Middle Ground: PR Election Now, Republic Later

I believe that could be the meeting point between the Maoists and the seven parties. The only party among even the seven parties that is opposed to the idea of a fully PR election is the not-yet-unified Nepali Congress. Otherwise the UML was the original author of the idea.

Announcing a PR election will make it easier to hold the November 22 election. Right now, we don't even know how the 240 constituencies have been delineated.

You end up with the entire country as one constituency, you end up with only one ballot paper. You probably end up with a smaller constituent assembly. 500 is too big. It should be more like 200 or 300.

I say, announce there will be a fully PR election on November 22 for a total of 300 seats. Every third person on a party's list must be female. Other than that there will be no rules. Give some more time to register new parties like the Federal Democratic National Forum. After the elections were postponed from summer to November, no new parties have been registered, and that is not okay.

On their part, the Maoists should be willing to agree to declaring the country a republic on the first session of the first session of the constituent assembly.

I hope the seven parties in power do not wait for the Maoist movement to go on for a few weeks before they finally do accede to the demand for a fully PR election. Why not do it right away? That way elections will still be held in November.

If the seven parties wait until the Maoist movement gains momentum, they will be forced to accede to both the demands. But right now they could give in to one and not give in on another.

Personally speaking I have had it with the monarchy. I am not opposed to the idea of declaring republic right away. Republic was the agenda of the April Revolution. The people spoke back in April 2006.

The political paralysis stems from one person, a Prime Minister who stays bed-ridden most of the time and who is ultra conservative. He is always the last one to sign on to something progressive for the country. He is not a leader. He is the constitutional monarch that succeeded Gyane.

It is not Girija's style to defend his position. He will simply state it and stick by it, come high or hell water. That has routinely led to paralysis.

It is curious that the Pahadi Maoists and the Madhesi Maoists are suddenly finding common ground. Both of them are headed to disrupting the November polls not because they want to but because they feel it will not be fair.

New Prime Minister

If it ends up that elections are not held in November. If it ends up that all political actors collectively decide to shift the elections to April, then Girija must be kicked out. Girija has refused to perform politically, he has refused to make the political moves that would have made it possible to hold elections back in summer, and now in November. He seems to think he has a foolproof formula. The more you postpone the elections, the longer he gets to be Prime Minister. Why would he want elections that will likely kick him out of Baluwatar because his party might have had its base seriously eroded?

Madhav Nepal could be a decent choice to replace Girija.

I have been surprised the two big communist parties have not been able to seek common ground. They must know that in a few years it is going to be the Nepali Congress that will be their primary opponent on land reform issues.

Respectful Dialogue With The Madhesi Maoists

The Pahadi parties would rather have violent elections. Holding respectful dialogue with Jwala and Goit is essential to the idea of ending up with a Nepal Army that has a fair ethnic composition as far as the Madhesi are concerned. Right now you are looking at a Nepal Army that will be largely a Pahadi Army upon integration.

Taking Responsibility

Girija has to take responsibility for the fact that political paralysis leads to lawlessness and statelessness. People suffer. He should have resigned in summer when he was not able to hold elections.

Statelessness gives rise to Pahadi Madhesi riots, Hindu Muslim riots.

Maoists Are Playing With Fire

At some level, they want to create a pro-Maoist wave in the country. They want to take sole credit when the country finally becomes a republic.

The Kapilvastu incident is highly alarming? Who killed Mohit Khan? Was the Maoist high command involved? Such killing and counter killings can spiral into uncharted territory. Nepal gets pushed closer to being a failed state.

The Madhesi MPs And The Idea Of A New Party
Not UML-Maoist Unification Or Unity, But A One Point Agreement On PR Election
Baburam Bhattarai Is Right About UML-Maoist Unity
एक मात्र िमलनिवन्दु: पुर्ण समानुपाितक िनर्वाचन
Best Possible Scenario: How It Could Unfold
The Maoist Confusion Is Unnecessary
Madhav Nepal Needs To Make A Move
I Agree With Prachanda On Republic And Proportional Election

In The News

Maoists quit govt; announce protest movement NepalNews the Maoists have announced nationwide protest movement from Tuesday. .... Now we will declare republic from the streets. ...... the code of ethics and election schedule by the Election Commission was no longer acceptable to them .... carrying out 'funeral procession of monarchy' throughout the country on September 18. ..... door-to-door public awareness campaign between September 19 and 21. From September 22 till 29, they will intensify rallies and campaigns. And between September 29 and October 3, the Maoists have stated that they will 'expose' the corrupt people and those named as guilty in the report by Rayamajhi Commission. On September 30, the Maoists have vowed to gherao all the District Administration Offices across the country. They have also announced general strike from October 4 till 6. This strike coincides with EC's schedule whereby nominations of candidates will have to be filed on October 5. ........ People's Liberation Army will remain in cantonments.
Congress, UML leaders still hope to keep alive eight-party unity Girija Prasad Koirala, who is bedridden due to health problems.
UNMIN urges parties to find a way out of current stalemate UNMIN remains deeply concerned by continued violence in the Terai, and appeals for calm and tolerance across the diverse communities in the region.
British minister disappointed with Maoist move
Taulihawa limps back to normalcy; death toll reaches four displaced people are taking asylum in police posts and army barracks while some houses in the city continue to burn. The administration has not been able to put out the fire that burnt more than 300 houses, dozens of shops and some factories. ..... The riots in Kapilvastu and Rupandehi had erupted after the killing of Abdul Mohit Khan.
EC hints fully proportional system is not possible; code of conduct comes into effect Proportional representation system is one the major demands of the Maoists and ethnic groups. Interim constitution will be at risk if Maoists quit, says Poudel Poudel, however, said that the government will proceed with the election plan even if the Maoists quit the government.
Three armed Maoist cadres arrested at Nepalgunj Airport
Indian businessman shot dead in Birgunj
Eight Terai districts classified as 'highly sensitive' Eight districts have been listed as “highly sensitive” and 13 districts as “sensitive” areas ..... Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, Mahottari, Dhanusha, Sarlahi, Siraha and Saptari have been put in “highly sensitive” category while Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Makwanpur, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Kapilbastu, Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchanpur districts have been listed as “sensitive” districts. ..... 28 policemen would be deployed in each and every voting center of highly sensitive districts. ... The “on contract” policemen would constitute 80 percent of the policemen deployed for election security. ...... an outer ring of security personnel that includes mobile force, striking force, reserve force and helicopter patrolling. The “on contract” police would be given Rs 10,000 as a one month salary. The families dependent on policemen who get killed while providing election security would be given Rs 1,000,000 in compensation.
Gorkhapatra goes multilingual articles in Maithili, Magar, Tamang, Tamang Sangyur, Newari and Rai languages. Except in Maithili, articles in other languages focused on constituent assembly polls and federalism. In Maithili, a popular teraian satirist Dhirendra Premarshi wrote about right to education in mother tongue ...... at least one or two pages of news, news analysis, opinion and political analysis will be published in multiple languages everyday and that all such items will be in favour of democratic republic. ..... Gorkhapatra has become the first newspaper in the country to be published in multiple languages.
Maoists would be blamed if peace process gets derailed: MK Nepal Nepal also said that he advised the Maoists to instead engage in election preparation.

FLNF obstructs Damak-Birtamod road Kantipur Federal Limbuwan National Front (FLNF)
Prolonged transition spawning armed groups At least 21 disgruntled groups have so far taken up arms or claim to have done so to unleash violence, after the CPN (Maoist) formally laid down their arms November last. ...... the number of such outfits could shoot up should the transition period get protracted further ..... such groups are already mushrooming at an alarming rate. ... Altogether nine armed groups were reportedly in operation in various parts of the country as of last May. In the less than four months since, at least 12 other armed groups have emerged. ...... the three armed groups--Tarai Army, Tarai Utthan Sangh and Nepal People's Army--that claimed responsibility through media for multiple bomb blasts in the capital city on September 2 had not come to the notice of security personnel. ...... police now believe that Mainali was the lone person in the Defense Army. It is no more in existence. .... the activities of the Terai Cobra have also ceased completely after the arrest of its chief, Nagraj. ..... most of the armed groups are active in the terai ...... Besides the Jantantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) factions led by Jwala Singh, Goit, Bisphot Singh and Himmat Singh,10 other groups are carrying out violent activities in the southern plains. According to Nepal Police Headquarters, these groups include the Liberation Tigers of Tarai Elam (Ram Lochan Singh), Tarai Cobras, Madhesi Mukti Tigers, Tarai Bagi, Janawadi Ganatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha, Madhesi Virus Killers' Party, Shantika Lagi Kranti Tarai, Madhesi Special Force, Tarai Army and Tarai Utthan Sangh. ....... Nepal Janatantrik Party, Rastriya Army Nepal, Supa Kranti Dal, Shahi Mukti Morcha, Gorkha Mukti Morcha and Nepal People's Army are reported to have announced through pamphlets an intensification of their violence in other parts of the country besides the tarai.
Curfew re-imposed in Butwal with fresh backlash in Kapilvastu Armed with domestic weapons, they have vandalized and torched Lumbini Cotton Factory, a few petrol pumps and around a dozen houses at Chandrauta ...... Some of the passengers and drivers, who were missing following the unprecedented violence in Kapilvastu Sunday, are yet to come into contact. ..... nearly two hundred vehicles plying on the highway were vandalized during Sunday's violence in Kapilvastu. ..... At least 85 vehicles were torched in Chandrauta in the district alone. ..... At least 150 people were injured during the violence ..... Hundreds of locals of Chandrauta and Krishnanagar, who had taken refuge in the nearby forests after the incident, came in contact today ...... Many have been left without homes and money .... Mohit Khan, the vice-chairman of Democratic Madhesi Front, erstwhile chairman of an anti-Maoist group and a district committee member of Nepali Congress ....... angry protestors vandalized and torched scores of houses and vehicles in Chandrauta, Krishnanagar and the district headquarters Taulihawa ..... Over 123 houses in Devinagar were also torched by the protestors. The angry demonstrators also torched a police van heading toward Birpur to take stock of the situation. ...... The protestors had set fire to at least over two dozen government offices, a Maoist liaison office, scores of vehicles and dozens of houses in Taulihawa, and many vehicles in other villages in Kapilvastu on Sunday. ........ The mob had also stormed into the Siddhartha Finance at Krishnanagar and made off with over three million rupees ....... In retaliation for the violence in Kapilvastu, some irate protestors in Butwal vandalized two mosques there on Sunday. Taking advantage of the situation, looters also broke into various houses and institutions and looted cash, jeweleries and food.
6 injured as cops, MPRF cadres clash in Nepalgunj The police had intervened to clear the road in front of the District Administration Office, which was blocked by MPRF activists demanding the release of the arrested ones on charge of killing a Maoist activist. The agitating group, including children aged between 10 and 12, tried to forcefully shut down the shops. They also shouted slogans in front of the Administration office against the police. The town remained tense.
NSP-A factions clash over party headquarters A skirmish ensued between factions of Nepal Sadbhawana Party- Anandidevi (NSP-A) led by party chairman Anandi Devi Singh and dissident leader Minister for Industry Commerce and Supplies Rajendra Mahato after both sides tried to take control of the party’s central office in Baneshwar in Kathmandu Monday afternoon. The NSP-A group loyal to Minister Mahato-- who was elected the party chairman through just concluded special convention held in Birgunj without the consent of the establishment-- went to occupy the party office, claiming that the general convention was legitimate. ..... Security persons have been deployed at the Party office since early morning to avert any untoward incident. Police also recovered a pistol and dozens of rods from the office building. After the tension rose, the house owner has asked the NSP-A leaders to vacate the office building immediately.
NC, UML leaders surprised by Maoist move; 8-party meeting on Wednesday
Maoists announce protest programmes to thwart CA polls
Baluwatar talks fail; Maoists quit govt
Maoist stage demonstrations; PLA stage protests outside cantonments
Prachanda not to attend Maoist protest assembly due to his health condition .... Prachanda was recently diagnosed with spondylitis and high blood pressure.

