I n d e p t h    A n a l y s i s
More game plans if Maoists turn tame?

Kathmandu: Two crowds are being drawn amidst dwindling mass interests in the mainstream political parties. The Maoists have a mobile visibility of both listeners and speakers. The King has a mass of adoring and the hopeful.

Much of the fire and ice have been tempered in the speeches of the new Maoist politics who have of late been warning against being played with in a cat and mouse game. The King, on the other hand, repeats his Biratnagar commitment favoring multiparty democracy. The Maoists claim no compromises in their original stance of constituent assembly, interim government and republicanism. The King wants democracy to serve national interests.

The public at large treated lavishly by the media of the variety of public standpoints in Nepali politics can’t help but wondering what is afoot.

As the week too obviously showed the mass is with the King and so is the initiative. Willy Nilly, Nepal’s politics and political parties has got to revolve around the King who must remain cajoling and coaxing the political sector to cooperate in the need to put our ramshackle political process back on track in his role as a constitutional monarch.

Already the past six months of rule from his appointed government has drawn flak for reducing the King’s initiative and speculation is rife that Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand is either on his way out or a major reshuffle is overdue if nothing to take back the initiative that the King must possess in order to press the political sector to coalesce.

Not unsubstantiated charges of the wind drawn out of the much hyped anti-corruption moves demand a government on toes. The complaint is that entrenched interests in the bureaucracy play havoc with inexperienced ministers while the malleable Prime Minister Chand retains his unassertive political posture. The damage done is surely on the monarchy and the King at this stage can least afford it.

A change would thus seem imminent in favor of action and experience. This, prior to the now delaying talks since government will have to face a renewed spurt of organized opposition once the government releases their team for the talks.

One revealing novelty of the week is the resurfacing of the old hand Republican Ram Raja Prasad Singh in Kathmandu who has turned up of a sudden lobbying for elections to a constituent assembly to ease the transition to republicanism. Singh who in the 70s advocated violence and initiated bomb-blasts in Kathmandu after the Referendum held in the 80s was sitting mum after election losses in the 90s. The significance in the midst of softening Maoists standpoints can’t be lost to political watchers here.

Delay in talks causing panic among population

Kathmandu: The Monarch remains undeterred The opposition parties who differ with the King’s last year October moves continue to exhibit their reluctance to honor the King’s fresh appeal wherein the King apparently has hinted that the peace process that has already begun needed their sincere support.

The Nepali Congress and the UML, the two major parliamentary parties appear determined to neglect the King’s latest appeal made from the Western region last week.

The Maoists have already become restive and have started hinting that they see conspiracy in delaying the happening of the supposed talks with the government.

The lame-duck government under Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand has almost become defunct in the sense that except Minister Narayan Sing Pun, the rest of the ministers either have been told not to speak or they themselves have opted to remain silent. In the process, the government has yet to name its representatives for the talks with the Maoists. Not very surprisingly, it has been more than two months of the announcement of the ceasefire and the talks appear yet remote. However, minister Pun is differing the dates for the talks from this week to another which is only but natural to create panic among the Maoists who have come for the talks.

These discrepancies have elated those who wish the talks not to happen or even if it happened prefer the talks to fail unceremoniously.

The million dollar question is why some political leaders or for that matter political parties wish the talks to go astray?

Nepali population in effect had in their minds that the talks with the Maoists would begin after King’s return from India trip. But then the King has not only returned from India but has already been able to visit the Western region for receving feliciatations from the people of that part but yet the talks appear a distant affair. But why is the delay? Who is causing the delay? What factors could have blocked the initiation of the talks with the Maoists remains clouded.

The fact is that the delay in talks is creating panic among the majority of the population because for this segment peace is above politics. The people appear terrified with the fresh statements emanating from the Maoists stalwarts wherein they openly say that they see conspiracy in delaying the talks and that they would create havoc should the talks fail or should they be lured in the name of the talks. Considering the Maoists past and the devastation they caused to the country and its people all in the name of the ideological politics they adhere to prior to their coming to Kathmandu this time what becomes clear or should become clear to all and sundry that if the talks failed or were granted lesser concessions they might enter the jungles and would retaliate with even greater force. This is what Comrade Ram Bahadur Thapa alias Badal and his colleagues have been hinting these days in their speeches.

