Monday, May 25, 2015
Sunday, May 24, 2015
बाढ़ी, आगलागी, पहिरो, कोशी र महाभुकम्प
महाभुकम्प अगाडि नै नेपालमा एउटा निकम्मा, असहिष्णु, भ्रष्ट, माफिया को चुंगलमा फँसेको सरकार थियो। महाभुकम्प को कारणले त्यो सरकार रातारात सक्षम भैजाने होइन, रातारात चोखिने होइन। विपत्ति को बेलामा बरु गलत मान्छे हरु का लागि बाटाहरु प्रशस्त भएर जान्छन्।
नेपाल लोकतंत्र हो। Watchdog रोल को आवश्यकता झन ठुलो छ। अहिले को अवस्थामा। केही मंत्री ले भन्दैछन्, यस्तो विपत परेको बेला सरकारको आलोचना गरेर सरकार लाई कमजोर पार्ने काम नगर्नोस। गलत बोल्यो। चोरको खुट्टा काट भन्दा कसले खुट्टा झिक्यो भनेर हेर्ने बेला हो यो बरु।
नेपालका चेली विदेशमा बेचने माफिया गैंग हरु का लागि fishing season आए जस्तो भै राख्या छ।
२००८ मा कोशी प्रकोप मा राहत बाँड्नु पर्ने ले मधेसी हरुसँग नागरिकता देखा भनेर भनेकै हो। कति घटिया व्यव्हार! अहिले, कसलाई के सुर्ता कसलाई के सुर्ता घर जवाईं लाई खानै को सुर्ता भने जस्तो, बामे लाई महोत्तरी को सदरमुकाम जलेश्वर बाट बर्दीबांस सार्न हतार भै राख्या छ। एमाले भनेको नेपालमा riot politics गर्न खोजेको पार्टी हो। पानी धमिलो गर्ने अनि माछा मार्ने। मतदाता हरु लाई polarize गर्ने। जातीय आधारमा। टुंडीखेल मा जस्तो तराई का विभिन्न ठाउँ मा पाल गाड़ने अवस्था आएको छ भने आएको छ -- के गर्ने? मरता क्या न करता। तर त्यो मधेसी हरुको जग्गा खोस्ने किसिमले गर्न मिल्दैन। सार्वजनिक भुमि शहर शहर मा छ। महाभुकम्प प्राकृतिक प्रकोप माथि अन्याय को राजनीतिक प्रकोप थप्ने काम नगर्ने।
वर्षेनी नेपाल मा तराई मा बाढ़ी र आगलागी का समाचार आउँछन्। त्यही बेला पहाड़मा पहिरो को समाचार आउँछ। तर २००८ को कोशी प्रकोप अर्कै लेवल को कुरा हो। र यो महाभुकम्प त unprecedented हो। नेपालको इतिहासमा यति ठुलो विपद आएकै छैन। तराई-पहाड़, मधेसी-पहाड़ी पछि गरौंला। राजनीति आफ्नो ठाउँमा चल्दै गर्छ। अहिले सबै पक्षले राहत र पुनर्स्थापना बारे सोँच। पुराना घाउ कोट्याउने अहिले होइन। त्यसको समय आउँछ। सत्ता पक्ष ले पनि सोंचने, प्रतिपक्षले पनि सोंचने।
यो भुकम्प सकियो भन्ने पनि छैन। वैज्ञानिक हरुले ठोकुवा का साथ भन्न सक्दैनन्। आगामी ३-४ महिना नेपालको इतिहासमा नआएको पहिरो हरु आउने संभावना छ। त्यो फेरि आफैमा भुकम्प हो। तराईमा मधेसी-पहाड़ी सम्बन्ध बिगार्ने काम गर्नु हुँदैन, नत्र नचाहिएको बेलामा राजनीतिक भुकम्प आइदिन्छ।
नेपाल लोकतंत्र हो। Watchdog रोल को आवश्यकता झन ठुलो छ। अहिले को अवस्थामा। केही मंत्री ले भन्दैछन्, यस्तो विपत परेको बेला सरकारको आलोचना गरेर सरकार लाई कमजोर पार्ने काम नगर्नोस। गलत बोल्यो। चोरको खुट्टा काट भन्दा कसले खुट्टा झिक्यो भनेर हेर्ने बेला हो यो बरु।
नेपालका चेली विदेशमा बेचने माफिया गैंग हरु का लागि fishing season आए जस्तो भै राख्या छ।
२००८ मा कोशी प्रकोप मा राहत बाँड्नु पर्ने ले मधेसी हरुसँग नागरिकता देखा भनेर भनेकै हो। कति घटिया व्यव्हार! अहिले, कसलाई के सुर्ता कसलाई के सुर्ता घर जवाईं लाई खानै को सुर्ता भने जस्तो, बामे लाई महोत्तरी को सदरमुकाम जलेश्वर बाट बर्दीबांस सार्न हतार भै राख्या छ। एमाले भनेको नेपालमा riot politics गर्न खोजेको पार्टी हो। पानी धमिलो गर्ने अनि माछा मार्ने। मतदाता हरु लाई polarize गर्ने। जातीय आधारमा। टुंडीखेल मा जस्तो तराई का विभिन्न ठाउँ मा पाल गाड़ने अवस्था आएको छ भने आएको छ -- के गर्ने? मरता क्या न करता। तर त्यो मधेसी हरुको जग्गा खोस्ने किसिमले गर्न मिल्दैन। सार्वजनिक भुमि शहर शहर मा छ। महाभुकम्प प्राकृतिक प्रकोप माथि अन्याय को राजनीतिक प्रकोप थप्ने काम नगर्ने।
वर्षेनी नेपाल मा तराई मा बाढ़ी र आगलागी का समाचार आउँछन्। त्यही बेला पहाड़मा पहिरो को समाचार आउँछ। तर २००८ को कोशी प्रकोप अर्कै लेवल को कुरा हो। र यो महाभुकम्प त unprecedented हो। नेपालको इतिहासमा यति ठुलो विपद आएकै छैन। तराई-पहाड़, मधेसी-पहाड़ी पछि गरौंला। राजनीति आफ्नो ठाउँमा चल्दै गर्छ। अहिले सबै पक्षले राहत र पुनर्स्थापना बारे सोँच। पुराना घाउ कोट्याउने अहिले होइन। त्यसको समय आउँछ। सत्ता पक्ष ले पनि सोंचने, प्रतिपक्षले पनि सोंचने।
