Dedicated to Daniel Pearl

It’s much frustrating time in Nepal. The Maoists haven’t yet stopped violence. I was particularly frustrated when I heard on Friday morning that the Maoists abducted a person from Kathmandu and killed in Chitwan. I noticed some locals of Koteswor in Kathmandu were protesting in front of the Maoist’s office, I and my colleague visited the area in the afternoon. Actually, the building which the Maoists are using for the office of their sister organizations belongs to Dhakhwa, who couldn’t pay the loan to Nepal Rastra Bank. The Maoists have seized his house and are running their office from there. When we reached the area, we found some 400 YCL cadres around the building. We asked a comrade at the place and he said the YCL chased away the protesters. I felt Nepal entered the Junta regime where a person is murdered and protests are not allowed. The family of the victim are not allowed to demand why their relative was murdered. I am sure the Maoists are trying to usher Junta regime in Nepal. Their YCL have continued their terror spell across the country while they are set to form a government. Unfortunately, the Maoists used all means–terror and all other tactics to secure their victory in majority constituencies in the country. I and my colleague Yuvraj discussed the post-election situation in Nepal and concluded that the Maoists are bent on introducing their authoritarian regime. Everybody in Nepal are much frustrated and they all want to leave the country as soon as possible. During my conversation with few colleague in Kantipur publications, I heard they all want to leave Nepal soon. They are scared that the Maoists will intensify their terror and turn Nepal another Myanmar.

I call all national and international community to put pressure against the Maoists. The Maoists shouldn’t be allowed to form the government without amending the constitution. There must be some one  from another political party at the top post in the Maoist-formed government. Otherwise, already suffering from brain drain, Nepal will lose many journalists and intellectuals in near future.

The Global Investigative Journalism is scheduled to hold its fifth global conference in Norway in September. This year’s
speakers are Robert Fisk (Independent), Seymour Hersh (The New Yorker)
and UNESCO price winner 2008 Lydia Cacho Ribeiro. The conference, being attended by more than 500 representatives from around the world, will discuss the major investigative issues including conflict/war reporting. For further information please visit www.gijc2008.no).

UML has intensified its discussion within the party Standing Committee to find the party’s next general secretary. The party has scheduled its next central committee meeting on May 14.  Party source says the Standing Committee will finalize the name of party’s next general secretary and will present it at the central committee meeting on Wednesday.

The source said the standing committee will choose the name from among party senior leaders—Amrit Kumar Bohara, Jhalanath Khanal and KP Sharma Oli.

“The real competition for the next general secretary is between Jhalanath Khanal and KP Oli,” said the source, adding, “Khanal looks stronger than Oli.”

Following the selection of a new general secretary, the party will decide whether or not to join the next government under the Maoist’s leadership.

However, the party central committee has remained divided over the issue of joining the next government.

Party leaders Sahana Pradhan, Surendra Pande, Bhim Rawal including Bamdev Gautam have pleaded for joining the would-be-coalition-government under the Maoist Maoist leadership. They have argued that the party could play a significant role by joining the government. However, 30 central leaders out of 68, including senior leaders—Iswor Pokharel, Pradip Nepal, Madhav Kumar Nepal and KP Oli are against joining the government under Maoist leadership.

Party senior leader Gautam on Monday’s central committee meeting also strongly argued that the UML must support the Maoists in practice. “UML must join the next government under the Maoist’s leadership,” a central leader quoted Gautam as saying during the meeting.

The party, however has already demanded that the Maoists dissolve its youth wing—Young Communist League (YCL)–, return all the seized property, be ready for constitutional amendment and power-share.

The party Central Committee meeting on Monday endorsed the political proposal of acting general secretary Bohara. The proposal has urged the Maoists to immediately stop their violent activities across the country to get support in the future.

It has also stated that the UML should negotiate for major power share before supporting the Maoists or joining the next government.