My Idea Of A Madhesi Gathering

Time: 4.00-6.00PM
Date: Sept 16, 2007 on Sunday
Place: The General Theological Seminary
175 Ninth Avenue It is on Ninth Avenue,
between 20th St. & 21st Street.

Rajesh Shah was the host. The fancy downtown Manhattan venue was his workplace. He lives in Queens. He was one year senior to me at high school. His father has been in town for two months now. I arrived on time at four. Other than them two, I was the first to arrive. So we sat in the lobby and talked soap while waiting for others. I told the father that there are Pahadis who tell me, you went to Budhanilkantha, how many Pahadis went to Budhanilkantha, why are you complaining? I say to them, in my class of about 80 at Budhanilkantha, there should have been 40 Madhesis, or at least 30, but there were only three. That is why I complain.

I think Rajesh Shah should be the New York Metro chair of ANTA, especially since that chair is vacant after the last chair moved over to a different city, Chicago, and Ritesh Chaudhary has been acting chair as the second in command. And especially after this event, Rajesh Shah has more than proven himself.

I am a stickler for one person, one vote democracy and transparency. Hold an election. All interested parties will file nominations. Then there would be an open vote. People should be able to vote over email, over the phone. And it would not be a secret ballot.

The New York Metro chapter is the center of gravity of ANTA due to its size and location. But I should not comment too much, since I am not a member. My organization Hamro Nepal collaborates with ANTA on hard core political stuff to do with the Madhesi Movement. And I like it better that way. I am more efficient that way.

Hari Mahaseth, his friend Anirudh from Kapilvastu showed. Binod Shah, by now one of the top three ANTA officers nationally, showed. He was the one who had done much of the ground work calling people up and stuff. Ratanji tells me Binodji has done amazing work expanding ANTA the past few months.

Binay Kant Chaudhary and our man at the UN Nawal Yadav were there.

And of course Shyamanand Suman was the guest of honor. He is the only Madhesi to have become a Nepali ambassador as a career bureaucrat. His daughter lives in NYC, son in Toronto. He was Nepali ambassador to Qatar. Now he is Upendra Yadav's primary advisor on foreign policy issues. I expect Sumanji to contest and win the November election. He will win from Saptari from the seat Gajendra Narayan Singh used to hold. And if the MJF comes to power, Suman could end up in the cabinet.

As we waited in the lobby, people started showing up. After we reached critical mass, we shifted to the large meeting room where the formal gathering took place. Although Sumanji was the featured speaker, the meeting was highly interactive. Eveybody took turns speaking. The discussion was lively. All possible contemporary topics to do with the Madhesi Movement were discussed. All bases got covered.

Towards the end Binodji summarized the entire meeting on the public board. I was highly impressed with the summary. The only reason this guy is a doctor is because he grew up in a culture where if you are a smart student, you go to medical school. If he had grown up in America, he would likely have gone to law school and become a public official. He is very social and political. And the summary he sketched showed that.

First, there should be a solid Madhesi unity. The two Sadbhavana factions must unite. The two MJF factions must unite. The Sadbhavana and the MJF must form an electoral alliance. And then they must reach out to Jwala, Goit and the others and also bring them into the alliance.

Second, Ek Madhesh, Ek Pradesh. That should be the common agenda of the alliance. Any party that accepts that slogan can be invited into the alliance. So if the Nepali Congress, the UML, and the Maoists also accept the Ek Madhesh, Ek Pradesh slogan, they can also join the Madhesi Alliance. If not, how can they? There would be no point.

Third, the unity, and the slogan should lead to a formal electoral alliance. Only one alliance cadidate from each of the 116 constituencies in the Terai.

Fourth, pick good candidates for the election.

Fifth, party finances.

There was an elaborate discussion on the recent news that the MJF and the Nepali Congress might form an electoral alliance. The gathering disagreed with the idea. It was the Nepali Congress that has to be held responsible for the 40 martyrs of the Madhesi Kranti. It is the Madhesi Kranti that gave birth to the political party called the MJF. How can the MJF seek an alliance with the Congress?

Sumanji educated the group on the intricate arithmetic of the electoral rules and seat distributions of the proposed mixed election system.

Samosa and soda were served.

I have over half hour of video from the event, the first half hour from the earlier event with Sumanji with some of the same people in Jackson Heights, and that was before he went to Toronto for a month or more.



Video: Shyamanand Suman, Former Nepali Ambassador To Qatar

The Madhesi Kranti has made all the difference. This wonderful meeting could not have been possible without the Madhesi Kranti. Now the Prabasi Madhesis - the Madhesi diaspora - feel much more comfortable claiming the Madhesi identity. The self hate, or the unease, the discomfort with the identity has to a large extent evaporated. I was very much impressed by the tactical options the meeting explored on behalf of the Madhesi Movement going forward.

The meeting lasted more than an hour longer than its prescribed time. I ate up the last samosa in the bag, and drank the last drop of water in the water bottle. I gave the pass on the coke.

It looks to me like the hardest work the Madhesi Movement has to do right away is nothing to do with Pahadis. It is to do with the Madhesi leaders of the various unarmed and armed groups. Can they talk among themselves? Can they forge a consensus? Can they all agree to come around to the simple, clear, militant slogan of Ek Madhesh, Ek Pradesh?

The Madhesi masses already did their part during the 21 days of the Madhesi Kranti. Janata age, neta pichee waali baat hai. Now will the leaders also perform half as well as the people did? Will they agree to sit down and talk to each other? You sit down in a long, closed door session and you talk for hours until you have found common ground.

A simple majority of the constituent assembly will form the next government. Two third majorities will write the articles of the next constitution.

Forging a strong Madhesi Alliance is critical. Otherwise the ensuing setback to the Madhesi Movement could last decades still.

Rajendra Mahto: Three Hours Of Video
Upendra Yadav: Five Hours Of Video
Anil Jha, Nepal Sadbhavana Party 1
Anil Jha, Nepal Sadbhavana Party 2
Anil Jha, Nepal Sadbhavana Party 3
Madhesi Gathering In Prospect Park 1
Madhesi Gathering In Prospect Park 2
Ridgewood Dashain Party

In The News

Koirala ‘rejects’ Maoist demands for pre-election republic and PR-based election system NepalNews
Leaders accelerate discussion on Maoist demands
Chandrauta still tense, goodwill rally organised in Butwal
Election commissioners meet with PM; govt preparing for new security strategy
Rival NSP factions clash over party office
Acharya and Thapa recommended as NC candidate Nepali Congress (NC) central member Narhari Acharya and popular student leader Gagan Thapa have been recommended for direct seats in the upcoming Constituent Assembly election. The separate meeting of the Katmandu’s no. 4 and 5 area committee of NC Saturday had made this recommendation. ..... The no. 5 area committee has recommended only Acharya’s name for the direct seat unanimously.
NSP-A proposes separate prime ministers as heads of 'regional parliaments'
Koirala, Nepal agree to hold 'immediate' eight-party meet over Maoist demands
Menon discusses CA polls, Terai issues with PM finding solution to the Terai crisis, security arrangement in Terai
Tuesday’s mass meeting will declare revolt if demands not met: Bhattarai
China ‘ready ‘to rescue Nepal from petroleum crisis
Maoist roundtable put off yet again The much talked about roundtable conference of the CPN (Maoist) has been suspended indefinitely.
NSP-A appeals EC not to recognise Mahato faction
MJF making overtures for cooperation with NC
JTMM-G cadres torch former minister Matrika’s vehicle
Mahato elected NSP-A chairman