यो भुकम्प सकियो भन्ने पनि छैन। वैज्ञानिक हरुले ठोकुवा का साथ भन्न सक्दैनन्। आगामी ३-४ महिना नेपालको इतिहासमा नआएको पहिरो हरु आउने संभावना छ। त्यो फेरि आफैमा भुकम्प हो। तराईमा मधेसी-पहाड़ी सम्बन्ध बिगार्ने काम गर्नु हुँदैन, नत्र नचाहिएको बेलामा राजनीतिक भुकम्प आइदिन्छ।
Friday, May 22, 2015
The Chinook Mistake Was An Impeachable Offense
And if the Nepal Army had anything to do with it, I think that criminal act negates 50% of the good work they have done in the aftermath of the earthquake. The Chinook was so badly needed. This is not a time to emphasize the chain of command. This was and is the time to take relief supplies from the Kathmandu airport straight to the villages. The Chinook deliberate mistake is enough reason for Sushil Koirala to resign. How dare the Nepal Army play asinine politics with the best relief helicopters money can buy at this time of tragedy?
In a town called Dhap, so many animal carcasses were trapped in wrecked buildings that the whole stretch of road reeked of decay, and people jogged by with handkerchiefs clamped over their mouths. ...... The families from Dhap were huddled in a schoolhouse, their eyes wide: If they even approached the rock piles that had been their homes, flies swarmed around them in such numbers that they turned back. Here I saw, for the first time in Nepal, something like despair. As we passed that town, I saw a woman sitting on a hillside, staring into empty space, as if part of her had already left this earth.
Whiskey In The Time Of Tragedy
As I worked, filing reports every night from a hotel room, the details nagged at me. Her mother, Japa Tamang, was living in an open-sided shed once used to store grain, in hills still shuddering from aftershocks. My husband had the idea of giving her a ride back to Kathmandu and a plane ticket to Delhi, and this idea cheered me up greatly. But when this offer was conveyed to her, she said no, thank you. She did make one request: Could I bring her a bottle of whiskey?
Truth And Reconciliation Commission Above The Supreme Court
The Universal Declaration Of Human Rights is above Nepal's constitution, or the constitution of any country, for that matter. The parliament in Nepal could not curtail any element of human rights through a majority vote, or a two thirds majority vote, or even with a 100% vote.
Similarly, the Truth And Reconciliation Commission, the way it should be, stands above the country's judicial system. The courts only get to look into specific cases a-f-t-e-r the Truth And Reconciliation Commission recommends. And there will be some cases. The TRC is not a total amnesty tool. But the Supreme Court does not get to order around the TRC: it is the other way round.
But some judges in Nepal are hell bent on trying to put the cart before the horse.
Similarly, the Truth And Reconciliation Commission, the way it should be, stands above the country's judicial system. The courts only get to look into specific cases a-f-t-e-r the Truth And Reconciliation Commission recommends. And there will be some cases. The TRC is not a total amnesty tool. But the Supreme Court does not get to order around the TRC: it is the other way round.
But some judges in Nepal are hell bent on trying to put the cart before the horse.
Urbanization Is A Good Thing
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| List of Prime Ministers of Nepal (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
The Next Chief Minister Of Bihar?
But unless Baburam Bhattarai leads the national unity government, this massive tragedy will get turned into yet another farce in the long list of farces in Nepali politics. He is the only one with the vision. And I am basing my comments based on his publicly shared thoughts since the tragedy hit.
