Can PM Koirala deliver what he has promised?

By A Staff Reporter

If Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala can do what he said at the parliament last week, he will completely justify the change in the government leadership.

This probably is the first time a new Prime Minister has made a statement to the joint session of the Parliament on policy matters. Moreover the address was broadcast live to the people through radio and television.

This might even set a precedence for future prime ministers to start their tenure in the high office by saying what the government’s aims are in the Parliament. 

For Koirala it might have been a necessity, as his predecessor Krishna Prasad Bhattarai had announced his resignation in the parliament on a bitter note and indirectly accused him of toppling the government through a conspiracy. So Koirala must have felt he had to explain to the parliament and the people that the change in the leadership of the government was meant for improvement.

In his address Prime Minister Koirala stressed on maintaining law and order and resolving the Maoist problem, curbing corruption and providing good governance. These were the three issues, which he had blamed the previous government of failing to resolve while staking his claim to head the government.

Koirala has said he would tread along the path followed by the previous government, i.e. giving negotiation a chance while dealing with the Maoists.

But while this itself is a formidable challenge, considering the fact that the Maoists are gaining ground day by day, other tests for Koirala also await in controlling corruption and providing good governance.

But the Prime Minister has announced some bold steps to start with in controlling misuse of power. The Prime Minister has also hinted that he would start from the top to fulfil his promises in fighting corruption.

He has promised that the assessment of the property of all those in the present government will be made public. Any wealth or property unjustified and inappropriate with the source of income will be deemed as illegally gained and will be confiscated. If the Prime Minister can do that he can cleanse the mess that the political leaders and bureaucrats are in at present.

But that may mean he will have to deal with the members of his own party, who are in the government both at present and in the past. Several of the members in the present cabinet too have been alleged of being involved in corrupt activities when they were in the previous government.         

Very soon, the ministers and high government officials may start disclosing their properties.

But there are several hitches. The first is, how will the government find out that the statements are authentic and not understated, and how can the government  make certain that properties are not hidden? More importantly, which body of the government will be responsible for monitoring this?

Many countries have independent and powerful bodies like the Revenue Intelligence Service to tackle this problem.

In Nepal, the only comparable body is the Commission for the Investigation of the Abuse of Authority (CIAA). But this body now is a toothless one, with virtually no authority, physical and legal, to deal with the rampant corruption and misuse of power. To give the responsibility to the CIAA with its present condition is to ask it to kill a monster with a musket.

Although the Prime Minister made a passing reference to make the CIAA stronger, it can not be done without giving it infrastrucutral support, both in terms of funding and manpower, and strong legal basis. Otherwise, Koirala’s claim of controlling corruption will be nothing but empty talk.

For good governance, Koirala has said that he would make the bureaucracy efficient and effective and processes like appointment, promotion and transfer impartial and objective. But that does not happen until the politicians, ministers and MPs stop fiddling and putting unnecessary pressure on the bureaucracy and bureaucratic procedures.

To cite a recent example, about one month back, the National Sports Council had advertised for about 450 vacancies in the Council. According to sources there, more than 750 recommendations from Ministers of both the present and previous government, MPs other politicians and even organisations like the Tarun Dal to appoint their ‘men’ have come forth. In such a situation how can appointments be made fairly?

Another thing Prime Minister Koirala has talked about is bringing laws to reform the political parties by inducting democratic processes within the parties and making their financial accounts transparent, including the disclosure of the name of their financiers and donors.

These steps are highly commendable, but Koirala must lead the path by starting from his own government and party by punishing severely all those, even his closest aides, for any wrongdoing. If he doesn’t practice what he preaches, it would be futile to expect others to do what he says.

It might be mentioned that Koirala was the first one to demand the ouster of former minister Bal Bahadur K.C., for his immoral behaviour. He must show the same attitude towards other offenses, because squandering government funds and embezzeling public money is no less an offense and immoral act than breaking into the house of a helpless woman.

Deuba committee in doldrums?

By A Staff Reporter

What is happening to the high level committee headed by former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, that had been formed by the previous government to initiate measures to resolve the Maoists problem?

