Dire Electricity Crisis in Nepal : Darkness grows beneath the Everest

Electricity has been playing a game of cat and mouse in Nepal . Out of the 24 hours, it is on only for 16 hours. Nepalese are forced to live without electricity for 8 hours, six days a week – 48 hours per week. Just imagine yourself living without electricity for such a long time in New York , Seoul , London and Sydney , and then realize how much the Nepalese are suffering. Is Nepal returning towards the Stone Age? Well, this is Nepal, a nation with huge hydropower potentials (this is limited to the papers only), where the electricity supply has been overrun by simple of simplest demand of a meager 720MW peak load demand and this has led The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to rationing power (load shedding) to its customers all over Nepal. Never- ending Political uncertainties, terai unrest, acute fuel shortage, and now this mammoth electricity crisis has stolen smiles from the face of ordinary Nepalese, whose nation had started producing energy from water resources through Pharping hydro power plant much ahead than China. But look at Nepal today and look where China today is terms of energy security. Fearing the possible future power crisis, China is investing $125 billion in power plants over the next five years and another $130 billion in distribution paths for the power they produce according to the media reports. But China is a big and populous nation, and it needs these massive investments to keep the nation floating, you might argue. Yes, it is, but yet it shows how serious is China about its future power needs. In the interim, let us turn back to Nepal . The recent load shedding has not sprouted all of a sudden. The possible occurrence of the load shedding had been forecasted by the experts few years ago, but the government, completely occupied by other complex issues such as signing the peace deal with the Maoists turned deaf ear towards these forecasts. They either did not care or did not have the necessary vision to solve the energy problem. And on top of this they are giving lame excuses about the weather. It’s the best option chosen by them because if you blame the weather, then the weather won’t retaliate back. What a scapegoat the authorities have chosen. There is a shortage of power during winter and recent load shedding suggests the need for storage projects as the system is dominated by run- of- the river projects. Thus, instead of blaming the weather, had they build storage projects then this inevitable would been at least minimized. But unfortunately it was not to be so. Normal life has been crippled by the load shedding. Ordinary people have to make plans according to the schedule of the electricity, a perfect example of man being the servant of the technology. You want to study but you cannot because there is no light; your computer never works when you want it to; your refrigerated goods get rotten; in the kitchen rice cooker is just a show pot; your TV is just another useless tool; every now and then you get irritated by the power failure and economically speaking constant blackouts deteriorates your production level and hampers your country’s economy. The power cuts in Nepal are not good for its growth. Lower productivity means higher costs for finished goods and people will feel that in their pockets when they visit the market. So what’s going on? And why isn’t it getting sorted out? The problem is grave: shortage of supply caused by a huge rise in demand. Nepalese businesses, enterprises, communications, industries, education and service sectors have been so much hit that overall capacity utilization of the industrial units due to load shedding has come down to about 40-50 per cent. This has already crippled Nepalese economy and this is not a good sign for a nation that is trying hard to sprout out from the vicious circle of poverty. In the midst of this electricity drought, you feel depressed at times. And you feel like immigrating abroad. You curse your government, your leader and your fate and you want to go, where there is light, 24 hours a day. But wait, it is not just Nepal where power is a problem. There is massive power problem is South Africa . And in recent months there have been endless reports of shortages in various countries such as Cuba , Argentina , some African nations, Iraq , Bangladesh , India , and in Thirteen Chinese provinces. And not to forget Queens, a city in New York , and its 100,000 or so people who were left to live without electricity for nine days in 2006. And experts fear that there is every chance of Britain being next South Africa if immediate action is not taken. The reason is simple: Out of 59 coal-powered plants, 15 or so are