Nepal´s CA members sworn in, new democratic era begins says PM Koirala
Surya B. Prasai
May 27, 2008
For Nepal, May 27 will go down its modern history as a day of fulfilling an important promise, when the Constituent Assembly members took their oath opening the way for a new democratic republican path for Nepal. With the swearing in of new Constituent Assembly members, 575 elected on Monday and 26 nominated on Tuesday, the political track now seems free of obstacles in government formation, although a day earlier various political leaders were seen dragging their feet lazily around Singha Durbar, Naya Bazaar and Baluwatar gullies on the issue of government formation.
Thus, according to a hurried Maoist nine point proposal mooted on Monday, Nepali Congress President and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala will head a high-level mechanism which will operate both the government and parliament. In other words, Koirala will become the next ceremonial president. As head of this ´mechanism´, Koirala will also have constitutional and special powers, since the Maoists have in the end decided to give him the respect of a senior statesman going by his six decade old democratic record. However, according to other political party leaders, the Nepali Maoists´ nine-point proposal fails to address the issue of providing a simple majority to form or remove the government.
The CPN-M has, in effect, proposed that Nepal be declared a democratic republic through the first sitting of the CA on May 28. The Maoists´ nine point proposal rules out the possibility of other parties fielding in a president as head of state and a prime minister as head of the executive. The Maoists have also argued that transforming the two-thirds majority provision for removal or formation of a government as existing in the interim constitution has little meaning where every future decision requires two-third majority endorsement in drafting a new constitution.
The CPN-M has also selected party chairman Prachanda as leader in the Constituent Assembly (CA) and Dr Baburam Bhattarai as his deputy. The Maoists have also proposed transforming YCL to a normal political organization bearing no arms, henceforth. The YCL will now be under the control of the party hierarchies, and it is visualized that they will be accommodated in some barracks or mobilized for development volunteerism work in the near future. According to Maoist sources, Prachanda and Dr. Bhattarai´s meeting with US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Dr Evan A. Feigenbaum on Monday evening at Nayabazaar went very well, which also touched on the YCL. Besides, the two sides discussed the upcoming political agenda in the CA, namely forming a republic, the future cabinet- government formation, the actual CA sitting procedures, and the continuing US development assistance to Nepal. Prachanda had assured Feigenbaum that the YCL would be converted into a positive development wing within the party and it would immediately cease serving as a paramilitary force. The Maoist leadership duo also expressed full commitment towards meeting the democratic aspirations of the Nepali people to work transparently to help fulfill the long term aspirations of peace, stability, economic progress and development in Nepal. Feigenbaum is known to have expressed satisfaction on the talks, although he expressed surprise at the continuing level of political violence in Nepal even after the successful conduct of the peaceful CA Poll on April 10.
Speaking in Kathmandu yesterday at a human rights function, Prime Minister Koirala stated that the new constitution will respect the wishes of the Nepali people and will be done with their full consultation, He felt democracy had no meaning without human rights adherence. He also comforted all the recent losers of the CA Poll by stating, "Nobody loses in a democracy, Though some MPs were defeated in the CA polls, they will also help draft a new constitution from their respective spheres."
Koirala pointed out, "Now, I have spent almost 60 years sacrificing my time for the sake of Nepali democracy and the protection of human rights, but many of my questions remain unanswered on Nepal´s future. I hope to work towards solving some of them." The PM also praised the role of a free media society, its contribution to maintaining constitutional checks and balances and nurturing Nepali democracy. He also highlighted the importance of an independent judiciary in the institutionalization of democracy in the country. He stated, now every Nepali can proudly call themselves full fledged democrats in the global arena.
