62ND NATIONAL DEMOCRACY DAY BEING OBSERVED

62nd NATIONAL DEMOCRACY DAY BEING OBSERVED

Kathmandu, 19 Feb.: The 62nd national democracy day is being observed Sunday as a public holiday Sunday ushering in democracy by toppling 104-year Rana rule.
King Tribhuvan and Nepali Congress worked together to topple Rana rule when presence of communists in Nepali politics was almost non-negligible.
President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav issued a statement Sunday urging understanding and cooperation to commemorate the day not being observed by government.
The Baburam Bhattarai government attempted and failed to
remove a bust of the late king from atop Sahid Memorial to Narayanhiti Palace, now a museum, after monarchy was toppled.
Sections of society opposed the Bhattarai government and the supreme court intervened to stop the government initiative.
The incumbent government made the move following a decision not to recognize 7 Falgun as a national day.
After toppling traditional monarchy more than five years ago, successive governments beginning with the administration led by Girija Prasad Koirala , avoid mention the Nepali equivalent of ‘democracy’ or ‘prajatanra’
Party and government leaders talk, instead , of ‘loktantra’—the Indian equivalent of ‘democracy’ and ‘prajatantra’.
Leaders and parties attempt to shift blame on King Gyanendra
for the ‘murder’ of democracy when, in fact, political parties and leaders were the most responsible
Hardly anything was done by parties to institutionalize a democratic constitution written by political parties and promulgated on their behalf by King Birendra who lost powers in a 1990 political changeover to become a ceremonial monarch.
Nepali Congress engaged in intra-power struggle and squabble bringing down its majority government and Maoists launched a bloody civil war; the state army had to be mobilized to maintain law and order.
There was constitutional breakdown when Prime Minister Sher Bahadr Deuba could hold national elections as stipulated in the constitution.
Parties conspired with foreign forces to usher in government and system change.
Instability and uncertainty prevail five years later
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PRACHANDA CLAIMS THERE’S CONSPIRACY AGAINST INTEGRATION

Kathmandu, 19 Feb.: Maoist Chairman Prachanda said on Saturday at a public meet in the capital integration of former Maoist fighters will move ahead in one or two weeks
“Government directed the Nepal Army (NA) to give suggestion on integration through the special committee. The moment it presented
one suggestion, a rumour was spread of integration between NA and
Maoists.
‘We’re in favour of the completion of army integration and the peace process soonest. Conspiracy has increased seeing this,” the Maoist chief said naming main opposition parties NC and UML and unspecified foreign powers.
“We are for making a constitution that will institutionalize peace and progressive changes in the country,” Prachanda added.
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PM ORDERS ACTION AGAINST PERSONS BEHING MURDER OF WOMAN CHARGED FOR WITCHCRAFT

Kathmandu, 19 Feb.: Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has ordered Chitwan
CDO Ganesh Raj Karki to provide relief of one million rupees to the family of
Thagani Mahoto killed by family members for witchcraft at a village in Chitwan
last week, an aide of the government chief said.
The premier told the CDO to arrest murder suspects and initiate action against
them.
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CAPITAL’S MINIMUM TEMPERATURE 5.2 DEGREES CELSIUS

Kathmandu, 19 Feb.: Minimum temperature of 5.2 degrees Celsius was recorded in the capital Sundaymorning.
Mercury is expected to rise to 24.5 degrees Celsius in the afternoon.
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SAHARA CLUB ENTERS SEMI-FINAL

Kathmandu, 19 Feb.: Pokhara’s Sahara Club beat ANFA Academy
U-17 1-0 Friday to entered the semi-final of Magic Moments Simara
Gold Cup in Simara.
Foreign player Sulaiman Olansile scored the solidarity goal.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“You [Nepal] have enormous hydro power potential and we are the biggest market for your power. We are always ready to buy your power. We can do things on our side of the border to manage rivers and mitigate floods, but the more prudent step would be to build structures in Nepal. Bihar and Nepal share historical, cultural and linguistic ties. People on both sides of the border always think of the wellbeing of one another. We can, therefore, forge partnership for development.”

(Bihar Chief Minster .Nitish Kumar, The Himalayan Times, 19 Feb.)

“As the Maoists are enjoying posh bungalows and deluxe vehicles like Prado and Pajero, they cannot go back to the jungle again.”

(UML leader KP Sharma Oli, The Hiimalayan Times, 19 Feb.),

“The largest party in the Constituent Assembly (UCPN-Maoist) institutionally decided to go for a ‘revolution’ few days ago. This shows that the party does not want the statute-drafting process to conclude. “There is a grave danger that the peace process will remain in limbo due to the activities of the Maoists.”

