MARTYRS DAY OBSERVED
Kathmandu, 30 Jan.: The sacrifice of four persons martyred during the movement to topple the 104-year old Rana regime were remembered Monday declared a public holiday.
No official celebrations were held lat the Sahid Gate where the supreme court
has put on hold a cabinet decision to remove the bust of King Tribhuvn atop the marble gate to Narayanhiti amid public criticism of the government action.
The busts of the four martyrs are placed at the Gate.
Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai again avoided paying respects to the martyrs
there repeating his action five months ago when he was appointed prime minister.
Bhattarai then went to Kirtipur to remember martyrs.
The premier Monday wnt to a Saheed Memorial Park in Lainchaur Monday,
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BUDDHA AIR FLYING TO VARANASI
Kathmandu, 30 Jan.: Private carrier Buddha Air is flying to Varanasi, its third international destination, from 1 March.
The airline will operate four weekly flights between the capital and the holy city in India’snorth Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
One way fare inclusive of tax Rs. 5,031.
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VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT DELAYED BY A DAY
Kathmandu, 30Jan.: Jan 30: The secretariat for the Special Committee has revised its plan to start the much-awaited release of Maoist combatants who have chosen voluntary retirement and decided to begin the process from Wednesday due to delay in getting the money from the Ministry of Finance. Initially, the secretariat had plan to start the process from Tuesday, Republica reports.
"We are not going to start the process Tuesday as initially planned as we could not complete the banking works," said a knowledgable source at the secretariat preferring anonymity.
The secretariat got Rs 1.97 billion from the Ministry of Finance only at 4 pm Sunday and the secretariat was able to open bank account at the Agricultural Development Bank, Nepal Bank Limited and Rastriya Banijya Bank within the office time, the source added.
The source said that the secretariat has to prepare all the checks to be issued to the 7,365 combatants who have opted for voluntary retirement in Kathmandu as visiting survey teams cannot take along blank checks and issue them to the combatants in the cantonments concerned.
"The checks need to be prepared in Kathmandu and it is also going to take time. We will have to wait until Tuesday for the works to be completed as Monday is a public holiday," said the source, Republica.
Kuran Pun Adds: Combatants await 'uncertain' retirement
Maoist PLA combatants who have chosen voluntary retirement during the recent categorization process are still uncertain about whether they will be sent home as announced by the government.
They said they have not yet been officially informed about the recent government announcement. Only last Friday, they heard over the radio about the government plan to send them home.
But most of the combatants, who have registered themselves for voluntary retirement are mentally prepared for leaving the cantonments and starting a civilian life afresh back home hoping that the retirement process due to begin Tuesday won´t be stalled yet again.
The combatants are now busy packing, meeting comrades and phoning others living in other cantonments to say their final good-bye.
A total of 7,365 fighters have opted for voluntary retirement during the categorization process.
As their parting time is approaching soon, the combatants have a mixed feeling about their future. While they are excited about reuniting with their family members, they say it is painful to part with the comrades alongside whom they fought the decade-long war and lived together in cantonment for the past five years.
Most of the combatants share that their last five years spent in the cantonments were a waste. They said the years were spent amid uncertainties and they just waited for the time to pass. But now, something is seriously holding them back. As a matter of fact, several fighters grew liking each other, fell in love and even got married during the wartime. Also indelibly printed on their mind is the pain that they got when they had to bid farewell to their comrades being labeled ´disqualified´ by UNMIN.
"Right now, I´m busy meeting my comrades and packing my luggage," Deependra Kumar Gharti Magar, Brigade Vice-commander, PLA Fifth Division Dahaban, Rolpa, told Republica.
Gharti joined the PLA in 1999 leaving his medical profession in his native village of Korchabang, Rolpa, with a dream of a building an "egalitarian new Nepal". He played triple role in the war as a health worker, an artist and a fighter in fatigues.
Gharti said he had a dream to create a new classless society. "Though the dream has been shattered it has not faded away yet. That is going to happen, for sure," he said. "If the Maoist party failed to deliver this promise, some other new party will come up. It´s just a matter of time."
Like his comrades, Bikash Malla, a platoon commander, also remained busy making farewell calls to his comrades before packing his luggage Saturday.
Some PLA commanders and members however expressed ignorance about the government decision to send them home. And they even expressed doubt about the government announcement as a similar announcement earlier was not implemented.
