Sushil-led Government-28

Nepal: Weak Prime Minister Of Strong Government

Siddhi B Ranjitkar

Prime Minister Sushil Koirala has many things to do as a prime minister but he has been very slow. He is the prime minister of a two-thirds majority coalition government. His major task is to expedite the crafting of a new constitution. In fact, he was elected to complete the crafting of a new constitution, to complete the peace process, and then to put the country on the track of Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. He also has to facilitate the setting up of a truth and reconciliation commission, and a commission on enforced disappearance. The victims of the enforced disappearance and their families needed to get justice a long time ago; so, the prime minister needed to take this issue immediately as part of the constitution crafting. He has other businesses such as filling out the vacant positions in the constituent assembly (CA), helping the victims of the natural disaster, and bringing the CPN-Maoist in a fold of the mainstream politics: the most challenging one. He has to manage the opposition blocking the parliament demanding to enforce the four-point deal the four parties such as NC, CPN-UML, UCPN-Maoist, and the Madhesi parties had reached. He also needed to enforce the agreement he had reached with his coalition partner CPN-UML.

Apparently, the Committee on Constitutional Political Dialogue and Consensus has been working smoothly. It has resolved many issues in dispute. It has the deadline of September 6, 2014 for completing everything concerning the crafting of a new constitution. Chairman of this committee Dr Baburam Bhattarai has said that the major contentious issues such as a number of provinces, delineation of provinces, a governance system, judicial and electoral models have not be done with, yet.

Most probably, the ruling partners such as NC and CPN-UML have been thinking that they could take these issues to the CA, and resolve those issues by the two-thirds majority votes. Some leaders of these parties have publicly said that they have the two-thirds majority in the CA; so, they would resolve the contentious issues by votes in the CA. It was true and it might be the only one solution but it could provoke the opposition into launching a protest. This might be even an excuse to the ethnic and Madhesi Nepalis to demand separate provinces, and they would fight for that. This means Nepal is again heading to the political turmoil.

UCPN-Maoist, the Madhesi political parties and some ethnic parties have already declared that the constitution promulgated by the two-thirds majority votes in the CA would unacceptable to them. They said that a new constitution should be a consensus document rather than forced by the two-thirds majority. Another political party that did not believe in the CA crafting a new constitution was CPN-Maoist: the breakaway party of UCPN-Maoist; so, it did not participate in the elections to a new CA held in November 2013. Its leader Mohan Vaidhya had clearly said that a new constitution should be acceptable to all the people. His party wouldn’t accept the constitution unacceptable to all the people.  So, Prime Minister Koirala needed not only to work on satisfying the opposition in the parliament but also he needed to make a new constitution acceptable to the CPN-Maoist. It wanted to have an all-party round table conference to craft a new constitution. The prime minister has not much time for talking to all the political leaders and convincing them of completing a new constitution within a year the time limit he himself had set for. Outsiders did not see that Prime Minister had been doing any things seriously to build a consensus on all the disputed matters concerning a new constitution.

Currently, the opposition parties such as UCPN-Maoist, and Madhesi parties have been blocking the businesses of the parliament demanding to set up a high level political committee (HLPC) comprising major political parties such as NC, CPN-UML, UCPN-Maoist and the Madhesi political parties following the deal reached on December 24, 2013. Why the prime minister signed off the deal if he were not to enforce it but the Nepalese media had been blaming the CPN-UML for not setting it up, as the CPN-UML was not for including the Madhesis on the HLPC. Whether any political party liked it or not if the deal had been done it should be enforced. That is the rule of law. CPN-UML itself had been complaining that the NC was not for enforcing the seven-point deal it had reached with the NC before forming a current coalition government. Would this kind of working style of the political parties lead Nepal to a political stability?

UCPN-Maoist and Madhesis have other concerns, too. They are concerned with the budgetary allocation, slow and inadequate distribution of relief materials to the landslide victims, unfair approach to the nomination of 26 members of the Constituent Assembly and the ongoing sit-in by truck operators in Kathmandu. These were what Chairman of UCPN-Maoist Prachanda told in the parliament on August 29, 2014 before blocking the House proceedings. The opposition lawmakers had continued to block the House. Prime Minister Koirala had urged the opposition lawmakers not to do so. He needed to understand that a simple request for letting the House running its business smoothly would certainly not work. For this, Prime Minister Koirala needed to talk to them and sort out the problems.

Political instability has been in the horizon as the deadline for completing the crafting of a new constitution close in. To avoid a political chaos and to survive, the two Maoist parties such as UCPN-Maoist and CPN-Maoist needed to go together. The only way of survival of the UCPN-Maoist was to launch a protest against the NC and CPN-UML that have been annulling the achievements of the people’s movements, and to put back the things it had slipped out of its hands while going along with the NC and CPN-UML. It had even reached the stage of saying it was not for the identity-based federalism. So, it was not surprise it lost the CA elections. It needed to walk on the right path if it were to survive in the political arena. CPN-Maoist also would not be able to survive going back to the path of the revolution. Its only way to survive might be going along with the UCPN-Maoist. They should know that ‘survival of fittest’ is applicable in the politics, too. Both these parties needed to go together with the Madhesi and ethnic political parties to institutionalize the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.

Nepalis have been very generous to put money on the relief fund Prime Minister Koirala set up for providing relief materials to and rehabilitation of the victims of the natural disaster. The fund has already reached more than Rs 263 millions. The prime minister could use it immediately for providing homeless people with shelter and foods, as the landslides had buried their houses with their belongings. Some people had been living with the perpetual fear of landslides that might bury their homes and them, too. However, the prime minister had been sitting on the fund, and not providing them with necessary relief materials and rehabilitation of the displaced people.

The huge landslide in the Sindhupalchok district in August had blocked the Sunkoshi River causing a dam of three kilometers long, 300 meters wide and 90 meters deep, and the landslide had buried a long stretch of the highway linking the Tatopani at the Tibetan border with Kathmandu. Hundreds of loaded trucks had been stranded on the both sides of the border. However, the prime minister had been sitting as if nothing had happened. So, the concerned people themselves had taken initiative and took bulldozers and other equipment to open at least a track to run the stranded trucks. Prime Minster Koirala could have used some of Rs 263 millions accumulated for the relief of the natural disaster to immediately rebuild the damage portion of the highway. For the reason known to the prime minister only, he had not done so, yet.

Prime Minister Koirala sent his Minister for Commerce and Supplies Sunil Bahadur Thapa to inspect the landslide areas and the distribution of the relief materials in the mid western region. Minister Sunil Thapa is the son of former Prime Minster Surya Bahadur Thapa known for his misdeeds and corruption in the previous regimes. He had been a prime minister in the Panchayat regime and then in the parliamentary regime, too.  He allowed cutting millions of green trees to fund the referendum on choosing one between the improved Panchayat system and the multi-party system in 1981. Considering the family background of Minister Sunil Thapa, it was hard for the logical-thinking people to believe that Minister Thapa would really do something good for the victims of the natural disaster. Father Thapa was behind the making of son Thapa a minister in the current coalition government.

Minister Thapa had apparently gone to the mid western Nepal to inspect the few hundred thousands rupees distributed to the victims of the natural disaster. The government had sent some money to the district natural disaster relief committee to distribute it to the sufferers. We did not know whether the local relief committee had done the job properly or not.

