Friday, September 21, 2007

Armed Revolution To Street Agitation To Parliamentary Arithmetic


For the Maoists to move from "Power flows through the barrel of a gun" to nonviolent street protests like during the April Revolution was a huge, huge step. But they seem to have not completed that step, some of their old ways are still current in some of their rank and file, and, more important, they are stuck in that second step.

The next big step they need to take is to realize street agitation is not the be all and end all. Ideally speaking, there should never be any street protests. Parliamentary arithmetic should be enough to move and shake things in national politics.

Right now the parliamentary arithmetic is in favor of their two key demands. They need to tap that. They should be able to isolate Girija in the interim parliament.

If all parties big and small are formally for a republic, why can't they declare that right away? The people already spoke during April 2006. Republic was the street slogan of the April Revolution.

And declaration of a fully PR election and allowing a few more weeks to register new parties is key. After the elections were postponed the last time, no new parties have been registered in the aftermath. That is wrong. After the elections were postponed, a new election schedule should have been published that should have allowed for the registration of new parties.

A Janajati party has been formed, but I don't think it has been registered. (Federal National Democratic Forum: The Janajati Party) There is a need for a similar Dalit party. I would call it the Dalit Adhikar Forum. All the Madhesi MPs should similarly float a new outfit and call it the Madhesi People's Party. That would be a great way to end the tension inside the Sadbhavana (Anandi). Tripathy can go to the new outfit.

The Maoists have to coalesce around the Madhav Nepal name. And Madhav Nepal must step up to the plate.

It is criminal thinking on Girija's part to suggest that if moves are made to oust him, that is akin to inviting danger to the country's sovereignty. Girija is a nobody. Nepal is much bigger than one person, especially someone corrupt, inept, and immobile like Girija.

The number one problem in the country is Gyanendra. The number two problem is Girija. Both have to be ousted. Gyanendra needs to be made a citizen. Girija needs to be sent into retirement. For one, retirement will be better for his health. More importantly, his retirement will be better for the health of the country.

Madhav Nepal Needs To Make A Move

Madhav Nepal will be palatable to the international community. India and Europe have gone out of their way to hint that Madhav Nepal would be palatable to them. Remember those visits? It is for Madhav Nepal, Prachanda, Deuba, Sherchan, Mahto and the rest to come together and oust Girija to make sure we still can have elections on November 22.

As soon as Girija is ousted, things will speed up. You will see movement in the political process. You will have a Prime Minister who regularly holds extensive consultations.

With Girija, the country has been stuck in a rut.

The Maoists can get more out of parliamentary arithmetic than through street agitations at this point.

For Prachanda, it might be about republic. For Deuba it is about his political survival. If the country does not have a fully PR election, Deuba's party will get wiped out. And if it gets wiped out once, it is not going to be able to resurrect itself in a subsequent election.

Deuba needs a fully PR election more than any other major leader on the national scene. He has to rally behind the Madhav Nepal name on that one point agenda.

Madhav Nepal, on his part, can demand better Maoist behavior on the ground.

The best part of declaring Nepal a republic right away will be that then all parties are going to be forced to offer much clearer visions on the all important issue of federalism. How many states? What shape, sizes? What kind of power distribution between the center and the states?

Evil Home Minister, Evil Prime Minister

Mohit Khan's murder might have sparked the downslide, but the full-fledged riots that lasted an entire week and are still ongoing are because the state and those in power have made a conscious decision to make sure the security forces are not sent in in small measure or large.

People in power who are angry that there ever was a Madhesi Kranti have seen this as an opportunity to get even. So you had problems with our crowd control attempts during the so-called Madhesi Kranti? Great. Now we are going to stay out completely and watch you kill each other. And have fun. That has been the thinking of the Pahadi Bahuns in Kathmandu. That is criminal thinking.

That is a strong argument for a Madhesh state and a Madhesh Police.

Goal: Federal Republic Of State Funded Parties

Goal: Federal Republic Of State Funded Parties

Republic is guaranteed. Federalism is guaranteed: it is just a matter of time. What bothers me is that none of the parties, not even the Maoists are talking in terms of turning Nepal into a country of state funded parties. That is a problem.

Proposed Constitution

Rwanda, Iraq

At some level, the riots in Kapilvastu that quickly took communal overtones along the Pahadi Madhesi, and Hindu Muslim lines tell us Nepal is not really that far from Rwanda and Iraq. That Nepal is not that far from the Hindu-Muslim riots like in India.

This is sad.

A fully PR election that allows for Madhesi, Janajati and Dalit parties is the best way to blow steam and let the sentiments take legitimate outlets.

The disrespect shown to the Madhesi Kranti for the longest time, the continued reluctance to engage the armed Madhesi groups in respectful dialogue has at some level led to a deteriorating Pahadi-Madhesi social dynamic in the Madhesh for which those in power have to take responsibility.

