No clear frontrunner for next prime minister

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 14 July: Lobbying has started without a clear frontrunner for Nepal’s prime minister to be elected 21 July; nominations have to be filed one day earlier 20 July.
The winner will succeed caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal who resigned last month amid main opposition Maoist pressure
demanding a national unity government under its leadership.
Maoists claim only a consensus government can guarantee a delayed republican constitution while completing the peace process that has stretched from six months to three years.
Both aren’t guaranteed with fundamental and principles differences; a consensus government will only ensure shared power at Singha Durbar.
Nepali Congress, the second largest party in the 601-member parliament, has staked a claim for the leadership of the next government; the party is divided whether Vice-chairman and parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Paudel or three-time prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba should head the next government.
The issue has divided the party leadership as General Secretary Kul Bahadur Gurung said he’ll challenge Deuba and Paudel.
Acting President Sushil Koirala has backed Paudel even as Deuba claim’s he’s the natural successor of Girija Prasad Koirala as he was second in command in the party hierarchy after party unification in 2008.
One analyst said a Brahmin/Chetri divide is clearly emerging.
Maoists have projected Chairman Prachanda as the next government chief but Vice-chairman Dr Baburm Bhattarai has emerged a credible and difficult challenger to satisfy the present ruling coalition partners to whom Prachanda isn’t acceptable..
Incumbent Premier Nepal is a dark horse even though a section in a UML has projected Chairman Jhalanath Khanal as its candidate.
NC, UML and MJFL have also said a Maoist-led government isn’t acceptable until the UCPN (Maoist) completely severe links with PLA.
Maoists still haven’t abandoned hopes for a consensus government as Vice-chairman Narayan Kazi Shrestha argued Tuesday evening a unity government can be assembled even while pushing majority government.
Prachanda over telephone asked NC and UML leaders Tuesday to specify minimum conditions for a national government.
Madesh parties have thrown in the towel arguing their turn has come to lead a government as a ‘democratic alternative’ after the irresponsible failure of the three parties.
The election is up for grabs.
Maoists turned the table on Girija Prasad Koirala who never forgave Maoists for ditching him at the last hour in favour Dr Ram Baran Yadav of the same party—the Nepali Congress.
Koirala was denied his inner ambition to be Nepal’s first president after abolishing the 238-year-ild monarchy.
With the latest maneuverings for consensus government and against majority rule, Chairman Prachanda disclosed in a recent interview the party went for majority rule as a quid pro quo when Girija Prasad Koirala, without a vote, agreed to a republic.
Such was the politics of treachery during the continuing transition.
Koirala pushed majority rule by amending the interim constitution to ensure control of parliament after Maoists won the 2008 constituent assembly elections without gaining an absolute majority.
Meanwhile, Speaker Subash Nemwang has cancelled his trip to Geneva to attend a conference of speakers of parliament from 19 to 21 July following uncertainly at home.
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Two Gurkhas also injured in Afghanistan

Kathmandu, 14 July: Two Gurkhas with the British army deployed in Afghanistan were also injured, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.
A Gurkha soldier was killed Tuesday in the attack which killed two British troops, the embassy said in the Nepalese capital.
The identifies of Nepalis weren’t revealed until the next of kin were informed.
A AP report from Kabul said ‘an Afghan soldier fired a rocket-propelled grenade into a military base control room killing three British Gurkha troops and wounding four more before fleeing”.
(Note: The report didn’t differentiate between Nepali Gurkha and British troops.)
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UNMIN gets support from headquarters; won’t help it in workplace