The history of the distribution of relief materials in Nepal had been that most of the money generously contributed to the relief fund did not reach the target people. In the mid 1980s when I was working for the Swiss Association for Technical Assistance (SATA), upon the request of the then His Majesty’s Government of Nepal for providing food grains to the victims of natural disaster, the Swiss Government purchased rice in Thailand and made it available through SATA to His Majesty’s Government of Nepal. Then, the SATA officials found out that the rice intended for the victims of the natural disaster had been selling in Kathmandu.

The SATA director also my boss sent me to the Home Ministry to find out what had happened to the rice; why they were selling the rice in Kathmandu; it was intended for the victims of the natural disaster. I went to the Home Ministry that in turn sent me to the State-run Nepal Food Corporation (NFC). The NFC official bluntly told me that they had been selling the rice in Kathmandu as it was too good for the people in the remote areas; NFC would buy corn from the money it would receive selling the Thai rice. Then, NFC would provide the corn to the people in the remote areas. It sounded good, as NFC could buy more corn selling the high price rice in comparison to corn. However, we were not sure that did happen at that time. NFC had been one of the State agencies for the State employees to make money.

I don’t think that the current government could do otherwise, as the system of administration remained intact, only the government had change even the regime had changed but the system did not. That gave room for doubt whether the current administration would do anything better in managing the distribution of relief materials to the target people. The few hundred thousands rupees distributed out of millions of rupees deposited in the relief fund was the clear indication that the current government might not do anything better than the previous governments did in the past.

Prime Minister Koirala had not been tired of repeatedly saying that he would not allow the misuse of the money intended for the flood victims. He must have sensed that even the few hundred thousands of rupees had not been reaching the target people. So, he must have been saying that the money had been misused before anybody could find it out, and put it to the public. He knew that such fund had been misused in the past.

On August 29, 2014, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala directed the officials of the Public Procurement Monitoring Office (PPMO) to make the public procurement process (PPP) transparent at all governmental agencies and offices. He also said to them that it should be free of any illegal transactions, irregularities, embezzlement and anomalies. He ordered them to take immediate actions against such happenings.

Prime Minster Koirala certainly pretended not to know the Public Procurement Act itself was for the money making for the people in the high offices such as prime minister, ministers, departmental heads and so on. If the prime minister did not really know that the Public Procurement Act was for money making then it was to inform him that the Act allowed the alterations in the huge construction contracts. Those alterations were known as “variation orders”. Any contractors could ask for a “variation order” that would give the contractor additional time and money. These were the reasons why most of the major construction projects had been cost overrun and time overrun. They took so many more years and they cost so many more money. Why should any contractor complete the job when s/he could get additional money and time in conjunction with the decision makers? Who would not understand that the decision makers did not make money out of such “variation orders”?

Prime Minister Koirala could not keep even his party colleagues satisfied. After nine month of the elections to the CA-cum parliament held on November 19, 2013, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala nominated 17 party men to the lawmakers out of the 26 slots available to political parties. NC and CPN-UML each nominated eight. RPP-Nepal appointed one. Party members of his NC party and of the CPN-UML have been vocal against the nominations made. His nomination of eight party officials to the 26 vacant slots in the parliament intended for the people of reputation provoked his colleagues into calling his action as undemocratic. As the president of a democratic party and the prime minister, he needed to call the meeting of the central working committee of his party to make decision on the nominations but he did not do so, his colleagues had been saying publicly.

The truth was in the past might be even now that the decision on appointing to the vacant lawmaker positions was a money making business. The concerned decision maker on this matter received millions of rupees. Then, why should Prime Minister Koirala share such a decision-making process with the central working committee of his party? Any money coming to him or his party was good for future use. This was not the case with the NC only; the CPN-UML also had the same thing happening. Some CPN-UML leaders were not happy with the nominations made to the number of slots it received for the appointments to 26 vacant slots in the CA.

Another most important task the prime minister kept pending was the setting up of a truth and reconciliation commission, and a commission on enforced disappearances made during the people’s war. Bringing perpetrators of violence to justice, and giving justice to the victims were the two most important things these two commissions were supposed to do. Victims of violence and their families had been demanding to bring the perpetrators of violence to justice but the political parties and the government had not worked smartly to this end.

Some people think that Prime minister Sushil Koirala is as thick as a brick but he is smarter than any of his predecessors. He has been taking time to do any business making sure that he will not fall from the tight rope he has been on. He pretends to be a saint but his actions have been just the opposite. His strategy of doing businesses might be beneficial to him in a short term but in a long term it might prove to be a disastrous. He might soon need to face the unprecedented challenges from the opposition if he were to keep going on as it has been.

September 3, 2014

Committee on Constitutional-Political Dialogue and Consensus

Kathmandu, Aug. 19, 2014: The Constitutional Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee at its meeting today agreed on 13 topics including enacting ex post facto laws on human rights. The committee arrived at this agreement after holding discussions on the preliminary report of the sub-committee constituted to present report with agreements after deliberating on the decisions of the Dispute Resolution Sub-committee under the then Constitutional Committee.

Constitutional-Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee Secretary Mukunda Sharma said that the meeting agreed on enacting retroactive laws in connection to human rights to punish the perpetrators of crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide after the promulgation of a new constitution.

The committee has already reached an agreement on the nature of the provincial legislature and their nomenclature and that the legislature would be unicameral. Similarly, it agreed in principle on adopting a mixed election system for the federal Legislature-Parliament.

Likewise, the committee has reached an agreement on the geography and population to be the basis of representation in the provincial legislature. The committee has also agreed that to be a candidate to the office of Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, a person has to be 30 years old, Sharma said.

Today's meeting presided over by the committee chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai also agreed to have the provision inserted in the Clause 23 of the preliminary draft of the Legislative Bodies for constituting a 15-member special committee instead of the Joint Committee.

It likewise agreed to include under the Sub-clause 4 related to the rights to justice of the Clause 5 of the Fundamental Rights section of the preliminary draft topics such as linguistic, religious and culture.

The sub-committee presented the preliminary report prepared through a unanimous decision by its meeting held on July 31 and August 4. (“CA) dialogue committee agrees on retroactive law on human rights”, Gorkhapatraonline.com, August 19, 2014)

Jhapa, Aug. 18, 2014: General Secretary of NC Krishna Prasad Sitaula has said that the country will get the preliminary draft of a new constitution by Mid-October. Speaking at the Eighth anniversary of the women and children awareness campaign at Bhadrapur today, NC leader Sitaula said that the new constitution would be promulgated on January 22 next year and its preliminary draft would be in the hands of every citizen by Mid-October. Leader Sitaula urged all the political parties to concentrate on the constitution drafting process to materialize the achievements of the People's Movement of 2006.

The constitution drafting process has been intensified through different thematic committees of the Constituent Assembly (CA) and so there is no confusion in promulgating a new constitution on slated time, Sitaula added. (“Preliminary draft by mid-October: Sitaula”, Gorkhapatraonline.com, August 19, 2014)

Biratnagar, Aug. 18, 2014: Talking to the reporters at the Biratnagar Airport, today, Minister for Information and Communications Dr. Minendra Rijal said that the country would get a federal democratic constitution on January 22, 2015. Minister Rijal said that the constitution writing process is in the final phase, so, the constitution would be promulgated as scheduled.