In The News

Maoists trying to find alternative to PM Koirala, reveals Dev Gurung Kantipur Accusing Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and his party, the Nepali Congress, of “complicating” the ongoing peace process ...... his party was trying to find an alternative to PM Koirala. ..... the Maoists were collecting parliamentarians’ signatures to call a special session of the Interim Legislature-Parliament so as to register a no-confidence motion against PM Koirala. ...... one-fourth MPs of the 330-member interim parliament can call a special session and the Prime Minister can be removed if the House passes a no-confidence motion against him by a two-thirds majority. ........ unless the government accepted two key demands ..... declaration of a republic through the interim parliament prior to the CA polls, and adoption of a fully proportional electoral system. ...... Gurung also proposed that the November 22 CA polls could be deferred again for sometime “if they cannot not be held by declaring the country a republic in advance, and adopting a fully proportional electoral system.” ...... the third national convention of the Maoist-aligned Limbu National Liberation Front
Maoists blame administration for Kapilvastu violence; urges to take action regressive force was behind the mayhem in the district and said that a repetition of such incidents if the country is not declared a republic soon. ....... rapped the government for failing to maintain security in the country. ..... expressed his doubts that the army could be mobilized on the pretext of quelling communal violence.
Kapilvastu riots can hamper free, fair polls: OHCHR-Nepal
Police, local admin failed to take necessary precaution: NHRC at least 22 people were killed, over 500 houses, including 119 burnt down, destroyed, and over three thousand people were displaced over the past six days in Kapilvastu district. ...... blamed the police and the local administration of not taking necessary precaution before, during and after the violence. ..... at least 95 shops in and around Jagatpur, Ganeshpur, Manpur, Krishnanagar, Chandrauta, Bishanpur villages have been destroyed. Over 150 vehicles were vandalized. ..... Altogether 119 houses located at Bishanpur to Sukumbasi Tol and a cotton factory at Krishnanagar have been reduced to cinder ...... commissioner Ram Nagina Singh ..... human rights defenders were also not allowed to visit some places by different groups ..... NHRC said that it found people angry with the police as the latter skipped their repeated calls for security.
Kapilvastu riots part of conspiracy to disrupt communal harmony: Minister Sitaula
Martin urges parties to work together for peace
No party unification before CA polls, if not by tomorrow: Deuba Deuba accused the NC leaders of not showing genuine interest for unification .... Deuba also said that the elections sans the Maoist participation would be useless.
NSU submits memo to supplies minister, urges not to hike petro price
Janamorcha Nepal begins poll campaign, rally disrupts traffic in capital Traffic was disrupted in capital’s Purano Baneshowr, Naya Baneshwor, Koteshwor, Balaju, Kalanki, Chabahil, Pulchowk
MPRF demands stern action against Kapilvastu violence guilty Over the last six days, violence-torn Kapilvastu district saw huge loss of life and property. ..... The District Administration Office here has continued curfew in Krishnangar and other affected areas. At least three more persons were killed in fresh violence at Pathardaiya of Kapilvastu yesterday.
प्रहरी सुरक्षाभित्रै तीनको हत्या हत्या गरिएकालाई स्थानीय बासिन्दाको उजुरीका आधारमा दंगा भड्काउन सघाएको आरोपमा प्रहरीले नियन्त्रणमा लिएको थियो । दंगाबाट पीडित पक्षको सहयोगार्थ आएको समूहले पथ्थरदैया गाविसस्थित जगदीशपुर चौकीमा रहेका उनीहरूलाई आक्रमण गर्दा मृत्यु भएको हो । मृत्यु हुनेमा रामेश्वर चौधरी, नुरोद्दिन मुसलमान र नाम नखुलेका एक जना छन् । घटन्ााम्ाा २४ भन्दा बढी घाइते छन् । ..... धेरैजसोका शरीरमा धारिलो हतियारका चोट छन् ...... स्थलगत अनुगमन गर्न आएका राजनीतिक दलका नेता र मानव अधिकारवादी टोलीकै अघिल्तिर आक्रमण भएकोे थियो । 'घटना नियोजित तरिकाले गरिएको छ,' उनले भने- 'राजनीतिक समूहले ल्याएको भीडले चौकीमा आक्रमण गरेको हो ।' ...... हालसम्म जिल्लाका ३ सय व्यक्ति सम्पर्कविहीन, ५ हजार विस्थापित र डेढ सय सवारीसाधनमा तोडफोड र आगजनी भएको ...... जिल्लाका महेन्द्र राजमार्ग र हिंसा प्रभावित अन्य भागमा अनिश्चितकालीन कफ्यर्ु कायमै रहेको ..... आइतबारदेखि बिहीबारसम्म कपिलवस्तुको पथ्थरदैया, भगवानपुर, वीरपुर, बिसनपुर, खुरुरिया, चनही, जगदीशपुरलगायत दर्जन गाविसमा अझै पनि हत्या, लुटपाट, तोडफोड, आगजनी र बलात्कारका घटनाहरू बढ्दै गएको छ । मृत्यु हुनेको संख्या बढिरहेको छ । गाउँहरूमा सडेका शवहरू भेटिइरहेका छन् । ....... बिसनपुरा गाविसको देवीपुर नजिकैको खोल्सामा बुधबार साँझपख आठवटा डढेका शव भेटिएका थिए । ...... शव भेटिने क्रम जारी रहेकाले संख्या बढ्ने ..... शाहीकालमा बाँडिएका हतियारहरू तुरुन्त फिर्ता गनर्ुपर्ने दल, नागरिक समाज, पीडितहरूले माग गरेका छन् । ...... यस्तै मानव अधिकारवादी तथा नागरिक समाजका अगुवाहरूले सरकारको उदासीनता, स्थानीय प्रशासनको लापरबाही तथा सुरक्षा निकायको निष्त्रिmयताले कपिलवस्तुको स्थिति झन्-झन् बिग्रँदै गएको बताएका छन् । स्थलगत भ्रमण गरेर फर्केका मानव अधिकारवादी तथा नागरिक अगुवाहरूले बुटवल पत्रकार सम्मेलनमा सरकारको उदासीनता, स्थानीय प्रशासनको लापरबाही तथा सुरक्षा निकायको निष्त्रिmयताले स्थिति बिग्रँदै गएको बताएका हुन् ।
दाङमा पनि तोडफोड र आगजनी दाङ, असोज ३ - दाङको लमही र तुलसीपुरका सार्वजनिक स्थल र घरमा अज्ञात समूहले आगजनी र तोडफोड गरेको छ । स्थिति सम्हाल्न कठिन भएपछि प्रशासनले लमहीमा ४ र तुलसीपुरमा साँझ साढे सात बजेबाट कफ्र्यु जारी गरेको छ । आक्रोशित समूहले लमही बजारमा एउटा ट्रक र मोटरसाइकल तथा राप्ती टेन्ट हाउसका सामान बाहिर निकाली आगजनी गरेको छ । समूहले साँझ अबेर तुलसीपुर बजारको वीरेन्द्र चोक र पातुखोलास्थित एक-एक घरमा आगजनी गरेको थियो । बुधबार राति सिसहनियामा रोकी राखिएको ना ३ ख ५८६ नम्बरको बस पनि जलाइएको थियो ।
संसद्बाटै घोषणा हुनुपर्छ ः थापा नेकपा एकीकृतका केन्द्रीय सदस्य तथा सार्वजनिक लेखा समितिका अध्यक्ष परि थापाले तत्काल अन्तरिम संसद्को विशेष अधिवेशनबाट गणतन्त्र घोषणा गनर्ुपर्ने बताएका