In effect they suspect the government motive in delaying the talks and say that it could be that the government under "international" instigation might be conserving "energy" to weaken the Maoists should the talks fail, if at all it talks it take place.

The government side is listening to their threat loaded statements and makes no comments which is no less than a surprise. What is more surprising is the total neglect exhibited by the NC and the UML regarding the Maoists fresh warning loaded with threats as if the Maoists would spare them should the talks fail and the rebels enter the Rolpa jungles.

Analysts opine that the Nepali Congress under Girija Prasad should take more interest in solving the Maoists imbroglio for it is this party that has lost hundreds of its active cadres in the villages and the districts. In effect the Maoists’ for unknown reasons had made the NC men their first target followed by the UML activists.

Analysts hope that these two parties will ultimately come to the scene and would contribute to the peace process.

" It is incumbent on the bigger national parties to convince the rebels to enter into the main political stream and honor the verdict of the ballots", opine analysts adding that "to make them enter into the mainstream the peace process has to be participated in by the major political parties".

The analysts lament over the aggressive and the nonchalant attitude currently being exhibited by the major political actors’ vis-à-vis the government-Maoists talk.

The international community too appears very much in favor of the talks with the Maoists. Selected Foreign missions based in Kathmandu have so far not entertained the demands of the Maoists for an appointment with their respective envoys. In doing so they apparently wish the talks first to take place and their meetings with the Maoists leaders would occur should the talks produce positive results.

Some missions have asked their Head quarters to indicate whether their envoys in Kathmandu should meet the Maoists or simply shift the meeting indefinitely.

Summing up, what has been irritating the population is the government’s delay in the announcement of its team and the dates for the talks to begin.

The Maoists are ready for talks. Population is more than anxious for the talks. The major political parties can’t object the initiation of the talks for obvious reasons. Friendly countries too wish the talks to resume at the earliest. Why is the delay then?

Koirala, the lone crusader blows more hot than cold

Kathmandu: The NC President is bit different than his colleagues whether they belong to his own party or otherwise.

Notably, for example, when the Maoists were in the jungles, president Koirala never left Kathmandu. Now that the Maoists are in Kathmandu and touring to various district head quarters president Koirala preferred to make a tour to the mountainous districts. Currently president Koirala is in the far flung districts to preach sermons regarding what ought to be done and what not in the changed political context in Kathmandu.

It is not for nothing said that a jungle can accommodate only one tiger. This is apparently the reason that the Maoists and Koirala differ with each other.

The lone crusader who is hell bent on pressing the King to correct what he calls constitutional blunders of late has been changing his tones and the contents of his statements too.

His fresh statement now provides only two options to the King: Chose either Republicanism or embrace for parliamentary system with constitutional monarchy.

More fresh is his speech that he made this Monday wherein he suggests the King that if the monarch opts for a constituent assembly without imposing any conditions then his party was ready for that eventuality.

Concurrently he then says that if the King wishes to go out of the political scene, implies abdication from the throne, by sowing the seeds of Republicanism then also he would not mind. This apparently does not satisfied his ego. He then says in a satirical vein that at the moment the King and the Maoists are in Kathmandu and he for one in the districts.

On Tuesday, Koirala warned both the King and the Maoists that should they both damage the prospects of the talks or create disturbances while the talks were on would cause immense loss to the both powers.

"If the Maoists and the King break the talks, the parliamentary forces then would finish both", said an angry Koirala in Fidim located in the eastern mountains.

Analysing all these what comes to the fore is that Koirala has mixed reactions regarding the events that have unfolded in the recent months specifically after the Maoist stalwarts appeared before the public some two weeks back.

