Dedicated to Daniel Pearl

It’s much disturbing to see how Chinese security personnel have been mercilessly beating poor Tibetans in Lhasa. We must condemn Chinese atrocities and support the voice of Tibetans for their independence. Tibet was already an independent state until China took it over in 1984 in a dishonest manner. We should never forget the death of 83,000 Tibetans in 1959 by Chinese adminstration when the poor Tibetans tried to reclaim their independence. China has become an economic super power now. Therefore, no any countries in the world want to displease China because they have their own trade interest. But isn’t it a serious violation of democratic principles to support anarchy in the name of economic benefit? I would like to question the democratic values of India, United States and many European countries which have not come up strongly against the Chinese authorities on the issue of Tibet.

Pls get united to provide freedom to Tibetans, who have been suppressed for years by autocratic chinese authorities.

With the candidacy of Maoist central leader and Deputy Commander of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Barsa Man Pun ‘Ananta’, constituency 1 of Lalitpur district has drawn larger attention.

If past records are analyzed, it’s not an easy bet for Ananta, who actually comes from Rolpa, to face Nepali Congress and the UML, which traditionally have strong control over the entire district.

A new figure with new party, Ananta is battling with other new figures of NC and UML—Udaya Rana and Madhusudan Poudel respectively—in this constituent, which has 65,294 voters in 28 VDCs.“Much has changed after the previous local and parliamentary elections, if they are taken as basis for evaluation. Many UML cadres have joined our party during the decade-long insurgency,” Ananta says.

He argues that the Maoists had used Lalitpur district; especially hilly areas, as their base during the decade-long armed insurgency. “I have been in close touch with the residents of Lalitpur district, majority of which belongs to my constituency (1) ever since I was appointed as party’s in-charge for the Kathmandu valley in the past,” he says, adding, “I know that majority people in this constituency support me.”

He has also largely banked on over 10,000 new voters in the constituency. “Majority of the new voters are young and they are attracted by our revolutionary character more than the UML and the NC,” he argues.Ananta may be correct in his own mathematics, but the UML’s claim looks closer to reality if the result of previous local body elections is taken something as measuring rod.

Out of 28 VDCs in this constituency, 21 had gone in the UML’s coffer in the previous local elections, while NC and RPP had shared the rest with 2 and three, respectively.

 “In general, local body elections are largely influenced by the concerned political party which is in the government,” says Bimal Bista, a NC cadre who is a member of the NC election campaign for Lalitpur district.

 Bista’s argument sounds logical as NC had secured majority in local elections in 1992 and the UML claimed its right in 1997—when they were in government.

 He argues that the NC, in 1999 parliamentary polls, had technically beaten the UML in constituency 1.

 UML’s Sushila Nepal had secured her victory with 13,893 votes while Keshar Bahadur Bista, an NC leader, had followed her with 9,975 as an independent candidate and NC candidate Sagar Rana had secured 9,000 votes from this constituency in 1999 polls.

 Keshar Bahadur Bista, who was NC lawmaker in the National Assembly in during 1999 polls, has now fielded his candidacy from the RPP.

 NC cadre Bista claims that Keshar Bahadur’s voters were actually the NC dissidents, who had voted for him as an independent NC candidate.

 “Those NC supporters are not going to vote for Keshar Bahadur Bista this time as he is contesting from the RPP,” Bista says, adding, “There are no any NC dissidents this time after the NCs merged.”

 However, UML sounds much confident with 21 VDCs–Bhattedanda, Dalchowk, Ghusel, Lele, Malta, Nallu, Tyutar, Bukhel, Chaudhare, Ikudole, Manikhel, Sankhu, Asrang, Gimdi, Gotikhel, Thulodulung, Kaleswor, Chhampi, Chapagau, Badikhel, Godawari—in its coffers in the last local elections.

 Madhav Poudel, coordinator of UML’s Lalitpur district election campaign, argues that the UML still holds majority in all 21 VDCs.

 “On top of it, we have always won this constituency 1 since 1991 parliamentary polls,” he says.

 Like Maoist candidate Ananta, UML cadre Poudel claims majority of 10,000 new voters belong to his party.

 He has his own assessment. He says NC voters will be divided between Rana and Bista.

 Three major parties have their own calculations on the basis of geographical position of VDCs also in this constituency.

20 VDCs out of 28 in this constituency fall in hilly areas. Maoist candidate Ananta claims that his party has strong influence in the hill area. “We stayed in the hilly area and built up our strong relation with people during the decade-long insurgency,” he says, adding, “We will beat NC and UML with larger support from the people in hill area.”

UML cadres Poudel suspects that Maoists may use force in hilly area, which he claims largely belong to his party.