छन् । .... थापाले माओवादी हटेपछि वर्तमान सरकारको वैधानिकतामा प्रश्नचिह्न उठेको थापाको भनाइ थियो । थापाले सरकारको नेतृत्व फेनर्ुपर्ने पनि बताए ।

दलहरू उम्मेदवार चयनमा व्यस्त स्थानीय पार्टी कार्यालयमा दिनहुँ बैठक, भेला र छलफल भइरहेको छ । .... कांग्रेसले मोरङमा प्रत्यक्ष उम्मेदवारी निम्ति क्षेत्र १ मा पार्टर्ी सभापति गिरिजाप्रसाद कोइराला .... धनुषामा एमालेले क्षेत्र ५ का लागि रघुवीर महासेठ ..... ३ मा रामआशिष महासेठ, रामचन्द्र झा र जुली महासेठ छन् । ...... ४ मा रघुवीर महासेठ, शारदा झा र राजकुमार गुप्ता छन् ..... १ बाट रामचन्द्र झा र ६ बाट योगनारायण यादवको नाम ..... रौतहटमा ..... क्षेत्र २ मा मोहम्मद आफताव आलममात्र सिफारिस गरिएको छ । ....... सभापति मोहम्मद आफताव आलम ..... संखुवासभाको क्षेत्र नम्बर २ मा नेपाली कांग्रेसमा उम्मेदवार छनोट विवादमा भएको छ । बहुमत सदस्यले गरेको निर्णय लुकाएर अल्पमत पक्षले नामावली सोझै केन्द्रमा पठाएको छ । ........ बहुमत पक्षका कार्यकर्ता हस्ताक्षर अभियानमा लागेको छ ।

मुस्लिम संस्थाद्वारा ज्ञापन मुस्लिम नेताहरूको प्रमण्डलले प्रधानमन्त्री गिरिजाप्रसाद कोइरालालाई बिहीबार भेटी कपिलवस्तुमा स्थिति असामान्य हुँदा पनि अकर्मण्य भएर बस्ने त्यस जिल्लाका डीएसपी र

प्रजिअमाथि अविलम्ब कारबाही गर्न माग गरेका छन् । राष्ट्रिय मुस्लिम मञ्च, मुस्लिम एत्तिहाद संघ, पञ्च कस्मिरी तकिया र नेपाली जामे मस्जिदका मुस्लिम नेताहरूले सरकारसमक्ष कपिलवस्तुमा भएको धनजन क्षतिको छानबिन गरी वास्तविकता पत्ता लगाउन तुरुन्त छानबिन आयोग गठन गर्न आग्रह गरेका छन् । ....... 'मोहित खानलाई कसले मार्‍यो ? राज्यलाई थाहा हुनुपर्छ,' प्रतिनिधिमण्डलमा सरिक पञ्च कस्मिरी तकिया गुठीका अध्यक्ष सैययद निहाल शाहले भने- 'खानको मृत्युको एक घन्टापछि नै बुटवलमा दंगाको स्थिति आयो, यो पुर्व नियोजित हो ।' ...... घटनाको लगत्तै कपिलवस्तु र रूपन्देहीका मस्जिदमाथि आक्रमण, मानवीय र भौतिक क्षति गराई सम्प्रदायिक सद्भाव तथा धार्मिक सहिष्णुतामा खलल पुर्‍याउन खोज्ने तत्त्व र घटना ........ मृतकका परिवार र आफन्तले खबर पाउनुअगावै बुटवल लगायतका स्थानमा तोडफोड लगायतका शृंखलाबद्घ घटना हुनु ....... उक्त घटना हत्यारा पक्षको सुनियोजित षड्यन्त्र रहेको दाबी

