Democracy For Nepal

Friday, May 29, 2009

The Army Issue Has To Be Discussed In The Parliament

That was always the best way to do it. That was always the best idea. Now I am glad the Maoists are trying to get the duly elected parliament to talk about the army.

The president's decision to not recognize an out of process decision by Prachanda to sack Katuwal is under review by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court's decision will be final. The parliament may not undo that, except if two thirds of the parliament decides to impeach the president which I don't see happening.

So the Maoists are going to have to make peace with the idea that they do not have the option to undo the president's decision through the parliament.

What the Maoists should instead do is introduce a Security Sector Reform bill. The parliament would hold broad discussions on the topic.

Should or should not Nepal have an army at all?
If yes, how big should that army be? 20,000? 30,000? I'd go for 20,000.
What should be the ethnic and gender composition of that army? 40% female? Proportionate ethnic composition?
How much should the future Nepal Army draw from the existing Nepal Army and the Maoist Army? 20,000 NA? 3,000 PLA? 7,000 from elsewhere?
What to do with the other 80,000 NA soldiers and 17,000 PLA soldiers? Retrain them for private sector jobs? Send them off on scholarships to college? Give them loans to start businesses? Give them preference for foreign employment opportunities? Train them to be teachers and health care workers?
Democratize the Nepal Army, bring it completely under the parliament.

A bill passed by a parliamentary majority to address all these issues would be the best, perhaps the only way to integrate the two armies.

In The News

Nation heading towards political confrontation? Republica the Maoists will stick strongly to their commitment to the peace process and will support the formulation of a new constitution
Accused in Maina's killing pensioned off
Maoists to obstruct House if resolution motion not discussed
End bitterness among the parties immediately: Speaker to PM
Govt asked to revoke decision on CoAS, withdraw motion against Prez
Maoists announce 'barren' land capture drive
PM urges Maoists to join govt
PM's consensus call a joke: Maoist
EU envoys urge PM to release PLA minors
Nepal's address on Tuesday
Big four to invite Gachchhadar into govt
Madhesi parties demand equal status in cabinet with NC, UML categorize the ministries in three groups and share them among the NC, UML and Madhesi parties.
Madhesi parties claim 9 ministries
MPRF opts at last to join UML-led govt
MPRF leaders pressured not to split "All the 10 to 12 members speaking at the meeting have stressed the need for strong unity in the party," said party spokesperson Jitendra Dev. ...... "We joined this party with a view to making the party a national party while focusing on Madhes issues," said Dr Rawal. "So the party must maintain its unity." ...... Most of the members spoke in similar vein and cautioned the leaders not to split the party ..... The members, however, were still divided on whether the party should join the government. They suggested the party leadership join the government after taking a formal decision.
UML wants to keep Home, Finance “It would be unacceptable for us if members of the party are sent into government without the approval of the CWC.” ...... Another general secretary of the party, Bimalendra Nidhi, argued in the CWC that it was the duty of the party to join the government.
CMP, power sharing delays cabinet expansion The MPRF still looks deeply divided on who should lead the party in the government. Sensing the division in the leading Madhesi party Koirala told Gachchhadar that he would hold separate discussion with MPRF Chairman Upendra Yadav. ..... some dissenting voice within the NC regarding who should represent the party in the government.

MJF: No Harm Done

Upendra Yadav Should Be Leading The MJF Team In The New Government

Image by AFP/Getty Images via Daylife

Bijay Gachhedar's minor rebellion to support the UML-NC coalition was the correct one. He read the mood in the party and the country correctly.
Upendra Yadav's decision to claim leadership of the next government was a bold, smart move. But as soon as it became clear the Maoists were not serious with their offer, he should have realized it was time to backtrack.
It was never a mistake to bring Jay Prakash Gupta, Bijay Gachhedar and Sharad Singh Bhandari into the MJF. Jay Prakash Gupta is one of the founders of the MJF. He could very well succeed Upendra Yadav down the line. Upendra Yadav, Bijay Gachhedar and Sharad Singh Bhandari all represent major population constituencies in the Terai, the Yadavs, the Tharus, and the Pahadi origin Teraiwasis. The MJF grew by eating into the Nepali Congress' vote bank in the Terai. The MJF did what the TMDP tried to do but did not do as well, which was to attract Congress leaders, cadres and voters.
It was a mistake to ever have elected Bijay Gachhedar the parliamentary party leader. The party president should have kept that for himself.
Now the best thing is for the MJF central committee to decide to (1) join the new government full force with maximum participation, and (2) get Upendra Yadav to lead the MJF in the new government. He lead the MJF in the last governemnt as well, he had the most plum ministry. He should continue as Foreign Minister, or get Home if that is an option.
Upendra Yadav gets to become Prime Minister after the elections next year, not now. Right now is Madhav Nepal's turn.
It is not for the UML, NC, TMDP and the SP to decide who will lead the MJF in the new government. If they try, this government will last six months max.
Upendra Yadav should stop acting like not joining this new government is still an option.

In The News

Big four to invite Gachchhadar into govt Republica Four major political parties have decided to accept the decision of the parliamentary party of the Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF) to join the new government. At a meeting of the Nepali Congress (NC), Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) and Sadbhabana Party held at Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal´s private residence at Koteshwor Friday morning, the four parties decided to invite MPRF leaders into the new coalition government. ...... a majority of members in the MPRF central committee are against joining the new government. ...... the four parties took the decision to show a common understanding of the major coalition parties regarding the dispute within MPRF. ...... The parties took the decision hours before a MPRF central committee meeting was scheduled. ...... The four parties´ accepting the MPRF parliamentary party decision is intended to press the party´s central committee meeting not to take any move against it.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Upendra Yadav Should Be Leading The MJF Team In The New Government

Image via Wikipedia

Upendra Yadav was unanimously elected the leader of the MJF at the party's convention not long ago.
At that convention Bijay Gachhedar could not even get himself elected central committee member.
It was a mistake to have elected Bijay Gachhedar the parliamentary party leader after the April 2008 election.
Where was Bijay Gachhedar during the Madhesi Kranti of 2007?
Where was Bijay Gachhedar during the Madhesi Kranti of 2008?
If the UML offers to make Bijay Gachhedar the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, that will be the beginning of the end of this UML-led government.
It is not for the UML to decide who will lead the MJF in the government. For that the MJF has formed a four member committee: Upendra Yadav, Jay Prakash Gupta, Sharad Singh Bhandari, Bijay Gachhedar.
Upendra Yadav led the MJF in the last government.
Upendra Yadav will lead the MJF in this government.

It is true that Upendra Yadav failed to correctly read the mood in the country and in the party. But trying to take initiative to form a government in his own leadership was a great move by Upendra Yadav, only the Maoists were not honest with their offer, so the talks went nowhere.

For the UML to try and decide who should get what ministry from the MJF will be like when Rajendra Mahto was in Mahendranagar of Mahakali zone where his Sadbhavana party does not even have a presence, and the Pahadi/Bahun bureaucrats of the Election Commission confiscated his ministerial vehicle saying a minister may not use government property to campaign for his party. That was the Pahadis/Bahuns saying you might be a cabinet minister but you are still only a Madhesi.

There are plenty of Pahadi/Bahun chauvinists in the UML. If they don't measure up, this government is also going to be short-lived.

Pages

Friday, May 29, 2009

The Army Issue Has To Be Discussed In The Parliament

MJF: No Harm Done

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Upendra Yadav Should Be Leading The MJF Team In The New Government