प्रचण्डलाई प्रधानमन्त्रीको आग्रह Kantipur तत्काल गणतन्त्र घोषणा गरेर प्रतिगामी चलखेल रोक्ने र सबै जाति, जनजाति, मधेसी, महिला, दलित आदिका माग पूरा गर्न समानुपातिक निर्वाचन प्रणालीमा जानुपर्ने विषयमा प्रचण्डले जोड दिएका थिए ...... डा. बाबुराम भट्टराईले 'हामी एक्लै हिँड्नु नपरोस्, शान्ति प्रक्रियाबाटै समाधान होस् भनेर २२ बुँदे माग राखेको' उल्लेख गर्दै नयाँ परिस्थितिमा आठ दल एकता राख्न अर्को 'बाह्रबुँदे समझदारी' आवश्यक भएको औंल्याए ..... एमाले महासचिव माधवकुमार नेपालले 'आठ दल बैठकको कमीले समस्या बल्भिmने गरेको' जनाउँदै 'मंसिर ६' तलमाथि नपर्ने गरी कुनै पनि प्रतिबद्धता व्यक्त गर्न एमाले तयार रहेको ...... कांग्रेस -प्रजातान्त्रिक) का महामन्त्री विमलेन्द्र निधिले अर्को बाह्रबुँदे अबका बाह्र दिनमा गर्न समझदारी हुन नसके निर्वाचन तालिकाअनुसार बन्दसूचीका उम्मेदवार मनोनयन गर्न नभ्याइने तर्क गरे । ..... सद्भावना -आ) का हृदयेश त्रिपाठीले सद्भावना -आ) 'राज्यले उधारो दिन खोज्दा राज्यका सबै अंगमा समान प्रतिनिधित्व लागू हुन नसकी मधेस अहिले पनि अशान्त रहेको' औंल्याए । ...... आदिवासी जनजाति महासंघका अध्यक्ष पासाङ शेर्पाले मंसिर ६ गते निर्वाचनलाई केन्दि्रत गरी सरकारसँग आफ्नो सम्झौता भएको उल्लेख गर्दै 'त्यही सम्झौता गर्दा पनि मैले हरेक दिन कम्तीमा पन्ध्रभन्दा बढी प्रस्टीकरण फोनबाट दिनुपरेको छ' भने । ..... संवैधानिक अंगका रूपमा रहेको आठ दलको बैठक पारदर्शी ढंगले सञ्चालन हुनुपर्नेमा जोड दिए । ..... कांग्रेसका युवा नेता गगन थापाले 'निर्वाचनमा ३५ लाख नयाँ मतदाता र ३५ वर्षमुनिका ५१ प्रतिशत रहेकाले' कसैले पनि संविधानसभा निर्वाचनलाई 'भोट बैंक' का हिसाबले हेर्नु नपर्ने औंल्याए । ... एमालेका युवा नेता ठाकुर गैरेले 'जनजातिसँगको सम्झौता आफूलाई थाहा नभएको भन्ने प्रधानमन्त्रीलाई आठ दलको एकता टुट्न हुन्न भन्ने आम जनताको राय थाहा नभएको हुनसक्ने'
आचारसंहिता पर्सिदेखि निर्वाचन आयोगले संविधानसभा चुनावका लागि मंगलबार आचारसंहिता जारी गर्ने भएको छ । दुई दिनभित्र सरकारले सचिव, राजदूत नियुक्ति, कर्मच्ाारी सरुवा बढुवालगायत निर्णय नगरे ती सबै प्रक्रिया रोकिनेछन् । ... राजनीतिक दलले समानुपातिक सिटका लागि बन्दसूची पेस गर्ने दिन असोज १३ गते, उम्मेदवारले मनोनयपत्र दर्ता भएको दिन असोज १८ र निजी सञ्चार माध्यमले उम्मेदवारलाई चुनावचिह्न प्रदान गरेको दिन असोज २४ देखि अचारसंहिता पालना गर्नुपर्नेछ । ..... चुनाव अवधिभर सरकारले नयाँ नीति योजना घोषणा, स्वीकृति सञ्चालन र साधन स्रोतको परिचालन गर्न नपाउने व्यवस्था आचारसंहितामा छ । राजनीतिक दल र उम्मेदवारले यसपटकदेखि कुनै पनि पोस्टर टाँस्न, भित्तेलेखन, तुल ब्यानर प्रयोग गर्न नपाउने व्यवस्था गरिएको छ ।
एकतामा जोड
आठ दलीय एकताको प्रस्ताव
Home secy vows to tighten security from Sep 18 NepalNews Home Secretary Umesh Mainali has said that the government is preparing to tighten security situation in the country from September 18...... "Now our security agencies will present themselves in a strict manner. We have no choice," he said. .... Taking a swipe at frequent bandhs and transport obstruction in highways on various pretexts, Mainali warned that the security forces would now control the situation. He said that bandhs and strikes in roads and highways would soon be declared illegal. He said that a new law is being introduced, which will allow the administration to imprison bandh-organisers up to six months.
MJF making overtures for cooperation with NC The Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) led by Upendra Yadav is making overtures for cooperation with Nepali Congress (NC) for the upcoming Constituent Assembly (CA) election. Yadav informed that MJF will forge cooperation with NC and other partners of wider democratic front. Talking to journalists in Biratnagar, he revealed that MJF is in talks with NC on this issue. Yadav, however, ruled out any cooperation with the Maoists, armed factions and royalists. He reiterated that CA election should be held on schedule. Otherwise, he said the government will lose legitimacy.
Delegation including Maoist 'party whip' preparing to attend UN assembly

आठ दलीय एकताको प्रस्ताव

प्रस्तावना सात दल र नेकपा -माओवादी) को सहकार्यमा सम्पन्न २०६२/०६३ को बृहत् जनआन्दोलनमा महत्त्वपूर्ण योगदान पुर्‍याएको लोकतन्त्र र शान्तिका लागि नागरिक आन्दोलनले २०६३ वैशाख ११ पछि पनि आफ्नो आन्दोलन जारी राखेको हो । आन्दोलनमार्फत सात दल, नेकपा माओवादी र आठ दलको सरकारको कामकारबाहीमा समर्थन, विरोध र दबाब जारी राख्नुका केही कारण थिए ।

पहिलो कुरा त, प्रतिनिधिसभा पुनःस्थापना जनआन्दोलनको प्राथमिक आदेश नभएकाले यो बाटो भएर सर्वसाधारणले चाहेको परिवर्तन हासिल गर्न सकिन्छ भन्ने सन्देह छँदै थियो । त्यस्तै आमनेपालीलेे जनआन्दोलनमार्फत खोजेको स्वतन्त्रता, समता, समाजिक न्याय र लोकतान्त्रिक मूल्यमान्यतासहितको राजनीतिक, आर्थिक र सांस्कृतिक रूपान्तरण हुने कुरामा आश्वस्त हुन सक्ने वातावरण भएन । २०६२ वैशाखको सहमतिले १९ दिने शान्तिपूर्ण विद्रोहलेे समात्न चाहेको लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्रको ठोस गतिलाई एक प्रकारले अवरुद्ध तुल्यायो ।

अधिकांश दल र राजनीतिक नेतृत्वले बृहत् जनआन्दोलनको आकांक्षा र आदेशलाई केवल राजाविरोधी आन्दोलन, अमूर्त स्थायी शान्तिको चाहना, बहुदलीय व्यवस्थाप्रतिको प्रतिबद्धता र संविधानसभा चुनावमार्फत नयाँ संविधान निर्माणको रूपमा बुझेको पाइन्छ । यी विषय महत्त्वपूर्ण हुन् तापनि परिवर्तन पक्षधरहरूले भने लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र, राज्यको पुनसर्ंरचना, लोकतान्त्रिक मूल्यमान्यतासहितको कार्यविधिको पक्षमा जनआन्दोलनमा विशाल र बलिदानी सहभागिता जनाएका थिए । जनआन्दोलनबाट आमनेपालीले विदेशी चलखेल निमिट्यान्न पार्दै जनताको सार्वभौमिकता स्थापित गर्न पनि चाहेका थिए । डेढ वर्षमा कतिपय उपलब्धिका बाबजुद जनआन्दोलनको आधारभूत आकांक्षा एकपछि अर्को गर्दै संकटमा परेको जगजाहेर छ ।

२०६३ असारमा सात दल र माओवादीबीच भएको आठ बँुदेको विरोधमा सात दलभित्रकै नेतृत्वपङ्क्ति लाग्यो । अन्तरिम संसद्मा पनि २०५ को निरन्तरता रह्यो । यस्तो यथास्थितिवादी चिन्तन र परिवर्तनविरोधी सोचको दबदबाबीच आफ्नो आधारभूत मागहरूमा अड्न नसक्दा माओवादी पनि परिवर्तनको बाधकै हुन पुगे । लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र र पूर्ण समानुपातिक निर्वाचनजस्ता सवालमा माओवादीले पहिल्यै अडान कायम नराखी अहिले तिनैलाई सर्तका रूपमा सार्नु जायज भएर पनि विडम्बना भएको छ ।

यसरी अहिलेको राजनीतिक संकटको भागिदार सात दल र माओवादीलगायत प्रबुद्ध नागरिक, बुद्धिजीवी र सम्बन्धित वर्ग/समुदाय पनि छन् । कोही पनि दोषमुक्त नभएको यो स्थितिमा पुनः एकपटक राजनीतिलाई सर्वसाधारणले चाहेको परिवर्तनको बाटामा डोर्‍याउने अभिभारा हामी सबैको काँधमा रहेको दायित्वबोध नागरिक आन्दोलनलाई छ ।

सार्थक उपलब्धि

राजनीति यो मोडमा आए पनि डेढ वर्षमा आठ दलको सहमतिमा भएको सार्थक उपलब्धि हामीले मनन गरेका छौं । जस्तै ः

ल बाह्र बुँदेबाट आठ बुँदे हुँदै बृहत् शान्ति-सम्झौता

ल केही गम्भीर त्रुटिका बाबजुद अन्तरिम संविधान निर्माण

ल अन्तरिम राष्ट्रप्रमुखको व्यवस्था

ल माओवादीसहित अन्तरिम सरकार गठन

ल मधेस विद्रोहकै कारण बाध्यात्मक परिस्थितिबीच संघीयतामा जाने घोषणा

ल क्षेत्रीय, जातीय तथा लैंगिक विभेदका कारण पछाडि पारिएका समुदायसँग वार्ताको थालनी, आदिवासी/जनजाति र मधेसी समुदायसँग केही प्रारम्भिक सहमति

ल संविधानसभा निर्वाचन मिति घोषणा र राजनीतिक अविश्वास एवं अलमलबीच व्यवस्थापकीय तयारी

