Sunday, November 04, 2012

The President, The Prime Minister

The President's roadmap

There are three branches to the government and Ram Baran Yadav is not leading any of them. One of the branches has gone missing. The country is running on an interim constitution.

The president has been sending signals to parties like the NC and the UML that he might do something. Many NC folks fantasize the president might simply get rid of the Prime Minister. That happens not to be a constitutional option. That is not happening.

The best thing the president can do is let the political process take its due course. By now all parties are in mind to go for an election to a new assembly. It is ridiculous for the NC or the UML to suggest they should be leading any consensus government. They are too small as parties to be making such a claim. They are going to be even smaller after the election. But I digress.

The NC and the UML could join the current government or they should let the current government as is hold elections. What other option is there? Considering Baburam Bhattarai is not opposed to inducting NC and UML members into his cabinet, the fact that that is not happening should tell the president the current government is the one that is going to conduct elections. And he should cooperate.

NC And UML Do Not Have Veto Power
Dahal's Capitulation Is Wrong
Baburam Bhattarai Will Conduct Elections
Ram Baran Yadav Is Not An Executive President



Prez warned not to cross the line
UCPN (Maoist), UDMF discuss budget
Adhikari signals UML readiness for UCPN-M-led consensus govt
CPN-UML standing committee member Bharat Mohan Adhikari has said on Wednesday that his party would accept the leadership of UCPN-Maoist led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal , if they got an opportunity to lead the next consensus government.
Road to becoming a millionaire was not an easy one
Though we originated from Nepal, we are foreign citizens. Investment from NRNs is definitely going to encourage other international investors to come here and invest. I am optimistic that international investors will view this step taken by an NRN as an indicator of improving situation of investment climate in Nepal...... Foreign investors worry about how to take back dividend to their home countries. They look for an easy bureaucratic process and seek commitment from the government on taking back investment and returns anytime they want. But for NRNs, that might not be a problem. We don´t worry too much about taking the investment and dividend back to the country where we are residing. So there is a difference between other foreign investors and NRNs. ....... we are negotiating with chains such as Paris Hilton, Marriott, and Sheraton, among others ..... NRNs are the only people who can bring investment into the country at the moment .... You should not be afraid of taking risks
Obama, Romney race to finish line neck-and-neck
"I have given my voice in the service of my president," a hoarse Clinton said on the latest of more than two dozen campaign events for Obama, before 24,000 people on a chill night in the battleground state of Virginia. ..... In the latest show of good news for the president, he led Romney by five points in Iowa in a poll by the respected Des Moines Register newspaper, and also appears well placed in Nevada and Ohio -- in the trio of "firewall" states that could hand him re-election.
India's Congress party holds massive rally
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NC And UML Do Not Have Veto Power

Friday, November 02, 2012

Dahal's Capitulation Is Wrong

UCPN (M) proposes oppn parties to name PM candidate
In the meeting of the major four political forces held on Friday as part of their attempts to seek possible way out of the current political impasse, the Maoist chairaman Pushpa Kamal Dahal proposed to name the PM candidate after the leaders of Nepali Congress and CPN-UML refused former's proposal to convert existing government into national consensus government, according to UML leader Bhim Rawal
This is ridiculous.

Prachanda has to stop pretending that there is going to be a "friendly" election. When the elections are held in April there will be a major ideological tussle between the pro federalism forces and the anti federalism forces. The pro federalism forces have to win a two thirds majority. That is the work cut out before Prachanda as the leader of the Federal Republican Alliance. That alliance has to forge an electoral alliance with the smaller alliance that Upendra Yadav has managed to forge together to bring forth an alliance of alliances. That joint alliance should be able to garner a two thirds majority in the next assembly that is needed to give Nepal genuine federalism.

The NC and the UML are welcome to join the current government. If not, the current government has to move ahead full speed. The Prime Minister has to confront the president and remind him he is not an executive president. The Ram Baran Yadav drama has gone too far. It is not his job to try to bring the political parties together. That is the Prime Minister's job to try.

Consensus is a Panchayati concept. It sickens me to see Prachanda acting like unless the NC and the UML agree nothing can happen in the country. Those are the two parties that need to be soundly defeated at the polls and Prachanda as leader of the Federal Republican Alliance has to start acting like it.