We have to wait for next at least three weeks to test all these mathematics but it looks that NC, UML and the Maoists are battling to clinch victory in this constituency.

Further intensifying its April 10 Constituent Assembly (CA) election-drive, CPN-Maoist, a major ally in the Seven Party Alliance (SPA), has finalized constituencies for some of its major figures.
A party source said party chairman Prachanda will contest from constituency 10 or 6 of Kathmandu and 2 of Rolpa districts. Similarly, party’s second in rank and file Dr Baburam Bhattarai is set to contest from constituency 2 of Gorkha district.The party has decided to field central leaders CP Gajurel ‘Gaurab’ for constituency 2 of Sindhuli, Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’ for 2 of Chitwan, Matrika Yadav for Dhanusa (constituency yet not decided), Dev Gurung for Manang, Agni Saptoka for 2 of Sindhupalchowk, Jayapuri Gharti for 2 of Rolpa and Hisila Yami for 7 of Kathmandu.

Although party committees have recommended the name of Maoist Spokesperson and Minister for Information and Communications Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Pampha Bhusal for candidates in Dang and Arghakhanchi districts, the party is discussing suitable constituencies for them.

Barsa Man Pun ‘Ananta’ and Mohan Baidhya ‘Kiran’ have been recommended for Lalitpur 1 and Dang respectively. “But the party may nominate their names under the proportional electoral system,” the source said.

Interestingly, more than 50 percent of 35 Maoist central leaders will not participate in the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) electoral system. 
“Since we need some strong leaders to engage in party activities during the poll, they will be included in proportional system,” a senior Maoist leader said.

He said the party also wants to make sure that those central leaders who contest the poll must secure victory.
The party is in its final stage in declaring the name of all its candidates. “We will announce the name of candidates selected for both proportional and First-Past-The-Post system by tomorrow,” the leader, preferring to remain unnamed, said.
Maoist-UML working to forge alliance

Senior leaders from both the Maoists and the UML on Monday held a meeting at UML central office to discuss the ways how to forge an alliance during the Constituent Assembly (CA) poll.
“Today, we discussed the need of a left-alliance during the Constituent Assembly poll,” a participant said.
During the meeting, leaders from both the parties decided to first obtain reports from local level on alliance for the poll.

“We may take such a decision from central level once reports are received from our respective parties’ local bodies,” the participant said.

The UML team led by party Standing Committee member Bam Dev Gautam also proposed to discuss various modalities of alliance. “Alliance between the UML and the Maoists is almost certain, but we are discussing its modalities,” the participant said.

 The leaders will sit for another round of meeting on Tuesday.

 

 

 

A high-level Indian delegation of a major ruling party has emphasized on timely Constituent Assembly (CA) poll in Nepal.

The four member team, which arrived on Tuesday, in separate meetings with Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Ram Chandra Poudel and Minister for Home Krishna Prasad Sitaula, said Nepal government should hold the CA poll on time.

During the meetings, the team told the ministers that Indian government wants democracy and peace to flourish in Nepal.

General Secretary of Congress (I) Digvijaya Singh after the meeting with Poudel, said, “We passed the message of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress (I) President Sonia Gandhi that Nepal government should concentrate on holding the Constituent Assembly poll on time.”

He said CA poll is indispensable to ensure lasting peace and democracy in Nepal.

He said the Nepal government should hold peaceful negotiation with Madhesi leaders and go to the poll with a strong unity.

During the three-day visit, the Congress (I) team is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala, CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, CPN-Maoist Chairman Prachanda, Former Prime Minister and Chairman of Rastriya Janashakti Party Surya Bahadur Thapa, Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chairperson Pashupati Shumsher Rana and leaders of agitating Madhesi parties.

The team led by Congress (I) General Secretary Singh will also hold separate meetings the representatives of civil society and other Ministers.

Joint secretary at the Congress (I) foreign department Dr Ranbir Thakur, Congress (I) press department chief Veerappa Moily, Dr Shakil Ahmed and Jiten Prasad are members of the delegation.

The delegation will submit its report to Congress (I) president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh after the visit.

Seven Party Alliance (SPA) has formed a new dialogue team to initiate a negotiation with recently formed United Madhesi Democratic Front (UMDF).

 A meeting of the SPA Steering Committee on Monday formed the seven-member team led by Vice President of Nepali Congress (NC) and Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Ram Chandra Poudel. Other members but Jhalanath Khanal of UML, of the team, are yet to be finalized.

 “The team will soon hold a decisive dialogue with the Madhesi leaders to prepare a better environment for the Constituent Assembly poll,” said Sunil Prajapati, central leader of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP).

 Today’s meeting has also decided to probe the attacks on leaders and cadres of NC and UML in Darchula, Baitadi and Sindhuli by Young Communist League (YCL) of the Maoists.