लिम्बुवानले अवरोध नपुर्‍याउने बन्द फिर्ता

आयोग होइन, आगो नियन्त्रण गर पाँच दिनदेखि झन्-झन् फैलिँदै गएको कपिलवस्तुको हिंसा नियन्त्रण गर्न दृढ राजनीतिक शक्ति र विवेकपूर्ण सुरक्षा परिचालन आवश्यक भएका बेला मन्त्रिपरिषद् बैठकले बिहीबार छानबिन आयोग गठन गरेको छ । ..... त्यो हत्याको केही मिनेटमै, चारैतिरका स्थायी संरचनामा आगजनी सुरु भइसकेको थियो । त्यसबीच भएको जनधन क्षतिको यकिन तथ्यांक क्रमशः बाहिर आउन पनि सकिरहेको छैन किनभने कफ्र्यु जारी हुनुका साथै परस्पर अविश्वास र सामाजिक शत्रुताको मात्रा उच्च हुन पुगेको छ । ...... बृहत् प्रयत्न राष्ट्रियरूप राजनीतिक दल र सरकारले मिलेर गर्नुपर्ने हो, जसका लागि अझै पनि समय छ र प्रयत्नको झन् बढी खाँचो छ । ..... अहिलेका लागि आयोगभन्दा त्यहाँ जारी तथा फैलिरहेको हिंसाको आगो निभाउन त्यही दमकल हुनसक्छ ।
ज्वालामग्न कपिलवस्तु चन्द्रौटा रूपन्देहीको सालझन्डीदेखि कपिलवस्तुको शिवपुर करिब ६० किमि सडकखण्ड यात्रा गर्ने जोकोहीले चार दिनदेखि आगोले जलिरहेको चन्द्रौटा बजार त देख्छ नै, सिङ्गो देश, नेपाली जनता दुःखिरहेको अनि देश युद्धक्षेत्र बन्नथालेको आभास पनि गर्छ । ....... देश साँच्चिकै टेलिभिजनमा देखेजस्तो इराक बन्दैछ ...... हत्यापछि सीमापारिबाट आएका समेतका उच्छृङखल समूहले जसरी पहाडिया उपमा दिएर छानीछानी नेपालीका घरबस्तीमा हत्या, बलात्कार र आगजनी गर्ने काम गर्‍यो, त्यसले धेरैको विचल्लीमात्र होइन, बिल्लीबाठ-उठिबास लगाएको छ । ....... खाँको हत्यापछि जेजस्ता घटना भइरहेका छन्, यसप्रति सरकार गम्भीर भएको छैन ...... माओवादी सरकारबाट बाहिरिएपछि सरकार, दलहरू र राजधानी धेरै तातेको छ । ...... यो कपिलवस्तु प्रशासन र चन्द्रौटा, गोरुसिङ्गे, पिपरा तथा कृष्णनगरका प्रहरीमात्रले साम्य पार्नसक्ने स्तरको घटना होइन । ...... चन्द्रौटा बजारमा घटना भएको चौथो दिनसम्म आगोको मुस्लो कायम छ । अरू त के दमकलबाट पानी छर्ने प्रयाससमेत नभएको देखिन्छ ....... एक सयभन्दा बढी बस, ट्रक तथा जीप लगायतका सवारी साधनको अवशेषले सिङ्गो कपिलवस्तु जलेको अडकल ..... आगजनीमा परेका खुरुरियाको पथरदेइया, वीरपुर, देवीनगर मानपुर, बालपुर कटुवा, उज्ज्वलपुर र गुगौली गाउँमा न सरकार पुगेको छ, न मानवीय संघ-संस्थै । यी गाउँबाट ज्यान जोगाउन लालाबाला छाडेर भागदौड गर्दै परिवारका सदस्यसमेत बिछोडिएर आएका ५ हजार बढी विस्थापित अहिले भगवानपुर गाविस, चन्द्रौटा क्याम्प र गोरुसिङ्गे बजारका सार्वजनिक स्थलमा अस्थायी क्याम्प खडा गरेर बसेका छन् । ........ पहिलो दिनै घटना भइरहेको जानकारी पाएर पनि प्रहरी प्रशासन निरीह बनेको र त्यसपछि सरकारले घटनालाई गम्भीर रूपले लिन नसकेको ...... यस पंक्तिकार आफैं सडकमा सुत्दै चार दिन लगाएर गृहजिल्ला दाङ आइपुग्यो ...... घटनाको दोस्रो दिन यस पंक्तिकार बुटवलमा छँदा चन्द्रौटा हुँदै जानसक्ने स्थिति छैन । गोरुसिङ्गेमा गोली चल्यो, गाउँका गाउँ खरानी छन्, चन्द्रौटामा मान्छे काटाकाट गरिरहेका छन्, मान्छेहरूलाई बलात्कार गर्दै उखुबारीमा फाल्ने गरिएको छ जस्ता हल्ला चलिरहेका थिए । ....... गोरुसिङ्गेदेखि शिवपुरसम्मको राजमार्गमा खरानी परेका सम्पत्ति देख्दा मन पिरो भयो । त्यसमा पनि बसभित्रका यात्रुले 'गाडी नरोक, फेरि जलाइदेलान्' भन्दै चालकलाई गाली गर्दै थिए । काठमाडौं जाँदा चहलपहलबीच खाजा खाएर गएको चन्द्राैटा बजार र्फकंदा मुर्दा शान्तिभित्रको सन्नाटामा जलेका अवशेषमात्र देख्नुपर्‍यो । के अब हामीले यस्तै स्थ्ाानमात्र देख्नुपर्ने हो ?

