Govt’s inefficiency in Governor appointment

By A Staff Reporter

The present Krishna Prasad Bhattarai led government has shown its inefficient side in not being able to appoint the Governor of the country’s national bank, the Nepal Rastriya Bank. The government’s image has not been enhanced by the flood of speculations that have been floated by the local media regarding the important appointment.

The term of Governor Satendra Pyara Shrestha expired last Sunday, but from several weeks before that, a series of names were put forward by the media regarding who would succeed him. Every newspaper had its own candidates, with some names heading the list.

It can be guessed that the individuals themselves promoted such speculations in the media. That has been the standard practice, on most occasions when important posts are to be filled. There are rumours that some media people are even “influenced” by those running after such posts.

Quite naturally, for a casual observer who followed the media reportings, it must have been very confusing on who would really be appointed, for different newspapers had different things to say.

Now it seems even the government has been confused. Even when it knew the post had to be filled so many days in advance, why hasn’t any decision been made in this regard? Doesn’t such inaction prove true the accusations made by people, that this government is not functioning properly?

Reshuffle will not warm up cold relations between Bhattarai and Koirala

By A Staff Reporter

The long expected shake up in the cabinet may come any day. It may not be surprising if Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai chooses to announce a change in his government even today or tomorrow. But there is little chance of the tussle between Koirala and Bhattarai coming to an end.

Still, a change in the council of ministers looks imminent before Prime Minister Bhattarai’s visit to India, most likely by the end of this month.

Ministers in waiting :Prakash Koirala.

However, sources say the Prime Minister will not make any change in the cabinet before he has talks with party president Koirala, and in a way get his consent. Koirala, on the other hand, is said to be unwilling to talk about the matter. However the two leaders met at Baluwatar on Tuesday (yesterday) and the stage seems set for some changes to take place.

But those who are said to be close to Bhattarai say it will only be a minor expansion and there will be some adjustments in the portfolios, not a major shake up. No member of the present cabinet is likely to be dropped, rather some of them may be promoted.

One of the most talked about name to be included in the expanded cabinet is former Speaker of the Parliament Ramchandra Poudel. Poudel is most likely to be made deputy prime minister and he will be entrusted with an important portfolio, possibly the Home Ministry. Another name which is also likely to be included in, are those of Prakash Koirala. Koirala is said to have given his consent if he gets some important ministry like for instance the Ministry for Information and Communications.

 But there is little enthusiasm among Koirala’s supporters about the reshuffle in the cabinet. J.P. Anand, a Congress MP close to Koirala, is being quoted as saying that any shake up in the cabinet would be against the understanding reached between the Prime Minister and party president Girija Prasad Koirala. Koirala’s supporters are wanting the change of the whole government in a few months’ time, and not willing to compromise with just a few cosmetic changes.

Congressmen of the Koirala camp take any attempt to reshuffle the cabinet as a futile attempt to extend the life of the present government which, they say, is only till the winter session of the parliament.

So, there is little possibility that a reshuffle will warm up relations between the Prime Minister and the Party president and quell the fighting between the party and the government.

Even if he makes a change in the government, Prime Minister Bhattarai may not dare to drop some of his closest supporters such as Yog Prasad Upadhyaya, Omkar Shrestha and Bal Bahadur K.C. And this would be unacceptable to Koirala and his supporters.

Meanwhile, if Bhattarai makes a change in his government and could include persons like Ramchandra Poudel and some other Koirala supporters, it may give him some strength to take a stance when Koirala makes a final push to topple the government after the winter session of the parliament.

In this, Bhattarai may also get a helping hand from former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who has been saying that it would be wrong to topple the government in such a way.

Meanwhile, the reshuffle in the cabinet is only an attempt by Bhattarai to try to collect strength for the final showdown with Koirala. 

 Maoists kill four as govt says rebel activities declining

By Dhana Thapa

One day after reports came in that four people had been killed by the Maoists, there were huge headlines in the government print media that the activities of the insurgents had actually “declined”. Such “propoganda” from the government was difficult to digest, as apart from the present killings, nine policemen had also been brutally killed right at the post they were guarding about a week back.

At such a time, it is questionable as to how appropriate it is for the government media to quote, the Home Ministry Spokesman and the Police Chief in the Far West Region, as saying the insurgency activities had declined. More than helping the government, such news could harm the credibility of both the government and its publicity machinery.

In the recent attacks, two Nepali Congress supporters, one UML activist and one teacher were killed in different places of the country. One attack took place at Gothpani Village Development Committee in Kavre district, which is just a few kilometres east of Kathmandu. A Nepali Congress supporter was hacked to death with khukuris around 9 in the night.

Then two people were killed in Rolpa district in Far West Nepal. Another Congress supporter Dalbir Oli was killed at Paswang village and Sudan Prasad Rokka was killed in Thawang village. Both were killed when groups of Maoists attacked them with khukuris in different incidents.

Meanwhile, in Rukum district, a UML supporter was killed in Kholagaon village. The victim Chin Bahadur Rokka was dragged from his house at 3 in the night and taken to a forest where he was hacked to death.

These brutal incidents come in the wake of the Maoists, preparation to organize a Western Region bandh on January 24. The insurgents had threatened to initiate action against security personnel and other “enemies of the people” from January 16. The police are saying that they have tightened security in the region and they are prepared for the bandh.