out of order according to the reports. Meanwhile, we don’t need an expert to tell us that electricity demand is soaring all over the world and there is a narrowing gap between usage in the developing and the emerging world. The reality is right before our eyes. Electricity demand has risen all over the world and it will continue to rise. British Petroleum forecasts electricity demand to double by 2030, and now the Kyoto protocol is encouraging countries to focus on alternative power generation. Regionally speaking, just imagine how much power is needed to afloat the Chinese – Indian economy? Together China and India are the home to world’s 40% population and this means world need’s more energy than it thinks to roll these nations. Imagine, how much power is needed for every family in China and India , and remember, economically they are growing dramatically. In the year 2007, India grew by 8.5% and China by 11.4%. These are good signs but also remember that growth means more prosperity and more prosperity means more power consumption. Hence, considering so, Nepal needs less power than these rising giants. Judging by the GDP growth of its last five years which hovered around an unhealthy average of 2.1 %, and given the political crisis, there are every chances of its economy hovering around that average for years to come. Thus, there shall be a slight change in our total winter peak load demand of 720 MW as of today. But Nepal will surely grow in the future and for Nepal to grow, energy security is the ultimate precondition. In the course of time, our economy will definitely creep toward a healthy average of 3.5 – 4%, given that our political uncertainties are solved. Hence, if prompt action is not taken today, then Nepal will suffer from massive power cuts in the future too. Nepalese policymakers and leaders must wake up from their slumber to solve this mammoth crisis because Nepal has the prime resource needed to generate the electricity - water. There is some comfort in the fact that Nepal has more than 6000 rivers and majorities of them are capable to turn the turbine and generate electricity. What Nepal needs is capital and there is a dearth of capital in Nepal hence considering so Nepal needs foreign investment. But finding investors is not easy and even if you find one, they may abstain from investing in the hydropower because it is costly and time consuming. They got to wait for several years to refill their invested capital and then few years more for profit. And there is this never ending political uncertainty in Nepal followed by our lackluster policy. Being pessimist is a waste of time, so let us think from an optimistic point of view. But even so the picture is not that rosy. Take this example for instance, recent figures show that 154 MW of energy in Nepal is generated by private sectors, and the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) 400W. And add to these figures another 80MW which is in the process of being added from India . That leads to the total of about 634 MW. Or in other word, Nepal ’s total electricity capacity is 634 MW. But the problem for Nepal is this: During the winter season, the peak load demand for Nepal is estimated at about 720 MW whereas the production is only half the total demand. There is a huge difference between its supply and demand. It’s not that Nepal is running out of the solution. We have some reliable and lasting solution but for this we have to wait. But for how long, no one knows. And in the long run, as Keynes said we all are dead. You might say, why this heights of pessimism. The truth however is this: No ones knows the fate of much published and talked about hydro power projects such as West Seti (720 MW), Upper Karnali (300 MW), Arun III (400 MW), Tamakoshi (309 MW), Budhi Gandaki (660 MW), Likhu (125 MW) and Super Marsyangdi (275 MW). Let’s play a mind game. If you add these all, then it would lead to 2789 MW. That’s a healthy increase from 634MW or 554 MW (minus 80MW expected from India ) and we can sustain somehow with this increment at least for a decade or less. But these scenarios are now limited to the papers only. No one knows when these projects shall be completed as these projects in aggregate require huge investments and time. But unfortunately Nepal doesn’t have both of these privileges. And what makes the future scenario gloomy is the current policy strategy framework. No one knows what the government’s Electricity policy is nor does one know the real motive of the NEA. And the investor’s policies are also debatable on various grounds and the risk - political, social or infrastructural - remains enormous. All this means that load shedding won’t go away any time soon. Article by: Bhuwan Thapaliya

