Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Kathmandu: An earthquake of seven on the Richter scale has rocked the seven party alliances that have been ruling the country of an all-powerful Parliament.

The earth under the feet of many a political stalwarts appears to have been shaken only by the declaration of the Maoists activists that the talks with the "Government" would be led at the Summit level by none less than the Maoists Supremo-Comrade Prachanda himself.

Maoists have plenty of reasons to rejoice from comrade Prachanda's self decision that he would lead the talks with the establishment because the party men understand better what the political maturity and the required depth their supreme leader possesses. They also are in knowledge that who else better than Prachanda could take up their cause for which they have had to enter into the jungles and wage a sort of endless war with the State and that too undergoing untold sufferings and miseries while being underground.

The fact is also that it was Prachanda and his party men alone who had been all along from the very beginning of their relentless struggle with the establishment been championing or advocating the need for the elections to the constituent assembly for the elimination of all the ailments of the country.

Notably, the seven party alliances only at a later stage agreed to the ideas of going to the constituent assembly elections as per the demands of the Maoists when they were pushed to the wall by the monarch then. This implies that the leaders of the seven party alliances have had a handshake with the Maoists out of vengeance with the King.

The Maoists know it better as to why all of a sudden these seven party constituents made efforts in order to maintain a sort of rapprochement with the insurgents. Prachanda knows it well that the seven party coalition were forced to see him some where in an alien land and ink the twelve-point agreement with them. This should mean that Prachanda also is in knowledge that if any thing goes wrong with the growing political lust of the seven party leaders in the mean time, the said agreement would go to the waste basket.

But the hard fact is that Prachanda and his party as of now has already been in command of the seven party alliances and that the shaky-coalition can neither ignore the Maoists proposals nor could retreat from the pact made in between the two some six months back.

No wonder then Prachanda has already sounded that he will sit in the talks but would not compromise if his party's avowed goals and the objectives were dilly-dallied during the talks.

The gist of the Maoists fresh declaration is that if the spirit of the freshly concluded "People's Revolution" is undermined then in that case the Maoists would deserve the right to go in for yet another "revolution" which would led again by comrade Prachanda himself.

This is definitely a sort of clear warning to the leaders of the seven party alliances that "ABIDE BY THE AGREEMENT OR FACE DIRE CONSEQUENCES".

This means that Prachanda will not settle for less than what had been agreed upon by the alliance members and his party men long time back.

The reason as to why the earth under the feet of the political leaders has been shaken is due to the fact that they have so far been unable to search a political personality who could match the political maturity of Prachanda at time of the talks.

Prachanda is an ideologue while the incumbent leaders are an expert on speeches alone. Prachanda has studied the Marxist theories and knows well how to handle the negotiating table. On the other, political leaders in the coalition have time and again shown their lust for power only ( and this is what they have been doing at the moment) and hence can in no way stand for even a single minute in front of Prachanda at time of the real discussion on and how the elections to the constituent assembly be conducted?

The hard fact is that most of the Nepali leaders have yet to understand the internal dynamics of the constituent assembly election? Prachanda knows every thing about it.

The difference laid her, which is why the seven party leaders are at a loss as to who should be sent to the talk-table in order to face the political giant-Prachanda!

Nevertheless, let's wait some time to see the political astuteness and the political acumen of the Maoists leader who has apparently spent half of his life being underground.

PM Koirala in a sticky situation; his quandary deepening

Kathmandu: Insiders of the Nepali congress forcefully claim even after this epoch making April Changes theta their party continues to be yet a what they prefer to call "centrist" force.

By the term centrist, congress means that the party was against the two "extremes", the one that prefers the autocracy of the Royalty and the other the stance acquired by the armed Maoists, and its approach continues to bring them from extremism to a normal one.

The main political aim and the goal of the congress is to manage through what they call a process of a sort of "engagement" of both the two extremes into the mainstream democratic behavior in order to institutionalize the democratic system.

The process is on, claims an insider of the congress. "It is this process of engagement that the congress has been able to bring the Maoists and the King to come to terms with the existing situation", adds the same source.