"Last time also, the government announced that we would be sent home, but that did not happen. I don´t know what will happen this time. I have not been offcially notified about the government decision yet," Holika KC, brigade vice-commander at fifth division, told Republica.
Fifth division vice-commander Ram Lal Roka Magar; Bhaktaraj Thapa Magar, battalion vice-commander of third division; and Lal Kiran Roka Magar, battalion commander of fourth division, also said they have not been informed about the government decision yet. "I don´t see any possibility of sending combatants home unless there is a clear agreement on rank harmonization," Bhakta claimed.
Even fifth division commander Ram Lal shared his frustration for he has not yet been informed officially about the govenrment decision.
Ram Lal said they have put forth various demands before party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai. They said they want all the money they are to receive in lump sum, a letter of appreciation and that the demands of the injured and physically disabled fighters should be met.
"The government plan on voluntary retirement could face strong rejection in the cantonments if our demands are not met. We will take a decision after holding discussions among comrades," said Ram Lal.
What are their plans?
"I have worn guns for the most part of my life. Now I would like to see what can I do with a pen," Malla revealed his plan. He said he will join university to pursue a bachelor´s degree. The security forces had detained him back in 2001 when he was in Musikot, the district headquarters of Rukum, pursuing his secondary education. He joined the Maoist PLA after his release.
Lal Kiran, who is also a member of Ajammari People´s Commune, Thabang, Rolpa, said he will start a medicinal herbs farm back in his home village. "I´ve no desire to join the party. I see no hope in the plans the party has made for us," he said expressing his frustration toward the Maoist party.
However, Thapa Magar, KC, Ram Lal and Deependra said they will actively involve themselves in Maoist party politics.
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DISSENTING SRC MMBERS TO MAKE PUBLIC THEIR POSITIONS
Kathmandu, 30 Jan.: Dissenting members of State Restructuring Commission (SRC) have decided to go to the public separately with their stance on state restructuring alleging that majority members of the Commission refused to incorporate their views in the main report, Republica reports.
According to political sources, three of the eight members, Ramesh Dhungel and Sabitri Gurung of Nepali Congress and Sarba Raj Khadka of UML, in the Commission are preparing to make public their report separately claiming that other members “ignored” their views and prepared the report “unilaterally”.
The other members of the SRC include Malla K Sundar and Stella Tamang from the Maoists and Krishna Hachhethu and Surendra Mahato from United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF).
The dissenting members are in minority after one of the UML appointees in the Commission Bhogendra Jha allegedly sided with the Maoists and the UDMF.
The Commission´s official report is reportedly proposing creation of 10 provinces and one non-geographical province, something dissenting members from the NC and UML are opposed to. The dissenting members are in favor of creating only six provinces.
Likewise, the Committee members are at odds over whether or not the states should be federated based on ethnic lines. Majority members in the Commission are in favor of creating 11 states including one non-geographical state based on ethnic lines.
A political source said the Commission members have proposed entire Tarai as single Madhes state with a sub-state in it. The Commission members are also sharply divided over whether to delineate states on north-south basis.
As its extended deadline is expiring on February 1, the Commission is mired in controversy. “The report to be presented by the commission is only likely to trigger controversies instead of offering solutions,” said the source.
“Many of the issues settled earlier in the CA committees reemerged during the Commission´s deliberations.”
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KIRANPUN ADDS IN REPUBLICA: COMBATANTS AWAIT UNCERTAIN RETIREMENT
Kathmandu, 30 Jan.: Jan 30: Maoist PLA combatants who have chosen voluntary retirement during the recent categorization process are still uncertain about whether they will be sent home as announced by the government.
They said they have not yet been officially informed about the recent government announcement. Only last Friday, they heard over the radio about the government plan to send them home.
But most of the combatants, who have registered themselves for voluntary retirement are mentally prepared for leaving the cantonments and starting a civilian life afresh back home hoping that the retirement process due to begin Tuesday won´t be stalled yet again.
The combatants are now busy packing, meeting comrades and phoning others living in other cantonments to say their final good-bye.
A total of 7,365 fighters have opted for voluntary retirement during the categorization process.
As their parting time is approaching soon, the combatants have a mixed feeling about their future. While they are excited about reuniting with their family members, they say it is painful to part with the comrades alongside whom they fought the decade-long war and lived together in cantonment for the past five years.
Most of the combatants share that their last five years spent in the cantonments were a waste. They said the years were spent amid uncertainties and they just waited for the time to pass. But now, something is seriously holding them back. As a matter of fact, several fighters grew liking each other, fell in love and even got married during the wartime. Also indelibly printed on their mind is the pain that they got when they had to bid farewell to their comrades being labeled ´disqualified´ by UNMIN.