 “Seven political parties will form a probe team, investigate the incident and will take due action against those involved in attacking political leaders and cadres,” said UML leader Khanal.

 However, the NC, UML and Maoist leaders traded blames for about two hours during today’s meeting. The Maoist leaders charged that the government violated the 23-point agreement by raiding offices of YCL in Kathmandu. “They (Maoists) also charged that the government has failed to implement the 23-point agreement,” a participant said.

 The NC and UML leaders, in return, accused the Maoists of using its youth wing, YCL to attack other political parties. UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, during the meeting said the Maoists must dissolve its YCL to prepare an environment for CA poll.

 Maoist Chairman Prachanda however countered that the NC and the UML are engaged in defaming the YCL in a coordinated manner. “Following the two-hour heated discussion, the leaders reached a conclusion that the seven-party unity must remain intact for the success of CA poll,” said the participant.
He said the leaders discussed that their differences might cost democracy and peace.

The latest activities of the Maoists underline the fact that they are preparing for another war to capture the state power. The Maoists, who fought to establish their communist republic for the past 10 years, don’t believe in election. They are also not going to score majority in the Constituent Assembly (CA) poll, which is scheduled for April 10. Even a layman knows that the Maoists will lose the poll. If they lose the poll, they are sure to ignore the verdict and will resume their armed struggle to establish their communist republic. Therefore, the Maoists are now waiting to see whether they will be successful to reach their destination through election. Once they fail, they will revolt. Last week, Maoist Chairman Prachanda addressing his cadres in Chitwan reiterated his point that the Maoists will resume the revolt if they will lose the poll.

Therefore, political parties should be aware that the Maoists are not honest in the CA poll. They don’t want to lose their control on villages. This is one of the reasons they attacked former state minister and lawmaker of Nepali Congress Dilendra Prasad Badu in Darchula on Wednesday.

 
Economics of YCL

BY GHANASHYAM OJHA

Much has been said and written about extortion, intimidation and abductions by the Young Communist League (YCL) and its occasional dabbling in social work. But hardly anything has been written on the financing of this most sophisticated and perhaps most ruthless political machine with 40,000 full-time paid cadres across the country. 

The Post approached a number of YCL leaders in Kathmandu Valley and asked where they got the money to keep their organization going? The answer was almost unanimous: “It’s the generous contribution of the people.” But there is more to it than that.

Consider room and board first: YCL provides Rs 500 monthly allowance and food and accommodation to its full-time cadres. At a merge Rs 60 per day for two meals, YCL needs to spend Rs 18,00 for each cadre.

For 40,000 cadres, the monthly budget (including allowance and meals) is Rs 92 million, which means one billion rupees in annual terms. On top of this, YCL needs to find accommodation for the cadres, who are ready to ‘act’ any time the party orders. 

Surprisingly, each of the YCL units is ’self-sufficient’. The party doesn’t provide any financial support and has asked each of them to generate its own revenue. There are over 10,000 full-time YCL members, in 41 units, in Kathmandu Valley alone.

When asked how YCL manages its finances, Chandra Bahadur Thapa aka Sagar, YCL-in-charge for the Valley, said, “People provide it voluntarily.”

He offered a further explanation: People know that a parallel Maoist administration exists in the country and they cooperate, providing us financial assistance.

He proudly elaborated how his 300-member YCL unit, based in Balaju, has constructed new buildings for the unit with the help of ‘generous’ support from local people. “Generous people provided us bricks, cement and other items. So we were encouraged to build new houses for our comrades,” he said pointing to a construction in progress.

Pratap Gurung aka  Mausam, YCL-in-charge of Kapan, also says he has been running his 100-member YCL unit smoothly with ‘generous aid’ from people in different walks of life.

“Shoe factories provide us shoes and various other industrialists provide food and other items. Even some hoteliers here willingly give us a monthly levy ranging from Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000. So we have not faced any financial problems so far” says Gurung, former company commander of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Third Division in Chitwan.

He also claimed that since the YCL punishes any criminals operating in the area, many business entrepreneurs and hoteliers are happy to provide them a monthly donation as ‘levy’. 

Mausam’s team has occupied a garment factory, which is essentially the property of Nepal Bank Limited. The bank seized the factory after owners Laxmi Acharya and Sher Bahadur Thapa failed to repay debts.

But that’s bank property, how can you take it under your control? “Our party (Maoist) will soon talk to Nepal Bank and request it to sell it to us us at a reasonable price,” he said.

The locals in Kapan refuse to talk to the press about what they think of YCL activities in their vicinity. “I don’t want to speak about it,” a local hotelier told the Post, refusing to reveal his identity.

