KATHMANDU, DEC 31 - Cadres of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik (MJF-L) staged a sit-in outside the party office in Sanepa, expressing dissatisfaction over the selection of lawmakers under the Proportional Representation (PR) category.

The party cadres protested against the exclusion of Kamleshwor Yadav, Chairman of MJF-L's student wing, from the party's list of PR lawmakers.

Office Secretary Parmananda Mahato informed that the cadres staged demonstration outside the party office, demanding correction of party's list of PR lawmakers. Party's central committee had entrusted Chairman Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar with the task of picking PR lawmakers.

MJF-L, which has 10 PR seats, picked educationist duo Geeta Rana and Baburam Pokharel and businessmen Subodh Pokhrel and Dinbandhu Agrawal, among others, as the PR lawmakers.

DHADING, DEC 31 -
Expressing dissatisfaction over the selection of final list of candidates under the Proportional Representation (PR) category, UCPN (Maoist) cadres torched the District Party Office, Dhading on Tuesday. Office furnitures and important documents were destroyed by the fire.

The irate cadres expressed strong reservations over the selection of former Inspector General of Nepal Police Rabindra Pratap Shah as one of the PR candidates of the party, excluding the cadres who had fought during the people's war.

The district headquarters became tense following the vandalism.

KAILALI, DEC 31 -

Two people have been killed when a bus (Na 4 Kha 9569) collided head-on a motorcycle (Bhe 2 Pa 5945) at Baliya in Kailali district along the East-West Highway on Tuesday.

According to the Area Police Office, Baliya, the deceased have been identified as Janak Kunwar, 35, and Bishnu Saud, 40, of Tikapur Municipality. They died on the spot.

The bus belonging to Karnali Riverside Transport was bound towards Dhangadhi from Tikapur. The motorcycle was coming from the opposite direction when they collided with each other at 10:30 am today.

KATHMANDU, DEC 31 -
Khawas scores brace as Armymen defeat JYC 3-0
Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) opened the Martyrs Memorial Red Bull A Division League with a nervy 1-0 win over promoted side Boys Union Club (BUC) here at the Dashrath Stadium on Monday.

In the day’s second match, Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) blanked Samsung Jawalakhel Youth Club 3-0.

The 10th minute Sulabh Maskey goal separated the two teams in a match where both sides missed several easy goal scoring opportunities. Fed inside the area, Maskey beautifully controlled the ball, beat two defenders and fired at the far post beyond the reach of diving BUC custodian Raju Yogi Nagarkoti.

“We paid for our misfiring frontline players,” said former player and BUC coach Bijay Maharjan. “We missed too many easy chances due to lack of coordination,” added Maharjan. “Since the first match will always be difficult for any team, we hope to improve game as the league wears on.”

MMC should have doubled the lead in the 18th minute only for Kamal Shrestha to clear a weak but goal-bound ball from the line in Yona Elias’ attempt. BUC then wasted a wonderful opportunity to level the score in the 27th minute when set free inside the area with only MMC goalie to beat, Akeen Babatunde shot straight into the grateful hands of Bishal Shrestha.

Chances came thick and fast on both ends but none turned into goal. MMC forward Anil Gurung saw his attempt from edge of the area rolled agonisingly just wide at the far end in the 28th minute before Elias shot high over the bar in the 36th.

MMC got a lucky reprieve five minute from the interval when an alert goalie Bishal punched out on-the-move Rakesh Lama’s shot for a corner. Set free at the edge of the area with MMC custodian exposed, ABA Norbert should have done better for BUC than shooting straight into the hands of Bishal.

MMC coach Hari Om Shrestha also said that the first match was always going to be tough to any teams. MMC coach also partly blamed the under-par performance to the insufficient practice. “We had a ideal start and scored early on but had to fight hard after missing out on several goal scoring opportunities,” added the MMC coach.

In the second match of the day, Armyman Bharat Khawas struck twice and Nawayug added another against the hapless JYC.

National team striker Khawas opened the scoring in the 54th minute and Nawayug doubled the tally with a solo effort in the 79th minute. Khawas sealed the emphatic TAC victory adding his second goal of the game in the 89th minute. JYC custodian Bikesh Kuthu was partly at fault in both the goals scored by the Army striker.

KATHMANDU, DEC 31 -
Twenty-eight political parties, including the Nepali Congress (NC) and the UCPN (Maoist) submitted their list of candidates under the Proportional Representation ( PR ) as the Election Commission (EC)’s third extended deadline ended on Monday.

The submission of lists followed disputes and serious resentments within all political parties over the handing out of the PR seats. Leaders who did not figure in the final lists alleged their senior leaders of corruption, nepotism and favouritism. Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Nepal and Federal Socialist Party Nepal are the only parties which could not submit their PR lists on Monday.

Officials at the EC said they will endorse the names after verifying the parties’ compliance with the provision of inclusion set in the Interim Constitution and the election law. Any party found to have breached the election law will have three more days to make corrections to their lists.

Asked what the EC would do if the parties submit the lists on Tuesday, Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety said they would not accept them but the seats will remain “safe”. “The existing provisions do not envisage such situation,” said Uprety. “We will deal with the issues based on how the situation evolves.”

MJF-N Secretary Ratnesh-wor Lal Kayastha said the party could not finalise the list as there were too many aspirants and too few seats. The party has secured eight seats under the PR .

The deadline for submitting the list was extended for various reasons. One of them being the refusal by 18 of the 30 parties that made it to the new CA to submit the list as they demanded a high-level commission to probe into alleged poll irregularities.

The third extension on December 25  followed request from the major parties after they signed a four-point agreement. Bargaining within the major parties has delayed the PR process. Dissenting voices have surfaced in almost all major parties with some registering notes of dissent, others filing no-confidence motion against party chairman and in other cases entire district chapters offering resignation.

The first meeting of the CA should be called within 21 days of the PR results. Soon afterwards the Cabinet constituted through the CA should nominate the remaining 26 seats to give full shape to the 601-member CA.

KATHMANDU, DEC 31 -
Amid strong opposition and notes of dissent from 12 Central Working Committee members,  Nepali Congress on Monday submitted its list of lawmakers under the PR category to the EC.

Gagan Thapa, Surendra Pandey, Chandra Bhandari, Arjun Joshi, Deep Kumar Upadhyay, Rajan Panta, Baburam Rana, Amod Prasad Upadhyay, Mina Subba, Ramesh Rijal, Jeevan Shahi and Ajay Chaurasia jointly registered a note of dissent at the CWC meeting over the “wrong procedure and basis” followed while finalising the PR list.

They accused the party leadership of flouting the four-point selection criteria. They charged that the PR seats were divided between President Sushil Koirala and senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and they selected names from sub-factions of the Koirala and Deuba camps.

Before finalising the names, Koirala and Deuba are said to have held separate meetings to pick their favourites and kin before tabling the names at the CWC meeting later.

The dozen CWC leaders noted that there was no representation from 25 districts where no party candidate won in the direct polls and that leaders of NC ’s sister wings did not make it to the list.

“Why should there be eight candidates from Dhanusha, five from Banke, three from Tanahun and none from the 25 districts,” CWC member Thapa questioned.

“We simply sought logic behind the nominations and our fight is against the wrong system prevailing in the party for long.”

Another CWC member Bhandari said there were many leaders who contributed to the party in difficult times but their efforts were not counted. Thapa pointed out that there was no representation of professionals.

They accused Koirala and Deuba of promoting factionalism in the party by allocating PR seats 50 and 40 percent between them. “I must say that the NC has made another historic blunder,” Thapa added.

He said that professionals like Rameshwor Khanal and journalists like Dharmendra Jha and Harihar Birahi were left out as well as the chairperson of Nepal Women’s Association.

Thapa rued that some old faces were repeated and some who had contributed to the party candidates’ defeat in the November polls were selected.

Leaders said President Koirala confessed in the meeting that they could not do justice to all but did not comment on the registered note of dissent.

