Forcing tasks - Nepali Times

Editorial
Forcing tasks

FROM ISSUE #524 (22 OCT 2010 - 28 OCT 2010) | TABLE OF CONTENTS

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We are in the eye of the festive storm. Fresh from tika chats across the country, Nepalis will once more turn their eyes back to the headlines and try to make sense of what's going on. The appointment of Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal to the helm of the newly created High Level Task Force can be seen as a positive move, at least in the sense that it acknowledges the need to actually resolve the political and constitutional stalemate, and the responsibility of the biggest party to take the lead.

Like many such task forces, committees and mechanisms that have come and gone, without any concrete concessions towards consensus, the Nepali public may be forgiven for cynicism towards this latest development. But this same public, as long as it is not given the opportunity to move beyond expressions of frustration in the street (through the medium of elections), has no choice but to wait and hope. As it has done for so long on so many occasions, even though this has meant giving the politicians the benefit of countless doubts and extensions of mandates.

There is no doubt that the patient public deserves more from our current crop of incompetent and indecisive politicians. We now have a new committee that means to settle the fundamental bones of contention in the constitution-drafting process. Presumably, talk of security sector reform will not be very far away either. The sudden prominence given to the High Level Task Force after repeated failures in forming a government betrays the fact that the caretaker government's longevity is not solely due to ego clashes or the intractability of parliamentary numbers.

Will the task force deliver? Initial reports are positive, even though Dahal is meant to be travelling to China today. There should be no more benefit of the doubt. Rather, the parties should make it clear to the public exactly what is being debated in these closed-door sessions, what the positions of the parties are on each of these issues, and what has been agreed on. It is incumbent upon the parties to make this clear to each other and to their constituents, so we can have a national debate about what we want our future to look like.

If the representatives of the Nepali people cannot decide on certain issues that matter to our future, then perhaps, as was suggested last week, the people themselves can decide through a series of referenda? It cannot be a lengthier or costlier process than the current process is proving to be.

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1. K. K. Sharma

Ha ha ha.!

Still dreaming about right to information, and seeking people's opinion. ... That's a typical Nepali intellectual.

Reality is whatever the three bahuns decides, it will be construed as the will of the people. That's it.

Posted on: 22 OCT 2010 | 9:20 PM NST

2. Kamal Kishor
It is very true that we don't have any choice than wait for the political wrangling caused by absurdity of Poudel's candidacy and ignorance of arrogant Maoists. Besides these two issues, all other issues seem not significant.

Till to date, the biggest hurdle is the Maoists' abomination towards dismantling of their armed group. They know that despite the intimidating tactics and actions of the thugs and looters (YCL and combatants) they could not win the majority of seats in CA and they shudder at the thought of going to elections without these thugs. They know that without force they can't achieve their goal of a totalitarian regime. This is because at the core of their philosophy lies their belief that parliament is a tool through which revolution canï¿½t be achieve and to achieve their goal they need an authoritarian system in the guise of Presidential system.

However, despite it, the reality is also that the Maoists have gone through tremendous transformations in philosophy, tactics, programs and policies: may be not as democratic as we would like but still far more positive than the Maoists which signed 12 point agreement. In that aspect Dahalï¿½s appointment should be considered positive. He is the only personality in the Maoists who can come to agreements with others.

So let us hope that Dahal will bring some positive results on the table.

Posted on: 24 OCT 2010 | 3:14 AM NST

3. Satya Nepali

"If the representatives of the Nepali people cannot decide on certain issues that matter to our future, then perhaps, as was suggested last week, the people themselves can decide through a series of referenda?"

=> Now you're talking!

This is easily the first sensible stance the NT has taken up on the nation's politics in the last 5-6 years (I don't remember NT ever supporting referenda before this issue!) Finally begun to see the light, have we, Mr. Editor?

Or is it just the final reckoning that you can't keep selling your LIES any more?

If Nepal's media outlets, like the NT, had enough sense, honesty and integrity earlier, it would surely have saved the country and its people a whole lot of trouble. ï¿½but better late than never, as they say, and rooting for referenda is the best that media-houses of Nepal can do to salvage the situation (and make up for their mistakes).

Now let's see you do it with some real courage and conviction, Mr. Dixit. You've played enough games. Why so gingerly when supporting a line that is clearly in the best interests of the nation???

Posted on: 24 OCT 2010 | 4:17 AM NST

4. who cares
democratic public and institutions, NC should give maoist two options:

1: constitution based on freedom

,or

2: referendum.

it would be better if uml, other parties join the view. but madeshi and jhallu ram gang may not agree. and it would be even better if international community also force maosit to choose one of the options.

since commies do not have faith in people, so maoist may choose the first one.

democratic parties should call all the representatives of international communities and ask them to make a common bold view.

what is china trying to do by getting too close to maoist? till date who ever has come on power has always been supporting china.

if china get too close to one party, especially who had 30% public support in the last election and today's support may be, in theory, less than 20%- public sentiments could go against china.

china should remember two things,

1: who ever had/has worked/trusted/helped maosit has always suffered from maoist- both betrayal as well as embarrassment. dont you see what india is going through today, how maosit insulted, betrayed individuals like situala who once helped maoist.

