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Wednesday, December 20, 2006
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Has Nepal become an indeterminate state?
Kathmandu : The 1990 constitution is technically a dead one. The interim constitution which has been prepared and duly signed by the leaders of the eight parties is yet to be promulgated. This means that "we the people" have no constitution or whatsoever for the time being in order to manage the affairs of the state. This is very very dangerous.
Add to this, Nepal sans the presence of the Head of the State. Albeit he is there but appears that his attendance has been technically suspended for a variety of political reasons.
Question then automatically arises as to whether a nation-state can function without the prevalence of a constitution and also that of the Head of the State. Yet another question comes to mind: whether the institution of the Head of the State can also be suspended? Is this institution like a NGO or for that matter an INGO which has been discredited by the authorities in charge of looking on the abuse of financial irregularities?
However, as have been given to understand by the leaders of the eight parties what becomes clear is that in their opinion Nepal could be run on an ad hoc basis and that too quite comfortably.
Nevertheless, senior political analysts beg to differ with the ideas and the views now in circulation as regards the absence of the constitution and the presence of the Head of the State and maintain that such a situation, if continued for long, might boomerang on the state and later at those who conclude that a sovereign nation can be run on an impromptu basis for some time to come until things get settled.
Nepal as a nation-state hangs in a limbo, thus.
Analysts presume that the wobbly situation, where the Nepalese people find themselves at the moment, might push the country towards a deep hole from where its easy come back would be very difficult if not impossible.
The drafters of the interim constitution should have exhibited their courage in the promulgation of the same the day the statute was signed in order to provide political stability to the yet unstable state of the nation. However, they failed to do so which analysts say explains their shortsightedness politically speaking.
A cursory glance of the interim statute does speak that the drafters of the same only have tried to corner the King hoping that the maimed monarch could not do any thing wrong until his fate is decided by the first meet of the parliamentarians who come out with flying colors upon the successful conclusion of the CA polls.
Fine! But then when the CA polls are going to be held?
The interim statute and the leaders who drafted the constitution have yet to declare the date for the CA polls.
This is intriguing indeed.
For the Maoists, it is presumed that the declaration of the dates for the CA polls assumed importance only when they joined the interim government. If this is so then what is clear is that the rebels too have been plagued by the same disease which is that "if you are in power, you can win". It appears that the Maoists are no exception to the Nepal 's traditional practice. The NC thinks so, so does the UML. And what if the Maoists toe the same line?
This further means that the Maoists contrary to their penchant for going to the CA polls at the earliest is a hollow one and that they would go to the polls only when they are elevated to the ranks of the ministers in the interim government.
But Prime Minister Koirala is thinking, as much as could be guessed in advance, the other way round.
As stated in our last issue, Koirala prefers peace and that too a positive one and hence he has been deliberately dilly-dallying the promulgation of the Interim statute. But why?
Prime Minister Koirala wants earnestly that the pending political processes should come into effect only and only after the "management of the arms of the Maoists".
This thinking abundantly speaks of Koirala's inner mind wherein he perhaps concludes that the Maoists should albeit be elevated to the power structure but only after their arms have been locked up under the supervision of the UN body.
Should this mean that was it Koirala's brain that capped the declaration of the Interim statute the day it was signed keeping in mind that the Maoists must be handicapped?
Who knows whose trick is this? Some even say that it is the master brain of the United States and India that a condition was set for the promulgation of the Interim statute which would now compel the Maoists to come to terms with Koirala, his visible and invisible supporters.
Should this mean that unless the Maoists laid down their arms convincingly to the international community their elevation to the ranks of power were impossible?
Keep on guessing.
Telegraph / FES Media Seminar
Develop youths with right government policies: Ambassador Nam Sang-Jung
Those who ignore the potential of youths will fail-Norbert Meyer, DCM, German Embassy
Kathmandu: Nepal's noted academicians have expressed their anger and anguish over the manner the present day government in the country had been handling the pressing issues of the youths more so of those who loiter around the urban areas in search of good education and jobs.
Diplomats from some powerful and highly developed countries too have in an oblique manner suggested the host government to give due attention to the problems being faced by the Nepalese youths in the sectors of education, training and employment opportunities.
Nepal 's intellectuals conclude that the youths who are the future leaders of this country must be treated not as shareholders of the system but be taken as stakeholders.
The high placed diplomats too subscribe to this view and opine that any nation-state that ignored the issues confronting the country's youths such as, for example, in creating new avenues and perspectives for the youths "h as a good chance to fail" and thus to avert this trend "it thus becomes very important to develop young people's potential with the right government policies".
The leaders of the Nepali media say that today's youths have been denied their rightful participation in the system which is why the nation-state has become pretty weaker than what it should have been otherwise.
