‘Dahal’s Shows Leadership”
Indian ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood dismissed the claims that New Delhi had engineered the fall of the Maoist led government, that Indian border security forces were involved in the Dang incident and that Nepal Delhi was alarmed by Nepal’s ties with Beijing. In his interview given to the Editor of Kantipur Sudheer Sharma and the Editor of The Kathmandu Post Akhilesh Upadhyay, Indian ambassador Sood said, “Nepal is a sovereign country and it will decide what kind of relationship it will have with nay other country. I don’t think that impinges on anyway with Nepal’s relationship with India. India has its own kind of relationship with China.” He said India’s bilateral trade with China is over US$ 40 billion.
On the recent border controversies on Dang, he said Delhi had sent its surveyors “who found that there was absolutely no untoward incident. He said when new pillars are installed ninety- eight percent of border dispute will be resolved.
On the question of fall of Maoist government Indian ambassador Sood said,” it is completely an internal affair of Nepal. Lauding the leadership role of Maoist leader Dahal in transforming the Maoist party from a militant group to a major political party, Indian ambassador Sood said,” that shows his leadership.”
On the question of peace process, sood said,” firs of all, peace process implies the complete disarmament of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).Second, it implies the integration of the PLA combatants into the Nepali society in a manner in which they become economically active members and are able to contribute to the political stability and economic development as Nepali nationals in Nepali society.
He said that the idea that PLA integration is into the Army and rehabilitation is into the society are not in the peace agreement. Sood said that given today’s economic recession there may be difficult to extend the pace process for an inordinately long time. He also hinted the recent leakage of CD questioning to place more than 4000 disqualified combatants in the camp.
He argued that India has nothing to do with the fall of Maoist government. He said that it is the breaking down of the consensus in Nepali political system led to growing differences and eventually the decision where the Maoist led government became a minority and prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal was obliged to resign. Compiled from Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post.
A Model Constitution for Nepal Released
A model constitution for Nepal was released on May 21 to provide a comprehensive expert input into the constitution making process at the Constituent Assembly. The model comprises 26 Chapters, 297 Articles, and six schedules.
The model constitution was drafted by a senior constitutional expert, Dr Bipin Adhikari. The Model Constitution of Nepal is intended to help stimulate rational discussions on core constitutional issues facing the country.
The constitution is based on a parliamentary form of government at the center and a presidential system at the provincial level. The draft incorporates new fundamental rights, increases ministerial accountability to parliament and provides for autonomous provinces and self-government. It enhances the role of constitutional watchdogs and also increases their pubic accountability. The draft was prepared by drawing on lessons from the past as well as trends and innovations in other parliamentary democracies.
Launching the draft, National Human Rights Commission Chairman and former Chief Justice Kedar Nath Upadhyay said that the expert draft addresses many complicated issues that the new constitution of Nepal will have to deal with. He also added that this draft should serve as an important reference point for the work being undertaken by the CA.
The draft was also commented upon by senior political leaders Chakra Prasad Bastola of Nepali Congress, Bharat Mohan Adhikari of CPN (UML), and Suresh Ale Magar of UCPN (Maoist). While the first two commentators applauded the efforts of the author to deal with almost all political problems of Nepal comprehensively, and within the liberal democratic framework, the Maoist representative said the draft, although very useful for the Constituent Assembly, had a class orientation. He also said the Janjatis will not accept his provinces based on geography. Senior Advocate and President of Nepal Bar Association Biswa Kant Mainali also expressed his views on the model. Introducing Dr. Adhikary’s book, imminent constitutional lawyer and convener of the Consortium of Constitutional Experts Dr. Surya Dhungel introduced the model constitution.
Eighteen Parties Call Govt To Stop Encroachment
Eighteen parties representing the Constituent Assembly (CA) including the Unified CPN (Maoist) called on the government to commence diplomatic appeals to stop encroachment of Nepali land by the Indian side. Condemning the encroachment by Indian border security force, Seema Surakshya Bal (SSB), the meeting of the 18 parties called by the Maoists drew the government attention towards addressing the problem form diplomatic level. The meeting concluded that the constant encroachment and attack of the Nepalis in the border areas is a major blow to sovereignty and nationality of Nepali people. A team led by Chairman of National Interest Preservation Committee Amik Sherchan has been formed to inspect the encroached sites in Dang and Bara districts, senior Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai informed. The team will constitute representatives of all parties. Nepali Congress, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF), Tarai-Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP) and Sadbhawana Party did not participate in the meeting. Meanwhile, 13 students’ unions besides All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union-Revolutionary (ANNISU-R) have demanded the government to stop the encroachment in Dang and Bara districts. A meeting of the students’ bodies at Nepal Students’ Union office in Putalisadak concluded that the problem should be addressed from government level. Likewise, a taskforce has been formed constituting representatives of all students’ unions to inspect the encroached sites. Compiled from reports
UN Slams Bandh
