US May Insist On Timetable To Restore Democracy
A bill passed by the US Senate and the Congress recently, which is to be signed by the US President George W. Bush this week, has made assistance to Nepal “conditional on restoration of civil liberties, protection of human rights, and a commitment to a clear timetable to restore multiparty democratic government consistent with the 1990 Nepali Constitution.” The bill sets nine conditions on two major categories – ‘civil liberties’ and ‘protecting human rights’ – for providing military assistance to Nepal under the “Foreign Military Financing Program” for the next fiscal year. Last year, there were only four conditions. Significantly, unlike last year, the newly-passed Foreign Operations Bill hasn’t deplored and condemned Maoist insurgency anywhere. The bill has defined “civil liberties” as “due process under law, freedoms of speech, the press and association, and the right of movement.” The Himalayan Times daily reports.
Karnali Farmers Demand Herbal Policy
Farmer of Karnali have demanded that the government introduce policy allowing production and sales of herbal medicines. Farmers said that they should be allowed to produce herbal medicines using the herbs that are currently banned for exports. They said that the decision to ban would not help in their conservation. They added that allowing their commercial farming could help in their conservation, instead. At an interaction of farmers and government officials in Nepalgunj, the farmers urged the government to allow them to commercially produce such herbal products in their private fields. The farmers also asked the government to clarify whether it would impose taxes on such production. The interaction was held on the sidelines of the first-ever national herbal products fair in Nepalgunj. Kantipur daily reports.
King Addresses SAARC Summit
King Gyanendra called for concerted action against terrorism ‘in all their forms and manifestations’ during his address to the 13th Summit of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). He lamented the practice of selective war against terrorism and for leaving out weak and vulnerable states. Defending his February 1st move, King Gyanendra said that it was “necessitated by ground realities, mainly the failure of successive governments to contain ever-emboldening terrorists and maintain law and order.” He added: “It has not come at the cost of democracy, as some tend to project it. We remind the international community of the pre-February First situation in Nepal. Our friends and well-wishers were warning us of the danger of Nepal turning into a failed state.” King Gyanendra said, “The security situation is slowly but surely improving and the people have benefited by a growing sense of confidence. We have been touring different parts of the country and have interacted directly with the common man so as to instil in them a greater sense of unity, especially against the malicious designs posed by terrorists.” The King added that the improved security situation has allowed him to announce a date for municipal elections. “Believing that successful completion of municipal elections will create an environment conducive to conducting general elections, we have asked the Election Commission to make necessary preparations to hold general elections by April 2007. We believe that there cannot be a meaningful exercise in democracy without elections. We have also asked those who have been misguided to renounce violence and to take part in a competitive democratic political process.” Compiled from reports.
US Trying To Give Legitimacy To Current Regime: Nepal
The UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, who returned home after extended three-weeks-long stay in Indian capital of New Delhi, said that he views the recent statement by US ambassador James F. Moriarty expressing alarm over evolving relations between parties and the Maoists as attempt to give legitimacy to current regime. “It seems he is trying to give legitimacy to the King. I will try to further understand this with him,” he said. Nepal said that he found Indian leaders and people were firmly behind political parties and their demand for democracy in Nepal. He rejected reports that he met with Maoist leaders while in India. He, however, added, “The high level leaders (of UML) have met with Maoists.” He also hailed what he called as positive the decision that the Maoists reportedly made recently by accepting multiparty competitive polity. He also expressed concern over China’s recent assistance to Nepalese army. Leading dailies report.
Polls At Present Situation Irrelevant: Upadhyaya
Former Chief Justice and the chairman of the committee that drafted the current constitution Biswo Nath Upadhyaya has said that the question of conducting free and fair elections remains irrelevant and cannot acquire legal as well as political legitimacy if polls are held in current situation without creating a conducive environment. He suggested that unless the King ‘publicly withdraws’ both the October 4, 2002 and February 1, 2005 proclamations, forms an all party government, dismisses all his recently appointed administrators, elections will have no meaning. He, however, emphasized that since election is the backbone of democratic exercise, political parties should not reject it. “There are conditions to be fulfilled for elections,” he said. Asked to comment on the judgment of the Supreme Court regarding the controversial media ordinance case, Upadhyaya said it was ‘wrong’ not to issue a stay order. He was speaking at a program organized by Constitutional Lawyers Forum (CLAF). Leading dailies report.