Salient Features of Fiscal Budget 2008-2009

The First budget of the Republic Nepal is Passed by the Parliament. Here I am trying to present a brief information about the important features of the budget presented by Finance Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai.

The Jawaharlal University, New Delhi Graduate Nepal’s first Maoist Finance Minister Dr. Babu Ram Bhattarai had read out a more than two hours lengthy “3.5-billion-dollar Fiscal Budget-2008-09”, at the Constituent Assembly-that has been limited so far to act as a legislative body let alone drafting the all important Constitution in a mere one and half years period remaining.

Nevertheless, the Maoists’ highly ambitious budget which has been increased by 39.7 % than the previous year promises to cancel debts of the poor and provide allowances to the so far neglected group and regions in the country and allocates big chunk of budget in Education.

Total Budget: 236 Billion

Regular Expenditure: 128 Billion

Capital Expenditure: 98 billion 310 million

Projected Revenue Sources:

Current Source: 129 Billion

Foreign Assistance: 65 billion

Foreign Loans: 18.07 Billion

Revenue Deficit: 41.11

Budget Allocation (Sector wise)

Education: 38 Billion 980 million (Rupees)

Health: 15 billion 580 million

Women: 32 billion 910 million

Electricity: 12 billion 690 million

Road Infrastructure: 12 billion 910 million

Irrigation: 5 billion 800 million

Agriculture: 5 billion 910 million

Tourism: 97.8 million

Populist Slogans

“Make our Village Better and Beautiful”

“In clean water lies Nepal's power”

"New Nepal, Learned Nepal"

"Cooperatives in every village, food storage in every house"

''Know Letters, Be Civilized"

"Slogan of Drinking water: Taps in the Villages".

"New Nepal, Secured Nepal and New Nepal, Healthy Nepal"

Price goes up in:

Custom duty and excise duty on alcohol, cigarette, and tobacco have been increased.

Vehicle Import tax has been increased

House/Land registration fee in Kathmandu has been increased to support the “Clean Bagmati Campaign”

Price goes down in:

Import of Vehicle for Disabled people

Women Salary Tax

Import of CFL lamp

Vat in Hydro Electricity

Industrial tax for Industries employing five hundred Nepali workers

Some Salient Features of the Budget

• Monthly Allowance of 500 rupees to people above 60 years belonging to the group of endangered ethnicities, dalits, Single Women and Karnali Zone and others who are above the age of 70
• Monthly Allowance of 1000 rupees for fully handicapped and disabled and 300 rupees for partially handicapped
• Debt waiver up to the principal amount of Rs. 30 thousands, and full interest due and all kinds of penalties on the loan amount of above Rs. 30 thousands up to Rs. 100 thousands.
• Salary Increase of all classes of the government employees by Rs. 2 thousand per month effective from 17 September, 2008
• Movement against corruption control
• Various programs will be carried out to utilize the property of former kings and royal families for the benefit of general public
• The village development grant will be increased ensuring a minimum of Rs. 1.5 million and a maximum of Rs. 3.0 million
• Compensation will be provided to the physically deformed people, and the martyrs of the people's war, people's movement and Madhesh movement
• Production of 10,000 MW hydro powers in the next 10 years
• Tourism Revolution within few years
• Special emphasis will be placed to extend north-south road and railways to accrue due benefit from the rapid economic development of the two big neighbors: India, and China.
• Ease the supply of petroleum products, the monopoly of Nepal Oil Corporation will be ended momentarily and a Regulatory Agency will be set up
• Provide immediate relief to the affected people from food crisis and to help farmers to increase food production, Rs. 1 billion 225 million has been earmarked
• A High Level Scientific Land Reform Commission will be formed for the abolition of feudal land ownership and production relations
• The load shedding in the industrial corridor will not be ended. To ensure uninterrupted power supply, initiative will be taken to establish a thermal plant on public-private partnership near dry ports in Biratnagar and Birgunj
• Foreign investment will be encouraged for the exploration of minerals where feasibility studies have been already completed. Multinational companies will be invited for the exploration and extraction as well as production of petroleum products.
• The legal provision of not requiring licenses for the production up to 1 MW hydro power projects will be extended up to 3 MW.
• The construction of Upper Tamakoshi- 456 MW, Upper Trishuli A-60 MW, Rahughat– 30 MW and Naumure 245 MW, totaling 791 MW, will be started this year. Likewise, necessary works will be initiated to start the construction of Upper Trishuli 3 B - 40 MW, Tamor-Mewa - 110 MW, Upper Seti - 127 MW, Dudhkoshi - 300 MW, Tamakoshi 2 and 3 - 500 MW, West Seti - 750 MW, totaling 1827 MW from both the government and private sectors
• A free of cost operation service will be provided through Martyr Gangalal Heart Center to prevent heart disease of the children below the age of 15, of the senior citizens above the age of 75, and of all endangered ethnic citizens. Likewise, a free of cost service for the dialysis of kidney will be provided through National Kidney Center to the endangered ethnic citizens, and to the senior citizens above 75 years of age
• More than 91 percent people shall have access to primary education in the current Fiscal Year
• Constructing new airports of international and regional level and developing an intensive triangular tourism infrastructure between Kathmandu, Pokhara and Lumbini thereby causing a tourism revolution in the next couple of years
• The construction of Kathmandu-Terai Fast Track Road under BOOT will be initiated with high priority from this fiscal year

