Dahal document okayed

 NGAWANG TENJI SHERPA , KATHMANDU, DEC 17 -
After a long intra-party tussle, the line proposed by Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal finally prevailed in the UCPN (Maoist). Despite strong disagreement from the Vice-Chairman Baburam Bhattarai faction, the party’s Central Committee (CC) on Friday endorsed Dahal’s political document that proposes, among other things, starting preparations for a “people’s revolt” after May 28, 2011, if the constitution is not promulgated by then.

With the decision, the Bhattarai faction’s line of “peace and constitution” stands defeated. As the Mohan Baidya faction sided with Dahal in endorsing the document, Bhattarai seems to have been singled out in the party. This could lead to a possible split in the party and even polarisation in the national political landscape. Dahal had tabled the document in Friday’s CC meeting, claiming that he incorporated all major issues raised in the other two documents presented by Bhattarai and Baidya. Leaders of the Bhattarai faction termed the decision “unilateral” and said it failed to incorporate the issues and agendas presented in Bhattarai’s document. “The document is not only one-sided but also fails to identify the major contradiction and the major national priority (peace and constitution). This will take the party nowhere, but will create only confusion,” the party’s Standing Committee member Devendra Poudel said.

CC member Kul Bahadur KC said the party endorsed the document on condition that all major disagreements will be discussed in the General Convention or any similar conference of the party. According to party sources, Baidya agreed to accept Dahal’s document, except for his reservations on “evaluation of history.” The Bhattarai faction opposed it for failing to identify the party’s future strategy. The Bhattarai faction wants a logical end to the peace process, reasoning that it is the best way to consolidate the achievements made so far. Baidya and Dahal, on the other hand, have prioritised peace and statue and people’s republic through national independence.

Due to sharp differences among the top leaders, the party’s sixth plenum in Palungtar, Gorkha, had decided to forward the three documents to the Central Committee.

Mixed reaction of parties

KATHMANDU, DEC 17 -
Major political parties have given a mixed reaction to the Supreme Court’s decision that said lawmakers cannot “abstain” from voting in the prime ministerial election.

The UCPN (Maoist) and the Nepali Congress have welcomed it and said it is a ‘setback’ for one of the major ruling parties, the CPN-UML that abstained from voting in the election for the past four months.

The UML, however, dismissed the interpretation and expressed dissatisfaction on the SC decision.

“Our party welcomes the SC’s decision,” said Laxman Ghimire, Chief Whip of the NC. “The decision has finally proved that the UML’s stance to remain neutral in the prime ministerial elections was wrong.”

Maoist Spokesperson Dinanath Sharma said: “We hope that the decision will help end the futile elections and take the country towards a positive direction.”

UML Spokesperson Pradeep Gyawali, however, dismissed Ghimire’s argument and said the decision should not be linked to the party’s former stance. The UML had on Thursday decided not to stay neutral, but opt for a majority government.

UML leaders also went on to say that the SC unnecessarily meddled into political issues. “The SC appears to meddle in political issues rather than focusing on legal issues,” Gyawali said.

“The decision has raised a question—whether the court can compel somebody to vote or abstain from voting.”

No fence-sitting, SC tells lawmakers

KATHMANDU, DEC 17 -
The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday ruled that the lawmakers cannot “abstain” from voting in the prime ministerial election and neither can a candidate be declared a prime minister unopposed, if it is an election, just because he or she is the only contender for the post. A prime minister, the court said, has to be elected through majority vote.

The apex court also declared null and void the provision in the Parliamentary Rules that allowed lawmakers to stay neutral ad infinitum. The court, however, said the neutrality provision would be null and void only when the House elects a prime minister through vote,  pursuant to Article 38 (2) of the Interim Constitution.

“Our verdict against declaring someone a prime minister unopposed does not mean that the court is questioning the provision of selecting a prime minister through consensus as per Article 38 (1),” Justice Bala Ram KC told the Post. “But, when the House starts the prime ministerial polls as per Article 38 (2), the winning candidate must get a majority vote of the total number of members present in the Parliament.”

Justice KC said this ruling should clear the confusion surrounding the SC’s earlier order that had asked the Speaker to end the futile elections through positive use of the Parliamentary rules. The ruling, issued by a special bench of SC Justices KC, Sushila Karki and Bharat Raj Upreti, was in response to a writ filed by advocate Chandra Kant Gyawali and others that challenged the lawmakers’ neutrality stance.