Minister Rijal also the Spokesperson for the government said the political parties are holding discussions on building a consensus on the forms of the governance, federalism, and other disputed issues appeared in the constitution writing process and bring out the draft of the constitution by mid-September.

Minister Rijal said that Prime Minister Sushil Koirala started off talks with the political parties in and outside the Constituent Assembly (CA) from today regarding the ownership of all in the new constitution; the Prime Minister also might intervene if the political parties failed to build a consensus on the contentious issues. He also said that the process of writing the draft constitution has reached the final phase.

Responding to a query of reporters, Minister Rijal said that it would be clear who would be the next President, Vice-president, and Prime Minister once the country have a new constitution.

NC leader Rijal said that the NC was committed to implement the seven-point agreement signed between the NC and CPN-UML, and any weaknesses in the agreement could be corrected. Minister Rijal arrived in Biratnagar to participate in the 10^th anniversary of the Udghosh Daily. (“Democratic constitution be promulgated on January 22: Minister Dr. Rijal”, RSS news on Gorkhapatraonline.com, August 19, 2014)

Kathmandu, Aug. 29, 2014: Addressing a news conference at the Constituent Assembly Building at Naya Baneshwar today, Chairman of the Constitutional Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has spoken of the need for drafting a new constitution through the consensus of all political parties. He also said that efforts were made on building a consensus among the parties on the contentious issues of the constitution writing by September 6.

He said that the prickly issues of the constitution such as state restructuring, form of governance, judicial system and the election system should not be taken for settlement through the Constituent Assembly's process in other words through the two-thirds majority votes. "Since there would be no full agreement (on all subject matters) among the political parties if the contentious issues are dealt with through the CA process, constitution cannot be made and it would not be appropriate to do so," committee chairman Dr Bhattarai said.

A new constitution could be promulgated as scheduled if the political parties were to be flexible, and adopt for minimum demands rather than for the maximum demands of their respective party, he added. He further said that the Vaidhya-led Maoist party would participate in the constitution drafting process if all-party conference were held. Dialogue with Vaidhya should be continued along with the constitution drafting process, Dr. Bhattarai said. (“No constitution through process: Dr Bhattarai”, Gorkhapatraonline.com, August 29, 2014)

Kathmandu, Aug. 29: Addressing an interaction program on 'Role of Media in Constitution Drafting Process' held by the Media Advocacy Group in Kathmandu today, Minister for Information and Communications Dr Minendra Rijal urged the journalists to exert pressure on the political parties through the positive messages for timely promulgation of a new constitution. 

Minister Rijal said that the political parties had been closing in building a consensus on contentious issues of a new constitution; for example, political parties had been coming closer to the issues of the governance system. However, parties had not been able to do the same on the number of federal provinces and form of judiciary, but it might be resolved through dialogue, Minister Rijal added.

Chairman of Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) Dr Mahedra Bista said that the media had played a decisive role in the different people's movements in the past and would play a positive and decisive role in institutionalizing the change the movements had brought, and in completing the ongoing peace process. ('Media should exert positive pressure for timely constitution,' Gorkhapatraonline.com, August 29, 2014)

Kathmandu, Aug 29, 2014: As the deadline September 6 given to the Constitutional Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee (CPDCC) for settling all disputed issues in crafting a new constitution is closing in, it has been clear that the committee is missing the crucial timeline of the statute drafting. Sorting out all the disputed issues in the next one week is practically impossible, as key leaders of major political parties have not focused on thorny issues such as the State restructuring and the governance system.

Addressing the parliament on Friday, August 29, Chairman of UCPN-Maoist Prachanda admitted that the bitterness prevailed among the major political parties in the recent days had been the main culprit for the CA not going to meet the immediate deadline. "As I talked to leaders of the ruling parties NC and CPN-UML, it became almost clear that the September 6 deadline will be missed," said Chairman Prachanda, the ruling parties were not serious about it.”

He said that top leaders of the ruling parties were giving a priority to foreign trips even as the CPDCC’s crucial deadline was approaching fast. Chairman of CPN-UML KP Sharma Oli left for New Delhi for his regular health check-up; former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal from the same party has been currently in Lhasa tour. Also, CPN-UML’s former party Chief Jhalanath Khanal is reportedly leaving shortly for the United States for his health check-up.

Chairman Prachanda said that he was seriously concerned over the government indifference to creating an environment conducive to expediting the constitution drafting, formation of Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Commission on Inquire into Enforced Disappearances.

Leader of UCPN-Maoist also the president of CPDCC Dr Baburam Bhattarai admitted that his committee had so far done only quantitative work not the qualitative tasks in the constitution making. CPDCC was mandated to resolve all issues in dispute in the constitution making,

President of CPDCC Dr Bhattarai said that his committee had to settle the thorniest issues such as delineating provinces, determining a system of governance, judiciary and electoral models. These disputed issues led the previous CA to die in May 2012 without producing a new constitution.

"We must try until the last moment to resolve major political issues through consensus because the political course we have been following is primarily based on consensus right from the 12-point agreement in 2005 till date," said Dr Bhattarai. (“CA Likely To Miss Sept 6 Deadline”, myrepublica.com)

Kathmandu, Sept 2, 2014: The Constitutional-Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee today agreed on the form of judiciary and the directive principles of the state. Although the meeting held today reached an agreement on the judiciary and most of the fundamental rights issues, it has to reach an agreement on the property rights, Chairman of committee Dr Baburam Bhattarai said.

The meeting also struck a deal on the directive principles of the state. All the parties agreed on the 'Federal Democratic Republic', however, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal and the Rastriya Janamorcha took exception to this and the committee agreed to include their note of dissent, Dr Bhattarai said.

He said even though the parties discussed the topics of restructuring of the state and a form of governance, the meeting could not made a decision as the parties reiterated their respective stances. Dr Bhattarai added that these issues would be discussed in the forthcoming meetings.

Committee member Laxman Lal Karna said that the committee reached an agreement on 'Federal Democratic Republic' with democratic rights and the formation of federal units with proportional and participatory social system. (“CPDCC reaches deal on judiciary and directive principles”, Gorkhapatraonline.com, September 2, 2014)

Kathmandu, Sept 2, 2014: At a meeting held this morning, top leaders of the three major political parties such as NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-Maoist discussed the issues of restructuring of the state and a form of governance to include in a new constitution.

The three parties met at the Constituent Assembly (CA) Secretariat Singha Durbar at the call of Chairman of Constitutional-Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee Dr Baburam Bhattarai. They shared their views on the matters of state restructuring and a form of governance: the most disputed issues in the constitution writing at the meeting.

Talking to the media reporters after the meeting, Vice President of NC Ramchandra Poudel said that leaders at the meeting shared parties' views. He pledged the best to settle the contentious issues within the deadline following the CA calendar. Otherwise, the matters would be forwarded to the CA for decision.

Vice-chairman of UCPN-Maoist Narayankaji Shrestha said that the meeting discussed the most important parts of a new constitution and exchanged views how to settle them. Vice-chairman of CPN-UML Bhim Bahadur Rawal said that the most important part of a new constitution: restructuring of the state and a form of governance were the agendas of the today's meeting. The parties agreed in principle to settle them one by one through broad discussions, he stated, adding the parties are univocal that the matters should settled through consensus within the deadline and are holding discussions to find a common ground to that end. (“Three parties discuss most disputed issues in proposed statute”, Gorkhapatraonline.com, September 2, 2014)

Kathmandu, Sept 3, 2014: A meeting of the Constitutional-Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee held today discussed the matters relating to a form of the legislative bodies. The meeting focused on the reports agreed and disputed issues in the then CA committee on the form of legislative bodies. A sub-committee formed under the Committee presented the report.