Army integration: The toughest job facing post-conflict Nepal

The world has witnessed many countries passing through transitions from war to peace. Transitions often reach their climax during the ordeal of integrating two formerly conflicting armies into one.Nepal, a South Asian country that reeled under a bloody war for about a decade, is now confronting the issue of integrating the two powerful armies - the government's Nepal Army and the Maoist People's Liberation Army (PLA)- which had been in armed conflict with each other until a cease-fire two years ago. The national army has some 95,000 professional army personnel and the Maoists have 20,000 battle-hardened guerrillas. As a part of the peace process, the government and the Maoists invited the United Nations to jointly monitor both their armies in cantonments. The issue of integration is further complicated by the number of parties involved: the formerly rebel Maoists headed by Prachanda, the new prime minister and head of government, the Nepal Army (that was formerly in conflict with Prachanda), and the newly emergent Madhes. The Madhes live in a region of southern Nepal that borders India and are seeking autonomy and representation in the army dominated by non-Madhesis.The parties are still at odds on integration and the UN is helpless, as it has no mandate to step in on this sensitive issue. In fact, the issue has become increasingly complex, and understanding this complexity is necessary before reaching any decision on army integration. As of now, there are five major issues and drawbacks to which the parties need to give serious thought. The first is the parties' immature policy of avoiding discussions on army integration by an act of continuous deferral. As the issue always tends to be the bone of contention, the conflicting parties choose to defer it contentiously for the sake of (hallow) consensus. And now, none of the peace agreements can clearly speak on the issue.Second, the parties never gave any thought to what will be the arrangements for balancing defenses once the king, who headed the national army, was abolished. What if the supreme commander of the Maoist PLA wins the election and gets the authority to "use and operate" the national army as well? The reality today is the king is gone, the Maoists have a majority and they have the power to use both armies. A challenging situation for the other democratic parties! In fact, this miscalculation prevented the parties from having a clear road map for integrating Maoist combatants. Third, while wrangling over powers, the political parties in the constituent assembly ended up giving almost absolute power to the Maoists. Some of the parties were cajoled into supporting the Maoists by passing a parliamentary proposal, which allowed the Maoists a monopoly in the National Defense Council. It became a problem only when the Maoist-led Council lost faith in the state army. Under such a condition, any Maoist unilateralism in dealing with army integration would invite a disaster because that would provoke the national army to step in.Fourth, the parties, after the abolition of monarchy, gradually broke away from the alliance that they had forged to fight against the king in 2005 and began misinterpreting what was already agreed upon. In between the period of the 2005 New Delhi pact and the 2006 Nov. 22 peace agreement, the parties changed their mood. The distrust of the Maoists has increased and the word "integration" mentioned in the first agreement was replaced by "possible integration" when it came to the Nov. 22 agreement. Fifth, the country's politics took a U-turn in the post-April Movement days when a new force emerged from the southern plain along the border with India: the Madhesis. Their genesis itself is described in terms of their revolt against the Maoist excesses. They have demanded regional autonomy and an equal representation in the national army. The Maoists and the other parties have committed to ensure them these rights. This would demand a complete change in army integration statistics.Given these complexities, the Maoists would do better if they realized this and took into confidence the two equally compelling forces: the existing national army and the dissent voices from Madhes. Prime Minister Prachanda's recent remarks said that he would complete the task of army integration within six months, however, a provocative response from the Chief of Nepal Army demonstrated that the integration will not be easy.If Prachanda insists on integration, then he should also explain how that won't impact the national army's neutrality. More importantly, the stakeholders should make it clear what "integration" exactly means. For the problem is that "integration" is interpreted only in terms of entry into the national army. If we consider their integration in educational, economic and social sectors, 90 percent of the problem will be solved. These alternatives could be sought by forming a high-level committee on integration comprising of representatives from all groups, including the newly emerged parties in the Madhes and the national army.

Artical by

Kamal Raj Sigdel

Where are they ???