Prachanda sees ‘deadly conspiracy’ behind Kapilvastu riots NepalNews the ongoing communal tension, killings and arson in Kapilvastu ...... people of different religion and ethnic communities who lost their lives in the riots. ..... the “attempts of reactionary forces” to link the Maoists, directly and indirectly, with incitement of violence and arson in the district .... about two dozen people killed in the riots were supporters and well-wishers of the CPN (Maoist). ..... violence still continued in many parts of Kapilvastu. At least 31 people have died and hundreds have gone missing in the riots since Sunday. ...... Violent clashes had snowballed there and adjoining Rupandehi district after the killing of Mohit Khan, a leader of formerly active anti-Maoist resistance group, on Sunday. The Maoists have denied their hand in Khan's murder.
Home Minister Sitaula in Kapilvastu to take stock of security situation; violence spreads to Dang the violence that has gripped the region for the past six days. .... Chandrauta, Krishna Nagar, Birpur ..... series of violent clashes between members of different communities since Sunday .... unidentified persons shot to death one Mohit Khan, a local leader of Madhesi Loktantrik Mukti Morcha (MLMM) ..... on Friday morning cadres of MLMM held demonstration against the killings claiming that YCL men were involved in it. ...... there is still fear among the people due to various rumours flying around .... break-out of looting and arson ...... Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) has issued a statement urging the government to take action against the culprits trying to create communal and religious tension in Kapilvastu.
US warns Maoists against trying to 'trash' elections; Senator Leahy also speaks out India, European Union, United Nations and Japan have expressed concerns over the Maoist decision to quit the government and launch agitation to disrupt the November election, the United States, on Thursday, has come down with a strong warning to the ex-rebels against trying to 'trash' the November polls ....... the US government would continue to treat the Maoists as extremist outcasts until the movement becomes a normal political party. ...... "They need to give up the gun. They need to give up extortion. They need to give up the militant youth groups ..... US Senator Patrick Leahy, speaking at the Senate Floor in Washington DC on Tuesday, has said that "the leaders of the Congress parties and the Maoists have done little to prepare for the elections." ...... "At times, party members have seemed more interested in furthering their own personal ambitions and in derailing the electoral process altogether." ...... Leahy has said that the UML has done more to prepare for the polls. He also praised the Election Commission for its preparations. "There is no doubt that the people are eager to go to the polls, just as they were determined to put an end to the King's abuse of power."
Mahara says Maoists in favour of eight party unity his party will not walk out of eight party alliance ..... We have no intention of breaking the ceasefire. We will press our demands from the parliament and the streets. Election can happen after fulfillment of our demands .... they would not support proposal to jointly approve commitment proposal in favour of republic through the parliament. They have said they stand behind their demand to declare republic by the parliament.
Nine student organisations appeal for eight party unity
Declaring republic will resolve 98.5% problems of the country, claims Pokharel Leaders of Jana Morcha have backed the 22-point demands put forth by the Maoists but have said that they should not have quit the government. ..... "This parliament can declare republic and can adopt the fully proportional representation-based election system. If that is done, 98.5% problems of this country will be resolved. Only 1.5% problems will then remain."
Election without Maoist participation will be meaningless, says Nidhi The general secretary of Nepali Congress (Democratic) Bimalendra Nidhi has said that holding Constituent Assembly (CA) election without the participation of Maoists will be meaningless. After the informal meeting of the central members of the party, Nidhi told media that his party had seriously noted the Maoist decision to quit the government and launch agitation that could foil election schedule. ..... The meeting also discussed agenda for the Mahasamiti meeting slated for September 25-26.
Govt not sufficiently present in restive Kapilvastu: OHCHR residential areas and bazaars literally abandoned while incinerated vehicles stood on the road ..... “There are a number of IDPs (internally displaced people). Many people are crossing the border to India”
Govt forms probe panel on Kapilvastu riots; 3 killed in fresh clash the killings and destruction in Kapilvastu and Rupendehi districts. ...... three-member commission headed by Rajbiraj Appellate Court judge Lokendra Mallik. ....... Rs 10,000 to each of the families of people killed in the riots as immediate relief, Rs 10,000 to families whose houses have been burned down and Rs 5000 to families that have suffered minor damages. ...... There is little information on the latest situation in many of riot-prone parts of Kapilvastu as journalists and human rights groups have not been able visit these areas.
Civil society activists demand special task force to control unrest in Kapilbastu the violence that has erupted in Kapilvastu District since 16 September ..... statement issued jointly from Butwal by Dr. Gauri Shankar Lal Das, Sushil Pyakurel, Kanak Dixit, and Kundan Aryal. ...... "To this day, depending on the place, individuals from one community are continuing to attack the property of members of another community. The neglect of the national government, the negligence of the district adminstration, and the inaction of the security forces has been responsible for the deteriorating state of affairs," the statement adds. ...... the tragic events of Kapilvastu can affect communal harmony nationwide ..... the local administrtion is not capable of controlling the situation, and we have also found a grave lack in how the political parties have addressed the situation." ...... called for the immediate formation and activation of a special task force for Kapilvastu, which will work on a) investgation, b) distribution of relief, and c) controlling the situation and restoring normalcy in the district."
Muslim leaders meet Koirala; demand security in riot-torn Kapilvastu at least 28 people have been murdered and over one thousand people forced to flee their homes. ..... attempts to ignite communal and religion tension in the area. ..... Police have recovered at least 20 more dead bodies in Bisanpur area, Kapilvastu, in the past 24 hours. Most of the dead bodies have been charred beyond recognition. ..... The Home Ministry has claimed adequate security arrangements have been made in restive areas. ..... Violent protests had snowballed in Kapilvastu and Butwal immediately after his killing.

MJF in an election drive NepalNews Terming its recent agreement with the government as 'historic and great achievement,' Upendra Yadav, chief of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF), has appealed to the people of Madhes to participate in the forthcoming Constituent Assembly (CA) election. Speaking at a programme held in Jaleshwore of Mahottari district on Wednesday, Yadav said the election was important to consolidate those achievements. "This agreement has ensured Madhesi peoples' participation in each and every sector of state and has ensured them access to power and resources," Yadav said. Since he signed the agreement with the government, Yadav-led MJF has launched an election drive in Madhes. However, dissident leaders of MJF led by Kishore Kumar Bishwas have termed the agreement as a betrayal to the Madhesi people.
Maoists' student wing, too, launches agitation

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Koirala Has Only 85 Out of 330


CIA - The World Factbook -- Nepal a 330 seat Interim Parliament was formed on 15 January 2007 following the promulgation of an interim constitution .... NC 85, CPN/M 83, CPN/UML 83, NC/D 48, RPP 9, NSP/AD 5, NWPP 4, People's Front Nepal (Amik Sherchan Group) 4, People's Front Nepal (Chitra Bahadur K.C. Group) 3, UFL 3, People's Front Nepal (Chitra Bahadur Ale Group) 2, NSP 1
Middle Ground: PR Election Now, Republic Later

I think it would be a great idea to change Nepal's Prime Minister right now. If Gyanendra is villain number one, Girija is villain number two. Girija symbolizes all that was wrong with the 1990s, the corruption, the inept ways, the nepotism, the lack of social justice for the DaMaJaMa. The political culture that says the oldest person in the room gets to be the leader is not how things should be. It should be about the arithmetic in the interim parliament. The alignment should be issue based.

This is how the arithmetic would work right now.

The Maoists should agree on Madhav Nepal as Prime Minister since some Maoist can not hold that post right now. The global powers are not going to be able to digest a Maoist Prime Minister.