Eventually, King Gyanendra will have to leave the palace, his position and become a common citizen in a month period in Nepal. We can’t say anything except pitying him as he never honored Nepalese people’s aspirations for freedom and demcracy. Unfortunately, he put an end to the 240-year old institution. It is caused by his own deeds. Therefore, majority Nepalese people have no regret for him to leave the palace rather they want him to soon do so.

With the completion of the Constituent Assembly election and the Election Commission making public its final result, the political parties in Nepal are scheduled to sit for a grand assembly. According to the constitutional provision, the parties are supposed to sit for the assembly in next three weeks. And soon the assembly takes place, it will formalize the decision of declaring Nepal a republican state and will abolish monarchy once and for all.
I can’t read the king’s mind what he is thinking or doing these days. But the rumors around are that he is planning to resume his business. He was a businessman before he became the king following the assasination of his brother King Birendra. Even if he resumes his business, I don’t see any better days for him because people will despise him all the time. He failed to win the heart of Nepalese people. They just hate him and especially his son Paras who has earned notorieity for gambling, boozing and beating people.

Anyway, I wish him good luck and say last goodbye!

From now until August 1, 2008 applications are being accepted from print and online journalists for the 2009 Alfred Friendly and Daniel Pearl Fellowships. Successful candidates will report for American newspapers from March-August 2009. Since 1984, AFPF has provided on-the-job training to 258 journalists from 78 developing countries. In the United States Fellow learn practices, standards and values of U.S. journalism which they can adapt, share and apply in their own countries.

 Attached please find information about AFPF including an application for the 2009 program. Please share these materials with mid-career journalists who you feel are appropriate for this program. The application is also available at http://www.pressfellowships.org/application.html.

 Applicants for the fellowships must meet the following minimum criteria of eligibility:

-Current full-time employment as a journalist for the news or editorial departments of independent newspapers, wire services, online publications, or magazines of general public interest in a developing country;

- At least three years of full-time professional experience as a journalist in the print/online media;

- Citizenship of a developing country;

- Early to mid-career status and between 25 and 35 years old;

- A demonstrated personal commitment to a career in journalism in a developing country;

- Ability and desire to share what is learned on the fellowship with other journalists at home;

- Endorsement from the management of the home publication;

- An excellent command of both written and spoken English as all activities are conducted in English.

 We would also like to take this opportunity to introduce the 2008 Alfred Friendly and Daniel Pearl Fellows who come from Brunei Darussalam, China, Hungary, India, Kenya, Nepal, Pakistan, Turkey and Uruguay. You can now find their biographies online at http://www.pressfellowships.org/2008fellows.html.

 

Seven political parties will discuss the model of future government and implementation of republic in an all-party meeting, scheduled for May 9.
 Following separate consultations with UML and Maoists, Prime Minister and President of Nepali Congress Girija Prasad Koirala has called the meeting.
 “We have told Maoists to present their model of future government,” said UML leader Bharatmohan Adhikari, who attended meetings with Maoist Chairman Prachanda and PM Koirala on Monday.
 Adhikari said the future government should be formed only after consensus among all political parties. “Since we have a serious task of drafting a new constitution, all political parties must maintain a unity,” he said, adding, “Parties should also reach consensus over the issue of CA meeting and its agenda.”
During a separate meeting today morning, UML leaders–Madhav Kumar Nepal, Adhikari including party acting general secretary Amrit Kumar Bohara—told PM Koirala that the Maoists, being the largest political party, should be allowed to head the next government.
 UML team told PM that the NC and the UML would have to decide joining the next government only after evaluating the Maoist’s offer during the seven-party meeting.

 PM said an agreement on the issues of structure of the future government and implementation of republic should be reached among all political parties before the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly.
 Maoist Chairman Prachanda held a separate meeting with UML leader Nepal at the latter’s house in Koteswor. During the meeting, Prachanda urged Nepal that the UML should join the future coalition government. Prachanda also urged Nepal to cooperate in the implementation of republic through the first meeting of the CA.Nepal however said the party’s central committee meeting will decide whether or not to participate in the government.

 “UML is always ready to cooperate to reach the peace process to logical end,” Adhikari quoted Nepal say saying during the meeting.