Deuba elected new Prime Minister

By Damakant Jayshi

KATHMANDU, July 22 Sher Bahadur Deuba became the new Prime Minister of Nepal after emerging victorious in today parliamentary party election of the governing Nepali Congress in which he secured an unexpected 72 of the total 113 votes.

Sushil Koirala, his rival, could secure only 40 votes. One vote was invalid. An hour after the results were declared, King Gyanendra appointed the new parliamentary party leader as the Prime Minister.

Earlier today, Deuba’s name for the election was proposed by Khum Bahadur Khadka and Chiranjivi Wagle while that of Koirala was done by Govind Raj Joshi and Ram Baran Yadav. Deuba’s attempt to get former Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel propose his name failed, said the party sources.

There were loud bursts of cheer and applause as soon as the Convenor of the election committee announced the results. Deuba’s resounding victory, getting many more than the 57 required votes, was a surprise for many of the party leaders, including the leaders of his own camp. A day before the election, Deuba was assured of at least 62 lawmakers supporting him.

While Deuba was humble in his victory, his rival was gracious in defeat, saying he took the whole democratic exercise in sportsman spirit.

Speaking to the reporters after the results were declared, Deuba said his top priority would be to solve the Maoist insurgency plaguing the Kingdom for the past six years. "I will first talk with all opposition parties, those represented in the House as well as those outside, and try to evolve a common approach to the Maoist problem," said the new leader.

The newly-elected leader declined to accept that the Maoists could go back on their commitment to holding talks with a new leadership. "I have no reasons to doubt their commitment to the dialogue with the government."

Deuba is on the hot seat as his party is still sharply divided. Aware perhaps of the bitterness that the elections might have caused Deuba sent a signal to his rival camp. "Everyone is victorious. I expect cooperation from all, including Sushil Koirala."

His rival, Koirala, did not disappoint him. "As general secretary of the party, I will extend the new leader all the cooperation."

Deuba thanked everyone, starting with his erstwhile mentor, former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala. "Despite leading a majority party government, Girija babu has sacrificed to help find a way out of the crisis facing the nation. He deserves all the thanks."

Koirala, who is also the party President, reciprocated. "I am very happy that a new leader has emerged. I will extend him all the cooperation. The country will get a new direction now."

Even former PM Krishna Prasad Bhattarai said that he was extremely glad that Deuba has become the Prime Minister. "The responsibility has come to the right man."

While the former PM was speaking, Deuba interrupted him on at least three occasions, repeating "I am his disciple. It is his victory too." Facing the battery of cameramen, Deuba, flanked on either side by Koirala and Bhattarai, took their hands and raised them in the air.

Besides, on at least three occasions Deuba held Sushil Koirala’s hands and wave to the reporters and the cameramen, both during the voting and after the results were declared. When the reporters asked why he was holding his rival’s hands, Deuba replied, "It is Congress culture."

The new PM was trying his utmost to keep the two Koiralas in good humour. Senior Koirala has a tight hold over the party and most of the members in the all-powerful currently 25-member Central Working Committee are his loyalists. Koirala is yet to nominate 12 members to the vacant positions in the 37-member body.

When asked to reply how stable the new government would be, Deuba replied that it would last three years (the remainder of the term). He denied that there were mini factions in his camp which waged a relentless battle against the outgoing PM. He said the party was united. What about his own side? He quipped, "There are no sides; there is only one side."

Deuba also has the difficult task of pleasing everyone who supported him. The Cabinet which he has to form could be the beginning of acrimony among many within the party.

Meanwhile, former DPM Poudel has ruled out joining the new Cabinet. Speaking about Deuba, the former DPM said that the new PM would be able to solve the problems facing the nation. "Since he was the Convenor of high-level committee on the Maoists, he will be in an advantageous position to tackle the insurgency." Poudel added that the onus was now on the Maoists. ‘They have also expressed keenness for the dialogue once the new leadership takes over. Let us see if they keep their word."

Deuba became Prime Minister first in September in 1995 and lasted for 18 months before quitting after two of his party MPs did not turn up during his vote of confidence.

Deuba profile

KATHMANDU, July 22 (RSS) - Newly appointed Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba was born in Ruwa Khola Ashigram-5 in Dadeldhura district of Mahakali zone on June 13, 1946.

Deuba, who was elected leader of the Nepali Congress parliamentary party after the Mid-term Election in 1994, served as prime minister for about one and a half years since 1995.

Deuba,55, who started his political career at the age of 19, spent nine years in prison for his political beliefs.

Deuba, who was president of the Far-Western Students’ Committee, Kathmandu from 1965 to 1968, was also the founder member of Nepal Students’ Union in 1970.

