Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Kathmandu: After shaking the earth in, for example, Biratnagar, Dharan, Pokhara and very recently in Janakpur, with their crowded but yet well managed and organized rallies and colossal demonstrations, the Maoists are all set to bring about an earthquake of a considerable scale in the heart of Kathmandu on June 2 nd, early next month.

If one were to go deep into what so far the Maoists have exhibited to the public after the momentous political change this April, be it through the demonstrations, rallies or for that matter their fiery speeches and write ups printed in various national media, what becomes abundantly clear is that the Maoists will bring a sort of political blizzard/hurricane in the country's politics soon to the utter dismay of the parliamentary forces now seated in the newly restored parliament and also of those who have had lightly estimated the Maoists inner strength.

Admittedly, the Maoists are a mighty as well as a formidable force whose grip in the country's politics is deepening by every passing day and to cope with this political strength will not be an easy affair if any one in the political quarter so desires even in his or her inner hearts.

The Maoists, like it or not, will swing the country's politics within a month or so and the country or for that matter the political course of the country will have to take a course as defined and desired by the Maoists. This is for sure. Let no political brain nurture the illusion that the parliamentary forces of the bygone era will match to the growing popularity and the ever-increasing strength of the Maoists.

The impending convention of the Maoists in Kathmandu by the end of this week is in all its likelihood and intent is to show the powers-that-be in Kathmandu that the Maoists are a big force and that they have come to Katmandu not to have a pleasure trip or whatsoever but to exhibit that they can now in no way be sidelined from the emerging country's politics and that they will have a say for a sort of visible and effective "transformation" of the country's societal patterns for which they have had waged a relentless struggle that stretched to well over a decade.

The date for the Kathmandu demonstration is a symbolic one in the sense that this date coincides with the date of the most infamous Royal massacre which killed the entire family members of the late King Birendra.

Analysts fail to presume as to why the Maoists should have opted for this very particular date? Who else knows better than the Maoists themselves?

The general presumption is that the Maoists leaders addressing the said mammoth rally will once again very forcefully urge the new rulers seated in Singh Durbar to immediately do away with the ongoing parliament, the constitution and the incumbent government as well.

The Maoists presumption has been that since the 1990 constitution is still alive in so many more ways than one; and that the parliament has been restored by the King's command which is functioning in an haphazard manner and hence they presuppose that how could they, their party in essence, accept all those norms and political traits that they have out-and-out rejected some ten years ago?

The Maoists believe that the prolongation of the parliament and the continuation of the 1990 constitution and the longevity of the government bode ill for their cause and that being going straight to the Constituent Assembly elections if not to the declaration of the country as a Republican state.

The Parliamentary forces now enjoying the ministerial posts who are known for their lust and greed for power wish just the otherwise than what the Maoists have been demanding through the use of fiery speeches and strong worded comments.

Dina Nath Sharma, one of the man engaged in talks with the government from the Maoists side goes to the extent in saying that the Baisakh 11, correspondingly the April 24 th Royal restoration of the dead parliament have only "changed the direction" of what he calls the Revolution. In his words, the revolution is not yet over.

He sees the possibilities of conspiracies being hatched in the mean time to thwart what ever political gains they gained in April. The present calm atmosphere that now superficially prevails in the country should not mean that politics has settled for good, adds Mr. Sharma.

Yet another Maoists' acclaimed ideologue and number two in the leadership hierarchy, Dr. Bhattarai, says that until and unless a broader Democratic/Loktantrik conference is held that is bestowed with all the powers of the State which later would form an all representative institution, their mission would not be complete. This institution will then, adds Dr. Bhattarai, would frame an "interim constitution" and finally an "interim government".

Interestingly enough, Dina Nath Sharma and Dr. Bhattarai both clearly hint that they urgently need an interim constitution and an interim government. Does this mean that they were too in a hurry to enter into the power corridors? Or they just want a new order that takes care of their political goals? Keep on guessing.

All in all, the Maoists are heavily dominating the country's politics. Whether it is by design or the luck or even the strength that they possess at the moment, the Maoists appear very close to the gates of Singh Durbar-the seat of the government that determines the fate of the entire Nepali population.

The PM-COAS 'secret conversation' that remains no more a secret

Kathmandu : The unbelievable and the unimaginable have happened in Nepal .

Political matters or for that matter, events related to national security or even concerns over how to steer the nation in the turbulent days ahead being discussed ""strictly private" in between the Prime Minister, G.P. Koirala, and the Chief of the Army Staff, Pyar Jung Thapa, have come to the open.