विश्वासको संकटका स्रोत

यिनै उपलब्धिको जगमा राजनीतिक विकासक्रमलाई जनआन्दोलनको भावनाअनुकूल बनाउन र संविधानसभा निर्वाचन तथा लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र सुनिश्चित गर्न आठ दल एकताबद्ध भएर अगाडि बढून् भन्ने हाम्रो चाहना हो । प्रथमतः विश्वासको संकट हटाउन र निर्वाचन निम्ति वातावरण बनाउन हालसम्म बेवास्ता गरिएको आपसी प्रतिबद्धता र जनआकाङ्क्षा सम्बोधन गर्न जरुरी छ । यो स्थितिलाई यसरी हेर्न सकिन्छः

ल राजाका लागि अन्तरिम व्यवस्था गरे पनि मानवताविरोधी अपराधमा संलग्न जनआन्दोलनका दोषीमाथि कारबाही नभएको

ल दरबार र सेनाको सम्बन्ध विच्छेद नगरेकाले 'निलम्बित' राजालाई ठूलो मात्रामा आर्थिक एवं सैन्य सुरक्षा उपलब्ध गराइएको

ल बृहत् शान्तिसम्झौता संकटमा परेकाले सात दल र माओवादीबाट आआफ्नै शैलीमा गुनासा अभिव्यक्त गर्दै जनभावना अनादर गरेको

ल शान्तिसम्झौतासँगै अन्तरिम सरकारको साझा न्यूनतम कार्यक्रमका प्रमुख सहमति चेपुवामा परेकाले सात दल र नेकपा -माओवादी) को आपसी अविश्वास सघन भएको

ल संयुक्त प्रकृतिको अन्तरिम सरकार चलाउने लोकतान्त्रिक पद्धतिअनुकूल आठदलीय संरचना नभएकाले गठबन्धन सरकारका धेरै निर्णय विवादित र प्रभावहीन भएको

ल संक्रमणकाल भनिरहे पनि सात दल र माओवादीको गुह्य रूप प्रतिस्पर्धी र आवरणमा मात्रै एकता देखिएको

ल असहज र अभावग्रस्त बन्दै गएको आम जनजीवनबारे सरकार संवेदनहीन हुँदै गएको

यिनै कारण र राजनीतिक नेतृत्वमा देखिएको आमूल परिवर्तनप्रतिको हिच्किचाहटले प्रतिगामी र परिवर्तनविरोधी तत्त्वलाई चलखेल गर्ने थप हौसला मिलेको छ । पछिल्लो उदाहरण काठमाडौंको बम बिस्फोट लन सकिन्छ । मधेसमा जायज राजनीतिक माग उठाउने समूहहरूबाहेक निरन्तरको हिंसात्मक गतिविधि, दरबारिया र विदेशी चलखेल र शान्तिसुरक्षाको त्रासदी अर्को भयावह उदाहरण हो जसले राजनीतिक अन्योल एवं आसन्न निर्वाचनको वातावरण जटिल बनाएको छ । सँगै पूर्वसहमति एवं सम्झौता र अन्तरिम सरकारको साझा कार्यक्रम कार्यान्वयन नभएको भन्दै सरकारको एक घटक रहेकै अवस्थामा माओवादीले असहमतिका २२ बुँदा सार्वजनिक गरेका छन् । तेस्रोपटक तोकिएको मितिमा पनि निर्वाचन हुन नसके उत्पन्न हुने संकटबारे नागरिकमात्र होइन, राजनीतिक नेतृत्व पनि चिन्तित छ भन्ने हामीलाई थाहा छ ।

तत्कालै सम्बोधन गर्नुपर्ने सवाल

शान्ति प्रक्रिया र संविधानसभा चुनाव केन्द्रमा राख्दै उल्लिखित कमीकमजोरी हटाउँदै आठ दलबीच आपसी विश्वास बढाउन र वातावरण सहज बनाउन सात दल र माओवादीले आफ्ना तर्फबाट केही व्यावहारिक राजनीतिक सवाल तत्कालै सम्बोधन गर्नुपर्ने स्थिति छ । जस्तै ः

ल विस्थापित नागरिकको व्यवस्थापन, घरजग्गा फिर्ता, राजनीतिक कार्यकर्तालाई खुला राजनीतिक प्रतिस्पर्धा गर्न दिने वातावरण बनाउने र वाईसीएलका गतिविधि सौम्य बनाउने

ल बेपत्ता पारिएका नागरिकको वास्तविक स्थिति सार्वजनिक गर्नेर्, दोषीलाई सजाय र पीडित पक्षलाई क्षतिपूर्ति दिने

ल द्वन्द्वपीडित पुनस्र्थापन र क्षतिपूर्ति व्यवस्थापन गर्ने

ल केन्टोन्मेन्ट र माओवादी जनसेनालाई आवश्यक पूर्वाधार र पूर्वसहमतिमा कबोल गरेअनुरूपको सुविधा उपलब्ध गराउने

ल शान्तिसुरक्षाको अवस्था, चुनावी सुरक्षाका प्रवाधान र सैन्य सवालमा तत्कालै सात दल र माओवादीले राजनीतिक सहमति कायम गर्ने

ल आठै दलको सहमतिमा असन्तुष्ट पक्षहरूसँग एकमुष्ट वार्ता गर्ने

ल देशमा भइरहेका अधिकांश आन्दोलन र असन्तुष्टिको ठोस समाधानका लागि पूर्ण समानुपातिक निर्वाचन पद्धति लागू गर्न सात दल र माओवादीले अविलम्ब पहल गर्ने

संवैधानिक मान्यता

नागरिक आन्दोलनलाई महत्त्वपूर्ण लागेको अर्को सवाल संविधानसभामार्फत बन्ने संविधानले सुनिश्चित गर्नुपर्ने मान्यता हुन् । अहिले पनि केही मात्रामा सहमति कायम भइसकेका यी मान्यताबारे सात दल र माओवादीले थप सहमति कायम गरे निर्वाचन निम्ति राजनीतिक वातावरण सहज हुने मात्र होइन, निर्वाचित संविधानसभाको काम पनि सहज हुन सक्छ । सहमति हुनुपर्ने मान्यता देहायअनुसार छन् ।

१) जनताको सम्प्रभुता ः जनताको संप्रभुता र राष्ट्रिय अखण्डतालाई भावी संविधानको आधारशिला बनाउने ।

२) नागरिक र राजनीतिक अधिकार ः नेपाल पक्ष राष्ट्र भएका अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय राजनीतिक र नागरिक अधिकार, मानवअधिकार र आर्थिक-सामाजिक एवं सांस्कृतिक अधिकार व्यवहारमा सुनिश्चित गर्ने ।

३) लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र ः लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्रको प्रस्ताव अन्तरिम संसद्ले पारित गर्ने र संविधानसभाको पहिलो बैठकबाट अनुमोदन गर्ने ।

४) गणतान्त्रिक संघीय राज्य ः संघीय राज्यको प्रस्तावित खाका र राज्य पुनर्संरचनाबारे सुझाव पेस गर्न अन्तरिम संविधानमा उल्लेख भएबमोजिम समावेशी आयोग गठन गर्ने ।

५) संघीय राज्यलाई अधिकार ः संघीय राज्यका आर्थिक, सामाजिक र सांस्कृतिक नीति कार्यान्वयन गर्दै समुन्नत समाज निर्माण गर्ने व्यापक सम्भावनालाई आधार मानेर संघीय स्वायत्तताको पक्षमा निर्णय गर्न सात दल र माओवादी सहमत हुने ।

६) राजस्व र विदेशी सहायताको बााडफााड ः केन्द्र र राज्यहरूबीच साधनको समानुपातिक र न्यायिक वितरणका निम्ति राजस्व र विदेशी सहायतामा राज्यहरूको पहुँच र तत्सम्बन्धी विधि सुनिश्चित गर्ने ।

७) भूमिसुधार र प्रगतिशील कर प्रणाली ः समाजमा असमानताको सन्दर्भमा स्रोतको न्यायोचित पुनर्वितरण निम्ति भूमिसुधार र प्रगतिशील कर प्रणालीमा सहमति कायम गर्ने ।

८) शिक्षा, स्वास्थ्य र रोजगारी ः अन्तरिम संविधानमा उल्लेख भएबमोजिम शिक्षा, स्वास्थ्य र रोजगारीमा नेपाली नागरिकको अधिकार स्थापित गर्न साथै अपांगतालगायत अन्य विशिष्ट अवस्था भोगिरहेका समुदायहरूका निम्ति विशेष व्यवस्था गर्न राजनीतिक प्रतिबद्धता सुनिश्चित गर्ने ।

९) शासन प्रणाली ः निर्वाचनपछि संविधान निर्माण गर्ने क्रममा पनि वर्तमान स्वरूपकै सरकार रहने मान्यतामा सहमति कायम गर्दै महंगी, अभाव, बेरोजगारी, असुरक्षा र दण्डविहीनताको स्थ्िातिलाई समेत सम्बोधन गर्न राज्य सक्षम हुनुपर्ने ।

अन्त्यमा

शान्ति प्रक्रियालाई सफल तुल्याउन र लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्रको सुरक्षित अवतरणका लागि संविधानसभापछि समेत सात दल र माओवादीको आठ दलीय एकता र आपसी विश्वास अपरिहार्य रहेकाले नागरिक आन्दोलनले यी प्रस्ताव अघि सारेको हो । त्यसैले आन्दोलनबाट समाधान खोज्नुभन्दा यी सवाललाई साझा उपलब्धिमा परिणत गर्न आठै दलले अविलम्ब प्रयास गर्नु आवश्यक छ । यसले मात्र परिवर्तनलाई सुदृढ तुल्याउँदै मुलुकलाई ठोस गति दिने विश्वास गर्न सकिन्छ ।

लोकतन्त्र र शान्तिका लागि नागरिक आन्दोलन

२९ भदौ, २०६३

Congratulations To Rajendra Mahto

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Rajendra Mahto In Town
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Email To All Madhesis From Rajendra Mahto
Rajendra Mahto: नागरिकता विधेयक खोतल्दा
Nepal's Terai People In Deplorable Conditions: Mahto
To: Koirala, Nepal, KC, Pokharel, Tripathy, Mahto And The Rest
Phone Interview With Rajendra Mahato

Photos

• Rajendra Mahto 5
• Rajendra Mahto 4
• Rajendra Mahto 3
• Rajendra Mahto 2
• Rajendra Mahto 1

Videos

Anil Jha, Nepal Sadbhavana Party 1
Anil Jha, Nepal Sadbhavana Party 2
Anil Jha, Nepal Sadbhavana Party 3
Madhesi Gathering In Prospect Park 1
Madhesi Gathering In Prospect Park 2
Ridgewood Dashain Party

I would like to publicly congratulate Rajendra Mahto, my friend of over a decade, for having been unanimously elected president of the Sadbhavana party. His election was the icing on the cake. The party's convention has also come up with some other major positive developments.

