Monday, August 03, 2009

Getting Published In Republica: Thoughts On Federalism


andolan5Image by paramendra via Flickr

Thoughts on federalism

PARAMENDRA BHAGAT

Nepal achieved democracy, secularism, a republican setup and federalism in principle faster than most people thought it was possible. Lawlessness still prevails but if all parties were to come together on the issue like they did for the 2006 April Revolution, law and order situation can be improved swiftly. Right now, drafting the constitution feels like a huge task, and it is, but once we have the document, we are going to face the stark reality that the constitution is but a framework—the real work is to bring about an economic revolution that would last for decades. But the work on the constitution comes first and the knottiest issue there is likely to be federalism.

Do we need federalism? Yes, we do. We have already answered that question as a people. Now we have to do the hard work of figuring out what shape and form that federalism will take. There are a lot of people who hold the view that we should not divide the country along ethnic lines. We haven’t done a disservice to humanity by being a separate country. Similarly, ethnic federalism will not weaken our country. In fact, the opposite is true.

andolan3Image by paramendra via Flickr


Neither the CPN-UML nor the Nepali Congress went to the people in April 2008 with maps on how federal Nepal would look like. The Maoists did and the Madhesi parties talked of One Madhes, One Pradesh. But, for the fact that the Maoists at least went to the people with a map, that map can be a good starting point as to the shape of federal Nepal.

I am a Madhesi from Janakpur. It is but natural that I will come to the federalism question from an angle that I feel speaks of the aspirations of my so-far oppressed people. Of all the maps I have seen so far, the one I like the most is the original Maoist map with modifications. You are looking at eight states: Madhes, Tharuwan, Khasan, Magarat, Tamuwan, Tamang, Newa and Kirat. I do understand that the Maoists have modified their map and now talk of about 15 states. I still like the eight-state map better.

As for the Tarai, I believe there are only two options. We can turn all of Tarai either into one state or two states. West of Rapti, we can have Tharuwan. Rapti to Mechi can be Madhes.

But the real knotty issue is not how we divide the states but rather how power will be distributed between the center and the states.

Of course, all the major highways in the country, all the big hydroelectricity projects will still be under the purview of the central government. But the states will have their own parliaments and wield major power.

The distribution of power between the center and the states has to be based on the one person, one vote principle. Because that is the democratic way. A directly-elected president would thus be good, although by now even the Maoists have abandoned the idea. The lower house could be shaped like the constituent assembly now.

andolan4Image by paramendra via Flickr


Too many people from the hitherto ruling classes still fantasize about federalism ending up like King Birendra’s so-called five development regions. Those five regions were unscientific, ad hoc and against the spirit of federalism. Ethnic federalism, taking other issues into consideration, is going to be a good thing that will strengthen our national unity. The Nepali identity will get a new life

Published on 2009-08-03 06:36:49


The article that was submitted:

Federalism: The Final Unresolved Knot
by Paramendra Bhagat

Nepal has achieved secularism, democracy, a republican setup and
federalism in principle faster than most thought possible. Lawlessness
still prevails, but if all parties were to come together on the issue
like they did for the April Revolution 2006, law and order can be
brought about swiftly. Right now the work on the constitution feels
like a huge task, and it is, but once we have the document we are
going to face the reality that the constitution is but a framework,
the real work is to do with delivering an economic revolution for the
country to last decades. But the work on the constitution comes first,
and the knottiest issue there is likely to be federalism.

Do we need federalism? Yes, we do. We have already answered that
question as a people. Now we have to bang heads as to what shape and
form that federalism will take. You don't see too many from the ruling
class and castes arguing for the Desi identity and an assimilation of
Nepal into India or professing a larger lover for all of humanity, and
turning both Nepal and India into far away states of America. But the
same people are nervous that we might end up with ethnic federalism.
We don't do a disservice to humanity by being a separate country.
Ethnic federalism will not similarly weaken the country Nepal. The
opposite will be true.

Neither the UML, nor the Congress went to the people in April 2008
with maps for federalism. The Maoists did, and the Madhesi parties
talked of Ek Madhes, Ek Prades. But for the fact that the Maoists at
least went to the people with a map, that map can be a good starting
point as to the shape of federalism.

I am a Madhesi from Janakpur. It is but natural that I will come to
the federalism question from an angle that I feel speaks to the
aspirations of my so far oppressed people. Of all the maps I have seen
so far, the one I have liked the most is the original Maoist map with
modifications. You are looking at eight states: Madhes, Tharuwan,
Khasan, Magarat, Tamuwan, Tamang, Newa, and Kirat. I do understand the
Maoists have modified their map and now talk of about 15 states. I
still like the eight states map better.

As for the Terai, I believe there are only two options. Either you
turn all of Terai into one state, or you turn all of Terai into two
states, west or Rapti you have Tharuwan, and Rapti to Mechi you have
Madhes. Rapti to Mechi rivers will still be an embodiment of the Ek
Madhes, Ek Prades aspiration.

But the real knotty issue is not how you draw the map for federalism,
but rather how power will be distributed between the center and the
states.

There will of course still be a federal government. All the major
highways in the country, all the big hydroelectricity projects will
still be the purview of the central government. But the states will
have their own parliaments and major power.