Some one who remains yet "unidentified" very cleverly "recorded" the conversation that took place in between the country's Chief of the executive and the COAS.

Among those attending the said conversation on May 13, 2006, besides the Prime Minister were namely, DPM K.P.Woli, Home Minister Krishna Sitaula, Finance Minister Dr. Ram Saran Mahat and above all the second man now being tipped as the next COAS, Mr. Rukmangad Katuwal.

After all, in a democracy nothing remains a mystery and one sharp brain among the Nepali media made it open recently.

We too have tried to make an unofficial translation of the same recorded version of the said secret conversation (that remains no more a secret now) printed by one reputed Weekly- The SANGHU in its May 29 th issue this Monday.

Without making any comments further here is the unofficial translation of the said event:

PM Koirala: Tell me what should I do now?

COAS Thapa: The manner the High Level Investigation Committee made recommendations and subsequently the manner in which the three Captains of Security agencies were suspended by the cabinet has definitely demoralized the entire security agencies. Nowhere in the world the government behaves with its own security forces in this fashion.

PM Koirala: No! No! It's not that.

DPM Woli: Even if the Committee have had made recommendation for the suspension of the COAS itself but we did not do that. In fact, the government has not even thought any thing otherwise of the Military forces. At best, you have some sort of misunderstanding over the things.

Katuwal: Mr. DPM, I object to your interpretations. Well, in theory we too do agree with what you have said. But in practice it is just the otherwise.

PM Koirala: No! No! That is not the matter. You all should extend support to the government which has been formed through the strength of the movement. This is my sincere request to you all.

Dr. Mahat: Yes! The government has just been formed. I do admit that while discharging our duties we might have done some thing wrong. But I assure you that we do not harbor any ill intentions towards the Army.

DPM Woli: Well, tell us how we could cooperate with each other at times when certain difficulties come up in the way of the government. We in reality are in a mood to extend our support to the Army.

COAS Thapa: I understand that you are all political figures and thus you prefer to see the security agencies through political eyes. But security agencies toe a different line other than THE POLITICAL ONE. We have a different way. Our main responsibility is to protect the interest of the people, maintenance of stability and peace, the protection of public properties, and above all safeguarding the national boundaries and the sovereignty of the nation. We disagree with the policy that the government has acquired vis-à-vis the security agencies given the government has just summarily scrapped all the charges from those who had been till the other day fighting with the State. Well it is a very sensitive time and one should not forget the fact that the Maoists have yet to disarm themselves. The situation thus demands that the security agencies should be taken into confidence by the cabinet. But since it is not so, the situation could be unproductive. Please think over these seriously.

Sitaula: No! No! Don't nurture such thoughts. The situation is such that the Maoists were too willing to come to the mainstream politics. And our entire efforts are directed towards that end. This demands support from all of the security agencies.

COAS Thapa: Yes! I do agree that we are neutral to politics. This, however, does not mean that we don't understand politics. But then the manner we the non-political institution are being dragged to politics has put us all in a very tight spot. Let me, as the Commander of the entire Unified Command, say that we are even today committed to our targeted goals and will remain united even tomorrow. The Royal Nepal Army is one of the oldest institution of the country. The efforts aimed at looking into the chain of command is in itself incorrect.

Katuwal: Security agencies function as per the principles of the Chain of Command. The chain of command is intact and will remain intact. Some might have illusion that they could break the chain of command. If they think so then they are mistaken who have yet to understand the character of the army.

PM Koirala: I understood the sentiments of the COAS. Now onwards such events will not happen in the future. I assure you. Such incidents crop up at times of transition. But we must settle down those matters and for that we necessarily need your cooperation and support.

COAS Thapa: The people supported the movement on one single condition and that was fore restoration of peace. However, I see a trend is being developed wherein there lay the danger of the disintegration of the state itself. Such talks must be brought to an end. Let the constituent assembly frame the new constitution first. What the people want will be decided upon by the assembly elections. The people and the people only have this mandate. The people's movement has just mandated you all for the restoration of peace. Things should move as per that mandate.

DPM Woli: We have been analyzing the situation in a sensible manner. We appreciate your feelings and concurrently we have to fulfill the ever-increasing people's wishes. At the moment, the country stands close to a division. That's why we in the political parties too have the responsibility in saving the country from being dubbed as a failed state; in controlling the chaos and also for the safeguarding of the indivisibility of the nation.

COAS Thapa: I have put my feelings at your perusal. Now you too have to keep your words given to us.