The party president's powers have been reduced, and that is a good thing. The party should get into the habit of holding extensive internal discussions before taking major discussions. The process of reaching decisions is almost as important as the decisions reached.

The party is going to go out of its way to make sure its central committee is inclusive of the Dalits and the Janajatis and women and youth. That is very good thing. The Dalits are in the Terai what the Madhesis are in Nepal. The Madhesi leadership must go out of its way to uplift the Dalits in the Terai. That the Dalits in the Pahad do not fare any better is no excuse. Similarly, the party must show that it is inclusive of Tharus. The party's central committee, I hope, is at least one third women.

Rajendra Mahto now has the powers to try to punish the Sadbhavana leaders who recently tried to snatch away his cabinet position. He could sideline them inside the party. But he should not give into that temptation. Those dissidents might still stay away, but on his part, the Sadbhavana's new party president must go out of his way to try and bring as many of those dissidents into the fold as possible. He should work extra hard to get people like Hridayesh Tripathy, Bharat Bimal Yadav and others to come into the party's new central committee. If he can not take that first step, it will become harder for him to forge a grand Madhesi Alliance with the MJF, Jwala, Goit and others. Now is the time to bring together all Madhesi leaders, inside the party and outside, under the slogan of Ek Madhesh, Ek Pradesh.

Hridayesh Tripathy had been using Anandi Devi like a pawn. That was wrong. Either Tripathy should himself contest to be party president, or he should be more respectful of those who do take up officer positions in the party.

The Sadbhavana has come up with a viable map for federalism: three states that get further divided into regions. So all of Terai would be one state, and there might be three or four regions inside that state. That model can work. This is better than the newest Maoist map that physically breaks the Terai into two by giving Chitwan over to some hill state. That can't be done. All of Terai has to be one state, it has to be one continuous geographic unit.

So I guess you end up with a Terai state, and inside that state you will have a Mithila, a Bhojpur, an Awadh, and a Tharuwan. I can live with that.

What really caught my attention though - since Mahto's election to the party president's post was a foregone conclusion even before the convention started - was that the party has said the Prime Minister of the country must be directly elected. That is a huge move. And this makes the Sadbhavana to be the first big party in the country to go for this. I congratulate Sarita Giri, the author of the party's manifesto, for making this major jump.

You would hold direct elections. And if no one candidate gets at least 50% of the votes cast, within a month, you hold a second round between the two top candidates.

To my mind this provision for a directly elected Prime Minister is the best thing to have come out of this recent convention of the Sadbhavana party. This would make for a better arrangement than what India, Britain and America have.

During the 1994-1996 period, there used to the Nepal Samajwadi Janata Dal. It had two MPs: Rameshwar Raya Yadav, and Hridayesh Tripathy. Sarita Giri and I were Vice General Secretaries to that party. Rajendra Mahto was a central committee member.

Rajendra Mahto's number one task right now is to show magnanimity and work hard to bring all the disgruntled leaders back into the fold. I think he should go ahead and show up at the homes of those leaders, people like Hridayesh, Bharat Bimal, and Rameshwar Raya Yadav. All of them should be urged to join the party's central committee. Heck, even Anandi Devi would look great in the party's central committee.

It also feels good to see Anil Jha playing such an active part in the Sadbhavana's leadership. Our friendship has been forged during our meetings during his two trips to New York City.

I am extremely happy that Rajendra Mahto is now party president of the Sadbhavana.

Madhesi Movement: Delicate Turn
Federal National Democratic Forum: The Janajati Party
Time To Hit The Campaign Trail
Completely Proportional Election: Meeting Point With The Maoists
The Madhesi Cause Is On Fire: Put Out The Fire
To Do List For Sadbhavana And MJF
Goal: Federal Republic Of State Funded Parties
MJF Is For Republic, Land Reform, Dalit, Muslim, Janajati, Mahila Rights, And Small Or No Army
The MJF Must Stay Intact
The MJF Dispute: Got To Seek Middle Ground
No To Terrorism: Terai Army Is A Criminal Outfit
उपेन्द्र यादव: सरकार र फोरमबीच सम्झौता
The Madhesi MPs And The Idea Of A New Party
तराई बन्द नहीं संगठन िवस्तार किरए
जयप्रकाश गुप्ता: मधेस आन्दोलनका आग्रह
Goal Has To Be To Stay As One Country





In The News

महतो ँअध्यक्ष’ हुने Kantipur राष्ट्रिय कार्यसमितिको निर्वाचित २० स्थानका लागि ५७ जनाको उम्मेदवारी परेको छ ...... महाधिवेशनमा ८० प्रतिशत सहभागिताको दाबी गरिए पनि संख्या ठ्याक्कै भन्न नेताहरूले चाहेनन् । 'पाँच सयभन्दा बढी सहभागी भएका छन्,' महतोले भने । बेलुकी एउटा समूहले माईस्थान चोकमा महाधिवेशन धोका हो भन्दै केहीबेर नाराबाजी गरेको थियो । ........ प्रवक्ता सरिता गिरीद्वारा प्रस्तुत घोषणापत्र पनि सर्वसम्मतिले पारित भएको छ । राजनीतिक स्थिरताका लागि प्रत्यक्ष निर्वाचनमार्फत प्रधानमन्त्री चयन गर्ने घोषणापत्रमा उल्लेख छ । राजतन्त्रले मधेसीलगायतका समुदायविरुद्घ षड्यन्त्र गरेको भन्दै पार्टी लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्रको पक्षधर रहेको उल्लेख छ । 'संघीय शासन व्यवस्थाअन्तर्गत मुलुकलाई हिमाल, पहाड र मधेस तीन स्वायत्त प्रदेशमा विभाजन गरिनेछ,' घोषणापत्रमा भनिएको छ- 'प्रदेशहरूलाई भाषा, संस्कृति र जातजातिका आधारमा विभिन्न प्रान्तमा विभाजन गरिनेछ ।' ....... राजेन्द्र महतोले संविधानसभा चुनावबाट सबैभन्दा बढी मधेसी समुदायले लाभ उठाउने भएकाले यसमा खुलेर लाग्नुपर्ने बताएका छन् । 'पहिलोपटक जनताले आफ्नो हातले संविधान लेख्ने अवसर पाउनेछन्,' वीरगन्जमा रिपोर्टर्स क्लबको साक्षात्कारमा उनले भने- 'यसको अहिले सदुपयोग गरेनौं भने यो अवसरका लागि शताब्दीयौं कुर्नुपर्नेछ ।' ....... सद्भावना पार्टी संविधानसभाको निर्वाचनमा सहभागी हुन मधेसमा सक्रिय सबै मधेसी दल, सशस्त्र संगठनहरू र संघसंस्थासँग मोर्चा बनाउन तयार रहेको बताए ।
दलितको अठोट दुई युवती र एक युवक जिस्किँदै थिए । एउटीले "रोशन कार्की सार्की" भनेर युवकलाई जिस्क्याइन् ।

Mahato elected NSP-A chairman NepalNews The general convention of the dissident faction of Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi Devi) underway in Birgunj has elected Rajendra Mahato as chairman of the party, unopposed. .... a five-member committee of NSP leaders is trying to choose 20 central committee members without voting. 37 candidacies were filed today for the 20 elected seats. ..... 21 other central members will be nominated by the party leadership.
Prachanda discusses 22-pt demand with Koirala, MK Nepal
Maoist roundtable conference Monday
Maoists cannot run away from election, says PM Koirala
FM says development budget would be curtailed if oil price not increased

Nepal Sadbhavana Party (A) elects Mahato as chairman NewKerala.com The special convention of the Nepal Sadbhavana Party (Anandidevi), the biggest and oldest political party of the Terai region of Nepal, has unanimously elected Rajendra Mahato as the chairman of the party. ..... The session also passed the new party statute with a new provision of a chairperson, co-chairpersons, two vice-chairpersons and 41 central members ..... Mandal was ousted from the party and the two parties Nepal Sadbhavana and Nepal Sadbhavana Party (Anandi Devi) united a few months ago.
Minister Mahato to lead NSP-A, Karna settles for co-chairman post Kantipur Online, Nepal the party vice-chairman Laxman Lal Karna agreed not to fight for the party’s top post. ..... a no-confidence motion against party chairperson Anandi Devi Singh ..... The motion, which was lodged by 221 general convention representatives and tabled by party’s general secretary Anil Kumar Jha at the closed-door session held at the City Hall in Birgunj, was passed by clapping hands this afternoon. ..... The party has proposed that during the restructuring of the country, one national parliament and three autonomous regions with their own regional parliaments should be set up and the lawmakers in the national and regional parliaments should be elected through a mixed-electoral system. ...... The party has also proposed that the Prime Minister should be elected through the first-past-the-post system. ..... party’s Election Officer Mumtaj Ahmad informed that altogether 625 representative of the party should have been present in the convention. ...... Mahato claimed that 80 to 85 percent of the party leaders and cadres have participated in the three-day convention .... Senior party Vice-Chairman Laxman Lal Karna told a local FM station Thursday night that he also plans to apply for the party’s top post. ..... In the closed-door session, the party leaders and cadres have strongly raised demands such as annulment of unlimited powers given to the party chairperson, party unity, party policy and election manifesto in local Hindi language.

