| Username |
Post |
| arnico |
Posted
on 10-Sep-02 11:13 PM
In just over two months we are to have general elections in Nepal.
I can't think of as confusing a pre-election time in recent memory. Who is running? Who has a chance of winning? It seems like many of the "leaders" and party(ies) that dominated Nepali politics in the 1990s are out of the race.
Perhaps this provides an opportunity for a next generation of LOCAL leaders to rise up to national politics. For people who have been effective mayors of members of district assemblies to rise up and lead the nation. But what is needed to ensure that such an opportunity is created and maintained?
What role can the Nepali citizens abroad play? As far as I know we still can't vote. Is there some way we can lobby with our embassies and in Kathmandu to be able to cast our votes too? Where do we start?
If we had 2-3 years till the next election one could consider forming the basis and framework of a new political party that begins its organization and financing from among the Nepalis abroad (not just the ones in the US, but also the large numbers in Qatar, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and elsewhere)... and then sweeps into Nepal a year before the election with an attractive, ambitious, but feasible agenda for the country, setting out in well-planned ways to establish grassroots support...
... but with two months...is there even time to daydream about this?
We cannot wish for the elections to be postponed... they must go ahead. There are limits to how long we can keep going with a cabinet that is not accountable to the representatives of the people.
But what constructive roles can we, the Nepalis abroad, play in the upcoming elections? Surely there must be more we can do besides sitting and watching.
Can we think of setting down a set of principles that we want to make sure the candidates follow before and after the election? Is there some way we can endorse or give stamps of approval? (anyone familiar with the league of women voters in the US and what it does during election campaigns?)
Can we even draft a political agenda that we would like the winning party to follow, even if we can't form that party? Promise our support if it is followed (financial and "reverse-brain drain") ???
...and of course, how do we get the Maoists to agree to allowing the election to proceed? How do we ensure voter turn-out?
... lots of questions. I can't answer them alone. Let's collectively put our heads together and think about our roles in the election. How can we organize ourselves such as to play a more active role and be heard?
Arnico.
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| arnico |
Posted
on 10-Sep-02 11:15 PM
typo correction:
"mayors or members of"
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| villageVoice |
Posted
on 11-Sep-02 12:09 AM
Hi Arnico, very interesting. But will there even be elections? I am not being alarmist, just deeply concerned.
First, the three deadly attacks by Maoists have totally shattered the national morale. I was talking to folks in Nepal and their reaction: forget election, we are praying that we will not be their next target.
Yes, the recent Maoist charge is a huge, huge pre-election dampner. It only proves that they are far from finished, and the government - the army including - has no clue how it's going to contain Maoists.
And here's my another concern. At the current rate, all major politicians will be facing various corruption charges during elections? Should these people even be allowed to contest elections? What does the law of the land say? And what of parties' position on these tainted figures?
Where are we heading.
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| sucharya |
Posted
on 11-Sep-02 01:54 AM
Arnico ji,
Very interesting observation indeed. The role of Nepalese communities abroad can make important contributions to ensure a free and fair election. I wonder if it would be an appropriate move to black-list well-know (problem, how to judge?) corrupts and request international observers to monitor the election in their constituencies more carefully.
I agree with VV that the Nov election is now only a remote possibility.
It was a blunder on the part of Deupa and Palace to kill the parliament prematuarly to get rid of posible political noises over emergency. Now the govenment is facing bigger challange. given the current security situation, Maoists do not require much efforts to disturb the election and make propoganda and strategic gain. I think, in about 70 percent constituencies, maoist can easily sabotage the polling booths. And who can dare to go to polling both in the face of maoist public threats? Deuba has foolishly added additional burden of proving political legitimacy of the government (or the system for that matter) by conducting fair and free election- an impossible task.
Next move?
- Emergency will be reimposed.
- Cabinet resuffle, all corrupts kicked out
- Girija congress gets recognition from EC- Congress re-unification
- Intensified political initiatives for talk with maoists
- Deupa resign
- Article 127 will be activated
- A small new cabinet will be formed with mandate to settle maoist issue
- Maoists join interim government
The kind of complexities the Nepali political situation is subject to now might suggest many possible scenarios, the above one is just one. Yet I am not sure if it is the most likely scenario though I find it most desirable one!
Sucharya
-------------------------
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| arnico |
Posted
on 11-Sep-02 11:27 PM
...let's keep the discussion going. I will write more soon.