Nepali Congress PR lawmakers

1.    Chitralekha Yadav

2.    Gopalman Shrestha

3.    Kul Bahadur Gurung

4.    Lila Koiala

5.    Dil Bahadur Gharti

6.    Narendra Bikram Nembang

7.    Pradeep Giri

8.    Gyanendra Bahadur Karki

9.    Minendra Rijal

10.    Prakash Saran Mahat

11.    Man Bdr Bishwokarma

12.    Sujata Koirala

13.    Manmohan Bhattarai

14.    Maha Laxmi Upadhyay ‘Dina’

15.    Ananda Prasad Dhungana

16.    Suryaman Gurung

17.    Kamal Panta

18.    Ambika Basnet

19.    Dhan Raj Gurung

20.    Mahendra Yadav

21.    Ratna Serchan

22.    Min Bahadur Bishwokarma

23.    Badri Prasad Pandey

24.    Jeevan Pariyar

25.    Ishwori Neupane

26.    Sita Gurung

27.    Kavita Kumar Sardar

28.    Minakshai Jha

29.    Kumari Laxmi Rai

30.    Chinkaji Shrestha

31.    Ram Chandra Pokhrel

32.    Ashok Koirala

33.    Ganesh Prasad Bimali

34.    Jagdish Narshing KC

35.    Tarini Dutta Chataut

36.    Bharat Bahadur Khadka

37.    Dhurba Wagle

38.    Baldev Bohora

39.    Sarita Prasai

40.    Madhu Shai Thakuri

41.    Anita Devkota

42.    Mithu Malla

43.    Rita Shai

44.    Chandra Devi Joshi

45.    Arzoo Rana Deuba

46.    Deepshikha Sharma Dhakal

47.    Sheela Sharma Khadka

48.    Mukta Kumari Yadav

49.    Sangita Mandal (Dhanuk)

50.    Kausar Shah

51.    Rashmiu Thakur

52.    Sarwat Aara Khatun Hulawaini

53.    Pramila Devi Das

54.    Usha Gurung

55.    Rajyalaxmi Shrestha

56.    Saraswati Bajiyma

57.    Pushpalata Lama

58.    Binda Ale Rana

59.    Anjana Tamli

60.    Sujata Pariyar

61.    Subarna Jawrchan

62.    Anjani Shrestha

63.    Mahendra Kumari Limbu

64.    Om Devi Malla Joshi

65.    Kalpana Sop

66.    Asha BK

67.    Bishnumaya Pariyar

68.    Sabitri Devi Chaudhary

69.    Bhotani Devi Khawas

70.    Laxmi Devi Bhandari

71.    Mohan Kumar Rai

72.    Dil Man Pakhrin

73.    Amar Singh Pun

74.   Jhul Bahadur Ale

75.    Manohar Narayan Shrestha

76.    Lal Bahadur Ghale

77.    Khagda Bahadur Basyal

78.    Ranjit Karna

79.    Amiya Kumar Yadav

80.    Lalbabu Singh Bhuihar

81.    Badshah Kurmi

82.    Abdul Hamid Siddiqi

83.    Amrit Lal Rajbanshi

84.    Shanti Devi Chaudary

85.    Buddi Sagar Chaudhary

86.    Haresh Prasad Mahato

87.    Mo Mokhtar Ahamad

88.    Dilli Bahadur Chaudary

89.    Pyare Lal Rana

90.    Maiku Lal Balmiki

91.    Narvan Kami

KATHMANDU, DEC 31 -
Despite objections from senior leaders Baburam Bhattarai and Narayan Kaji Shrestha, the UCPN (Maoist) submitted on Monday the list of 54 candidates to the EC to nominate them as lawmakers in the new CA.

As the party plunged into a fresh dispute over awarding the PR seats, it failed to publicise the names submitted to the EC. Leaders said the list has an equal number of male and female candidates . The Central Committee on Sunday had entrusted the top leaders to finalise the names but Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Bhattarai and Shrestha differed in their choices.

The top three leaders who lead three rival factions competed to accommodate their own confidantes on the list of lawmakers. Bhattarai and Shrestha walked out of the meeting at party headquarters expressing dissatisfaction, but Dahal prepared the list and submitted it to the EC late in the evening.

Maoist spokesman Agni Sapkota confirmed that Bhattarai and Shrestha walked out of the meeting.

“As the selection was done as per the criteria passed by the Central Committee, there is no reason to express dissatisfaction,” said Sapkota, adding that Bhattarai and Shrestha had pressed Dahal to induct leaders close to them.

A leader close to Bhattarai said the PR list submitted to the EC is “unbalanced” and “biased” as Dahal awarded most of the seats to his supporters.

Dahal has defended his decision saying that the list was submitted to meet the EC deadline. “There are some errors. We will correct those within a couple of days,” said Maoist leader Barsha Man Pun.

UCPN (Maoist) PR list

1.    Bed Maya Bhandari Shakya

2.    Surendra Kumar Kakri

3.    Bhesh Kumari Raut (Bhattarai)

4.    Anita Kumari Pariyar

5.    Rabindra Pratap Shah

6.    Mo Jakir Hussein

7.    Mohan Tudu

8.    Aman Lal Modi

9.    Ongdi Sherpa

10.    Shree Prasad Jawegu

11.    Surya Prakash Bala Rai

12.    Santa Kumar Rai

13.    Juth Bahadur Tuhure Khadgi

14.    Yogendra Tamang Ghising

15.    Radhika Tamang

16.    Kamala Dong

17.    Krishna Dhital

18.    Asha Koirala

19.    Bhakti Prasad Pandey

20.    Lal Bahadur Gurung

21.    Tej Kumari Poudel

22.    Daljeet BK Shriplai

23.    Srijana Taramu Khatri

24.    Kesari Gharti Magar

25.    Rekha Sharma

26.    Goma Kuwar

27.    Lalita Kumari Regmi

28.    Janaki Kumari Saud Rawal

29.    Karna Bahadur BK

30.    Dil Maya Dhami

31.    Phul Jhari Devi

32.    Harilal Gyawali

33.    Durga Kuna

34.    Gopal Giri

35.    Dhan Paharai

36.    Ajay Shanker Nayak

37.    Lalendra Kumar Mandal

38.    Pratikcha Tiwari Mukhiya

39.    Ram Singh Yadav

40.    Nisa Kumari Shah

41.    Dhani Ram Poudel

42.    Shambu Paswan Hajari

43.    Dor Prasad Upadhyay

44.    Ram Narayan Bidari

45.    Surendra Prasad Jaisawal

46.    Usha Kiran Ansari

47.    Dulai Ansari

48.    Sonia Yadav

49.    Dhan Maya BK (Khanal)

50.    Sita Nepali

51.    Tulasa Rana

52.    Anjana Chaudhary

53.    Rupa Maharjan (Shrestha)

54.    Punaram Thapa

DEC 30 -
Kamal Thapa ’s Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-N), campaigning on a platform of ‘democracy with monarchy’ and a Hindu state, won 24 seats in the Constituent Assembly (CA) to become the fourth largest party. This is a massive increase from the party’s four seats in the 2008 CA. Although RPP-N failed to win any seats on first-past-the-post, it garnered a sizeable chunk of proportional representation votes, especially in the Kathmandu Valley—11,013 votes in Kathmandu district alone. Pranaya SJB Rana spoke to Thapa about the RPP-N’s agendas, its stance on federalism and how much the party is willing to compromise on issues of the monarchy and secularism.

How do you see the mandate given to you by the people?

Given the place we were in five years ago and the kind of behaviour we had to face , we are very grateful to the people for our success today. The people have established us as an alternative democratic force, a reserve force. We are quite happy with this. We had definitely expected more, given the preparations we had made and the response we had received from the people. We had expected a dozen seats through direct elections and a lot more through proportional representation. Even though this didn’t happen, we are the fourth largest party. I am also very proud to say that the RPP-N received votes from educated and committed voters.

Since the results, some sections have said that this is not a win for the RPP-N but a vote against the other mainstream parties.