The distribution of power between the center and the states has to be
based on the one person one vote principle. Because that is the
democratic way. A directly elected president would thus be a good
idea, although by now even the Maoists have abandoned the idea. The
lower house could be shaped like the constituent assembly now. You
would have half of the first past the post seats in the Terai. And you
would have directly proportional elections for seats to the upper
house. You would have seat reservations for the DaMaJaMa that all
parties would have to obey.

Too many people from the hitherto ruling classes still fantasize about
federalism ending up being like King Birendra's so-called five
development regions. Those five regions were unscientific, ad hoc and
against the spirit of federalism. Ethnic federalism taking other
issues into consideration is going to be a good thing that will
strengthen national unity. The Nepali identity will get a new life.

Federalism will make an economic revolution possible, the next item on
our agenda.

(The writer is a tech entrepreneur based out of NYC -
http://jyoticonnect.net - and regularly blogs about Nepal at
http://demrepubnepal.blogspot.com)

Thanks Republica for publishing.
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Elderly Care



Elderly Care is a website that helps you find a nursing home and nursing home services in general.

Educate yourself on senior care options before you make a choice for you or your loved ones. It is an important decision to be making. Invest some time.

Elderly Care has a lot of information you could use as you work to make a choice important to you. You are willing to spend the money. Spend some time before that.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

A Discussion Thread From Ashutosh Shrivastav's Facebook Page



(I was not able to handle the format there: not conducive to a deep conversation. So I am bringing the material here. Let's engage through Disqus. I am very much into the conversation.)

Paramendra Kumar Bhagat
You sound quite skeptical of federalism. Federalism means disunity? Come on. Federalism

andolan1Image by paramendra via Flickr

will mean greater unity, genuine unity, not sham unity where one small political class rules over the rest.
July 11 at 11:30pm

Vijay Singh
ASHUTOSH u tried a lot frm ur side for expressing ur thoughts for the betterment of NATIONALISM...
July 12 at 12:59am

Ashutosh Shrivastav
@ Paramendra: At this time, I don't believe Federalism is an answer. We need to know why Zones and Districts were created and if they could be replaced by federal states.

@ Vijay: It's just a clip of the speech. If I get a copy of full video of the speech, I'll post it here.

Paramendra Kumar Bhagat
So you are not for federalism? Is that what I hear? Zones are so Panchayat.
July 12 at 5:41am

Ashutosh Shrivastav
I oppose federalism in Nepal. Too small for federal states...
July 12 at 3:12pm

Paramendra Kumar Bhagat
Switzerland is smaller. 75% of the countries on earth are smaller populations than Nepal. There are states in America with a million people in them.
July 12 at 9:04pm

Birat Simha
Federalism on the basis of what? Ethnicity and language, which was the original proposal of the Maoists? That can hardly be a formula for unity. IF we are to be federal, much thought needs to be given to how each federal unit becomes economically viable. Horizontal federal units will not qualify for this criterion. Let us also keep in mind that our... Read More high-handed leaders have already declared Nepal a Federal Democratic Republic. Except for the democratic part, the other two need much thought, intellectual and political debate and, of course, the PEOPLE's views need to be taken into consideration. Ideally, whether we become a federal republic should depend on the new constitution. But right now, nothing in Nepal is ideal...
July 14 at 8:57pm

andolan2Image by paramendra via Flickr


Paramendra Kumar Bhagat
(1) Federalism.
(2) Democracy.
(3) Republic.

We have already achieved all three in principle. Now we have to (1) bring the army completely under the parliament and (2) decide on the details of federalism: that is why we have a duly elected constituent assembly. ... Read More

The states will be demarcated taking many things into account. Ethnicity and language are among them. They played a role in Indian federalism as well, and India seems to be doing fine.

Federalism will lead to a greater unity. Nepal has never had unity. So far what it has had is internal colonialism.
July 14 at 9:24pm

Birat Simha
"Achieved...in principle"?? Whose principle? For instance, just because Girija, he was PM then, was "bribed" by the Maoists to declare Nepal a republic by promising him that he would be the first President, we are a republic in principle!! Get real, please.

Nepal was unified geo-politically by King Prithivi Narayan Shah in 1769. Its social unity ... Read Morehas become suspect over the past two centuries. If "One Madhes, One Pradhes" reflects constructive federalism, I beg to differ. That slogan is quixotic, unpatriotic and foisted upon the Nepali people by mischievous Indian elements.
July 14 at 10:51pm

Paramendra Kumar Bhagat
There is no going back on federalism, democracy and republic. That is what I meant.

Prithvi Narayan Shah foisted internal colonialism. We are finally about to undo that.

As to the shape and modalities of federalism, the talk is on.

The Federal Republic of Germany and its sixtee...Image via Wikipedia

July 15 at 12:00am

Birat Simha
Democracy is universally accepted. Why no going back on federalism (which is still a concept and not reality) and republic?? Nothing to go back on. These issues are in the mandate of the CA to determine. Three Bahuns making Nepal a republic is nonsense.

You better look up the definition of "colonialism".