"Right now, I´m busy meeting my comrades and packing my luggage," Deependra Kumar Gharti Magar, Brigade Vice-commander, PLA Fifth Division Dahaban, Rolpa, told Republica.
Gharti joined the PLA in 1999 leaving his medical profession in his native village of Korchabang, Rolpa, with a dream of a building an "egalitarian new Nepal". He played triple role in the war as a health worker, an artist and a fighter in fatigues.
Gharti said he had a dream to create a new classless society. "Though the dream has been shattered it has not faded away yet. That is going to happen, for sure," he said. "If the Maoist party failed to deliver this promise, some other new party will come up. It´s just a matter of time."
Like his comrades, Bikash Malla, a platoon commander, also remained busy making farewell calls to his comrades before packing his luggage Saturday.
Some PLA commanders and members however expressed ignorance about the government decision to send them home. And they even expressed doubt about the government announcement as a similar announcement earlier was not implemented.
"Last time also, the government announced that we would be sent home, but that did not happen. I don´t know what will happen this time. I have not been offcially notified about the government decision yet," Holika KC, brigade vice-commander at fifth division, told Republica.
Fifth division vice-commander Ram Lal Roka Magar; Bhaktaraj Thapa Magar, battalion vice-commander of third division; and Lal Kiran Roka Magar, battalion commander of fourth division, also said they have not been informed about the government decision yet. "I don´t see any possibility of sending combatants home unless there is a clear agreement on rank harmonization," Bhakta claimed.
Even fifth division commander Ram Lal shared his frustration for he has not yet been informed officially about the govenrment decision.
Ram Lal said they have put forth various demands before party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai. They said they want all the money they are to receive in lump sum, a letter of appreciation and that the demands of the injured and physically disabled fighters should be met.
"The government plan on voluntary retirement could face strong rejection in the cantonments if our demands are not met. We will take a decision after holding discussions among comrades," said Ram Lal.
What are their plans?
"I have worn guns for the most part of my life. Now I would like to see what can I do with a pen," Malla revealed his plan. He said he will join university to pursue a bachelor´s degree. The security forces had detained him back in 2001 when he was in Musikot, the district headquarters of Rukum, pursuing his secondary education. He joined the Maoist PLA after his release.
Lal Kiran, who is also a member of Ajammari People´s Commune, Thabang, Rolpa, said he will start a medicinal herbs farm back in his home village. "I´ve no desire to join the party. I see no hope in the plans the party has made for us," he said expressing his frustration toward the Maoist party.
However, Thapa Magar, KC, Ram Lal and Deependra said they will actively involve themselves in Maoist party politics.
Kiran Pun adds: Maoist PLA combatants who have chosen voluntary retirement during the recent categorization process are still uncertain about whether they will be sent home as announced by the government.
They said they have not yet been officially informed about the recent government announcement. Only last Friday, they heard over the radio about the government plan to send them home.
But most of the combatants, who have registered themselves for voluntary retirement are mentally prepared for leaving the cantonments and starting a civilian life afresh back home hoping that the retirement process due to begin Tuesday won´t be stalled yet again.
The combatants are now busy packing, meeting comrades and phoning others living in other cantonments to say their final good-bye.
A total of 7,365 fighters have opted for voluntary retirement during the categorization process.
As their parting time is approaching soon, the combatants have a mixed feeling about their future. While they are excited about reuniting with their family members, they say it is painful to part with the comrades alongside whom they fought the decade-long war and lived together in cantonment for the past five years.
Most of the combatants share that their last five years spent in the cantonments were a waste. They said the years were spent amid uncertainties and they just waited for the time to pass. But now, something is seriously holding them back. As a matter of fact, several fighters grew liking each other, fell in love and even got married during the wartime. Also indelibly printed on their mind is the pain that they got when they had to bid farewell to their comrades being labeled ´disqualified´ by UNMIN.
"Right now, I´m busy meeting my comrades and packing my luggage," Deependra Kumar Gharti Magar, Brigade Vice-commander, PLA Fifth Division Dahaban, Rolpa, told Republica.
Gharti joined the PLA in 1999 leaving his medical profession in his native village of Korchabang, Rolpa, with a dream of a building an "egalitarian new Nepal". He played triple role in the war as a health worker, an artist and a fighter in fatigues.