The bench concluded that the lawmakers’ neutrality was against the provisions of both the Interim Constitution and Constituent Assembly (CA) regulation.

The lawmakers, said the bench, should cast their vote using their intelligence and conscience as it is one of their duties to elect a strong leadership and form a stable government, aside from writing the constitution. Regarding the debate over continuity of Poudel’s candidacy in the new session beginning Sunday, the SC said it cannot interfere in the business of the House: “It’s a matter to be dealt with by the House itself.”

KTV goes on air in the US

KATHMANDU, NOV 18-
Kantipur Television (KTV) started broadcasting its programmes in the US from Wednesday.

The television station extended its transmission to America through DTH Company Dish Network. KTV Managing Director Kailash Sirohiya said in a statement that the extension of the television broadcast will provide Nepali expats living in the US with information about Nepal.

In a statement on Wednesday, the network said it is proud to broadcast programmes of KTV, the outstanding television station of Nepal, in the US. Now, one can watch KTV in America on channel number 757 at a monthly expense of $ 20.

Ngawang Tenji Sherpa
Kathmandu.

Full nod to full budget

KATHMANDU, NOV 17 -
Twenty-seven parties represented in the Constituent Assembly (CA) gave the final nod on Wednesday to amend the interim constitution and allow the caretaker government to present a full budget on Friday. The Cabinet decided to bring the budget by amending the interim constitution. It has decided to include a provision in Article 96 (A) of the constitution.

Education, health and infrastructure will get maximum resources in the budget to be presented on Nov. 19. With Nepal Tourism Year 2011 round the corner, tourism sector has been given high priority, according to Ministry of Finance (MoF) sources.

As per the deal among the three main political parties, there won’t be any new programme in the budget. Ram Sharan Mahat and Baburam Bhattarai in the three-party task force of three former finance ministers advised MoF to drop some programmes that looked too populist. 

However, one new programme for the tourism sector has been added. MoF sources said around Rs. 100-120 million has been earmarked for tourism infrastructure programme. There will also be tax incentive for those who establish five-star hotels in Bhaktapur, Lumbini and Janakpur.

Giving the continuation of earlier budgets, infrastructure sector has got the highest priority in the new budget. Ministry sources said that resources for major infrastructure projects that include Mid Hill Highway, Kathmandu Terai Fast Track have been increased. “Along with these two projects, the budget will allocate more resources for roads linking district headquarters and airport upgradation,” said a high-level official at the ministry. Also on the cards is the expansion of strategic roads into six-lane ones. According to Finance Ministry sources, the budget will announce expansion of Birgunj-Pathlaiya, Biratnagar-Itahari and Bhairahawa-Butwal sections into six-lane roads.

There will be new policy-level interventions in the budget which are of utmost necessity for the economy at present. One of the policy measures that the new budget is bringing on is about import substitution. The budget would announce incentives to the export sector. With Rs 15 billion going out of the country for the import of livestock and meat alone, the new budget is giving special focus on livestock farming and providing incentive for goat farming.

The budget will unveil policies to promote mergers of banks and financial institutions (BFIs).  “Incentive for the BFIs who opt for mergers is on the cards,” said the ministry sources. RSS.

BRB for package scenario

In yet another evident difference with party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, UCPN (Maoist) Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai has suggested that a “package deal” among the political parties need not revolve round change in government.

 Bhattarai made the observation on Monday during a meeting with a select group of reporters from daily newspapers. Bhattarai’s remarks come a day after Dahal urged Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala to withdraw the NC candidacy from the futile prime ministerial race. Such a move, suggested the Maoist party deputy chief, will pave the way for a subsequent “package deal.”

Bhattarai’s “package”, meanwhile, views Poudel’s withdrawal as part of the larger package, it being a  precondition to such a package.

“The major parties, including the Maoists, NC, UML and Madhes-based parties should sit for serious dialogue to agree on a package on the remaining tasks of peace, constitution and reach an understanding on power sharing,” said Bhattarai.  He urged top leaders to give up the lust for power and focus on peace and constitution writing.

On the leadership of the new government, Bhattarai said this dispute should be resolved jointly by all parties rather than forwarding the specific name of any party or individual. “We should find a common candidate through a joint decision of the major parties.” He, however, clarified that he does not have any desire to become the prime minister and that his focus is on peace and the constitution.     

He also claimed to have developed different models of power sharing that would be acceptable to all parties.