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| Nepali kanchi |
Posted
on 12-Sep-02 12:07 AM
I am not sure if I have this right, but today , I read on nepalnews.com that the govt will eventually reimpose the emmergency .
Ok fair enough , I understand that the Maobadis are more successful in thier means without the emmergency.
However, due to the elections coming up in November, if I am not mistaken the emmergency powers are such that, the current govt. has a higher levels of power than the opposition.
Is not it unfair for the govt. be be in emmergency rule/extended level of power during the voting time?
The press is not going to be free either, since that is also another element of being on alert.
Now , is the govt. planning to eventually lift the emmergency during elections, and the one that might be imposed tomorrow will hold from now to elections , or are elections going to be in this uncomfortable level of state?
If the emmergency prevails while govt. has extended powers, do you think it will be a fair trial, I am worried about the possibilty of cheating durign the vote count.
Then again, if there are no emmergency rule, then maybe the Maoists will hamper the elections, either way its going to be pretty tough!
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| Nepali kanchi |
Posted
on 12-Sep-02 12:13 AM
And of course which candidate is even worthy of voting for in the first place?
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| torilaure |
Posted
on 12-Sep-02 12:39 AM
arnico wrote:
What role can the Nepali citizens abroad play? As far as I know we still can't vote. Is there some way we can lobby with our embassies and in Kathmandu to be able to cast our votes too? Where do we start?
----------------
Well, if this election happens as stated, I doubt if nepali citizens in Nepal will be able to cast their votes freely let alone Nepali Citizens abroad. It would be better if nepali citizens all over the world could cast their vote like the americans (or so I heard), however, it would be more practical now to debate about how the nepalis in Nepal can freely cast their votes if the elections happens at all.
On a different note, it is surprising that the major political parties are yet to bring out their election manifesto. Staying in Nepal it is hard to imagine that the elections will be held in two months time. No visible election CHAHALPAHAL, I'd say. So I guess the same faces will surface around after the elections.
Amar
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| Biswo |
Posted
on 12-Sep-02 02:18 AM
Now, I am pretty sure Arnico is very serious about this party/government thing.
He also raised this thing in his one of the most remarkable postings of the past.
I am not so interested about establishing new party, and ruling Nepal. If we think
"America-returned can form a party and rule Nepal", then probably we are becoming
a little bit pompous and unrealistic about our sway in Nepal.
People in Nepal respect us as long as we don't compete with them for their resources.
The moment we try to be leader, the leaders will start saying, "America maa padheko
bhandaimaa bidwaan hudaina...", same thing in other field too.If we compete for
the same resource, we will also create some enemies for us.
I think we can make change, if we have more modest aim. I liked that 'mayor' idea.
Imagine our municipalities having MIT educated mayors. Imagine our civil servants
with Harvard degree and internation experience. I like that.This kind of things
give impulse to grassroot movements.
I was listening to a bureaucrat about our problems in civil service. He was like,"Our
officers read less when they go to talk to foreigners for some treaty. India/Bhutan
beats us because they come more prepared.(With respect to some hardworking
bureaucrats, let me say it is not all the time. We have some really good people
working there too.). Officers see travel to foreign countries more as opportunity
to save some TA/DA, rather than opportunity to learn. Smart people no longer
join civil service, specially foreign service where nation's prestige is at stake!etc.
etc."
May be that is where we should focus. And isn't it true that in today's Nepal, heads
of constitutional bodies, judges can make equal/more impact than the politicians?
Biswo Nath Upadhyay, Surya Nath Upadhyay etc are example.
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| HahooGuru |
Posted
on 12-Sep-02 06:37 AM
If you wish to see Nepali Congress Party's agendas, I guess they will appear
here:
http://www.nc4.net/ (Nepali Congress 4 Tara Network: for easy rememberance)
Similarly, CPN(UML)
http://www.cpnuml.org/
Have a good voting.
HG
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| arnico |
Posted
on 12-Sep-02 07:19 AM
I have to run... but just a quick reply: Biswo, I personally am NOT interested in government office, and I have none of the talents that I would need to ever get there. I am interested in supporting those who do.
Let me clarify my initial posting: I am not advocating for a few US educated people to return assuming they know how to run Nepal. No... I was talking about STARTING to get politically organized among the Nepalis abroad. This includes the hundreds of thousands living and working in the Gulf region, in Southeast and East Asia and elsewhere in South Asia. Because of the political situation WITHIN Nepal, and because of the sheer outflow of people from rural Nepal to overseas countries, I think the situation today is very different from two years ago. Not only does the Nepali community abroad represent a much broader geographic, ethnic, and socio-economic (though not yet demographic) cross section of Nepali society than before, but many villages have been depopulated of that segment of the population that would form the political activists of any new political party or movement...