Firstly, Koirala felt that his utterances albeit political ones would be neglected given the fiery speeches of the Maoists who have surfaced into the open after seven tears. In effect, after the surfacing of the Maoists in public, the old guards of Nepali politics who had a monopoly in the country’s political happenings are being neglected both by the media and the population. This is a fact. The people need a change and the change is being supplied to them by the fiery speeches of the Maoists. The people throng to listen to the speeches of the Maoists much the same manner they did with the champions of the last popular movement of the 1990. Now that the old leaders have become redundant, at least for the time being, the people naturally turn their ears to listen to the new versions enunciated by the Maoists.

Secondly, Koirala wishes to hint the King not to get carried away by the Maoists for he sees that nation’s burning issues could well be sorted out by the 1990 constitution itself and that the elections to the constituent assembly might ultimately be not in the interest of the monarchy itself. In sum, Koirala hints the King not to sideline those political parliamentary parties who have all along been advocators of constitutional monarch in Nepal.

Thirdly, Koirala apparently hints the King that once the Maoists enter the power corridors in Singh Durbar, King’s role in the country’s affairs will be drastically reduced which in his implied message is that the King at the moment enjoys greater powers.

Fourthly, Koirala considers that the King apparently wishes to sideline the major parliamentary parties for good by elevating the ranks of the Maoist rebels.

Fifthly, he continues to be angry with the King even at this moment. He is not happy with the Maoists either. He then warns both not to disturb the talks. This means that he wishes the talks to proceed but warns that there should be no conspiracy at all or else face the consequences. This also means that the two separate guns, in Koirala’s consideration, were all set to hatch a sort of conspiracy in order to marginalise the traditional parliamentary parties.

And finally Koirala wishes that the King remained outside the domain of Nepali politics and encourage the parliamentary forces to run the state affairs.

This notwithstanding, Koirala is on the run with the hope that one fine morning the King would revive the now dissolved parliament and honor the statements of the septuagenarian.

Analysts opine that this would not happen.

Presumably, the parliamentary parties would announce their future programs today on how to bring back what they call the power from Palace to Singh Durbar.

Maoists suddenly become restive

Kathmandu: Visibly the Maoist stalwarts who have surfaced after seven years of underground life appear more than excited.

Their excitement is only but natural for they wish to utilise every moment in convincing the population about their plans for the upliftment of the poor; the ethnic tribes and the oppressed ones and in the process wish the people’s support at time when the nation will decide to go in on for a constituent assembly—one of the key demands of the Maoist rebels.

In the process of convincing the lay men, the leaders of this insurgency are making whirlwind tours to various corners of the nation making at times fiery speeches to impress the people of their strong commitments for the mass.

However, a change in their tone is becoming visible of late.

If on the one hand in the first days of their appearance in Kathmandu the Maoist stalwarts used to say that they have come with clear intent for the restoration of peace in their own motherland.

Later they said that they would not care the presence of the parliamentary parties at time of the talks with the government.

In order to justify their logic they made it clear that since the talks were being held in between the two guns, the presence of those who do not possess guns with them is simply redundant. In saying so they wished to clearly hint that the talks would acquire legitimacy even in the absence of the parliamentary parties.

Later they hinted that their revolution in itself a state within the state when they declared that they have come to negotiate peace with the "old regime" that is a regime wherein the King reins supreme. In saying so they preferred to call themselves as a newly emerged "new regime".

In the process of making statements the leaders of this camp even uttered that should they desire so they will negotiate with the monarch itself which meant that they attach greater importance to the King than the government appointed by the monarch himself.

The Maoists leaders also made it clear that the 1990 constitution was already a dead horse and its revival was simply unwarranted. This they apparently hinted Koirala urging the latter to stop asking for the restoration of the parliament.

In the process they also hinted that since the constitution was dead and hence the nation remained in a state of constitutionless. This implied that the King was all in all at the moment and hence their negotiation will proceed only when the King returned from his India trip.

Later they began seducing the parliamentary forces and sought their support at time of the talks. This they did apparently considering the legitimacy factor if the talks succeeded. They knew that the outcome of the talks with the government will not bag legitimacy in the absence of the parliamentary parties at the talking table.

