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I n d e p t h
A n a l y s i s Kathmandu: First, the Royal visit. The abrupt cancellation of His Majesty's much publicized and anticipated official tour to India will not be allowed to put a damper on schedules, it seems. Despite the weeklong mourning for the deceased former Indian prime minister Narsimha Rao in India and despite the schedules for the SAARC Summit, the Royal tour is likely to be squeezed in somewhat even if it may necessitate to shortening of original schedules. After all, the high level exchanges in Delhi merely needs a two nights stop. Secondly, the Maoists offensive. This was predictable and, so, the timing. It is clear by now that the Maoists have lost their military bite. The strategy is to proclaim their retained presence through hit and run tactics that are highly mobile. The nepali military accepts the need to increase numbers in order to face this strategy decisively.. To be able to open Kathmandu highways through convoys and aerial security entails much expenses and diversion of fighting troops that are in reality beyond the currently allotted resources. A definitive reallocation of expenses not forthcoming, such logical strategy would be difficult to retain. Perhaps as authoritative investigation into why such investments have not been timely allocated by government would yield a separate story altogether. Then, the politics. The decision this week by the UML to remain in government will perhaps bear much on government performance itself. The UML holds crucial finance ministry and so also the war chest. This perhaps relates to the question of strategic disbursements regarding the war strategy discussed above. Again, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba holds his party's first central committee meeting this week. This is significant in that Deuba will secure his party's backing in government with both UML and Congress-Democratic now determined to go along, it should surely impress upon government performance and priorities. What other priority at the moment other than the Maoists? Both Deuba and the UML continue to call upon the Maoists to catch up on the government offer for talks with determined threats of dire consequences if the opportunity is ignored. Again the four party opposition. Concern that the rift between the Palace and this section was widening appears to have mellowed somewhat after H.M the King summoned their leaders for consultations on the India visit. Lost in the media coverage was Girija Prasad Koirala's previous public statement that he would meet the King after the Royal tour. Both Girija babu and Narayan Man Bijukchhe were received in audience for consultations on the Royal tour last week. Of course, the four party demand for the restoration of the parliament remains. As expected perhaps the stagnant state of affairs is hardly expected to remain. It is not for nothing that the Royal tour to India is expected to be a catalyst for change. Telegraph/FES media
seminar concludes: Youths-the engine of growth-must be engaged in nation building task -Nepali academicians Kathmandu: Nepal's acclaimed scholars have concluded that the youths of the country have a greater role to play in this war torn civil war like situation in order to restore peace. This section of the intellectuals appears determined in terming the youths of today as "engine of growth" provided the youths assert their role with full vigor and energy. The academicians opine that this engine of growth need to be tapped by the State on time and allowed to use the expertise that they have gained in the course of their higher studies in the development efforts of the country. They have also made it clear that given proper encouragement and facilitation, Nepali youths were no less than their fellow being in the neighboring countries and even could match to the talents and expertise what their fellows residing in the highly developed West possess. This set of academicians go on to say that the establishment formed after 1990 change, unfortunately, could not exploit the vast energy that Nepali youths possess but instead mis-used this reservoir of energy in political purposes that suited to their political interests. The laureates expressed their dissatisfaction over the way the youths were being used as political tools by the political parties caring little about their future career. It was agreed that without the active participation of the youths and without their heavy involvement in the nation building task, the nation could not develop. What was also agreed that the role of the media too was very important and significant in providing a direction to the youths in order to gear us the youths towards nation building efforts. In the process, media role was also discussed wherein the seminar participants bluntly alleged that a section of the media were dis-informing the people which is what they should not have done as per the ethics of the profession of journalism. The intellectuals appealed the Maoists to come to terms with the State and pave the way for the restoration of peace which had already become a rare commodity in the country of the Lord Buddha. It was said at a national level media seminar on Youth, Media and Peace jointly sponsored by the Telegraph Weekly in close cooperation with the German Foundation, the FES, December 22 2004, at the Hotel Everest International. Welcoming the galaxy of scholars gathered at the venue of the seminar, Dev Raj Dahal, the Country Chief of the FES, questioned as to why educated youths were increasingly alienating themselves from the society of their own origin and leaving the rural society virtually on the edge of sterility and stagnation? Answering his own query Dahal says that the reason of the growing discontent and disappointment could be due to growing anomie, fear and uncertainty about public life and a loss of sense of balance between structural conditions of the society and the polity. In the similar vein, Dahal also had few words of negative comments on the line acquired by the media of late and says that "the crisis-socialization of youth by the media on a daily basis has induced Nepali youth to succumb to either desperation, or