Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Kathmandu: Undoubtedly she is a powerful lady.

Her continued association with the Nepali Congress from the very childhood has made her visible in the country's politics. As she is the heir-apparent of none less than Shri Girija Prasad Koirala-the incumbent Prime Minister of new Nepal, whatever she speaks or lectures draws attention not only among the lay men but forces leaders of other political parties to listen to her fresh expressions with keen interest.

Intellectuals believe that as and when she speaks, she does ventilate the inner feelings of her illustrious "dad" Shri Koirala.

The fresh statement that Ms. Sujata Koirala-Jost has made through an interview granted to a Monday vernacular Weekly this week is likely to jolt many a political parties which might force other political leaders to suspect the very "considerations" of the Nepali Congress as a party vis-à-vis the Nepali Royalty.

Many analysts in Kathmandu believe that Sujata have had to go to the press in order to clarify some of the established fundamentals of the Nepali Congress since its inception some six decades back to the population and to the political parties in the changed context as well.

Her expressions, rather strong one, have come at a time when her father Prime Minister Koirala was ailing and was not able to express or even contradict the views circulating in the Kathmandu's rumor mill more so by the small group of party leaders who met with the Maoists very freshly in Godavari resorts last weekend and made some "tantalizing" decisions.

Perhaps it were these decisions arrived at Godavari last week forced presumably Koirala to take the help of her political daughter-Sujata- in order to clarify his and his party's positions on some of the core and burning issues confronting the nation.

Sujata has certain strong reservations on the agreement to allow the ongoing parliament to die a premature death. She says, "the agreement in itself was a wrong decision".

What is more interesting and revealing is her saying that "this movement had been waged in order to restore peace but not to kick-out the King". Her consideration has been that the movement itself was not aimed at overthrowing the monarchy but to tame the institution.

The logic appears very close to the truth, which might not be taken in good taste by her Maoists colleagues.

Clarifying the basic guidelines and the ideals of her party-Nepali Congress- Sujata is blunt in telling all and sundry that her party has identified itself always as a party adhering to the lofty ideals of a "democracy" and the permanence of the institution of the monarchy in the form of a "ceremonial monarchy" and nothing more nothing less than that.

In saying so she is quick enough to take the support of her father who recently had said that "any sudden perversion in the history of the nation might bring disasters of the Himalayan order" and hence the monarchy too should be not brought into controversy.

"Don't break the tide of the river. This might bring flood which might create accidents and thus let's allow the history to go its own way", Sujata reminds.

This is not all. She also considers that bringing in of the Maoists to the parliament without disarming them will not be a good idea.

"How can they enter into the parliament having arms? she questions.

During the course of the interview Sujata appears to have some sort of apprehensions over Prachanda's recent declaration that he might opt for yet another October Revolution.

She takes Prachanda's expressions as a threat to the establishment in order to capture power.

"There should be give and take", she explains.

She categorically states that some of her party colleagues might have been talking in favor of Republicanism in the country. But, she adds, it could be their personal and very private utterances.

"There should be a ceremonial king and to me it appears that the King has by and large accepted this role", she asserts.

All in all, if Sujata Koirala's version of the statement were any guide then what comes to the fore is that the NC under Koirala will not settle for less than a "ceremonial King" and that the party will also not exhibit its keen interest in bringing in the rebels to the "interim government" until some mechanism were developed to disarm the Maoists or at least put the arms under the supervision of some internationally recognized body.

Should the analysts then presume that Sujata is revealing the party's ultimate line? Should the analysts conclude that whatever Sujata has said in the interview were the expressions of her party boss-Shri Koirala-her father?

Currently Sujata is the head of the foreign affairs committee of the Nepali Congress party. Nevertheless, Sujata has yet to define as to what she meant from the term "ceremonial monarchy"?

Testing time for Koirala's political acumen and maturity

Kathmandu: Prime Minister Shri Girija Prasad Koirala waits a very uncomfortable and tough time indeed in his long political career.

His political acumen and maturity will be tested this weekend when he confronts Prachanda alias Pushpa Kamal Dahal for a Summit meeting scheduled this Friday.

The three questions that Koirala is likely to be posed by Prachanda, are, say high placed sources, firstly, what is the real and the accurate stance of the Nepali Congress vis-à-vis the monarchy?; second question more or less revolve around the Army wherein Koirala might be asked as to why he is reluctant in penalizing the Army chief? Attached to this question is perhaps Prachanda's question as to how the congress and the rest of the party alliance think of "restructuring" of the army.