He had played an active role in the promotion of multiparty democracy in Nepal during the National Referendum of 1980.

He worked as the convenor of the political consultative committee of the Nepali Congress from 1982 to 1988.

Deuba also played an active role in the civil disobedience movement in 1985 and the movement for restoration of democracy in the country.

He also lobbied for democracy in Nepal in the western countries during the popular movement of 1990.

Deuba, who successfully fulfilled his responsibility as the political in-charge of the Far Western Region of the Nepali Congress in 1991, has been elected member of parliament three times from Dadeldhura district of the Far Western Development Region.

He served as home minister during the three and a half year’s tenure of the Nepali Congress government.

Deuba received his M.A. degree in humanities from Tribhuvan University in 1972 and Bachelors Degree in Law from the same university in 1975. He was a research fellow in political science at London school of economics from 1988 to 1990.

Deuba has visited the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Bhutan, the Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Japan, Germany, France and Sweden. He has his father, wife and a son.

Rebels kill 5 policemen in Terhathum

KATHMANDU, July 22 (PR) - Maoist rebels on Saturday midnight raided Poklabung Police Post in Simle Village Development Committee (VDC) in remote Terhathum district and killed five policemen, police sources said today. An unconfirmed number of policemen too are reported missing.

Inspector DB Rai of District Police Office, Terhathum, said Assistant Sub-Inspector Shiv Bikram Dhakal of Maktin VDC-3, Khotang, and constable Mohan Prasad Moktan of Thoklung VDC-8, Terhathum, died on the spot. According to Inspector Rai, injured in the attack are Baidhya Nath Yadav, Tilak Tamang, Tek Bahadur Giri, Bhim Bahadur Khatri. Assistant Inspector Devendra Bogati is in reportedly critical among them.

According to eyewitnesses, members of a rescue team going to the spot were also injured in a Maoist ambush at Poklabung Kholi of Jalanje VDC-2. The local people said that 28 policemen saved their lives by surrendering and handing over their arms and ammunition to the insurgents.

"A helicopter came to the incident area Sunday morning but it left without rescuing as the spot could not be traced," the locals said.

Meanwhile, the underground Maoist rebels on Saturday freed at least nine policemen from their captivity, who were abducted from Rukumkot police checkpoint, Rukum almost four months ago.

The policemen were released amidst the mass meeting organised by the Maoists. Four of the released are head constables while remaining are constables on the condition of quitting their job as a police personnel. According to a source, other sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors are still in their captivity so that the rebels can acquire information related to police force and their.

This is the second such move by the rebels after they set free 22 police personnel held captive in Rolpa and Ramechhap districts on Friday. Maoists swoop down the police checkpoint in mid-western Nepal, Rolpa and abducted 69 policemen a week ago.

Likewise, Maoists shot dead Yam Bahadur Chunar of Jarbuta VDC, Surkhet whom they alleged to be working as an informant to the police. According to the District Police Office, Surkhet armed group of 15 people came to Chunar’s residence and killed him.

Tough days ahead for Prime Minister Deuba

By Suman Pradhan

KATHMANDU, July 22 – Now that Sher Bahadur Deuba is "in" and Girija Prasad Koirala is "out," what can Nepal’s 24 million suffering people expect from the new government? Political stability? Resolution of the Maoist problem? Less Corruption?

It is tempting to say: all of the above. But political reality here being what it is, it will probably be closer to the truth to state: none of the above will be accomplished, at least not in the short period of time Deuba is expected to remain as Prime Minister.

If recent history is anything to go by, the government will continue to be in turmoil, if only because the ruling Nepali Congress party has yet to sort out its deep-seated problems. It has been proven historically that the Congress is a party which remains united in opposition, but utterly divided while in power.

Outgoing Prime Minister Koirala may be down, but he is certainly not out. And it is almost certain, say many top Congress insiders, that he will hound Deuba just as he has been hounded all these months by his rivals. Koirala after all is still the powerful president of the Congress party and as such controls a large chunk of NC lawmakers in parliament as well as the members in the party’s Central Working Committee.

That makes for a good recipe for trouble for the new Prime Minister despite his claim that he will last out the remaining term. Judging by what we know of Koirala’s strengths and Deuba’s own weaknesses, it is difficult to foresee such an eventuality.

So what does that mean for Nepal, this country which has continued to suffer political instability since 1994?

Much depends on how Deuba handles the new challenges facing him and the country. If he were to reprise his role as Prime Minister during 1995-97, analysts say, then it can only mean disaster. Many believe that the first Deuba government was not different (some claim it was even worse) than the other dozen or so short-lived governments that ruled Nepal since 1990.