If the NC and UML choose to go for street demonstrations and mass meetings, the ruling coalition has to go for street demonstrations and mass meetings. Violence is not an option, but street action and mass actions are options.

Ram Baran Yadav's activism has to stop. The budget has to be brought through an ordinance. Election related ordinances have to be brought forth. Let the NC and the UML go to the people in April. Those are the two parties that did not let two thirds of the members of the last assembly give Nepal the federal constitution it deserves.

Talks falter over govt leadership
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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Baburam Bhattarai Will Conduct Elections

List of Prime Ministers of Nepal
List of Prime Ministers of Nepal (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Step By Step
Ram Baran Yadav Is Not An Executive President

The constituent assembly is not coming back. It is dead. (Is CA Revival Possible?) It is not coming back even if all major political parties come to an agreement to revive it, not that that consensus is happening.

And so all election related ordinances will have to be passed on from the Prime Minister to the president. It would be best if the NC and the UML cooperated. But their demand that the current government resign before anything can be talked about is unreasonable.

A fair consensus government would have to be lead by Baburam Bhattarai since he represents what was the largest party in the last assembly. And so if an election government of non political people is not an option, then the NC and the UML joining the current government is a good option. But I don't see them doing that.

The two are sore losers who did everything unconstitutional and undemocratic to make sure the country was deprived a federal constitution. So if they will not join the current government to form an all party government to take the country to a new election chances are they might not even cooperate on election related laws.

And here the president does not have the option to make moves. Either the political parties come to consensus on the major issues, or the current Prime Minister pass on the necessary ordinances. The president has to sign them. He is not an executive president. It is not for the president to seek consensus among political parties. That is the job of the Prime Minister. And if the Prime Minister fails to get that consensus, well, the country already has a government in place. The business of governance has to go on.

The ruling Federal Democratic Republican Alliance is capable of showing street strength. It could organize street demonstrations. What are the NC and the UML thinking?

Some polarization is necessary. Otherwise why bother having elections? The next election is in essence a referendum on two different, competing visions on what shape Nepal's federalism should take. The NC, the UML and the rightist parties have one way of looking at it. They don't want federalism, but if there is to be federalism, they want it to be fake, cosmetic. The Maoist, Madhesi and the Janajati parties have a different vision. They are for genuine federalism. Nepal is a mosaic of diversity. Only federalism can speak to that ground reality.

The two visions should necessarily compete.

Baburam Bhattarai was right after all. If the president had done his job and not got in the way of the election ordinances the country might have seen elections in November. But April is not too late.

The best course for the country is for the Prime Minister to bring forth election ordinances and for the president to sign them, and make elections happen in April 2013.
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Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Step By Step


Step 1 is to realize the constituent assembly is not coming back. It is not coming back for further work on the constitution and it is not coming back to amend the interim constitution. All election related amendments will have to be the act of the president.

But the president is not an executive president, and so a government acceptable to all major parties will have to be put into place first. Do it like they did it in Bangladesh. Put together a government of non political people. Maybe this is the chance for the civil society to shine. Step 2, set up a new government of all non political people.

Step 3, let that government pass on election related ordinances to the president who would sign them to make elections possible in April 2013. Chances are the new assembly is smaller in size. Maybe it is 300 and not 600 strong.

Nepali parties inch back to poll option NC president Sushil Koirala and UML chairman Jhalanath Khanal have categorically rejected the CA revival option. A group of former Supreme Court Chief Justices warned the Prime Minister that CA revival to promulgate the statute would be unconstitutional. President Ram Baran Yadav too has spoken in favour of fresh polls.
Nepal’s president pushes for elections revival of the Constituent Assembly (CA) could not happen ‘under any circumstances’..... “The political parties have no alternative but to go for elections as per the spirit of the interim constitution and the verdict of the Supreme Court.”
Ruling UCPN (M), Morcha strike CA elections accord
SLMM to take final call on CA rebirth
CA rebirth not possible, former CJs tell PM
CA revival not possible: Prez Yadav
Dahal floats new proposal before Prez

The Supreme Court will not let the reinstated CA work
With leaders sticking to differing views, no solution in sight
Grab the offer
Dahal now for fresh CA poll cum poll for prez
Madhesi, ethnic leaders urge prez to work for consensus
Plot to bypass UML will not succeed: Nepal
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Friday, October 19, 2012

संगठनका कुरा (3)

NRN NCC President कालागि लड़ने बारे विचार गर्दै
संगठनका कुरा (2)
संगठनका कुरा

हिजोको NRN NCC को कांफ्रेंस कलले नवम्बर 15 सम्म membership drive गर्ने र शायद जनुअरी 15 मा बोस्टनमा चुनाव गराउने निर्णय गर्यो। I have decided not to be part of it, I am no longer interested.