The meeting reached a conclusion that it would be good to settle the issues relating to an electoral system, structure and the size of Legislature-Parliament, state restructuring and a form of governance simultaneously. The meeting agreed on the provision and process for putting charges against the President, Vice President, Chief Justice and office-bearers of constitutional bodies for impeachment if they were found with misconducts.

Talking to media after the meeting, Chairperson of Committee Dr Baburam Bhattarai said the committee agreed on the provision for impeachment, qualification for possible candidates of Legislature-Parliament, post vacancy and bicameral House. The meeting was univocal on barring the morally corrupt individuals and those involved in serious crime from becoming a parliamentary member, he said, adding, the number of members for the House of Representatives and the upper house has not finalized, yet.

The Committee has received proposals for 151 to 235 members, he said, underscored the need for further discussions to determine the size of parliament.

A National Assembly should be formed with the join participation of directly elected candidates and members nominated under the proportional system, he argued. The Committee will meet again on coming Friday, September 5. (“CA committee discusses form of Legislative bodies”, Gorkhapatraonline.com, September 3, 2014)

Public Procurement Monitoring Office

Kathmandu, Aug. 19, 2014: Prime Minister Sushil Koirala directed the concerned officials to make the public procurement process (PPP) transparent at all governmental agencies and offices. The public procurement process should be free of any collusion, irregularities, embezzlement and anomalies and immediate actions would be taken if such tendencies were seen, the Prime Minister reiterated. He directed reducing irregularities, embezzlement and commission reportedly seen in the offices in the same process.

PM Koirala gave these directives to the high officials at the Public Procurement Monitoring Office (PPMO) that had gone to the PM residence at Baluwatar today to inform about the activities of the office on the occasion of its eighth establishment day today.

The Prime Minister further directed them to complete the developmental work on slated time while maintaining transparency. He opined that good governance could be maintained by providing government services to the people in a prompt and efficient manner.

Acting secretary of the office Tankamani Sharma suggested amending the acts and policies of the PPMO and simplifying the public procurement process. He also underlined the need for monitoring whether the cost and the quality of the large-scale procurements is matching.

Meanwhile, PM Koirala launched the Electronic Government Procurement Portal to be brought into operation by the PPMO from today. (“PM directive to maintain transparency”, RSS news on Gorkhapatraonline.com, August 19, 2014)

Landslide And Rehabilitation

Kathmandu, Aug. 22, 2014: Prime Minister Sushil Koirala promised to the team of lawmakers headed by Amrit Kumar Bohara that sought the immediate relief of the victims of the massive landslide in Ramche of the Sindhupalchok district on August 2, 2014 that the government would not delay the distribution of relief materials to the victims of flood and landslide and rehabilitate them. Prime Minister Koirala also said that he would not allow any irregularities and slackness in the distribution of relief materials, and rehabilitation and reconstruction of the area this time. He also told the team that a high-level all-party committee has been formed under his leadership and activated to manage the rescue and relief work at times of natural disasters.

He also promised that he would not allow the relief materials going in the wrong hands while the helpless victims waited for it as happened in the past. He also called upon the local people to watch against the misuse of relief materials and fund. (“PM Koirala vows govt. won't be negligent”, gorkhapatraonline.com, August 22, 2014)

Kathmandu, August 26, 2014: Many organizations and individuals have generously contributed to the Central Natural Disaster Relief Committee; and the amount has reached to Rs 263 million. The prime minister was the Chairman of the Central Natural Disaster Relief Committee. However, the government has been unable to use the huge fund for providing the victims of the landslides with the relief.

Under Secretary Laxman Prasad Khanal at the Prime Minister’s Office told THT that prime minister-led Central Natural Disaster Relief Committee has already received more than Rs 263 million from 34 organizations and individuals. However, the records of finance division of the home ministry had shown it released Rs 89.7 million for 30 districts since August 2 to provide immediate relief to flood-and landslide-affected people. According to a financial statement obtained by this daily, the home ministry released Rs 25 million for Bardiya, Rs 23 million for Banke, Rs 7.6 million for Sindhupalchowk, Rs 25.7 million for Surkhet, Rs 6.3 million for Dang, Rs 1.8 million for Salyan and Rs 1.5 million for Kailali from the central fund.

But National Emergency Operation Center of the home ministry said only Rs 17.6 million had been made accessible to the local levels by the district authorities until the date.

Apart from poor distribution of relief amount, miscalculation of the affected people in mid-western districts by district authorities has forced the United Nations’ World Food Program to restructure its food response plan.

Chief of Disaster Management Division Joint Secretary Yadav Prasad Koirala at the home ministry write to the UN-WFP Country Representative Nicole Menage, stating a need for redesigning the agreed ration for 80,000 people, instead of 40,000 decided earlier, as the number of affected and displaced population has increased in Bardiya, Banke, Surkhet and Dang districts.

On the other hand WFP team mentioned in its situation report that a person would receive ration only for a day in Bardiya if WFP were to provide the relief material to the district disaster control room that planed to distribute it equally to over 100,000 affected population.

A recent report prepared by International Federation of Red Cross also pointed that laws, policies and regulations were rarely applied to the provision of emergency shelter and disaster response in Nepal. One of the senior officials at the ministry admitted that the lack of prevention and fragile rescue operations had clearly worsened the impact of the disaster. Lack of local body representatives has also resulted in delay in identifying the needy people in the affected areas, officials said. “Procedural ambiguities could be one of the reasons for delay in disbursement of fund,” they added. (“Govt response to disaster-hit too little‚ too late” by Rajan Pokhrel, Thehimalayantimes.com)

Kathmandu, Aug. 28, 2014: Speaking at an event at his official residence at Baluwatar this morning of accepting the amount collected by different organizations for the flood and landslide victims, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala said no weaknesses would be allowed in the rescue, relief and rehabilitation of the victims of the landslides and floods across the country.

"I have assigned the Minister for Commerce and Supplies, who has experience working in rescue, relief and rehabilitation work of the United Nations, to coordinate and monitor the rescue, relief and rehabilitation work; this time, the relief amount and goods would be better utilized," the Prime Minister added.

The Embassy of India has provided Rs. 47.739 million to the Prime Minister's Disaster Relief Fund. Indian ambassador Ranjit Rae handed over a check for that amount to the Prime Minister on the occasion.

Similarly, the Siddhartha Bank, Civil Bank, Apex College and Sangrila Management and the Hotel Training Centre provided financial assistance to the Prime Minister's Disaster Relief Fund today. ('This time, the relief amount and goods would be better utilized,' Gorkhaparaonline.com, August 28, 2014)

Minister for Commerce and Supplies Sunil Bahadur Thapa was the son of former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa widely known for the corruption. What Nepalis could anticipate from the son of a corrupt person? Surya Thapa had made his son a minister in the current coalition government against the will of other leaders of the party called RPP.

Arghakhanchi, Aug. 29, 2014: As many as 49 houses at a Dalit settlement in Sandhikharka Municipality-9 were at the risk of being swept away by landslide. The settlement at Bhuhunge of the Municipality was at the high risk of it after the land slid near the settlement in this monsoon season. People were having sleepless nights, as they have to be vigilant to the possible landslide.