If reports are to be believed, then the committee has not held any meetings after the resignation of PM Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, the architect behind the formation of the committee. Nepali Congress sources also inform that Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has made no attempt to contact Deuba, who had contested against him in the Parliamentary Party election held just before he became Prime Minister.

If it is political rivalry that is keeping the committee headed by Deuba inactive, then that should not be so. Both PM Koirala and Deuba should not allow personal differences to stall a process that is so important to insure peace and security in the country.

Specially now, when the Maoists have indicated that they are ready to come to the table and start dialogue with the government, procrastination because of political rivalry is not tolerable.

People disenchanted with bandhs

By   A Staff Reporter

When a person like the former Home Minister and currently the deputy leader of the opposition party in the parliament takes to the streets to assert his party’s demands, there is something seriously wrong with the way political problems are dealt with in a parliamentary democracy.

The nation-wide bandh (closure), called by the CPN-UML, the main opposition party in the parliament on Monday, was a ‘complete’ success, according to the bandh organisers. According to the government, except for some sporadic incidents, like vandalising and stoning of some buses and vehicles, the strike was completely peaceful. MPs of the UML and other Left parties also boycotted the parliamentary session on that day.

Up in flames : Former Home Minister and senior leader of the main opposition party, CPN (UML), K.P. Oli (third from right) leading a procession of torch bearers on the eve before the bandha called by the party.

On the eve of the bandh, on Sunday, the UML had organised a torch procession of hundreds of its party supporters. The procession was led by top UML leaders like Khadga Prasad Oli, Amrit Bohara and others.

While the UML was happy that the whole country was shut down, and the government was glad that no untoward incidence took place, both of them must realise that the cost of the bandh could be tremendous.

The whole country came to a grinding halt, educational institutions and private offices remained closed, factories and other businesses were shut down. Moreover, the political parties have failed to gauge the difficulties and inconveniences caused to the common people because of the bandh.

Meanwhile, the Maoists have also called another bandh for next Thursday. People fear that this bandh, called as an armed one, may not be peaceful.

Bandhs as a mean of political protest, has lost its appeal among the people. In fact, the people are fed up and dejected with this form of protest. If the political parties fail to notice this feeling, they will only distance themselves from the general masses.

Serving  disabled children better

By A Staff Reporter

At a ceremony held at the German Embassy premises here, March 24, President of Forderkreis Hilfe Fur Nepal e.v. (Help Nepal Association) Dr. B.N. Rana handed over an ambulance to the Embassy’s Chancellor Mr. Ebser. Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre for the Disabled Children (HRCDC) Banepa, is the beneficiary of the ambulance. The German Embassy official in turn handed over the donated ambulance to the President of (HRCDC) Dr. Ashok Banskota.

Seen with the donated ambulance are from (L.to r.) are Mr. Ebser of the German Embassy, Dr. B.N. Rana and Dr. Ashok Banskota.

Prof. Haller, now a board member of Diamler Mercedez-Benz plant in Rastatt, Germany, made available the ambulance to Freiberg (Germany) based Help Nepal Association. The ambulance was shipped and the freight was paid by the association. The estimated cost of the vehicle is about 15,000 German Mark.

Help Nepal Association source revealed that so far it has donated three fire-brigades, two ambulances, two fully equipped intensive care ambulances and one vehicle for disabled people. The recipients of these vehicles emphasize the important role played by Nepal Help Association in developing people-to-people contact between the peoples of the countries thereby further cementing the friendly ties between Nepal and Germany.

"Education problems can be solved"

By A Staff Reporter

At a time when thousands of students are queuing up to get admissions in universities in the USA, President of Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) of Connecticut, USA visited Nepal to establish a relationship with  Nepalese colleges and universities.

In his bid to establish a relationship and initiate collaborative programmes with Nepalese colleges and universities, Dr. David G. Carter the 5th President of ECSU, met with various personalities of Nepalese education field. “We want to initiate exchange programmes. We already have Nepalese in our university and we want to come to Nepal,” Dr. Carter said.

