Yet another victory for Bhattarai

Kathmandu: - Prime Minister K.P. Bhattarai appears to have won yet another round over President Girija Koirala with the Party Parliamentary committee unanimously approving an amended Parliamentary resolution to be pushed through by the party majority in place of that tabled by the opposition-UML. This gives meaning to the UML proposal in the sense that it has helped K.P divert attention from his quarrel with G.P who is still hankering over a showdown to restore his predominance in the party. As rumors go K.P had beneficiaries from other members of the Central committee aborting the said effort for a change in parliamentary leadership of the Congress.

The UML must now show activity for sake of credibility after its resolution is defeated. It is likely therefore that it will take to the streets mobilizing particularly its students in order to retain its sagging support there what with continuing attraction of the extreme Left.

K.P on the other hand is likely to resort to a cabinet reshuffle in order to appear to assimilate some more Girija men. He will of course use this ruse to win over more Party men to his ranks. As it is Bhattarai's men now confidently state that the Prime Minister will last his full term and there are suspicions that even a signature campaign that shows Girija strength in numbers is likely to have diminished in utility with signatories alleging loyalty to both camps.

Developments in the UML are now likely to be the determinants of politics in the immediate run. Talks are said to be underway with the ML and the possibility of adjustments there will have repercussions on UML activity. The UML's apparent linkages with the RPP-Thapa are also not to be discounted for the moment.

 It is this also that makes the RPP unity talks significant. It is clear by now those strong members in the Lokendra Chand camp oppose the talk to which the RPP-Thapa members have rejected very strongly. What is not known yet is the option that Chand proponents' have developed to strengthen and boost the sagging image of the Party.

While there are indications that contacts with K.N Bista and Marich Man Singh remain, no tangible developments have taken place in this direction.

Whatever, re-alignments appear on the make. Bhattarai so far remains in his seat. But the pressure(s) on him mounts given the state of the economy and the Maoist problem. It is this that urges the need for credible action on part of government, which is so far missing.

 Strip News:

Scholars lament absence of accountability in Nepal

Kathmandu : Last week at a seminar, we approached a few noted scholars of the nation to express their comments on how to enhance the accountability factor that was simply missing in Nepal. The scholars responded which is as follows-chief editor.

Dr. Gunanidhi Sharma, senior economist, T.U

In my opinion if these measures are taken into account the situation could be made better. The measures are as follows: 1) The Nepalese leaders should not double-talk; 2) Prevent institutional decay; 3 ) Do value based politics; 4) Make people aware of the government's activities; 5) Streamline the activities of the INGOs and the NGOs as well; 6) Work for effective border regulation and customs point checking; 7) Transparency is essential at all the levels; 8) Non politicized bureaucracy, educational institutions and the judiciary etc. 9) Saying no to the deployment of party workers in the public institutions.

Dr. Sushil Raj Pandey, Political Scientist, T.U

To identify measures is simple. Many have done this. To bell the cat is as difficult as knowing the black mice hidden in the dark labyrinthine of the political system. Patchwork is not the solution. There is something fundamentally wrong with the current leadership that is handcuffed under the existing environment including political set-up. There is no readymade solution but only problems.

Dr. Ram Kumar Dahal, Political Scientist, CEDA, T.U

In order to enhance accountability among the elected representatives, bureaucrats, civil societies (of which NGOs are also the parts), some measures can be suggested.

1)       Free and fair elections should be conducted; 2) Strong anti-corruption measures including the strengthening of the  CIAA (Commission of Abuse of authority investigation) should be undertaken; 3) The right to recall the elected representatives by the people in the constituency should be included in the constituencies especially against those who are not accountable to the people and 5) The government must be made accountable and the system of legitimacy should be promoted ; 6) The international donor community during joint meetings should put strong pressure(s) to control corruption and misuse of power; 7) The local self-governing bodies should be strengthened and those who are outside the mainstream of national politics should be brought in the forefront; 8) The concepts of rule of law, popular sovereignty should in fact be realized and finally 9) Honesty, individual integrity and other also count much for this.

Dr. Gopal Pokhrel, Political Scientist, Patan Campus, T.U

First of all, a change in the attitude and behavior of those who hold the helm of the state affairs is called for without further loss of time. By harping on the theme by public figures (Prime minister and ministers included), without setting exemplary or concrete example, would prove it to be mere rhetoric only.