Where are they? A National Conference on Enforced Disappearances in Nepal Disappearance in Nepal: In the later years of armed conflict, Nepal was defamed as the country with highest number of disappearances. The UN Working Group of Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances (UNWGEID) reported that Nepal was the country with the highest number of reported enforced disappearance cases for 2002 and 2003. According to the report of ICRC, more than 1000 people have been disappeared during armed conflict. NHRC report reveals that 645 people are still disappearing. Further, the families of disappeared citizens claim that there are about 5000 people missing. The ten-year conflict in Nepal resulted in thousands of temporary disappearances through the practice of unofficial detentions both by the security forces and the Maoists. Although the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture require the state to protect the liberty and security of the person in several ways, it has not been translated into practice in Nepal. Over the period of armed conflict, more than 15000 people lost their lives, thousands displaced, and about 1500 people disappeared. In the beginning years of armed conflict, the case of disappearance was comparatively less. But after the declaration of the state of emergency in 2001, the cases of enforced disappearances increased significantly. Me and Disappearance Campaign: I am also one of the active members of the Campaign against Disappearance. I have generated the concept of "The trans country cycle rally" from Jhapa in the eastern region to Kanchanpur in the far-western region which was organized in January through February 2008. During that rally we met more than 2oo families of the disappeared. Finding them in the everlasting agony I was very much worried on the issue. So, I strongly put the idea of the conference in the Anual General Meeting of COCAP (the organization which is handling the campaign). The AGM passed the agenda and now we are preparing for the conference. National Conference on Disappearance: Proposed national conference is planned as a follow-up of the previous campaigns on the issue of disappearance. The main aim of the conference is to contribute towards ending the culture of enforced disappearances in Nepal by linking the families of the disappeared citizens with policy makers, development communities and the government to take appropriate action to publicize the condition of the disappeared citizens and bring the perpetrators into the process of law. During the previous campaigns, COCAP volunteers collected case studies, prepared documentaries and reports on the issue. Moreover COCAP volunteers organized signature campaign, street dramas, press conference, and interactions with the families of the disappeared citizens. Objectives: 1. Link the families of the disappeared citizens with policy makers, civil society actors and the government. 2. Create citizens' pressure to government and policy makers to take the disappearance as an urgent issue to be addressed. 3. Make concerned parties responsible in observing the real condition of the families of the disappeared citizens and provide them with the compensation. 4. Put pressure to take appropriate actions to those involved in such inhuman act of forcing people to be disappeared and to end impunity. 5. Put pressure on the concerned authorities to form a high level commission about the issue of disappearance. 6. Put pressure to ratify and enforce international treaties relating to disappearance. Participants: The national conference is attended by the families of the disappeared citizens, leaders of political parties, government authorities and policy makers. The participants also include the members of constituent assembly, civil society leaders, journalists, volunteers, intellectuals, local NGOs and INGOs and organizations dealing with the issue of disappearance. It is expected that about 600 people will participate the conference. 1. 200 members of disappeared families from various parts of the country 2. 100 Constituent Assembly members 3. 100 volunteers 4. 150 participants including the civil society leaders, other various organizations, students, journalists, intellectuals political parties and their sister organizations 5. 50 from organizers Conference Modality: The national conference is a collective effort of various organizations, individuals and volunteers. About two dozen civil society organizations have been involved in organizing the conference. The cost of the conference will be shared by individuals, organizations and interested donor organizations. Since it is a collective effort no donations more than NRS. 50,000 will be accepted form national organizations. However, international donor agencies can contribute maximum up to NRS. 100,000. Venue: Staff College, JawalaKhel, Lalitpur

Date :Sep 19 2008

Time : 11 am onwards

I would like to invite you too.

Prachanda the first prime minister of the Republic Nepal

On May 28, 2008, Nepal was declared a federal democratic republic at the first CA meeting. Prachanda was elected as the first prime minister of the Republic Nepal.

