Himalayan Daily Ramblings

Tenure of CPN-UML chief Madhav Kumar Nepal ends

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 4 Feb: The five-year tenure of CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and other elected central committee members ends Tuesday without announcement of dates for the eighth general convention should normally elect party office bearers.
Nepal is the party’s second party boss in the open era after 1990; he succeeded Madan Bhandari who died in a car crash.
The central committee meets Tuesday to decide probably to extend the tenure of the present leadership until firm election dates are announced.
Nepal, with a firm grip on the party, could successfully push a proposal citing ensuing constituent assembly elections which should be prioritized.
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Majority Nepalis want monarchy

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 4 Feb: Nearly half of the country’s 24 million people favour and want to retain monarchy.
Nearly half of the country’s 24 million people favour and want to retain monarchy ahead of constituent assembly polls despite a push for a republic by seven ruling parties.
Apparently people are fed up with the chaos prevailing after April 2006.
Those wanting monarchy to continue has gone up three percent in the last eight months.
The result of an independent poll conducted by interdisciplinary analysts conducted from 16 December 2007 to 12 January 2008 ahead of a controversial and unlikely assembly elections 10 April has rubbished the declaration of a republic by parliament.
The poll proves, if it was needed, the present rulers have lost touch with the people and are living in a fool’s paradise.
Altogether 49.3 percent of 3,010 respondents nearly two months ahead of polls that will be rigged said monarchy should be retained while 12.2 percent said they had no answer to didn’t want to comment.
Only 3.2 and 3.4 percent of respondents respectively said they had confidence in the interim parliament and cabinet respectively.
Altogether 59.1 percent said the country should be a Hindu state.
Yet, seven parties have thrust a secular state a republic on the people and country.
Only a referendum on these issues can decide the mood of the people.
The result of a sham poll conducted under duress can’t reflect public opinion.
Home minister Krishna Prasad Shitaula who has let loose Maoist marauders n the country claims ‘rajabadis’ are disturbing elections.
A visiting UN official said this week not one person has been charged by this government for past and present grave crimes.
Altogether 41.3 percent believed elections won’t take place in April.
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Matthew Kahane’s last days in Nepali capital

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 4 Feb: UNDP resident representative Matthew Kahane, a Briton with long experience in the United Nations, is probably spending his last days in the Nepalese capital.
Close on the heels of a disclosure by a UN official Nepal’ s terai rebels have direct links with groups in north India, CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal said Indian criminals have infiltrated the rebel groups in the south pushing independence.
“In groups like Goit and Jwala Singh, there are notorious Indian criminal groups. They have taken Nepali citizenship,” he told youth party workers at the head office Friday.” That’s why they are talking about disintegration.’
Nepal said this as UNDP country representative Matthew Kahane earlier said, ”Some of these groups that are making life difficult in terai may have some kind of links in north India. It would be enormously helpful if Indian authorities are able to keep these people under control.” PTI the official Indian government news agency quoted Kahane as saying in New Delhi.
Sensitive India reacted immediately and expressed its displeasure to UN headquarters in New York surprisingly issued an explanation which didn’t come from the UN Nepal office.
The spokesman of the secretary-general said the statement, unflattering to India, was unauthorized and the comments didn’t tantamount to a charge against the government of India. A study and scrutiny of the remarks suggests otherwise.
Kahana’s days in Kathmandu are numbered; it will be difficult for him to continue work in Nepal despite the attempt by New York at damage control.
He needs and requires the cooperation of New Delhi and the Indian embassy in Kathmandu to be effective; such cooperation may not be forthcoming after the statement.
India earlier accused the UNMIN officials in Nepal by misusing visas issued by the Indian embassy to cross the border and meet terai rebels in the Indian bordering states to help movement of goods during the last monsoon.
Kahane, coordinating humanitarian work although he is UNDP resident representative, suggested Indian cooperation could help humanitarian work.
UN and its officials in New York and Kathmandu got away in the past by intervening in Nepali affairs by making unwanted political statements. Kul Gautam and even Ian Martin on UNMIN fame are some examples.
This time, new secretary –general has been forced to act.
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Nepali team reports of foreign minister on inconclusive security talks with India


Kathmandu, 4 Feb: The inter-ministerial official team which refused to sign the ‘minute’ prepared by India at the end of its three-day meeting in Delhi about a fortnight ago, has asked the government to take up the issue at the highest level with India with ‘utmost seriousness’. newsfront reports.
The suggestion came in the course of briefing to Foreign Minister Sahana Pradhan implied that some of the Indian desires were detriment to Nepal’s national interest.
The Nepali team was particularly annoyed with India’s suggestion that its defense personnel be deployed at the ammunition factory of the Nepal government located at Sundarijal.
“These are issues which are best conveyed through the appropriate or highest political channels, the delegation is believed to have advised the foreign minister.
The 14-member delegation which was led to buy Suresh Pradhan, Joint Secretary in the Foreign Ministry had refused to entertain the suggestion saying it was not something that Nepal would find acceptable.
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Preparations for alternatives instead of elections

Kathmandu, 4 Feb: After Maoists adopted a policy to capture by any means,
power centers are searching for alternatives, Tarun reports
Not only India and USA, EU member countries have advised the prime minister to make plans after the Maoist plan.
Although election is fast approaching, political circles are discussing alternatives instead of elections.
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