People are free to express their opinion but I don’t think this is a negative vote. We stood firm, regardless of the odds and people voted for us. This is a clear-cut mandate in favour of a Hindu nation and democracy with monarchy.

But a great majority of votes went to the NC, UML and Maoists, which means that a strong mandate is still in favour of republicanism, federalism and secularism.

The mandate of the people this time is very clear. The people have weakened the parties that pushed for extreme agendas after the changes of 2006. These parties are the Maoists and the Madhes-based parties. The people have rejected their agendas. I don’t consider the NC and UML the champions of the 2006 Janaandolan. They simply followed the Maoists and Madhesis. The NC-UML are the champions of the 1990 Janaandolan. This time, the people have voted for the NC-UML to stand in between the Maoists-Madhesis on one side and the RPP-N on the other and find a middle ground. Despite the fact that we have received six times more votes than last time, we still don’t have enough. So it is not just our agendas that will be established. A compromise is necessary and the people recognised that the NC-UML are capable of finding this compromise.

If the people’s mandate is for a compromise, how much is the RPP-N willing to compromise?

We understand that all of our agendas cannot be implemented. We will have to be flexible but without sacrificing the fundamental elements of a Hindu nation, democracy with monarchy and no ethnic federalism. There must be a Hindu nation. We are ready to accept complete religious freedom and religious equality. We are fully committed to democracy but there must be some space for the monarchy, even in a symbolic form. On federalism, we can hold discussions on the form, provided that it is not based on ethnicity.

When you say federalism not based on ethnicity, do you mean not based on single-identity?

It is the same thing. Whether you say single-identity or multiple-identity, there is no difference. When the parties claim the various bases for multiple-identity, it is simply a cover. The main point is still ethnicity. Those who are raising this issue, their commitment is not to the Nepali people but to the donor agencies. But because they cannot sell this idea to the people, they are camouflaging ethnic federalism under multiple-identity.

So what is the RPP-N’s model of federalism?

Federalism is not our agenda but we are ready to compromise. But other parties have to come to us with a proposal. If need be, we can come up with a proposal ourselves but this is not the right time. I don’t think we should play all our cards yet.

On a different note, there is talk of forming a high level political mechanism outside the constituent assembly. Why do you oppose this?

We are totally against this. I see this as an attempt to sabotage and undermine the authority and sovereignty of the CA. Whether we are included or not, we cannot accept this. The Maoists, in the past too, have used so-called consensus as a tool to establish their agendas. In a democracy, you try to move ahead together. But if that is not possible, you still need to follow proper norms and procedures. Now, because the Maoists have been weakened, they are trying to save their political goals using all the resources at their disposal to push for consensus. Unfortunately, the NC-UML did not understand this in the past and they don’t understand this now. Even if they do, they seem to lack the guts, vision and leadership to oppose it.

Couldn’t a high level political mechanism be used as a forum to address the demands of parties, including the CPN-Maoist, which boycotted the election?

There are so many political forces outside the parameters of the CA. The CPN-Maoist boycotted the election but the monarchy, a traditional political force, is also outside the CA. So the voices of all of these forces need to be heard. To do this, a consultation mechanism can be created, not a permanent structure outside of the CA. Constitution-making needs to happen within the CA. To create a

political body outside the CA would be a betrayal of the people’s sovereign authority.

Coming back to the CA, despite being the fourth largest party, your numbers are still small, compared to the NC, UML and Maoists. What impact do you hope to have?

We are drafting a constitution so it not just about the arithmetic. The ideas count. If a small party brings up a good idea, it must be addressed. I think it is now time for me to  explicitly mention something I have been saying for the last seven years. Ethnic federalism, secularism and republicanism were the result of a conspiracy between the foreign powers and the country’s extreme left and a part of their strategic alliance. The political parties, intellectuals and media all went along with this under foreign pressure.

So you maintain that the work done by the old CA should not be continued with?

The day the old CA was dissolved without writing a constitution, all its decisions were dissolved too. This is a legal and political fact, not just my opinion. The Election Commission is also very clear about this. It never said that this was the ‘second’ election to a CA; it said that this was the ‘next’ CA election [sambidhan sabha ko lagi ‘arko’ chunab]. Continuing with the old work could be an easier way but we should not forget that this is a fresh mandate. Extremist agendas have been defeated and the RPP-N has risen as a new force. We cannot take any shortcuts to institutionalise wrong decisions.

You have raised the idea of a referendum on secularism, federalism and republicanism. Is this your focus now?

First, we will try to come to an understanding in the CA. We will request other political parties to address the agendas of all political forces. If we cannot reach an understanding and there is an attempt to push through certain agendas under the force of numbers alone, then the constitution-writing process will once again be incomplete and will invite another conflict. So we should look for consensus and respect for all agendas. And only as a last resort should we go to the people.

Is reunification with Surya Bahadur Thapa’s RPP possible?

I don’t see any possibility of unification in the near future but I don’t rule it out either. We want to consolidate our recent success and move forward. The people have established us as the fourth largest party but in five years time, we will become the largest party. We have already started to work towards that end. To reach that goal, we will accept and welcome individuals or forces with an ideology similar to ours.

On a final note, do you see a constitution within a year?

If we follow the people’s mandate to the letter and spirit, we will definitely have a constitution within a year. And the RPP-N will honestly contribute to that end. But we will not take part in government formation. The people have not given us a mandate to form a government.

DEC 30 -
Retired seven-times Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher was in 'critical' condition with head injuries after an off-piste skiing accident in the French Alps resort of Meribel, his agent said on Sunday.

The 44-year-old German was in hospital in Grenoble and under the care of Professor Gerard Saillant, a brain and spinal injury expert who is also president of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) Institute.

"He suffered head trauma with coma that needed prompt neurosurgical treatment," Schumacher's agent Sabine Kehm said in a statement late in the evening, which a hospital official read to reporters.

"He remains in a critical condition."

A hospital official declined to give more details but said more information would be given on Monday.

Christophe Gernigon-Lecomte, the director of the Meribel ski resort where Schumacher has a vacation home, said earlier that the former champion was wearing a helmet when he fell and hit his head on a rock at around 11 a.m. local time (1000 GMT).

He added that the German had been conscious while being transported first to a local hospital in Moutiers before then being transferred to Grenoble.

"He was conscious but very agitated while being taken to hospital," said the director.

In Germany, Schumacher's accident topped news bulletins, with the bestselling tabloid newspaper Bild reporting on its website: "Schumi fighting for his life".

Bild reporters also said that Ross Brawn, the Briton who worked with Schumacher at Ferrari and Mercedes as technical director and team principal respectively, had arrived in Grenoble.

SHOCK AND PRAYERS

The Formula One community, and the wider world of motorsport, reacted with shock and prayers on social network Twitter for the champion to win his biggest battle.

"If anyone can pull through, it's him," said Britain's triple Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti, who is still walking on crutches after a huge crash in October that ended his racing career.

"Come on Michael, give us one of those race stints at pure qualifying pace to win through, like you used to. You can do it," said Schumacher's former Benetton team mate Martin Brundle.

Former Ferrari team mate Felipe Massa, who suffered a near fatal head injury at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, said he was praying for his friend.

Schumacher is the most successful Formula One driver of all time with a record 91 race victories in an extraordinary - and frequently controversial - career spanning more than two decades.

He won his first two titles with Benetton in 1994, the year when Brazilian triple champion Ayrton Senna died in a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix, and 1995.

The German then took five in a row with Ferrari between 2000 and 2004 in what now seems a golden age for the Italian team who named a square after him at their Fiorano test track.

Schumacher left the sport last year after a less successful three-year comeback with Mercedes following an earlier retirement from Ferrari at the end of 2006. He lives in Switzerland with his wife and two children.

KATHMANDU, DEC 30 - Nepali Congress , largest party in the Constituent Assembly (CA), has finalised the name list of the lawmakers under the Proportional Representation (PR) category, on Monday. Party's Central Working Committee endorsed the names prepared and recommended by the party parliamentary board.

