wHAT ARE THEY LOOKING FOr?

KATHMANDU, May 22 -
Maoist Chairman Prachanda has said that his party isn't seeking to lead an interim government to be formed prior to holding constituent assembly elections.
In an interview to Kaya Kairan radio program of the Communication Corner broadcast this morning, Prachanda said, "We are not demanding leadership in the interim government."
He further added they would discuss their role in such a government to give progressive way out to the country while holding dialogue with the government.
The remarks have come a day after Matrika Yadav, a central committee member of the Maoist organization, said at a program in Biratnagar that rebels should lead such a government.
Prachanda said that whatever Yadav had said was a theoretical point based on "international practices
The chief of the rebel outfit said also said that his party would join the interim government only after holding a political conference following dissolution of the present government.
Expressing dissatisfaction and skepticism over "unnecessary delay on the part of the government in initiating peace talks", Prachanda said, "This might be a ploy of the seven-party alliance to give credit of the triumph of the people's movement to themselves." Regarding the recent historic proclamation of parliament, Prachanda made it clear that his party favored the proclamation hoping that it would contribute to democratic movement in the country.

Nepal's king declared 'powerless'

Nepal's House of Representatives unanimously passed a historic statement Thursday radically limiting the king's role as monarch and giving itself supreme power.

The new plan curtails the king's powers greatly, even requiring him to pay taxes. The heir to the throne will be decided by the House, which will determine the royal budget and approve all expenditures.

According to the nine-point declaration, the House will be the controlling body of the nation and the government, formerly called his majesty's government, will be known as the Nepal government, the Himalayan Times reported.

The national army will no longer be under royal command, but will answer to a newly appointed council headed by the prime minister.

Previously, King Gyanendra held absolute power in the nation, but now the lawmakers will have the right to question his actions.

Nepal, the world's last Hindu kingdom, now will be a secular state governed by a democratic system, the lawmakers decided.

World should now learn from nepal.

The sign of parliamentary supremacy established in NEPAL in 18 may showed the rest of the country to read fron nepal.
The proclamation made by PM Girija prasad koirala established the highest supremacy of parliamentary greater than IN UK.The proclamation is as follows:

KATHMANDU, May 18 - In respect of the sacrifices and participation made by the Nepalese people in the peaceful joint people's movement,
In due attention to the fact that the people had shown keen interest through the peaceful joint people's movement that took place some time back, on establishing that people are the sole source of state power of the independent and sovereign Nepal, as the people are the sole source of state powers and sovereignty,
With determination to fulfilling the peoples' mandate given by the Nepali people as per the roadmap of the seven political parties and the 12-point understanding between the seven political parties and the CPN-Maoist in the peaceful joint people's movement to restore a inclusive state by restructuring the state by formulating new constitution and to restore sustainable peace through democracy, and constituent assembly,
Internalizing the greater responsibility of the sovereign Nepali people for strengthening the country's national integrity, indivisibility and national unity,
As the fact that the House of Representatives (HoR) established on the support of the people's movement is sovereign and fully authorized has been realized in the king's declarations on April 24, 2006 that the Nepali people are the source of state power and Nepal's sovereignty and state power rests on the Nepali people and the people's aspirations exhibited in the present peoples' movement and on the basis of the road map of the seven political parties for resolving the violent conflict continuing in the country,
Makes the following declaration through this House of Representatives that this House of Representatives is sovereign for the exercise of all the rights until another constitutional arrangement is made to take the responsibility to gear ahead in the direction of full-fledged democracy and make an end to the autocratic monarchy by institutionalizing the achievements of the present peoples' movement, while safeguarding the achievements of the 1990 people's movement:-
1. LEGISLATIVE
1.1 All the rights regarding the legislative body of Nepal shall be exercised through the House of Representatives. The procedures for formulating laws shall be as specified by the House of Representatives.
1.2 The procedures for moving on the path of Constituent Assembly shall be as fixed by the House of Representatives.
1.3 Calling of the session of the House of Representatives and its conclusion shall be as follows:-
a The calling of the session shall be by the prime minister and will concluded by the speaker on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.
b. The speaker shall fix the date for the session or meeting to hold within 15 days if request is made before the speaker by one fourth of the total members at the moment in the House of Representatives citing that it is appropriate to call a session or a meeting when the House of Representative is not being held or if the meeting is stalled.
1.4 The House of Representatives shall formulate and implement the House of Representatives regulations.
2. ON EXECUTIVE
2.1 All the executive rights of Nepal as a state shall rest on the Council of Ministers.
'His Majesty's Government' shall be termed 'Government of Nepal' from now onwards.
2.2 Persons who are not the members of the House of Representatives can also be nominated in the Council of Ministers.
2.3 The Council of Ministers shall be responsible towards the House of Representatives. The Council of Ministers and the ministers collectively and for the works of their ministries shall be personally responsible towards the House of Representatives.
The administration, army, police and all the executive organs shall be under the purview of the government that is responsible towards the House of Representatives.
2.4 The allocation and transaction of business of the government shall be presented at the House of Representatives after its passage from the Council Of Ministers.
3. ON ARMY
3.1 The name "Royal Nepal Army" shall be changed to "Nepalese Army".
3.2. The Existing provision regarding the National Security Council has been repealed. There shall be a National Security Council under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister in order to control, use and mobilize the Nepalese Army.
3.3. Chief of the Army Staff of the Nepalese Army shall be appointed by the Council of Ministers.
3.4. The existing arrangement of Supreme Commander of the Army has been revoked.
3.5. The decision of the Council of Ministers on mobilizing the Nepalese Army, must be tabled and endorsed within 30 days from the special committee assigned by the House of Representatives.
3.6. The formation of the Nepalese Army shall be inclusive and national in nature.
4. ON RAJ PARISHAD
The existing provision of Raj Parishad has been revoked. Necessary works being performed by the Raj Parishad shall be as per the arrangement made by the House of Representatives.
5. ON ROYAL PALACE
5.1. The right to make laws, amend and nullify regarding the succession to throne shall rest on the House of Representatives.
5.2. Expenditure and facilities for His Majesty the King shall be as per the decision of the House of Representatives.
5.3. The private property and income of His Majesty the King shall be taxed as per the law.
5.4. Acts performed by His Majesty the King are questionable in the House of Representatives or in court.
5.5. Existing Royal Palace Service shall be made part of the civil service.
5.6. The security arrangement for the Royal Palace shall be as per the arrangement made by the Council of Ministers.
6. THE EXISTING PROBLEM REGARDING CITIZENSHIP SHALL BE INSTANTLY RESOLVED.
7. THE EXISTING "NATIONAL ANTHEM" SHALL BE CHANGED BY MAKING ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENT.
8. NEPAL SHALL BE A SECULAR STATE.
9. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) All the state organs and bodies shall exercise their rights as having been authorised by this House of Representatives and with full faith towards it.
(b) Specified officials holding public posts shall take oath of office from the House of Representatives in specified manner. Officials who ignore receiving oath of office shall be relieved of their posts.
(c) The inconsistent legal arangements of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal-1990 and other prevailing laws, with this declaration, shall be nullified to the extent of inconsistency.
(d) Any difficulty that may come while implementing this declaration shall be removed by a decision of the House of Representatives.
(e) A committee shall be there in the House Of Representatives for the purpose of implementation of sub-clause (c) and (d) above.

Nepal King finally addresses the nation!

 Proclamation to the Nation from His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev (21 April 2006)

Beloved Countrymen,
You are all aware that, given the situation prevailing in the country then, we were compelled to take the decision of 1 February 2005 to set in motion a meaningful exercise in multiparty democracy by activating all elected bodies, ensuring peace and security and a corruption-free good governance through the collective wisdom, understanding and the united efforts of all the Nepalese. By supporting our decision, the Nepalese people made amply clear their desire for peace and democracy and the civil servants demonstrated sincerity towards their duties. We are appreciative of this. We also have high regard for the dutifulness, valour and discipline displayed by the security personnel, upholding their glorious traditions.
By visiting different parts of the country, we made honest endeavours to acquaint ourselves with the hopes and aspirations of our people, mitigate their hardships and boost their morale. We also called on the political parties to enter into a dialogue in the interest of the nation and people afflicted by violence and terrorism. However, this did not materialise. The ideals of democracy can be realised only through the active participation of political parties. In keeping with the traditions of the Shah Dynasty to reign in accordance with the popular will in the greater interest of the nation and people and our unflinching commitment towards Constitutional Monarchy and multiparty democracy, we, through this Proclamation, affirm that the Executive Power of the Kingdom of Nepal, which was in our safekeeping, shall, from this day, be returned to the people and be exercised in accordance with Article 35 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal - 1990. As the source of Sovereign Authority is inherent in the people, harmony
and understanding must be preserved in the interest of the nation and people in an environment of peace and security. While safeguarding multiparty democracy, the nation must be taken ahead along the road of peace and prosperity by bringing into the democratic mainstream those who have deviated from the constitutional path. Similarly, a meaningful exercise in democracy must be ensured with the activation of representative bodies through elections as soon as possible. We, therefore, call upon the Seven Party Alliance to recommend a name, for the post of Prime Minister, at the earliest for the constitution of the Council of Ministers which will bear the responsibility of governing the country in accordance with the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal - 1990. The present Council of Ministers will continue to function until the appointment of the Prime Minister.
May Lord Pashupatinath bless us all!
Jaya Nepal!
(Unofficial Translation)
Source: Royal Palace Secretariat