Bamdev Gautam is PC Sorcar. His idea of relief work is to create a major distraction in the Terai to hide his incompetence, gross corruption, and open mafia links. That guy is beyond cynical, he is criminal.
A national unity government has to be a response to the national tragedy. It can not be ruled by logics like (1) maybe it is KP Oli's turn now, or (2) let's see how the political arithmetic works out. I respect the logic of political arithmetic, and that is why I am proposing one berth also to Kamal Thapa's party, even though the only feeling I have for him and his party is utter, total disgust. I worked full time for the 2006 April revolution. I respect the logic of political arithmetic, and that is why I am saying, if Baburam Bhattarai is to lead the new national unity government, his party should get less than the number of berths it otherwise might get, to even it out. I am even suggesting his party should give up on the idea of states with ethnic names and a directly elected president as the price for his leadership in this current time of unprecedented national tragedy.
Continuing with Sushil Koirala is better than bringing KP Oli in. And no, I am not letting my bitterness towards his anti-Madhesi racist sentiments rule my logic. Time for that will come later. I just don't think KP Oli can do good for the relief and reconstruction work. Baburam, on the other hand, will bring the kind of zeal and vision that he brought to the politically complex task of widening the roads in Kathmandu.
Forming a national unity government in Sushil Koirala's leadership is out of question. It is better to continue with the current formation than to do that.
You bring KP Oli in, and that will be a cocktail of Sushil Koirala's incompetence ("deer in the headlights") and Bamdev Gautam's mafia ways. You can accuse Sushil of many things, incompetence and ethnic prejudice among them, but mafia links are not one of them.
There is a reason why Bijay Gachhedar is rooting for KP Oli, that is another joker who believes in open mafia links. That was a guy sent into the Forum by the Nepali Congress to destroy the afterglow of the Madhesi Kranti. And now he has been working to successfully destroy whatever little aura Prachanda has left in him.
Political criticism has to be taken to new heights at this moment of tragedy because so much is at stake.
Baburam should be brought in at the helm, and he should be allowed to bring in some non political people into his cabinet, as he might see fit.
राष्ट्रिय सरकारको आवश्यकता त छ तर
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संघीयता पछि के?
Talking about big cities, this earthquake has given Nepal an opportunity to attempt a new wave of urbanization. New cities should be built along the Arniko Highway, along the Kathmandu-Pokhara highway, along the Kathmandu-Nijgadh route, in Chitwan, and several Terai districts. I don't see how anyone in the three parties except Baburam can even grasp the concept of it.
A true need of the hour is to have the guts to see the national capital needs to be shifted, and to imagine a megacity in Chitwan that might go on to be home to fully one third of the Nepali population down the line. Kathmandu does not need to shrink. But Chitwan can grow massively. A city of 10 million residents in 10 years. It is easier to provide for infrastructure when people are amassed like that. It can also help ease people from the agriculture sector to the non-agricultural sector.
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Foreign Aid Truths
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| English: The United Nations Development Programme in Ukraine (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
a country where corruption is seen as "endemic"? Britain is already the biggest national donor to Nepal - but what has happened to this aid? ....... The UK's Department for International Development (DFID) has spent more than £20m ($30m) in the last four years on an earthquake resilience programme. So what has it achieved? ....... One focus has been on improving building regulations and enforcing them. But walk through downtown Kathmandu and you see hundreds of new buildings that are unsafe, badly built and have clearly flouted these building laws. ...... "Nepal suffers from poor governance, and corruption is endemic. ....... "If Nepal is to become less corrupt, improvements in governance and a change of culture have to be made to state institutions." ..... Part of DFID's programme was carried out by the United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP) which received more than £5m in funding from the UK for its comprehensive disaster risk management programme (CDRMP). One senior aid insider told me the project was "a disaster from start to finish". ......
Over five years, the UN spent £1.3m of its original £10m budget on two international employees.
...... Millions more went in what the public project document lists as unspecified "professional services". ...... the UNDP had "poor financial controls, weaknesses in payment processes and misreporting and recording of payments". .... Because of the widespread corruption and bureaucracy within the government of Nepal, international donors like DFID have channelled their money into the big NGOs and UN agencies to deliver their programmes. ...... Dr Govind Pokharel, vice-chairman of Nepal's National Planning Commission, admits the system is weak and corrupt but says the huge salaries on offer in NGOs and the UN means they are causing a brain drain in Nepal's civil service."A government guy gets $200 for a month, whereas you are paying $2,000 per month at an NGO or agency, it is damaging," he says.
....... "The Nepal police didn't like it. I was paid $300 (£190) a day but for the international consultants it was £1,200 a day." ..... "There's a strong case to say we should use national consultants before we go international. There will be a wave that will come - whether it's a helpful wave remains to be seen."
If the corruption culture is not remedied, and if somehow magically you get to cut down on the huge fees for foreign consultants, then most of the money will then go to corruption. Foreign consultants might be ridiculously expensive, but domestic corruption should not be getting a free ride in the process. There are two problems.
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