With the Election Commission's deadline for PR list submission expiring today, NC finally managed to finalise the list of PR lawmakers hours before the deadline expiry.

Four NC central members have missed out on the final list. Leaders Surendra Pandey, Baburam Rana, Mina Subba and Rajan Kumar Pant have no been included in the 91-member PR list.

General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula read out the names of the PR lawmakers at the CWC meeting today. Sources said that 15 central members expressed their reservations on the final PR list.

Amongst the 91 PR lawmakers , 55 are from the establishment faction while 36 are from senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba's bloc.

UCPN (Maoist) and other fringe parties are yet to submit their respective list of PR lawmakers while CPN-UML has already submitted the list.

Names of NC's PR lawmakers :

Chitra Lekha Yadav

Gopal Man Shrestha

Kul Bahadur Gurung

Lila Koirala

Dil Bahadur Gharti

Narendra Bikram Nembang

Pradip Giri

Gyanendra Bahadur Karki

Minendra Prasad Rijal

Prakash Sharan Mahat

Man Bahadur Biswokarma

Sujata Koirala

Manmohan Bhattarai

Maha Laxmi Upadhyay "Dina"

Ananda Prasad Dhungana

Surya Man Gurung

Kamala Panta

Ambika Basnet

Dhana Raj Gurung

Mahendra Yadav

Ratna  Sherchan

Min Bahadur Bishwokarma

Badri Prasad Pandey

Jeewan Pariyar

Ishwori Neupane

Sita Gurung

Kabita Kumari Sardar

Minakshi Jha

Sujata Pariyar

Kumari Laxmi Rai

Chinkaji Shrestha

Ram Chandra Pokharel

Ashok Koirala

Narayan Prasad Koirala

Anita Devkota

Minu Mall

Chandradevi Joshi

Arju Rana Deuba

Deepshikha Sharma Dhakal

Shila Sharma Khadka

Mukta Kumari Yadav

Sangita Malla (Dhanuk)

Kaushar Shah

Malati Devi Shreevastav

Sarwat Aara Khatun (Haluwai)

Pramila Devi Das

Usha Gurung

Rajya Laxmi Shrestha

Saraswati Bajimaya

Pushpa Lata Lama

Binda Devi Ale Rana

Anjana Tamli

Suraj Jwarchan

Anjani Shrestha

Mahendra Kumari Limbu

Om Devi Malla Joshi

Kalpana Sop

Asha BK

Bishnumaya Pariyar

Sabitrai Devi Chaudhari

Bhodhani Devi Khawas

Laxmi Devi Bhandari

Mohan Kumar Rai

Dil Man Pakhrin

Amar Singh Pun

Jhul Bahadur Ale

Manohar Narayan Shrestha

Lal Bahadur Ale

Khadga Bahadur Bashyal

Ranjit Karna

Amiya Kumar Yadav

Lalbabu Singh Bhuihar

Badshah Kurmi

Abdul Hamid Siddiqui

Amrit Lal Rajbanshi

Shanti Devi Chaudhari

Buddhi Sagar Chadhari

Bharat Bhadur Khadka

Dhurba Wagle

Bal Dev Bohara

Sarita Prasain

Madu Sahi Thakuri

Pramila Devi Das

Usha Gurung

Rajya Laxmi Shrestha

Saraswati Bajimaya

Pushpalata Lama

Bindadevi Ale-Rana

Anjana Tamli

Dilman Pakhrin

Amar Singh Pun

Jhul Bahadur Ale

Manoharnarayan Shrestha

Lal Bahadur Ale

Amiya Kumar Yadav

Mukhtar Ahamad

Dilli Bahadur Chaudhari

Pyare Lal Rana

Maikulal Balmiki

Narvan Kami

KATHMANDU, DEC 30 - Sarat Singh Bhandari -led National Madhes Socialist Party (NMSP) has been divided over the selection of lawmakers under the Proportional Representation (PR) category.

Party General Secretary Rameshwor Sah staged sit-in outside the party office in Balkumari today, accusing chairman Bhandari of moving ahead unilaterally.

Sah is preparing to bring a no confidence motion against Bhandari. Shah said that he went to the party office to inform about the no confidence motion against chairman Bhandari and instead pasted the notice at the office as it was closed.

Shah further said that he will also inform the Election Commission about the no confidence motion.

NMSP has selected the names of Nirjala Raut, Dharmendra Sah and Dinesh Sah as their PR lawmakers. With the selection of the names, dissatisfaction has surfaced inside the party rank and file.

KATHMANDU, DEC 30 - With the extended deadline to submit the parties' list of candidates under the Proportional Representation ( PR ) category in the Election Commission ending this evening, major political parties Nepali Congress and UCPN (Maoist) have not tabled the name lists of their PR candidates 3:30 this afternoon.

A parliamentary board meeting and central committee meeting of Nepali Congress expected to finalise the names had not convened till 1 pm.

Likewise, the central committee of the UCPN (Maoist) has entrusted the party headquarters--Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and leaders Baburam Bhattarai, Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Post Bahadur Bogati--with the responsibility to pick the names of PR candidates.

NC had won 91 seats while UCPN (Maoist) had secured 54 seats under the PR system in the Constituent Assembly election.

Meanwhile, Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party has submitted the PR candidates list at the EC today. TMLP had won seven seats under the PR category. The party, however, has not made public the names.

DEC 29 -
Chris Rogers smashed just his second test century in emphatic style to lead Australia to an eight-wicket win over England and a fourth successive Ashes victory before tea on the fourth day of the fourth test Sunday.

Resuming on the overnight score of 30-1, David Warner was caught behind off Ben Stokes (1-50) for 25 before Rogers and Shane Watson shared a second-wicket partnership of 136 to aggressively chase down the victory target of 231.

Rogers was caught behind of Monty Panesar (1-41) for 116 attempting to cut through the off-side, ending a 155-ball knock with 13 boundaries.

Watson scored a classy 83, while Michael Clarke added 6 to help see the Australians to 231-2 and the win.

The 36-year-old Rogers produced the innings of his nine-test career to claim his first century on home soil in emphatic fashion. He brought up the milestone driving Jimmy Anderson for four through cover and raised his bat to the resounding applause of the 38,522 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

“Amazing feeling to get 100 in a Boxing Day test and get the win,” Roger said.

Watson reached his half century off the first ball of the next over when he cut Bresnan for four.

Australia had already clinched the five test series in commanding fashion with a third-straight win at Perth on December 17, marking a dramatic reversal of form after losing the previous Ashes series 3-0 in England earlier this year.

Despite the series already being decided, more than 271,860 fans were on hand at the MCG over the four days, including a world record single day’s attendance of 91,092 on day 1.

England looked tired and dejected in the field Sunday as Australia confidently batted toward an increasingly inevitable win.

England will rue some early missed chances after Jonny Bairstow failed to move on a Rogers edge off Stuart Broad, leaving a difficult attempt that Cook let slip through for four when Rogers was on 19. Cook then put down a straightforward edge from Warner at first slip two overs later off Stokes.

Stokes gained revenge shortly after when Warner added just three runs before becoming the only wicket of the morning. Warner, who made just 9 in the first innings Saturday, was again attempting a big shot off a short ball only to edge to the wicketkeeper.

England followed its most dominant performance this series with perhaps its poorest when it dismissed Australia for 204 early on the third day only to suffer two dramatic collapses of 3-1 and 5-6 either side of tea. Nathan Lyon (5-50) took five wickets to help dismiss England for 179 and usher Australia in for its victory chase shortly before stumps on Saturday.

BHADRAPUR, DEC 29 -
Three members of the same family perished in a fire that broke out all of a sudden in a house in Dudhe bazaar of Satashidham-7, Jhapa.

In the mishap that took place at around 10 pm Saturday night Manika Bhattarai,36, and her 12-year-old son Nitesh and seven-year-old younger son Nishan died on the spot, according to the Area Police Office, Jhiljhile.