Gharti said he had a dream to create a new classless society. "Though the dream has been shattered it has not faded away yet. That is going to happen, for sure," he said. "If the Maoist party failed to deliver this promise, some other new party will come up. It´s just a matter of time."
Like his comrades, Bikash Malla, a platoon commander, also remained busy making farewell calls to his comrades before packing his luggage Saturday.
Some PLA commanders and members however expressed ignorance about the government decision to send them home. And they even expressed doubt about the government announcement as a similar announcement earlier was not implemented.
"Last time also, the government announced that we would be sent home, but that did not happen. I don´t know what will happen this time. I have not been offcially notified about the government decision yet," Holika KC, brigade vice-commander at fifth division, told Republica.
Fifth division vice-commander Ram Lal Roka Magar; Bhaktaraj Thapa Magar, battalion vice-commander of third division; and Lal Kiran Roka Magar, battalion commander of fourth division, also said they have not been informed about the government decision yet. "I don´t see any possibility of sending combatants home unless there is a clear agreement on rank harmonization," Bhakta claimed.
Even fifth division commander Ram Lal shared his frustration for he has not yet been informed officially about the govenrment decision.
Ram Lal said they have put forth various demands before party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai. They said they want all the money they are to receive in lump sum, a letter of appreciation and that the demands of the injured and physically disabled fighters should be met.
"The government plan on voluntary retirement could face strong rejection in the cantonments if our demands are not met. We will take a decision after holding discussions among comrades," said Ram Lal.
What are their plans?
"I have worn guns for the most part of my life. Now I would like to see what can I do with a pen," Malla revealed his plan. He said he will join university to pursue a bachelor´s degree. The security forces had detained him back in 2001 when he was in Musikot, the district headquarters of Rukum, pursuing his secondary education. He joined the Maoist PLA after his release.
Lal Kiran, who is also a member of Ajammari People´s Commune, Thabang, Rolpa, said he will start a medicinal herbs farm back in his home village. "I´ve no desire to join the party. I see no hope in the plans the party has made for us," he said expressing his frustration toward the Maoist party.
However, Thapa Magar, KC, Ram Lal and Deependra said they will actively involve themselves in Maoist party politics.
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NEW LOOK FOR NEW ROAD, DURBAR SQUARE
Kathmandu, 30 Jan.: People willing to have a look at refurbished Hanumandhoka Durbar Square and New Road will have to wait for some times as the face-lifting tasks of these place have been
stopped mid-way, The Rising Nepal reports.
Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) and Hanumandhoka Durbar Area Conservation Programme Office (HDACPO) had jointly launched a new programme in a bid to give new look to the Durbar Square and New Road about three month months ago.
Hari Kumar Shrestha, Chief of HDACPO, informed that the planned programme could not move ahead due to some official problem. It will start soon once the problem is resolved, he added.
According to the officials at KMC and HDACPO, all kinds of billboards and notice boards at these areas would be prohibited. However, these billboards are still seen hanging up at the commercial places, business complexes and supermarkets within the New Road area.
Such haphazard hoarding boards and posters have degraded the beauty of the archeological and historical sites such as Hanumandhoka Durbar Square but the Kathmandu Metropolitan City has shown no interest to remove them.
The hoardings boards have not only given ugly looks to the historical sites and undermine the values of such sites, but have also sent negative impression of the UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) among both national and foreign tourists.
KMC has also planned to manage telephone and cable lines, which are responsible for the messy look of the New Road and Durbar Square areas.
Despite all the talks, only the road of the New Road section have got a new look after KMC set up dividers with green flowers this time. But the task to install new iron fences alongside the footpath passage is yet to be done.
KMC has allocated a budget of Rs 17.5 million for executing the programmes to give new look to the UNESCO World Heritage enlisted Hanumandhoka Durbar Square Area and the New Road
area.
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MARTYR GANGALAL NATIONAL HEART CENTRE WINS HEARTS
Kathmandu, 30 Jan. : Although most people make negative comments about the services delivered in the government hospitals, Martyr Gangalal National Heart Centre, the specialised government hospital for cardiac ailments, has been an exception, The Rising Nepal reports.
The hospital gained more than 100 per cent achievement in its service delivery targets last year.
During 2011, a total of 3,205 people benefited from Cath Procedure, 1,977 from Coronary Angiogram, 500 from Coronary Angioplasty, 181 from Pace Maker Transplantation, 366 from PTMC and 1,467 surgeries to different kinds of heart ailments were perform successfully in the hospital.