BTW, nice having a chance to engage you. We had met only once before - in my apartment in NY in March 2007 when I hosted Mr.and Mrs. Deuba.
July 15 at 12:23am

Paramendra Kumar Bhagat
There is no going back on republic. As for federalism, there is no going back on that either, only option is to shape it right.
July 15 at 1:07am

Parimal Sharma
this was the best speech of the forum..should have silenced some of his critics
Thu at 11:23pm

Ashutosh Shrivastav
Thanks for the support, Parimal! For us, as the general public of Nepal, the CA election itself is questionable. Ian Martin seems to have been paid handsome amount of money to facilitate this heinous corruption in the name of democracy. The declaration of republic/secular state was done unilaterally without public referendum. As such, these decisions are null and void. Nepalese people reject all the decisions taken by 601 "Anguthachhaps".
Fri at 12:21am

Ashutosh Shrivastav
@ Birat Ji:

I'm with you. Disintegration of nation in the name of Federalism should be and must be opposed. The existence of nation is the utmost priority.
Fri at 12:38am

Population Density Map Of NepalImage via Wikipedia


Riti Patel
I think it was really powerful speech and I hope it gets heard by right people who wants to join you in helping Nepal reach its goals.
Fri at 12:38am

Paramendra Kumar Bhagat
The constituent assembly is a democratically elected body. The republic has been declared. Democracy is here to stay. Federalism has to be shaped.
Fri at 12:54am

Ashutosh Shrivastav
All the moves were unconstitutional. As such, no need to be honored by the "general public".
Yesterday at 1:40pm

Paramendra Kumar Bhagat
A popularly elected constituent assembly is the supreme body in the country. Nothing above it.
Yesterday at 4:55pm

Ashutosh Shrivastav
And, it is imperative to note that people like you and I didn't vote these people. These anguthachhaps were voted by other group of anguthachhaps in terror (perhaps vote in exchange of their life). The only supreme body is the constitution--the law of the land, which was scrapped by a herd of 601 sheep instead of passing amendments and eventually... Read More turning Nepal into a lawless country.

If people advocate for democracy, they must know the democratic procedures to run the country. Referendum and amendments are parts of it. That's all!
Yesterday at 5:35pm

John M. Kelleher
>> "Federalism will mean greater unity, genuine unity, not sham unity where one small political class rules over the rest." --Paramendra

Why is it that people presume that the dichotomy of "centralism vs federalism" runs neatly parallel to that of "elitism vs equality?" Federalism is intended to act as a mechanism of administrative efficiency, ... Read Morenot class or ethnic equality. Federalism makes sense in a context wherein the federal units are able to function as largely self-sufficient economies, with limited coordination. That would not seem to be the case in Nepal.
Yesterday at 7:26pm

John M. Kelleher
>> "Switzerland is smaller." --Paramendra

You're looking at the wrong "size," I suspect. Compare Switzerland's GDP with Nepal's, and it should become plain as to why federalism is not viable in Nepal. Nor is Nepal likely to be

andolan5Image by paramendra via Flickr

come a "New Switzerland" itself in the forseeable future, irrespective of whatever verbal flatulence to that effect which Prachanda may issue from time to time.

>> "We have already achieved all three in principle." --Paramendra... Read More

If by "in principle" you mean "in name only," then yes, I agree!
Yesterday at 7:26pm

John M. Kelleher
>> "Now we have to (1) bring the army completely under the parliament [..]" --Paramendra

It is odd that apologists for the Naya Nepal always choose to bring this up, as though the Army were the principle stumbling-block on the road to eutopia. If the C.A. declared that henceforth all rivers shall flow upstream, would the Honorable Water Minister... Read More be obligated to concur, lest he be accused of flouting democratic accountability?

Similarly, why is the Army expected to submit to its own institutional evisceration? Because that is, in fact, the only likely outcome to the wholesale induction of brainwashed guerrillas into the Army. Irrespective of whether the Army is "morally" obligated to do as the CA says, no power-center, anywhere, has ever acquiesced to its own obliteration.
Yesterday at 7:27pm

John M. Kelleher
>> "[..] and (2) decide on the details of federalism: that is why we have a duly elected constituent assembly." --Paramendra

I've already discussed why I believe such "details" to be unattainable in Nepal's case. Ev

NepalImage via Wikipedia

en if a workable form of federalism could be devised for Nepal by some subtly brilliant form of political alchemy, does anyone ... Read Morerealistically believe that such brilliance can be expected from the incumbent C.A.?

Nepal's current legislature is 61.5% composed of Communist parties, 38% of which hail from a particularly nasty, violent Communist group which still crops up on certain terrorist watch-lists from time to time. The remainder of the CA consists of a squabbling amalgamation of moderate parties and ethnic advocacy groups who can scarcely agree on the time of day.
Yesterday at 7:27pm

John M. Kelleher
>> "As to the shape and modalities of federalism, the talk is on." --Paramendra

... and on, and on, and on...

Nepal's current legislature can scarcely even PRETEND to function. You seem to believe that the C.A. is only months away from delivering a new & improved constitution and a workable federal mechanism. I would consider that about as likely as a 43-year-old female heroin-addict producing normal, healthy offspring with a full brain-cell count.... Read More

Nepal is inching closer by the day to the "failed state" category, if it isn't there already. The parties represented in the current C.A. are concerned only with maintaining their footing in the rapidly shifting parliamentary balance of power, and with claiming their share of the ever-dwindling supply of political patronage. Solving the unanswerable federalism riddle is quite nearly the last thing on their minds at the moment.
Yesterday at 7:28pm

John M. Kelleher
>> "Prithvi Narayan Shah foisted internal colonialism. We are finally about to undo that." --Paramendra

andolan3Image by paramendra via Flickr


This is precisely the sort of blind iconoclasm that I find so baffling in the Naya Nepal cheerleading squad. It is one thing to argue that traditionally subaltern groups ought to be given a stronger voice in Nepal's internal affairs. It is quite another thing to argue that every cultural, historical, and institutional underpinning of the state ought to be gratuitously torn down in favor of some abstruse mumbo-jumbo that we intend to make up as we go along.

