US AMBASSADOR MOVED FROM NEPAL TO UGANDA

US AMBASSADOR MOVED FROM NEPALTO UGANDA
Kathmandu, 24 Jan.: US President Barack Obama has moved US Ambassador to Nepal Scott H
DeLisi to r to Uganda, a White House statement said.
DeLisi has been ambassador to Nepal since March 2010.
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CHINA EYES WEST SETI

Kathmandu, 24 Jan.:Exim Bank of China has sent an initial positive response for the development of 750-MW West Seti Hydropower Project, Republica reports.

"We have received a letter expressing Exim Bank´s interest on West Seti. The bank has asked us to forward it a detailed project report (DPR) of the Projejt," a senior MoF official told Republica. He added that the ministry has already communicated with Ministry of Energy for forwarding the DPR to the Chinese lender.

Ministry of Finance (MoF) had approached the Chinese government seeking credit line for the development of West Seti along with Budi Gandaki Hydropower Project (600 MW) and Nalshyagugad Hydropower Project (400 MW) few months ago.

According to official records, harnessing the potential of the West Seti -- a large storage project -- is estimated to cost $1.60 billion. MoF had approached the Exim Bank of China for the loans investment after efforts to develop it with loan assistance from the Asian Development Bank failed.

The MoF, however, has not received any response on Budi Gandaki and Nalshyagugad. Development of those projects is estimated to cost $1.70 billion and $400 million respectively.

"It is too early to predict how the further development on West Seti will transpire," said the source.

Normally, Exim Bank evaluates the development project as rigorously as any lender, mainly concentrating on the rate of return and other financial parameters to be assured its loans will be repaid. If satisfied, it will then start negotiations with the government over matters like government´s counterpart fund, grace and repayment period, and rates of interest, among others. Even if things moved ahead smoothly, officials said the process could take some 6 to 12 months to give clear picture.

The government had floated West Seti for Chinese loans investment after West Seti Hydropower Limited (WSHL), a company promoted by Australia´s Snowy Mountain Engineering Corporation (SMEC), failed to manage the funding despite 10 amendments to the agreement over the last 14 years. The government had issued construction license to WSHL on June 27, 1997 and revoked it on July 27, 2011.

The company repeatedly sought extensions and had last asked for a grace period on Dec 24, 2010 to rope in investors, but the government did not oblige. SMEC had banked on the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and China National Machinery and Equipment Import and Export Corporation (CMEC) for financing. But both the lenders had pulled out, citing lack of good governance and investment-friendly environment in Nepal.

SMEC invested over $31 million in the project over the last decade as a major promoter but stopped funding office operations since August, 2010 after CMEC and ADB refused to invest in the project.
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PRACHANDA PUSHES PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM

Kathmandu, 24 Jan : UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ Monday pointed out at the need of an offensive debate for a directly elected presidential system, The Rising Nepal reports..
The former Prime Minister urged the progressive and change-loving intellectuals to initiate the campaign in order to make the people aware of the fact that form of the governance was interlinked with the people’s aspirations for change, development and prosperity.
The chief of the main ruling party blamed the main opposition party, Nepali Congress, for backtracking from the previous agreement on the issue and preventing any option to empower the people.
"The other side (NC) has stepped back from previous compromise on form of the governance. After much compromise in the dispute resolution sub-committee of the Constitutional Committee, we were near agreement for an executive presidential system. It is high time for the intellectuals that they initiated offensive discussions for an executive presidential system," Prachanda observed speaking at an interaction on Form of Governance in Future Nepal organized by New Light Research and Publications.
He argued that presidential system was needed for the sake of the sovereignty of the people and the country and territorial integrity. "A presidential system will not herald a people’s democratic system, but rather it will be a bourgeoisie democratic system. The old parliamentary parties need not harbor unnecessary apprehension