The goal of the congress as a true centrist force is to engage those who have derailed themselves from the main democratic processes.

According to the insider who talked to this scribe on strict conditions of anonymity maintains that his supreme leader, Girija Prasad Koirala continues to stick to the five principles propounded by his on behalf of the party which, among other things, talked of the accomplishment of the installation of "full democracy"; an "independent and sovereign Nepal"; a "developed Nepal"; an "economically developed countrymen" and finally a "peaceful Nepal".

"I will not compromise with any force on earth whether it be a domestic or even an international one over what I have charted for me and the party", is what Koirala is said to have revealed only recently which, according to the source, has been intimated/transmitted to practically all the foreign dignitaries paying courtesy call on him in the recent days.

Elaborating Koirala's future plans further the source added that Republicanism was still not the agenda of the congress. The King has to compromise for a "ceremonial role", said Koirala hoping that comrade Prachanda too will not mind in accepting his proposal on the King's new role.

All put together what comes to the fore is that Prime Minister Koirala possesses more love, respect and honor for the institution of the monarchy and less hatred for the same institution.

His respect and honor for the institution appears to have more deepened well after he have had some forty-five minutes private tête-à-tête with King Gyanendra the other day wherein the King and the Prime Minister reportedly talked with each other in a very "friendly and cordial" manner.

Sharp brains in the Nepali media have taken this meeting to be of great significance whose impact, they say, might have on the emerging politics of the country sooner than later.

No wonder that it was after this meeting that the Parliament which was all-set and prepared to make a sort of "proclamation" of high political significance has been for the time being delayed for a day or two. But why? No body knows.

No less significance was Koirala's meeting the other day with the Chief of the Army Staff, Pyar Jung Thapa who is to get a retirement from the post in a months time or so.

The Army man is supposed to have narrated in details all that he "knew" from his intelligence services about the ongoing political undercurrents and its high impact that it would have, if allowed to happen the way it was going, on the future prospects of the country.

A frail and apparently dismayed Koirala listened to what he was told and presumably could not dishonor the analyses provided him by the visiting COAS- Thapa.

It is hence rumored that the chances of sacking of the COAS, as per the demand of the mass that participated in the April Revolution, have become dim. The COAS even reportedly suggested not to demoralize those chiefs of the security agencies currently suspended. His theory was that it would again be the same agencies to support this government should the situation so demanded.

But all said and done, Koirala as the consensus Prime Minister of the agitating parties is under tremendous pressure from his coalition partners including from the Maoists to act fast and clip the wings of the King sooner the better.

Neither Koirala can dismantle one of the oldest institution of the country at one stretch of his pronouncement nor he is in a position to forcefully resist the Himalayan pressure on him from his own coalition partners.

Does not this all mean that Koirala is in a sheer catch-22 situation? What to do and what not to is the biggest question confronting Koirala today?

The fact is that Koirala's quandary is deepening further.

Country poised for yet another grand "polarization"?

Kathmandu: Political undercurrents in the country have taken a new speed with the emergence of the Maoists in an overwhelming majority in the capital itself. They could be seen anywhere any time even making lectures based on their charted ideologies and future programs for actions.

It is only but natural that such events must have its wider impact on the body-politic of the country which recently witnessed a grand revolution that shook not only Kathmandu but the politics of South Asian environment as well.

Even a lay man could see for himself that the communists, now including the Maoists have gained a new strength whose political acumen and energy has no match from the other quarter, say for example, from the camp of those democrats who prefer to call themselves as "liberal ones".

The fact is that the Communists, the UML, the Maoists and the meager fringe group of the REDS all have begun considering that the day was not that far when the entire country would be in their political hold.

This appears to have already created panic among the so-called liberals who for a variety of political reasons have yet to unite to face this eventuality, if at all that takes a formal shape.

Nevertheless, it is not that that the liberals have not thought of the emergence of such an eventuality in the not so distant future, but then yet they have to come to terms to take up such a challenges if that emerges at all.

But there is some inkling that the liberals too have become cautious of the move yet in its embryonic stage and appear to have been engaged in thwarting such an eventuality ultimately.