Senior politicians, civil society leaders discuss political crisis Kantipur UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, Nepali Congress General Secretary and Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Ram Chandra Poudel, Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Maoist second-in-command Dr Baburam Bhattarai, leader of Nepal Sadbhavana Party-Anandi Devi Hridayesh Tripathi and other leaders of the eight parties and prominent civil society activists are involved in the discussion.
Maoists struggle to reschedule roundtable finding it increasingly difficult to hold their proposed roundtable conference ..... Although a Maoist source said Narahari Acharya of Nepali Congress and Pradip Giri of NC (Democratic) have expressed their commitment to participation, Acharya told the Post he has not received any invitation. "I have no knowledge of such a conference," he said. ..... the party will again hold discussions with the leadership of the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) and other ethnic groups for their participation. NEFIN and the Federal Democratic National Forum have already declined to attend the Maoist 'roundtable'.
JTMM-G cadres torch Matrika Yadav’s jeep Five days ago, Yadav’s bodyguard Bibek, had runaway in the vehicle along with one AK-47 rifle, and Rs 500, 000. He was also the driver of the jeep (Ja 1 Pa 503). .... A former JTMM cadre, Bibek had joined the Maoist party a year ago. .... Bivek is said to have rejoined JTMM. ... The JTMM-G, which waging an armed agitation for a separate Terai state, is a renegade faction of the CPN-Maoist.
CA polls must to ensure rights of Madhes: Minister Mahato Rajendra Mahato Saturday underscored the need of active participation in the upcoming Constituent Assembly elections to ensure the rights of Madhesi people. ..... time had come for the two-decade-old dream of the party to be materialized. ..... "Now no one can stop the gun-powder of Madhes from being exploded," said Minister Mahato. ..... the party would unite all Madhesi and pro-Madhesis for the decisive fight ..... the election of the 20-member central working committee of the party couldn't take place after all the candidates who had registered their names for the post withdrew their names unanimously ....... stating that the current circumstances within the party was not suitable for such elections. ...... Laxmanlal Karna, Narsingh Chaudhari, Paramanand Yadav, Bishnu Narayan Chaudhari and Ram Naresh Yadav would nominate new members within few days, said senior NSP-A leader Anil Jha. ..... The nomination would be as inclusive as possible by appointing Dalit, women, youth and indigenous people's representative ...... Altogether 57 persons had registered their names for the central working committee earlier. ...... The Mahato-led faction had unanimously passed no-confidence move against the party chairman Singh on Friday. The NSP-A leader Mahato has a strong hold in the party.

Madhesi Movement: Delicate Turn

My first choice would be for the Maoists and the seven parties to reach a compromise position such that the Maoists agree to wait until after the election to declare the country a republic, and the seven parties agree to hold completely proportional elections to the constituent assembly.

Completely proportional elections to the constituent assembly is still the first and still possible option for the Madhesi Movement. But the best can not be made the enemy of the good, and the Madhesi Movement must gear up to contest the November election even under the current mixed arrangement.

My first choice would be that the eight party government in Kathmandu engages Jwala and Goit in respectful dialogue. I don't see that materialzing. So my second choice option is for there to be a Madhesi Alliance of the Madhesi parties like the Sadbhavana and the MJF, and for that Alliance to reach out to Jwala and Goit. The Sadbhavana's call for a ceasefire on the part of Jwala and Goit is a welcome move, but it is incomplete.

The Madhesi Alliance will have to reach out to Jwala, Goit and all the other armed Madhesi groups and publicly denounce the government for not engaging them in respectful dialogue. The Alliance should seek a unilateral ceasefire from the armed groups and also moral support for the Madhesi Alliance and its Ek Madhesh, Ek Pradesh slogan. In return the Madhesi Alliance should promise Jwala and Goit that the Madhesi Alliance will go into power after the November election and it will hold respectful dialogue with them. Respectful dialogue means all their cadres will be released, all court cases against them will be taken back, all their soldiers will be put into cantonments, to be potentially integrated into the Nepal Army.

The Madhesi Alliance should make public a stance on the Nepal Army, that it wants at least one third of the Nepal Army to be Madhesi in composition.

Rajendra Mahto

The Sadbhavana just had its convention. Not everyone attended, but the convention did have its quorum. More than 80% attended. That puts Mahto in a very strong position. He will be tempted to rub Tripathy's nose in the dust. He should restrain himself and keep open the option to make peace.

Making peace would mean leaving open the option to invite some of the dissidents into the party's central committee, and keeping open the option to issue them tickets for the impending election.

Such moves would naturally have to be preceded by mediation and peace talks.

Madhesi leaders who ask for major sacrifices from the Madhesi masses should be able to show to that same mass that they are capable of getting along with each other, that they are capable of settling minor disputes among themselves.

The leader who is in a strong position must help the leader in weak position to save face.

Upendra Yadav

Like Mahto is strong inside the Sadbhavana, Yadav is strong inside the MJF. Yadav must make room to make peace with his dissidents as well. Bishwas must be brought back into the fold.

The Sadbhavana was not at the forefront of the Madhesi Kranti, the MJF was. But then that is why the MJF is larger than the Sadbhavana right now. The MJF must exhibit magnanimity and be open to the idea of forging a Madhesi Alliance with the Sadbhavana. The agenda would be simple.

1. Ek Madhesh, Ek Pradesh.
2. Respectful peace talks with Jwala, Goit and the others.
   

The Madhesi Alliance would mean both parties would still compete with each other for the 240 seats for the proportional part of the election. But they would make seat adjustments for the seats to be elected directly. It could be a 100% adjustment. Or it could be partial. A 100% seat adjustment would mean if a constituency has a MJF candidate, it, by rule, does not have a Sadbhavana candidate, and vice versa. If they manage a 100% adjustment, they could go for a 50-50 formula, or they could split it 40-60 in the MJF's favor, or something in the vicinity.

The MJF and the Sadbhavana must think ahead. They must make some strategic moves. Because the November Election is going to be bigger than the Madhesi Kranti and the April Revolution put together.

A Madhesi Wave must be created. All Madhesi leaders of all Madhesi parties must look united to the Madhesi masses. That is how you create a Madhesi Wave.

Simple Majority Will Form Government, Two Third Majority Will Write Constitution

The unified Congress will be one block inside the assembly. The RPP and the RJP might be part of it. The left parties will be another block. The Madhesi Alliance must emerge as the third, indispensable block. The reality inside the assembly should be that neither the Congress nor the communists can either form the next government or write the next constitution without the support of the Madhesi Alliance.

Jwala, Goit Must Think Hard

This is the time to act wisely. Both might and have been tempted to go solo. They have already made public their intentions to disrupt the polls. They must ask themselves if that is the best move they can make for the Madhesi Movement.

I disagree with them. The best move would be to form a Madhesi Alliance of all Madhesi paties and create a Madhesi sweep during the November Election and form the next government and write a new constitution that creates a Madhesh state. Ek Madhesh, Ek Pradesh.

Reaching Out Is Not Easy

For Rajendra Mahto to reach out to Hridayesh Tripathy, for Upendra Yadav to reach to Kishor Kumar Bishwas, for Upendra Yadav to reach out to Rajendra Mahto, for Yadav, Mahto, Tripathy and Bishwas to reach out to Jwala and Goit, for Jwala and Goit to rein in their central leaders: all that is not going to be easy. But then that is what leadership is all about. You do the hard thing. You reach out.

Madhesi Alliance: No More Terai Band

That should be the new slogan: No More Terai Band. Terai Band hurts the Madhesis. It is time to take the Madhesi Movement off the streets and onto the campaign trail. It is time to take the Madhesi Movement to the election booth.

Goal: Create A Madhesi Wave

The slogan of Ek Madhesh, Ek Pradesh, and the organizational reality of a Madhesi Alliance will create such a wave.

Madhesi MPs

The Madhesi MPs in the big parties toyed with the idea of launching a regional party. Now looks like that is not happening. Both the Sadbhavana and the MJF must make some room for some of them defecting the big parties and wanting to join these two parties to contest the elections.

Federal National Democratic Forum: The Janajati Party
Time To Hit The Campaign Trail
Completely Proportional Election: Meeting Point With The Maoists
The Madhesi Cause Is On Fire: Put Out The Fire
To Do List For Sadbhavana And MJF
Goal: Federal Republic Of State Funded Parties
MJF Is For Republic, Land Reform, Dalit, Muslim, Janajati, Mahila Rights, And Small Or No Army
The MJF Must Stay Intact
The MJF Dispute: Got To Seek Middle Ground
No To Terrorism: Terai Army Is A Criminal Outfit
उपेन्द्र यादव: सरकार र फोरमबीच सम्झौता
The Madhesi MPs And The Idea Of A New Party
तराई बन्द नहीं संगठन िवस्तार किरए
जयप्रकाश गुप्ता: मधेस आन्दोलनका आग्रह

In The News

Prachanda says efforts are on for eight-party consensus NepalNews
PLA's movement is serious violation of agreement, says UNMIN
Anandidevi relieved of her position by Mahato-led NSP 221 representatives of convention passed the motion unanimously. ..... The closed-door session of the convention also passed the new statute of the party that decreased the size of central committee from 63 to 41. Twenty of the central committee members will be elected directly through the convention while others will be nominated. ....... The party has proposed three regional and one national parliament in the new federal Nepal with three autonomous states – Mountains, Hills and Terai. .... Mahato is expected to become new chief of the organisation.
RPP puts off convention again
JTMM-Jwala also vows to disrupt CA election JTMM-Jwala announced various programmes, which include shutdown strikes, to make sure CA elections do not take place in Terai on the scheduled date. ..... Saying that the CA election was just a sham to deceive the Madheshi people, JTMM-Jwala has said that it won’t let it take place under any circumstances by waging an intense struggle. The armed groups has also warned that it would take “physical action” against those taking part in the election campaigning in Terai. ....... The announcement has also come a day after Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandidevi) said it is going to build a joint front of Madheshi parties keeping in mind the upcoming CA election -- so as to form a separate Madheshi government-- and called upon both factions of the JTMM to declare ceasefire till the elections and opt for come for talks.