The third question will most probably be on how the NC thinks of the "Interim Constitution" and what "model" the congress has in mind of the "Interim government".

So these questions, albeit harsh ones, will have to be answered by Koirala.

How Koirala satisfies Prachanda and whether Prachanda agrees to his answers will perhaps determine the future course of Nepali politics.

As regards monarchy, NC as a political party currently heading the cabinet is almost clear which came to the fore on June 14 when Koirala from his hometown declared that his party favored a "ceremonial" role for the King.

Similarly, as regards the restructuring of the army, Koirala might take some time because any slight jolt provided to this subtle institution might catapult the entire political situation of the country, which is surely heading for the better. This will be a tricky question and Koirala will have to think twice before he decides on the fate of the army-the bete noir of the Maoists .

The fact is that the Maoists have expressed their strong penchant for entering into the power corridors in Singh Durbar in the recent days but voices of caution have been emanating from different quarters including those from the US, India, and very freshly from the European Union which clearly state that first disarm and then enter into the government establishment.

This "foren" formula is somewhat vexing the minds of the Maoists.

The fact is that they want to be in government but they don't want to disarm as suggested by "foren" friends. This is the real problem.

The million-dollar fact is that the Maoists are Maoists when they have the guns with them. Prachanda minus guns or for that matter the arms and the weapons is a simple Nepali Brahmin that is a humble, broadminded, judicious, highly enlightened, social, good-humored and sophisticated Puspa Kamal Dahal. A common man like the analysts here in this paper.

This is his personality if he were stripped off the guns, which he has, in abundance. If the guns are snatched from him, he is no more the Supreme Commander of the People's Militia.

Prachanda knows this hard reality and hence his proposition that he be allowed to participate in government and at an opportune moment he will manage the arms or even disarm himself under the supervision of some credible organizations.

The NC opposes this idea tooth and nail which fortunately or even unfortunately tallies with the views and formulae provided for Nepali consumption by Nepal's friends like the US, EU and more recently India. Let's wait until Shyam Saran lands in Kathmandu within a day or two to prescribe his medications to the Nepali ailments. The presence of S.D.Muni is not enough.

One more question that might be posed to Koirala during the Summit meeting by Prachanda as to what Koirala meant when he "expressed" his "total surprise" over the three party Godavari agreement last weekend for the "'formation of an interim parliament".

The NC and its coalition partners, save the UML, appear adamant on lingering this parliament sine die. The Maoists and very recently the UML leader Madhav Nepal have been advocating the need for the dissolution of the current parliament as demanded by the Maoists.

The UML leader, Mr. Nepal, is on record to have said that "if the continuation of the parliament poses hurdle for talks to move in a positive direction then it has got to be dissolved".

However, the NC is more vocal in giving continuity to the current parliament for reasons best known to the party itself.

Be that as it may, Koirala will definitely have a very bumpy weather, politically speaking, when he will come face-to-face with Prachanda this Friday.

It will have to be watched as to who prevails over whom? If Prachanda prevails during the talks that would mean the instant "polarization" of the politics in the country. Or if Koirala prevails over Prachanda would mean, "Peace has been allowed to prevail for some time more".

Let's wait until this Summit meeting takes place.

Some political comedians even predict that Koirala might be told by his attending "physicians" to go for a "bed-rest" for a few days simply to postpone the Summit meeting for yet another date.

EU joins the Delhi-Washington "axis" on Nepali events

Kathmandu: Pressure is being built to embarrass the Maoists.

Efforts appear afoot to block the way for the Maoists from entering into the new Nepal set up unless they disarmed themselves.

Undoubtedly, the United States of America firstly floated the idea whether or not it would be logical to allow the Maoists an entry into the government without laying down the arms?

Hardly had American Ambassador James F. Moriarty had spoken about this in Kathmandu on June 28, within a day or two of Moriarty's speech, India-the otherwise a friendly country for the nepali Maoists, too made a similar comments hinting that the Maoists can have the cake but can't or should not be allowed it to eat.

India in clear terms hinted to a selected group of Nepali journalists a fortnight ago that the Maoists couldn't go in government without disarming themselves.

As if this were not enough pressure on the Maoists, the European Union is here now to suggest the same as previously hinted by the two countries housed in the "axis".

"Acts like intimidation and threatening people were unacceptable and that if the rebels lay down the arms, it would demonstrate their willingness to participate in the parliamentary democracy", said the visiting EU delegation chief, Ms. Neena Gill.

This is not all that she said Monday evening.

Look what she has to say to the Maoists.

"The Maoists should demonstrate their commitment and we urge them to disarm as soon as possible", she added.

