PM’s Firm Commitment Hope Generated

By Prem N. Kakkar

TEN years have passed since democracy was reintroduced to the country. The democratic multi-party polity was ushered in as the will of the people and spearheaded by the big political parties of today. Yet, reflection on the achievements made in the ten years as regards fulfilling the aspirations of the people in general has not been up to the mark as had been envisaged.

Great Day

Chaitra 26 was the day ten years ago when the Popular Movement led to the restoration of democracy in the country ending the almost three decades of Panchayat polity. It was a great day for the Nepalese people and later on led to the sovereignty being vested in the people themselves.

But going by the track records of the past ten years there have been mixed reactions from the same leaders who took part in the historic People’s Movement.

As stated by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala recently that the sole aim then was for the reinstatement of democracy and there was a lack of any action plan once success was achieved. Despite the fact that the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal-1990 was a clear cut achievement and the people guaranteed their fundamental rights, the road to prosperity was not smooth.

It is now a time for soul searching among all the party leaders and the activists as to what went wrong as the goods were not delivered to the people as expected in a democratic system.

In fact, the political parties were more interested to have their organisational structure strengthened and had little time to focus on the genuine problems of the people. The political instability that manifested itself after the 1994 elections came to an end only after the May 1999 polls.

The minority and coalition governments could not work as expected because seriousness was lacking as to take account of the grievances of the people. Moreover, looking back it seems that was a time when the people’s interests were given the back seat. The focus was only on which party made it to the government. But now there is every reason to be satisfied that we have a majority government in power and has the capacity to deal with the myriad problems that the country is facing.

Economic upliftment and the maintenance of law and order are the two major challenges facing the government at present. Besides this the issue of rampant corruption too has to be brought under control. To let things take their own course is not justified. Stern measures are the need of the hour.

Prime Minister Koirala has been rather serious in dealing with the challenges. He has even said that he has put his political career spanning five decades at stake so that changes for the better can take place.

Mr. Koirala has asserted that he will not hesitate to take stern measures and bold decisions when it comes to tackling the problems of poverty and the maintenance of law and order. He had some thing to say on his colleagues sticking to the rules of the game and he would not shrink from taking strict actions against them if they are found to be indulging in corruption.

The Prime Minister’s assurance of taking bold decisions does hint that changes are coming for the better. The firm commitment made to make the life of people better and to maintain law and order does show rays of light for most of the people in the country.

Now it is for the government to come up with radical measures so that the problems of poverty and violence perpetrated by the so-called Maoists can be controlled. Arriving at a solution to the Maoist problem is receiving top priority. In this context, it is important to note that the Prime Minister is not mincing words but has exhibited his determination to provide security to the people. Being familiar with the Maoist affected areas, there is every hope that peace will once again return to the affected areas.

The Maoist problem is receiving focus because without normalcy returning in the affected areas development activities to pick up pace is not possible. In fact, the doors for talks with the Maoists are open but the other party that is the Maoists has to come forward after laying down their arms as Premier Koirala has said.

The fact still remains that the people who man the administration must be dedicated and have the determination to solve the burning problems of the country. The lawmakers being the representatives of the people must always put the interests of the people first and then only their personal interests.

The challenges in front of Prime Minister Koirala are great and specific strategies and action plans have to be formulated for solving the many problems of the country. The Prime Minister has given the much needed thrust required to move the country forward.

Hope

The advent of the New Year must surely bring in the much desired improvement in the living conditions of the people. For this commitment and the implementation of necessary measures are essential. In this context, the strong determination of the Prime Minister to take bold decisions is welcome. The interests of the majority of the people is more important than the vested interests of a few.

Letter To Space

By Hira M. Khanal

Dear Space,

Today, you are many kilometers away from me and the wavelength of our thought is increasing day by day. Although, there was no condition of formation of BEATS, we are moving towards infinity and our half-life period disintegration is going in the decreasing direction.

I was neutral the time we met each other, probably, for the first time in my life. When we first met each other and walked together, I always used to think that I was looking at Newton’s ring. In those days, I used to think that all the seasons caused by the revolution of the earth around the sun were springs. The singing of the birds used to make the situation melodious and I used to be busy in my work like, musical sound. The electron of my life was completely obeying the octet-rule and I was trying to increase the field of my orbit. Although, there was no friction in my heart for anyone, I used to feel a viscous force when the society went against the expression of my feelings. I enjoyed the elastic collision going inside me and the waves of my mind were travelling far in the universe like a star moving towards the pole star. But my centrifugal acceleration was towards the polluted earth.