Originally from Darbesha of Morang, the Bhattarai family was living in rent in the two-storey wooden house owned by Ganesh Bajgain. Manika's husband is reportedly in the gulf on a foreign employment.

The fire was put out after a joint effort of the local and police at around 11:30 pm.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that the fire broke out from the candle that had been lit in the house due to power outage.

The house was almost completely gutted including all goods inside it. RSS

KATHMANDU, DEC 29 -
Cine actor Bhuwan KC has expressed dissatisfaction over the list of proportional representative candidates submitted by the CPN-UML in Election Commission.

KC, who had missed under the first-past-the-post category in the Constituent Assembly election from Kathmandu-1, was assured of a PR seat in the CA. He, however, was not in the list submitted by the party to the EC on Saturday. KC is scheduled to organise a press meet later on today to express his dissatisfaction towards the PR list.

UML had won 84 of the 335 PR seats in the election becoming the second largest party in the CA.

Actor KC had joined the party some three years ago.

Discontent has been brewing over the list of PR candidates submitted by the party after youth leaders Ram Kumari Jhakri, Rajendra Rai, Thakur Gaire, among others, were excluded from the 84-member list.

Maoist party ready to support NC-led govt in exchange for plum posts
KATHMANDU, DEC 29 -
In a strategic move, the UCPN (Maoist) is preparing to trade off its support for the President and the government leadership with the largest party, Nepali Congress ( NC ), for some plum posts within and outside the Constituent Assembly.

Sources said despite differences in the party, the UCPN (Maoist) is willing to support the NC -led government and the continuity of incumbent President Ram Baran Yadav in return for two key positions: the leadership of the proposed cross-party mechanism, which is said to be placed outside the CA, and the post of either speaker of the CA or Chairman of the Constitutional Committee. Maoist leaders said they are prepared to join hands with the NC and lend full support on all issues in return for the posts as that would serve the Maoist party’s purpose of pushing its agendas in the new constitution.

“We do not have much concern about the government. Our focus is on the constitution drafting process and if the NC demonstrates flexibility in accommodating our agendas, we see the possibility of some trade off,” said Haribol Gajurel, a leader close to UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal. The Maoist party and the NC leaders have been in negotiation for the last couple of weeks.

The UCPN (M) reckons that its presence in the key bodies within and outside the CA would help incorporate its favoured agendas, including the identity-based federalism and a presidential system of government in the new constitution. Following the defeat in the November election, one of UCPN (M)’s immediate concerns is to keep a close tab on the constitution writing process to maintain its influence the drafting process.

Maoist leaders said the party had grown optimistic about entering into partnership with the NC given its recent flexibility in addressing demands, including formation of a probe panel to investigate into alleged poll rigging. On December 24, the NC , the UCPN (M) and the CPN-UML signed a four-point agreement committing to establish the said probe panel, a cross-party mechanism, to guide the overall CA process, and draft the constitution within a year taking full ownership of the past achievements (a secular, republic and federal set up of the state).

 “Recent developments indicate that it would be easier for us to implement our agenda in an NC -led government,” said a Maoist leader. The strategic partnership with the NC , the leader said, would also help keep the second largest party, UML in its size.

An apprehensive UML has already grown sceptical of the NC . According to Maoist leaders, the perceived distance between the NC and the UML has widened ever since they signed the four-point agreement despite UML opposition.

The Maoist’s assurance to support the NC in forming a new government and keeping intact the incumbent President has further polarised the Congress and the UML. Holding a fresh election of the President is one of the major demands of the UML.

Suggestions by a section of the NC that it should take the UML as a main competitive force mean the Congress’ immediate option is to enter into partnership with the UCPN (M), said Gajurel. “This is a major reason behind the growing proximity between the NC and the Maoist party.” In a Central Working Committee meeting last week, NC leaders were divided on partnership with the UML. But the NC chose to put into stake its relations with the UML by fulfiling some of the major demands of the UCPN (Maoist), such as forming a cross-party mechanism.

As of now, the NC , however, has remained mum over fulfiling Maoists’ other demands under this “trade off”. NC leaders argue that it adopted a flexible stance only to bring the Maoist party into the CA and “the mission has been completed”. “We do not rule out collaborating with the Maoists, but any further compromise is unlikely,” said NC leader Prakash Saran Mahat. On constitutional agenda, the NC and the UML stand together and there is pressure on both the parties to walk together until the formation of a new government.

Many Maoist leaders also concede that establishing a cordial relation with the NC is not easy. “The party should work hard to make an alliance with the NC to avoid the possibility of drafting a new constitution through voting, as the NC and the UML command two-thirds of the votes in the parliament,” said Gajurel. 

SIRAHA, DEC 27 -
Police have launched a campaign to destroy marijuana in the district. Superintendent of Police Purna Chandra Joshi said that a team of officials from a police unit and the District Police Office destroyed marijuana farming on around 10 hectares of land in the southern, northern and western VDCs in the district. The move was initiated three weeks ago.

“A process to destroy marijuana plants on kitchen garden and other places is going on,” he said, adding that police collect information about marijuana farming and destroying the plants.

He said that their plan to destroy marijuana was delayed for some weeks due to election to the Constituent Assembly. “After destroying marijuana, we torch it,” he said. He said police destroyed marijuana farming in a number of VDCs, including Badahadamal, Chandraudayapur, Chandralalpur, Madar, Malhaniya, Gamhariya, Fulbariya and Hakpada, in the district.

Marijuana farming has gone rampant in the district as smugglers from India purchase it at home in collusion with police officials, according to a source.

A person requesting anonymity said a network involving political leaders, businessmen and high level government officials is involved in the illegal trade. Marijuana collected from Udayapur, Sindhuli and Ramechhap is stored in a village in the Chure area and from there it is supplied to Indian market, the source said.

Former secretary of Sanhaitha VDC, Ganga Prasad Yadav, said smugglers purchase marijuana for Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000 per kg from farmers and sell it for Rs 8,000 to Rs 12,000 per kg in India.

BRAZIL, DEC 27 -
At least 44 people have died and more than 60,000 have been left homeless following torrential rain in southeast Brazil over the past few weeks, officials said Thursday.

In Espirito Santo state, Civil Defense officials reported a total of 27 fatalities, including eight Thursday, in what they described as the worst rains in 90 years.

They said 61,379 people were forced to leave their homes.

"We are going to have to rebuild the state," said Governor Renato Casagrande amid extensive flooding and damage to bridges and roads.

In neighboring Minas Gerais state, where the downpours began in October and have worsened in the past few days, authorities reported 17 deaths and said 4,150 people were forced to evacuate their homes.

A 56-year-old woman died on Wednesday in a landslide that buried her house in Juiz de Fora, 278 kilometers (173 miles) from Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais.

Last week, a family of six, including a seven-year-old child, died when a mudslide swept away their home in Sardoa, in the eastern part of the state.

A total of 79 towns were affected across Minas Gerais and a state of alert was declared in in 26 of them.

Tuesday, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff flew over flood-hit areas of Espirito Santo and pledged federal aid to the victims.

In early December, a storm also left 16 people dead and flattened more than 200 houses in the city of Lajedinho in the northeastern state of Bahia.

KATHMANDU, DEC 27 -
As part of its post- election policy review, the UCPN (Maoist) has started what it calls a serious soul searching to redraw its future ideological course aimed at regaining the lost glory.

Leaders said while the party would not immediately deviate from “the path of peace and constitution,” an official policy adopted by the party’s Chunwang meet in 2005, the ongoing discussions have opened much wider possibilities, including of adopting the path of “revolt” and bringing back the insurgency-era avatar of the party, especially the mass-based structures that mobilised thousands of whole-time cadres.

Though courting criticism, one of the options put under discussion is to give continuity to the policy of Chunwang meeting: consolidating peace and constitution through the Constituent Assembly (CA).