Look at how Koirala has been dilly-dallying of late the politics to take a concrete shape as per the wishes of the people and the civil society members. And look at the haste of the communists more so of the Maoists in the "institutionalization" of the gains of the April Revolution.

The Congress is not in a haste to act. The other camp led by the communists is losing its patience but has to endure the delay for a variety of political reasons.

To add insult to injury, here is Sher Bahadur Deuba, the chairman of the Congress-Democratic who is exhibiting a different political character of late. In effect, it was Deuba and his party alone that delayed the Monday's declaration from the parliament or else it would have already made sweeping and some hair-raising decisions all in the name of the nation and the people.

The congress under Girija Prasad backed Deuba's move in an indirect manner but the point was made that let's wait till the government took an expanded and formal shape. The Communists had to gulp the bitter pill administered by Koirala and Deuba Monday but have had to agree to their handy-proposals which sounded logical still.

High placed sources claim that the two congress parties' recently were taken aback when they listened from the Maoists quarters that they wanted to form a sort of Republican Front comprising of the people, revolutionaries, and the civil society members in order to gear up the country finally for a republican set up.

To recall, neither Koirala's congress nor that of Deuba's one have explicitly said so far that theirs ultimate aims too were that of turning Nepal into a Republican state much the same way as the Maoists prefer.

Analysts presume that it should have been the declaration of the formation of a Republican front by none less than Comrade Prachanda which might have frightened the "liberal" quarters and hence the dilly-dallying against the will of the rest of the coalition partners.

Though yet to be substantiated from the authoritative quarters, nevertheless the popular presumption now prevailing in the capital district has been that a day will come soon when the country will be divided into two distinct camps: the first one led by the massive participation of the REDS in one political camp and the second to be housed by those who claim to have been toeing "liberal" lines.

But then one has to admit the hard fact that if that eventuality takes a formal shape one fine morning, the communists will overwhelm the liberal camp to the extent that in the entire of South Asia, it will be this country to be permanently ruled by the communists.

The communists are hard working and disciplined. They have studied a lot about world politics. They have energy and vigor and also possess potential to advance their cause. For example, if Prachanda can swing country's politics today his way even in his absence then what miracles will he achieve when he appears in Kathmandu in his full personality?

The other lot is divided and undisciplined; possess lust for power and are a greedy lot who talk much and work less. Add to this that it is this lot that brought the country to this situation and forced the Maoists to enter into the jungles.

Maoists' demand scrapping of the parliament, the government and 1990 constitution

Kathmandu: Elections to the constituent assembly or not? This question though dominated the country's politics for quite some time but matured analysts say that there should be no debate henceforth on the holding of the constituent assembly election.

They hasten to add that since the country's politics has also geared itself towards that end and thus the holding of the constituent assembly is a matter that is definite and is hundred percent sure to happen.

However, academicians from all the shades do express concern as to how to proceed with that and what procedures be adopted in order to conduct the assembly elections?

A logical question indeed.

But the ground reality, as much as is visible for the moment, appears to be different.

If the Maoists wish it to happen soon then on the other its partners appear pushing the matter for a while till the country's politics settled down.

This does not mean that the political parties now ruling the country were against the holding of the said elections as proposed by the Maoists, all that they need was time to "formulate" some constitutional mechanisms to follow till the happening of the assembly elections.

The inactiveness observed in the political parties in coming out with fresh and fast decisions is seen by Prachanda as to have been their "regular habit".

He, however, does not mind their dilly-dallying the affair and says that they might be doing their needed and the required homework prior to the announcement for going to the assembly polls.

Comrade Prachanda in his fresh interview printed in Janadesh weekly this Tuesday (May 16, 2006) says that he is firm in his party's ten-point demand agreed upon by their central committee recently.