Critiques of media also say that Nepali "media often reported the cacophonous terms articulated by political leadership about democracy which diverts the attention of the youths from their legitimate rights, recognition in the society and the dignity that are their due.
It is in the periphery of the theme of the youths and the role of media in national development, The Telegraph Weekly in cooperation of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung last weekend organized a national level seminar entitled "Role of the Youth and Media in Development".
Welcoming the attending participants and the invited guests at the seminar, the chief editor of this weekly, N.P.Upadhyaya, made a scathing comment against the government for not providing any attention to the issues confronting the Nepali youths who in the absence of proper education and training had remained so far unable to develop their own country.
The chief guest of the seminar, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Nam Sang-Jung made a brilliant point-wise presentation wherein he said that Nepal as a nation-state need to lay a firm foundation for sustainable development of the country and to achieve success in this regard, according to Ambassador Nam, all that Nepal should do is to "develop young people's potential with the right government policies and facilitate the country's youths with the facilities if learning, working, staying healthy, forming families and exercising citizenship".
He further added by saying that today's "youths were tomorrow's workers, entrepreneurs, parents, active citizens and finally the leaders of the country".
The Ambassador of the ROK also touched upon the role of the media. "Media is regarded as the fourth power" and thus the media while exercising its duties must not forget that it can play the roles concurrently: that of a constructive and a destructive as well.
Quoting Alvin Toffler, the author of the book entitled "Power Shift", the ROK dignitary said that "media should promote universal vales".
"Through the circulation of the news, information and knowledge, media has been known to play a role of educating young people better than the government in a developing country thus contributing to producing surging economic growth and sharply reducing poverty", the ROK Ambassador concluded.
The Deputy Chief of the Mission of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr. Norbert Meyer, opined that any government that ignored the latent potential and energy of the youths had a good chance to fail.
In the course of his speech, Mr. Meyer indicated that his government was all prepared to extend support to this country to bring about a change which ensured an "inclusive democracy" in Nepal .
Dwelling on the role of the youths, the German diplomat said that without the active and energetic participation of the youths, no nation can be developed or built. In this regard, he saw the importance of the Sport facilities being provided to the youths of the nation.
"Practicing sport is a good education to learn discipline, self control, bravery, self-confidence, fairness, and team spirit" is what the German diplomat maintained.
He however, expressed his pleasure over the prevalence of peace in this country after a long spell of war and conflict. "Eleven years of civil war, which were causing more than 13.000 causalities, have now terminated with the peace treaty and that this conflict has massively obstructed perspectives and development of Nepal and that means, in the light of my first phrase, the perspectives of the youth of Nepal ", added Meyer.
Germany is ready to support Nepal and the Nepalese youth in order to foster development and perspectives of this country, he continued.
Talking on the role of the media in the changed political context and perspective, the German envoy suggested Nepali media men to come forward to do its job in helping to create a transparent society where control and equilibrium or check and balance were not empty words but the foundation and guarantee that nobody with autocratic ambitions would try to spoil the democratic will of the people and the perspectives of this beautiful country. ( See inside page for his speech-ed).
The FES chief of the Nepal Office, Mr. Dev Raj Dahal on the occasion declared that "a nation becomes democratic not merely by its constitution but also by the constitutional behavior of its citizens and the leaders".
Mr. Dahal saw an immense role of the media in what he called the transition period. According to him, "as a part of vibrant civil society and also as a watch-dog mirroring the every day life of the nation in comprehensive detail, media's roles in non-violent communication, monitoring of human rights and democratic norms were vital".
The FES chief says: "there is a great divide in between the rural and the urban youth generated by geography, sociology, knowledge, understanding and empowerment", which Mr. Dahal in an implied manner says that the prevalence of such a divide could well become dangerous for the nation over time.
He also urged the youths to engage themselves in doing what he calls "content analysis of the media message" sent for the public consumption.
Prof. Dr. Hari Bansh Jha, a senior economist of the country, lamented over the gross neglect exhibited by the Nepali media over the economic aspects. His allegation had been that the Nepali press was attracted towards political events only.
Dr. Jha lauded the political changes that have occurred in the country in the recent months. According to him, as and when the media have joined hands with the youths, some positive changes have come in the country which was a positive omen.
Mr. Suresh Acharya, the ex-president of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, said that youths have been used as political tools by some in the political paraphernalia.
He then suggested the media to educate the people at time of the constituent assembly polls and hoped that a time will soon come which will compel the Nepali media to change its role from what it is today.
Mukherjee's enigmatic dash to Kathmandu
Kathmandu : Not so many people in this country know the inner purpose of the sudden and whirlwind tour of Indian Foreign Minister, Pranav Mukherjee, to Nepal recently.