Inspite of the tall talks made by our statesmen, the living standard of the larger segments of the society remains miserable. Apart from the above, an effective mechanism needs to be contemplated to bring the culprit into book, be he or she a public figure of the highest rank in terms of power hierarchy. The principles of transparency, accountability and the rule of law must be translated into deeds so that very little gap is felt between policy and implementation, between rhetoric and achievement.

 Mr. Prem Sharma, CEDA, T.U

Fair, independent and effective institutional mechanism-probably legal institutions, courts or commissions and etc.

-Autonomous or independent implementing agencies on the policies and programs of the government or popular mandate.

-The word Transparency should be made public and audited publicly.

-If some one is found unaccountable, either he is interfered from somewhere else or is even not fit for the occupying post; likewise if the problem does not lie in the lacunae, then he or she must be encouraged or discouraged with "reward" or even "punishment" system.

-Rigorous and ruthless implementation of the existing rules and the regulations maintaining the 'rule of law' to assure the public that the government is functioning in the right track.

Mr. Lal Baby Yadav, Lecturer Political Science, Patan Multiple Campus

First, establishing the rule of law in the country. Secondly, reinforcing the role of anti-corruption agencies. Thirdly, reactivating the existing watch-dog agencies, such as the media, civil societies and the intelligentsia and finally exposing the corrupt summarily to public by cutting them socially and penalising them as per the law of the land. Maintaining the national integrity system in the country is central to enforce a culture of accountability and making separation of power and checks and balances in proper perspective. This means improving the type of political culture making it more democratic and transparent.

Mr. Rabindra Khanal, T.U

Answer: Accountability is one of the most important ingredients of the modern concept of good governance. The quality of exercising power and discharging duties properly by the public officials

whether elected or appointed denotes the meaning of accountability. A person can be made accountable on conditions that he has been brought up in a culture where his accountability is

demanded, where there are strong laws against unaccountability and where a person is looked down upon by the society if he is found to be dishonest and guilty. But sadly none of these things are

found in our society. Nepal now needs to develop a unique culture based on morality, honesty, mutual trust, nationalism and self-respect. A good and well planned education system for which

is required. All the existing laws must be made effective, the institutions like the Commission for Abuse of Authority must be made totally free and independent from the government control. The

Civil Society must take the lead to control, discourage and if necessary humiliate the public officials if they are found to be unaccountable towards their stakeholder.

Box news:

King subtly warns the government

Kathmandu : The banquet speech which His Majesty King Birendra made last Friday at a program organized by the Diplomatic corps in his honor in Kathmandu perhaps should alert the men now steering the system.

The threat-loaded statement made by the King assumes significance in the sense that the tenth year of the 1990 change is fastly approaching. To recall, the Nepalese people have a habit of becoming restive after each tenth year of their previous uprising.

King Birendra's speech made in front of the international community also perhaps hints at the fact that the Monarch wishes to pass on signals to the community that He as the Head of the State can't remain averse to the people's growing adversity even after the lapse of ten years of the socalled good-governance.

The King , in our own interpretation, means that the people possess now little faith in the system when he says that " the people have over the years expressed their faith in the democratic process and we must all ensure that this faith is not broken". This sentence also implies that the people had due faith in the system in the beginning, which at the present moment was slowly eroding among the masses.

The constitutional monarch appears to be not that happy with the irrelevant and irresponsible remarks currently being made by our leaders and thus has subtly warned stating that " people's confidence in the polity will be enhanced only if those in responsible positions carry out their responsibilities scrupulously". This also implies that the persons at the higher echelons were not working in a befitting manner as expected by the King.

The selection of this diplomatic venue in itself is very mysterious. In fact the King could have ventilated his inner "bitter" feelings through various channels including the constitutional provisions that allows the King to do so. This is really strange.

The welcome speech of the Doyen of the corps, K.V.Rajan too appears to have added to the popularity and the prestige of the monarch, which He has earned over these years by default.

Look at what Ambassador Rajan says:" Nepal can rejoice in and take courage from the fact that it has the institution of the Monarchy as a permanent symbol and "guardian" of its national unity, identity and ethos".

It is yet not clear whether Ambassador Rajan represented his governments views regarding the Nepali monarchy or the text itself was jointly prepared by those who jointly invited King Birendra.

All in all, the King's statement in the form of a "message" to the government here reminds us all of such similar warning loaded messages, which the late monarch used to make prior to the 1960 change. King Birendra's speech also coincides with the airing of donors' grievances with the Nepalese establishment over the state of corruption and the use-misuse of the aids in Nepal.