Last year, a large chunk of the ground slid during the rainy season and the same thing might be repeating this time, too had been the concern for the locals. “We have been keeping vigil throughout the night when it rains hard and the ground sinks,” said 66-year-old Dambar Bahadur Nepali. "Most of the houses in the settlement have developed cracks and a hill where a single settlement is located has caved in," he said.

The District Natural Disaster Rescue Committee had directed the bodies concerned to shift all the families in this locality to a safe place after the landslide did not subside. But the Village Development Committee had not paid any attention to it.

Big landslides as long as 100 to 250 meters and 20 to 30 meters wide have occurred at three places here while four smaller ones have occurred at other places. (Forty-nine houses at landslide risk in Arghakhanchi, Gorkhapatraonline.com, August 29, 2014)

It is shame on Prime Minister Sushil Koirala that he has not been able to do anything or he has not done anything even where the reports of such natural disasters have been in the western Nepal. He has collected more than Rs 263 millions for rescuing and rehabilitation of the victims of the natural disasters but the money has been sitting in the prime minister’s fund rather than going to the field and helping the victims.

Phalebas (Parbat), Aug. 29, 2014: The government has provided relief to the families of Jamuna and Harilal Chapagain on Thursday, August 28. Jamuna, and her seven-year-old daughter Jenika and four-year-old son Jasmin were killed when the landslide buried the house of Harilal where they were at Pakuwa of Kushma Municipality-18 on Wednesday morning. They were there to celebrate the women’s only festival called ‘Teej’. Chief District Officer Krishna Prasad Gyawali said that the family of Jamuna was provided with Rs 120,000 and of the Harilal with Rs 20,000. (“Relief provided to landslide victim families”, Gorkhapatraonline.com, August 29, 2014)

Itahari, Aug. 29, 2014: Sumnima Women's Association of Itahari collected more than Rs 101,100 for the relief to the victims of the floods and landslides in the Sindhupalchowk district. Association Chairperson Kalpana Rai said that they gave the money to the Chief District Officer of Sindhupalchowk district on Thursday. Karna Rai and Kalpana Rai provided Rs 18,181 to floods and landslide victims in the Sindhupalchowk district in memory of their son Mandeep Rai killed in the road accident two years' ago. (“Relief provided to Sindhupalchowk landsides and floods victims,” RSS news on Gorkhapatraonline.com, August 29, 2014)

The locals have been very active to do something for the flood victims in the past and today, too but the government has been slow and lethargy to provide relief materials to the victims. The government has even misappropriated the relief fund in the past and even today, as the governance system remained the same even after the people’s movement in 1990 and the 10-year long people’s war, and the movement in 2006.

Nepalgunj, August 30, 2014: Minister for Commerce and Supplies Sunil Bahadur Thapa held a meeting here today with the concerned bodies that had been providing relief materials to the flood victims in Banke, Bardiya, Dang and Surkhet districts.  Following the direction of Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, Minister Thapa has been visiting the disaster-hit areas to study the effectiveness of relief material distribution.

On Saturday, August 30, eleven different clusters formed under the Banke District Natural Disaster Rescue Committee reported their progress to Minister Thapa. The clusters were formed to expedite the relief distribution tasks and manage the necessary goods, foods, drinking water, medicines and alternative resettlements to the victims. After getting the reports, Minister Thapa went on for an onsite inspection visit to the flood-affected VDCs and interacted with the locals. Locals urged the Minister to manage an alternative settlement for them soon and construct the embankment on the bank of Rapti River.

As a result of floods, some 10,165 houses and 50,960 peoples have been badly affected in the district. Government provided Rs 13 million to the flood victims through the District Natural Disaster Rescue Committee. The relief distribution has been still going on in different parts of the district, said Assistant Chief District Officer Krishna Acharya. (“Minister Thapa overseeing relief distribution in West”, RSS news on Thehimalayantimes.com, August 30, 2014)

Nepalgunj, Sept 1, 2014: Distribution of relief materials in the first phase has been going on in full swing in the four districts of the Mid-west Region: Banke, Bardiya, Dang and Surkhet. Recent floods had hit these districts severely. Each district natural disaster relief committee of the respective district has been providing various relief materials and cash to the members of the households affected by floods. The relief distributed cash, rice, lentils, salt, cooking oil, clothes and tarpaulin sheets and utensils.

Families of the houses damaged by the floods have been shifted to camps for their safety. Security personnel have been deployed to prevent the abuse and harassment of women at these camps, the District Police Office stated.

The different clusters such as education, health and sanitation, resettlement and relief distribution formed under the district natural disaster relief committee have also been set up in the flood-affected areas.

Minister for Commerce and Supplies Sunil Bahadur Thapa has been taking stock of the flood affected areas and the situation of the people there since the last four days, flowing the direction of Prime Minister Sushil Koirala. He has been regularly carrying out the aerial and on-site inspection of the flood-affected districts. The Minister reaches each and every flood-affected village to oversee the relief distribution.

Minister Thapa's team also has been collecting the reports on the progress in providing the relief to the flood victims from Nepal Police, Nepalese Army, officials of District Natural Disaster Rescue Committee and Red Cross, journalists, businessmen, social organizations and office-bearers of the donor bodies. He also has been holding interaction with the flood-affected people to understand their concerns. The people from the flood-affected regions have made the demand for their relocation to the safe areas.

Today, the government team of Minister Thapa also went to the flood-affected areas in Surkhet and Dang districts for an on-site study and talked to the flood victims.

Today, the team also visited Dhadhpani and Taranga in Surkhet and Motipur of Dang, the areas that have been severely affected by flood. The team also met with the stakeholders and acquired information on the status of relief distribution in Dang. (“Relief distribution to flood victims in full swing,” Gorkhapatraonline.com, September 1, 2014)

Minister Sunil Thapa must be enjoying the helicopter ride from one place to another in the name of inspection of the flood areas. His helicopter ride might cost much more than the amount of the distribution of the relief materials to the victims of the floods and landslides in the areas. Helicopter ride is expensive. One-hour helicopter ride costs Rs 50,000 or more depending on the kind of helicopter Minister Thapa used. It was exactly what had happened in the past regime, too. It indicated that the admin system had not changed even the regime had changed.

Babaiyachour, Aug 31, 2014: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is to provide financial assistance to control landslide at Lampata of Babiyachour-5 in Myagdi district. A mission team of ADB representative Laxmi Adhikari reached the district one week ago to monitor the landslide, and he agreed to provide the Decentralized Rural Infrastructure and Livelihood Improvement Project (DRLIP) with the financial assistance to control the landslide in the area.

Local Development Officer Bishnu Prasad Sharma said that the ADB agreed to provide all the expenses required for operating transport services controlling the landslide in a long-lasting manner. The site lies along the Beni-Darbang road section.

Sharma added that Rs 27.5 million is the estimated cost for the work. The landslide control would be done following the suggestion of the geological team headed by Geologist Nareshman Shakya that studied the landslide in detail. The road obstruction at Lampata following the continuous landslide for the past four years had hit hard the people of the western area of the district.