Madhav Nepal should grab the opportunity. That will be a big boost for him and his party.

Deuba should realize it has never been Girija's intention to unite the two Congress factions. The whole unification drama that Girija and his coterie have played has had one goal: to prevent Deuba from expanding his party's organization.

Deuba needs a fully PR election more than any other large party, more than the Maoists, more than the UML. If fully PR elections are not held, Deuba's party will get wiped out. And that is why Deuba should throw his 48 MPs behind the new alignment.

The new alignment would have a two point agreement. One, to pass a commitment resolution to a republic, to be passed after the elections. Two, fully PR election with the provision to allow a week or two to register any new parties.

You need a physically agile Prime Minister if the country is to still have elections on November 22.

Prachanda should realize the solution is not in street agitation. The solution is inside the interim parliament. They have to play the arithmetic in the interim parliament.

The mixed election is not in the best interests of even the Koirala Congress. Koirala's party will get 15% of the votes if it is lucky. The days of his party securing 30% of the votes in the country are over.

Fully PR election was Madhav Nepal's idea. It makes no sense for him to not make it possible now when he can.

I am glad the Maoists are calling a special session of the interim parliament.

Land Reform

The only way there is going to be meaningful land reform in the country is if the UML and the Maoists go for it together. Koirala's Congress is going to be the primary hurdle to meaningful land reform in the country.

It makes no sense that Prachanda and Madhav Nepal can not see eye to eye right now.

Middle Ground: PR Election Now, Republic Later

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
Madhav Nepal Needs To Make A Move