The government is thus advised to perform or else any thing could happen.

 Miscellaneous

Nepal-Poland ties discussed

Kathmandu : The founder chairman of the Poland-Nepal Friendship Association in Warsaw, Poland, Mr. Andrzei Wawrzyniak, left Nepal Monday after the completion of his almost a week long visit here.

During his brief sojourn here, Wawrzyniak met his Nepali friends and wished them a very prosperous new millennium.

Among others he met Nepalese foreign minister Dr. Ram Saran Mahat and narrated the activities of the society in Warsaw during the past two decades or so. During the meeting , Dr. Mahat assured the Polish dignitary that all possible helps would be rendered to his Society by the Moscow based Nepalese embassy.

Mr. N.P.Upadhyaya during the meeting with Andrzei exhibited his keen desire to expand the activities of the Nepal-Poland Friendship Association provided the Association received needed press matters for the consumption of the Nepalese people. Both the Chairmen expressed their hope that the new millennium will bring prosperity to the friendly people of Nepal and Poland.

Mr. Wawrzyniak paid a courtesy call on Sri Lankan Ambassador Pamela J.Deenin his capacity as the consulate general of Colombo in Poland.

Unconfirmed reports have it that the Polish President, Alexander Kwasniewski, might visit Nepal early or mid next year. However, it has yet to be confirmed.

Return of Macao to China celebrated in Nepal

Kathmandu : "The government of the Kingdom of Nepal has always pursued the "'one China" policy and has consistently supported the peaceful reunification cause of China on the questions of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao".

These remarks were made Monday evening by Chinese Ambassador to Nepali Court, Mr.Zeng Xuyong at a ceremony organized by the China Study Center to mark the happy return of Macao from the Portugese domination.

The Chinese Ambassador, on the occasion expressed his heartfelt thanks to the people and the government of Nepal in having supported the Chinese cause.

Ambassador Zeng also mentioned that henceforth Macao will have "one country-two systems" as reiterated by President Jiang Zemin in his speech at the Macao transfer ceremony.

"After the return of Macao, the Chinese government will unswervingly implement the policy of "Macao people administering Macao", the Chinese diplomat declared.

Former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba yet again assured the Chinese people that Nepal believed in one China policy and that there had been no difference in this declared policy among the people.

Chairman of the China Study Center, Madan Regmi said that after more than 442 years, China made it possible to regain the lost territory and the event in itself provided an unprecedented opportunity to the people of Macao itself who can now lead a life of independence and all round development.

Nepalese foreign minister also graced the occasion.

 Maoists' free kidnapped DSP: mystery continues

 Kathmandu : The kidnapped police official Thule Rai suddenly appeared Monday morning in the capital to everybody's utter surprise.

How he reached Kathmandu, who accompanied the kidnapped police official up to the Highway from where he made his way to Kathmandu plus how he was behaved by the kidnappers-the Maoists'- all remain a mystery as yet.

"I have been given instructions not to talk to the media", said a nervous looking Thule Rai upon his arrival in Kathmandu.

Thule Rai, however, first met his beloved parents and then reported to his job at the Police Head Quarters, we are told. What a scene it could have been!

The sudden emergence of Thule Rai in Kathmandu was instantly cashed in on by a government which miserably failed to trace its own law enforcement official that had been missing since four months or so. A statement to that effect was issued by Home minister Khadka that "we have finally found Thule Rai".

The government enthusiasm could not last longer simply because the controlling commander of the Maoists' issued a press notice stating that DSP Thule Rai had been "released" considering the fervent appeal from Rai's parents and many others including HR organizations.

To recall, congress affiliated newspapers had only in the recent past indicated that the government might declare the missing DSP as collaborator of the Maoists which meant that Rai could be tried as per the laws of the land. However, it is still surprising that why the police office reinstated Thule Rai to his post without proper interrogation. Surprising indeed.

"By releasing the DSP, the Maoists' might have exhibited their sincerity towards the government offer of talks with them", said one intellectual to this scribe. In the meantime, the Maoists have urged the establishment to behave with their arrested comrade-in-arms in a befitting manner.

Be that as it may, the Maoists this round have amply shown that they too some time heed to the genuine requests emanating from family or social quarters. This means that they too have tender hearts and could be brought in to the main stream national politics. Perhaps it is time that the Maoists' and the government come close and initiate meaningful dialogues. 

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