Forget the locals, even Kathmandu police refuse to comment about the YCL on record. A senior police official, preferring to remain unnamed, said, “The people are forced to provide money to the YCL.”

He also said the YCL has taken the law into their own hands in the name of maintaining security in various places.

“It’s an open secret that the YCL has been operating as a parallel administration in the country. Although we document their crimes, the government dissuades us from taking action against any YCL person. So we just ignore any crime in which the YCL is involved,” he said.

Police records, obtained by the Post, show that the YCL has set up offices in 23 locations in Kathmandu Valley alone.

When asked about the future of the YCL, Sagar, former brigadier commander of the PLA Dinesh-Ramji Battalion, said, “Once we form our government, it will be dismissed.” Till then, the ‘generous aid’- euphemism for soft extortion - will continue.

 

At least ten persons were injured when a socket bomb went off outside the venue of a rally, organized by Seven Political Parties in Birgunj, a mid western region of Nepal. More than 15000 persons were attending the rally when the explosion took place in the parking lot of the Narayani Stadium where the rally was being held. Injured persons have been to Narayani Sub-regional Hospital in Birgunj, police said.

India should control suspected supporters of groups fomenting unrest in Nepal’s Terai region that lies on one of the main trade routes between the neighbors, a United Nations envoy said.

“Some of these groups that are making life difficult in Terai may have some kind of links in north India,” Matthew Kahane, the UN resident representative and humanitarian coordinator, said yesterday, according to India’s state-run broadcaster Doordarshan. “It would be enormously helpful if Indian authorities are able to keep these people under control.”

At least 25 people were killed in violence in the Terai region in clashes last year as groups staging protests and strikes to demand greater political rights forced borders posts with India to close and blocked transport routes.

The UN last week called on Nepal’s government to hold “urgent” talks with ethnic organizations to ensure their participation in general elections scheduled for April, the first national ballot since a peace accord in November 2006 ended a 10-year civil war. More than 40 ethnic groups are represented in Nepal’s population of 27 million people.

India’s assistance to Nepal’s Terai region over the past seven years has improved education and health, Doordarshan cited Kahane as telling Indian media. Nepal sends almost 68 percent of its exports to India and India is responsible for about 62 percent of imports, according to U.S. government data for 2006.

Food Shortages

Political unrest will harm UN efforts to combat shortages of food in a country where 40 of Nepal’s 70 districts are “chronically food insecure,” Kahane said.

India’s priority for Nepal should be to ensure a regular supply of food and other essential goods, he added.

“A significant section” of the Madhesi, Janajati and Dalit communities consider they were left out of last month’s accord between the seven parties in the coalition government to hold the elections, UN envoy Ian Martin said last week.

The April 10 vote shouldn’t be held unless the grievances of the Madhesi and other people in the Terai region are addressed, Upendra Yadav, head of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, said last week, Nepalnews.com reported at the time. Any attempt to impose the ballot using the army and police may start a civil war, he said.

The Madhesi say they are discriminated against by Nepalis from the hills and underrepresented in government and state institutions.

Nepal will hold elections for a National Assembly under the peace accord reached with the rebel Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). The government has pledged that a new constitution to be drawn up after the ballot will give greater rights for ethnic minority groups in Nepal.

The inclusion of “traditionally marginalized” groups in the electoral process is essential to ensuring the vote is a success, Martin said.

 

In a landmark verdict, Nepal’s Supreme Court (SC) on Sunday convicted 17 people on contempt of court charge and slapped three months of imprisonment and Rs 1,000 in fine against them.

The convicts were arrested from the Supreme Court premises on January 17 after they chanted slogans against judges inside the court chamber where a hearing on the case relating to Chamati Land Project was on progress.

“The act of the accused did contempt not only to this bench but also to the independent judiciary of Nepal,” Justices Bal Ram KC and Tap Bahadur Magar said while announcing the punishment. 

The Justices ruled that though the jail term for the convicts is three months, two months of the term has been suspended, and won’t be enforced if the convicts show good behavior. The judges said that they would have to serve the term in two installments.

“They be released after 15 days since their arrest. They be then summoned to be present before the court on the 75th day since their arrest. Then they will again be sent to the jail to serve the remaining 15 days of imprisonment. They be sent to the jail for three months if they do not present themselves before the court [on the 75th day],” the judges ordered. 

The order means that the convicts will be released after four days (Thursday) since they have already served 11 days in detention.

The court took such a step against the people though they pleaded innocence before the court. The court, however, refuted their plea.

While handing down the verdict, the court also said that no one has the leverage of doing contempt to the judiciary either by writing, speaking or by any means.

“Any act that spreads falsehood against this court is considered criminal contempt,” the bench ruled.

Legal experts said this is the first time the court has found such a large number of people guilty of contempt of court at one time.