Here is his background "From His Childhood to Primeminister" Personal life and early career Born in Nepal's Kaski district,Prachanda spent much of his childhood in the Chitwan district. He received a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (BSc-Ag) from the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS) in Rampur, Chitwan, and was once employed at a rural development project sponsored by USAID, the project site being Jajarkot. And he was also the teacher in high school in Aarught of Gorkha district. Moved by witnessing severe poverty among Nepalis, he has said, Prachanda was drawn to leftist political parties in his youth. In 1981 he joined the underground. He became general secretary (party leader) of the Communist Party of Nepal (Mashal) in 1989. After a number of permutations, this party became the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). He lived underground even after the restoration of democracy in 1990. Until then a little-known figure, he controlled the clandestine wing of the party, while the parliamentary representation in the United People's Front was headed by Dr. Baburam Bhattarai. Since 1996, Prachanda has become internationally known as the leader of CPN (M), presiding over its military and political wings. Maoist insurrection On February 4, 1996, Bhattarai gave the government, led by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, a list of 40 demands, threatening civil war if they were not met. The demands related to "nationalism, democracy and livelihood" and included such line items as the "domination of foreign capital in Nepali industries, business and finance should be stopped", and "discriminatory treaties, including the 1950 Nepal-India Treaty, should be abrogated", and "land under the control of the feudal system should be confiscated and distributed to the landless and the homeless. Prachanda directed the military efforts of the CPN (M) towards establishing areas of control, particularly in the mountainous regions and western Nepal. Relations with Bhattarai In late 2004 or early 2005, relations between Prachanda and Bhattarai soured. This was reportedly due to disagreement on power sharing inside the party. Bhattarai was unhappy with the consolidation of power under Prachanda. At one point Prachanda expelled Bhattarai from the party (he was later reinstated). But in reality it was not like that the news which came in public media houses. They reconciled at least some of their differences. Twelve point agreement On November 22 2005 Prachanda and the Seven Party Alliance released a "twelve-point agreement" that expressed areas of agreement between the CPN (M) and the parties that won a large majority in the last parliamentary election in 1999. Among other points, this document stated that a dictatorial monarchy of King Gyanendra is the chief impediment to progress in Nepal. It claimed further that the Maoists are committed to human rights and press freedoms and a multi-party system of government. It pledged self-criticism and the intention of the Maoists and the Seven Parties to not repeat past mistakes. Ceasefires Several ceasefires have occurred over the course of the Nepalese civil war. Prachanda announced a ceasefire with a stated duration of 90 days. The move followed weeks of massive protests—the April 2006 Nepalese general strike& mdash; in Kathmandu and elsewhere that had forced Gyanendra of NepalKing Gyanendra to give up the personal dictatorship he had established on the February 1, 2005, and restore the parliament that was dissolved in May 2002. After that a new government was established by the Seven-Party Alliance. The parliament and the new government supported the ceasefire and started negotiations with the Maoists on the basis of the twelve-point agreement. The two sides agreed that a new constituent assembly will be elected to write a new constitution, and decide on the fate of monarchy. The Maoists want this process to end with Nepal becoming a republic. Interim government Prachanda met for talks with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on June 16 2006, in what was thought to be his first visit to the capital Kathmandu in more than a decade. This meeting resulted in an agreement to dissolve parliament, incorporate the CPN (M) into a new interim government, draft a new constitution, and disband the CPN (M)'s "people's governments" operating in rural Nepal. The two sides also agreed to disarm at a later date, under international supervision the CPN (M) pulled themselves out of the coalition government ahead of the [[Nepalese Constituent Assembly election, 2008Constituent Assembly election, demanding the declaration of a republic by parliament and a system of proportional representation in the election. The CPN (M) rejoined the government on December 30, 2007 after an agreement to abolish the monarchy following the election and to have a system of partial proportional representation in the election. Head of the government On January 25 2008, the CPN (M) said that it wanted Prachanda to become President of Nepal when a republic is established. In the April 2008 Constituent Assembly election, he was elected from Kathmandu constituency-10, winning by a large margin and receiving nearly twice as many votes as his nearest rival, the candidate of the Nepali Congress. With the CPN (M) appearing to have won the election, Prachanda pledged that the party would work together with other parties in crafting the new constitution, and he assured the international community, particularly India and China, that the party wanted good relations and cooperation. He also said that the party had expressed its commitment to multi-party democracy through the election. Following power-sharing discussions that lasted several months, Prachanda was elected as Prime Minister by the Constituent Assembly on August 15, 2008. The CPN (UML), the Madeshi People's Rights Forum, and 18 other parties supported him. But the Nepali Congress supported Sher Bahadur Deuba. Prachanda received 464 votes, while Deuba received 113 votes.