Even assuming that the vagaries of coalition politics demanded the wheeling and dealing that is associated with the first Deuba government, there is still no answer to why it let lawmakers import luxury four-wheel vehicles free of import duty while poverty continued to go from bad to worse in the countryside. Why some key members of parliament were sent out to Bangkok for "medical treatment" during a crucial vote in the House while the nation demanded morality from the government, and why Deuba chose to ignore the Maoist rebellion that first flared up when he was in power?

Some other unsavoury traits were also on display then, notably his disregard for alternative views which was made plain when he lashed out at critics of huge development projects such as the Kaligandaki-A as "anti development."

But that was all in the past. Has Deuba changed for the better now? This is the question that needs answers.

After being voted out of power in 1997, Deuba has cultivated a careful image of being the only alternative to Koirala. He also made Herculean efforts to reach out to others – his critics, experts, media, even party rivals. And though he firmly sticks to the belief that only big hydropower projects like the Karnali-Chisapani behemoth can help in developing this impoverished country, he claims today to at least listen to the alternative-wallahs. That all this cultivating is paying handsome dividends now is all too evident.

Deuba has also cultivated a crucial factor in Nepali politics: the Maoist rebels. Of all the politicians who has reached the pinnacle of power in this short decade of democracy, Deuba is perhaps the only one whom the underground Maoist rebels can feel comfortable with. Thanks to his tenure as chairman of a government appointed Maoist problem resolution committee, he is said to have held several rounds of negotiations with the Maoist leadership. No wonder, the rebels see him as a guy they can do business with. But whether the Maoists are willing to trade with Deuba will be a major litmus test for his government.

Deuba is resolute in not bargaining away parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy, the Maoists’ chief demands. But there could be some sort of a compromise on other socio-economic demands raised by the rebels. Even that would be an achievement, considering Deuba can deliver those.

But the rebels have time and again proved to be adept strategists, repeatedly capitalizing on the differences within the government and the ruling Congress party. There is no telling that they won’t resort to that tactic again just because Deuba is in power.

The new leader also faces the tough challenge of implementing the Integrated Security and Development Programme (ISDP) in the Maoist-infested countryside. And as an extension of the ISDP, he also has the task of ensuring that the Royal Nepal Army, which is now finally in the rebel areas, remain there and obey government orders.

Highly placed Congress sources say that it was his inability to control the army in the last few weeks that ultimately convinced Koirala to step down. Can Deuba accomplish what has so far remained un-accomplishable? It is tempting to say "yes," but again, maybe "no" is closer to the truth.

Oppn greet Deuba with cautious welcome

Post Report

KATHMANDU, July 22 – Nepali Congress second generation leader Sher Bahadur Deuba’s second stint at the country’s premiership was greeted with cautious welcome by the opposition parties, while the leftist members have suggested that the new PM needs to change his working style.

"There is no reason to trust him (Deuba) if we look at his past," said Madhav Kumar Nepal, leader of the main opposition CPN-UML. "But we are ready to cooperate if the government now comes up with comprehensive programmes and Deuba changes his past behaviour."

Nepal was hinting mostly at Deuba’s 18 months of tenure as PM from September 1995 to March 1997, when the Deuba government had been held widely responsible for allowing lawmakers to import tax-free luxurious vehicles and announcing pension for lawmakers to save his premiership. Later, Deuba was also accused of practicing unfair means by flying a few lawmakers from his rival camp to Bangkok to oust then PM Koirala.

"Even the Maoists sound positive for dialogue with the Deuba government...Now he certainly has to come up with concrete programmes to resolve the issue. He (Deuba) also has to bring about issue wise fundamental reforms such as the amendment of the Constitution," Nepal added.

Likewise, CPN-ML president Sahana Pradhan urged change in Deuba’s behaviour. "It’s no use when only a person changes...one certainly has to change his behaviour," she said.

However, Prakash Chandra Lohani of RPP was of the opinion that one certainly has to give an opportunity to the new PM to prove himself. "The current crisis in the country has to be settled through dialogue...We are also hopeful that the new PM would look positively into our party’s call for national consensus," he said.

But despite the internal power tussle within the ruling party, Deuba received congratulatory greetings from two senior leaders and his election contender, NC general secretary Sushil Koirala.

Outgoing Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala extended his support to Deuba, saying, "The country would now undergo a new direction."

Another former prime minister and senior NC leader Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, the patron of the Deuba camp, expressed his "delight" over the election outcome, adding, "The right person has taken over the reigns."