A meeting of the party’s Central Committee (CC) scheduled to begin on January 4 is expected to give a clearer picture about the future course as the meeting is set to delve primarily into reviewing the policy endorsed by the Chunwang meet. Some of the leaders have said the Chunwang policy was “defective” and hence the defeat in the election s.

Leaders such as Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Devendra Poudel, and Hemanta Prakash Oli argue that “the party has failed to complete the first phase of revolution, which was to draft a pro-people constitution” as envisaged by the Chunwang meet. The party, therefore, needs new way of thinking, the leaders said.

Adding to the ongoing policy discussions, Maoist ideologue Baburam Bhattarai has floated a new concept of “participatory democracy” to ensure better representation of cadres within the party and the people in the government.

Bhattarai, however, is yet to elaborate on the same.

Party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal is yet to come up with his views. His aides said Dahal is currently busy reviewing the party’s past policies and consulting leaders close to him. After the party’s split, Dahal has kept himself away from meeting other people, except for his close aides.  

Some Maoist leaders have warned Dahal that the party will become another CPN-UML if it continues to follow the model of parliamentary and electoral democracy.

Insiders said there is a general anxiety among Maoist leaders that the NC and the UML, who command two-thirds of the votes in the CA, could endorse the contentious issues through voting, instead of settling them through consensus. “This is a worrying fact and we are still not sure how we would go about handling that as we are discussing the party’s new policies,” said a Maoist leader.

“We will not shun the path of peaceful politics immediately but we need to clarify our policy on several issues. We should also bring immediate programmes to revamp the party,” said leader Haribol Gajruel.

The party is also preparing to review its policy of transforming it into a mass-based party as  decided at the seventh general convention held in February.

Maoist leaders said, as part of the decision, they would now adopt the cadre-based approach practiced during the insurgency period and revamp its organisational structure across the country.

The leaders maintained that the cadre-based nature of the party started eroding after it adopted a policy of welcoming everyone into the party organisation following its entry into the mainstream politics.

The party had a vanguard of thousands of full-time cadres who played a key role in strengthening the party’s organisation at the grassroots level during the insurgency period. The cadre-base structures were dropped for a number of reasons, including the high cost to manage the full-timers, and criticisms from both within and outside the country.

KATHMANDU, DEC 27 -
The UCPN (Maoist) has plunged into a dispute about supporting the Nepali Congress in the government formation process. Though Tuesday’s four-point agreement has brought the two parties closer, leaders say the chances of supporting the NC in the government as said by some leaders close to Pushpa Kamal Dahal are slim.

On Wednesday, leader Barsha Man Pun who is close to Dahal publicly said that the party will lend unconditional support to the NC . The remark has created a ripple in the party.

Leaders close to senior leader Baburam Bhattarai have objected to the move saying that Pun spoke on Dahal’s behalf without any discussion in the party. Leaders maintain that as the party will not be a part of the government, it will be unwise to support the NC without a guarantee of the leadership of the High-level Political Committee, finalising the contents of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and agreement on finalising the constitution through voting.

Speaking at a party meeting on Thursday, leaders Amik Sherchan, Gopal Kirati, Nanda Kishor Pun and Lila Mani Pokhrel said the party should not focus on the government formation process as “it will be against the people’s mandate”. They also criticised Bhattarai’s recent remarks in social media saying that all the contentious issues should be discussed in party platforms.

For the selection of proportional representation (PR) lawmakers, leaders urged the party leadership to prepare a standard. A task force has set some standards but leaders are not satisfied and have suggested the leadership select PR candidates representing all the castes and ethnicities.


NC endorses 4-point agreement

KATHMANDU: A meeting of the Nepali Congress office bearers on Thursday endorsed the four-point deal signed by the eight political parties on Tuesday.

The meeting concluded that the deal had paved the way for consensus politics and would ease the future political process, said party Joint Secretary General Purna Bahadur Khadka.

The meeting decided to take other forces such as the CPN-UML, the UCPN (Maoist) and Madhesis into confidence.

NC Parliamentary Board is meeting on Saturday to select names of proportional representation lawmakers for submission by Monday. Conflict victims, district presidents and Central Working Commit-tee members and martyr’s kin are in priority. (PR)

KATHMANDU, DEC 26 -
Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala on Wednesday held separate meetings with Chairman of Tarai Madesh Loktantrik Party Mahantha Thakur and Chairman of Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party Narayan Man Bijukchhe and discussed post-election scenarios.

The meetings with Thakur and Bijukchhe, NC chief Koirala concentrated on the four-point agreement signed on Tuesday, contemporary politics, the first CA meeting and contents of a new constitution among other things.

According to the private secretariat of Koirala, during the meetings, Koirala said that only the protracted political transition can come to an end only through political consensus and cooperation so that a federal and democratic constitution can be drafted without hiccups. “The meeting focused on political consensus and the constitution drafting process,” Thakur.

After meeting Koirala, Bijukchhe said all solutions should be sought in the sovereign CA at a time when people have already elected a new constitution-making body. “Seeking solutions from outside would pose a threat to the CA,” said Bijukchhe, adding that his party has given priority to the constitution drafting process over joining the new government.

KATHMANDU, DEC 26 -
The junior team led by Bhuwan Karki are keen to emulate the success of the senior team in the ACC U-19 Asia Cup scheduled to begin in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from October 28.

The challenge awaiting Nepal in the UAE is tough as they are in the same group as teams from Test giants India and Pakistan along with the hosts. However, Karki, who has also played for the senior team, believes his team are ready to ruffle the feathers of the Test team.

“If we are to progress from the group stage we have no option but to beat the teams from the Test-playing nations and we are ready for that,” said Karki. With the senior team doing so well of late, we are aware that we need to prove that the next batch of cricketers are ready to continue in their footsteps,” Karki said on Wednesday. The team is leaving for the UAE on Thursday. “We need to believe in our potential and play our normal game,” Karki added.

Coach Jung Bahadur Thapa believes his team would be a formidable opponent. “There is not much difference between the teams in the age-group and if our boys perform like they have been during practice sessions, I am sure we will be able to upset some of our neighbours,” said the coach, who had to reshuffle the team after his key player Sompal Kami was included in the senior team.

“He (Kami) was my best asset and the team would have been different had he and Avinash Karn been in the squad,” said the coach showing a bit of concern over the bowling department. “The boys are pretty inexperienced but I am hopeful as they had shown great maturity during practice matches with the senior side.”

Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Afghanistan are in Group B in the week-long tournament with the top two progressing to the semi-finals.

KATHMANDU, DEC 26 -
CPN-ML has finalised the name list of party candidates under the Proportional Representative system for the Constituent Assembly on Thursday.

The party, which won five seats in the CA election under the PR category, selected party's General Secretary CP Mainali, central committee members Aaindra Sundar Nembang, Shiva Chandra Chaudhary, Kalasha Mahara and Kamala BK.

A politburo meeting of the party finalised the names today. 

TAPLEJUNG, DEC 26 -
Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has resumed a direct flight from Kathmandu to Taplejung after 25 years.

Taplejung Airport in-charge Hemant Upreti informed that flights carrying nine passengers from Kathmandu and 17 passengers from Taplejung were operated on Thursday.

The national flag carrier will provide flight service to Taplejung every Thursday, informed the corporation. Earlier, the NAC provided flight service once a week from Biratnagar to Kathmandu on Sundays. The NAC said the flights were resumed following requests from tourism entrepreneurs and locals.

On the first day, the locals welcomed the pilots with flower garlands and Khada, a traditional cloth garland. The NAC also informed that the fare regulated for the 55 minute flight from Kathmandu to Taplejung is Rs. 6,200.

The NAC, which has only one airplane at its disposal, further informed that the number of flights will be increased as soon as new airplanes are added.

ROLPA, DEC 26 -
Chairman of the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities ( NEFIN ), Nagendra Kumar Kumal, has claimed that the issues raised by them were wrongly publicized.

Kumal also urged all to be clear that they have raised the issue of ethnic identity but not that of ethnic state.