And now they have become restive and been lambasting at the government for delaying the talks. In effect the rebels now suspect the very motives of the other camp for not initiating talks with them.

Dr. Babu Ram Bhattarai point blank criticised the King for delaying the talks. "We can’t wait for indefinite period for the talks. We too have a patience limit. Should the limit cross, we will enter the jungles again", said Dr. Bhattarai in Nepalganj. He also accused the King to have managed to create differences in between the parliamentary parties and the maoists. He however also hinted that should the parliamentary parties and the King evolve a new kind of solution to the imbroglio, we the maoists will also think of sacrificing some thing in the larger interests of the nation and for the prevalence of peace.

It is this statement that offers some leverage to both the parliamentary parties and the monarchy.

The rest of Dr. Bhattarai’s speeches contained not very good words for the monarch.

Similarly, Ram Bahadur Thapa alias Badal speaking in his hometown Chitwan Monday afternoon made it abundantly clear that they will not settle for less than a constituent assembly.

Yet another PB member of the Maoists camp, Dev Gurung addressing a gathering in Pokhara Monday disclosed that the parliamentary parties had in the past broken various commitments and agreements made with his party at the famous Siliguri meet.

All put together, what becomes clear is that the Maoists now will not wait any longer for the talks. Analysts opine that sooner the "old regime" announces the team and finalises the dates for the talks the better.

Notably, Dr. Bhattarai and his colleagues have stepped up their anger against the monarchy. The reasons? Is it that the Maoists in the recent wished greater concessions from the "old regime" which the King rejected? Keep on guessing.

Sir Edmund Hillary to launch Everest Commemorative Beer

Kathmandu: In the Golden Jubilee Year 2003 of the first triumph on Mount Everest, the Mt. EVEREST BREWERY, PVT,Ltd, the manufacturers and marketers of "Nepal’s Favorite-San Miguel Beer and Golden Tiger Double Strong Beer, have announced the launch of a special limited edition of their export quality Everest Premium Lager Beer, revealed Shri Piyush bahadur Amatya, the Chairman of the Chairman of the Amatya Enterprise, Kathmandu.

This special edition commemorates the conquest of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Mr. Tenzing Norgay fifty years ago and is dedicated as a tribute to their great achievement.

The Company plans to come out with the series of such commemorative editions of Everest Premium Lager beer over the next couple of years in honor of the national and the international Everest heroes who have successfully scaled the Everest peak in the last half-century.

Everest Premium Lager Beer has been a part of the brand portfolio of MEBPL and the regular edition is already being exported to the United Kingdom with the first shipment to Japan soon to follow.

The marketing plan for the Everest commemorative beer is to distribute it among all the Alpine clubs and associations throughout the world as a commemorative souvenir.

The front label of the Beer is envisaged to depict the triumphant movement of Tenzing Norgay atop the summit proudly holding high the flags of Nepal, India, UK, and the UN.

The necessary permission of the Royal geographic society, London, the custodian of the copyright of the historical photograph, has been obtained to reproduce the image on the body of the label. The commemorative edition is exclusively meant for the distribution as the collectors item for connoisseurs and mountain-sport lovers across the world.

Sir Edmund Hilary has consented to personally inaugurate the launch of Everest commemorative beer in the last week of May 2003 in Kathmandu, declared a beaming Amatya.

For the worldwide promotion of this beer, the family of Mr. Tenzing have agreed to offer their services as Brand Ambassadors, continued Mr. Amatya.

The Company is actively promoting Everest commemorative beer as an emissary for the promotion of mountaineering as a popular adventure-sport which, apart from providing a strong export-base for the organization, will also boost the tourism sector in Nepal, added the Chairman of the AE.

The Company calls upon the consumers all over the world to enjoy "The Taste of Nepal" in the true spirit of adventure that Everest Premium Lager is being associated with in the Commemorative Year of 2003, Mr. Amatya concluded.

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