Massive मेम्बरशिप drive को लक्ष्य नभएको चुनाव तालिकाले मलाई आकर्षित गर्दैन।

अब या त ICC को मेम्बरशिप ड्राइव मा भाग लिईन्छ पछि spring मा या छुट्टै न्यू यॉर्क शहर लेवेलको नया संगठन launch गरिन्छ। मासिक हाउस पार्टी को concept अगाडी बढाउनु परेको छ। महिनाको अंतिम आइतबार कसो होला?


Thursday, October 18, 2012

NRN NCC President कालागि लड़ने बारे विचार गर्दै


संगठनका कुरा (2)
संगठनका कुरा

2005-2006 ताका अमेरिकाका 2 लाख नेपाली मध्ये full time democracy movement मा लागेको म एक्लो मान्छे। मैले digital activism गरेको हो त्यति बेला, पत्रकारिता होइन। 2006 February मा house arrest भएको एक महिना पछि कसो कसो गरि वायरलेस इन्टरनेट बाट online आउंदा माधव नेपालले chat गरेको पहिलो ब्यक्ति। त्यों राजनीतिक काम गरेकोले हो। त्यस पछि मधेसी क्रन्तिमा पनि फुल time लागेको। Los Angeles मा प्लेन बाट झर्ना साथ "Where is परमेन्द्र भगत" भनेर उपेन्द्र यादवले भनेको मेरो राजनीतिक कामको  आधार मा हो। 2005-2006 ताका मेरो "हाम्रो नेपाल" नामको डिजिटल संगठन पनि थियो, 100 जना जति सदस्य थिए। न्यू योर्क मा ANTA पैदा गरेको मैले हो। अमेरिका आए पछि कॉलेजमा छ महिना भित्र बिद्यार्थी यूनियनको President को चुनाव जितेको। त्योभन्दा अगाडी नेपालमा राजनीतिक पार्टीमा हृदयेश त्रिपाठी महासचिव, म उपमहासचिव, राजेन्द्र महतो केन्द्रीय समिति सदस्य। त्रिपाठी र महतो मन्त्री छन। म न्यू योर्क मा बराक ओबामाको पहिलो full time volunteer।

म त नेपालमा तानाशाही समाप्त भए पछि नेपाल बारे कम सोंचने, आफ्नो काम गर्न पट्टी लागने भनेर बसेको। तर त्यस्तो नहुने देख्न थालेको छु। नेपालमा आर्थिक क्रांति गर्न 20-30 बर्ष लाग्छ। नेपालमा hydro प्रोजेक्ट हरु कालागी NYC मा funding खोज्ने career move मैले थालिसकेको छु। नेपालको राजनीतिक क्रांतिमा मैले योगदान दिएँ, मधेसी क्रांतिमा योगदान दिएँ, अब़ आर्थिक क्रांतिमा पनि योगदान दिन चाहन्छु।

द्वैध नागरिकता को कुरा छ। द्वैध नागरिकता बिना नेपालमा आर्थिक क्रांति संभव छैन। न्यू योर्क को स्थानीय राजनीतिमा नेपाली हरुलाई empower गर्ने कुरा छ।

यी सब कारण ले म NRNA (Non Resident Nepali Association) NCC (National Coordination Council) को President कालागी लड़ने बारे सोंच्दै छु भन्ने कुरा सबै साथी हरुलाई अबगत गराउन चाहन्छु। अमेरिकामा ICC र NCC दुबैको चुनाव May 2013 को अंतिम weekend मा न्यू योर्क मा गर्ने गरी तालिका बनाउन आग्रह गर्दछु। त्यो चुनाव हुनु अगाडी massive membership drive हुनु जरुरी छ।
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