When I met you for the first time, you were looking very beautiful and I was standing near the road with my old bicycle. You gave me a surprise look which caught me magically like the cosmic rays. When the electrons of your eyes touched me after passing through the atmosphere, I felt X-ray effect and I were positively charged. I started moving in a circular path to find my lost electrons thinking that you were my centre. When I started shortening the radius of my path to touch you, you stopped me from doing so because of our caste and creed. Then I came to know that I was utilising Darwin’s theory — Natural selection of the fittest. But you applied unified-field theory to trap me in your love where the force of gravity was heavier. You kept on changing magnetic and electric field one after another and I was just like a test-charge for you who used to feel the forces of both repulsion and attraction in the electric and gravitational field. After few days my motion remained neither circular nor straight but I was moving in a random motion which made me feel that I had been changed from living to a non-living thing.

I was depressed and the doctors gave me electric shocks, I added so many chemicals in my digestive system because of which my brain was able to balance my life equation again. I started moving towards a straight line by changing the life equation of my parents with the help of reversible-irreversible process. I divided the velocity of momentum of my life into two components (V sinø and V cosø) and found them always being perpendicular to each other. I had never thought that my angle of inclination would be more or less for someone.

There are many football players in the world but their target is only scalar. Our leaders can add or subtract this scalar quantity but they can never change it into vector quantity. Now, I want to follow the path of Buddha who took neither left nor right but followed the resultant path of the parallelogram.

I will remember you as a hollow-sphere who changed all the processes of differentiation and integration of my life. Now, my life and my identity have changed into black hole and I have no fixed value like that of Hubble’s constant (h).

Can that black hole be changed into a radioactive element? If yes, I can give a fixed value to the wave-length of that wave with the help of Shondinger’s equation. Or else, I will get lost in search of my own self-confidence.

Thank You,
From Earth

The Year That Was 2056

By Bishnu Gautam

The year 2056 began with a unique coalition at the helm of power in the country. Unique in the sense that we had greeted the year with a coalition government headed by the Nepali Congress’s President Girija Prasad Koirala and participated by the CPN (UML), the main rival party of the Nepali Congress and Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP). It was the first-ever NC-UML coalition government ever formed in the country in the decade of multiparty democracy. And, the main task of this government was to conduct the third general elections in the country. The elections were to be held on 20 Baishakh and 3rd Jestha. Coincidentally, Girija Prasad Koirala is the Prime Minister of the country while we are greeting the year 2057.

The year 2056 could, at least, end the five year long political instability of the country thereby ending the era of hung parliament, at least for five years to come. The general elections for the House of Representatives held on 20th Baishakh and Jestha 3 gave the Nepali Congress a clear mandate to form a majority government.

On 20 Baishakh the elections of the first phase in 90 constituencies of 35 districts were helf. Four people, two in Dhading and two in Rautahat districts, were killed on and the voter turnout was 55 per cent. However in Maoist affected areas the turnout was only 33 per cent.

In the second phase elections held on 3rd Jestha in 39 districts the turnout was 60 per cent. None of the representatives from CPN (ML), a spilt-away group of CPN (UML), and RPP Chanda, a fraction group of RPP, were elected.

The Nepali Congress won 110 seats and formed the government on the premiership of Krishna Prasad Bhattarai who was elected for the House of Representatives for the first time. CPN (UML) became the main Opposition in the House of Representatives bagging 70 seats, RPP bagged 11 seats, Sadbhavana 3, Smayukta Janamorcha and Nepal peasant’s party one each, Masal 5. No independent candidate was elected in the elections. Altogether12 women MPs were elected the largest number of women ever elected in the House of Representatives.

On the sixth day of 2056 B. S. when the environment of general elections was slowly warming, former prime minister and the then President of the Nepal Communist Party (UML) Mana Mohan Adhikary suddenly became unconscious while campaigning for polls at Gothatar VDC, in Kathmandu constituency number 1. Late Adhikari was contesting the elections for the House of Representatives from two constituencies—Kathmandu-1 and Kathmandu-3 which were to be held on 20 Baishakh.

After remaining in a coma for a week Manamohan Adhikari died on 13 Baishak at the age of 78. Thus, Nepal lost the seniormost communist leader and a politician in the second week of the year 2053.

Similarly, the country lost Mahendra Narayan Nidhi, another noted leader and freedom fighter of the country on Baishakh 20 in 2056. He was the former general secretary of the Nepali Congress and Water Resources Minister in the Interim government in 2048.

On 6 of Baishakh, the country lost another important figure of the country. And he was Barun Shumsher J. B. Rana, the first editor of The Rising Nepal. He died of fatal cardiac arrest at his own residence in Lalitpur at the age of 72. Singer Arun Thapa, Playwright Bijaya Bahadur Malla, Artists Amar Chitrakar, Academician Surya Bahadur Shakya were other noted figures who died in 2056.