Likewise, the NC general secretary, while speaking to reporters immediately after the declaration of the election results, "accepted the result" and extended full support to Deuba. "The new government (under Deuba) will now last its full term," he said.

Meanwhile, former Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel, who had portrayed himself as an independent candidate within the ruling party but supported Deuba in the last minute in today’s elections, said that he "would not join Deuba’s ministerial cabinet but will support it from outside."

Gorkha Airlines plane escapes major crash

Post Report

KATHMANDU, July 22 - A domestic airliner carrying 22 people escaped a major crash today while landing at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). The Gorkha Airlines-owned Dornier 9NAEO skidded off the runway soon after it landed at the airport at 4:17 p.m., but no passengers were hurt, officials said.

Civil aviation officials said that the aircraft skidded about five meters off the runway after one of its rear-wheels exploded and the plane careened through the runway for a brief while before coming to a screeching halt on the muddy meadow beyond the tarmac.

However, all the 17 passengers and three crew members aboard the plane remained unhurt. The accident has left the German-made plane’s rear wheels badly damaged.

"This is a minor accident, resulting from explosion of the rear wheel," a Civil Aviation Authority official told The Kathmandu Post. "An investigation committee would be formed by Monday to look into the actual cause of the accident and suggest measures to correct them."

The private airlines plane was captained by P Rai, and assisted by co-pilot R Manandhar and air hostess P Chahar.

Landless Kamaiyas continue to struggle for land

By Utpal Raj Misra and Sudarshan Rijal

DANG, July 22 Exactly a year after the government liberated the Kamaiyas (bonded labours) and promised them rehabilitation, these liberated slaves of the modern age continue to face numerous problems.

They blame the government’s failure to live upto its promises as the sole reason for their continued misery. Majority of them are yet to receive the promised piece of land from the government.

This mid-western district is no exception. Out of 1,127 families of listed ex-Kamaiyas or bonded labours, only 407 of them have received land ownership certificate from the government.

Worse, it is unlikely that the remaining 720 families will receive any land in near future as these families already owned some land (less than 4 katthas) even before they were freed about a year ago.

All because the government does not have any policy on distributing land to such ex-Kamaiyas, land reform officials here say.

According to official records, out of the 407 families to which land is allotted 175 were absolutely landless and 232 were squatting on government land.

A total of 74 bighas of land have been distributed so far, which when simply divided comes to around 3.6 katthas of land per family - much less than the 5 kattha promised by the government.

Records show that 126 families have been allotted land ranging from 1 to 5 katthas in various forest areas with permission from the District Forest Office.

But these 126 families say they don’t even know where their allotted piece of land is despite holding on to the land ownership certificates.

"They gave me a piece of paper and said that now I own 4 katthas of land, but I don’t know where that is," says Maito Chaudhari, a ex-Kamaiya now living in Duruwa VDC-6.

Sita Devi Sapkota, Acting District Land Reforms Officer says that it is because of the monsoon rains and harvesting season that the officials have not been able to show them their land. "We will take them there as soon as the monsoon is over," Sapkota said.

At time of their liberation the government had promised the ex-Kamaiyas who had no land, interest free loan up to Rs 10,000 and permission to cut 75 cubic feet wood so they could build a shelter for themselves. But out of 175 families who are entitled to this subsidy, non have received it so far.

Land Reforms Officers say that the applications for the subsidy in being accepted and will be worked on after substantial number of applications are filed.

Meanwhile, locals say that there are many more genuine ex-Kamaiyas apart from the listed 1,127 families. But have not been recognised by the government as they have not been able to get reference from the families to which they were formerly bounded to.

One of the criteria to identify a person as a Kamaiya is a reference from the person for whom he or she worked for. But many Kamaiyas who revolted against their landlords were refused the endorsement by their former employers and therefore not identified by the government as well.

One such family is of Khani Chaudhari, who inspite of being a genuine former Kamaiya, has not been able to get any land as his former landlord has refused to identify him.

Most of the Kamaiyas have refused to shift from the place they have occupied, even after getting land from the government.

Not because they don’t know where it is, but because they don’t want to since the land they presently occupy are near roads and around town areas and don’t want to move away to remote places where they have been given land.

Though forced labor and slavery is banned and punishable by up to 10 years in prison, the government estimated that there were at least 16,000 bonded labors in five western districts in the country at the time of announcement last year.

Human Rights groups claimed that the figure of these people in Banke, Bardia, Kailali, Kanchanpur and Dang districts could be as high as 40,000 who for generations have been working as bonded labors trying to pay off debts drawn by their fathers or grandfathers.