crime is to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his or her favor, and is to have the Assistance of Counsel for his or her defence.
  3. Every person born in Nepal is a citizen of Nepal. But this does not prevent people not born in Nepal from seeking Nepali citizenship.
  4. Every person is equal under the law. Any law that might conflict with that fundamental premise will become null and void as soon as this constitution takes effect.
  5. No person shall be taxed more than 40% of their income by all levels of government put together. Those in the bottom 40% income brackets are not to pay any direct taxes.
  6. No business may be taxed more than 30% of its profits, and businesses in the bottom 30% income brackets will not pay any direct taxes. All business expenses are tax write-offs.
  7. The sales tax may not exceed 10% and is to be collected by the state.
  8. Elections at all levels are to be organized on Saturdays.
  9. No citizen of age may be barred from voting for whatever reason except when they might be serving time.
  10. It is a stated goal of the state to make possible lifelong education for every person in the country through creative partnerships between the private and public sectors, and through creative uses of the internet, FM and other technology. The state shall also attempt to provide universal access to secondary education and primary health care, free of cost. The secondary education provision applies to people in all age groups.
  11. The state shall attempt to provide universal access to micro-credit to all in the bottom 40% income brackets, not all of it by the public sector.
  12. All persons that might enter into agreements, either in the private or the public sector, to access credit will have the option to declare bankruptcy as a last resort, but such declarations may stay on that person's credit record. Money owed by an individual, as opposed to by a business or a corporation, may not be passed on to the next generation. Indentured servitude is an illegal form of collecting money owed by an individual or family. Money owed may not be paid for through manual labor. Any person, group or organization, lending money on interest, the total of which is larger than Rs 20,000, to be indexed to inflation as calculated every five years and rounded to the nearest thousand, is to register as a small business owner, and will be subject to taxation and regulation.
  13. All educational institutions, public and private, must have at least 10% of its students on need-based full scholarships. Institutions may also opt to have 5% on such full scholarships, and 10% on need-based half scholarships, or 5% on full, 6% on half, and 6% on one-third scholarships. But at no time should the proportion of full scholarships dip below 5%.
  14. Employees of the state in the education and health sectors will be paid salaries that are at least 10% larger than to those with similar qualifications serving in other fields.
  15. An accurate, scientific census is to be conducted every 10 years, and scientific projections are to be made for the intervening years.
Proposed Constitution (February 7, 2007)
प्रस्तािवत संिवधान (Full page version) (November 15)
Proposed Constitution (November 14)
Interim Constitution, Revolutionary Parliament (April 8)
Proposed Republican Constitution 2006 (January 1)
Proposed Constitution (December 19)
Proposed Constitution (November 17)
Proposed Constitution (September 3)
Proposed Democratic Republican Constitution (August 12)
Janata Dal Constitution (August 8)
Proposed Constitution (June 18)
Reorganized UN, Proposed Constitution, Methods (May 30)
Proposed Constitution (May 3)
Shortcut To A New Constitution, Shortcut To Peace (April 8)
This Inadequate, Improper, Insufficient 1990 Constitution (April 4)
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