>> As for federalism, there is no going back on that either, only option is to shape it right." --Paramendra... Read More

... and if it cannot be shaped, where does that leave us? With no option at all? I think you grossly oversimplify Nepal's political prognosis by presuming that the present settlement is unalterable.
Yesterday at 7:29pm

Ashutosh Shrivastav
John,

Thanks for "precisely" defining a lot of terms that have been vaguely defined by few Nepalese politicians so that they could rule on the ignorant population. I could easily see this trend at the ANA Nepal Forum where the "respected" politicians in Nepal looked dumb in front of the Nepali American audience and they were speechless when questioned by the people.

Ash
Yesterday at 9:47pm

Paramendra Kumar Bhagat
Ashutosh.

The anguthachhaps gave us the magical April Revolution 2006. I have more respect for their political consciousness than that of the diaspora Nepalis who are asleep on immigrant rights.

Nepal never had a legitimate constitution that we should feel sorry one got scraped. We are about to get our first legitimate constitution. ... Read More... Read More

Referendums and amendments come into play after we get our first ever legitimate constitution.
19 hours ago

Paramendra Kumar Bhagat
John. Federalism in Nepal's case IS about achieving greater equality for groups of Nepalis marginalized by the state for centuries. The political elite resides in Kathmandu, and so you have to devolve power away from the center. Federalism is a must is a diverse country like Nepal is to happily stay as one country.

75% of the countries on earth are smaller populations than Nepal. It is not too small for federalism, if any country is.

Federalism will also achieve greater administrative efficiency. ... Read More

Your second point comes into play after federalism is agreed to in principle already, as is the case in Nepal. As to the shape of that federalism, we are very much in discussion. Maybe you have a particular map in mind you would like to suggest.
19 hours ago

Paramendra Kumar Bhagat
Democracy is not for the rich. Federalism is not for the rich. Like Amartya Sen has said, a country is not fit for democracy, a country become fit through democracy. Your argument that Switzerland might be a smaller population and less diverse than Nepal, but it is rich enough to have federalism, and your argument before that that Nepal is too ... Read Moresmall for federalism, well, define small. Your argument is prejudiced, not political.

Once only landowners could vote in America. Because they were rich. Your argument is a throwback to another era.
19 hours ago

Paramendra Kumar Bhagat
I don't know how much you know about the army in Nepal, its ethnic composition, especially at the top, its opaque ways of functioning, its corruption, its bloated size. But know this, Nepal will not have fully become a republic unless the army is brought completely under the parliament and recomposed.

I am not for a wholesale induction of 30,000 ... Read MoreMaoists into the Nepal Army. I think the parliament should open up discussion on a bill, probably to be called the Security Sector Reform bill. That bill would decide if Nepal should have an army, how big it should be, what should be its ethnic and gender composition, and how to get there, how many Nepal Army and Maoist Army people you retrain for private sector jobs, how many you induct into the to be formed new Nepal Army.

I am not asking for utopia, I am asking for democracy.
19 hours ago

Paramendra Kumar Bhagat
There are many people on Capitol Hill who don't know the difference between Medicaid and Medicare. Should we then go ahead and abolish the US Congress?

I wish you had a little more respect for Nepal's constituent assembly than you do. It would be respecting democracy.

Do you appreciate the gulf between the Maoists and the UML? Don't let the word communist fool you. Or the word socialist as associated with the Nepali Congress. ... Read More

It is very hard for an oppressed community to get organized. That the Madhesis finally have a few parties, small parties, that speak for them, that is a cause for celebration.

Democracy is messy, but it ultimately works.
19 hours ago

Paramendra Kumar Bhagat
Nepal is in transition, and there is more lawlessness in the country than would make Nepalis happy, and the country currently seems to be going through a phase of political paralysis, but ultimately I remain optimistic.

There are 27 million people in Nepal and Iraq each. Bush spent a trillion dollars in Iraq to topple a dictator. The people of Nepal did the same thing with a street revolution in April 2006.

Do a trillion dollars mean anything to you?
19 hours ago

Paramendra Kumar Bhagat
Prithvi Narayan Shah "unified" Nepal around the same time that America was born as a country. Look what democracy did to America, look what feudalism did to Nepal.

The details of federalism will be achieved too. I expect this constituent assembly to make a timely delivery. Not to say there will not be some drama along the way.
19 hours ago

Paramendra Kumar Bhagat
Ashu.

You seem to join many diaspora Nepalis who make a hobby out of looking down upon Nepali politicians.

What I am saying is that the diaspora Nepalis are an asleep bunch. What have they done for immigrant rights, an issue that impacts them directly?
19 hours ago

John M. Kelleher
>> "The political elite resides in Kathmandu, and so you have to devolve power away from the center." --Paramendra

Yet again, I fear you are grossly misapplying the actual purpose of federalism. If you want to use class, race, and ethnic egalitarianism as your justification for federalism, then India and Switzerland aren’t the models you should be referring to. Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iraq might provide more salutary case-studies.