In The News

New political basis needed to bolster eight-party unity: Mahara Kantipur “The leaders of the seven parties were not serious about our demands till yesterday. We found them somewhat concerned today after we declared the agitation,” Mahara said after the eight-party meeting today, “But, this realization must be taken to a meaningful conclusion if the eight-party unity is to be strengthened.” ........ “A new political basis has to be discovered to bolster the eight-party unity. The recent developments have already proved that the eight-party unity cannot be upheld on the old basis ..... “The (November 22) elections are merely an illusion. They won’t be possible without a new and strengthened unity among the eight parties.” ....... “We have certainly not pulled out from the peace process. We are still in the eight-party alliance. We have only stepped down from the government ...... the Maoist central secretariat meeting this afternoon had mulled over ways to push for a special session of the interim parliament to declare a republic through the House.
Eight parties agree to keep unity intact
OHCHR-Nepal Representative visits sites of violence in Kapilvastu
NC, UML urge Maoists to rejoin govt, call off agitation
Kapilvastu death toll reaches 20 None of the eight bodies have been identified yet as their bodies have been disfigured beyond recognition .... Among the seven found this morning, the deceased have been identified as Hari bahadur Basnet, Jhabinda Khanal, Shovaram Sunar of Bisanpur VDC, and Mohit Bahadur Magar of Shivagadi VDC-3. ..... Property worth millions of rupees were destroyed in the riots ..... In Chandrauta bazaar alone, 85 vehicles were torched whereas 16 others were torched in Krishnanagar.
माओवादी सरकारबाहिर
माओवादी निर्णयबाट नेताहरू चकित
पहाडमा अवरोध तराईमा चहलपहल प्रचार अभियानसँगै जोडेर जिल्ला अधिवेशनमा व्यस्त एमाले अरू दलभन्दा प्रचारमा अगाडि देखा परेको छ । ..... कञ्चनपुरमा भदौ तेस्रो साता एमालेका नेता झलनाथ खनालको चुनावी सभापछि एमाले पूर्णरूपले निर्वाचनमा होमिएको हो । पार्टीका स्थानीय नेता यतिबेला गाउँघरतिर प्रचार अभियानमा छन् । 'संगठन सुदृढीकरण सँगै पचार प्रसारका लागि कहीँ कतै अवरोध छैन,' एमाले कञ्चनपुरका सचिव राजेन्द्र रावलले भने । ...... दार्चुलामा अरू पार्टीभन्दा एमाले प्रचार प्रसारमा अग्रस्थानमा रहेको छ । गएको साता सम्पन्न एमालेको पाँचौं जिल्ला अधिवेशनले पनि राजनीतिक सरगर्मी बढाएको छ । ..... एक साता भित्रै जिल्लाका ४१ वटै गाविसमा चुनाव प्रचारप्रसारको टोली जाने तयारीमा रहेको नव निर्वाचित एमाले जिल्ला सचिव गणेशसिंह ठगुन्नाले बताए । ..... कांग्रेस र प्रजातान्त्रीक कांग्रेस भने पार्टी एकीकरणलाई पर्खेर बसेका छन । दुवै पार्टीका अधिकांश नेता कार्यकर्ता लामो समयदेखि राजधानीमा रहेका छन् । ...... आन्दोलन वा चुनाव स्पष्ट नभएकाले दुविधामा छौं' एक माओवादी जिल्लास्तरीय नेताले बताए । ...... कैलालीमा अरू जिल्लाको तुलनामा चुनावी प्रचार प्रसारको गति तीव्र छ । एमालेले विभिन्न उपसमिति गठन गरी चुनावी तयारीको जिम्मेवारी समेत बाँडफाँड गरिसकेको छ । जिल्लाको ६ वटै निर्वाचन क्षेत्रमा एमालेले चुनाव परिचालनका लागि संयोजक तोकेर जिम्मेवारी दिएको हो । कैलालीमा अन्य दल जनमोर्चा र अन्य बाम घटकसँगै सद्भावना आनन्दीदेवी पनि कार्यकर्ता प्रशिक्षणसँगै उम्मेदवार चयन र प्रचार प्ा्रसारको तयारीमा जुट्न थालेका छन्
प्रहरी-मोर्चा भिडन्त
नेपालको स्वतन्त्रता खतरामा’ किन बोले प्रधानमन्त्री ? नेपालका राजनीतिक शक्ति, मिडिया, नागरकि समाज, पेसागत क्षेत्रलगायत यत्र-तत्र-सर्वत्र कुनै बाह्य शक्तिको परम्परागत प्रभाव छ भने त्यो दक्षिणको छिमेकी नै हो । .... कोइराला सकेसम्म राजतन्त्रप्रति निरपेक्ष रहेरै चुनावमा जाने र संविधानसभाको गठनपश्चात् आवश्यक परे मात्र गणतन्त्रको कार्ड खोल्ने पक्षमा थिए ..... कृष्णप्रसाद भट्टराईले एउटा कार्ड फ्याँके, "राजतन्त्रको अन्त्यले देशमा विभाजन र विखण्डनको बीउ रोप्छ ।" ..... बाह्य अभिरुचिमा राजतन्त्रलाई समाप्त पारएिमा नेपालको राष्ट्रिय अखण्डता खतरामा पर्ने भएकाले त्यस्तो निर्णय नगर्न सेनाको उच्च तहबाट प्रधानमन्त्रीसमक्ष निरन्तर सुझाव/दबाब आइरहेको थियो । तैपनि अपेक्षाविपरीत काङ्ग्रेस गणतान्त्रिक बाटोमा हिँडेपछि सैनिक नेतृत्व झसङ्ग भयो । सुरक्षा-स्थितिको 'बि्रफिङ्' गर्न प्रधानसेनापति रुक्माङ्गद कटवालको नेतृत्वमा देशैभरकिा डिभिजन प्रमुखलगायत दर्जनौँ उच्च जनरलहरू भदौ २३ गते बालुवाटार छिरे । अनि प्रधानमन्त्रीले सेनाको मनस्थिति राम्रैसँग बुझ्न पाए । ...... काङ्ग्रेसको निर्णयबाट राजा ज्ञानेन्द्र मात्र होइन, सेनासमेत सन्तुष्ट नरहेको कोइरालाले बुझिसकेका थिए । .... तराईमा ४८ प्रतिशत निर्वाचन क्षेत्र राख्न आफैँद्वारा घोषित निर्णय उनको चाहनाबाहिरको कदम थियो भने काङ्ग्रेसका मधेसी नेताहरूलाई फुटाएर छुट्टै पार्टी बनाउन गरएिको प्रयासले त उनलाई झनै तर्सायो । ...... संविधानसभा निर्वाचन हुन नसकेमा अन्तरमि सरकारको वैधानिकता सिद्धिने भारतीय राजदूत शिवशङ्कर मुखर्जीको चेतावनीविरुद्ध त कोइरालाले दिल्लीमै असन्तुष्टि जाहेर गरसिकेका छन् । वर्तमान सरकारको वैधानिकता सिद्धिनु भनेको कोइराला सरकार ढल्नु हो । ....... गणतन्त्रको निर्णय गरएिलगत्तै प्रधानमन्त्री-पुत्री सुजाताबाट राजतन्त्रको पक्षमा वकालत सुरु हुनुले धेरैमा सन्देह पैदा गरेको छ । .... चुनाव नहुनु भनेको काङ्ग्रेस र माओवादीबीच कटुता बढ्नु हो । त्यस्तो अवस्थामा राजालाई आफ्नै क्याम्पमा राखेर विगत लामो अवधि राजतन्त्रप्रति बफादार रहेको सेनामार्फत माओवादीको मुकाबिला गर्नुपर्ने आकलनसमेत कोइरालाले गरेका हुन सक्छन् । .... मुखर्जीले राजासमक्ष उनी र छोरा पारस 'भोलिन्टियर रटिायरमेन्ट' मा गई नाति हृदयेन्द्रलाई 'सेरेमोनियल मोनार्क' बनाउन उपर्युक्त हुने सुझाव कूटनीतिक भाषामा दिएका थिए । तर, राजाले त्यो प्रस्ताव अस्वीकार गरेलगत्तै काङ्ग्रेसबाट गणतन्त्रका पक्षमा प्रारम्भिक निर्णय भएको छ । ..... सेनाका कतिपय जनरलहरू पनि यसको पक्षमा देखिन्छन् । समग्र देश गणतन्त्रतर्फ गइसक्दा पनि राजा ज्ञानेन्द्रचाहिँ नाति-राजाका पक्षमा पनि छैनन् । "नाबालक राजाको रजिेन्ट -राज्य सहायक) को हुने ?" दरबारले भन्ने गरेको छ, "बेबी किङ् भनेको राजतन्त्र उन्मूलनको पहिलो कदम हो ।" ...... राजनीति बिथोलिँदै गएमा कुनै विन्दुमा पुगेर आफ्नै भूमिका र्फकनेमा राजा विश्वस्त छन...... भारतको राजनीतिक तहको आश्वासन नै बढी भरपर्दो हुने शाही विश्वास टुटेको देखिँदैन । .... प्लेनमको पूर्वसन्ध्यामा भारतीय नेतृ सोनिया गान्धीले पठाएको प्रतिनिधिले माओवादी अध्यक्ष प्रचण्डसँग भैरहवामा वार्ता .... त्यसलगत्तै भारतको सिलीगुडीमा भारतीय गुप्तचर अधिकारीहरूसँग माओवादीको वार्तालाप भयो । ... भारतीय प्रधानमन्त्रीका विशेष दूत श्यामशरणले पनि गत साता प्रचण्डसँग लामो फोन-वार्ता गरे । .... संविधानसभामा काङ्ग्रेस र एमालेपछि आफूलाई तेस्रो नम्बरको शक्ति बनाउने भारतीय खेल आफूले बुझेको माओवादीको भनाइ छ । ..... भारतमा आधारति मधेसका सशस्त्र समूहहरूलाई वार्तामा ल्याउन प्रयास गर्दैछ । उपेन्द्र यादव नेतृत्वको मधेसी जनअधिकार फोरमसँग भारतकै पहलमा सरकारले सम्झौता गरेको दाबी माओवादी मन्त्री देव गुरुडले गरेका छन् । ....... मधेस आन्दोलन र अन्य उपायमार्फत कमजोर पारएिका माओवादीलाई यसैबेला चुनावी बाटोबाट मूलधारमा ल्याउने भारतीय योजना रहेको छ, ताकि उनीहरू तेस्रो स्थानमा मात्र रहून् र मूलधारबाट अलग्गिने, जनविद्रोह गर्ने हैसियत पनि गुमाउन । माओवादीसँगै राजालाई पनि चुनावको वैधानिक बाटोबाटै ठेगान लगाउन सकिने दिल्लीको आकलन देखिन्छ । र, त्यसप्रति अमेरकिाको पनि समर्थन छ । ....... काङ्ग्रेसलाई गणतन्त्रको पक्षमा निर्णय गराइएता पनि थियो त्यसले माओवादीलाई चुनावतिर लगेन । अब भारतले दोस्रो कार्ड खोल्न सक्छ । त्यो हो, संसद्बाट गणतन्त्रको निर्णय । यद्यपि भारत हालसम्म त्यस्तो निचोडमा पुगिसकेको छैन । तर, संसद्बाट त्यससम्बन्धी निर्णय गर्ने र त्यसको अनुमोदनचाहिँ संविधानसभाको पहिलो बैठकबाट गराउने सहमति हुनसक्ने सम्भावना पनि छ । ......... कुनैबेला गिरजिाप्रसाद कोइरालाले भनेझैँ, नेपाली सेनाले सकेन भने चीन वा भारतको सेना बोलाउने ..... "वास्तवमा नेपालको सार्वभौमिकतामाथि कतैबाट खतरा छ भने त्यो भारतको समर्थन नलिई सत्तामा पुगिन्न भन्ने पार्टीहरूको सोच र शैलीबाट छ" ....... चुनावको विषयमा जति विदेशीहरूले चासो दिएका छन्, त्यति राजनीतिक पार्टीहरूले दिएका छैनन् । ..... चुनाव हुनुपर्छ, नत्र सरकारको वैधानिकता सकिन्छ ..... नेपालमा 'सिभिल ड्रेस' मा अमेरकिी सेना व्यापक छ भन्ने सुनिन्छ । .... काङ्ग्रेसमा २०१२/०१३ सालतिरै गणतन्त्रको प्रश्न उठेको थियो ।