(NC leader Gagan Thapa, The Himalayan Times, 19 Feb.)

‘If anyone points finger against the patriotism of Madeshis or
Madeshi leaders, we will chop their fingers off. It is for the nation that Madeshis have been demanding the state to provide citizenship by
descent to the children of those who have acquired citizenship by
birth.”

(Health Minister Rajendra Mohoto, Republica, 19 Feb)
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MAOIST TOP RANK IN STATE ARMY IS ONLY A MAJOR
Kathmandu, 19 Feb.: Nepali Army today [Saturday] refuted media reports on its recent proposal for integration of Maoist combatants, and said the news that NA had proposed to provide one Brigadier General and allocate certain number of Major posts
were false, The Himalayan Times reports.

The Public Relations Directorate of the NA said the army had not made any proposal against past agreements among political parties. Rejecting the news, the NA clarified on its briefing to the prime minister on February 12.

The briefing was based on the Special Committee’s January 1 decision to ‘move ahead with the integration process as per the seven-point agreement and the letter sent to the NA by the Defence Ministry on February 9 regarding integration and setting up a General Directorate.

The briefing was made on the PM’s direction and it was the NA’s view prepared during the tenure of former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, which was given complete shape with NA’s official detailed plan, the statement said. The statement rubbished the report that NA had proposed up to Brigadier General post for Maoist combatants. It said there was no mention of it in the report. It also said reports of posts from Major to Second Lieutenant being created for combatants were false.

“Excepting concessions on age, education and marital status given by the government on the recommendation of the Special Committee, combatants who pass exams based on established norms, can be integrated in posts up to Major level.”

“The NA’s plan includes only estimated number based on regular vacancies as per its organisational structure,” the statement said, adding that the NA has no plan to go against the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, interim constitution, seven-point agreement and existing rules of the NA.

“The seven-point agreement was made when the NA leadership was abroad and the NA has presented its view as per the pact to end the deadlock in the peace process although the pact was made going against the NA’s standard norms on age, education and marital status,” the statement said.

Maximum 6,5000 combatants will be integrated as per the NA’s standard norms without affecting career development in the NA except in terms of age, education and marital status as said in the seven-point agreement, the NA stated. “It will not be group or unit wise entry but based on individual basis and only those candidates, who can fulfil standard rules, will be selected for integration,” the statement said.

The combatants will be provided training in around 35 to 40 training centres as per international norms and training won’t be conducted in cantonments. Those selected for officer level will be trained in NA Academy.

“The training period has been shortened on the request of the PM and since this is a preliminary proposal, it is not final,” the NA said.

Rejecting the involvement of retired Lieutenant General Chitra Bahadur Gurung in preparing the proposal, the NA said incumbent officials had prepared it and there were no plans to hire retired officials in future.

The plan does not intend to add more vacancies. Rather, it aims to settle the peace process with due process aimed at structural rank adjustment, the statement said adding that media reports that more vacancies for Brigadier General posts were being created to benefit certain army generals were false.

On the proposed General Directorate, the NA said the body would be under the NA as per the spirit of past agreements. The NA clarified that the briefing to the PM on February 12 and to the President on February 16 were regular ones and media reports were exaggerated.
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INTEGRATION PROCESS HITS SNAG

Kathmandu, 19 Feb.: The integration process has a hit a snag after exposure of PM Bhattarai and UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s attempt to leverage the Nepali Army into proposing a Maoist-friendly formula for integration, The Himalayan Times reports.

Although the army issued a statement today [Saturday] denying it had prepared the proposal, knowledgeable sources said PM Bhattarai sent a formal letter through the Defence Ministry on February 12 asking the CoAS to prepare a plan for integration of Maoist combatants. After that there were two meetings between CoAS Gurung and Daman Ghale on one side and PM Bhattarai, Nanda Kishore Pun and Dahal on the other, sources said.

A group in the Department of Military Operations prepared the report. It was not shared at any meeting of Principal Staff Officers, indicating it was drafted by a group outside the chain of command. Major army issues are discussed at PSOs meetings, but not a single PSO meeting discussed the proposal, NA sources said.

Key elements of the proposal were then floated by Dahal to political parties, saying the NA had agreed. The concept of the Directorate emerged because a need was felt for a holding institution before the merger of combatants.

Security experts fear that in its proposed form, the directorate will be a separate force that can be mobilised outside the army’s chain of command, satisfying the Maoist demand for a fifth force. There is also controversy over the legal mechanism through which the Directorate will function. In the proposal, the Directorate was to be formed through an executive order that would override the Army Act. The CoAS will be able to nominate the selection committee. Army personnel volunteering for the new force will automatically be promoted.
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