A close analysis of what Neena Gill said makes it abundantly clear that the EU would wish, firstly, strong commitments from the rebels for the democratic system which implies that the EU is not yet satisfied with what THE Maoists have been exhibiting as regards their full and unconditional commitment for the system.

Secondly, the EU wants that the Maoists "demonstrate" not only in words but in deeds as well that they possess love and respect for the parliamentary democracy. This means that the EU will take some time to watch how the Maoists "demonstrate" their commitments for the system.

Thirdly, the EU would in no way accept the Maoists going to join the government until they laid down their arms.

Fourthly, Ms. Gill's statement also does speak of the EU concern as regards the Maoists' acts of intimidating and threatening the people which implies that the EU is in knowledge that the Maoists have yet to say no to their continued "intimidation" and "threatening" the people in the countryside.

The EU delegation chief, Ms. Neena Gill, must have jolted the Maoists brains when she said, "the Maoists should be disarmed before the election to the Constituent Assembly".

All put together what comes to the surface is that the EU, the Indian republic and the US administration were not averse to the idea that the Maoists should join the government for the restoration of permanent peace in this country. Nevertheless, what also becomes visibly clear is that these countries or group of countries would not wish to see the rebels entering into the mechanism of the Nepali government with arms.

Should this mean that a new "axis" has been formed unintentionally, which houses India, America and the entire EU?

In the mean time, some noted Nepali intellectuals like Dr. Lok Raj Dahal, Dr. Shambhu Ram Simkhada and Dr. Harsha Narayan Dhoubdhel too opine that the "management of the arms of the Maoists" was the real challenge confronting the country in the recent months.

Dr. Simkhada says that it would be proper and logical as well to first manage the arms of the Maoists which then would facilitate the conduct of the elections to the Constituent Assembly.

The intellectuals have made such observations at a time when the visiting EU team too has spoken on the same lines. Is this a mere conjecture or a ploy to "press" the Maoists hard from all possible quarters will have to be watched carefully.

How Shyam Saran-the master brain and the one who is hell bent on weakening the entire Nepali society, will convince the two opposing views will have to be watched.

Saran is currently the FS of Indian republic and is all set to visit Nepal very soon. His visit ultimately will do more harm than good to this country, conclude analysts.

Analysts wonder as to why we the Nepalese invite (or they come on their own?) these Indian friends when our leaders (including Prachanda) are on record to have said time and again "we were competent enough to tackle Nepali problems and issues".

Then why such "unwanted" and "unwarranted visits"?

Dr. Bhattarai's five "hot" points for Summit talks

Kathmandu: The Maoists ideologue, Dr. B.R. Bhattarai, who loves more to express his views through academic writings than any thing else, has in a recent article summarized as to which topics should dominate the Summit talks scheduled this Friday.

He has put forth five points that merit serious debate in the said Summit talks with the members of the SPA which are; firstly, the management of the "interim order of the security". According to him, how the two militaries be handled in the interim period and what would be the fate of the two armies after the elections to the constituent assembly-should be intensely discussed.

Second point he puts forth is the question of how a viable and logical alternative to the present parliament after its dissolution would be made. This question demands immediate attention of the SPA and the Maoists, which he thinks, must be finalized on that day.

The third point of Bhattarai deals with the "position of the monarch" in the proposed "interim constitution"?

He says that since we ideologically, politically, even morally do not want to see the existence of the monarchy in any form and manifestation and thus we would reject our entrance in any system that allows some space for the monarchy.

"We will not participate in any government that accepts the position of the monarchy in the future scheme of things", says Bhattarai emphatically.

The fourth point that Dr. Bhattarai has made known to the public through his Janadesh article dated 18 July relates to the future structure of the State. He favors a federal structure which is close to "regional-national" one. He then says that his party would oppose tooth and nail if some tried to maintain the status quo.

The fifth point of Dr. Bhattarai deals with the mode to be adopted at time of the elections and type of the representation of the people from diverse sectors of the society. He then urges all stakeholders to be serious in ensuring the broader representation of the people so that no sector remains neglected at time of the elections. Finally he sympathizes with the Madheshi community and says that prior to the elections to the constituent assembly all the citizens of the Terai plains be distributed the citizenship cards.

Among others Dr. Bhattarai would want a new Loktantrik Judiciary instead of what we have at the moment.

All in all, these five points though might appear not that hot surfacially but might jolt the SPA participants from within at time of the Summit scheduled this Friday.

How the Maoists put their points and how the SPA members, more so the Prime Minister, handles the issues will have to be watched.