The infrastructure built investing Rs 8.3 million in the fiscal year 2012/13 (2069/70 BS) through DRLIP to control landslide of Lampata was destroyed because of the river eroding and landslide. (“ADB to provide financial assistance to control Lampata landslide”, RSS news on Gorkhapatraonline.com, September 1, 2014)

Jajarkot, Sept 2, 2014: the landslides hitting three villages of Barekot in Jajarkot recently damaged property of over Rs 60 million. The landslides triggered by nonstop rains for many days had adversely affected the life of Ramidanda, Rokaya Gaun and Sakla villages, according to the Chief District Officer Heera Lal Chaudhary. Two people lost their lives to the natural disaster while two had gone missing and 13 had been injured.

The landslides had completely destroyed 45 houses and nine drinking waters systems, and caused partial damages to 44 houses. Landslides buried 341 ropani of rice paddy field, killed20 livestock, and damaged many physical infrastructures, CDO Chaudhary said. (“Jajarkot landslide damages property over Rs 60 million”, Gorkhapatraonline.com, September 2, 2014)

Kathmandu, Sept 3, 2014: while receiving the relief amount at a program held at his official residence at Baluwatar this morning, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala thanked the generous donors that contributed to the Prime Minister's Disaster Rescue and Relief Fund set up for the support of the disaster victims, even foregoing their meals.

"You all have offered the assistance even overlooking your dire needs, thank you all for that," the Prime Minister said. He gave assurances that the relief assistance would be properly utilized and distributed. He also said that those misusing the aid meant for the disaster victims would be punished. PM Koirala praised the Nepal Police for the contribution as well as for the rescue and relief distribution work.

He also believed that the past weaknesses in the distribution of the relief materials would not repeat this time as a high-level committee comprising the parliamentary leaders of all the political parties represented in the Legislature-Parliament has been formed for monitoring the entire process of rescue, relief distribution, rehabilitation and reconstruction. (Prime MIniser Koirala had shrewdly avoided the opposition members of the parliament on the so-called high level committee making him possible to do whatever the ruling parties wanted to do with the donors’ money for the floods and landslide victims. This reflected his sincerity in appropriately using the relief fund.) The Prime Minister also urged the journalists to monitor the relief distribution and become alert at the local level.

The Nepal Police, Nepalis residing in Belgium, the Surveyor Association of Nepal, the Kathmandu Small Traders Association and the Janamukti Party have contributed to to the PM Disaster Relief Fund today.

Inspector General of Police Upendra Kant Aryal presented a check for Rs 20,111,111 to the PM for the PM Disaster Relief Fund. The Nepal Surveyor Association contributed Rs 140,265; the Janamukti Party Rs 75,000 and the Nepalis residing in west Belgium Rs 74,000. (“PM Koirala grateful to donors”, Gorkhapatraonline.com, September 3, 2014)

Nepalgunj, August 28, 2014: The mid-west flood victims today appealed to Minister for Commerce and Supply Sunil Thapa for immediate shelter rather than providing them with foods. Victims of floods in the Banke, Bardiya, Dang and Surkhet districts asked Minister Thapa for providing them with shelter, as the prime minister designated him the responsible person for the disaster-hit areas. (It indicated Minister Thapa had been engaged in distributing foods costing petty amounts rather than doing something concretely helping the victims of the natural disasters.)

“We don’t prefer foodstuffs, we can work and survive, but we need shelter first,” Thapa quoted the victims while speaking to the media persons in Nepalgunj after his visit to the four districts today. Minister Thapa also said the condition of the flood victims was heartbreaking. Minister Thapa said that the victims had to be rehabilitated very soon so that they could celebrate the fast approaching Dashain festival cheerfully. “The government will take this very seriously. I will do my best to rehabilitate displaced people before Dashain, Tihar and Chhath festivals,” he said.

Upon his arrival in Nepalgunj, Minister Thapa said that he was preparing three kinds of palns such as immediate, short term and long term plans to settle the problems of the victims of the natural disasters.

He also said he would present his proposed relief packages to Prime Minister Sushil Koirala for approval and then he would work accordingly. He stressed the need for providing the displaced people with Dashain packages, seeds for vegetation along with irrigation constructing dams, and essential materials and shelters.

Minister Thapa said the government would shift victims in such a safe area that they would never face floods, landslides or other natural calamities in the future, by testing the soil of the site with a team of experts. (Would any logical thinking people believe in what Minister Thapa said?)

He also said the government had released Rs 15.7 million for Banke, Rs 15.8 million for Bardiya, Rs 10 million for Dang and Rs 50 million for Surkhet flood victims. Likewise, foodstuffs worth Rs 6 million was distributed in Bardiya, Rs 1.9 million in Surkhet, Rs 3.5 million in Dang and Rs 5 million in Banke district, said Minister Thapa.

Thapa confirmed that 110 persons including two NA soldiers had died and 121 persons had gone missing in the flood disaster. (“Thapa pledges shelter for flood victims”, Thehimalayantimes.com)

Kathmandu, September 1, 2014: Nepal Army (NA) has continued its rescue operations and the delivery of relief materials to the victims of natural disasters across the country, a statement said today. NA said that it had deployed altogether 17,021 army personnel to the rescue and relief operations as part of the natural disaster management.

NA said that army helicopters lifted 539 victims trapped in floods and landslides to safety, of them, 66 injured transported to health facilities. NA also helped the government in delivery and transportation of nearly 64,047 kg relief materials to various parts of the disaster-hit areas across the country. The army deployed at the local level to facilitate the public provided primary health care to 1,577 injured persons.

Nepal Army also has been working to remove the landslide debris from the Sunkoshi River in Sindhupalchok. "Army is trying its best to open up the course of the river through controlled blasts and extraction of water collected in the river-turned-lake by creating a secondary channel," the statement said. "The water-level in the lake has already dropped down by two meters." (“NA continues rescue‚ relief operations”, Thehimalayantimes.com). The lake built by the landslip was 90 meters deep. So a lot of water has to go before the lake cleared away. The army needs to blow up the debris as soon as possible otherwise the dam would continue to threaten the lives down stream.

Kathmandu, Sept 4, 2014: The parliamentary Agriculture and Water Resources Committee (AWRC) directed the government to set up a Disaster Mitigation Authority (DMA) aimed at lessening the effects of natural disasters on the people and on the environment. The meeting of the committee today directed the government to set up the authority as the natural disasters such as landslides and floods have been annually eroding a large agricultural land across the country. The committee also directed the government to collect the data on the losses of agriculture, forest and water resources caused by rainfalls, landslides and floods that occurred in mid-August. It also directed the Ministries of Agriculture Development, Energy and Irrigation to inform the committee within 15 days about the effectiveness of the relief distribution.

At the meeting, most of the lawmakers criticized the government for not reaching the relief to the genuine victims and for the unsatisfactory way of collecting the data on them and taking the relief to them. (“AWRC directs government to set up DMA”, Gorkhapatraonline.com, September 4, 2014)

It has been the regular practice of the government distributing the relief materials to the cadres of the ruling political parties rather than the victims of the natural disasters. No matter what Prime Minister Koirala has been saying about his sincerity in distributing the relief materials to the victims, most of the cadres of his party must have received the relief amounts.

Tulsipur (Dang), Sept 4, 2014: CPN-UML provided one million rupees to the flood victims of the Dang district. The check for this amount was presented to the chief district officer (CDO) Dinesh Bhattarai: Coordinator of the District Disaster Rescue Committee today.