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| jayahos |
Posted
on 12-Sep-02 07:52 AM
As I am relatively a new poster, I think, it's in my favor to keep the posting short.
The executive branch started loosing its credibility right from the beginning of interim government era after restoration of democracy when GM Singh – the then Sarwamanya Leader, pointed that some of the ministers as GANHAEKA MANTRIHARU. As the saying goes that 'One rotten apple spoils the whole lot' now none but few Ministers can claim that they have not accumulated wealth beyond their legal means.
Then during the era of hung parliament, our legislative branch lost its face. PAJERO, SITA HOTEL, horse trading and so on. People do not anymore view them as guardian of democracy but they are 'SUWIDHABHOGI' bunch and corrupt-in-wait.
How long could judicial branch survive without being scrutinized by civil society? Lastly, judicial branch was brought under scrutiny and voices began to surface both from inside and outside that our judicial system is corrupt. Judges succumbed to the pressure and admitted that there needs a major haul to overcome this problem.
And now we are left with all of the organs of state with no public credibility. And, the murmuring voices that only autocratic ruler can run a country like Nepal is gaining a larger voice and wider base. This is a thing to worry about.
If anything we can do, we must do to prove in front of public that democracy is indispensable for dignified and just development of a country. And its very encouraging to find many people working towards this endeavor.
Though curb in corruption gives a big moral boost to the cause of democracy, I do not see corruption as the only issue hindering economic progress of Nepal. Even in a country like Indonesia, I read sometimes back in a column from Friedman in NY Times, officers give receipt of the bribe they take. Everybody knows about China and US, as per Transparency International ranking, ranks 16th from top of least corrupt countries. More challenging issue, in my opinion, is a well-drafted and well-thought vision and plan for the country. The country demands an all out dedication from the capable people, not necessarily being a formal insider in the government bodies, to drive the country with a long thought planning and vision.
So, in my opinion, we can start now from keeping a watchful eye on happenings back in Nepal and raise our collective voice through every possible sources from media to signature campaign. For instance, Maoist have once again come forward with proposal for dialogue and lets make sure that government capitalizes this opportunity to stop otherwise never ending cycle of violence. Election without their participation will lead to more deaths and more chaos.
First and foremost, Let's raise a voice to pressurize both parties: NO MORE KILLINGS!
Sorry, could not make it short!
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| HahooGuru |
Posted
on 12-Sep-02 08:01 AM
JH:Maoist have once again come forward with proposal for dialogue
its all a trick to reorganize. If they serious why killed at least 5 peoples in last one week.
The dailogue is htere because:
1. BRB & Prachanda do not have control, so they want to have safe landing.
2. They want to reorganize.
My suggestion: there is no need of ceasefire from both side, they can
first talk and show a gesture and show credibility and prove their honesty on their
TALK propaganda. ... Without this, RNA should not stop its operation.
HG
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| galaxy |
Posted
on 12-Sep-02 09:43 AM
Hey HG, you probably should go, get yourself experienced with venal vomitting. Are you one of those desperate the so called intellectual one?? Your opinions and lectures here sound so cheap. You talk about Phd, share prices hiking down, do you even have "buddhi"
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| jayahos |
Posted
on 12-Sep-02 07:35 PM
With due respect to what HG said:
I still firmly believe that there is no choice other than to accommodate their view in conduct of our daily businesses. It's true there is split in MAOIST, Prachanda does not hold full control over rank and files, they are looking for safe landing, they are feeling pressurized from dual character of India and they have grown weak recently. And, these are the reasons why we need a dialogue, a compromise, now. Their recent attack is a proof that they are still able to disrupt the normalcy and their repeated call for dialogue means they are serious this time. If they are not, we have to make them serious.
Without their participation the election will be a fiasco; Kashmir is an example!
Not to deviate from the agendas put forth by Arnico, I wind up saying let us form a group to preessurize both parties in order to stop this blood bath.
To quote NK: A Death in the Front, Grief. Cost: 3 more lives; (from: http://www.sajha.com/sajha/html/openthread.cfm?forum=2&ThreadID=6910&show=all)
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| arnico |
Posted
on 13-Sep-02 11:22 AM
Not to get off the topic... but I am just wondering: what has happened to the journalists in custody? Have they been held beyond the end of the emergency?
