In depth Analysis

-Constitution Day 2000-
Constitutional crisis fastly approaching!

Kathmandu: Prime Minister Girija babu is in a mess. As predicted in these columns, his strategy to take direct responsibility for talks with the Maoists’ has backfired. The propaganda effect of surfacing two leading Maoists’ in the media has turned against him. The Maoists’ have disappeared with public statements that government had extracted their media disclosure under duress. As a result the Maoists’ have called-off all channels of formal talks. The government has, predictably again, responded that they will use the security forces against their violent actions. Sunday’s Ramechhap action indicates that the insurgents are willing to take the challenge up.

Girija babu’s own house remains in disarray. The very elections to the general convention of the party general assembly have been challenged in legitimacy. The repeated warnings of senior congress leaders and the resignations of senior members of the congress election committee clearly reflect the lines that have been drawn within the congress party.

It is not for nothing that a scheduled cabinet reshuffle is now being taken skeptically. The Prime Minister has been restricted from including key Deuba supporters in the proposed cabinet and the capital he is expected to gain from a reshuffle, if and when it occurs, is likely to be minimal in terms of the fracas that appear now inevitable in the January convention. Indeed, it now appears predictable that the elections that are expected to ensue in the immediate weeks are so crucial that they will preoccupy the government party hence on.

It is not for nothing that the decade old practice of observing constitution day is now taking a back seat in the milieu of the congress fracas. Significantly, talk now in these ceremonies focus on the possibility of constitutional reforms. Significantly again, consensus appears to be emerging on the need for reforms.

Where the crux of the matter lies, however, is in the fact that constitutional reforms are the monopoly of the parliament where the very actors who contribute to the current constitutional crisis hold monopoly. Neither Prime Minister G.P.Koirala nor his shadow Krishna Prasad nor, for that matter, leader of the main opposition, Madhav Nepal, have ventured to talk of reforms. In such a case, the matter of the reforms become merely academic since it is these three who hold the two third counts in the parliament essential for constitutional reforms.

It is this that constitutes the crux that of an approaching constitutional crisis. The opposition including that within the congress, for example, take the Maoists’ problem as a political one, the government views it now as a law and order one while the Maoists’ see it constitutionally. One factor for change, therefore, now appears to be the Maoists’.

It is to no surprise then that privately expressed needs for constitutional changes are now being expressed more openly while the political process would want to be blind to it. It is this that is aggravating a constitutional crisis in the country.

Nepal, B’desh to work for the resumption of SAARC Summit!

Kathmandu: Nepal’s Foreign Ministry sources hint that Bangladesh foreign secretary is visiting Nepal at the end of this month.

Bangladesh Foreign Secretary, C.M. Safi Sami, has been invited by his Nepali counterpart Mr. Narayan Shumsher Thapa, it is also learnt.

During the visit of the foreign dignitary, Nepal and Bangladesh are expected to take stock of the regional situation as it has obtained today specially after the abrupt suspension of the SAARC Summit which were to be held in Kathmandu late last year.

The two sides will also hold discussions on matters pertaining to the expansion of bilateral ties in all the possible levels more so on the trade and commerce sector and opening up of the tourist traffic route for the people of both the countries.

The two countries at the official level talks in Kathmandu are supposed to devise some sort of mechanism in order to convince the countries whose adamancy have apparently capped the possibility of the convening of the now suspended SAARC Summit.

Unconfirmed reports have it that Nepal and Bangladesh, both small countries in the region, will concentrate their dialogue on how to safeguard the security of the South Asian region from the proliferation of the nuclear weapons which is very much kicking and alive in their vicinity.

The Bangladesh side apparently wishes the proposed visit to materialize before RAMADAN which commences early next month.

The visit of Foreign Secretary Sami will facilitate the visit of Nepal’s Foreign Minister to Bangladesh which is long over due, it is also learnt from Shital Nivas sources.

Telegraph adds: The Nepal-SAARC Journalists’ Forum has expressed its strong desire to pay a courtesy call on the visiting dignitary from Bangladesh. However, the Forum is yet to initiate contacts with the Bangladesh embassy in Kathmandu regarding the possibility and the materialization of such an event. The embassy people were not available to confirm the arrival of their Foreign Secretary.

10th anniv. of Franco-Nepalese cooperation project

Kathmandu: The French Embassy in close cooperation with the Alliance Francaise is organizing an important event to mark the 10th anniversary of the initiation of the Franco-Nepalese project, “Kavre Integrated Project” at the premises of the AF in Thapathali.

The event is scheduled for 13th of this month.