Party Vice-chair Yubraj Gyawali and central committee member Shankar Pokharel jointly presented the check to the CDO amid a function today. The money was provided from the relief fund of the party its central committee set up. The party would continue to collect relief materials mobilizing its different sister organizations. The relief fund was provided for the resettlement of the victims, party vice-chair Gyawali said.

Floods on August 14 killed 14 people and damaged some 525 houses in the district. As a result, thousands of people are displaced and millions of rupees worth of properties destroyed, local administration said. (“UML provides one million rupees to flood victims in Dang”, RSS news on Gorkhapatraonline.com, September 4, 2014)

Why the CPN-UML did not present the check for the relief money to the prime minister but to the CDO of the Dang district? Most probably, the CPN-UML did not believe that the government would best utilize the money for the benefits of the flood victims. The CPN-UML must have been skeptical about the sincerity of the relief material distributors. Minister for Supplies and Commerce Sunil Thapa has been overseeing the distribution of the relief materials. Traditionally, the Home Ministry did it. Probably, Prime Minister Koirala did not trust Home Minister Bamdev Gautam: one of the Vice-chairpersons of CPN-UML.

High Level Political Mechanism

Kathmandu, Aug. 24: The meeting of the leaders of the NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-Maoist held at the Prime Minister's Baluwatar official residence today ended inconclusively debating the formation of a high level political mechanism. Vice-president of NC Ram Chandra Poudel said that the leaders of the UCPN-Maoist came up with the unnecessary agenda of political mechanism at a time when the major three political parties were about to make a common position on disputed issues of a new constitution.

At the meeting, leaders of NC and CPN-UML were for reaching a final deal on the setting up of Truth and Reconciliation and Enforced Disappearance Commissions, forms of governance and federalism and other issues after holding discussions with the CPN-Maoist and other parties.

Vice-president Poudel said that that UCPN-Maoist leaders were for the setting up of a high-level political mechanism following the past agreement even though the Political Consensus and Dialogue Committee of the Constituent Assembly was formed under the leadership of the UCPN-Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai.

However, Vice-chairman of UCPN-Maoist Narayankaji Shrestha said that they demanded the formation of a high-level political mechanism following the four-point deal reached among the top leaders of the three parties. Vice-chairman Shrestha said that the ruling parties opposing to set up a political mechanism had created problems. He also said that the ruling parties were not really for creating an environment conducive to drafting a constitution as scheduled. (“Three-party meeting ends inconclusively”, Gorkhapatraonline.com, August 24, 2014)

NC, UML, UCPN-Maoist and five Madhesi parties signed off the four-point agreement on December 24, 2013 following the CA elections held on November 19 the same year. The four points of the deal were 1) setting up a parliamentary committee to investigate irregularities in the CA polls, 2) forming a high level committee comprising top leaders of major political parties, 3) promulgating a constitution in a year and 4) taking initiatives to form a truth and reconciliation commission. The UCPN-Maoist leaders had been for setting up a committee similar to the previous High Level Political Committee (HLPC) and to designate its chairman Prachanda as the eternal chief of the committee. (Nepalnews.com)

Kathmandu, August 25, 2014: Chairman of UCPN-Maoist Prachanda put forward an ultimatum of forming a High-Level Political Committee to Prime Minister Sushil Koirala else the Maoist lawmakers would obstruct the Parliament starting on Wednesday, August 27, 2014. Chairman Prachanda met with Prime Minister Koirala at the Baluwatar official residence of the prime minister on Tuesday evening and he made his party’s intention clear, Prachanda’s Personal Secretary Chudamani Khadka told THT. The next meeting of the Parliament was scheduled for 1:00 pm on Wednesday. Chairman Prachanda also told PM Koirala that if the House obstruction were not to produce a desired result, then the UCPN-Maoist would go for a street protest. (“UCPN-M to obstruct House”, Thehimalayantimes.com)

Kathmandu, August 25, 2014: At the meeting, the four parties such as NC, CPN-UML, Rastriya Prajatantra Party and CPN-Marxist-Leninist in the coalition government today ruled out the setting up a High-Level Political Committee as demanded by the UCPN-Maoist. UCPN-Maoist had walked out of the meeting with NC and CPN-UML yesterday after the two rejected the idea of HLPC.

The ruling parties believed that the HLPC under Chairman Prachanda could overshadow the functioning of both the CA and the government; so, they were not for it. CPN-ML leader CP Mainali said, “We concluded that HLPC, which can end up becoming a body more powerful than the CA to take decisions on the issues of the new constitution, is not necessary. The parties can always sit informally and consult each other to settle their differences.” (“Ruling parties rule out formation of Prachanda-led HLPC”, Thehimalayantimes.com)

Kathmandu, August 26, 2014: Speaking at the parliament today Chairman of UCPN-Maoist Prachanda said that he felt the absence of Koirala as there was no one left who could understand or realize the essence of peace process and the 12-point understanding. "I feel incomplete talking from this stage today. Prime Minister Sushil Koirala repeatedly says he carries the legacy of Girija Babu. But if the past agreements are ignored and devalued, the country will come across a grave accident.” “Honorable Speaker, I see a picture where the country is plunging into a serious accident," Prachanda said, lamenting the absence of someone who could understand the worth of the peace process, the historic people's movement, and the "people's war".

"You're saying that creating a mechanism for informal discussions among political parties will shadow the Constituent Assembly and the constitution. Honorable Speaker, which parliament did we ink the 12-point agreement in?" The high-level political mechanism was formed in the previous parliament under the leadership of Girija Prasad Koirala, Prachanda reminded the parliament.

"We are not in a situation where everyone could join the government. My statement does not mean that we want to be a part of the government, let everyone be clear about this," Prachanda said. "The four-point agreement includes the role of a high-level mechanism so that the ruling and opposition parties could sit together and play an important role of the facilitators to enact a constitution."

The dream of taking a majority decision had been a current conspiracy, Prachanda suspected and said, “lessons have been learnt in the past that mathematical (majority) decision does not ensure a solution.”  “The government has started undermining the opposition, as it is working with pre-2053 B.S. (1996) mentality [before the Maoist conflict began] in an autocratic manner against its own commitment.” (“Country feels Girija Babu’s absence, Prachanda tells Parliament”, Nepalnews.com)

Kathmandu, August 29, 2014: Opposition parties such as the UCPN-Maoist and the Madhesi and Janajati parties blocked the parliamentary proceedings today demanding to set up a high-level political committee and to address their other concerns.

The House proceedings began after Chairman of UCPN-Maoist Prachanda took special time to speak of the reasons for the opposition’s decision on blocking the House proceedings. Speaker Subas Chandra Nemwang announced the zero hour after Chairman Prachanda finished his speech, but the lawmakers of the opposition parties stood up from their seats, and they forced the Speaker to postpone the today’s proceedings.

Speaking from the rostrum, Chairman Prachanda said that they were obstructing the House proceedings for the government’s unsatisfactory response to the opposition’s concerns about budgetary allocation, slow and inadequate distribution of relief materials to the landslide victims, unfair approach to nominate 26 members of the Constituent Assembly and the ongoing sit-in by truck operators in Kathmandu.

Chairman Prachanda said that the government should set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission and a Commission for Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances within seven days but it had not done so even after 60 days.