Koirala Leaves For Delhi
Nepali Congress (NC) president Girija Prasad Koirala, on Thursday (November 10), left for New Delhi, India on a medical trip. The octogenarian leader is said to be suffering from chest and lung ailments. “This is basically a medical trip. But I will also be meeting with Indian leaders,” Koirala told reporters. He, however, rejected reports that he could be meeting with Maoist leaders there. Responding to queries from journalists, Koirala said that he finds the trip of the King ‘useless.’ “I think the King himself should have given a thought whether it is appropriate for him to go for 21-days long trip overseas at this hour of crisis in the country,” he said. Koirala also added that this SAARC Summit would not be crucial on any aspect. Compiled from reports.
Govt. Issues Controversial NGO Code Of Conduct
Despite severe protestations against it by the national and international organizations, the Social Welfare Council (SWC) of the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare has issued the code of conduct for the NGOs – which many say will restrict the activities of such organizations. As per the code of conduct, NGOs need to coordinate with the local bodies as well as government authorities when carrying out their activities. Likewise, people working in any NGO should not take part in any party politics within the premises of those organizations and nobody can head any social organization for more than two terms. Those organizations will have to publicize their audited financial and yearly progress reports and submit them to the respective District Administration Office (DAO) and District Development Committee (DDC). Social organizations should not use resources received as foreign aid in the government’s name and they should receive permission from the SWC before receiving any foreign assistance. “This code will make the NGOs more effective, responsible and well-managed,” said Durga Shrestha, Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare. Sharad Sharma, member secretary of the SWC, said the code has been formulated after discussions among various donor agencies, I/NGOs, UN agencies and different government bodies. He said the government could suspend the registration according to the law and also cancel the organization’s license in case of a breach of the code. “This was brought after the vigorous complaints from the society that the NGO workers have turned millionaires extracting a lot of money in the name of social work and those complaints were discussed during the sessions of both upper and lower houses of parliament,” Sharma added. Compiled from reports.
US Statement Timed To Remind About Political Trend: Moriarty
The United States ambassador James F. Moriarty has said that his November 4 statement that has generated heat especially among the constituents of the seven-party anti-King alliance has been timed to remind all the legitimate forces in Nepal about the political trend that is steadily moving towards a state of irreversibility. Moriarty strongly refuted the insinuation that his country is getting inclined to supporting the theory that tends to offer legitimacy to an autocratic administration on grounds that, if not anything; it at least shields Nepal from a totalitarian system of governance. Pure and simple, what “we have been saying is if the Maoist insurgency is not addressed effectively, you are not going to get back to democracy. Instead you are going to have a Maoist state,” said the former deputy to US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice in her White House incarnation. Giving the ‘other side’ of the American view, Moriarty pointed out: “If you don’t return to democracy, you are not going to be able to effectively address the Maoist insurgency. That’s what the past ten months have been all about. You had the period of direct rule and that’s been worse rather than better.” Ambassador Moriarty further said, “The King has to reach out to the agitated parties and has to figure out the way back to democracy.” Visits to different parts of the country, said the envoy, have given him a glimpse of how the general mass feels about the institution of monarchy in Nepal. “The people are terrified by the Maoists and don’t trust the political parties either. They are not quite ready to see the institution of monarchy eliminated in the short-run. What happens in the long-run, I don’t know.” Asked if the Maoists are so unacceptable to his country, why suspend the military aid that could make a difference in the quest for a final solution, Moriarty clearly indicated that if the King and parties are ready to get together for the good of Nepal and democracy there was no question the suspended aid (slated for pre-2005) will not be resumed and the level of post-2005 aid could very well go up, both in quantitative and qualitative terms. “Maoists have no right to derail elections. Its fine if the political parties do not want to participate in them. That’s their right but other people can participate. But nobody has the right to say we’ll kill the candidates,” US position on the proposed municipal polls was thus clarified. The ambassador also concurred with the view that the controversial media ordinance was not a good idea and said the concern on whether the elections could be fair in the present circumstances was justified. The Himalayan Times daily reports.
UML Clarifies Position After US Statement
The Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) party has issued a statement clarifying that ‘there cannot be alliance with the Maoists unless they renounce violence just as there cannot be any alliance with the King unless he gives up authoritarian style.’ The acting general secretary of the UML Bamdev Gautam issued the statement in the wake of US statement expressing alarm over reports of alliance being forged between parties and the Maoists. Earlier, in his interview with Kantipur daily, US ambassador James Moriarty had said that he was compelled to issue the statement expressing US concern after Gautam recently made some remarks about the ‘understanding with the Maoists and decision on code of conduct.’ Moriarty added that following those remarks, Gautam gave an interview in which he said that the Maoists would cut the height of every candidate (who will stand in the municipal polls) by six inches. The ambassador said that these remarks showed the desire that the Maoists would continue violence. He said this was not in line with the stated position of the parties that they would not ally with the Maoists till the latter renounced violence. Kantipur daily reports.