Close session starts in NSP special convention The party leaders are expected to submit organisational reports at the session to forge future strategies for the party. ..... Earlier, on Thursday, the convention kicked off amidst intense dispute between rival faction. ..... Security has been beefed up in and around the convention venue amidst fears of violent clashes between the rival factions. ..... chairperson of 11 of the 12 sister units of the party had also participated in the inaugural ceremony. ...... Addressing the inaugural programme party vice chairman and Commerce Minister Rajendra Mahato claimed that Madhesi parties would soon go on to build a joint front keeping in view the constituent assembly election to form a separate Madhes government. He said the party is also in talks with armed terai groups like Jai Krishna Goit and Jwala Singh led factions of Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) for the aforementioned front. ...... "We call upon the armed groups for dialogue," Minister Mahato said, "If they don't want to come to talks then we request them to call a unilateral cease-fire until the constituent assembly election are held." ..... Mahato said that only if the armed groups call a ceasefire they would be able to empower the Madhesi people in a peaceful manner. ..... Mahato was also of the opinion that since they had agreed to hold the special general convention of the party within three months when they agreed for party unity "holding the special general convention was necessary." .... NSP's senior vice-chairman Laxman Lal Karna said that the new constitution would be drafted in favour of the Madhesi people only if the Madhesi candidates are victorious in Madhes.

Parties are in election mood, we are in agitation mood, says Badal

PLA combatants come out of cantonments to demonstrate NepalNews
Parties are in election mood, we are in agitation mood, says Badal Clarifying that the proposed roundtable conference had not been cancelled, he said that they would hold it before September 18. "There was some lack of homework on our part. And there were some more organisations who had shown interest to take part in the roundtable. That is why we put it off," he said.
Yadav hits back at Maoist attempt to sow divide in MJF Reacting to the Maoist invitation to the dissident faction of his party to attend their roundtable conference, Upendra Yadav, president of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF), has accused the Maoists of trying to sow divide in MJF. Talking to his party cadres in Inaruwa on Thursday, Yadav said that the Maoist move had made it difficult for MJF to have any kind of cooperation with them. Alleging the dissident faction led by Kishore Bishwas of smearing the image of MJF, Yadav said the Maoists' roundtable conference was a meaningless exercise. Yadav said monarchy and Maoists were the two biggest enemies of MJF. He called for his cadres to actively participate in the Constituent Assembly (CA) election.
Government signs 9-point pact with Chure Bhawar
Maoists' roundtable meet suspended
Mahato faction proceeds with general convention
Announcing republic before polls not a legitimate choice: Bijukchhe

Maoists' roundtable meet suspended NepalNews suspended because their internal preparations are incomplete. They have said the roundtable will be held soon. .... Dr. Baburam Bhattarai had said that the roundtable would end the current political impasse in the country. ..... Their sudden decision to suspend the roundtable meeting has come in the wake of protests by other parties who have urged Maoists not to explore resolutions of their issues outside of the eight party alliance.
Mahato faction proceeds with party convention Only chairperson Anandidevi and general secretary Shyamsundar Gupta of the 13-member Central Work Performance Committee (CWPC) of the party are not participating in the general convention. Likewise, a majority – altogether 35 - of the 49-member National Working Committee of the party are taking part in the convention. They include senior vice-chairman Laxman Lal Karna, vice-chairmen Mahato and Narsingh Chaudhari, general secretary Anil Kumar Jha and spokesperson Sarita Giri. ..... "a few NSP members" including Hridayesh Tripathy were against holding the special convention because it wasn't favorable time for them.
Emulating a Singaporean Model: Overhauling leadership first
Jwala's men kill one in Janakpur Stepping up their armed activities, Jwala Singh-led faction of JTMM has resorted to a killing spree in Terai. A day after their cadres mercilessly hacked to death a school principal in Siraha district, they shot to death one employee of local brick kiln in Dhanusha district. Kedar Prasad Giri, 35, an accountant at the brick kiln in Baghchauda has been shot to death. A central member of JTMM-J Rajan Mukti has claimed responsibility for his murder.
Jwala's men murder schoolteacher in Siraha a group led by JTMM-J platoon commander Raju Singh abducted Arun Kumar Shrestha, the headmaster of Bishnupurkatti High School, out of his house in Bishnupurkatti; brought him to a sugarcane field some one kilometre away from his house and stabbed him to death. ..... The JTMM-J cadres also clashed with the local people who tried to stop them from abducting Shrestha. ..... The group has said Shrestha was killed for involving in the publicity campaign for constituent assembly elections and refusing to pay ‘tax’ to its ‘district government’. ...... JTMM-J Siraha district in-charge Tufan Singh Bidhrohi telephoned local media persons and claimed responsibility for the killing. ....... Of late, the two factions of JTMM have intensified targeted killings, abductions and forceful seizure of lands of the leaders of mainstream political parties and local landlords in Terai districts.

