Maoists Preparing To Call Special Session Of The Parliament
A senior Maoist leader has said that they are preparing to call a special session of the parliament before September 30 in order to push through the proposal of declaring republic by the parliament. CP Gajurel aka Gaurav, politburo member and chief of the party's international relations cell, said that they were preparing ground to call the special session of the parliament to discuss their 22-point demands. He informed that the motion to call special session will be registered after they complete collecting signatures of all of their MPs. A petition by one-fourth of total MPs is enough to call special session. Meanwhile, a leftist group led by Nanda Kumar Prasai and Krishna Das Shrestha has decided to merge into Maoists. Leading dailies report
Experts Meeting On Pancheswhore Likely In January
The Indo-Nepal Joint Group of Experts is most likely to hold a meeting on the 6,480-MW Pancheswore High Dam Project in the first week of January, a source close to the Ministry of Water Resources said, adding that the Indian government had floated an offer in this regard. Apart from identifying the site for the re-regulating dam for the Pancheswore project, the proposed joint-secretary-level meeting is expected to discuss outstanding issues pertaining to the 1996 Integrated Treaty on the Mahakali river and Tanakpur. A Detailed Project Report (DPR) is being prepared. Site identification for the re-regulating dam has long been a topic of disagreement between India and Nepal. Nepal had proposed Rupaligad as the site for building the re-regulating dam. Two sites -- Rupaligard and Purnagiri -- have been identified as likely sites for the dam. "Due to political differences, nothing concrete has been implemented at the project level," Sunil Malla, project manager, Department of Electricity Development (DoED), said, adding, "Unless political and technical differences are sorted out at the high level, not much can be achieved at the project level." Jay Kishore Maike, director general, DoED, said that both sides are carrying out environmental studies. He, however, added that it is a 'deadlock' situation. "Talks will have to focus on benefit-sharing, cost and power trading," he said. Experts feel that the talks could have been scheduled for January due to the current political situation here and say the project has been delayed due to lack of political commitment. "Nothing is possible before the assembly elections," Arjun Prasad Shrestha, former coordinator and executive director, National Water Plan, said, adding, "Both India and Nepal stand to achieve a lot from this project, but lack of commitment and coordination has held the project back for almost 15 years now." According to the 1996 agreement, the DPR had to be completed within six months of the signing of the treaty. As per Nepal government's re-regulation project proposal, an extra 260 MW can be generated from the re-regulation project. The Himalayan Times daily reports END
Deuba Urges For Maximum Flexibility To Fulfill Maoist Demands
Sher Bahadur Deuba, former prime minister and president of Nepali Congress (NC-Democratic), has called for maximum flexibility to fulfill the demands of the Maoists. Speaking at a function in Pokhara on Saturday (September 22), Deuba said that holding election without the participation of Maoists will be meaningless. He said political discussions should be held to resolve Maoists' demands. Leading dailies report
Only CA Can Declare Republic: Mahat
At a time when Maoists are pressing for outright declaration of republic through the parliament, senior Nepali Congress leader and finance minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat has ruled out such possibility. "If the interim parliament declares republic that will be tantamount to seizing the right of the people,' said Dr. Mahat, speaking at an interaction program in the capital on Saturday. He said that elected Constituent Assembly is the only legitimate body to make such important decision. Dr. Mahat also hinted that the NC will not even agree to pass a commitment proposal in the parliament to go for republic. Meanwhile, a delegation of 11 central working committee members of NC led by general secretary KB Gurung met with prime minister and party president Girija Prasad Koirala to advise him against gong for republic through the parliament. They said that the crucial decision on republic should be left for elected CA to decide. Leading dailies report
Parties, Leaders Endangering Polls, Says Leahy
Patrick Leahy, the US senator who has played an important role in shaping the United State's policy on Nepal, has criticized the Maoists, political parties and the leaders for endangering elections, and for not putting the people and the country first. Speaking at the US Senate on Tuesday (September 18), Leahy said: "The failure of the parties to govern and match rhetoric with action threatens the election, as does the Maoist's sabre-rattling." He also called on Nepali leaders to "put the Nepali people and their country first, by showing that they believe in effective, accountable government." Leahy called on other political parties in government to "make good on your commitments" including downsizing and reforming the army, supporting land reform, and creating jobs and opportunities for minority groups that have long been disadvantaged and ignored. Calling upon the Maoists, he said they should "earn the people's trust and support" in order to "become an effective force for change". He said the US would treat the Maoists as rightful members of the CA or the government if they win seats through free and fair elections and work for change peacefully. "We may disagree with their positions on some issues, but not about their right to serve in government and to advocate for those positions," he said. Leahy said that the US is aware that the Maoists want the US to lift restriction on the party and its leaders, and to remove them from the list of terrorist organizations. "In order for that to happen, the Maoists need to take unequivocal, positive steps," he said. Calling the current situation a historic opportunity to "change course", he said the leaders of the Congress parties and the Maoists have done little to prepare for the elections. Leahy, however, credited the UML with doing more to prepare for polls. Calling King Gyanendra "a narcissistic, arrogant autocrat," he said Nepal's previous experiment with multi-party democracy during the 1990s was disappointing. "The leaders of the country's political parties distinguished themselves by amassing personal fortunes and doing little for the people," he said. The Himalayan Times daily
Fuel Supply Expected To Resume
Following Prime Ministerial-level request made to Indian government, the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is reported to have agreed to increase supply of petroleum products to Nepal, according to Purushottam Ojha, joint secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. Meanwhile, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Rajendra Mahato has said that the supplies of fuel will resume and shortage will end in the capital in next few days. Mahato said that although the government cannot continue to bear billions of rupees of losses by giving subsidies, it was not prepared to increase the price as of now fearing that the issue could be exploited by regressive elements to disturb the election environment. He said that substantially higher volume of fuel has started to be delivered from Raxaul. Meanwhile, in the capital, taxi drivers and bikers staged protest on Thursday demanding fuel supply. They blocked roads at different parts causing traffic snarls for hours. Leading dailies report
Eight Parties Agree To Reach Understanding
The eight party meeting held in Baluwatar on Wednesday (September 19) has agreed to reach understanding through dialogue. Held in the wake of Maoist decision to quit the government and launch agitation, leaders participating at the meeting urged Maoists to reconsider their decision. Maoist chairman Prachanda and leaders Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Dev Gurung had attended the meeting. They said that they will discuss the seven parties' request in their party meeting. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala also held separate meetings with Prachanda and Madhav Kumar Nepal. PM Koirala is learnt to have asked Prachanda to wait till Nepali Congress Mahasamiti meeting on September 23-24 before deciding on republic through parliament. Prachanda is also learnt to have stressed on strengthening eight party unity. "It has been agreed to further strengthen eight party unity," said UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal. Earlier, at a meeting of Maoists party secretariat, its leaders endorsed party's decision to quit the government and launch protests. The meeting said they would now call for a special session of the parliament to proceed with republic declaration and even mulled no confidence against PM Koirala. Leading dailies report
EC Enforces Election Code Of Ethics
The Election Commission has announced the enforcement of election code of ethics from Tuesday, September 18. In the first phase, the commission has enforced the code for government, semi-government offices and local bodies. The code will be enforced for the political parties from September 30. Likewise, it will come into effect for candidates from October 5. The private media will have to observe the code from October 11. "The code of ethics will not obstruct matters related with peace process," said Chief Election Commissioner Bhoj Raj Pokharel. Leading dailies report