Albeit his mission was to hand over a formal invitation to Nepal PM to attend the next SAARC Summit scheduled to be held in New Delhi in the first quarter of the next year.
Why the men in the Indian establishment begin their trip to Kathmandu first and then elsewhere remains yet a mystery. Some say that India sends its emissaries and diplomats to Kathmandu every now and then to keep a close watch on the Nepali events in order to keep the politics of this country in its total grip and also to minimize the possible influence of some other countries in Nepal .
However, this time analysts say that Mr. Mukherjee's visit to Kathmandu have had a dual purpose.
Firstly, to hand over the invitation for the next SAARC Summit. This is just the cover.
Secondly? No body knows.
Nevertheless, our analysts have some clues as to why Minister Mukherjee was here just the next day of the signing of an agreement that gave a formal shape to the Interim Statute which remains yet to be promulgated. Some even say that the Nepali leaders signed the final draft of the said Statute when some "invisibleforce" approved the same in advance.
This fact remains so far unsubstantiated but then yet the likelihood remains given the influence of the said force which is all pervasive in this country.
Thirdly and most importantly, Minister Mukherjee have had to rush to Kathmandu when his brain was jolted by one news item published on the 13 th page in the Times Of India dated December 12, wherein the paper had amply hinted that "after the installation of a democratic government in Nepal, the Nepal Maoists are unlikely to surrender the firearms they have had bought at high prices".
The news item, referring to a SSB Officer had even predicted that in such an eventuality there was the likelihood of the sneaking of the Nepali arms to their brethren in the adjoining Bihar , India .
It is this news that drew the attention of the Indian minister who is considered to be an avowed critique of the Nepali Maoists who while working as defense minister even had suggested his own government last year that the Royal Regime must be supported by the Indian establishment for a variety of reasons.
The Minister is same. The man is also the same. However, his portfolio has merely changed. If this is so then what could be fairly said that the Indian foreign minister made a sudden dash to Kathmandu to make alert Koirala not to hasten the speed of the political processes which guaranteed the Maoists' elevation to the power structure here.
One insider of the Nepali congress told this paper on condition of anonymity that the Indian minister is supposed to have convinced Koirala not to trust the Maoists at their face value.
In an implied manner the Indian minister was seeking full-proof guarantee from Nepali Prime Minister that until and unless the Maoists disarmed themselves convincingly, the latter would linger the Maoists from going to power corridors come what may.
And very surprisingly, Koirala who knew in advance that for which purpose Mukherjee was about to visit Kathmandu set certain tough conditions for the promulgation of the already prepared and signed draft of the Interim Statute.
Should this mean that it was the Indian influence that blocked the way for the Statute Declaration? Should this also mean that Minister Mukherjee's Nepal visit was to exhibit Indian concern over the possibility of the sneaking of the Maoists' arms and weaponries into his own territories?
If so then what could be concluded is that the Indian establishment will take much time to trust the Maoists.
How the Maoists will take Mukherjee's prescriptions offered to Koirala made against them, albeit in a roundabout manner, will have to be watched.
Dr. K.B.Bhattachan and Dr. Gopal Pokharel also presented their working papers on two different sessions during the seminar. Dr. Dilli Ram dahal and Professor Ananda Shrestha chaired the respective sessions.
Prachanda pressed by juniors!
Kathmandu : Comrade Prachanda's troubles are comprehensible which he is experiencing at the ongoing CC meet of the party currently being held in Bhaktapur Guest House.
News leaking from the Maoists camps which are also being backed by the fresh media reports say that Prachanda is being taken to task by his cadres, more so by those who are his deputy commanders with Guns.
The military commanders participating the CC gathering have been posing a single question to their supreme commander: How much it would be suitable, desirable and logical to disarm ourselves prior to the attainment of the party's objectives and avowed goals?
The junior military commanders apparently told Prachanda point blank that the Maoists must not disarm themselves in a manner that they have been told to do so. According to these militant radicals, what would happen to their revolution if things went up side down?
"When we have laid down the arms and when our arms and the weaponries are locked up in cantonments in this eventuality who would take care of our own security?" one junior militant Maoist questioned Prachanda.
It would be advisable for the party that some weapons be kept with the party militia to face any eventuality, is what the bulk of the deputy military commanders told Prachanda.
However, a "flexible" and "pragmatic" Prachanda is supposed to have told his junior comrades that if he went by their logic would mean a sort of complete "betrayal" to the agreements that the party recently made with the SPA led government.
He is further presumed to have reminded his comrades that if the party went against the agreements would also send negative signals both within and without.
Some of the participants at the central committee meet of the party even in an oblique manner alleged that Prachanda by signing the peace agreement prior to the formation of the interim statute and the interim government has abundantly exhibited his weaknesses.
