HELLO NEPAL

The Kathmandu Days 31 July 2016 DIFFICULT DAYS The time has come now for the new coalition government, supposedly to be led by Prachanda, to be sincere and serious in addressing the political and constitutional issues raised by the Sanghiya Gathabandhan, a larger alliance comprising the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) and Janajati forces. Both the CPN MC and the NC’s senior leaders should waste no time and should immediately sit with the disgruntled forces to bring them on board and settle the problems once for all. The SLMM has clearly put forward its position about joining the new government (“Morcha puts caveat to join govt” 27 July, Page 1). The Oli led government had missed this opportunity due to prime minister’s anarchical working style. He continued demonstrating empathy towards the agitating forces and showing his intention of tiring them out. If I am not wrong, this was one of the reasons among others for his government’s ouster. His domineer...

The Himalayan Times 27 July 2016 Another coalition The clock has started ticking for the three major parties, after the President gave them one week’s time, to choose a new Prime Minister (PM) on the basis of political consensus “Prez gives parties one week to find consensus PM” (THT, 26 July, Page 1). There was some hue and cry situation in the parliament after PM Oli decided first to face the no confidence motion registered by CPN-Maoist Centre and NC. However, he changed his mind later and tendered his resignation. Time has come for the Big Three to show their political acumen keeping the nation and its people at the centre stage. So far, they have not shown any political sincerity towards addressing the national interest just because of their egoistic and self-centred politics. And, judging by their past political attitudes and existing political polarizations among them, the formation of a consensus government seems to be a distant possibility. The n...

The Himalayan Times 20 July 2016 Ambiguity The so called big III have again started dirty power politics at a time when they were supposed to be serious about the implementation of the new constitution. Blaming each other for not following the spirit of the new charter has openly surfaced in the current political situation. CPN (MC) was not happy with the way the Oli led government was running the country and used to threaten to leave the coalition government. Finally, it decided to do so after NC’c assurance to support it to form the new coalition government under its leadership. So far, Oli does not seem arithmetically able to garner a majority in the parliament, however, has started playing dubious roles. He has been claiming that there is no clear constitutional provision for forming a new government which has been the crux of the constitutional problem inviting political confrontation between the ruling and the opposition parties interpreting article 298 of ...

The Kathmandu Post 15 July 2016 POWER POLITICS AGAIN It was unsurprising to know that the big political parties have once again started playing the old dirty game of numerical power politics causing another political uncertainty in the country. The implementation of new charter has become more uncertain after this dramatic turn of events. CPN (Maoist Centre) was finding it difficult to change its political position for some time considering its unhappiness with the performance of the Oli led government. Finally, it decided to withdraw its support to the government with immediate effect (“Maoist Centre pulls out of govt” 13 July, Page 1). It is natural, in a parliamentary democracy, to see change of government based on its performance. It did not seem that the Oli led government was performing well in the last nine months. It had failed to implement the reconstruction programme, control black marketeering and take the initiatives of implementing the new constit...

The Kathmandu Post 7 July 2016 IS IT REALLY NECESSARY? The necessity and formation of a consensus government may be the need of the hour considering the implementation of the new constitution successfully (“Maoist Centre ‘not to rush’ govt formation” 6 July, Page 3). Senior leaders of CPN (Maoist Centre) have been publicly talking about this for some time although their party is one of the major coalition partners in the Oli led government. Is it necessary or even possible for the big three to forge consensus on this issue? If they agreed, it would be the most desirable form of the government at this juncture when the implementation of the new constitution has been a vital concern. It has definitely been necessary for the government and all the political parties to hold three tiers of elections within the next one and half year based on the provision made in the new constitution. Is it possible to do so under the current circumstances? Unless the Local Body Re...

The Himalayan Times 6 June 2016 Consensus It has been difficult for the common people to understand as to why the consensus government is required now in Nepal . Pushpa K Dahal, Chairperson of CPN-MC has been putting all his effort in that direction and trying to convince both the UML and NC leaders to form a consensus government “Dahal meets prime minister, moots consensus govt” (THT, 5 July, Page 1). UML leaders have been publicly saying that forming such government would meet the need of the time and will have no problem for them to join it should all the major parties forge consensus on this issue. However, NC does not seem interested to join such government: it prefers changing the guard of the incumbent government or continuing its opposition role. The importance of forming a national government may be the need of the hour considering the effective implementation of the new constitution. But, is it necessary to form such a government? And, is it possible ...

The Kathmandu Post 1 July 2016 WHOM TO BLAME We frequently heard and read about the Nepali men and women being trafficked to various countries of the world by human traffickers either for various jobs or sex trade. The security and immigration officials have not been successful in stopping them at the exit points of Nepal bordering India and Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA). Recent cases of 14 trafficked Nepalis to Micronesia surprised the government officials when they came to learn that these people were detained by the local authorities for the last eighteen months after they were found without any travel documents.(“7 of 16 Nepali detained in Micronesia rescued” 29 June, Page 1). The Nepali Embassy in Malaysia had, however, learned about this incident only in March of this year. Who is to be blamed for this incident? There could be many reasons behind these kinds of unfortunate incidents. Lack of job opportunities in the country is one factor among o...