If we are moving towards a cooling down of tensions between the government and the maoists, isn't it time to give the press back its freedom?
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| arnico |
Posted
on 13-Sep-02 11:31 AM
Jayahos, would you be able to share a little more about what you are imagining for this pressure-group?
Some questions to think about/discuss (by anyone interested in turning this into reality):
(1) What would be its mission statement or stated mission?
(2) How big would it be, and who would lead it, and who would participate?
(3) How would it exert the pressure? Just through press releases? Or could it have any other ways?
(4) What else would it do beyond exerting pressure?
(5) On what time frame would it get organized and carry out its mission?
(6) Where would it be based? Kathmandu? Lalitpur? Sajhapur? Boston?
(7) How would members meet/communicate? What process would be used to go from heated debates among group members to producing coherent statements backed by the whole group?
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| NK |
Posted
on 13-Sep-02 12:15 PM
I know I am never going back to live (i know i know who has seen the future..) but I am, as most Nepali are, a well - wisher of Nepal. Arnico, this is just absolutely a wonderful idea to have some sort of unified voice what we would like to see in Nepal and if we can in some way influence and participate. If ex pat Shrilankan could fuel the civil war for so long to gain their twisted sense of justice why not use that kind of tactics for a different , i.e. better goal?
Let's start with the manifesto! I presume it it won't have a sickle? :)
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| arnico |
Posted
on 13-Sep-02 12:44 PM
NK, thanks. Yes, let's avoid the sickle... in fact let's not even call it a manifesto.
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| SIWALIK |
Posted
on 13-Sep-02 04:36 PM
arnico: Just a quick note. Forming a political party in 2-3 years? Not an impossibility, but then it will not be an effective one. The resource and planning required for the groundworks, and organizing at local levels will be a considerable undertaking. Plan for say 5-10 years at the least-- first fighting the local elections and establishing a good record of honesty and true love for beloved Nepal. It is not an impposible dream but logic of collective action and Nepali politics is a tough nut to crack. Still, worth trying!
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| HahooGuru |
Posted
on 13-Sep-02 06:12 PM
Arnico coins: Sajhapur
Nepal Sajha Party
Nepal Sajha.com Party
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| jayahos |
Posted
on 13-Sep-02 06:23 PM
>>Jayahos, would you be able to share a little more about what you are imagining for this pressure-group?
>>Arnico, though it seems my long supressed dream to form 'NETIZEN SOCITY' is taking shape, I never thought that I myslef will be a part in furnishing the plan. So, I have nothing in my mind. Let me ponder over it for sometimes, and may be I can come with something.
Are you aware of one recent article "Rejoinder on Some Current Issues" by Dr. Baburam Bhattarai? http://www.monthlyreview.org/0902bhattarai.htm
I would like to quote one line from his article "Let the gentlemen of “Foundation of Nepalese in America,” among others, grasp this truth more firmly ". This is second time I have found him mentioning about Nepalese in America. So, my point is they give importance to Nepalese in America and extending this logic they feel pressured too from them (mind it i am using them!).
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| HahooGuru |
Posted
on 13-Sep-02 06:43 PM
Nepal Sajha.com Party 's motto:
When you can not find good peoples anywhere , You find them here @ Nepal Sajha.com Party.
There can be other short mottos:
Sajha_Freedom. (Note: SHIFT TAG between Sajha and Freedom: you shoud read it as Sajha Shifts Freedom. There was gap between Sajha & Freedom (note the space bar) and are now linked together. The gap is lost: Sajha_Freedom, ......Not the opposite).
Or else
Sajha^Freedom : Sajha is powered by Freedom
Freedom^Sajha : Freedom is powered Sajha.
Sajha - Freedom = PRC
Freedom - Sajha = Materialistic World
HG
Sajha.com is now Powered by Freedom. Sajha^Freedom is the current
motto of Sajha.com, my understanding. When Freedom is Zero, then
we become lonely, i.e. the equation is 1 (only me . .. ).Sajha Vanishes.
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| HahooGuru |
Posted
on 13-Sep-02 07:19 PM
The Last Paragraph also explains that Badal is not head of Military,
as it was widely speculated.
Gentlemen, we just pity your poor source of information! You are free to indulge in self-deception and live in a fool's paradise; but Com. Badal, a senior Party leader, is neither a 'military commander' nor is he ever opposed to the Party leadership. If you still want to grind the rumor-mill, what can we do?