महतो पक्ष्ा दह्रो Kantipur वीरगन्ज, भदौ २६ - सद्भावना -आनन्दीदेवी) को महाधिवेशन प्रचारका लागि सहरभरि टाँसिएका पोस्टरमा पार्टी संस्थापक गजेन्द्रनारायण सिंहसँगै उनकै श्रीमती आनन्दीदेवीको तस्बिर छ । तर बिहीबारदेखि सुरु हुने महाधिवेशनले अध्यक्ष आनन्दीदेवी सिंहलाई हटाउने सम्भावना बढ्दै गएको छ । महाधिवेशन नगर्ने अध्यक्ष पक्षभन्दा गर्ने उपाध्यक्ष राजेन्द्र महतो पक्ष बलियो देखिएको छ । राष्ट्रिय कार्यसम्पादन समितिका १३ मध्ये अध्यक्ष आनन्दीदेवी र महासचिव श्यामसुन्दर गुप्ताबाहेक ११ जना महाधिवेशनमा उपस्थित छन् । यस्तै ४९ सदस्यीय राष्ट्रिय कार्यसमिति सदस्यमध्ये वरिष्ठ उपाध्यक्ष लक्ष्मणलाल कर्ण, उपाध्यक्षहरू महतो र नरसिंह चौधरी, महामन्त्री अनिलकुमार झा, प्रवक्ता सरिता गिरीलगायत ३५ सदस्य आएका छन् । महाधिवेशन प्रतिनिधिहरू आउने क्रम जारी छ । अध्यक्ष आनन्दीदेवीविरुद्घ यसअघि नै अविश्वास प्रस्ताव दर्ता भइसकेको छ । पार्टी विधानअनुसार महाधिवेशन प्रतिनिधिको साधारण बहुमतले अध्यक्षलाई हटाउन सक्नेछ, जुन लगभग निश्चित छ । अध्यक्ष पक्षधर महामन्त्री गुप्ताले महाधिवेशन बिथोल्ने धम्की दिए पनि पार्टीको स्थानीय तह महाधिवेशनका लागि दिलोज्यान लगाएर भिडेकाले गाह्रो पर्नेछ । महतोले दुई-चार जनाले चाहँंदैमा पार्टीको विशेष महाधिवेशन नरोकिने बताएका छन् । रिपोर्टस् क्लब वीरगन्जको कार्यक्रममा उनले आफू अनुकूल नहुने सम्भावना देखेर केही नेताहरू म्ाहाधिवेशनको विरोधमा लागेको बताए । अध्यक्षद्वारा विस्तारित बैठक आह्वान काठमाडौं- सद्भावना पार्टी -आनन्दीदेवी) की राष्ट्रिय अध्यक्ष आनन्दीदेवी सिंहले सोमबार राष्ट्रिय कार्यसमितिको विस्तारित बैठक बोलाएकी छन् । बानेश्वरस्थित पार्टी केन्द्रीय कार्यालयमा बोलाइएको उक्त बैठकमा महाधिवेशन तयारी समिति र आगामी महाधिवेशनको तिथि घोषणा हुने महासचिव श्यामसुन्दर गुप्ताले बुधबार बताए । यसैबीच सद्भावनाको काठमाडौं उपत्यका समितिका अध्यक्ष मुरलीप्रसाद सिंह, उपाध्यक्ष निरन्जन पौडेल र ललितपुर जिल्ला कार्यसमितिका अध्यक्ष रामप्रसाद भट्टले बुधबार संयुक्त विज्ञप्ति जारी गरी बिहीबारदेखि वीरगन्जमा हुने भनिएको महाधिवेशन विधान र पार्टी कार्यकर्ताको भावनाविपरीत भएको दाबी गरेका छन् । उता सप्तरीका ५५ जना महाधिवेशन प्रतिनिधिले दुवै पक्ष एकजुट नभएसम्म महाधिवेशनमा भाग नलिने विज्ञप्तिमार्फत जानकारी गराएका छन् ।
माओवादीले 'तत्काल' सरकार छाड्ने नेकपा -एकीकृत), मालेमा, संयुक्त माक्र्सवादी, कणर्ाली गणतान्त्रिक मोर्चा, नयाँ जनवादी लिग, मुस्लिम गणतान्त्रिक मोर्चा ...... आठ दलसँग सम्बन्ध नरहने र नयाँ शक्तिबीच ध्रुवीकरण हुने ..... 'माओवादीले राखेका २२ बुँदा मागमध्ये चुनावअघि गणतन्त्र घोषणा र पूर्ण समानुपातिक निर्वाचन प्रणालीबाहेक सबै पूरा गर्न सात दल सहमत छन्,' वैद्यलाई उद्धृत गर्दै अर्का सहभागीले भने- 'मुख्य दुई मागै पूरा नहुने भएपछि आन्दोलनको विकल्प रहेन ।' ...... मधेसी जनअधिकार फोरमको विद्रोही समूह, लिम्बू र तामाङ लगायत जातीय संगठनलाई समेत आह्वान गरिए पनि तिनको सहभागिताको टुंगो नलागेको ...... तत्काल गणतन्त्र, पूर्ण समानुपातिक निर्वाचन प्रणाली, स्वायत्ततासहित संघीय राज्य चाहने सबै शक्तिबीच ध्रुवीकरणका लागि गोलमेच आह्वान गरिएको .... रामचन्द्र पौडेलले 'माग त हाम्रा पनि छन्, घरजग्गा फिर्ता, विस्थापितको पुनःस्थापनलगायत'
तराईका समस्या समाधान जरुरी’ निर्वाचनका लागि शान्ति आवश्यक रहेको बताउँदै तराईका समस्या समाधानप्रति दलहरूको ध्यान जानुपर्ने ...... 'निर्विघ्न चुनाव गराउनका लागि तराईका समस्या समाधान र देशलाई गृहयुद्धको भुमरीबाट जोगाउने हो भने संविधानसभा निर्वाचन हुनुपर्छ ।'
यादव पार्टी विस्तारमा व्यस्त मधेसमा घट्दो जनाधार र पार्टीविरुद्ध हुन थालेको भौतिक तथा राजनीतिक आक्रमणको मुकाविला गर्न माओवादी केन्द्रीय नेता मातृका यादव यतिखेर तराई केन्दि्रत कार्यक्रममा व्यस्त छन् । ....... एक सातादेखि भूमिगत शैलीमा जनकपुरमा रहेका मिथिला उपराज्य समिति इन्चार्ज यादवले पाँच जिल्लाका पार्टी नेतासँग सामूहिक तथा छुट्टाछुट्टै रूपमा भेटेका छन् । मिथिला उपराज्य समितिको बैठकको नाउँमा भेला भएका सप्तरी, सिरहा, धनुषा, महोत्तरी र सर्लाहीका जिल्ला कमिटी सदस्यहरूसँगको भेटमा संविधानसभा निर्वाचनको अवस्था मूल्यांकन, जानु नै पर्ने भयो भने अपनाउनुपर्ने रणनीति तथा मधेसीको चाहनाबारे छलफल भएको छ । सरकार-फोरम वार्ताको विश्लेषण तथा मधेसमा यसको प्रभाव, जनाधारबारे पनि छलफल भएको स्रोतले बतायो । ...... नवगठित मिथिला उपराज्य समिति बैठक भइरहेकै बेला जनकपुर उद्योग व्यापार संघ र माओवादी निकट गार्मेन्ट मजदुर एवं वाईसीएलबीच झडपसमेत भएको थियो । पाँच दिनसम्म माओवादीविरुद्ध जनकपुर बजार बन्द रह्यो । व्यापारीले माओवादी र वाईसीएल विरुद्ध प्रदर्शनसमेत गरे । ...... आफ्नै गृहनगरमा पार्टीविरुद्ध भएको उग्र प्रदर्शनको जवाफ उनले प्रदर्शनकै माध्यमले दिए । प्रदर्शनलाई शिक्षा तथा खेलकुद राज्यमन्त्री मंगलसिंह राठौरविरुद्ध केन्दि्रत गरिएको थियो भने पार्टीविरुद्ध लागेका व्यावसायीलाई हदैसम्मको धम्की दिइएको थियो । त्यसले युवा व्यावसायीलाई आक्रोशित बनाएको छ भने मुखिया र व्यापारी डराएका छन् । ...... । "संविधानसभा जतिसक्दो चाँडो होस् भन्ने चाहन्छौं तर कस्मिरको जस्तो चुनावको अर्थ रहन्न .... बैठकले पाँच जिल्लामा नयाँ नेतृत्व चयन गरेको छ
मधेसी दल खोल्ने योजना काठमाडौ, भदौ २६ - निर्वाचन आयोगले दल दर्ताको म्याद नथपेकाले मधेसका नेताहरूले बेग्लै पार्टी गठन गर्ने योजना अवरुद्ध भएको एक सक्रिय योजनाकारले बताएका छन् । कांग्रेस सांसद तथा पूर्वमन्त्री जयप्रकाश गुप्ताले दलहरूसँग सम्बद्ध मधेसका नेताहरू मिलेर छुट्टै दल गठनको योजना बीचैमा रोकिएको बताए । 'जेठमा आयोगले दल दर्ताको सूचना गर्दा पार्टी गठन टुंगोमा पुगेको थिएन । चुनाव सरेपछि योजना परिपक्व भएको हो,' उनले कान्तिपुरसित भने- 'आयोगले दोस्रोपटक दल दर्ताको अवसर नदिएकाले त्यत्तिकै अडकिएको छ ।' उनले पार्टी विधान, दल दर्ताका लागि आवश्यक १० हजार हस्ताक्षर र घोषणापत्र तयार भइसकेको बताए । दल दर्ताको म्याद थप गर्न अनुरोध गर्दै निवेदन परे पनि आयोगले दल दर्ताको सूचना प्रकाशित गरेको छैन । आयोगका आयुक्त दोलखबहादुर गुरुङले निर्वाचनको तयारीमा जुटिसकेकाले दल दर्ताको म्याद थप्ने सम्भावना नरहेको बताए । उनले आयोगमा ६१ वटा दल दर्ता भएको र संविधानसभा चुनावमा तिनै दलले मात्रै मान्यता पाउने बताए । एक साताअघि रामेश्वर शाहले दल दर्ताको म्याद थप गर्न अनुरोध गर्दै निवेदन दिएका थिए । गुप्ताका अनुसार आयोगले त्यस्तो अवसर नदिए अहिले भएकै पार्टीबाट संविधानसभामा सहभागी हुने रणनीति मधेसी नेताहरूले लिएका छन् । एमाले केन्द्रीय सदस्य रघुवीर महासेठले क्षेत्रीय पार्टी खुल्न सक्ने सम्भावना स्वीकार्दै 'राष्ट्रिय दलहरूले अझै पनि मधेसका मुद्दा उपेक्षा गरे क्षेत्रीय पार्टी खुल्न सक्छ' भने । एमालेकै महेन्द्र यादवले पनि पार्टी नेतृत्वसँग मधेसका मुद्दामा आफ्नो असन्तुष्टि रहेको बताए ।
निर्वाचनको प्रतिरोध गर्छौंः गोइत
संविधानसभा निर्वाचनका पूर्वाधार तराई/मधेसका जनताले उठाइरहेका पहिचान तथा राज्यमा स्वामित्वको सवाललाई सरकारले पारदर्शी वार्ता प्रक्रियाको माध्यमबाट जनविश्वास प्राप्त गर्नेगरी सम्बोधन गर्न आवश्यक छ । तसर्थ सरकारले त्यहाँ सक्रिय सबै समूहसित वार्ता गरी शान्ति स्थापनाका लागि पहल गर्नुपर्छ साथै जीवन कष्टकर हुँदै गएको मध्यतराईको वर्तमान अवस्थालाई रोक्न सबै राजनैतिक दल संवेदनशील हुनु आवश्यक छ ।

Talks with Tharu body end inconclusively Kantipur the United Tharu National Front- Nepal (UTNF-N) ..... The UTNF-N has put forth a 23-point demand, of which four are significant political demands. Rest of the demands are related to implementation of commitments made in the past. ..... The four political demands include a federal state structure based on caste, region and linguistic geography with the right to self-determination, fully proportionate representation of all in Constituent Assembly (CA) castes based on their population, scrapping of the government announcement to declare 20 districts of the Tarai as Madhesh and holding a roundtable conference of all disgruntled groups before the CA poll. ....... a 15-member talks team of the UTNF-N including coordinator Yogendra Prasad Tharu represented the agitating party.
Maoist driver, bodyguard flee with gun, car The personal bodyguard and driver of Maoist central member and former minister Matrika Yadav ran away along with cash, a gun and a party vehicle, Tuesday morning. According to Shivaram Yadav, Kathmandu coordinator of Maoist sister wing Madhesi Mukti Morcha (MMM), bodyguard 'Sartha' and driver Binod Kumar Yadav (Bibek) made off with Rs. 500,000 in cash, one AK-47 rifle and the vehicle, after taking Matrika Yadav to a party function in Janakpur. According to party sources, the duo entered Bihar, India through Hanumannagar transit point in Siraha at 11:30 a.m. the same day. Bibek, a former military commander of the Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha-Goit faction(JTMM-G), had defected from the JTMM-G in similar fashion nearly a year ago. He had left the group, taking with him three SMG rifles, three muskets, a local-made pistol and two other weapons before joining the Maoists.
‘Use force against terai criminal activity’
JTMM-Goit announces Terai bandh coinciding with CA polls
MMT Calls Off Tarai Bandh Himalayan Times The Madhesi Mukti Tigers on Wednesday withdrew the indefinite general strike it had called in the Tarai. Central member of the MMT Sukh Dev Singh said the bandh was withdrawn in view of the problems faced by the general public, students, businessmen and transport entrepreneurs. The group had called the general strike on September 7.
Maoist roundtable conference begins today Leaders of SPA, fringe left parties ‘invited’ ..... NC, CPN-UML yet to receive invites ..... beginning tomorrow at Hotel Malla. .... Amrit Kumar Bohara said, adding: “Objective of the roundtable is unclear. Relevance of the roundtable conference was over the moment dissolved House of Representatives was revived through the second Jana Andolan.” ........ Chakra Prasad Bastola .. “Our party may not participate in the conference even if it receives the invitation. We want to settle all key issues through eight-party meetings, not from other processes.” ..... the party had not invited the groups such as Jwala Singh and Jaya Krishna Goit-led Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) who were engaged in violence. ..... they would table the party’s 22-point charter for discussion during the roundtable and agenda from other groups would also be equally entertained. He said the roundtable conference would chiefly dwell on the issue of declaring the country a republic before the constituent assembly election and proportional representation system for assembly polls. He said the conference would also discuss the possibility of launching a joint peaceful movement to press for a republic before the polls and proportional representation system of election. ...... Ananta, CPN-Maoist deputy commander, today said his party would break all previous agreements, including the 12-point understanding, signed with the seven-party alliance after the party forms a common minimum programme with the parties and factions supporting republic. ..... would culminate in the formation of a front of the like-minded parties and factions to press for republic through a peaceful movement. ...... “We might even consider walking out of the parliament after walking out of the government,” he said. ..... urged Prime Minister Girija Prasad Khanal to immediately call the meeting of the eight parties, saying the constituent assembly elections without the participation of the Maoists would be “tasteless.” “The PM must take the initiative to avoid split in the eight parties ....... “The reason for all the current crises is the lack of capable leadership.”
Govt-Janajati pact: PM in the dark “We cannot wait too long (for the pact to be implemented),” Dr Gurung said, adding that they would launch protest programmes if the government failed to implement the agreement soon.