On Jestha 17 Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, elected for the House of representatives from Parsa-1 was appointed the new PM of the country. He also formed a 16-member council of ministers. Later in Ashad Prime Minister Bhattarai reconstituted the Council of Ministers adding 16 members. On the other hand, President Koirala reconstituted the Nepali Congress Central Working Committee appointing new members who were not given place in the Council of Ministers in Shrawan.

On Jestha 25 the polls, in Kathmandu-1 and-3, from where late Mana Mohan Adhikari had won were held. Pradeep Nepal and Ishwore Pokharel of CPN (UML) were elected from these constituencies.

The 16th session of the Parliament began on 5 Ashad. The House elected Taranath Ranabhat the new Speaker and Chitra Lekha Yadav the Deputy Speaker. Both were elected unopposed. His Majesty the King addressed the joint sitting of the Parliament on 17 Ashad. On Ashad 27, Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya presented a budget of 77.23 billion rupees.

National Assembly Chairman’s elections was another important political event of the year. On its first elections on Ashad 30, the Assembly failed to elect the Chairman as the separate proposals to elect the three contestants for the post were rejected. Basu Risal of the Nepali Congress, Rameshnath Pandey, the royal nominee and Dr. Mohamad Mohasin had contested for the post. Risal was rejected by 11 votes, Pandey by one and Mohasin by 24.

In the second round elections held on 27 Shrawan Mohamad Mohasin was dramatically elected the new Chairman of the National Assembly. He received 30 votes. Twenty three members of the Nepali Congress, four of UML and three of RPP had voted for him.

The government on 28 Shrawan announced a trial to double the holidays to two days a week. This new system was enforced from Bhadra 1. Similarly the government removed diesel Vikram tempos from Kathmandu valley from Ashwin 1. These were the two important decisions taken and implemented by the new government.

The House proceedings were stalled on Bhadra 7 by the main Opposition demanding the formation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee to probe into the irregularities in the May elections. Articles published in The Rising Nepal and the Gorkhapatra also fueled the disruption of the House. The House was crippled for 10 days. Only after the announcement of the formation of a high level all party committee for the purpose on Bhadra 16, by Prime Minister Bhattarai, the week-long deadlock ended.

The 19th convention of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists Association held on Mangsir 18 in Kathmandu elected an independent candidate Suresh Acharya the new president.

In the by-elections held in Morang 1, Jhapa 6 and Rautahat 4 on Mansir 23 NC candidates were elected. However, the elections of Rautahat could not be so peaceful and free from criticism.

A Special Session of the Parliament was summoned by CPN (UML) to discuss the price hike in petroleum products and electricity fares. It also submitted a resolution motion regarding the price hike. However, the Nepali Congress government passed an amended version of the resolution motion that the main Opposition had tabled in the House criticising the government for the hikes on Push 7.

On Push 5 a senior police officer Thule Rai who had gone missing from his duty station in Rukum three months back was found. The hijacking of Thule Rai by Maoists became hot news for about three months among politicians and journalists.

Unification of RPP and RPP Chand was another important political incident of the year 2056, but far from controversy-free.

On Push 21 Nepal told a Pakistani Embassy Junior functionary to leave for home within 72 hours in account of his involvement in an activity incompatible with his status.

In 2056 a number of noted politicians visited Nepal. At the invitation of His Majesty King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya Mrs Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, the President of Sri Lanka arrived in Kathmandu on a four-day sate-visit on Ashad 21.

Indian Minister for Foreign Affairs Jaswanta Singh arrived on Bhadra 23. Similarly Bhutanese Foreign Minister Jigmi Y. Thinley came to Kathmandu for the joint Ministerial talks regarding Bhutanese Refugees. On Push 27, Norwegians Foreign Minister arrived to Kathmandu to open up the country’s embassy.

Maoists continued their activities throughout the year 2056. It seemed they were able to strengthen their power as they spread their activities in many parts of the country. Even in Ilam, particularly a peaceful district of the country, they killed an RPP leader, Chandra Kanta Bhattarai, on the day of Bhaitika in Kartik. By Shrawan 2056, 848 persons were killed in the Maoist movement.

On 27 Shrawan a DSP, Kailash Chettri, was killed in an ambush in Kalikot. In Lamjung five policemen were killed on Magh 28. In Charikot a helicopter belonging to Ananya Air was burnt by the Maoists on 27 the Magh. Fifteen cops were killed at Ghartigaon, in Rolpa and 20 others were wounded. It was the largest loss ever faced by Nepal police in an encounter with the Maoist rebels.