Speaking at a news conference organised by the Federation of Nepali Indigenous Journalists (FONIJ), Rolpa, here, he said that the state itself has remained indifferent towards the issues of indigenous nationalities.

Stating that the government, despite having signed the ILO Convention-169, has not been able to implement it to the fullest so far, Kumal claimed that the people from indigenous communities have been the victims of a lot of severe human rights violation in the country.

Kumal claimed the need to implement multiple identity-based federal states in order to give the ethnic minorities an importance they deserve. He said establishing federal states based on multiple identities would not disintegrate the country, as ‘publicised’ by the ‘regressive forces’.

MUMBAI, DEC 24 -
After acting with popular actors like Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, Ranbir Kapoor and Shah Rukh, Deepika Padukone now wants to work with other superstars—Salman Khan, Aamir Khan and Hrithik Roshan.

“I hope in the next one or two years I will get to work with Hrithik, Salman and Aamir,” Deepika, who has given four back-to-back hits this year, told reporters here at a party.

There are reports that Deepika has been roped in opposite Salman in Sooraj Barjatya’s next, but she denied this and said: “That’s not true and I have not officially met Sooraj ji.” It’s not just Deepika who is eager to work with Salman. In fact, the Bigg Boss host has also expressed his desire to work with the actress and has been seen praising her on many occasions.

“It definitely feels great when Salman says such good things about me because you all know he was the one who first noticed me,” said Deepika, who made her Bollywood debut opposite Shah Rukh in the 2007 film Om Shanti Om. “I was doing an ad with his friends in Rajasthan. So, he saw me and he was the one who offered me my first film,” she recalled.

This was during Deepika’s modelling days, when she got an acting offer from Salman before she was chosen for Shah Rukh-starrer Om Shanti Om. However, the actress denied Salman’s offer as she felt she was not ready to face the camera. Currently, Deepika has films like Happy New Year, Finding Fanny Fernandes and Imtiaz Ali’s untitled film in her kitty.

POKHARA, DEC 24 - Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) Chief Lokman Singh Karki has criticised the bureaucracy for its lackadaisical performance. He said indiscipline has developed in organisational manner thereby taking its toll on the efficiency of civil employees.

Inaugurating the regional office CIAA in Pokhara on Tuesday, Karki said: "The civil employees are just killing their time and making money." He claimed that there have been signs of reforms after he took charge as CIAA chief and people's faith and expectations have grown in the commission.

Karki recognised political instability, untimely change in government leadership and lack of elected representatives in local bodies for adding challenge in the fight against corruption. He added the local bodies, education and health sector top the list of complaints of irregularities at CIAA.

He opined that the nation would get a face-lift within 5-7 years if the Prime Minister, Cabinet Office, Judiciary and the CIAA work actively.

Karki said that certain media raised objections when the commission took steps to stave off possible misuse of Rs 90 billion collected by a bank opened with a capital of around Rs 2 billion. He further said the commission has the responsibility to monitor the banks and financial organizations and assist the central bank.

He said that 95 pc of corruption can be eradicated if the civil employees work in a true spirit of service to the people and comply with the rule of law and regulations.

KATHMANDU, DEC 24 - An all party meeting underway at the Peace Fund Secretariat in Babarmahal, Kathmandu on Tuesday has endorsed the agreement reached earlier today among the major parties.

The leaders of major three parties— Nepali Congress , CPN-UML and UCPN (Maoist)--and Madhes-based parties are present in the meeting.

It has been learnt that the leaders have signed on the 4-point deal reached among the NC, UML and UCPN (M) earlier today. According to the agreement, the coordinator of the proposed High Level Political Mechanism (HLPM) will be finalised by the Constituent Assembly.

Earlier today, NC, UML and UCPN (Maoist) had signed a four-point deal agreeing to form a High Level Political Mechanism (HLPM), a parliamentary board to look into alleged poll rigging during the November 19 Constituent Assembly (CA) polls, Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and Commission on enforced Disappearances.

The agreement reached in the morning, however, was silent on the leadership of HLPM.

The meeting had also reached an agreement in principle to draft the new constitution within six months and promulgate the constitution within a year.

Meanwhile, the deal inked by the three major parties has been welcomed by the UCPN (Maoist)-led 18 party alliance. The ongoing meeting has been called to give final shape and endorse the agreement reached earlier today.

NEPALGUNJ, DEC 24 - General Secretary of CPN-Maoist, Ram Bahadur Thapa , has claimed that the political impasse facing Nepal will not be resolved unless the present Constituent Assembly ( CA ) is dissolved.

Talking to journalists at Nepalgunj on Tuesday, Thapa has claimed the votes cast by the people to the political parties and the CA election procedures were not democratic.

Thapa opined that the problem should be sought through an assembly of political parties. "Every election procedures aren't democratic", Thapa said, "There are other democratic procedures and methods. That's why there is need to change the method."

The CPN-Maoist leader also said that his party has been holding discussions with some parties regarding the political assembly. But he denied having held talks with Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and UCPN (Maoist).

DEC 23 -
Even as other parties are busy preparing their list of proportional representation candidates for the Constituent Assembly (CA), the UCPN (Maoist), the third largest party, has refused to take part in the CA unless consensus is reached on a number of outstanding issues, including on leadership of the High-level Political Committee (HLPC), the to-be-formed truth and reconciliation commission and the tenure of the current Constituent Assembly/Parliament. Darshan Karki and Kamal Dev Bhattarai spoke to UCPN (Maoist) Vice-Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha about the road ahead for the parties, ways to bring the CPN-Maoist into the political process and his party’s concerns about the Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML backtracking from earlier commitments.

How can the parties ensure promulgating a constitution within a year?

All the parties that have signed the 12-point agreement, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the Interim Constitution, and who were together in Janaandolan II as well, should move ahead by forging consensus. They should institutionalise the changes till date by writing as quickly as possible a new progressive constitution, which will complete the peace process and end the transition.

The UCPN (Maoist) has expressed concerns that other parties might backtrack from the commitments made in the 12-point agreement and the CPA. What gave rise to this fear?

In the last CA, a two-third majority could not be attained without our party and neither could it be achieved by keeping the NC and UML out. But in the new CA, a two-third majority can be achieved without the support of the UCPN (Maoist). The Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-N) has also emerged as a new power. The RPP-N supports the revival of the monarchy and is against secularism and federalism. Given this context, we have  doubts, rather than fears, that there could be problems in institutionalising the gains made in the past. After holding multiple consultations with the NC and UML, our doubts have lessened. A certain level of agreement has at least been reached, particularly on institutionalising republicanism, federalism, secularism and proportional inclusion in the new federal republican democratic constitution.

On the opposite end, there is also concern that your party, because of your reduced strength and leverage, might not cooperate in the constitution-drafting process.

The UCPN (Maoist) is completely committed to the peace process as well as the constitution-writing process. We want to complete a new constitution regardless of the changed circumstances. One part of the peace process was integration of former Maoist soldiers. While the technical and military component of the peace process has already been completed, the political aspect of the process is writing a new constitution as per the people’s wishes and institutionalising the gains made through their sacrifice. A third component of the process is to establish a transitional justice mechanism. We are currently working on both the incomplete components of the peace process: primarily constitution-drafting and the formation of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission and a Disappearance Commission.

Which party’s stance currently worries you the most, the NC’s or the UML’s?

We do not want to indulge in any kind of blame game. We had certain doubts and concerns, which, in the process of discussion, are gradually being removed. Our party is definitely the one that led the struggle and proposed the CA, federalism and secularism. So if we had secured more seats

in the recent elections, it would have helped us institutionalise the progressive changes in their entirety. But a positive atmosphere is currently being created to safeguard those changes.

What kind of agreement is being sought among parties regarding constitution-writing?

