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VOL. 28, NO. 22, Feb 20, 2009 (Falgun 09 2065)
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Three Musketeers
Three leaders are in the fray for top leadership of the CPN-UML
By A CORRESPONDENT
The major ruling alliance partner CPN-Unified Marxist Leninist is in the midst of its crucial eighth general convention, which started in Butwal from Monday.
As of writing this report, the three senior leaders – general secretary Jhalnath Khanal, former general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and standing committee member KP Oli – have indicated their longing to assume the leadership of the party.
The party is transforming its leadership pattern from general secretary-headed monolith to a one with executive chairman.
The new leadership of the UML to be elected by the convention is expected to have a crucial bearing on the ongoing politics of the country.
While Khanal is said to be closer to the Maoists who are leading the government, any other change in the party leadership – especially if the firebrand anti-Maoist Oli is elected – could herald a change in the relation between Maoists and UML – the two largest ruling allies.
Convention Glitz
The eighth general convention of the UML kicked off on Monday (Feb 16) in western Nepal town of Butwal amid fun fare ceremony.
Party general secretary Jhala Nath Khanal inaugurated the 6-day general convention at the Butwal Mandap following rallies from across the town.
Over 40 representatives of communist and socialist parties from 14 countries including India, China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Spain, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway and Russia also participated in the inaugural function.
The party has claimed that nearly 300,000 party supporters joined in the inaugural function. As many as 1802 party delegates from 75 districts are participating in the general convention.
Unity
Meanwhile, addressing the inaugural function, the invited top leaders of the major political parties have appealed for unity and consensus.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' called for communist unity in Nepal, which he said he has been dreaming since his party came into the mainstream politics. Reacting to the call from Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala for politics of consensus, he said the spirit ended when Nepali Congress changed its position to work on politics of majority from politics of consensus. However, he reiterated commitments for consensus among the political forces to write new constitution for the country.
Koirala had said, addressing the same function, that the need of the hour is politics of consensus. The UML general secretary Jhalnath Khanal, too, stressed the need for consensus.
NEPAL-PAKISTAN RELATIONS
Friendship Matters
Though varying in sizes, Nepal and Pakistan have similar concerns to survive as an independent nation
By A CORRESPONDENT
Whoever may come to power and whatever political system Nepal may choose, Pakistan always respects the choice of Nepalese people and backs Nepal's efforts to remain an independent sovereign nation.
This is what ambassador Syed Abrar Hussain reaffirmed in the press conference organized by him to mark the Kashmir Solidarity Day in Kathmandu last week. He also stressed the need to settle the Kashmir issue on the basis of aspiration of the Kashmiri people.
Addressing the press conferences, ambassador Hussain said,' there are several serious challenges confronting our region which have had both long and short term effect on the sustainable regional peace. Most important of these is the Kashmir dispute. It is now perhaps the oldest dispute waiting to be resolved."
"The friendship between Pakistan and Nepal is multi-dimensional. Geographically we are part of the same region. Historically, we have been affected by the same political and social cross-currents throughout our past and economically we face similar challenges; politically we share the same objectives; and culturally we have similarities ranging from music and art to costume and cuisine," said ambassador Hussain. "Pakistan Nepal friendship is a continuing process. Pak-Nepal relations go back to early 1950s. Pakistan came into being in August 1947 and within five years it developed very good relations with Nepal."
"For the last fifty years, our two countries have been working closely for the attainment of common objectives, for the consolidation of national independence, the preservation of sovereignty, and the establishment of an international order based on justice and equality," said the ambassador. "The trade relations between the two countries date back to October 1962 when a Nepalese delegation visited Pakistan and signed an agreement on mutual trade. Pakistan has been importing tea, pashmina, medical herbs, etc from Nepal and exporting textile products, surgical instruments and leather sports goods to it."