Media reports have it that Comrade Prachanda is supposed to have presented a political paper at the meet which delves primarily on how to embrace the new challenges facing the country.
Prachanda is learnt to have hinted through his political presentation at the meet his grass root cadres whom he thinks that their speaking of the voice of the guns might catapult the vote results at the village and the district levels.
The fact is that the lower rung militant have yet to come to terms with the changes to which their own party through several peace agreements is tied up now.
He also instructed his party men to prepare themselves for the CA polls in a changed manner and also in the changed context.
Analyzing the gist of what has come to the open, what becomes pretty clear is that some of Prachanda's hard-core military men differ with Prachanda's line of thinking wherein the latter prefers to abide by the agreements in order to avoid criticisms from any quarter against the party.
How his junior radicals take up his suggestions will have to be carefully monitored. Who will prevail over whom is the real question?
If Prachanda prevails would mean that he prefers reconciliation at any cost. If it is otherwise then that would mean that there were some hard core militant radicals who would still take some time to buy Prachanda's changed theory.
ESON welcomes high level Chinese media men
Kathmandu : The Editors' Society of Nepal (ESON) in honor of the visiting delegation from the Editors' Society of China led by Mr. Gui Xiaofeng and other members of the High Level Chinese Editors' team hosted a cocktail-dinner at the Hotel Radisson on last Monday.
Present on the occasion were prominent leaders and senior journalists of the country. The chief of Nepal Army Mr. Rukmangad Katuwal was also present during the program.
It is learnt that the visiting team met P.M.Koirala and other Ministers as well.
The Chinese delegation is to stay in the country for a week or so.
Enbref
Nepal worst performer: SAARC Human Rights Report
Kathmandu : The SAARC Human Rights Report: 2006 released by South Asian Human Rights Center in the capital indicated Nepal as the worst performer among other South Asian counterparts in a regional child rights profile.
The report point outs 58 children, including 16 girls were killed between January and September in the year 2005. Of the 58 killed, Maoists were responsible for 46 cases. Eleven of them were girls. During that period, more than 140 children were injured in various actions, including bombings, at the hands of security forces and the Maoists rebels. Explosives planted by Maoists killed no less than 80 children during the period, according to the report. The overall human rights profile also appeared dismal as the country ranked third in terms of human rights abuses in the region. Bangladesh and Bhutan ranked first and second in the human rights abuses. The report also found Nepal worst in terms of press freedom and freedom of expression, with at least two journalists killed and 425 arrested, attacked or threatened.
Nepal : Deadliest place to give birth
Kathmandu : Every year nearly 6,000 women and 30,000 children die because of unsafe childbirth and neonatal practices, according to the International Federation of Red Cross.
“This maternal death toll makes Nepal the deadliest place in the world to give birth, outside Afghanistan and a clutch of countries in sub-Saharan Africa,” the group’s World Disasters Report, released in Kathmandu.
Report indicates that Nepal has just 1,300 doctors working alongside 90,000 health workers in 87 hospitals and less than 1,000 health centers for 26 million people.
One million mobile users: NT report
Kathmandu : There are currently 936,482 mobile phone users in Nepal , of whom 117,208 are on post-paid contracts, on top of the 528,756 fixed lines, including PSTN lines that have been installed by Nepal Telecom. The company added that cell phone users spend an average USD5.20 per month on services, compared to USD13.25 for fixed line users. A private venture, UTL has issued 52,855 lines operating on wireless in the local loop (WLL) technology.
Leaders irresponsible and bureaucracy corrupt: MS Nepal report
Kathmandu : The MS Nepal, Danish Association for International Cooperation in Nepal lately conducting a survey to assess general public opinion on growth of civil society and good governance revealed that the civil society is becoming vibrant and influential but the political leaders are irresponsible and bureaucracy corrupt.
The report further states that the participation of poor and marginalized groups in policy making is quite low and the rules and mechanisms for preventing corruption are in place on papers while corrupt politicians and bureaucrats walk away “scot-free”.
Bureaucracy is highly politicized and corrupt,” the report said adding that the government is heavily centralized while ethnic communities like Dalits, Madhesis and women are almost excluded in legislative, judiciary and executive.
170 million$ assistance: ADB
Kathmandu : Taking note of the slight upward trend during last six months period on various economic indicators of the county the Asian Development Bank approved USD 170 million in assistance for the including USD 84 million for the year 2006. "As the peace process continues, and the new Nepal comes into place, ADB will continue its development support, maximizing the opportunities opened by the increased development space," the ADB said. The QADB also warned that actual future operations of ADB will be determined based on continued careful assessment of the overall development context.