In favor of Government in CPN Maoists’ Leadership

This peace of writing was aroused in me while I was very much worried about the future of peace process and the future of the nation itself.
The politics has changed its direction since the election of president and vice president. I said it has been changed because the politics took the path of majority and minority breaking the culture of consensus. The purpose of going to the simple majority in spite of two third majorities was to break the politics of consensus. Though Maoist was resisting this provision at first, it could not remain firm in its stand. So the provision of simple majority to elect the top positions of the nation and to form the government was included in the 5th amendment of interim constitution. After that amendment, the Nepali politics headed towards the same way of so called democratic period of 1990 to 2006.
Again the politics of betrayal and disloyalty had started. The three party’s alliance of NC, CPN (UML) and MJAF was formed in the last hour of the election of the president. The coalition became success to elect the president and his vice of their candidates. I have already mentioned my disappointment with the person in the post of vice president. So the first mistake of this coalition was to elect the controversial person in such a position.
Now the coalition is making mistakes by claiming the right to form the government in the name of mathematical majority. Even they are acting as they have forgotten the result of the CA election! The verdict of the people in the election is very clear which is, form the government in the leadership of Maoists with common agreements among all the parties. I think this was the mandate of the Election. But some of the leaders of the three parties’ alliance are claiming for their leadership in the government.
This is the matter of great concern. If such a government formed excluding Maoists, it would be the great mistake in the History and the misfortune for the country. I think it is not easy to run the country excluding Maoists because they will not remain silent. They will be forced to take the offensive actions against such government. That may be in any form. Ultimately, that will invite a different type of conflict which will be very harmful for the peace process and constitution making process. The country will again be the hostage of uncertainty.

At last, if we are questing the real democracy and we want peace, lets raise the voices in favor of Maoists government!!!!!

Let's Condemn the Hindi Devotion of Pramananda Jha

While writing this piece, I am feeling very ashamed. The person, who was downgraded from the Supreme Court judge to the district Court due to his suspicious decision to give the clear chit to the drug smuggler Dil Bahadur Gurung, is now in the post of the vice president of the nation. Yes, I am talking Mr. Parmananda Jha the most criticized judge during his time in Supreme Court. While he was judge, he did the decision in favor of the smuggler who was caught red hand by police in the Airport. After downgrading also his bench was boycotted by the layer in Biratnagar saying the he was corrupted. Due to which he had to take the indefinite leave until his retirement. After his retirement he joined the amless and philosophy less party Madeshi Janaadhikar Forum. Forgetting his blacklisted past,The new coalition of CPN (UML), Nepali Congress and other short vision political parties put him in the position of first vice president of Nepal. Isn't it the matter of ashamed?!

Just after his victory in the post, he has dishonored the motherland and his own mother tongue Maithili. When he administered the oath of the Vice President, he was clad in a dress many identify with Indian parliamentarians, the latter preferred to take it in Hindi. It would not be the matter of condemn if he took the oath in his mother tongue Maithili. But he was speaking in such a way that he was an Indian minister rather than the first vice-president of Republic Nepal.

According to an independent statistics, only 0.05 percent of people living in Terai speak Hindi. The majority of the people there speak Bhojpuri, Maithali, Avadhi and other local dialects. However, even other Madhesi leaders prefer to mostly speak in Hindi during the parliamentary proceedings also.

So I think that this is a matter of grate concern which has put at risk the sovereignty of our country. Don't you think so?????

If yes,

Let's condemn the love for Indian language of the vice president and Madeshi leaders!!!!!!

Finally we got the first pesident of Nepal

Today I am very happy to get the first president of my country. At this moment i am feeling the sovereign citizen. The son of the people is now the head of the country.

In the mean time I would like to remind all of my friends how it has been translated into reality which used to be called dream some years back. Most of the intellect and even political parties(now they dont feel shame to claim that they were the real fighters for this day) used to tease the vision to throw the monarch saying its impossible just 15 years before. Yes, I am talking about the peoples' war!!! it was started putting the vision of this day as the primary demand. The base of the Peoples' Movement II was also the same historical war which has been prooved by history itself. So we should salute those who dared to have the "dream" of this day and those who have given their lives for the same cause.

