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[1] From: Sukla Sen <suklasen@yahoo.com> Date: Fri Apr 28, 2006 Subject: Nepal: Victory and After I. Victory meet at Khulla Manch: SPA leaders express full commitment to constituent assembly elections By Suresh Nath Neupane KATHMANDU, April 27 - Hundreds of thousands thronged the Khulla Manch at Tundikhel, Kathmandu, on Thursday to celebrate the seven-party alliance (SPA) called “victory mass meet” of the pro-democracy movement for “total democracy” in the country.Top leaders of the alliance, thousands of SPA activists holding the flags of their parties, government employees and the general public took out rallies from various parts of the Kathmandu Valley to converge at the historic Khulla Manch. The top brass leaders of the SPA addressed the mass meeting expressing their full commitment to constituent assembly elections. However, Nepali Congress (NC) President Girija Prasad Koirala was absent because of ill-health. Back in 1990, the political parties had organized a huge gathering at the same venue after the restoration of democracy. The restoration of multi-party democracy and end of the party-less Panchayat system, were the principle demands of the 1990 popular mass movement. The people had fought for 30 long years before the Panchayat system- introduced by King Mahendra, father of King Gyanendra, by bulldozing a 17-month-old elected parliament in 1960- crumbled in the face of the popular mass movement of 1990, known as Janaandolan-I. However, today’s demands were different. While the SPA leaders stressed the need for drafting a new constitution, terming the 1990 Constitution “incomplete” in providing people’s rights, today’s victory meet clearly echoed the demand of unconditional constituent assembly elections. “The chief demand of the present mass movement is an announcement of constituent assembly elections,” said UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, addressing the mass gathering. “I want to caution those who attempt to step back from constituent assembly elections,” he added. Nepal also claimed that the SPA was ready to come back to the streets if the House of Representatives failed to address the demand of constituent assembly elections. “This movement is aimed at bringing the regime that has stomped on the backs of the Nepali people for the last 237 years, to an end,” Nepal said, adding, “The King is left with no other option but to accept the people’s decision.” The huge mass cheered the SPA leaders with big applause every time they talked about constituent assembly elections. Cautioning that the king could no more be trusted, president of the Nepali Congress-Democratic (NC-D), Sher Bahadur Deuba said there was no alternative to constituent assembly. Repeating the phrase “constituent assembly” several times, Deuba said, “We will hold an election to the constituent assembly at any cost.” “No one has understood this king better than me,” Deuba, who was sacked by the king twice (first on October 4, 2002 and then on February 1, 2005), warned, “He (king) can again lure us.” Areas around the vicinity of the Khulla Manch- Ghantaghar, New Road Gate, Ratna Park, Purano Bus Park etc- were completely packed with people. Banners put up by the participants reminded the politicians not to compromise on democracy and an unconditional election to the constituent assembly. Chairman of Jana Morcha Nepal, Amik Serchan said that it did not matter to the people whether the King accepted the outcome of the unconditional election to the constituent assembly. Bharat Bimal Yadav of Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandidevi) said, “This certainly is the people’s victory but not the end of the people’s movement.” He added that the modalities of the movement had changed. Narayan Man Bijukchhe, chairman of the Majdoor Kisan Party, cautioned the people to remain alert against the activities of the “regressive elements.” Chairman of Bam Morcha Nepal, Prabhu Narayan Chaudhari was of the view that an inclusive democracy should be established in the country. He added that the state should be restructured. Representatives of various professional organizations said that the political parties should move ahead without deviating from the people’s aspirations. “If any party or parliamentarian stands against the constituent assembly elections, people will decide on what action will be taken against them,” said Sambhu Thapa, president of Nepal Bar Association. Participants angry over Koirala’s absence The participants of the mass meet reacted angrily to NC President Koirala’s absence at the programme. The angry mass asked NC Vice-president Sushil Koirala, who was about to address the meet, to leave the stage and call G.P. Koirala. The crowd also pelted stones at the stage protesting his absence. The infuriated mass was calmed only after UML Genera Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal unveiled that Koirala was ill and was attended by two doctors at his residence. “84-year-old leader Koirala has already been administered two saline water bottles and is taking rest at his residence,” said Nepal. Nepal also re-assured the people regarding Koirala’s commitment for unconditional constituent assembly elections. Koirala has already been appointed to the post of Prime Minister by the king. http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=72143 II. http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=289281&category=Frontend&Count\ ry=NEPAL CPN-UML for rechristening army, govt Thursday, April 27,2006 KATHMANDU: The Standing Committee meeting of the CPN-UML today fine-tuned its political agenda to pave way not only for election to constituent assembly but also ensure that “people are rendered fully sovereign by effecting titanic changes on every front.” While election to constituent assembly with pre-agreed time frame tops the agenda, other points of suggestion include His Majesty’s Government be replaced by Government of Nepal. It has also suggested that Royal Nepalese Army be rechristened Nepal National Army while, as Standing Committee member Keshav Badal said, others names too are changed to uphold the sovereignty of the people. Yet another suggestion is changing the national anthem by one that reflects the geography and people of the land. Then there is an issue of ensuring parity in land holding. The suggestion will come up in the central committee meeting on Friday morning. Other notable demands include doing away with “anti-people” appointments like zonal commissioners and regional administrators. However, agenda will require all-party backing before it is taken up as a common agenda. THE HIMALAYAN TIMES | III. http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=289277&category=Frontend&Count\ ry=NEPAL Speaker quits under parties' pressure Thursday, April 27,2006 KATHMANDU: Speaker of the House of Representatives, Taranath Ranabhat, today tendered his resignation from office, citing the new political scenario of revival of the House. “I have resigned, providing friends the chance to work with new enthusiasm,” Ranabhat told this daily. Though the House was dissolved on May 22, 2002, Ranabhat and Deputy Speaker Chitra Lekha Yadav had been continuing in office. Ranabhat has resigned from the post of speaker but his membership in the lower chamber of parliament will remain. His resignation has already been forwarded to the royal palace for the King’s approval. “Nobody from the party told me to resign but I personally thought I should in order to provide a chance to my friends to work,” Ranabhat said. Senior leaders of the seven-party alliance and professionals had urged Ranabhat to resign, saying otherwise they would press the seven-party alliance to begin the process of his impeachment. The Professional Alliance for Peace and Democracy had also asked Ranabhat to resign, accusing him of supporting the royal takeover because he had welcomed the King’s offer to the seven-party alliance to name a Prime Minister although the alliance had immediately rejected the King’s offer. Four days after the refusal of the seven-party alliance, the King reinstated the dissolved House of Representatives. [The King has reportedly forwarded the resignation letter to the Prime Minister appointee in implicit acknowledgement of the supremacy of the office of the Prime Minister.] THE HIMALAYAN TIMES | KANTIPURONLINE | --------------------- [2] Open Warfare Erupts In Sri Lanka By K. Ratnayake http://www.countercurrents.org/sl-ratnayake280406.htm After weeks of escalating violence in a murky, undeclared war in the North and East of Sri Lanka, the Colombo government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have resorted to open hostilities ------------------- |
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| << April27, 2006 - [India Thinkers Net]Benares bombs,communal,Nepal update,globalization |
April30, 2006 - [India Thinkers Net] May day greetings >> |
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