His line contradicts the line taken by Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and another Vice Chairman Mohan Baidya. Both Dahal and Bhattarai are saying the party should stay in opposition if a new government is not formed under Dahal’s leadership.

Bhattarai, who is the former finance minister, has suggested finding a common candidate through the package deal to end inter-party and intra-party rifts regarding the leadership of the government.

Some Maoist leaders are saying that the Maoists should not take any concrete decision regarding peace, constitution and power sharing before the extended plenum slated for Nov. 21.

Bhattarai, however, said they can take any decision related to peace and constitution before that.

“Till now, our official stance is the  promulgation of a new constitution from CA and leading the peace process to a logical end. We can make a deal with the other parties on these issues before the plenum also,” said Bhattarai.

Bhattarai seems clear that there is no option for the party but to follow the ongoing path of peace and constitution.

He is for finding a ‘middle path’ on peace and constitution by making alliances with the main political forces and forming a coalition government.          

At a time when there is fear that the country will plunge into crisis after UNMIN’s exit, Bhattarai is saying that extension of UNMIN’s tenure could be possible if the parties arrive at a package deal before that.

“If we are able to make substantial progress before the termination of UNMIN’s mandate we can seek another extension.”

Chairman Dahal is making efforts to make a single document before the plenum but Bhattarai dismissed the possibility and said only the plenum can come up with a single document.

Posted on: 2010-11-02 08:19

The Kathmandu Post

A dozen times, result zilch

KATHMANDU, OCT 10 -
The House witnessed the twelfth round of the futile prime ministerial election on Sunday, and the lawmakers’ histrionics, as they acted out the absurd drama, were marked by inaction and lethargy. Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel received only 89 votes, a record low. Many lawmakers including from NC seemed to have deliberately missed the show as it has lost its value.

Interestingly, of the total 598 lawmakers only 119 attended Sunday’s voting, 29 lawmakers stayed neutral and one voted against Poudel. This shows Poudel is gradually getting fewer votes after each poll, and at times less than the number of lawmakers his party commands.

Having tossed up Poudel’s 12th defeat, which has been a gratifying circus for the UCPN (Maoist) and the CPN-UML that are urging Poudel to pull out, the House is braced for a thirteenth round of voting on Oct. 26.

After the twelfth defeat, Poudel blamed Speaker Subash Nembang and the Maoists for the mess. “I have been contesting the election to fulfil their wishes,” he said, reiterating that he will not withdraw unless there is new agreement among the parties on integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants.

NC believes that the Speaker should play an active role in ending the current poll deadlock by, among others, scrapping the provision of staying neutral during polls in the House.

The UCPN (Maoist) and the CPN-UML, on the other hand, want Poudel to pull out so that a new process for formation of consensus government can be initiated.

Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal pulled out from the polls on Sept. 26 after the eight round.

Speaker Nembang, however, has been trying to play safe in responding to calls from both sides. He has clarified that the provision of neutrality is there as per the rules and he could not think of any “new course” other than continuation of the ongoing polls unless Poudel also pulls out of the polls.

Neither of the parties, however, has engaged in serious talks for consensus. The prime ministerial polls had started in the Parliament from July 21 after the parties failed to pick a consensus candidate to replace caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.

Posted on: 2010-10-11 07:04

Japan stops SAARC aid

KATHMANDU, OCT 10 -
Japan, one of the major donors for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) since 1993, has decided to suspend its aid provided through SAARC-Japan Special Fund.

According to an agreement signed on Sept. 27, 1993 in Kathmandu, the Japanese Government had agreed to finance activities relating to SAARC region and a fund was established. Sources at the SAARC Secretariat said the fund has been receiving millions of US dollars during these 17 years.  

In a bid to maintain austerity, the Japanese Government has decided to suspend the aid, according to a senior official at SAARC Secretariat. Now, just US $ 100,000 is remaining in the fund. “Japanese Government has informed that after spending the remaining amount in the trust, no aid will be released,” said the official. The Japanese decision was circulated to all eight member states. It comes at a set back to the regional organisation as huge chunk of aid is suspended, the official said.

After Japan informed the SAARC secretariat that it is going to suspend the aid, Secretary General of SAARC Sheel Kant Sharma had visited Tokyo requesting to continue the aid, to no avail. Japan, which had complained of slow pace of progress made by its funding, had been registering its dissatisfaction with the secretariat, sources said.