---
From this statement:
1. They want make clear that Badal is not army commandar.
2. They have now differences with Badal, who seems to really have his own position.
Badal seems to be weak in Propaganda Biz., not skilled, not acceptable to the
limit BRB is. So, BRB want phase him out of limelight that wide speculation is wrong
and he already thrown out of military wing. When, I saw a picture in RNA'S
wanted list, you could ony see 4 persons on front line, almost always.
1. Prachanda 2. Badal 3. BRB 4 . Hisila Yami
3. India might be giving them pressure (from inside: very silently), just the way
BP was hinted to leave India. Under this pressure BRB and Prachanda who are
said to be in exile in India, are under the pressure of Safe Landing and Badal
is not letting their statments be compatible with the activity of Military wing.
Well, it is said that Badal (sometime reported somewhere) is almost always with
his Maoist gun fighter, and he is said to be more closer with Armed Maoists.
4. We can not rule out other possibilities. But, we have to know why Prachanda
is trying to come to table? If it is not for safelanding, I don't think its honest
table talk, its jsut a dram as it used to be Sri Lanka. Prachanda knows taht
they can call such propaganda of table talk and divide the political parties,
to get more on his side.
5. another very probable reason: As we all know Maoists are usually peoples
(in villages) who are UML cadres in daylight. Thus, they are the peoples who
becuase of lack of access to govt. because govt. was of Neplai Congress,
could not enjoy indirect benefits e.g. political appointments and access to
state funds, are crawling for money. Thus, being Maoists is licences to
snatch money as you like. In this circumstances, in the upcoming election,
UML seems to get more than 105 MPs voted for lower Parliament, and
if it happens, all these day time UML, night time Maosits will become
fully UML cadres and head to district head quarters for jobs. thus, villages
will be divided and Maoist influence will diminish. Under such circumstances,
Maoists leaders don't want the election to go ahead with the possibility of
UML on Power. UML on Power means Communist on Power, why the should
you be Maosits .... thus, the next 5 years, Maoists will be hard time to
convince compared to now. Now, Nepali Congress is their target in almost all
killing, murder and rapes to looting. But, when UML will have govt., it will be
their responsibility to bring peace and order back to normalcy, the current
mess is usally from UML's cadres who switch to Maosits in night. ...
..............
You can not rule this reason for an attempt to confuse Nepalis. this is the main
reason Maosits will not let UML get highest number of seats in LP, so that
UML does not have govt. and UML's frustrated cadres remain a part of night
force of Maoists. ...
HG
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| jayahos |
Posted
on 13-Sep-02 07:28 PM
Although I could not come up with specific solution, here is my obervation.
1.MISSION STATEMENT: not big deal, our mission, as always, is a SUNDAR, SHANTA, SAMRIDHA NEPAL!
2.SIZE: Let's use SAJHA forum for now. How to broaden it beyond those who are not visiting SAJHA is a point to ponder. My suggestion would be to use already existing different organizations in different countries and in different parts of a country as members along with individual members. So, it's going to be big and may be big enough not possible to materialize?!
3.HOW TO ACT: Pressure through all possible means. Press releases, I suppose, are meant only for press(ure) release. In case of Nepal, I have not found press releases making their place beyond PATRA-PATRIKA and notice board of the organization! In my opinion, working in micro-level is more effective. I think, we need to establish an effective network in NEPAL.
4.HOW FAR: Exerting pressure is just a mean at the beginning to unite as a group. Without working in micro-level, it's not possible to convey the message effectively. NATRA EUTA AAROP LAGCHHA: AMRIKA BASAIYA NEPAL DEKHAIYA!
5.TIME FRAME I think we can start anytime, may be we are already in the process.
6.BASE: NEPAL
7.PROCESS: Couple of months back I was in touch with Prof. Ted Becker – well-known activist of tele-democracy and prof. in Auburn Unviersity – and, he had few suggestions to offer about for under-developed countries like Nepal. May be we can come up with something effective and affordable!
Let's discuss the matter. Let's discuss it positively!
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| jayahos |
Posted
on 14-Sep-02 07:19 PM
I hope this matter will be discussed in SHALIMAR GATHERING on SUNDAY!! But by the way, has Arnico already left for SHALIMAR?
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| arnico |
Posted
on 14-Sep-02 07:25 PM
> But by the way, has Arnico already left for SHALIMAR?
I live 10 minutes from the restaurant... why would I leave already?
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