Kathmandu, 14 July: The United Nations has extended firm support to UNMIN which this week again came under fire from the government and the Nepali Congress, the largest party in the ruling coalition.
“…the mission is acting within its mandate and consistent with calls by the Security Council for the parties to take advantage of UNMIN’s expertise to support the peace process and facilitate the completion of its tasks.
“The issue dealt with in the non-paper containing the timetable for integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants is based on consultations by UNMIN, which has been consulting with the main parties in Nepal for some time which have taken place with the full knowledge of the government, that is not something new.
‘The ideas it has shared with the parties are part of that discussion and are intended to facilitate advance thinking and planning of the implementation of integration and rehabilitation of former Maoist combatants, once political decisions are made by the parties.
“The completion of UNMIN’s arms monitoring mandate, in large part, is contingent on the parties agreeing on a plan to address the future of the Maoist army personnel,” Farhan Haq, associate spokesman for Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in New York.
New York came to the rescue of UNMIN when Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal charged it for ‘conspiring’ to derail the constitution drafting process that has to be completed in less than 11 months by 28 May 2011.
UNMIN circulated a 60-week roadman which it now says was just a suggestion floated with consultation but, of course, without agreement,
Why was the idea floated when the government had to complete constitution drafting in the extended 28 May 2011 second deadline?
Despite the defence, the latest criticism will make the difficult task of the UNMIN to operate in a hostile atmosphere even more difficult.
Its repeatedly tenure ends in the last week of September.
For how long can the UNMIN operate in Nepal with only the support of its donors,-- rich western countries, the EU and Maoists only?
Nepali Congress Acting President Sushil Koirala said after the fresh controversy the party won’t extend the UNMIN stay with the likelihood of the Congress leading the next government.
“But why doesn’t Sushil Koirala talk of India while lambasting the UN on matters relating to foreign direct and indirect interference in Nepal”” asked a retired government employee who preferred anonymity.
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The support for UNMIN from New York won’t help where it’s needed most—in Nepal. The ruling parties are disgusted it with as a ‘tool’ of Maoists.
UNMIN in Nepal no longer has the clout and the leverage as well; it’s dispensable prodded up only by western donors.
It’s reputation as an impartial body has been lost.
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Kul Chandra Gautam replaces Dr Ram Sharan Mahat

Kathmandu, 14 July: Retired UN official Kul Chandra Gautam has replaced NC leader Dr Ram Sharan Mahat as Nepal’s candidate for the presidency of the 60th session of the UN general assembly in September.
An informal cabinet meeting Tuesday took the decision to replace Mahat, a cabinet source said.
Gautam retired as a senior official of the UNICEF with close Maoist connections.
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NC amends statute

Kathmandu, 14 July: Nepali Congress (NC) central committee Tuesday lofted a party ban debarring district presidents for contesting office for the third time,
The committee suspended article 49 sub-clause 17 of the statute ahead of the 12th general convention later this year; the convention will elect top party officials following the death of President Girija Prasad Koirala.
“The provision for two-term presidents not to contest for the third time has been suspended at the request of district presidents. The provision won’t be applicable for the 12th general convention,” Spokesman Arjun Narsingh KC said.
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DiCaprio sneaks into Nepal to prepare, shoot tiger film

Kathmandu, 14 July: You could call it a new action story starring Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by WWF! The Hollywood star is playing a new role –spreading an initiative to double the number of tigers worldwide, including the 123 big cats found in Nepal, IANS reports.
The 36-year-old celebrity paid a cloak-and-dagger visit to the Bardiya National Park in the far-western Nepal to meet wildlife conservation officials and locals, with the paparazzi remaining lamentably unaware of the trip.
Leonardo, the star of the acclaimed movies like Titanic and The Aviator, arrived in Nepal on a three-day visit in end-May—kept tightly guarded secret—soon after he signed an agreement with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to lead Same Tiger Now, a campaign to increase awareness about the threats to tigers and raise funds for their preservation efforts
‘Tigers are endangered and critical to some of the world’s most important ecosystems,” said Leonardo, who set up his Leonardo DeCaprio Foundation in 1998 to focus on climate change, water, disaster relief and preservation of the planet’s biodiversity.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