On the occasion an exhibition titled “Architect and Farmer” will be displayed at the gallery of the Alliance Francaise.

The French Ambassador designate, Claude Ambrosini, is expected to dwell at length regarding the project.

Ambassador Ambrosini is scheduled to present his credentials at the Royal Palace on 17 November 2000.

Nepal-US joint venture on ‘power generation bodes well for Nepal’

-Ralph Frank, US Ambassador

Kathmandu – Last week on Thursday, November 2, the US based Tacoma Power and Wisconsin Electric signed a partnership agreement with the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/ United States Energy Association (USEA) Energy Partnership Program at a grand ceremony held at Annapurna Hotel.

This is perhaps for the first time that two prestigious American companies have come to Nepal to help her in generating power from the yet untapped abundant water resources through the joint venture scheme.

 The partnership will undoubtedly provide a mechanism for Tacoma Power and Wisconsin Electric to transfer their experience and expertise to NEA.

On the occasion, the US Ambassador to the Kingdom of Nepal, Ralph Frank, said that the “launching of these partnerships marks a milestone in both of our governments’ efforts to address energy issues for the benefit of the Nepalese”.

The US envoy pointedly remarked that, “electric power is not only one of the most promising economic growth opportunities for Nepal and a potential source of clean, renewable, energy for the region, it is also the key to many development, social, and environmental issues in Nepal”

“The development of Nepal’s energy potential is not a choice (but) it is imperative”, added the Ambassador Frank.

The Ambassador also warned the Nepalese side to tap the potential of the water resources before it is too late. In this connection he said, “ until electric energy is produced in the amounts needed to replace the demand on the forests, Nepal’s environment faces an increasingly dim future”.

According to the US envoy, almost 80% of all the energy consumed in this country came from burning of the firewood and with Nepal’s steady population growth, she faced a mounting threat to her forests and the face of its landscape.

Responding to a query of the Telegraph weekly, Ambassador Frank said that “this agreement bodes well for Nepal’s future as the energy thus produced would be not only utilized by  many people in their houses but would also contribute to the development process that is underway in this Kingdom”.
Representing the Government of Nepal at the signing ceremony is Ram Bahadur Gurung, Minister of State, Ministry of Water Resources.

The Director at the NEA, B.B.Malla divulged that at the moment only a small segment ( 15%)of Nepali population were connected with power supply in the country.

Donna Stauffer, USAID, said that power challenge has already become a global issue. She also hoped that this partnership will prove beneficial to the Nepali consumers.

Steven Klein, Superintendent of the Tacoma Power assured the NEA that his entire team would be helping the latter’s endeavors for the generation of electric power in Nepal.

The partnership with Tacoma Power and Wisconsin Electric will, it was learnt, focus on reducing distribution losses, computers and management, Independent Power Producers, and tariff restructuring.
The United States Energy Association (USEA) established the Energy Partnership Program (EPP) with
funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This utility
partnership is for a two-year period and is being funded by USAID and private sector in-kind
contributions. The partnership will provide a basis for the sharing and transfer of knowledge of
market-based energy production, transmission, distribution and regulation between the U.S. partners
and NEA.

Yet another ‘Dinner Summit’likely to end congress conflict!

Kathmandu: Common Nepali citizens ask as to what would have been the shape of Nepal’s “nascent” democracy in effect had there been the total absence of Nepali Congress and its never ending power rivalries?

Unimaginable indeed!

Thanks the presence of this party in the national scene which has remained in the saddle of power for almost the whole of the last decade and been entertaining mercilessly the national population through its intermittent clashes and conflicts leaving the people and its own activists guessing as why And for what these two top hats of the party create such ugly scenes at regular intervals.

Perhaps the clash is related to either be in power for ever or for a peaceful hand over of the power to younger generation which perhaps is in abundance in the said party.

As usual, the Nepali congress is in a total mess due to the much-publicized issue of the active leadership.

In essence, the Koirala lobby is apparently in a mood to delete for good the already deleted names of those active members of the party who might cast votes against the former at time of the election for the personalities who would count during the final voting for the presidency scheduled for January next year in Pokhara.

In retaliation, the Koirala opposition, at the moment led by Bhattarai and Deuba both, are hell bent on thwarting the ulterior motives of the Koirala faction who appear adamantly reluctant in “inserting” the names of those who feel that their names have been deliberately omitted to influence the votes in Koirala’s favor.

In the process, Deuba and his band created scenes at the party head quarters Monday in their bid to signal their anger towards the scheme of the Koirala lobby and served ultimatum to the latter to correct voting list with the genuine names that were “missing” or else face consequences of Himalayan dimensions.