 

Hundreds Arrested in Nepal at Rallies Urging Return to Democracy

KATMANDU, Nepal, March 14 -- Security forces arrested hundreds of people calling for the restoration of democracy in the biggest protests since King Gyanendra imposed emergency rule last month, according to Nepali political parties and witnesses.
The Himalayan kingdom's five main political parties had called on their members to defy a ban on protests to register their opposition to Gyanendra's assumption of absolute power, which has been condemned by the governments of India, the United States and Britain.

The biggest protest was in the eastern town of Janakpur. The Communist Party of Nepal said 500 activists were arrested there, while Brij Kumar Yadav, a Janakpur journalist, estimated there had been 300 arrests. A crackdown by security forces muted the response elsewhere.
After Gyanendra declared a state of emergency on Feb. 1, he moved to stifle dissent, saying Nepali leaders had failed to crush a Maoist revolt in which more than 11,000 people have been killed since 1996.
There were at least 100 other arrests around the country, party sources and witnesses said.
In the capital, Katmandu, a planned protest fizzled before it began, with riot police and reporters outnumbering protesters in the city's Asan bazaar, but there were sporadic gestures of defiance, resulting in 15 arrests.
"We are fighting for democracy," said Bir Bahadur Singh, a gray-haired man wearing glasses. "This is just a beginning. We will continue the protests until our demands are met."
Police led him away. Minutes later, two elderly men were also taken away. "Under the emergency, assembly is prohibited," said police official Ramesh Kharel.

MAOIST ATTACK

Kathmandu, April 13: One Brigade Vice commander of Maoist cadre is reported to have died while some others were injured as two mortar bombs accidentally went off near Ghodaghodi lake at a time when a large number of terrorists gathered here from Chaumala to Ghodaghodi lake .
The terrorist group had come together here to prepare for attack on Sukhhad of Kailali district, according to the Division head Quarter of Dipayaal in far western region which quoted locals as saying.

They are said to have cancelled the plan later after the incident, and headed towards the forest in the south.

राजाबाट पूर्व प्रम भट्टराई र थापासंग भेट

राजाको प्रत्यक्ष शासन विरोधी आन्दोलन चर्कीँदै जाँदा श्री ५ ज्ञानेन्द्रबाट सोमवार दुईजना नेताहरुसंग भेट गरीबक्सेको छ।