alienation, emigration abroad, rebellion or even escaping into a kind of media consumerism that tell them nothing of the meanings attributed to what is read. A million dollar question he then posed to the media: can media mediate between the modern aspiration of the Nepalese youth for peace and justice and style of power politics that is gerentocratic, demagogic and clientalistic? The answer from the media is perhaps awaited. The chief guest of the seminar, His Excellency, Michel Jolivet, the French Ambassador to the Nepali Court dwelt at length on how his country and Germany some forty years ago ventured to enhance their friendly relations with the exchange of the youths of the either countries. "Peace came to Europe through the bold and courageous decisions taken by the then leaders of the European nations at a time when the population was not ready to talk of peace in between nations", added Ambassador Jolivet. It was the prevalence of peace in Europe that facilitated prosperity and development in the European nations said the French envoy, adding that imparting good education to the youths also contributed to the achievement of our new goals. "In the peace building process in Europe, we provided due recognition to the vast potentials of the youths and decided to use the youths in practically all the sectors, including sports, culture, politics and music. This delighted the media and the media in turn too became youth friendly which contributed a lot in bringing all the European nations closer to each other. "It was an age of "Youngism", highlighted the then European media commenting on the new roles granted to the youths in peace building efforts in Europe. Regarding Nepali conflict situation, Ambassador Jolivet admitted that there was no quick solution to the problem confronting Nepal. He however suggested the Nepalese authorities to go on in for massive investment on education and job generation activities. According to him, he was pleased to learn that Nepal today had many independent media in the country which was a good omen in itself. He lauded the efforts of the Nepali media for working even in adverse conditions. "Congratulations! Your work is very important at times of conflict like situation. I wish you all the best" is what the Ambassador said to the media. Professor Guna Nidhi Sharma, the keynote speaker at the seminar, opined that "at the moment, Nepalese youths and media are supplementing each other in a bid to resolve inherent crisis of political leadership, governance, economic development, regional and ethnic balance, gender equality, human rights and child labor, environmental balance, health and educational opportunities, etc. The role, mainly, of educated youth and socially responsible journalism seems vital in this regard". Dr. Sharma lamented over the fact that a large chunk of the youth population have had to leave the country in search of jobs. He says, "some more than one million illiterate, semiliterate and technically literate persons among youth have left the country during recent years. Others are raising even arms against the establishment. Reasons for this are given as: social exclusion; unemployment; underemployment; liberalisation; non-performing governance; discrimination; uneven distribution of wealth, income and opportunities; depravation; etc. Therefore, the instability of all types is at hand. It is held that instability is due to systemic flaws against which educated youths and media have been raising voices". Dr. Suresh C. Chalise, a Sociologist of international standing opined that considering the importance of the potential of the youths, there has been a realization in the recent years that the participation of the youths in the development processes, a number of developed and developing countries were initiating various programmes for the youths and the idea behind it being that it is this youth who must be involved in constructing the world in which they live as it affected their lives directly. The FNJ General Secretary, Bishnu Nisthuri, opined that it is the media men who have become the victim of the two guns which were facing each other in many parts of the country. Offering his vote of thanks, editor of the Telegraph Weekly, N.P.Upadhyaya, said that the media had a tremendous role in educating both the government and the youths provided they acted responsibly. He also appealed the Maoists rebels to come to the negotiating table in order to put and end to the conflict in the country. Dr. Krishna Bhattachan and Mrs. Shanta Pokhrel presented their working papers at the seminar. Senior Journalist Ram Pradhan and Mrs. Savitri Thapa-Gurung chaired the two sessions. Kathmandu: Maoists have of late stepped up their violent activities and appear determined to "teach a lesson" to the powers-that-be in Sigh Durbar by resorting to the methods of imposing economic blockades much the same way late Indian Prime Minister P.V.Narsimha rao had applied on Nepal as back as in 1989 March 23, to be more specific. Chances of the Maoists being convinced to come to the negotiating table by the constitutional monarch too has gone to the dogs for the King's India visit stands postponed sine die with the sudden demise of former Indian Premier Rao. Back home, the four parties' in agitation continue to be hoping against hope that the King will ultimately correct his constitutional errors by reviving the now dissolved parliament. The King is silent as usual. Sher Bahadur Deuba, the incumbent Prime Minister of late is being grilled by his own party colleagues, mostly the corrupt ones of the recent past housed in the NC-D party, and is being asked either to restore the parliament or quit the government to avoid unceremonious ouster once again. Deuba is hopeful that he would subside the wrath of his partymen by using both carrot and stick. The UML, a party now that has distanced itself much from the authentic communist ideals of the forgotten past, has decided to continue in government for a variety of reasons. More special being the party's concentration on the elections if it happens at all. The party apparently doesnot want to fight the polls by not being in power for the party knows what it would mean to their numbers in case a