I thank you Mr. Prime Minister for having allowed us some time for this meeting.

End text:

Revealingly according to the Weekly, the COAS sent a message to the PM' house through the Police agency. The time was allotted for 10 AM in the morning. Koirala received this message at about 8 AM . Koirala then is supposed to have consulted his nephew Shekhar Koirala who later ordered all the ministers mentioned in the talks to be at the PM's residence within half an hour.

The COAS and his colleague though had wished to talk with the PM in private but the ministers did not leave the room and hence the discussion took place in a crowded manner.

The weekly says that the second man of the Army Mr. Katuwal initiated the topic for discussion.

" Well, our full support to you Mr. Prime Minister will be always there but try to control the acts that are aimed at irritating the security agencies", is what Katuwal presumably said. The secret (was it a secret talks any way?) discussion presumably lasted for about 43 minutes.

PM Koirala exhibited his modesty all the time during the talks writes the weekly.

Telegraph adds: This translation has been made not with any mal-intention. We possess high regards for the political personalities and the nation's army as well. However, what is disturbing is how such a high level secret discussion came to the public? Which place in Nepal is safe for such a strictly private discussion then? The question is there.

(Thanks the Sanghu Weekly-ed).

The subtle tussle begins
Dissolve the parliament immediately; Parliament will function for some more time

Kathmandu : Though the country's politics is slowly coming into the grips of the Maoists but yet it appears that they will have to fight a subtle battle with their own coalition partners who have had signed a twelve-point agreement in Nepal 's acknowledged political MECCA , Delhi , last November with them.

Albeit, the first round of talks in between the State and the Maoists have already taken place in what they call "amicable atmosphere", however, things coming to the surface from different quarters lead to the conclusion that the talks might consume some considerable time than what is being publicized by both the parties jubilantly.

Surely and definitely, politics will chart its own course. No one can dictate the terms unilaterally.

The main tussle in between the Maoists and the new establishment under Prime Minister Koirala now will perhaps concentrate on matters related to the longevity of the present government, the constitution and the newly restored parliament.

While the government side has made it abundantly clear that not only the government but also the constitution and the parliament will continue sine die.

The Maoists consider this adamance exhibited from the other camp as the biggest hurdle in their way to the safe holding of the elections to the constituent assembly. The Maoists have even told point blank that all the three organs of the State, the parliament, the constitution and the government, must be dissolved out rightly because, in their opinion, till these organs were alive, some seen and unseen regressive forces might wish to disturb the elections.

Dr. Babu Ram Bhattarai the other day made a threat-loaded statement in Butwal at a massive gathering wherein he said that "until the parliament is dissolved, the talks will not proceed in the desired direction".

Dr. Bhattarai's saying should not be taken in a light manner as he is the second man of the insurgency and what he says becomes the "party-line" of thinking.

Yet another Maoists leader attached to the Terai Liberation Front, Mr. Binod Kumar Upadhyaya, went to the extent in declaring that they will return to the jungles if any delay is seen in yielding to their demands. "Dissolve the house or else we will again enter into the battle", is what Upadhyaya said recently in Butwal.

However, the talks are going in an amicable manner thus contradicting the fiery speeches coming as it does from the Maoists quarters.

The government that is composed of the old-corrupt political hats and have a habit of sticking to the chair appear not in a mood to heed to the Maoists demands so easily.

The second tussle that is cropping up would be on the question of whether or not the village/district level bodies are restored to action?

While the government side prefers the restoration, understandably the other camp has to reject it and has already not only rejected but has threatened by saying that if those low level bodies are revived, they will again go the battle field.

Dev Gurung, apparently the third man in the Maoists' hierarchy made this revelation Monday in Pokhara.

The government side presumably wants the revival of the village level bodies in order to show its presence there which if materializes would minimize the Maoists strength in the villages.

It is this factor perhaps that has been irritating the brains of the Maoists.

Retorting to Dr. Bhattarai's demand for the immediate dissolution of the parliament, Sushil Koirala, a senior congressman, told Monday evening that the parliament would run for some more time to come.

The third factor that is troubling both the Maoists and the government is that both have begun alleging each other that the other side has been flouting the agreed code of conduct.

So this is the total scenario in which the talks are being held "amicably".

How politics charts its course under the given situation will have to be carefully watched. More importantly, what India prefers in such a situation too will have to be taken into account.

The Indian factor that is always there can't be dismissed so easily. Kudos to India for playing such a subtle political game. Thanks to Nepal 's inherent weaknesses.