>> "As to the shape of that federalism, we are very much in discussion. Maybe you have a particular map in mind you would like to suggest." --Paramendra... Read More

Why does “we are very much in discussion” become your constant refrain whenever someone tries to point out the unfeasibility of federalism for Nepal? Isn’t it painfully obvious that the major parties in the C.A. are doing anything *but* iron out this federalism canard? And, how can I suggest a map for a federal model which I am inclined to reject outright?
8 hours ago

John M. Kelleher
>> "Your argument that Switzerland might be a smaller population and less diverse than Nepal, but it is rich enough to have federalism, and your argument before that that Nepal is too small for federalism, well, define small. Your argument is prejudiced, not political." --Paramendra

In this portion of your argument you appear to use the terms “... Read Moredemocracy” and “federalism” interchangeably – this is specious. My objections to federalism in this case are not based on anti-democratic sentiment, but on my understanding of what is, or is not, an appropriate application for the federal model.

If you will indulge me by re-reading my prior argument, you will see that my reference to GDP was predicted on my statement that federalism only makes sense when the federal units are capable of acting as free-standing economic entities themselves. In most federal systems, including the U.S. and India, federal states are able to set their own macroeconomic policies for the most part.
8 hours ago

John M. Kelleher
This is only viable if the federal states can actually function as freestanding economic units in their own right. This is where the relative size of the national economy under consideration would either support or militate against the feasibility of federalism. Also, you seem to forget that bureaucracy costs are exponentially higher in a federal... Read More system. This, too, needs to be weighed in any cost/benefit analysis for the federal model. In a Lilliputian economy such as Nepal’s, it would scarcely seem worth the trouble.

>> "Once only landowners could vote in America. Because they were rich. Your argument is a throwback to another era." --Paramendra

This is a peculiar tangent. Where does the electoral franchise enter into the argument? Yet again, you seem to presume that the distinct concepts of federalism and democracy are joined at the hip.
8 hours ago

John M. Kelleher
>> "But know this, Nepal will not have fully become a republic unless the army is brought completely under the parliament and recomposed." --Paramendra

“Recomposed... Read More” How do you intend to do that, without reducing the Army itself to impotence in the process? What you are suggesting is that the Army should be subjected to a massive top-to-bottom reform to cleanse it of its “elite” tendencies and make it solely accountable to the pluralistic and tolerant republic that you intend to conjure out of the mist.

Okay... giving that notion the benefit of the doubt for just a moment, *how* do you intend to do that without following the same course that the Maoists attempted, when they tried to force those 8 Brigadier Generals into retirement, and when they tried to unilaterally sack Katuwal? Why is it that Naya Nepal apologists invariably wind up echoing Maoist demands without even realizing it?
8 hours ago

John M. Kelleher
This is my point - it is impossible to subject the Army to such a comprehensive reform without emasculating it in the process, at least temporarily. I do not see Nepal... Read More’s political landscape as a passive grid of freestanding political entities which can be individually modified without affecting the others. I see it as a patchwork of competing loci of authority, most notably the Maoists themselves, the moderate parties, the Army, and the small nucleus of nationalists that still cluster around the Palace.

Given the extreme fragility of the balance between these loci of authority at the moment, I frankly do not see how it is either realistic or responsible to call for the vivisection of Nepal’s National Army. This would serve no interest save the Maoists’, by removing the last major institutional impediment to their own goals.
8 hours ago

John M. Kelleher
>> "I am not for a wholesale induction of 30,000 Maoists into the Nepal Army." --Paramendra

Good to hear! I think most sane folk agree with you on that one. It... Read More’s just a pity that the Maoists don’t. What makes you suppose that Prachanda, Baburam and Badal have any interest in compromising on this point? That would presuppose that the Maoists’ own goal is to streamline the integration of their own cadres back into the mainstream. *Why* would they want that? Force is, and always has been, the Maoists’ trump-card.

The Maoists have NEVER abandoned the armed struggle – this is not idle speculation on my part, it is self-evident from the Maoists’ own pronouncements and policies. This is why they will not, and indeed cannot, allow their parallel army to be picked apart piecemeal. They have no reasonable incentive to do so, and every reasonable incentive to block such an effort.
8 hours ago

John M. Kelleher
>> "I think the parliament should open up discussion on a bill, probably to be called the Security Sector Reform bill. That bill would decide if Nepal should have an army [...]" --Paramendra

*IF* Nepal should have an army? Honestly, Paramendra, what version of reality are you living in? In one of your replies to Ash, you... Read More’ve accused the Nepali diaspora of being “an asleep bunch,” and after reading some of your own statements I would have to concur!

I’ve already discussed above why I believe it to be recklessly irresponsible to destabilize the Nepalese polity by destroying one of the traditional loci of authority. Beyond that, I have to say that I find it shockingly surreal to see people proposing the complete reformulation of every aspect of Nepal’s political landscape by simple legislative fiat. It is naïve to presume that the C.A. can proceed with such measures with impunity as though these loci of authority didn’t even exist.
8 hours ago

John M. Kelleher
>> "I am not asking for utopia, I am asking for democracy." --Paramendra

No, you had democracy already in the Constitution of 1990. What you are asking for now is an unattainable utopia, and you are willing to propose tearing Nepal apart at the seams in a misguided quest for the unattainable.