Meanwhile, Ian Martin, who heads the United Nations Mission in Nepal(UNMIN), has taken another courageous stance by speaking to the Nepali and international press in Kathmandu, that there were still many challenges in Nepal´s peace process, although he was frank to admit that UNMIN´s extension would depend on the decision of the Nepal government and various political parties. So far, there has been no discussion among Nepali political parties towards renewing UNMIN´s tenure which will also need the UN Security Council´s endorsement. However, since it has already been announced that July 23 is its last working day, there is little hope of an extension at the moment. UNMIN´s report was just recently tabled at the UN Security Council by UN-SG Ban Ki-moon, in which Nepal´s Permanent Representative to the UN, Madhu Raman Acharya, also played an active part. Some in the UN believe, there might still be some possibility of a limited political and technical role for the UN, though Nepal´s Shital Niwas diplomats appear tight lipped on the issue. The UN-SG´s office had earlier hinted at the UN Resident Coordinator´s office in Nepal and his own special representative carrying out all future Nepal Government requests.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi, Maoist leader Khim Lal Devkota and UML leader Bhim Rawal are tabling a draft resolution to be endorsed by the first sitting of the CA to declare Nepal a republic. The Nepal Government has already announced three days national holiday to celebrate the new Nepal Republic Day, which might in future, see the tiny Himalayan country be called the new Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.
After Jan Andolan-2, things do not look that bad as PM Koirala keeps reminding the Nepali political lot. Currently Nepali tourism is up cumulatively by a whopping 39% compared to last year. There has been building interest in Nepali foreign labor exports in countries such as Japan, South Korea and the Middle East with increased remittance intake estimated at US$ 2 to 2.5 billion annually, which almost rivals the government´s budget. With new found democratic stability, it is expected that Nepal can reach a comfortable human development index and a higher quality of life comparable to the UN HDI median level, and slash rural poverty to as little as 20% within the next 10 years if proper utilization of water resources is done in meeting the hydro-electricity energy demands of its two larger and immediate neighbors, India and China, also termed the world´s two fastest growing economies.
The only thing found lacking among Nepalis is having a long term vision in developing national development plans, plus their back slapping habit which is witnessed at both the individual and national level, even influencing foreign donors. Nepal´s Maoists have promised to come up with a 10 year economic plan that will transform Nepal into a full fledged SAARC economic hub, hopefully serving as a transitional point between its big neighbors. However, all Nepali political parties must also be involved in the nation building effort in future, dropping past political differences aside to give primacy to economic growth. In fact, Nepal has little choice in the next decade both from the security and geo-strategic angle, except to get pushed along the globalization path since it has an open traditional border with India, and nearly one third of its national population has permanent social ties down south.
Thus, according to a hurried Maoist nine point proposal mooted on Monday, Nepali Congress President and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala will head a high-level mechanism which will operate both the government and parliament. In other words, Koirala will become the next ceremonial president. As head of this ´mechanism´, Koirala will also have constitutional and special powers, since the Maoists have in the end decided to give him the respect of a senior statesman going by his six decade old democratic record. However, according to other political party leaders, the Nepali Maoists´ nine-point proposal fails to address the issue of providing a simple majority to form or remove the government.
The CPN-M has, in effect, proposed that Nepal be declared a democratic republic through the first sitting of the CA on May 28. The Maoists´ nine point proposal rules out the possibility of other parties fielding in a president as head of state and a prime minister as head of the executive. The Maoists have also argued that transforming the two-thirds majority provision for removal or formation of a government as existing in the interim constitution has little meaning where every future decision requires two-third majority endorsement in drafting a new constitution.
The CPN-M has also selected party chairman Prachanda as leader in the Constituent Assembly (CA) and Dr Baburam Bhattarai as his deputy. The Maoists have also proposed transforming YCL to a normal political organization bearing no arms, henceforth. The YCL will now be under the control of the party hierarchies, and it is visualized that they will be accommodated in some barracks or mobilized for development volunteerism work in the near future. According to Maoist sources, Prachanda and Dr. Bhattarai´s meeting with US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Dr Evan A. Feigenbaum on Monday evening at Nayabazaar went very well, which also touched on the YCL. Besides, the two sides discussed the upcoming political agenda in the CA, namely forming a republic, the future cabinet- government formation, the actual CA sitting procedures, and the continuing US development assistance to Nepal. Prachanda had assured Feigenbaum that the YCL would be converted into a positive development wing within the party and it would immediately cease serving as a paramilitary force. The Maoist leadership duo also expressed full commitment towards meeting the democratic aspirations of the Nepali people to work transparently to help fulfill the long term aspirations of peace, stability, economic progress and development in Nepal. Feigenbaum is known to have expressed satisfaction on the talks, although he expressed surprise at the continuing level of political violence in Nepal even after the successful conduct of the peaceful CA Poll on April 10.