The performances were more than its targets, Executive Director of the hospital Dr. Man Bahadur K.C. said while presenting the progress report of the hospital on the occasion of its 16th anniversary Sunday.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Health and Population Rajendra Mahato appreciated the service delivery system of the heart centre.
"As its name, the hospital is doing very well, it is a matter of pride for the government" Minister Mahato said.
The government would support financially to such institution, Minister Mahato added.
He stressed the need of decentralization of expert services outside the valley.
"Though it is a government hospital, every patient suffering from cardiac ailment want to have treatment at this hospital because all cardiac facilities are provided here and it has been a referral centre for specialized cardiac care and treatment," he said.
Cardiologists and the staff working in different departments of the hospital have success stories of the hospital to tell.
"No poor dies in want of services in this hospital," senior cardiologist Dr. Bhagwan Koirala said.
The hospital has been facing excessive flow of patients after the government announced free treatment scheme for the patients aged below 15 and above 75, Director K.C said.
Dr. K.C. urged the government to free the hospital from the political interference.
The government has been providing services free of cost to children aged less than 15 since 2007 and elderly people aged above 75 since the subsequent year.
In 2011, a total of 1 05,525 patients underwent OPD service for several types of cardiac diseases in the hospital. The medics said that the number was very large for a single hospital.
The Centre also provided 200 free cardiac valves to the patients last year.
As the heart is a special part of the body, the government also has focused on this hospital, Dr. Pravin Mishra, Secretary at the Health Ministry said.
The hospital is all set to add 100 more beds during this fiscal year.
Speaking at the programme, cardiologists stressed the need of new health policy for non communicable diseases.
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INTERVIEW
NC, UML SHOULD JON GOVT. SAYSL FORMER SPEAKER DAMANNATH DHUNGANA
Former Speaker Daman Nath Dhungana has been a civil society leader. When the country was reeling under the armed conflict, Dhungana played the role of an informal civil mediator for peace talks to end the violence. He was proactive to bring in civil society movement, which also inspired the parties like Nepali Congress and CPN-UML to forge agreement with then rebelling UCPN-Maoist and initiate movement to do away with monarchy. As an observer to the signing ceremony of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, Dhungana has been time and again offering suggestions to the political parties, especially whenever they lock horns, to complete the overall peace process in time as promised. As the peace and constitution writing process has hit a snag again, Nandalal Tiwari of The Rising Nepal talked with Dhungana as to what suggestions he has to the parties.
Excerpts:
Despite the fact that you were one of the makers of the 1991 constitution, you eloquently advocated for a Constituent Assembly (CA) to frame another constitution, and the fun of the thing is that you remained out of the CA. How do you take it?
First of all, I do not think I am not in the CA as I consider I am in the higher plane of the CA, the CA of the entire people of our country. The whole Nepal is the CA for me and I feel I have made a place in the CA (heart and mind) of the people.
Second, I did advocate for a CA as I concluded that it could be a meeting point to end violence and initiate peaceful way out to issues that had triggered conflict. I believe peaceful solution is better than adamancy to a particular constitution. Additionally, then, the king had encroached the constitution and the parties that had brought about the 1990 People’s Movement had also failed to meet the aspirations of the people.
The peace and constitution writing processes have not completed even nearly four years after the CA election. Putting the role of the parties aside, how do you assess the role of the civil society in this respect?
It was civil society which brought the parties together for People’s Movement (2006). Needless to say, the parties were poles apart before the 12-point Understanding. Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML were like parts of the state whereas the Maoist party was fighting against the state. At that situation, the civil society- people like us- which stressed on initiating dialogue, ending war and violence. The civil society took to streets and made a strong opinion against tyranny and for change which ultimately resulted in republican set up. This makes it evident that the civil society had a substantial role in the success of the Movement and the formation of the CA. This is one of the three phases of the civil society.
Following the CA election, the second phase movement of the civil society began. At the moment, we are at the third phase.
In the second phase, the political leaders became conscious of the civic power of the civil society leaders as they had given moral courage to them to struggle jointly against tyranny and culminate the struggle to republic. In fact, civil society does not work for sending any civil society leaders, intellectuals or professionals to the House. It is for sending the leaders of the movement to the House. However, the political leaders became shy to take the civil society leaders to the House. The political leaders suffered from inferiority complex as the civil society could be instrumental in making national consensus in the way it had been instrumental, effective and result-oriented in making public opinion against tyranny, monarchy and garnering international support for the joint movement of the parties for the same. The parties feared their importance would dwindle as the civil society would be playing a role of a catalyst in bringing them to a meeting point from their respective stands once the eminent personalities of the civil society entered the CA.