>> "Should we then go ahead and abolish the US Congress?" --Paramendra... Read More

Another odd tangent. I don’t expect the US Congress to reshape this country from top to bottom. In fact, generally speaking, the less Congress tries to do for me, the happier I am!

Yet refashioning Nepal from top to bottom, politically, socially, religiously, economically and militarily, seems to be precisely what you expect from the C.A. And as far as ignorance and incompetence go, I think the Nepalese C.A. is in an entirely separate class by itself. Why, then, would we realistically expect more from this body than from the US Congress?
8 hours ago

John M. Kelleher
>> "I wish you had a little more respect for Nepal's constituent assembly than you do. It would be respecting democracy." --Paramendra

Oh, if wishes were fishes, we’d all cast nets in the sea!

Honestly, I fail to see how anyone who purports to respect democracy could find any inspiration in Nepal’s train-wreck C.A. It is a cautionary example, not a paragon! ... Read More

>> "Do you appreciate the gulf between the Maoists and the UML? Don't let the word communist fool you." --Paramendra

Yes, I know. That is why I was careful to separate the Maoist proportion in my prior post. MaKuNe has steered his party so far to the center that the “communist” tag is a joke now more than anything. The CPN-UML is, on most major issues, indistinguishable from the NC. This doesn’t seem to stop the two parties from blocking each other at every turn.
8 hours ago

John M. Kelleher
My purpose in pointing out those percentages was to highlight the ideological incoherence of the current C.A.’s makeup. How is a squabbling consortium of center-left, fringe-left, and ethnicist parties, plus one unreformed terrorist outfit, supposed to produce anything worthwhile?

>> "That the Madhesis finally have a few parties, small parties, ... Read Morethat speak for them, that is a cause for celebration." --Paramendra

I will refrain from commenting on the MJF and its fellow travelers. I will, however, have to question whether these parties have actually produced any tangible benefits for the Madheshi people, or whether they have only added another layer of disruption to an already-volatile situation.
8 hours ago

John M. Kelleher
>> "Democracy is messy, but it ultimately works." --Paramendra

Democracy is indeed messy, and it doesn... Read More’t always work. Moreover, it is not some magic salve which automatically cures a nation’s ills. It is, in fact, a remarkably fragile system which requires careful cultivation and favorable conditions. Nepal seemed to be on the road towards such an outcome in the early 1990’s, with an exemplary constitution and a Westminster-style parliamentary monarchy. A combination of corrupt and inept conduct on the part of the major parties, in tandem with a violent Maoist insurgency, served to scuttle these hopes.

Now, we are asked to believe that the same aforementioned parties, working in tandem with the aforementioned Maoists, can jointly produce an improved constitutional settlement after managing to scuttle the last one. In what version of reality does this make sense?
8 hours ago

John M. Kelleher
>> "[...] the country currently seems to be going through a phase of political paralysis, but ultimately I remain optimistic." --Paramendra

Well, you just might be the only one! You seem happy to repeat your magic mantra “Meaningful Progress is Just Around the Corner.” Frankly, I think Nepal is witnessing the final days of an untenable turpis pax. Subsequent events will show who was right.

>> "Bush spent a trillion dollars in Iraq to topple a dictator. The people of Nepal did the same thing with a street revolution in April 2006. Do a trillion dollars mean anything to you?" --Paramendra... Read More

Does the phrase “non sequitur” mean anything to you?
8 hours ago

John M. Kelleher
This is a truly asinine comparison [I *hope* you are not comparing the King to Saddam?]. How does one context compare to the other? It would perhaps be illustrative to know exactly how much the ongoing failure of Indian policy in Nepal, and the spillover of that failure onto the expanding Naxalite insurrection, has cost the Indian taxpayer thus far.

On one basis however, I can perhaps see some justification to your comparison. Iraq and Nepal both share the dubious distinction of entering the “failed state” category in the wake of misguided efforts at nation-building.

>> "Look what democracy did to America, look what feudalism did to Nepal." --Paramendra... Read More

Another asinine comparison. Is there any geopolitical or historical overlap between these two cases at all? The accomplishment of King PNS and his successors was an independent, unified polity with the apparatus of a modern nation-state. That alone is a substantive accomplishment given Nepal’s unique context.
8 hours ago

John M. Kelleher
Paramendra, the only consistent thread I can detect in your analysis of Nepalese history, is your apparent conviction that it would have been better if Nepal had never been created in the first place. Have I mistaken you on that point?

>> "I expect this constituent assembly to make a timely delivery. Not to say there will not be some drama along the way." --Paramendra

“Some drama?” An understatement, at best! Frankly I will be duly impressed if this accident-prone, misbegotten C.A. manages to produce *any* constitution at all, even a slapdash cut-and-paste job.... Read More

If its performance thus far is to be taken as any sort of precedent, I think it highly unlikely that the C.A. will have anything to show by the time the due-date rolls around.
8 hours ago

Ashutosh Shrivastav
Guess what? Some people expect the constitution to be written by people who don't know even how to write their name. Do they know what constitution means? Probably their 3rd offspring will be able to know that.
7 hours ago

Tika Ram Ojha
Prithvi Narayan Shah foisted internal colonialism. We are finally about to undo that." Paramendra
You are right that PNS foisted internal colonialism -That is what we Called it Nepal and its our pride. Since he foisted it many tries to undo it throughout centuary,Even British tries and they failed.
And in 21st centuary we Nepali People will foist remaning colonies to form the Greater Nepal.(in your words)
38 minutes ago

Paramendra Kumar Bhagat
Oh. So many comments. I'd like to read and all and comment back, but this Facebook format is limiting and inconvenient. But I will take a bite regardless.
2 seconds ago

Paramendra Kumar Bhagat
John. Administrative efficiency, taking power closer to the individual citizen at the local level, if those are not purposes of federalism, what are? The two also lead to a more egalitarian, inclusive arrangement of state power.

