Violent Maoist protests continue

Kathmandu, 15 June: Nearly one dozen vehicles were smashed in the capital Monday during Maoist demonstrations to protest the murder of a district leader allegedly by ruling party CPN-UML Youth Group.
Maoists attacked and damaged buildings of Nepal Electricity Authority and Revenue Office in Daldeldhura during anti-government and anti-president demonstrations Sunday.
Maoist foreign relations expert CP Gajurel defiantly told reporters in the capital Sunday they won’t accept American pre-conditions to get off a US terrorist list.
Visiting US Assistance Secretary of State for South Asia Richard O. Blake spelt out the pre-conditions during his just concluded Nepal visit.
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No agreement on government expansion

Kathmandu, 15 June: There was no agreement even Monday between five parties on expansion and sharing of ministries after eight hours of talks Sunday after more than eight hours of talks.
The meeting was called by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal who was installed more than three weeks ago.
Five parties, including three from terai, are again meeting Tuesday to arrive at an agreement.
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NC parliamentary party election Saturday


Kathmandu, 15 June: Nepali Congress parliamentary partyelection to elect 18officials will now be held Saturday.
It was scheduled for last Sunday.
Party election committee fixed the new date.
Election in what has been described as Nepal’s biggest democratic party is being conducted 15 months after parliamentary elections.
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Gov official shot dead in Nawalparasi


Kathmandu, 15 June: A government official of terai origin was shot dead in Nawalparasi Monday.
Violence continues in the region.
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Norwegian minister boasts he and Norway negotiated a successful Nepal peace

By Bhola B rana

Kathmandu, 15 June: Norwegian Minister for International Relations Erik Solheim repeatedly boasted in Hardtalk programmed over BBC Sunday he and Norway successfully negotiated a peace agreement that brought Maoists into the political mainstream in Nepal.
The BBC interviewer never asked him about Nepal.
The interviewer reminded him of his personal failure to negotiate a deal between LTTE and the Sri Lankan government that crushed the four-decade separatist movement in the island nation.
But the interviewer repeatedly reminded him a small and country like Norway without international clout stuck out carrots to appease rulers of Burma and Zimbabwe.
The Norwegian Minister had admitted he kept direct contacts with Prachanda when he was on the terrorist list of Nepal, India and USA.
The minister didn’t explain how Norway’s role in Nepal’s peace process was successful.
The exact role of Norway in Nepal’s peace process is not known.
But New Delhi in a lead role helped broker a 12-point peace agreement between seven parliamentary parties and Maoists in 2006.
India played the main role to get the support of USA and EU against the royal regime.
But what is known is Norway funded Nepal’s communists and Christian movement in the Himalayan state.
The peace process that the Norwegian minister claims to have successfully negotiated is now shaky with Nepalis suffering because of it.
The country is now passing through another phase of instability, uncertainly and daily strikes
The peace process was an example of how not to negotiate a hasty and vague peace between rebels and a state with foreign interference and backing.
Foreign donors are now complaining they are losing patience and may have to stop funding as UN attempts to lobby extension of its Nepal mandate to implement the vague agreement.
UN is seeking an extension of its mandate even while admitting it is for Nepalis to integrate and resettle Maoist PLA into the army and society.
But before that, UNMIN demanded a major role.
Withdrawal of UN from Nepal at this stage won’t impact Nepal especially after a lousy job the world body has done.
The human rights commission only hands out statements on rights violations while observing strike.
The work could by done by the UN without the huge presence of the UN human rights organization.
UN is silent on a Prachanda boast it duped the world body into confirming 19,000 combatants when, in fact, it had only 7,000 to 8,000 fighters.
Prachanda said the stipends paid to the combatants is partly being used to purchase arms as child soldiers and unqualified continue to live in camps under UN observation.
And visiting senior UN official Samuel Tamrat said the number of verified combatants doesn’t make any substantial difference.
UNMIN came to Nepal to oversee CA elections and verify soldiers; it certified a questionable voter exercise and failed abysmally in verifying soldiers when the Nepal Army insisted that only armed combatants should be certified.
The only losers, if UN withdraws under threat, will be rich house owners e4specially in capital where their houses are leased by UN officials.
UN is lobbying to continue in Nepal probably and mostly to provide employment to citizens of donor countries; the money goes back to donor countries without substantial benefits for Nepal.
Foreigners enjoy while Nepalis suffer from non-implementation of the peace agreement.
When the question of foreign responsibility arises, the pat answer comes Nepalis negotiated the peace and they are responsible for its implementation.
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