The ten points that have been pushed by the Maoists for the perusal of the government, are, firstly; the announcement of ceasefire (which is already in effect); secondly, fixation of the code of conduct; thirdly, formation of the committee for talks; fourthly, freeing of all the political prisoners; fifthly, initiation of dialogue with the establishment; sixthly, the annulment of the present government, the parliament and the constitution; seventhly, a political conference be organized that would be participated in by the intellectuals, members of the civil society, some men be chosen from different sectors who were acclaimed personalities of the nation which would later chart the Interim Constitution and declare an Interim Government; eighthly, declaration of the election-sectors-areas ( where elections would be held) keeping in mind the a broader representation of different people coming from various groups, sections, gender, tribes, ethnic communities and the likes; ninthly, the elections be held under the aegis of some acclaimed international supervision; and tenthly, keeping in mind the people's verdict at time of the elections, a sort of restructuring of the state together with the Royal Army and the Red militia has to be made.

This implies that Prachanda would wish that the freshly constituted government and the parliament together with the existing constitution be scrapped immediately.

However, the Himalayan tragedy is that Prachanda forgets that the men in the government and the parliament were the ones who have had created havoc during their previous rule and had even forced him and his party cadres to enter into the jungles. But then Prachanda knows it better that his cry is a wishful thinking only given the proven characters of the men in the government.

But what is for sure is that Prachanda would wish his demands be brought to action soon. He will not settle for less that what he has reiterated and his party has freshly endorsed.

As is considered not unusual in Maoists' stance vis-à-vis America, Prachanda says in the interview dated May 16, 2006, in the Janadesh weekly that his party was aware of the fact as to how the Americans were of the growing influence of the Americans in Nepal specially after the Royal massacre and more so after the February Royal takeover.

"We are well aware of the fact that how Americans took negatively the twelve point agreement with the parties", adds Prachanda, and further says that he will oppose such moves together with the signatories of the twelve point agreement.

For the first time perhaps, Prachanda has come heavily down against the Indian intentions and political overtures on Nepal beginning from the arrival of KARAN SINGH first and then the statement made by Shyam Saran in order to what he calls "damage control" were all "mysterious negligence" of the Indian government's understanding of the real Nepali psyche.

He then alleges that the present day India hasn't changed herself a bit from its stance taken on Nepal during the early 50s. This well speaks of, Prachanda adds, India's "self-determining" attitude, which have added to the suspicions of the Nepalese people over Indian intentions.

How India and America take note of Prachanda's fresh allegations will have to be watched.

Ilam Journalists threatened

Local journalists at FNJ Ilam district branch were threatened on 14 May by the brother of chairperson of District Development Committee (a local body which handles local governance) Lila Devi Shrestha, nominated during Royal regime, regarding the news related to irregularities in Ilam District Development Committee that was published and transmitted from national and local media.

Uttam Shrestha, brother of Lila Devi Shrestha along with Dambar Pradhan, Indra Lama, Purna Lama and Lok Bahadur Khadka entered FNJ Ilam branch searching for "Kantipur" Correspondent and central council member of FNJ Ilam branch, Benup Raj Bhattarai. But the journalists present in the office managed his escape. Then they threatened all the journalists present there saying "they wouldn't hesitate to come in combat dress to take their lives if need be." Uttam Shrestha and Dambar Pradhan have been threatening to kill various correspondents related to various media through telephone and also by reaching their houses. According to Prakash Adhikary, Vice President of FNJ Ilam branch, FNJ Ilam office is still receiving their telephone calls with threats.

Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) has urged the officials of Home Ministry, local administration and security bodies to take immediate legal action against them and to create conducive environment to exercise complete press freedom.

ENBREF:

Malnutrition rampant in the Maoist controlled areas

Kathmandu: A Paris based group Action against Hunger (ACF), holding a press-conference in the French Capital indicated worsening spate of chronic malnutrition in remote parts of Nepal. Through the press conference the group also made an appeal for 400,000 euros ($515,000) of international aid.

In the far west of Nepal and remote areas under Maoist control, there are more and more vulnerable people. The group after visiting north-western region indicated that they recorded a 3.3% rate of severe malnutrition and an overall malnutrition rate of 12.3% in the areas visited.

The group also revealed that 60% of children in these areas had basic nutritional problems and there was a 40% rate of anemia and 40% of children were deficient in iodine as well.