Nepal, Bangladesh trade talks

Kathmandu, 14 July: Commerce secretaries of Nepal and Bangladesh are holding two-day trade talks in Dhaka Wednesday.
Bilateral trade in nominal while an insignificant amout of third country trade is routed through Bangladeshi ports.
Both countries are attempting to upgrade commercial ties.
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Maoists say no party contact with Kham

Kathmandu, 14 July: The UCPN(Maoist) on Tuesday claimed that the Division Commander of its People’s Liberation Army Kali Bahadur Kham “Bibidh’ is out of contact since long, The Kathmandu Post reports.
The Maoist party’s claim comes amid allegations that Bibidh was the mastermind of Friday’s robbery in the capital and also the kingpin in illegal trade of the expensive medicinal herb popularly known as Himalayan Viagra, yarchagmba.
“Bibidh has not been in touch with us since a long time,” claimed Dinanath Sharma, Spokesman of the Maoists, adding that investigation would be carried out to find the truth.
Sharma, however, did not give details as to why Bididh was out of touch for so long.
Sources, however, claimed that Bibidh operated the trafficking ring while remaining in touch with the top bras of the Maoists.
Police suspect that his gang traded yarchagumba worth millions through illegal routes.
Bididh’s gang used to rob the medicinal herb from villagers make it legal with the help of fake government stamps and sell it in the black market.
On Sunday, police had arrested eight persons associated with Bibidh and subsequently confiscated Rs 500,000, 7.871 kg of yarchagumba, a stolen Santro car used by Bibidh and which was used in the robbery, a Pulsar motorcycle, a satellite phone, live bullets, fake rubberstamps of forest officials, passports, citizenship certificates and sharp-edged weapons from Bibidh’s rented accommodation in Gongabu.
Till late Tuesday evening, police had failed to get hold of Bibidh.
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Kham in camp under UNMIN watch?

Kathmandu, 14 July: According to a source, some of the eight arrested for suspected involvement in robbing Chinese traders have told police during interrogation Kham is in the camp for fighters, Annapurna Post reports.
They robbed three Chinese traders 9 July on orders of Kham.
“Kham is a professional criminal. If he isn’t, the divisional commander of Maoists he should come forward in public and say he has no involvement,” a police officer said. ‘We can search the camp; but a clash could ensue. That’s why the government should seek Maoist assistance.”
Spokesman Dinanath Sharma said the propaganda he’s in the camp is false especially after saying a room was rented in the capital to hide goods.
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Army blames UN; clears Major Niranjan Basnet

Kathmandu, 14 July: After eight months of investigations, the Nepal Army (NA) has given a clean chit to Major Niranjan Basnet, who was sent back from a UN peacekeeping mission in Chad last December for his alleged involvement in human rights violation in the Maina Sunwar case, Republica reports.
The army court of inquiry has concluded that Basnet is ‘innocent’ and that he was returned by the UN ‘against all international norms and regulations’.
It has been learnt that a decision to this effect was endorsed by the defence ministry recently.
NA had sent a letter to the ministry two months back defending Niranjan and requesting that this case be withdrawn immediately.
NA has defended Basnet on the basis of the Military Act 1959 and the then Terrorist and Punishment Ordinance 2002 (TADA).
After several months of questioning, the three-member Court of Inquiry found that Basnet was returned from the UN mission in a humiliating manner, accompanied by escorts, something only done in cases of breach of discipline. NA has also written to the UN objecting to Basnet’s return without prior consultations and in blatant oversight of a military court verdict in the Sunwar case 2005.
“The verdict of our military courts are recognized internationally, so the UN has flouted all norms in sending Basnet back,” a highly placed NA source told Republica. The source added,” This is also an attempt to discredit our institution as Basnet’s case is also closed chapter.”
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“I’ve learnt unofficially foreigners have decided not to adopt children. So what if they don’t adopt our children? Did wet beget children for them? We’ll not more on foreign directions. Foreigners question even transfers of officials in the ministry. Problems have arises because of foreign interference.”

(Women, Children and Social Welfare Minister Sarbadeb Ojha, Naya Patrika, 14 July)

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