"Even the debate in the media over the form of the governance is cheap. A serious matter such as it is has been concentrated on who is the prospective candidate for the post," Prachanda said.
He questioned how a president directly elected by the people would be undemocratic. "Presidential system will be a departure from the negative legacy since the Sugauli Treaty (between Nepal and British-India government)."
Presenting his concept paper, left intellectual Dr Dilli Raj Khanal stressed on a presidential system arguing the system would safeguard national integrity; ensure stability, development and progress.
Commenting on the paper, Minister for Constituent Assembly, Parliamentary Affairs and Culture Gopal Kiranti said that a presidential system would, besides other things, free top leaders from hyperextension as they would not have to concentrate on how to topple and form a government.
Prof Lok Raj Baral spoke for a directly elected executive presidential system. "I was for a mixed system, but now I am for an executive presidential system for the sake of dynamic stability, stability with progress."
Gandhi has labeled parliamentary system as an infertile woman and our history has proved the same although we never had a fully parliamentary system, he observed.
Referring to the present stagnation on peace and constitution owing to differences of the parties over the form of the governance, he said, "If this status quo persists, revolution is inevitable and nobody knows what will status the present political forces will have in future."
Bishwo Bhakta Dulal, Maoist leader, said because of the interest of the foreign forces and the Palace, not a single government was able to work its full term in the last 61 years, whether it is parliamentary system or Panchayat system.
Dr Arjun Karki, a civil society leader, said that no leader could become a national leader in the past due to weaknesses of ruling system.
"As a student of development, I would advocate for directly elected presidential system for stability and development," he said.
He argued that the president should be given the right to choose the ministers not necessarily from among the lawmakers.
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NO BREAKTHROUGH IN
PARTY TALKS





Kathmandu, 24 Jan : UCPN-Maoist and its coalition partner United Madhesi Democratic Front Monday held a meeting to discuss the land deals carried out by parallel Maoist government during the insurgency period, The Rising Nepal reports.
The Front leaders, including Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar, had been criticizing the government decision to recognize the land deals.
After the meeting, Information and Communications Minister Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta said that the decision obstructed the peace and constitution tasks.
The deals were against the law, he said, adding that DPM Gachchhadar opposed them.
The Prime Minister also admitted procedural flaws in the deals, Gupta said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai and ruling UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda Monday gave a positive indication to the opposition parties that the government decision on legalizing the land deals by parallel government during Maoist insurgency would be annulled.
The big three parties, UCPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, held a meeting at NC vice-chairman Ram Chandra Paudel’s residence in Boharatar, where ruling leaders tried to convince opposition leaders and demanded three days’ time for that.
During the meeting, PM Bhattarai and Prachanda said the decision would be annulled after consultations within the party and with other stakeholders.
The leaders discussed possible solution to end the current political stalemate. The meeting could not arrive at any consensus but they agreed to continue the dialogue to end the impasse.
After the meeting, Prachanda informed journalists that the next meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, would succeed to break the political stalemate.
During the meeting, ruling and opposition leaders put their perspectives on current political matters, concluding peace process, writing constitution, forming the national consensus government and land deals of the insurgency period.
After the meeting, CPN-UML chairman Jhalanath Khanal told reporters that he was hopeful that the government would correct its decision as there was no alternative to concluding the peace and constitution writing processes.
Paudel said that the Maoist leaders told the meeting they would reconsider the decision after holding meeting with the coalition partners, especially the Madhesi Front and within the Maoist party.
"We will sit again on the issue Wednesday," Paudel informed.
The meeting was held at a time when the major parties had not been able to undertake formal talks on peace process and constitution-making.
At the meeting, Maoist chairman Prachanda, Prime Minister Bhattarai, NC president Sushil Koirala, NC leaders Paudel and Krishna Sitaula, UML chairman Jhalanath Khanal and senior UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal were present.
Opposition parties have been obstructing the parliament demanding withdrawal of the government decision to legalize the land and property deals made by the Maoist parallel government
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