We had some differences in the past and there are some even now. But there is a misunderstanding that the UCPN (Maoist) is trying to seek consensus on those issues before even taking part in the CA. That is not true. For instance, we have differences with other parties regarding the structure of federal states. While discussing, we will do our best to reach consensus. If consensus cannot be reached, we will follow due procedure. What we are saying is that federalism has already been agreed upon. It was promulgated by the first meeting of the last CA under the provisions of the Interim Constitution. This has to be established in the new constitution. So an agreement has to be reached on the issues of federalism, secularism and proportional inclusion. Our party wants all signatories of the 12-point agreement, the CPA and the Interim Constitution to agree upon the aforementioned issues and express their commitment in writing with regard to institutionalising them in the new constitution.

On a different note, do you see any possibility of reunification with Mohan Baidya’s CPN-Maoist?

The party divided due to differences in political ideology, though there were some institutional reasons as well. The differences between the two parties have become even more clearer in recent times as per Baidyaji’s latest statements. Nevertheless, the UCPN (Maoist) is of the opinion that the division of the party was wrong in the first place and that it would be good if reunification took place, though I do not see that happening any time soon. We are trying to work out a plan in coordination with other parties to include Baidyaji in the constitution-writing process. I had said that keeping the CPN-Maoist out of the election would be a historical blunder. I believe that that claim has been vindicated as the parties are now discussing ways to include the CPN-Maoist in the constitution-writing process. It would have been a lot better if this discussion had taken place earlier with the same degree of seriousness.

So what would be the best way to bring the CPN-Maoist into the constitution-writing process?

It would be best if the political parties can form a mechanism that both Baidhyaji and the rest can be part of without undermining the new CA. Discussions about the foundations of the new constitution can take place there. But the mechanism should be able to formally direct the constitution-writing process through the CA. If that is done, consensus can be reached among the political parties and endorsed through the CA, a body of the people’s representatives. By doing

so, a new progressive constitution can be written while also ensuring the participation and ownership of the new constitution by all and bringing the slightly derailed political process back on track.

Is expansion of the HLPC an option?

Expanding the HLPC might not be a good option. This HLPC can work until the CA formally begins its work and a new government is formed. But it might not be democratic to continue with the HLPC after that. However, it makes sense to form a mechanism that includes all the major parties plus new forces, including those that stayed out of the election.

Moving on, you openly argued against your party’s call to amend the Interim Constitution for consensus and also criticised some of the party’s decisions post-election. How certain are you about being able to guide the party towards successfully writing the constitution?

As a revolutionary party committed to the people, the UCPN (Maoist) cannot escape from its responsibilities. The party has a clear line, which is to successfully complete the peace process by writing a constitution and ending the transition. The only thing that the UCPN (Maoist) has been saying is that it has concerns about electoral fraud. Let an investigation be conducted and the facts presented to the people. This will ensure faith in the electoral process and strengthen democracy. It should not be linked to our loss in the election.

With so many issues yet to be resolved, do you think it is possible to promulgate a constitution within a year?

Two things can happen. Either a constitution will be written within a year or this CA will not write a constitution at all. This is because we have reached an agreement on foundational issues. And parties already know the matters on which they differ with the others. So there is no other task left other than to seek consensus on matters where differences exist and if that is not possible, find other ways to reach an agreement.

To conclude, some leaders, including outside your party, have you been suggesting that as a senior leader of the party, you need to be a part of the CA process.

Under normal conditions, I don’t think it suits one to join the CA after being defeated in the election. Second, I don’t think it suits a person of my post either. I do not see the need for it. But if the country thinks in a new way and I receive a formal proposal, I will give it a thought.   

KATHMANDU, DEC 24 -
UCPN (Maoist) senior leader Baburam Bhattarai’s new proposal on power sharing, which advocates against ‘centralised power’, could instigate a fresh factional tussle in the party.

Bhattarai has proposed that party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal should be ready to shed some of the key positions he has been holding for a long time. Bhattarai argues that the party had to face a ‘humiliating defeat’ in the November election, mainly because all the powers are centralised on the party chairman.

Making a case for ‘decentralised’ leadership, Bhattarai has demanded leadership of the party’s parliamentary front and the constitution drafting process, which effectively means the position of parliamentary party leader. Dahal, the proposal goes, should focus on ‘party building tasks’.

Leaders close to Bhattarai say, he will not make any compromise with Dahal on his proposal on intra-party power sharing this time.

“Baburamji has proposed new allocation of responsibilities inside the party in the new context. Discussions are underway inside the party regarding the power sharing,” said Devendra Poudel,who was the political advisor in the Bhattarai-led government.

Dahal, however, is not likely to entertain Bhattarai’s proposal, who insists that this is not the right time to raise the issue.

He has, instead, promised to call the party’s national convention to settle the organisational disputes in the party.

Leaders close to Dahal said, the distrust between two factions could increase with Bhattarai taking party’s internal issues to public, including through social networking sites like Facebook.

“Bhattarai should put forth his demands in the party’s formal platforms. Making statements to the media, or through Facebook would not help,” said a leader close to Dahal.

Bhattarai in his Facebook on Friday had posted that the tenure of the party chairman should be limited for two terms. He said the party should frame a new organisational structure to revitalise the party after the loss in the election.  

In response to Bhattarai’s call for reshuffling the party structure, Dahal has proposed that top leaders can stay out of the CA process and work for party building, which Bhattarai disagrees. “Bhattarai has suggested Dahal that instead of staying out of the constitution drafting process, senior leaders should give up top party positions for the younger ones,” a leader close to Bhattarai said.

The Bhattarai faction is also putting pressure on Dahal to take a ‘moral responsibility’ for the party’s defeat.

 “Baburamji is publicly bargaining to become the parliamentary party leader which is not possible now. This is a time to focus on constitution drafting process,” said leader Hemanta Prakash Oli.

Oli reads that Bhattarai is making attempts at taking over the party’s leadership.

Bhattarai is preparing to table a separate document in the party’s Central Committee (CC) meet which is likely to take place in two weeks. But, Dahal loyalists say it is not easy for Bhattarai to endorse his proposal from CC, as he has a weak command over the party’s organisation.

 Another senior leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha in the party has also raised serious questions about Dahal’s leadership. A leader close to him said the party faced a humiliating loss due to the flawed policy adopted by the party leadership. Shrestha and Bhattarai, however, do not share similar view on the party chairman.

As the differences with Bhattarai grow, Dahal could reach out to his political guru Mohan Baidya, who leads the breakaway faction CPN-Maoist, for cooperation.

It is, however, not clear what kind of cooperation Dahal and Baidya could work out.

Oli said that talks are underway with CPN-Maoist leaders about the areas of alliance. Meanwhile, the CPN-Maoist has hinted towards possibility of working alliance with the UCPN (Maoist) if the latter agreed to stay out of the CA. The Baidya-led party has, however, ruled out the possibility of unification between the two parties. 

KATHMANDU, DEC 24 -
The UCPN (Maoist) is preparing to adopt a ‘bottom-up’ approach to revamp its organisational structure with a conclusion that the weak party base was the main reason behind its humiliating defeat in the November 19 election.

Stressing the need to strengthen the party at the grassroots level, a UCPN (M) Politburo meeting on Monday proposed that the party’s organisational structure at village, municipality, district and state committees be formed through an election.

The majority of the politburo members were of the view that the party should call a general convention to elect its central structures such as Central Committee, Politburo, Standing Committee and office bearer only after a strong organisational structure is in place. “We are holding discussion to prepare a concrete policy,” said Maoist leader Devendra Poudel.  “Once the Central Committee endorses the proposal we will start work to re-strengthen the party structure.”

The Bhattarai faction has been putting pressure on Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal to publicly self-criticise for the party’s poor show in the election. The party came third with 26 seats under the first-past-the-post category and 54 seats under the proportional representation system.

According to leaders, party’s failure to transform the war-era organisational structure to peaceful politics was a major reason for its poor performances in the election.

The party’s 7th general convention in February had decided to call the next general convention to settle the organisational structure. At the time, the party re-elected Dahal as chairman but nominated convention representatives. After it adopted the line of peace and constitution, an influx of cadres and leaders from other parties joined the UCPN (M) but the party failed to keep them busy.