Government Plans to enroll 120,000 children: 2006

Kathmandu: The Department of Education (DoE), Nepal at a press conference unveiled a plan to enroll about 120,000 children between five to nine year of age under the "School Admission Campaign and Welcome Program-2006”. The DoE officials also indicated that the government has a plan to build a total of 1,800 new classrooms for the primary education for the new Nepali academic session.

PAF helps 54,000 households

Kathmandu: The Poverty Alleviation Fund (PAF) of Nepal has helped a total of 54,000 to gain access to resources for their productive self-employment, encouraging them to undertake income generation activities and infrastructure development households during the one and half-year period of its establishment, an official of PAF said.

"The target beneficiaries of the PAF are the marginalized communities, the poor women, and the indigenous," a PAF official said.

A Central Bureau of Statistics-2005 of Nepal reveals 35 percent poverty prevails in rural areas, 10 percent in urban and three percent in the capital Kathmandu city.

US lifts travel warning

Kathmandu: A notice issued by the US embassy in Kathmandu, said that the United States has lifted travel warning issued to non-essential staff and their family members in its Nepal mission.

The release said that the State Department has permitted all non-essential mission personnel and their families to return to Nepal.

Nepalese girls rescued from Indian brothels

Kathmandu: The Maiti Nepal and Rescue Foundation Mumbai together rescued 23 girls and minors from brothels in Mumbai and Pune with the help of Indian Police. Nineteen girls aged between 16 and 20 and four minors including two boys sold by traffickers to the brothels have been rescued, said an Information Officer at Maiti Nepal. Police also arrested four brokers involved in the incident after the Maiti Nepal identified them. They were brought to rehabilitation centre of the Maiti Nepal at Gaushala in Kathmandu and three of the minors have been handed over to their parents.

India prefers silence over Nepal’s development

Kathmandu: Disarming Maoist guerrillas in Nepal will have a positive impact on their counterparts in India, said Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Sitaram Yechury. The CPI-M leader also said that the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) of Nepal and the Maoists must come to an agreement at the earliest on holding elections and set in motion the process of conducting parliamentary polls.

Whereas, Indian government refused to comment on the recent developments in Nepal but said that major challenges before the Himalayan kingdom should be tackled "through peaceful political means."

FNJ Media Monitors Records: Maoists threaten two FM stations

Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), Save Independent Radio Movement (SIRM), Broadcasting ssociation of Nepal, Association of Community Radio Broadcasters and Kathmandu Valley FM Broadcasters Forum has expressed serious concern over Maoist threats to Kalika FM in Chitwan and Radio Birgunj in Parsa.

The Maoist aligned All Nepal Trade Union Federation issuing the letter on 12 May has accused the FM stations of exploiting its staffs, sacking the staffs without reasons, extreme excesses and mental torture to the staff with the support of royal authority. The Maoist aligned Federation has presented a 14 point demand asking for the proper payment, provident fund, re-instatement and compensation to the sacked staffs, various allowance and fixed working hours among others. It has also demanded for the immediate termination of the Director of the Kalika FM station alleging him to be a pro-royalist.

FNJ issuing a press statement has urged All Nepal Trade Union Federation to not to create unnecessary pressure on organization or a person and not to obstruct their professional duties by imposing threats. The release also clarified that FNJ is committed to the welfare of working journalists and it is seriously discussing the issues with concerned bodies.

According to The Kathmandu Post, SIRM Central Struggle Committee has released a statement on Saturday urging the Maoists and their sister organization, All Nepal Trade Union Federation, to understand that threat, force and imposition of ideas is not a way to lead Nepal's radio movement and that radio stations are capable of solving the problems they face on their own.

"We cannot accept their proposition to solve problems through struggle rather than through discussion," the statement says adding that due to financial difficulties, the radio stations are unable to solve certain problems at the moment despite sincere intentions." In the statement, the radio bodies have also demanded that the Maoists revoke the threatening letters they sent the radio stations.

Media Monitors, Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ)
Media Village, Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone no. +977-1-016204755
Hotline +977-1-4475323
E-mail mediamonitor@fnjnepal.org