Dr. Carter was invited to Nepal by little Angel’s College. During his seven-day visit, he also addressed a gathering of PABSON, an association of private schools. “We also want our students to come to study,” Dr. Carter added, “I hope within a year we will be able to start our collaborative programmes.”

“I am impressed with what I saw at Little Angel’s College and Kathmandu University. I was equally impressed with Tribhuvan University. I believe that there are lessons that we can learn from Nepalese universities and colleges.

Dr. Carter observed that colleges and universities all over the world face similar kinds of problems. “I don’t know enough about education in Nepal but I can say that any problem can be solved if the government is committed, “Everybody should know that education is the mechanism that can bring about positive changes in a country,” he opined.

Janajatis feel caste-based discriminations exist

By A Staff Reporter

"Caste-based discriminations exist in Nepal”, said 65% of the respondents during an opinion poll survey on the plight of the Janajatis (nationalities) of Nepal. However, if 29% said that they were not aware of such discriminations, 6% preferred not to express any opinion on this sensitive issue according to Media Services International press release.

As regards the question where discriminations could be located at, 56% referred to social ceremonies (weddings and funeral rituals), 20% to decisions relating to social and community activities, 13% to justice dispensation, 4% to lack of reward despite notable achievements and 8% to areas like the problem of untouchability.

Having said that, though, they (67%) admitted that the level of caste-based discrimination had decreased after the reinstatement of democracy in 1990. Only 2% of them thought the level of discrimination had increased. Those perceiving no change and those expressing no opinion constituted 20% and 11% respectively.

When queried during an opinion poll survey conducted by the Media Services International (MSI) in which language in particular they would like their children to be educated, 42% said in Nepali, 29% said in English and 28% said in mother tongue.

Would it be fair to say that the Janajatis have been denied economic opportunities? 59% said that they did not know of any case where members of their community had been denied economic opportunity. On the other hand,  21% said they knew of cases of denial of economic opportunity, 20% did not express any opinion on the issue.

On the problem of where specifically have the Janajatis been denied economic opportunities, 43% said in recruitment for employment; 21% said in facilities given to the landless; 17% said in obtaining loans from financial institutions; 13% said in special programmes meant for the nationalities; and 5% said in other areas.

Asked if they thought the government had done enough to preserve and develop the culture, customs, languages and costumes of the Janajatis, 55% said ‘no’, whereas 28% thought the government had done something in this regard. Sixteen percent gave no opinion.

If not, where are the improvements overdue? 41% said improvements could be made in the special programmes designed for the preservation of tradition and culture of the nationalities; 34% said in study and research calculated to highlight the cultures, languages and costumes of the nationalities; 20% said in preserving traditional costumes and practices of the nationalities; and 8% said in other areas.

The opinion poll survey with a sample size of 1068 was conducted in 15 districts encompassing the mountains, hills and terai of Sindhupalchok, Kaski, Bhojpur, Lamjung, Paanchthar, Chitwan, Makwanpur, Ilam, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Palpa, Dang, Jhapa and Sunsari.

The interviewees were selected from among the members of Janajati groups — Yolmo, Thakali, Rai, Limbu, Gurung, Chepang, Magar, Kepeha, Jyapu, Tharu, Dhimal, Satar, Jhangad and Danuwar.

This poll was conducted between January 5 and 15, 2000, with a grant from the London-based Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WED).

Bookrack

Other side of economy

Status of Informal Sector Workers: The other side of economy of Nepal edited by Prof. Hari Bansh Jha, published by Centre for Economic & Technical Studies, 1999. Price- not written.

This 106-page book is a study of informal sector of the Nepalese economy and is contributed by seven experts. It was funded by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung of Germany. Informal sector in Nepal is characterised by small individual or family units or by hiring less than ten workers with little capital and semi-skilled manpower. This sector uses labour intensive technology and many of its workers consist of women of repressed classes of society. Typical examples of those working in this sector include farmers and agricultural workers, vendors, butchers, carpet weavers, rickshaw pullers etc. In spite of importance of this sector there is shortage of data about this sector. According to the reviewed book “No adequate research has ever been conducted on various facets of the informal sector either at the government or at the academic level”.