Crime rates attain new heights

Kathmandu : Of late the capital city of Nepal is becoming more and more chaotic and dangerous as well.

Loot and arson in broad-day light have become a common and a regular feature.

Financial companies including some branches of some Banks have become the targets of the "unidentified" hooligans.

The security agencies claim that they were doing their best to contain this growing threat of the looters and the hooligans, however, the crime rates are going up and up with each passing days.

A section of the society opines that after the April political change, the security agencies have exhibited their reluctance in controlling the outbreak of such nasty and nefarious elements. The Police force forcefully denies these allegations and say that they have been doing their duties well.

On the other hand, the Maoists, as reports have it, continue to terrorize the innocent people and the businessmen with their forced donation terror in various parts of the country.

But then yet some top ranking Maoists leaders disprove such allegations. They claim that some persons have been caught red-handed who had been asking for donations in their names.

Intellectuals say that after certain political changes the happenings of such sad incidents were normal for the country to settle down from a transitional period to a stable one takes time and hence nothing to panic.

Be that as it may, Kathmandu city of late has lost its former charm and peaceful atmosphere but instead become a city wherein crimes have been increasing at an alarming rate.

It is time, analysts say, the concerned security agencies and the government became serious in tackling the growing crimes in the city.

Political change is all right but the people demand a permanent peace and a safe and secured livelihood. The government appears to have failed in this count.

Dr. Suresh Chalise is PM's External Affairs Advisor

Kathmandu : Dr. Suresh Chalise, holder of a Doctoral Degree from the prestigious Dortmund University , Germany , in the discipline of Sociology, has been appointed as the "National Advisor For External Affairs" by Prime Minister Shri Girija Prasad Koirala last week.

Dr. Chalise, an eminent Sociologist of international repute, is also acclaimed in Katmandu 's intellectual and academic circuit as an expert on International Relations.

Sources close to the Prime Minister's office say that Dr. Chalise is "answerable" to the Prime Minister and he will be holding talks with International dignitaries "On behalf of the Nepal 's Prime Minister".

The National Advisor for External Affairs, Dr. Chalise, has been awarded with the rank of a Minister of State and his office is located inside the premises of Singh Durbar-the seat of the Nepal Government.

It has been already two weeks of Dr. Chalise's appointment wherein many Kathmandu based residential Ambassadors and high-ranking foreign diplomats have paid a courtesy calls on him.

Those who have met Dr. Chalise at his office are, among others, Mathew Kahane of the UN, Chinese Ambassador to the Nepali Court and an official delegation from the United States of America is likely to meet him shortly.

An ICG team is expected to meet Dr. Chalise, it is learnt.

Dr. Chalise as an academician has appeared in various columns of this weekly in the past. His thought provoking write-ups on a variety of topics have been appreciated by the academic class of this country.

The Telegraph weekly extends hearty congratulations to Dr. Chalise on his new but yet somewhat challenging job.

ENBREF:

More than 2,100 schools hit by conflict

Kathmandu: "Education of more than one million students in Banke, Bardiya, Dang, Surkhet and Kailali districts, had been disrupted while a total of 521 students were abducted over past six months," the Partnerships for Protecting Children in Armed Conflict (PPCC) said in a press statement.

The security forces and the guerrillas continued to enter into schools and threaten students and teachers, the statement added.

The PPCC statement stated that a total of 33 cases of violations had been recorded, while 23 schools had been attacked by the guerrillas, 16 had been forcefully closed.

Construction of highway link to China

Kathmandu : While quoting the Finance Minister, Ram Sharan Mahat, Radio Nepal indicated that the government is set to start construction of the Syafrubesi-Rasuwagadhi highway this year, with the help of the Chinese government.

"The government has also planned to link that highway with the Prithvi Highway , one of the major highways of Nepal that links capital Kathmandu with other parts of the county, with assistance of Asian Development Bank," Mahat said.

400 children killed since 1996

Kathmandu : A National Resource Center on Children in Conflict (NRCCC), figure indicated that in total 460 children below the age of 16 were killed during the armed conflicts that began in February 1996 in Nepal .

Most of those children died due to stray bombs and other explosives left behind by both security forces and guerrillas. Altogether 535 children including 150 girls were physically injured. More than 10,000 children have been orphaned and around 40,000 others have been displaced due to the conflicts. Over 31,000 children along with teachers had been forcibly taken away by guerrillas groups while 254 children were arrested by the state security forces over the period of conflicts, the statement noted.