United Nations Resident Coordinator Robert Piper said that bandh organizers should not promote the culture of violence and intimation as it obstructs other people's rights. Issuing a press release the UN said Monday's (June 1) bandh had prevented journalists, human rights defenders, staff of humanitarian agencies and common people from carrying out their daily activities as the bandh was strictly enforced by the organizers. Since mass demonstrations and protests are backed by legitimate causes of expressing political views they should be conducted peacefully to maintain the spirit of cooperation for logical conclusion of the peace process, the UN added. Compiled from reports
Woman Held For Church Blast
A woman was arrested from New Baneshwor for the bomb attack at The Assumption Church in Lalitpur on May 23. Speaking at a press conference in Nepal Police Club, DIG Kuber Rana said that Sita Shrestha Thapa, 27, a resident of Gyaneshowr, Kathmandu was arrested for her involvement in the blast. According to him, injured Catholics, who are undergoing treatment, have identified Thapa as the culprit in the incident. Thapa was also present in the conference. "Thapa admitted that she left a bag with a pressure cooker bomb in the Church premises while the morning prayers were underway," police said. Buddha Laxmi Joseph, 45, her daughter of Celestina Joseph, 15 and Deepa Patrick, 30 were killed in the blast. Leading dailies report
Tourist Arrivals See Negative Growth
This season has seen a decreasing trend in arrival of tourists through air, figures released by Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) say. According to the figures, visitor arrivals in the month of May 2009, compared to the same month last year, have decreased by 5 percent. The SAARC segment shows a 12.7 percent decline; Indian market alone showed a hefty decline of 13.6 percent. Similarly, arrivals from Bangladesh and Pakistan have witnessed negative growth of 4.2 percent and 17.9 percent respectively. The other markets to decline are Japan (2.3 percent), Malaysia (11.4 percent) and South Korea (23 percent). However, Sri Lanka registered a positive growth of 19.7 percent. Chinese arrivals have increased by 36.2 percent along with Thailand (87.8 percent) and Singapore (65.1 percent). European markets registered overall positive growth by 9.1 percent. Arrivals from the UK and Italy are up 11.1 percent and 24 percent respectively. However, other destinations in Western Europe posted weaker arrivals figures - France, Germany and Spain have suffered a decline by 7.2 percent, 9.4 percent and 14.7 percent respectively. Arrivals from Australia, Canada and United States of America saw increase by 7.6 percent, 8.5 percent and 4.4 percent respectively. Compiled from reports
Defense Minister Rules Out NA-PLA Merger
Defense Minister Bidhya Devi Bhandari said that it was impossible to integrate the politically indoctrinated combatants of the Unified CPN-Maoist into the national army. After a meeting with the Chief of Army Staff Rookmangud Katawal at her office in Singha Durbar, Minister Bhandari said that there were no practices in the world of integrating the rebel forces into the national army. "The Maoist combatants - the People's Liberation Army- will be managed and rehabilitated," Bhandari said. She also ruled out a group-wise entry of the PLA men in the Nepali Army. Bhandari also said that her ministry would forward a file to the cabinet, which is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, asking the government's approval to allow eight brigadier generals, to continue in their jobs. The then government pensioned-off eight brigadier generals refusing the NA headquarters' request to extend their term by three more years. "The next meeting of the cabinet will quash the then government's decision on eight NA brigadiers," Bhandari said. Bhandari also said that the government recognized Katawal as the CoAS and Kul Bahadur Khadka as second-in-line, adding that the government has no plans to initiate court martial proceedings against Khadka. The Himalayan Times daily reports
SHAILAJA ACHARYA PASSES AWAY
Although she died at the age of 65, Nepali Congress leader Shailaja Acharya proved herself as an unpredictable politicians. She opposed the move of her party to join with Maoist to launch the joint agitation but she accepted the nomination of ambassador to India by same coalition government. After facing humiliation in then Legislature Parliament by CPN-Maoist legislature, Acharya gave up her claim.
She resigned as a deputy prime minister following the dispute with prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala. Similarly, she resigned from the central membership after party’s decision to join with Maoist saying that it was against the spirit of B.P. Koirala’s national reconciliation.
Whatever her role in the party politics, she spent almost all her life to the cause of democracy. Nepali Congress leader and former deputy Acharya passed away at the age of 65 Friday (June 12) morning while undergoing treatment at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj. Acharya had been ill since past two years and hospitalized since the last one year. She had undergone treatment in Bangkok and Kathmandu. Doctors in Bangkok, where Acharya had been hospitalized for nine months, had diagnosed her with Alzheimer's disease. She was admitted at the hospital Wednesday (10 June) after she complained of respiratory problem and was put on ventilator support at the Intensive Care Unit since then.
Late Acharya was among the few women leaders who made a remarkable contribution to reinstate democracy in the country in 1990. She was jailed for showing black flag to the then King Mahendra in 1961. She went into self-exile in India when she was released from jail after three years. She returned to Nepal with her political mentor and then NC president B.P Koirala in 1976 with a message of national reconciliation. Acharya was appointed agriculture minister in the first elected government following the restoration of democracy in 1990. She resigned from the post, complaining of widespread corruption in the ministry. In the coalition government in 1997, Acharya was the deputy prime minister with water resources portfolio. Her body was kept at the NC central office, Sanepa, for a few hours for paying last respects.
She left the party following Nepali Congress decision to align with CPN-Maoist. She was shocked when Acarya was humiliated by the Maoist members in her appoint to Nepalese ambassador to India in parliamentary hearing.