The book is subdivided into: Urban informal Sector, Rural Informal Sector, Women in Informal Sector, Child Labour in Informal Sector, Role of co-operative in development of Informal Sector; collected from five municipalities in the Terai.

It would have been useful to have included some municipalities in the Kathmandu valley and other hilly areas of the country.  Many informal sector workers in Kathmandu valley like the carpenters, barbers and vendors who are predominantly among those involved in the informal sector should also have been included in the study.

 Nepal Human Development Report published by UNDP in 1998 states:

“The sale of international (principally India-Nepal) labour movement also appears to have increased within the last decade. The inflow of labourers from India who are engaged in various sectors e.g. agriculture, industry, construction and informal sector trades is also adversely and significantly affecting the employment opportunity of Nepalese labourers”.

The reviewed book presents useful information on a sector which contributes substantially to the Nepalese economy.

— Reviewed By Prakash A Raj

Pallav's poetries

By A Staff Reporter

Fragments, a collection of poetries by Pallav Ranjan is to be launched amidst a ceremony on Sunday, April 2. Chief guest Madhav Nepal, general secretary of the CPN (UML), the main opposition party in the Parliament will formally launch the book which will come in the forms of a book and  CD, accompanied by an art show based on it.

Spiny Babbler, a fast upcoming publishing house and organiser of art shows, is organising the function along with PEN Nepal Chapter and Tribira Publications.

Pallav Ranjan is a well known name in contemporary Nepalese literary circle, specially for his own composition and also for translations of Nepalese classics.

Shailaja: Girija Babu offered me party president's post

By A Staff Reporter

The sudden announcement by senior Nepali Congress leader Ms. Shailaja Acharya that she will be a candidate for the party’s president, has created a flutter among party workers and leaders. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala is the president of the party at present.

There had been growing demand among activists and leaders that one person should not hold two posts in a party. In fact former PM K.P. Bhattarai himself had said that he would resign if Koirala stepped down as the party president. Before the recent political drama within the Congress had been played out, there were rumours that Bhattarai had said he would quit from his post only if Koirala gave the post of party president to Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Now with Acharya’s announcement that she would contest for the top post in the party, it is not clear how the other leaders, specially those considered close to Bhattarai, have taken the decision.

Shailaja, who is a cousin of Koirala, has indicated that the Prime Minister himself told her that he would make her the acting president of the party soon. “It is within the process of handing over the reins of the party to the second generation of leaders that Girija babu is making me the acting president,” she said to a vernacular weekly on Monday.

Earlier, when she announced her decision to contest for the president’s post in the general conference of the party that will take place in about eight months’ time, Acharya, who is also a former general secretary of the party, said she would initiate her campaign from Sundarijal, where BP Koirala and other NC leaders were jailed after King Mahendra snatched power from the elected NC government back in 1960.

Shailaja also revealed that she has already held discussions with Koirala, former PM Bhattarai, Deuba, DPM Ram Chandra Poudel and Khum Bahadur Khadka after she announced her decision.

Penny wise pound foolish?

By A Staff Reporter

After the CPN-UML started stopping government vehicles from plying on public holidays with embarrassing results last week,  the government seems to have reacted promptly.

The government on Tuesday issued an instruction to stop all vehicles belonging to the government, government-owned corporation and other agencies from running on holidays.

In a long statement the government has said only the vehicles with special permission will be allowed to be driven on public holidays.

May be this is a good decision, but the misuse of vehicles forms only a small fraction   of the irregularities and corruption that has clutched the country. Maybe something which can even be ignored.

It may be mentioned here that this kind of instruction has been issued by the previous governments too. But those instructions were unheeded because no one took care to enforce it effectively.

It is rather surprising that the new government has to issue a new instruction on what was already being in operation for quite some time.

Meanwhile if the government thinks it has done enough by dealing with secondary things such as banning the government vehicles on holidays, it will be like ‘Penny wise, Pound foolish’.