The high level Committee under the Chairmanship of Former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuwa formed to arrange talks between the government and Maoists in Push is still seeking ways to find a solution to the Maoist problem. However, once in Falgun the Maoists responded positively to the call for dialogue.

The year 2056 was not free from bandhs. A valley bandh was organised by Language Rights Body in Bhadra. The Maoist called a Nepal Bandh on Aswin 20. The CPN(ML) organised a Valley bandh on Kartik 30. Similarly, the CPN (UML) organised a Nepal Bandh on 12th Chaitra and on 24th the Maoists orgainsed an armed Nepal closure.’

Road and air accidents along with a number of natural calamities also hit the country badly in the year 2056.

On 22 Baishakh, in a bus accident in Dhading 16 passengers died. On 28 Baishakh, 34 people died in a bus accident in Salyan. On 16th Jestha, in a bus accident in Dang 10 were killed. A landslide at Sitapaila in Kathmandu killed five people.

A new Delhi bound Lufthansa Air Cargo Plane, a B 727 jet, crashed at Bhasmasur hill of Talku in Kathmandu killing all six aboard.

An Avro of Necon Air crashed killing all 10 passengers aboard on Bhadra 20 in Kathmandu. The Kathmandu bound private airline had hit the communication tower on a hill.

On push 9 a Delhi bound plane of the Indian Airlines was hijacked after it flew from Tribhuvan International Airport Kathmandu carrying 178 passengers. Eight Nepalese were also on the plane. The hijackers then took the plane to Kandahar in Afghanistan. Only on 16th Push, the hijackers freed the hostages. The 8-day ordeal for 160 passengers ended when the Indian government relented by setting free three Muslim militants. This was the first time a plane flown from Tribhuvan International Airport was hijacked. India stopped its flight to Kathmandu since then and is still denying to operate the Indian Airlines’ service to Kathmandu citing security reason’s. The Indian demand to be more involved in checking passengers at the airport. Before flying in their planes has been rejected by Nepal..

India on Kartik 18 demanded the postponement of the 11th SAARC Summit citing the military coup in Pakistan. The summit has not been held thus for.

The eighth SAF Games, however, was held successfully. The mega event of sports held in Kathmandu began from Aswin 8 and ended on 17 Aswin. Nepal, for the first time, could place it self in the second position in the medal tally bagging 31 golds.

An international level peace keepers’ training co-ordinated by United Nations Peace Keeping Operation Department and conducted by Royal Nepal army was held in Panchkhal, Kavre, in Magh.

In the field of mountaineering, on 18 Baishakh the remains of George Mallory were discovered. Mallory was believed lost 75 years ago on June 8, 1924 while trying to scale Sagarmatha.

Babuchchiri Sherpa set a world record camping on the icy summit of Mt. Everest for 21 hours.

A 15-year-old-Pokhara-boy Arbin Timilsina tried to be the youngest climber to Mt. Everest but failed short of an 148 metres climb of the 8848 metre high peak.

As the year was going to end, the conflict between the Prime Minister and Finance Minister regarding the appointment of the Governor of Rastra Bank ended only with the resignation of the Finance Minister himself.

Ram Chandra Paudyal was appointed Deputy Prime Minister, and gave the Finance Portfolio to Ram Sharan Mahat, in a bid to end the inter-party fund in the NC.

With the beginning of Falgun the Political uncertainty sown after the resignation of Mahesh Acharya demand further more. Fifty-eight lawmakers of the Nepali Congress registered a proposal saying they did not have confidence in the leader of their parliamentary party, Prime Minister Bhattarai. Bhattarai showed his dissatisfaction towards the way of summoning the unexpected meeting of the Parliamentary party. Later, the meeting was postponed to 14 Chaitra. Eleven Ministers resigned from their posts citing the no-confidence motion against the leader of the Parliamentary Party on 11th Falgun. However, a new agreement between PM Bhattarai and Party President Koirala dismissed the move and the MPs who had signed in the proposal withdrew the motion. Thus ended the two-week deadlock existing in the Nepali Congress and the government.

On third Chaitra PM Bhattarai resigned from his post as 69 members of NC parliamentary party again registered the no confidence proposal. Prior to it Ram Krishana Tamrakar had resigned from his post of Commerce Minister. Prime Minister Bhattarai addressed in a burst of emotion the House Of Representatives on 3rd Chaitra. In his address he pledged to hand over the leadership of the government and the party to the younger generation.

This led the Nepali Congress to elect its parliamentary party leader through secret voting, a first in the party’s history. In the election Girija Prasad Koirala was elected the new leader securing 69 votes. His rival, the leader of the younger generation, Sher Bahadur Deuba, received 43 votes. Girija Prasad Koirala was appointed new prime minister on 7 Chaitra and he constituted a 25 member of council of ministers.