2: trust me, if india respects nepal, provides uninterrupted transit- land, air, sea- to nepal and electricity transmission line to bangladesh..... i do not see, why nepal even need china. ..... i think, in that case, its only china who needs nepal to protect tibet issue, i do not think nepal will be needing china anymore. .......... so china must respect nepalese people's sentiment and should not have unnecessary relationship with maoist.

if i were an indian policy maker, i would have made such a policy which would push maoist to china so that they would realize that they can get nothing special from china to rule over nepalese........ for maosit china is the last hope, they have already lost trust of majority of nepalese and many international communities. if they find out that china cant help them as they are guessing ....... they will come on the line.

INTELLIGENT ENEMY IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN IDIOT FRIEND.

Posted on: 25 OCT 2010 | 6:00 PM NST

5. BILL FRIDAY

1. Let me tell you the things that you all know.

2. You are writing Constitution in 21st Century, so it should come good so that it may become a reference for future. The World is assimilating and becoming more and more homogenous.

3. Importance of next Govt. is to complete peace process and bringing of fairly good Constitution. If next Govt is not formed wisely it may not be able to settle differences on Constitution, Constitution may not come out or if it comes, it may not be that good and peace process may not come to completion.

4. Past two consensus Govts were lead by Maoist and UML but progress so far in Constitution and peace process is still vague. So, rationale behind why Congress should lead the next Government is to take you out of this vague, enable completion of peace process (because Congress initiated it) and to bring relatively good Constitution.

5. I think Sushil Koirala is one of the most experienced leader in Nepal who is contributing his life for the Nation than any others. When he forwarded RCP, I think he forwarded a Democrat who is also amiable to both UML and Maoist. But this election Fiasco reflects that all Maoist, UML and Madhesi Forum consider RCP as enemy(?). I do not like enemy word but I have to use it here.

6. Voting in CA ï¿½ Any bill that goes to CA for voting is in the interest of public or the nation and has a purpose and so is the election of Prime Minister. There should be only two answers for this either Yes or No. Either bill passes or it does not. There should not be anything in between as long as there is a free will of CA members. Abstaining from vote, staying neutral implies one of the five possibilities. First, either CA members have not read the bill (or the bill has gone back for revision); second, CA members are sick or out of the country for a valid reason; third, irresponsibility, negligence of (by) CA members for which there should be some Law or way to correct; fourth dirty politics and bargain at the cost of public or national interest for which there should be some Law and way to correct and fifth absent of free will for which there should be some Law and way to correct. Voting should be by a free will or voluntary but that does not mean that CA members can forget their duty to vote when people elected them for that duty.

7. You already scheduled 14th election, but do not schedule 15th election without party coming into consensus or take decision to go for voting.

8. Priorities that look best ï¿½ a. Form a consensus Govt., b. destroy arms completely (melt in the place where they are stored in the presence of all parties, UNMIN and international observers), c. complete integration related work and d. bring Constitution. Complete b and c before the expiry of UNMINï¿½s term. Complete all tasks within next seven months.

9. Once again, consensus that will be best ï¿½ Maoist propose, Madheshi Forum support, UML and others accept for Congress to lead. Congress form the cabinet by bringing all parties in the cabinet. All support Constitution to pass it.

10. Congress has an option ï¿½ If it works out, you may ask RCP to pull out and forward Sushil Koirala. But stay firm, and be strict on the issues to complete peace process and bring relatively good constitution. If negotiating with key players or alternative players do not work out you still have an option. As you are a most senior party in the country, you are also a guardian of other parties. Each Congress CA member can outreach with four or five CA members of other parties and convince why voting, melting of arms, completion of peace, good Constitution and consensus is necessary. Be flexible on Presidential or Prime Ministerial system though.

11. RCP ï¿½ RCP outreach with PKD, JNK and UY. If they say, they will support, ask them come for voting. If they say no, talk to SK and pull out.

12. I repeat, if Maoist want history to judge you positively, dissolve both YCL and Maoist party completely and let them assimilate with peace, society and other parties. If needed form a completely new civilian party and time has come.

13. People let impunity continue for completion of peace process. You will contribute to the World by solving your problems. Close the chapter of Maoist war.

14. Indicating the situation back in Nepal, one of my friend was telling me that politicians do not solve World problems. What if we design Software that writes Constitution instantly. May be he is right. Waste of time, money and other resources for this long is not good. He was also telling me that he will write 25 or 30 pages Constitution in a week and publish it after Nepalese leaders write their Constitution and the Nepalese people and the World can compare those. He was joking but giving a sense that Nepalese leaders are taking too much time to solve simple problems of integration and Constitution writing.

15. Once again complete the peace process before you bring Constitution (within next seven months). As you are writing Constitution in 21st Century, make it good so that it can be a reference for future.

Posted on: 28 OCT 2010 | 2:46 PM NST