But we should not forget that the task is not finished.

There is the long way to go yet!!!!

Here is a piece of news of the first president

Dr Ram Baran Yadav has been elected the first president of the federal democratic republic of Nepal.
Dr Yadav, a leader from the southern plains (Maadhes), gained 308 out of 590 votes on Monday’s presidential run-off, while his opponent Ram Raja Prasad Singh got only 282 votes.
The Constituent Assembly (CA) Chairman Kul Bahadur Gurung announced the victory of Yadav at the CA assembly held after the presidential election.

Armed forces ring Nepalgunj Riot Police Battalion

Demanding action against corrupt officials and better treatment of junior staffs Scores of personnel of Armed Police Force and Nepal Police have ringed the Riot Police Battalion in Nepalgunj where 'rebellious' junior police officials holding seven senior officials hostage have been holed up. The District Administration of Banke has declared the surrounding areas around the battalion as riot-torn area and has restricted normal movement of people there. The armed policemen ringing the battalion have not yet brought the rebellious unit to control. As the policemen in the battalion are armed and appear on standby position, the policemen from outside could not immediately intervene to rescue the hostages. Security officials have said that they are ringing the area in order to make the rebellious policemen surrender and not to allow them to flee. Reinforcements from Dang and Surkhet districts have been brought to bring the situation under control. Some reports say that chopper of Nepali Army also made aerial review of the situation. Senior security officials are holding discussion at the Home Ministry to decide ways to deal with the situation. Earlier, Home Minister Krishna Sitaula had instructed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Om Bikram Rana to take disciplinary action against rebellious policemen. He instructed the police chief to ensure maintenance of chain of command and discipline in the entire police force. The junior policemen of the battalion – probably taking a cue from similar revolt in Shamshergunj battalion of Armed Police Force (APF) less than a month ago – held their seniors hostage putting forth 29-

One of the evil forces "Paras" leave for Singapore

One of the evil forces "Paras" leave for Singapore Paras Shah one of the gangsters flew to Singapore. He plans to quit the country following abolition of the monarchy. He reached Tribhuvan International Airport with personal security officials (PSO) and close relatives. Paras's late uncle Dhirendra's son-in-law and close aide of the monarch, Dr Rajiv Shahi, who survived in the 2001 royal massacre, saw Paras off at the airport. Paras was accompanied to Singapore by his brother-in-law Raj Bahadur Singh and Adarsh Bikram Rana. Before he headed towards the airport, journalists asked him if he planned to return, but he only smiled. Paras, who went through the VIP lounge, traveled on an ordinary passport as a common citizen, airport security said. Reports have it that Paras has left for Singapore to set up a permanent base there and he has called for his wife and children to join him after a few days. Some newspapers, on the other hand, speculated that he was heading for Singapore to find a school and a home for his family, but he would not stay there permanently. After the withdrawal of all royal privileges enjoyed by the 240 year-old monarchy, Paras was concerned for the safety of his family. Paras' father Gyanendra became the last king of the Shah dynasty on May 28 when the Constituent Assembly elected the previous month declared the country a republic. With his departure our country Nepal we the Nepali are feeling little bit safe from one of the evil force. Lets hope he will not back and do the harm to us.

Still in Dilemma

Hello Friends!! Our country Nepal is still in political dilemma. We the Nepali people are still waiting for the new Government. There is the dispute among the political parties regarding the power sharing. The parties who had got the less votes and defeated in the CA Election, are claiming for the higher positions in the new government. But the nation is not ready to accept their claims. What the people want is the inclusive and progressive government according to the seats gained by political parties in Constituent Assembly Elections. If the parties with less seats lead the government there would be the violation of the democratic norms and values. Don't you think so? Lets hope all the political parties will acknowledge the mandate of people casted in the vote and help to clear the way for new government.

Congratulation !!!

Hello all of you!! Today I am happy to know that the 'Chhote Raja' GP Koirala has resigned from the post of Primeminister yesterday. We all have to be happy because the Koirala Dynesty was second step of the Monarchy in Nepal. Now I am waiting to the progressive government that will be formed according to the mandate of people in CA Election.