त्यसरी भेट गर्नेहरुमा भूतपूर्व प्रधानमन्त्रीद्वय कृष्णप्रसाद भट्टराई तथा सुर्यबहादुर थापा हुनुहुन्छ।
मौसुफबाट आइतवार मन्त्री परिषद्का उपाध्यक्षद्वय डाक्टर तुलसी गिरी तथा किर्तिनिधि विष्टसंग संयुक्तरुपमा भेट गरीबक्सको थियो।
आइतवार नै श्री ५ बाट संयुक्त राज्य अमेरीका, भारत तथा चिनका काठमाडौंस्थित राजदूतहरुलाई पनि भेट बक्सेको थियो।
आइतवार भएका भेटघाटहरुका सम्वन्धमा कुनै जानकारी प्रकाशमा आएको छैन।
तर भारतस्थित नेपाली मामिलाका एकजना विज्ञ जनरल अशोक मेहताले बीबीसी नेपाली सेवासंग कुरा गर्दै हालैका दिनहरुमा भारतले पहिले, पहिले झै नेपालका लागि संवैधानिक राजतन्त्र र बहूदलीय प्रजातन्त्र दुबै अपरिहार्य छ भनेर जोड दिन छाडेको बताउनु भयो।
सोमवार राजासंग भेट गर्नुहुने श्री भट्टराईले राजाले आफूलाई सहयोग गर्न अनुरोध गरीबक्सेको तर आफूले २०४७ सालको संविधान अनुरुप प्रजातन्त्र पुर्नस्थापना नभएसम्म सहयोग गर्न नसक्ने स्पष्ट पारेको बताउनुभयो।
श्री थापाले भने भेटपछि पत्रकारहरुसंग भएको संक्षीप्त कुराकानीमा देशको अहिलेको परिस्थितिबारे गम्भिर छलफल भएको मात्र उल्लेख गर्नुभयो।
श्री ५ बाट नयाँ वर्षको अवसरमा बक्स भएको सन्देशमा संवादमाथि दिइएको जोड र त्यसपछि चर्कीएको आन्दोलनको परिप्रेक्ष्यमा वर्तमान भेटहरु भैरहेको ठानिएको छ।
बीबीसीका काठमाडौं संवाददाता सुशील शर्माका अनुसार राजाबाट आउंदा दिनहरुमा अन्य भूतपूर्व प्रधानमन्त्रीहरूसंग पनि भेट गरीबक्सने संभावना छ।
तर नेपाली कांग्रेसका एकजना नेतालाई उद्धृत गर्दै हाम्रा संवाददाता भन्छन्, वर्तमान आन्दोलनको नेतृत्व गरीरहनुभएका दुई प्रमूख नेताहरु भूतपूर्व प्रधानमन्त्रीद्वय गिरीजाप्रसाद कोइराला र शेरबहादुर देउवा भने राजाबाट सार्वजनिकरुपमा राजकीय सत्ता जनतामा हस्तान्तरण भएको घोषणा नभएसम्म राजासंग भेटगर्ने पक्षमा हुनुहुन्न।

MAOIST ATTACK

Kathmandu, April 13: One Brigade Vice commander of Maoist cadre is reported to have died while some others were injured as two mortar bombs accidentally went off near Ghodaghodi lake at a time when a large number of terrorists gathered here from Chaumala to Ghodaghodi lake .
The terrorist group had come together here to prepare for attack on Sukhhad of Kailali district, according to the Division head Quarter of Dipayaal in far western region which quoted locals as saying.

They are said to have cancelled the plan later after the incident, and headed towards the forest in the south.

Further hoopla in Nepal

Even lawyers (link has weird first page) are protesting in the streets in Katmandhu against King Gyanendra; and are being wounded and arrested during the protests. There is much more on this story here, from the International Herald Tribune via the AP. Reuters begins its story with headlines that call the demonstrations "mostly peaceful", but continues on with more information about the lawyers' demonstration. It also includes a bit about a demonstration in Pokhara.
Thousands of people marched in the western tourist resort town of Pokhara in memory of one activist shot dead by troops during a protest last week.
"My son-in-law gave his life for democracy. His sacrifice should not go waste," Uma Devi Poudel, the victim's mother-in-law, told the assembly as she tried to hold back her tears, a witness said.

The Nepalese people want justice and democracy in their country. '"We want a democratic republic where people make policies, people make laws and people are the rulers," said Mukta Shreshta, a woman activist, as nearly 3,000 people cheered her in the Kathmandu suburb of Kirtipur.'(Reuters) King Gyanendra, especially since he shut down the rest of the government last year, seems to be a stumbling block in moving in that direction. Because of the King's actions, "The (pro-Maoist) rebels and the seven political parties formed a loose alliance last November under which the Maoists are backing the latest anti-king campaign." (again, Reuters)

The UN has asked the Nepalese government "to stop its "excessive use of force" against pro-democracy demonstrators, including severe beatings, indiscriminate attacks on bystanders and "seriously unacceptable" detention conditions." (from the Times of India (4/13/06)

In my post of 4/9/06 "Protests in Nepal are significant", I gave my opinion on the situation. I will continue to update this continuing story as it goes on.

बम बिष्फोटनमा चार सर्वसाधारण घाईते

बम बिष्फोटनमा चार सर्वसाधारण घाईते

माअ‍ोवादीले सर्लाही र महोत्तरीको सिमाना रहेको बाँके खोलामा राखेको बिहिवार बम बिष्फोट हुँदा ४ जना सर्वसाधारण घाईते भएका छन् । घाईते मध्ये तीन जनाको जनकपुर अंचल अस्पताल र एक जनाको बीरगंजमा उपचार भैरहेको रक्षा मन्त्रालयले बिज्ञप्तीमा जारी गर्दै जनाएको छ ।