We also had some weakness on our part. Clearly, civil society is not a substitute for the political parties. However, we became submissive when we thought it to be parties to do everything related to peace and new constitution and let them do so. Four processes are underway- peace building, constitution building, nation building and democracy building. The parties created a Berlin wall against the civil society to prevent its participation in these processes. And now, the peace process has become litigants exercise. Every party sticks to its position, there is none to play the role of arbitration or broker, there is no structured dialogue and neither record nor proof of compromise, no venue and system for dialogue, one can retract from the agreement. It is funny, they now ask us to play role after having kept us out of the ring. They urge us to play the game and we are out of the ground. We are limited to boosting and evaluating their show as they did not take us inside the ring to mediate their game so as to not make it fair and timely.
Now, the third phase of the civil society has begun. We know civil society contributed greatly to bring about the epoch-making change. As the parties have kept it away from the whole process to institutionalize the change, it is in a great test. People are fed up with the parties and the leaders. They have lost popular legitimacy. Even the CA has fared no better and now the Supreme Court has quested its legal legitimacy. As there is no completion of peace process, no promulgation of the new constitution so far, people have started to think whether the CA is a cluster of the 601 unworthy. Everybody knows, the CA’s tenure was for two years and that the army integration was to take place within six months from the CPA
signing.
We are in dilemma whether we also should hit the street along with the people declaring the parties as unworthy or correct them to deliver peace and constitution. People think that the parties will fail to make an agreement, form transitional government and deliver peace and constitution by May 27. They are contemplating whether to go beyond the bondage of the parties. We are still with the parties for correcting them. But there are high chances that we may be finally snatched away from the parties because of the public force as we always are with the people if parties fail to form a transitional government by May 27 and make public the draft of the new constitution.
What do you mean by transitional government?
That is a government made up of all the four political forces- Maoists, NC, UML and Madheshi Morcha. They should make a common programme and agree to allocate presiding officer’s power to the head of the government in such a way that the executive exercises the power when the parties fail to find a common ground on any issues. We do not expect the parties to elect prime minister from beyond the parties. However, if they think that party-based executive head will be biased, they can choose from outside. After all, the PM is for presiding over the negations among the parties.
If you ask me whether it is time to replace PM Dr Baburam Bhattarai, I would answer negatively. No, this is not time to go for changing the PM. I am saying this not because I have any personal attachment with Dr Bhattarai. I would say this even if there was any other person as the PM because the deadline of the CA is nearing and we have a lot of task to perform. Change of government at this time means further extension of the CA which has little chances. The PM is for completing peace process and delivering constitution. All the other parties should cooperate with him. In this connection, I would suggest that NC and UML should join the present government immediately. They can put conditions for that, of course. However, frustratingly, the power game is going on. There is no time, so Dr Bhattarai-led government should be changed into transitional government.
Won’t that lead to dictatorship if the PM is entrusted with presiding officer’s power, veto?
It is not veto as such. When the disputes continue, one has to resolve it and the PM can do so if the parties fail to find a meeting point. Otherwise, differences will persist for ever. Dictatorship means doing something beyond the mandate or term. In this sense, dictatorship has been already exercised by extending the term of the CA, which was meant for two years. The very constitutionality of the CA is questioned. However, we believe that if there is real progress, CA term can be extended seeking favour from the Supreme Court.
How hopeful are you that the new constitution will be promulgated by the present CA deadline?
I do not have much curiousity whether the constitution will be promulgated by May 27. Everything has its momentum. The kind of image the parties and the leaders have created of themselves in the last four years, even if they promulgate new constitution I have a little hope from it. Unless and until the parties mend their working styles, it is like to hope against hope. Nepal is undergoing three opportunities. The opportunity brought out by the People’s Movement. We are missing it, but we can tap it if parties mend their ways. The other opportunity is offered by the economic growth gained by our close neighbours, India and China. A new era has begun in our foreign relations too. Unlike in the past, our close neighbours are suggesting us publicly to have good relations with both of them. China is recommending us to consolidate relations with India while India in turn is urging us to have better relations with China. The third opportunity is provided by the support or love shown by the international community. They are urging us to make our country a global centre of culture.
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