Maoist Leaders Not Impressed With Indian Democracy
Maoist chairman Prachanda and leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai have said that the kind of democracy being practiced in India was not their model. “We do not think India ’s democratic system has solved all the problems here,” Dr. Bhattarai said speaking at a program organized by Nepal Democracy Solidarity Committee ( India ) in New Delhi on November 19. The Indian political system has not addressed the basic problems of the people, including poverty, hunger, casteism and feudalism, he said. Speaking at the program, the Maoist leaders conceded that India ’s leftist parties’ support in the later stages of their movement was crucial for the success of the Maoists’ negotiations with the Seven-Party Alliance. Dr. Bhattarai, however, hastened to remind that some Nepalese Maoist leaders were still lodged in jails in Left-ruled Bengal . “Two of our leaders are lodged in a jail in Jalpaiguri. We have spoken to Sitaram Yechury. He has assured us that they would be freed within a week,” Bhattarai said. “I have to say that our success so far would not have been possible without the help of our comrades and the establishment in India . The Nepali autocracy has so far played India against China and vice-versa. We want to create conditions for both India and China to develop mutual trust. We are all neighbors, why fear each other?” Prachanda said. Prachanda also attempted to allay Delhi ’s fears of their alignment with the Indian Maoists, who have spread terror in large parts of India . “We have ideological affinities with the Indian Maoists as much as any Left group anywhere in the world. But there is no working relationship. There is no underhand deal with them, no agenda to develop a red corridor from Pashupati to Tirupati,” he said. Meanwhile, at a luncheon hosted in his honor by Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav, Prachanda broke down remembering his underground days spent in New Delhi . He said he wished to visit his old friends with whom he used to stay while living underground life. At the luncheon, two former prime ministers of India Inder Kumar Gujral and VP Singh were also present. Both the Indian leaders praised Prachanda for leading a successful revolution and changing the history. After completing his three-day visit to New Delhi , Prachanda, along with his comrades, returned to Kathmandu on Sunday evening. He had gone to New Delhi to attend the Leadership Summit at the invitation of The Hindustan Times. Nepalnews.com reports.
PTC Can Provide 10 MW Of Power
The Power Trading Corporation (PTC) of India has proposed providing 10 MW of power to Nepal for the time being. This proposal has come in response to the request by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) for 50 MW of power in order to overcome the crises of load shedding in the country. “We had requested the power to overcome load shedding. It will be meaningless to purchase only 10 MW of power,” said a source at NEA. The NEA is said to have turned down this offer as it could not resolve the load shedding problem. Kantipur daily reports.
Middle Marsyangdi Stalled
The construction work of Middle Marsyangdi hydropower project has been stalled for indefinite period from Saturday as the agitation by the workers intensified. Consequently, the chief contracting company DDC JV has flown all its staffs to Kathmandu on helicopter. Demanding pay rise, among others, over 1500 workers had started agitation since Tuesday. Despite the warning by the contracting company to return back to work, the workers have continued with their agitation. On the other hand, workers have accused that the company unilaterally stalled the construction work of the project. “We are saying we are ready to settle the dispute through talks but they have gone ahead and stalled the whole work,” said Shiva Raj Khadka, leader of the agitating workers. Nepal Samacharpatra daily reports.
Nepal Bhutan Talks Postponed
The much-awaited ministerial level meeting between Nepal and Bhutan , which was earlier slated for the third week of November (around November 20-23) in Thimpu, has now been put off. According to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister KP Oli the talks had to be put off due to intense and rapid political developments within Nepal . He said the talks would now be held sometime in December. Leading dailies report.
Maoists Form Taskforce To Name Their Representatives In Interim Govt
The central committee meeting of the Maoists held in Phulbari VDC of Kavre on Sunday (Nov 12) has decided to form two taskforces – one for recommending the names of party representatives for interim parliament and interim government, and another for dealing with the issues of arms management. The first taskforce will be headed by Ram Bahadur Thapa aka Badal and the second one will be headed by its military commander Nanda Kishore Pun aka Pasang. Meanwhile, Maoist leader Dinanath Sharma said the central committee meeting discussed a number of issues including Maoist representatives to the interim parliament; arms management; November 8 agreement; and other likely changes the party structure would have to undergo in view of Constituent Assembly elections. Leading dailies report
Korean Air Arrives In Kathmandu
The Korean Air began its scheduled operations to Kathmandu last week. It has become the third international airline to start flying to Kathmandu within a month. The 301-seater Boeing 777 aircraft of Korean Air landed at Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) at 2:30 pm carrying 261 passengers and senior officials of the airline and left for Seoul at 5:55 pm with 126 passengers. Korean Air is the third international airline to launch its scheduled operations to Kathmandu after GMG Airlines of Bangladesh and Air Arabia of UAE. Mohan Adhikari, director general at Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), termed the start of Korean Air’s operation as a ‘historic moment’ for the Nepali aviation sector, which would boost the economies of the two countries and strengthen people-to-people ties. “We are happy to operate a Kathmandu flight. This marks a historic moment for us to have our presence at the land of Mt. Everest,” said Chul Hahm, managing vice president of Korean Air. The Himalayan Times daily reports
Footballers Rue Nsc Action Against ANFA
Stating that its move to dissolve the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) could derail the ongoing developments in this sports, clubs, coaches, national players, former national players, referees, and others have asked the Nepal Sports Council (NSC) to revert its decision. More than 300 football players, former national players, coaches, referees, clubs organized a press conference recently at the premises of Dasarath stadium to express solidarity with the ANFA. The NSC had earlier dissolved the associations of 15 sports including the football claiming that their elections held during the royal regime were illegitimate. ANFA president Ganesh Thapa has said that FIFA and AFC could ban Nepal if the duly elected body was dissolved and a new ad hoc one formed. He has said that ANFA elections had been held following due process and in presence of officials from FIFA and AFC. Leading dailies report.