Speaking in Kathmandu yesterday at a human rights function, Prime Minister Koirala stated that the new constitution will respect the wishes of the Nepali people and will be done with their full consultation, He felt democracy had no meaning without human rights adherence. He also comforted all the recent losers of the CA Poll by stating, "Nobody loses in a democracy, Though some MPs were defeated in the CA polls, they will also help draft a new constitution from their respective spheres."
Koirala pointed out, "Now, I have spent almost 60 years sacrificing my time for the sake of Nepali democracy and the protection of human rights, but many of my questions remain unanswered on Nepal´s future. I hope to work towards solving some of them." The PM also praised the role of a free media society, its contribution to maintaining constitutional checks and balances and nurturing Nepali democracy. He also highlighted the importance of an independent judiciary in the institutionalization of democracy in the country. He stated, now every Nepali can proudly call themselves full fledged democrats in the global arena.
Meanwhile, Ian Martin, who heads the United Nations Mission in Nepal(UNMIN), has taken another courageous stance by speaking to the Nepali and international press in Kathmandu, that there were still many challenges in Nepal´s peace process, although he was frank to admit that UNMIN´s extension would depend on the decision of the Nepal government and various political parties. So far, there has been no discussion among Nepali political parties towards renewing UNMIN´s tenure which will also need the UN Security Council´s endorsement. However, since it has already been announced that July 23 is its last working day, there is little hope of an extension at the moment. UNMIN´s report was just recently tabled at the UN Security Council by UN-SG Ban Ki-moon, in which Nepal´s Permanent Representative to the UN, Madhu Raman Acharya, also played an active part. Some in the UN believe, there might still be some possibility of a limited political and technical role for the UN, though Nepal´s Shital Niwas diplomats appear tight lipped on the issue. The UN-SG´s office had earlier hinted at the UN Resident Coordinator´s office in Nepal and his own special representative carrying out all future Nepal Government requests.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi, Maoist leader Khim Lal Devkota and UML leader Bhim Rawal are tabling a draft resolution to be endorsed by the first sitting of the CA to declare Nepal a republic. The Nepal Government has already announced three days national holiday to celebrate the new Nepal Republic Day, which might in future, see the tiny Himalayan country be called the new Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.
After Jan Andolan-2, things do not look that bad as PM Koirala keeps reminding the Nepali political lot. Currently Nepali tourism is up cumulatively by a whopping 39% compared to last year. There has been building interest in Nepali foreign labor exports in countries such as Japan, South Korea and the Middle East with increased remittance intake estimated at US$ 2 to 2.5 billion annually, which almost rivals the government´s budget. With new found democratic stability, it is expected that Nepal can reach a comfortable human development index and a higher quality of life comparable to the UN HDI median level, and slash rural poverty to as little as 20% within the next 10 years if proper utilization of water resources is done in meeting the hydro-electricity energy demands of its two larger and immediate neighbors, India and China, also termed the world´s two fastest growing economies.
The only thing found lacking among Nepalis is having a long term vision in developing national development plans, plus their back slapping habit which is witnessed at both the individual and national level, even influencing foreign donors. Nepal´s Maoists have promised to come up with a 10 year economic plan that will transform Nepal into a full fledged SAARC economic hub, hopefully serving as a transitional point between its big neighbors. However, all Nepali political parties must also be involved in the nation building effort in future, dropping past political differences aside to give primacy to economic growth. In fact, Nepal has little choice in the next decade both from the security and geo-strategic angle, except to get pushed along the globalization path since it has an open traditional border with India, and nearly one third of its national population has permanent social ties down south.