A few days back, smacking foul in the designs of the Koirala faction, the old-bachelor threw a letter bomb in which he suggested Koirala to act in an impartial manner so that the presidency elections held in January comes out free and fair.

In fact, Bhattarai prefers Deuba this round in the January elections and wishes to see his “protégé” coming out with flying colors.

In other words Bhattarai’s internal desire is to see the presidency going out of the clutches of Koirala family.

Some skeptics predict that if this round Koirala and his clique do not heed to Bhattarai-Deuba combine demands, the party might see a vertical split.

However, Koirala loyalists remain determined to face the challenge from the rival quarter come what may.

To recall, President Koirala has already hinted in his home town that he would once again go in for  another round of Congress presidency which means that with the given resources and post at hand at the moment, his chances to grab the party Presidentship appear almost confirm.

On the other hand rumors have it that Koirala opposition might also think on the lines of moving a no confidence motion against their own Prime Minister should the need arise.

Perhaps this move, if it takes a shape, will pave the way for a split in the party.

All said and done, the present crisis in the party might take a happy turn if the two top hats meet at another “’dinner summit” leaving the activists to guess who be-fooled whom?

Such practices are not unusual in the congress, recall responsible citizens.

Telegraph adds : At a hurriedly summoned press conference Tuesday afternoon, Premier Koirala declared his candidacy for the next congress presidency. However, his opposition is yet to react to this sudden development.

Dialogue must prevail between government and Maoists
Dark clouds hovering over Nepali sky

Kathmandu: If the Ramechhap action launched Sunday early morning by the Maoist insurgent is any indication to the impending scheme of things in the country, what is then for sure is that the nation is being slowly but very steadily pushed towards a precipice with unimaginable consequences.

The Ramechhap action of the Maoists against the local police post there has come immediately after the insurgents retaliated at the manner the Koirala establishment handled the Dinesh Sharma’s episode last Friday.

The Government by freeing one of the front ranking activists of the Maoists’ movement, read Dinesh Sharma, unhesitatingly feels that it has complied with some of the major demands put forth by the insurgents for the talks with the former and wishes to claim that the ball now remained in the Maoists’ court.

However, the Maoists’ reject the government version.

They say that the manner the government produced Dinesh Sharma through the idiot box for public consumption and squeezed him to talk on the lines as dictated by the establishment only hinted at the fact that the regime was not at all interested in “continuing the talks” aimed at arriving at a solution to this issue.

The Maoists’ have point blank stated that “possibilities of talks with the government have totally been capped due to the government’s ‘skill less drama’ staged last Friday.

Issuing a statement Saturday, Prachanda, the Maoists supremo, has scathingly criticized the Koirala government for having disturbed the atmosphere of the talks between the two warring rivals.

Surprisingly, most of the major political actors in the country have condemned the government’s “ childish trick” applied in the case of Dinesh Sharma wherein the establishment apparently forced the latter to defect from the mother organization.

However, the top hats in the government reject the theory of having forced Sharma in renouncing the Maoists’ party for good.

The sudden change in the mood in both the camps after the Friday episode, a sense of fear and panic has gripped the national population as both camps have vowed to retaliate in their own manner and capacities.

The deputy Prime Minister has already talked of the mobilization of the Army personnel to quell the Maoists’ possible threat in the aftermath of the Friday saga, the Maoists have already hit the police post in Ramechhap and rumors have it that the insurgents were planning for a major attack in the country very soon.

In the meanwhile, the mediator in the government-Maoists’ talks P.R.Tuladhar has said that if the Military steps in to control the Maoists’ threat, it would in all likelihood invite a sort of civil war in the otherwise peaceful nation.

Be that as it may, contradictory reports are trickling in regarding the whereabouts of Dinesh Sharma after being freed by the regime last Friday evening. Some say that by 9 PM, the same evening Sharma had already been in contact with Comrade Prachanda. Others say that Sharma has yet to reach to his final destination.

The intriguing part of the story is that the Maoists too have not stated yet the whereabouts of their old comrade who spent eleven months in police custody.

All in all, the days ahead are definitely fraught with danger. If the military and the Maoists confront each other at various fronts (the happening of which is round the corner), the scene that it would create is simply indescribable.

Wisdom must prevail on both the sides at least in the name of the innocent population. The government and the insurgents must listen to the voices of the majority of the population and hence initiate overtures that bring peace in the country. Nepal, clearly, can’t afford such stretched war like situation. It is at such critical junctures, the need of the international community comes to one’s mind. “The friendly countries must act in favor of peace before it is too late”, opine peace loving Nepali nationals.

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