Yugoslavia/Iraq or India/Switzerland. The way to avoid the former is not by imposing upon Nepal a unitary state.

The ... Read Morereason the Nepali Congress and the UML don't even have a map is because they have always dragged their feet on the federalism question. But then they also dragged their feet on the constituent assembly question, on the republic question.
2 seconds ago

Paramendra Kumar Bhagat
"In most federal systems, including the U.S. and India, federal states are able to set their own macroeconomic policies for the most part."

Factually incorrect. States do have their budgets, but the monetary policy is set by the central bank.

"....bureaucracy costs are exponentially higher in a federal system...."... Read More

You are on record saying federalism leads to greater administrative efficiency.
2 seconds ago

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Upendra Yadav's Options


Prachanda's Mistake
  • The issue has not been if Katuwal is a good guy or a bad guy. (Gurung Not Katawal For Army Chief August 2006)
  • The issue has not been if he should be sacked.
  • Prachanda messed up on the procedure.
  • He had to get all his coalition partners to agree. He did not do that.
  • After all his coalition partners had agreed, he needed to send his decision to the president. He bypassed the president. He messed up again.
  • The president then would have had the option to send the decision back to the cabinet for reconsideration.
  • The cabinet would have had the option then to send it back to the president. At that point the president would have had no option but to send the decision to the army chief.
  • Thereby the Army Chief would have been duly sacked.
Prachanda's Continued Mistake
  • Then prime minister Prachanda did what he did.
  • The president did what he did.
  • The president's decision has been challenged in court.
  • The parliament, Prachanda and Madhav Nepal should give the court space.
  • Rule of law asks for that.
The Court's Mistake
  • The Supreme Court needed to decide right away if the president's move was unconstitutional or not as alleged.
  • My understanding is the president's move was legitimate. It was the prime minister who bypassed due process in two major ways.
  • But it is for the Supreme Court to make that announcement.
Madhav Nepal's Mistakes
  • Madhav Nepal waited for his own party to decide which members of the UML will participate in the government. He extended that same courtesy to the Nepali Congress, to the TMLP, and the SP. Because that is how it gets done in parliamentary democracy.
  • But he went ahead and appointed Bijay Gachhedar to his cabinet without waiting for the MJF to officially send a list of people to join the cabinet. The MJF had already decided to participate in the government with both Yadav and Gachhedar holding major cabinet portfolios.
  • What Madhav Nepal did was against the basic norms of parliamentary democracy.
  • Madhav Nepal has proven there is as much danger to democracy in the country from Madhav Nepal as there might be from Prachanda.
  • Madhav Nepal made another big mistake.
  • He withdrew Prachanda's decision to sack Katuwal. That decision by Prachanda was under due consideration by the Supreme Court. A Prime Minister can not thus overrule the Supreme Court. It has been for the Supreme Court to decide on Prachanda's decision.
The Current Coalition's Big Political Mistakes
Upendra Yadav's Options
  • Perhaps Upendra Yadav's original sin was to bring into the MJF the corrupt Congress faces like Bijay Gachhedar and Sharad Singh Bhandari.
  • Or his second mistake was to not himself have become the parliamentary party leader after the April 2008 election.
  • His continued mistake might have been that his leadership style has not been as consultative as it should be. (The MJF Must Stay Intact, Putting The MJF Fire Out, MJF: Is Reconciliation Possible?, The MJF Drama)
  • Whether by naked Indian embassy intervention (and the Pahadis think Madhesis are Indians!) or by simply buying out MPs and central committee members or by happily playing into the hands of the Pahadi ruling class or all of the above, Bijay Gachhedar has proven he is capable of bringing about a vertical split in the MJF.
  • It is for Upendra Yadav to decide if it makes sense to seek reconciliation with Gachhedar or to go his separate way.
  • At this juncture to seek reconciliation would be to say, okay Jhala Nath Khanal is UML president, but he is not in the cabinet, Girija is NC president, but he is not in the cabinet, neither Mahanth Thakur nor Hridayesh Tripathy are in the cabinet. And so Upendra Yadav is also going to stay out of the cabinet for now and instead seek party unity.
  • This might be Upendra Yadav's best option. He should lose this small battle to later win the war.
  • After reunifying the party then Upendra Yadav should work with Prachanda for the formation of an all party national unity government and bring it about in a few months' time.
  • In politics six months are a long, long time.
  • Keeping the party intact at any cost might be Upendra Yadav's best option at this point.
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Friday, July 10, 2009

Madhesi Movement And Peace Process: Rethink Time?

andolan1Image by paramendra via Flickr

Both the Madhesi Movement and Nepal's peace process are at a delicate juncture at this moment. There is major lawlessness in the country, especially in the Terai. A political paralysis has gripped the country. The largest Madhesi party has undergone a vertical split. The Maoists are doing all they can to disrupt government work until a new government in their leadership is formed. Basic due process has been disrespected, either through ignorance or ill will, by all and sundry. The peace process is at its lowest point since the 12 point agreement between the Maoists and then seven parties in late 2005.