Pakistani denial

Kathmandu: Follows the statement issued by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad on 15 July 2006 regarding Arrest of Two Pakistani Nationals in Nepal.

Local intellectuals in Nepal believe that the Nepal Police appears to have arrested these two Pak nationals under the pressure from the Indian authorities.

The Islamabad rebuttal begins: "Clarifying the media reports regarding arrest of two Pakistani nationals in Nepal allegedly in connection with the Mumbai blasts, the spokesperson stated that the Pakistan Mission in Kathmandu was instructed to immediately get in touch with the Nepalese Foreign Office to ascertain the facts.  Our Mission was later contacted by the Nepalese police authorities who confirmed that the arrest of two Pakistanis was in connection with an old case dating back to 2001 and that no linkage had been established with the Mumbai blasts.  The Foreign Office also called the Nepalese Charge d' Affaires to make a demarche asking for consular access and release of the persons.

Today, the employers of the two persons, M/s Sachal Engineering Works that had a road construction project with the Nepalese government some years ago, approached the Foreign Office requesting help and gave further details.  According to the company, the two persons had nothing to do with the 2001 case and had visited Nepal several times for recovery of outstanding payments to the company by the Nepalese Roads and Works Department.  These persons had gone to Nepal on 8 July for the same purpose after seeking prior appointment with the concerned Nepalese Department and were in Nepal when they were detained.  We are in touch with the Nepalese side through diplomatic channels in this matter.

-Nepal supports-
Israeli national in International Red Cross

Kathmandu: Israel welcomed last month- 22 June- the decision of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, taken on the night of 20 June, to include Israel's Magen David Adom as a full member of that organization. Thus an historic injustice, which endured for over 57 years, has been finally redressed.

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and the ministry staff spearheaded the successful effort to block the longstanding opposition to the acceptance of the MDA, led by the delegations of the Arab states.

Indeed, of the 291 delegations casting votes last night, 237 supported the MDA's acceptance, while only 54 delegations were opposed.

Nepal supported the Israeli candidacy.

New GM in Nepal Stock Exchange

Kathmandu: Nepal's one of the senior most economists, Rewat Bahadur Karki, has been appointed as the General manager of the Nepal Stock Exchange.

Karki has a long experience in this domain and is learnt to have already worked as advisor to the International Monetary Fund, IMF. Karki who is influenced by the democratic-socialist economy claims that his first duty would be to correct the derailed Share market of the country and elevate its rank to the International standard at the earliest possible time.

ENBREF:

Nepal becoming center for arms trade: India

Kathmandu: Nepal has become a transit point for smuggling in arms, Nepal has emerged as a favored transit route, creating complications for security agencies saddled with the daunting task of manning porous borders, the Indian government mouth piece The Times of India reports.

Further it adds that, the government confirms that weapons are coming in, not just from Pakistan, but also from Bangladesh, which has emerged as a strong terror base and a launch pad for anti-India campaigns.

China establishes contacts with rebels: India worried

Kathmandu: Claiming that th e new Beijing emissary as a member of the Chinese intelligentsia, an Indian reporter- allegedly an Indian spy- stationed in Kathmandu , reports that Beijing is eager to establish links with the Maoists.

Wang Hongwei, the Chinese academician giving an interview to the Maoist party official mouthpiece said that, "We believe the situation in Nepal would grow more stable after an interim government is formed with the Maoists," Wang told the weekly. " China hopes its relations with the new government would grow stronger."

EU team arrives in Nepal

Kathmandu: A seven-member team of the EU (European Union) arrived Sunday morning in t Kathmandu for a week long visit.

The EU team is reported to have been in the capital to study the changed political scenario of the country at the coordination of South Asian affairs in-charge Lin Ghee, media reports claim.

"During the visit, the team will meet with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, deputy PM and minister for foreign affairs, Khadga Prasad Oli, other ministers, speaker and deputy speaker of the House, representatives of the Civil Society, leaders of the major political parties along with top Maoists leaders," spokesman of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs indicated.

Earthquake precaution program

Kathmandu: The Nepali Red Cross Society has launched a one-year-long earthquake precaution program financed by the Belgium Red Cross Society.

The program was launched in 10 wards of the Metropolis, Sub-Metropolis and three municipalities of the Kathmandu Valley in order to minimize the risks of earthquake.

Under the one-year-long program, more than 200,000 people will benefit from the various training and programs which include earthquake precaution and first aid treatment training and search and rescue, crisis mitigation, formation of action plan in ward level and organizing artificial earthquake programs.