frustrated Deuba declared the elections. Congress President, Girija Prasad Koirala, has made up his mind for contesting elections for the third congress presidency. His supporters have begun working on his behalf much to the chagrin of the aspirants like Ram Chandra Poudel and Ms. Shailaja Acharya. Insiders of the congress say that if Koirala so desires, he would be the one to come out with flying colors at time of the election that is scheduled early next year. If Koirala decides to contest the election for Presidency, it would mean that he would lose a large section of neutral voters who respect Koirala albeit but would prefer this time that he favored Poudel. Poudel has already become nervous listening to the internal desires of Koirala for he knows well that if this old-boy in his early 80s declared his candidacy, he would have to console himself and go in favor of Koirala. The fact is also that, even if some one liked it or not, the congress presidency is a challenging job which needed a strong man at the helm of affairs like Koirala but not the one relying more on ideological grounds of the sort of Poudel. Poudel, for example, was taken aback, say sources close to him, when he listened Koirala talking to his followers in Biratnagar uttering what would happen if the next congress presidency possessed assort of tilt either towards the Royal Palace or the Maoists? In saying so, Koirala apparently hinted that if the next presidency went in favor of Ms. Acharya or of Poudel, the winner might either exhibit its political tilt either to the palace or to the rebels. And thus to avoid these two possible extremes, it would be desirable that the congress needed Koirala's strong hands which were having a distance to both the said extremes. In saying so, Koirala also amply hints that the two contestants other than himself were either close to the palace or that of the Maoists. What is the fact, who else better knows than Koirala or those who have been alleged to be close to the palace or the Maoists? No body till date knows which of the two were close to the palace or the Maoists. Be that as it may, Koirala has played a political game. The game is indeed a tactical one. In more ways than one, president Koirala summarily hints his party men not to go in search for Tom-Dick and Harry when he was very much kicking and alive. The entire family of the Telegraph Weekly remains shocked to learn the loss of thousands of precious and innocent lives of the friendly people of India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia, and Bangladesh due to the incredible earthquake as high as 9 on the Richter scale that hit Indonesia and later brought devastations in the countries mentioned above. Our heartfelt sympathy goes to the people and the governments of these friendly countries on this time of natural calamity that has befallen on them. We pray for the eternal peace of the departed souls. The Telegraph Weekly, Nepal. Annan: UN ready to help and assist the dialogue Kathmandu: -The UN Secretary General Kofi Annan reiterated the Government and Maoists to start a dialogue to end the conflict last week, the UN said. He said that the conflict has threatened democracy and human rights and told that the UN was always ready to help and assist the dialogue. Loot at the NHRC Chitwan: A commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) charged here last week that corruption was rampant in the organization. Commissioner Indira Rana made the accusation. " Corruption is rampant at the Commission making is a shield to scare the government," she said. Even though there is no shortage of funds, the Commission has failed to work and added it is a recruiting centre for hirelings. Rana said repeated voices against corruption have been ignored. She said there is provision to recruit five women in the commission but said she in the lone woman there and alleged there is discrimination against women at the Commission. "I have been given not been assigned responsibilities. I am only a showpiece. I can do nothing there," she said. She said terms of commissioners were expiring and demanded appointment of new members instead of extending tenures. Peace rally in Kathmandu Kathmandu: Tens of thousands of Nepalis affiliated to over 300 organizations participated in a peace rally along major thoroughfares of Kathmandu calling upon the warring factions- the government and rebels- to give up violence and resume peace negotiations. Teachers, students studying in various public and private schools, colleges, business entrepreneurs, civic societies, artists, writers and representatives of various non-government organizations took part in the rally waiving flags and placards. The rally was organized by the initiative of the pro-CPN UML students ANNFSU. New Office Bearers team in CNI Kathmandu: The Confederation of Nepalese Industries" (CNI) held a meeting on December 14th, 2004, and elected the office bearers for the next term of the CNI which is as follows; Mr. Binod K. Chaudhary – President, Mr. Narendra Kumar Basnyat – Vice President, Mr. Pawan Kumar Golyan – Vice President, Mr. Rajendra Kumar Khetan – Vice President. Congrats the new team at t he CNI under the able and dynamic leadership of Binod Chaudhary. (compiled from various sources)
Title: Oedipus complex- a new Nepali
tone Comments: "One day suddenly my son Swagat, the author of this book, put me a very uncomfortable and tough question. The question was an unusual one as per our existing culture and tradition. But then that was a question, which demanded answers from me. The question: Suppose Mom! If the world stands annihilated and there exist only two creatures, a son and his mom. In such an awkward situation, should the two, mother and son, take care in giving birth to children in order to give continuity to the existence of the human beings in the earth. My son was eager to get proper and justifiable answers from me. He was apparently thinking to write a book if my answers met his curiosity. The rest is in the book for public consumption. -Jasuda Nepal(Mother) Telegraph comments: Swagat’s endeavor is commendable. A novel of its own kind. Worth reading! Congrats Swagat! |
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