The Maoists are not about to reignite a civil war. But is lawlessness not bad enough news? Is the current political paralysis not bad enough news? Nothing much is getting done. The work on building the institutions of democracy is at halt.

It is important for the largest six parties in the parliament to work hard to revive the spirit of the 12 point agreement when they put aside their major differences in the interests of the people and the nation.

Even if the Maoists will not go back to the jungle, even if the Maoists will accept mul

andolan2Image by paramendra via Flickr

ti-party democracy for good, there still is much work to be done. Basic law and order is something all parties should be able to agree upon. That is among the most fundamental of people's expectations.

An all party government might be the need of the hour. That might be the way out of the current political paralysis.

As for the Madhesi movement, I do think the split in the MJF is a tragedy and a setback. But the split is not formal yet. There could still be a rapproachment. Or the split could become formal. Whatever the case the newfound political consciousness of the Madhesi people through three major social mass movements is not about to be trampled. That no longer depends on any political party. All parties in the country have no option but to respect that newfound political consciousness. The Madhesis will get federalism, and the Madhesis will make steady progress towards equality in all walks of national life no matter how many parties split, form and unite. It is just that that process would be faster if the Madhesi parties stayed united and actually become unified, such that there is not three, four or more but one party.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Zenni Optical



Remember Zenni Optical during this back to school season when you are shopping around for glasses for your children. Do you have children who wear glasses? Do they sometimes break them or lose them? Or perhaps even often? Does that end up costing you a lot of money? Are you looking to be able to afford ($ 8 Rx eyeglasses) fashionable glasses for your children?

Thursday, July 09, 2009

Smyrna Painter


Are you looking for a Smyrna Painter? Your search is over. If you are in Smyrna, Georgia and looking for a painter, look no further than K And O Painting, a solid establishment known for dependable service, and the very best in products and techniques. Don't go for those who cut corners, go for the Smyrna Painter.
  • Custom cabinet refinishing
  • Drywall repair
  • Skim coating
  • Texture matching
  • Wood replacement
  • Wallpaper removal
  • Custom color matching
  • Repair services

Monday, July 06, 2009

Roomster.com: Roommates, Apartments, Sublets




Roomster.com is your online destination when searching for roommates, apartments and sublets in the US, UK and Canada.

Roomster.com has a large, active membership.

You can post your rentals for free at Roomster.com.

Roomster.com is "the largest community site for roommates, flatmates, flatshares, rentals, apartments , flats to let, and sublets serving the U.S. , Canada. & The U.K."

Friday, June 26, 2009

Remodeling: Baltimore, Tacoma, Chandler



These small businesses have exhibited
  • Consistent great quality of work
  • Great customer service
  • Great price
  • Best sub-contractors
Visit their websites. Have them call you.

Remodel
  • Kitchens
  • Bathrooms
  • Basements
  • Decks
  • Porches

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Madhav Nepal And Rule Of Law


Former Prime Minister Prachanda's decision to sack the army chief Katuwal lacked due process and was declared so by the president. That decision by the president was promptly challenged and taken to the Supreme Court. Madhav Nepal went ahead and nullified the decision by the former Prime Minister. He can not possibly have done that. That is a disrespect of rule of law. A case that is still being considered by the Supreme Court has to be left to the Supreme C

Madhesi Jana Adhikar Forum, NepalImage via Wikipedia

ourt. The Prime Minister, or the president or the parliament may not engage in such indulgences.

Madhav Nepal has made another similarly improper decision as Prime Minister. He waited for his own party to decide which UML people will represent that party in the parliament. Otherwise three top UML leaders were in major disagreement. He similarly waited for the Nepali Congress central committee to decide on which NC people will go into the government. That was also true of the TMLP, the SP and the RPP. But in the case of the MJF, Madhav Nepal at the instigation of Girija Koirala went against all the basic norms of parliamentary democracy and appointed Bijay Gachhedar as Prime Minister.

Upendra Yadav probably could take Madhav Nepal to court on that one.

andolan4Image by paramendra via Flickr



There is the law and then there is politics.

Upendra Yadav could have expelled Bijay Gachhedar as he did, but then Gachhedar has had the option to walk away with 40% or more of the MJF MPs, as he did. A split came about, although it is not formal yet because both factions are still trying to say they are the original party. Gachhedar has not registered a new party yet.

Curiously now Madhav Nepal is toying with the idea of sacking Katuwal after all. He can do that. If all his coalition partners agree, Nepal can legitimately sack Katuwal.

So there is the law, and there is politics. That also leaves the possibility of Upendra Yadav doing the Hridayesh Tripathy thing and saying let bygones be bygones, he does not want to go into power himself, and making overtures to reunify the MJF.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Home Loan Modification Attorney Representation



Home Loan Modification is an advocacy organization that speaks for people who live in fear of foreclosures. If you are seeking to reduce monthly mortgage payments, this organization can help. Stay away from unlicensed scammers. Clients get referred at no charge to qualified real estate attorneys and bankruptcy attorneys. The mortgage modification attorney will offer free initial consultation.