Meanwhile, police sources in Kathmandu said that security has been beefed up here in Kathmandu as well. The police could be seen stopping suspicious persons and vehicles on Monday evening.

The government meanwhile is putting much faith on the Sher bahadur Deuba led committee to start dialogue with the Maoists. But in spite of the infighting within the rebels themselves, the Deuba led committee does not seem to be making any breakthrough in starting talks with the Maoists, leave alone making them halt their violent campaign.

Coordinating Peacekeeping

By A Staff Reporter

Nepal’s effort to put itself at  the focus of the UN peacekeeping operations in South Asia has received a boost. A 16-day South Asian Peacekeeping Multi-platoon Training Event started at Panchkhal,northeast of Kathmandu, on Sunday.

One platoon each from Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the US Pacific Command are participating in the training event, which aims to enhance readiness of the participant forces to conduct peacekeeping operations, increase inter-operability and achieve common standard and emphasize rule of engagement (RoE) under international laws, treaties and conventions

The Multiplatoon Training Event is being held under the auspices of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations and is supported by the US Pacific Command.

Prime Minister K.P.Bahttarai (saluting) with the army top brass at Panchkhal.

At the inauguration of the training event, Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai hoped the UN Peacekeepers Training Centre at Panchkhal would be able to train troops from other countries as well.

Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Prajjwola Shumsher J.B. Rana speaking at the function also sought the endorsement to Nepal’s proposal for the Panchkhal training centre to be declared a South Asian Regional Peacekeeping Training Centre.

The proposal got a boost when Assistant Secretary General of the UN Department of Peacekeeping, Young-Jin Choi, who is in Nepal in connection with the training event, said that Nepalese proposal was most welcome.

Commander-in-Chief of the US Pacific Command Admiral, Dennis C. Blair, who also attended the inaugural function said at a meeting with the press that the nature of peacekeeping operations in the future is still not clear.

“The military force is only a part of the whole peacekeeping operations and it is the second stage of peacekeeping, the follow up to the military’s role, which is more difficult in peacekeeping,” he said. 

During the training, each platoon is assigned different tasks such as movement techniques, evacuation and withdrawal, reacting to snipers, search operations of vehicles, buildings and personnel, troop leading, patrolling, security of polling booths, key personnel, convoy operations and vehicular movement and reacting to the media, civil disturbances and establishment of distribution sites.

Representatives from 18 different countries and 10 observers from the United Nations are also participating in the training event. But India and Pakistan, two other invites from South Asia, refused to participate in the training event. India, nonetheless, has sent observers.

The training event may be especially important because of the change in the style of conflicts in the modern world. In the future, there is little chance of the world seeing a major conflict between or among the mighty nations, like in the first half of the 20th century, but other forms of conflict, mainly intra-state based on ethnic, religious and cultural aspects are on the rise, in many parts of the world. So, the world may see a sea change in the role of a large section of today’s military around the world. In the future the role of the military may not be to wage war but to enforce and maintain peace. For that, today’s military needs to be reorientated towards their new role and their peacekeeping capacities needs to be enhanced.

For that matter, Nepal has a vast experience in peacekeeping missions. About 35,000 Nepalese soldiers have served in peacekeeping operations around the world, and it has a 2,000-strong stand-by force. During the course of peacekeeping 35 Nepalese have lost their lives.

The present training event may be a step forward to enhance the role of the peacekeepers, and it further stamps Nepal’s commitment towards peace and its willingness to take part in the peacekeeping missions for the sake of peace around the world.

Ex-Gurkhas to raise pension issue at human right meet

By A Staff Reporter

In a bid to fulfill its demand of parity in pension between the Gurkha soldiers and their British counterparts, the Gurkha Army Ex-servicemen’s Organization (GAESO) has decided to push its demand at the international human rights meet.

The officials of GAESO at a recent press meet informed that it was preparing to present the case at the International Human Rights Convention to be held in Geneva in March this year.

“We will present the issue at the International Human Rights Convention as our effort to address the issue through diplomatic channels has failed,” said Padam Bahadur Gurung, President of GAESO.

“The Gurkhas have lost faith in diplomatic efforts to resolve the stalemate,” he further added.

The decision to take the matter to the International Human Rights Convention was taken after consulting with fellow Gurkha pensioners as well as human rights activists both at home and abroad. 

 GAESO officials also said it would also consult lawyers from various countries including United States, Japan, France, India and England to push the issue to the international court.

GAESO’s announcement came at the time when the British Government has decided for ‘substantial increment’ of pension to former Gurkha servicemen. The British Government had announced late last year to increase the pension amount by a minimum of 100 per cent to all service pensioners to be effective from April 1, 2000.

The new pension rates range from Rs. 7,043 to Rs. 23,612 based on their ranking. The increments range from 100 to 192 percent.

However, the GAESO officials said that there still is a big gap between the pension received by the British Gurkha soldiers and their British counterparts.

Beside pension parity, GAESO has also forwarded three other demands. They are setting up of a Gurkha Welfare Fund to assist children of the Gurkha soldiers, residential visas in Britain for the ex-Gurkhas and their families and equal treatment for the in-service Gurkha soldiers.

NC president G.P. Koirala with the four Nepalese women who will make an attempt to scale Mt. Everest this spring.