Death toll in Kapilbastu climbs to 17 NepalNews 300 homes and 100 vehicles have been set to fire by mobs ...... the ensuing violence that took a communal colour
Eight parties agree to maintain unity Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Maoist chairman Prachanda, UML general secretary Nepal, Nepali Congress Democratic president Sher Bahadur Deuba, Janamorcha Nepal chairman Amik Sherchan and other leaders were present at the meeting. ..... The meeting was shortened in view of ‘bad health’ of the Maoist chairman
Maoists want special session of parliament; mull ‘no-confidence motion’ against PM a proposal will soon be registered at the parliament secretariat demanding the special session, apparently to push for republic. He said the party would possibly table 'no-confidence' motion against Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala. ...... one fourth of lawmakers can call the special session. The Maoists have 83 MPs in the 330-seat interim parliament.
Deuba furious over delay in unity, NC-D Mahasamiti meeting on Sep 25-26 Deuba stated that if the unity is not announced by September 22, the Congress unity will never materialise. ..... NC-Democratic has also decided to hold its Mahasamiti meeting on September 25-26. The party's general secretary Bimalendra Nidhi issued a statement appealing to all Mahasamiti members to attend the meeting.
MJF dissidents to restrict Yadav from entering Mahottari The dissident faction of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) led by Kishor Kumar Biswas has announced that rival faction's chief Upendra Yadav will be barred from entering Mahottari district. Mahottari district headquarter Jaleshwor remains tense since morning after the dissident faction announced ban on Yadav's entry in the district and followers of the split group are campaigning against Yadav. Yadav was scheduled to address a mass meeting in Jaleshwor as part of his party's political campaign for upcoming constituent assembly elections. The party has split after Yadav signed an agreement with the government and vowed to work for holding the constituent assembly elections on time.
PM hopes for new consensus; parties begin internal discussions The central committee meetings of the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML are undergoing. UML leaders have said their party would propose for a commitment resolution for republic through interim parliament to be approved by the constituent assembly. NC leaders said their discussion primarily focused on desertion of the Maoists from the interim government and possible ways to reach towards a new consensus. People's Front president Amik Sherchan said they would propose for a commitment proposal for republic from the interim parliament. He said it could later be approved by the elected constituent assembly.
Leaders surprised by Maoist decision to quit govt CPN-UML leader Jhala Nath Khanal said that it was unfortunate to see the Maoists sticking to their stance as it has only prolonged the life of monarchy in Nepal. “The ultra-leftist line almost always serve the interest of the ultra right,” he said, adding, “The decision of the Maoists has come just two months ahead of the end of monarchy through a legitimate way.” ..... Narayanman Bijukche .... “I have learnt that this decision of the Maoist came after the four main constituents of the eight party alliance couldn’t reach to an agreement of sharing 60 seats of the Constituent Assembly between themselves,” he said.
Maoists' 22-point demands were legitimate, says Amik Sherchan Saying that the demands for PR-based electoral system and declaring the country a republic through the interim parliament – both of which feature high on the 22 point pre-requisite of the Maoists - were first raised by People's Front Nepal, chairman Sherchan said it was unfortunate to see the Maoists failing to convince the coalition partners to approve it while there was still time.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

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.

Sunday, September 16, 2007

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

केही गम्भीर त्रुटिका बाबजुद अन्तरिम संविधान निर्माण

ल अन्तरिम राष्ट्रप्रमुखको व्यवस्था

ल माओवादीसहित अन्तरिम सरकार गठन

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

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 ः

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

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