Maoists Lure 2000 Workers To Its Camp In Palpa
Violating the code of conduct and agreement with seven parties, the Maoist cadres have coerced around 2000 workers of Pokhara to go to their camp in Palpa district. From the lakeside area alone, the Maoists have lured over 150 workers away. Reports say they have been taken away for recruitment in Maoist army. The workers were lured away after they were promised monthly salary of up to Rs 7000. Meanwhile, Kaski district secretary of the Maoists Kiran Gurung claimed that the workers were old and new Maoist cadres. He said they would be returned after training. Nepal Samacharpatra daily reports.
Maoists In Fresh Recruitment Drive
Even as they have signed an agreement with the government on many issues including the arms and army management, the Maoists have launched fresh drive to recruit guerrillas. The news of their fresh drive comes at a time when joint team of the UN, government and the Maoists are inspecting various proposed locations of cantonments to place Maoist combatants and lock up their arms. Nepali Congress general secretary Ram Chandra Poudel has accused that the Maoists have started luring youths in villages to join their army in violation of ceasefire code of conduct and November 8 agreement. “The Maoists have started to recruit youths in their military in districts like Ilam, Sankhuwasabha, Surkhet and Rupandehi. They have lured the youths by saying that the country has entered into peace and that they can get Rs 7000 as salary (by becoming their army),” said Poudel, who is also the convener of all-party Peace Committee. The Committee had recently drafted a comprehensive peace accord to be signed by the government and the Maoists. Poudel said that such recruitment drives could create distrust in the whole peace process. In the ceasefire code of conduct, both the government and the Maoists have expressed commitment not to add army strength. Meanwhile, Poudel also alleged that although November 8 agreement talked about seven major cantonments and 21 smaller camps, the Maoists are trying to cover 28 districts by placing smaller camps in different districts. Kantipur daily reports.
Nepali Maoists Are Not Terrorists: Yechuri
The visiting Indian communist leader Sitaram Yechury has said that although Indian government lists Maoists as terrorists, the Nepali Maoists do not fall under that category. This list is targeted at Indian Maoists, he said. Yechury added that since Nepali Maoists have already agreed to join multiparty politics, there is no reason to put them in that category. Leading dailies report.
NC-D Leaders Under Pressure To Adopt Republican Agenda
At the ongoing meeting of district presidents of the party, the Nepali Congress (Democratic) leadership has come under pressure to adopt republican agenda. “Almost all of the speakers at the meeting (which started on Tuesday) have asked the leadership to adopt republican agenda,” said Dr. Minendra Rijal, spokesperson of the party. He said the speakers told leaders that without taking up the agenda of republic the party would not be able to win votes from the people in the coming days. The meeting with district presidents, former MPs and central members is expected to continue for two more days. The NC-D has already decided to remain neutral on the issue of monarchy during its 11 th general convention held during royal regime. Nepalnews.com reports.
US Denounces Maoist Recruitment
The US Embassy, on Monday, issued a statement denouncing the recruitment of people, including children, in the armed ranks of the Maoists. “Such action violates all human rights norms and directly contravenes the spirit and letter of agreements the insurgents signed with the government,” it stated. As the Maoists are poised to enter an interim government, “it is strange and troubling that they continue to harass the very people they claim they would serve in office,” it said. Meanwhile, in a separate program on Monday, US ambassador James Moriarty said, “We urge the Maoists to end this practice immediately and all other forms of violence, intimidation, and extortion. All of these flout the rule of law and violate basic human rights. The Nepali people have lived in fear for 11 years. It is time to remove this fear and show respect for all Nepali citizens and their fundamental rights.” Compiled from reports.