Chairman Prachanda also said that the CA might not be able to follow its calendar of operation because the ruling parties were not serious about building a consensus on the Constitution Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee. Chairman Prachanda said that the NC and the CPN-UML were not accommodating the concerns of all the stakeholders in the constitution-drafting process. “If anybody thinks that a new constitution can be framed without the consent of Maoists, Madhesis, Janajatis, Dalits and women, they are wrong. Any attempt to crush the aspirations of these stakeholders would only invite disaster,” Chairman Prachanda warned.

Chairman Prachanda added that the formation of Prime Minister Natural Disaster Relief Fund was a good sign but the victims had not yet received the relief amount announced at the first meeting of the fund. He said that the finance minister had pledged to address the opposition’s concerns about the budget but despite his assurance, committed funds were not provided to the conflict victims nor were certain vehicular taxes were rolled back. He criticized the government for rendering thousands of construction workers jobless. “Government’s plan to protect the environment is certainly laudable, but it is not wise to implement strong measures without giving an alternative to the crusher industries.” (“Opposition parties stall Parliament proceedings”, thehmalayantimes.com)

Kathmandu, August 29, 2014: Talks between three major parties such as NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-Maoist about the formation of a High Level Political Committee failed because NC and CPN-UML were not for including the representatives of the Madhes-based political parties on the committee.

At the meeting held at the residence of Chairman of CPN-UML KP Oli in Balkot, Chairman of UCPN-Maoist Prachanda spoke strongly for the Madhesi parties. He said that he would not go for a High Level Political Committee not including Madhesi parties.

Speaking at the Parliament after the meeting, Chairman Prachanda said that the previous High Level Political Committee had Madhesi parties as the fourth constituent; the same model should be followed this time, too. Madhesi parties, Federal Socialist Party-Nepal and the UCPN-Maoist have united to the Federal Republican Alliance that has pledged to fight for identity-based federalism.

Chairman Prachanda’s personal secretary Chudamani Khadka said that the three parties could not build a consensus on forming High Level Political Committee after the CPN-UML took a strong stand on not including the Madhes-based parties. Khadka claimed that both the ruling coalition partners such as NC and CPN UML had already agreed on Chairman Prachanda’s leadership on HLPC. Madhes-based parties have been saying that Chairman Prachanda should be the chairman of the high-level committee. NC sources said that they were ready to give High Level Political Committee’s leadership to Chairman Prachanda. (“Madhesi parties bone of contention in HLPC formation,” Thehimalayantimes.com)

Kathmandu, Sept 3, 2014: The parties in the opposition continued the House obstruction today, too. The opposition parties obstructed a meeting of the Legislature-Parliament today, which was convened half an hour late than the scheduled. With the commencement of the meeting, opposition parties protested it and Speaker Subash Chandra Nemwang gave time to Sadbhawana Party lawmaker Laxmanlal Karna to put his views.

Lawmaker Karna questioned the government why the four-point agreement reached among the major political parties on December 24, 2013 was not followed. He said that the House could not resume its business until the understanding was enforced. He expressed doubt whether the government did not want the deliberations on the Appropriation Bill to continue and accused the government of failing to implement its commitments to ensuring relief assistance to the conflict-victims and compensation to the victims of natural disasters. He also accused of irregularities in the distribution of relief materials to the flood-affected people in the country.

Although a parliamentary committee was formed for distributing relief assistance to the people of those areas in different parts of the country hit by recent floods and landslides at the call of opposition parties, no leaders from the opposition were included on the committee, Karna claimed, expressing concerns over the 'least' distribution of relief assistance to the victims.  Stating that the opposition parties are not in favor of disrupting the House, he argued that the government itself seemed reluctant to resume it.

Once lawmaker Karna completed his views, Speaker Nemwang said people's voices have remained unaddressed due to the continuous House obstruction. He drew an attention of lawmakers that the House obstruction should not affect the constitution-drafting task. He said although he has been urging the political parties to seek a solution to the problems through talks and dialogues since the beginning, no serious move has been made to that end.

The next meeting of the Legislature-Parliament has been scheduled for 1:00 pm on September 25. (“Opposition parties continue House obstruction”, Gorkhapatraonline.com, September 3, 2014)

Speaker Nemwang has shrewdly adjourned the House session for a month to avoid the House obstruction by the opposition. It would not help the ruling parties. Chairman of UCPN-Maoist had said that the opposition would launch a street protest if the blocking of the parliament were not to work. So Speaker skillfully invited the street protest adjourning the House session for such a long time.

Constitution Unacceptable

Palpa, Aug. 25, 2014: Speaking at a press conference held by the Palpa chapter of Revolutionary Journalists' Association, Chairman of CPN-Maoist Mohan Vaidhya said that the constitution unacceptable to all people would not be acceptable to his party as well. He claimed that the Constituent Assembly (CA) would not be able to craft a new constitution; so, he demanded the dissolution of the CA. Chairman Vaidhya warned of the CPN-Maoist launching a protest if the government were to move ahead promulgating a constitution not acceptable to all people.

He said that the government might use the force against the protest but his party would set the nature of protest after the government using the force. The CPN-Maoist would win the confidence of people and carry out revolution, he said. He also stressed the need for holding an all-party conference on breaking the current political impasse. ('All-party political conference demanded', RSS news on Gorkhapatraonline.com, August 25, 2014)

Kathmandu, Sept 5, 2014: A meeting held yesterday between the major political parties and CPN-Maoist: the party outside the CA agreed to ensure the participation of people from all classes and sectors in the constitution writing process. Small parties had been claiming that their concerns were not included on the agenda of political and constitutional importance. They accused the big parties of providing no room to the small and fringe parties in the political talks and discussions. The meeting is expected to come up with an agreement on the disputed issues. (“All-party talks begins, parties hopeful of consensus”, Gorkhapatraonline.com, September 5, 2014)

Nominations of Party Persons To CA Members

Kathmandu, August 29, 2014: Seven months after the second Constituent Assembly first met on January 22, the government today nominated 17 out of the 26 slots required to fill out to the 601-member CA. Out of the 17, NC and CPN-UML each have nominated eight while Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal nominated one. Nine members are yet to be nominated. Four slots have been allocated to UCPN-Maoist and four for Madhes-based and fringe parties. NC would get one more slot as agreed among the major parties.

Although the Cabinet nominated Rukmini Koirala in the afternoon, after the media criticism, the government stated in a press release in the evening that her name had been removed from the list, as it went against the Supreme Court’s verdict. The apex court on May 12 had directed the authorities not to nominate anybody from among those rejected in the first-past-the-post or proportional representation system. She was the 82nd on the NC’s closed list for proportional representation.

Two of the nominated already have their kin in the CA. Mira Dhuju is wife of CPN-UM General Secretary Ishwor Pokharel, while Ganesh Thapa is RPP-Nepal Chairman Kamal Thapa’s younger brother.

Objections:

• UCPN-Maoist and Madhesi parties said that they would submit the list of names to fill out the slots of their quota only after the government would address their concerns. “We have two concerns such as the government did not consult us on what kind of persons should be nominated and the Madhesi parties were allocated fewer seats in comparison to their strength in the CA,” said UCPN-Maoist Chief Whip Girirajmani Pokharel.

• NC Joint General Secretary Purna Bahadur Khadka close to senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba said that the party violated party rules filling out the vacant seats in the CA. “The names should be approved by either the party’s parliamentary board or the Central Working Committee. The decision was taken without calling a meeting of either of the bodies.” (“Cabinet nominates 17 of the remaining 26 CA members,” Thehimalayantimes.com)

September 5, 2014