Category Archives: Announcements

Constituent Assembly Term Extended Yet Again. This Time For Six Months.

Posted on November 29, 2011 by | 3 Comments

The Legislature-Parliament avatar of the Constituent Assembly today endorsed the bill seeking to extend the term of the CA by six more months. This is the fourth extension of the CA term. Like it was in August when the CA was extended for three months, this time too there was not much drama (inside the CA of haggling by the politicians and outside the CA hall of protesters shouting against the extension). But the atmosphere was entirely different back in May when  the CA was extended for three months amidst chaos.

Of the 508 lawmakers present at the House session, 505 voted in favour of the bill seeking amendment to the Interim Constitution that would pave way for extending the CA term, while three lawmakers voted against the bill. The government on Thursday tabled a bill on the 11th amendment to the Interim Constitution proposing a six-month extension beyond the November 30 deadline.

The CA, which was elected in April 2008 with a two-year term to write a constitution and take the peace process to a logical conclusion, has already been extended three times before this. None of the works have been finished till now. Continue reading →

→ 3 Comments

Posted in Announcements

Tagged , , ,

Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai’s India Trip

Posted on October 20, 2011 by | 1 Comment

baburam bhattarai india trip

By Akhilesh Upadhyay
in the Kathmandu Post

OCT 20 – No visit by a Nepali Prime Minister to New Delhi has generated as much attention as that of Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s in September 2008. There was a good reason.

His party CPN (Maoist), underground only until two years ago, had thumped traditional powerhouses in their first open elections. Though Maoist leaders and India’s Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) had worked closely to make the 12-point agreement between the Maoists and the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) possible, people in New Delhi were still not sure how the force that had historically regarded India as “expansionist” would respond in New Delhi. Continue reading →

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Announcements

Tagged , , ,

Eighth Wonder

Posted on October 1, 2011 by | 6 Comments

Seven years of blogging completed. Satisfied. But long way to go ahead…this journey had officially begun on this day- 1 Oct- in 2004. Thank you all.

→ 6 Comments

Posted in Announcements

Tagged

Does Baburam Bhattarai Need Political Adversaries like Mohan Baidya When he has a Wife like Hisila Yami?

Posted on September 28, 2011 by | 4 Comments

LEFT TO RIGHT: Sita Dahal, her husband Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, Dr Baburam Bhattarai and his wife Hisila Yami pose for a photo before heading to what is now known as the historic Chunwang Baithak (meeting) in Chunwang, Rolpa in 2005. Pic via Dinesh Shrestha

‘Choosy’ Hisila Yami Cheapens Her PM Hubby’s Resolves  हिसिला यमी जस्ती भ्रष्ट श्रीमती भएपछि प्रधानमन्त्री बाबुरामलाई मोहन बैद्य जस्ता राजनीतिक शत्रु किन चाहियोस ?

By Bhadra Sharma

[प्रधानमन्त्रीकी भ्रष्ट पत्नी: १६ लाखको मुस्ताङ चढने प्रधानमन्त्रीकी श्रीमती हिसिला यमीलाई डेड करोडको प्राडो चाहियो ! जवकी प्रधानमन्त्रीकी श्रीमतीलाई गाडी दिने कानूनी प्रावधानै छैन । सस्तो गाडी दिँदा उनले मुख्य सचिवलाई भनिन्- " त्यो गिरिजाले चढेको थोत्रो, मलाई नयाँ चाहियो ।" प्रधानमन्त्रीले बोलाएको भन्दै सचिवहरूलाई बालुवाटारस्थित प्रम निवासमा झुक्याएर बोलाउने यमीले आफै सचिवहरूलाई निर्देशन दिन्छिन् । स्रोत: काठमान्डू पोष्ट]

While Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has been meticulously following the austerity measures in a bid to create a better image of his government, his wife Hisila Yami, a prominent leader in the Maoist party, seems to be swimming against the current. Sources said many of her recent acts watered down her husband’s resolves.

In a clear breach of the PM’s recent directives, Yami demanded a Prado, a Toyota car that costs Rs 15 million, from the Prime Minister’s Office only last week. PM Bhattarai, in sharp contrast, rides a Nepal-assembled Mustang car, which costs Rs 1.6 million. Continue reading →

→ 4 Comments

Posted in Announcements

Tagged , , , , ,

Bijay Gachhedar, the Corrupt Home Minister, Kicks out a Competent Home Secretary from the Ministry

Posted on September 17, 2011 by | 3 Comments
bijay_gachhedar_gudpak_in_the_mouth_of_corrupt_cartoon_by_rajesh_kc

Doesn't this man look like Bijay Kumar Gachhedar, the corrupt Home Minister? A cartoon by Rajesh KC

By Kiran Chapagain in Republica
Cartoon by Rajesh KC 

The bad news is that despite Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai’s own assurances that the government secretaries would not be transferred within the first month of his entering Baluwatar just to appease any individual or group, the cabinet meeting on Friday (yesterday) transferred Home Secretary Leela Mani Paudyal, describing it as an ‘exceptional step’ to address deepening misunderstanding between minister and secretary. A cabinet source told Republica newspaper that the cabinet took the decision upon a “special request” by Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar. “Since the home minister has said repeatedly that he has not been on the same wavelength as Home Secretary Paudyal, I have been compelled to take the decision, though it goes against my own words. This decision should be taken as an exception,” a source quoted the prime minister as saying in the cabinet. Continue reading →

→ 3 Comments

Posted in Announcements

Tagged , , , ,

American Diplomatic Cable: Indians, Allergic to Police Advisor Reference, Wanted to Change UN Resolution on Mission In Nepal

Posted on September 9, 2011 by | 1 Comment

2007-01-18 12:27

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000104

SIPDIS
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/INS, IO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2017

TAGS: PREL PGOV NP UN

SUBJECT: NEPAL: INDIANS WANT POLICE ADVISORS,
EXPLOSIVES OUT OF DRAFT UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION

Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).

Summary
——-

¶1. (C) Indian Ambassador Mukherjee requested a meeting with
the Ambassador January 18 to relay New Delhi’s concern with
references in the draft UN Security Resolution (UNSCR) on
Nepal to police advisors as well as the U.S.-proposed clause
on explosive devices. Ambassador Mukherjee said that, while
India would not block the presence of UN police advisors, it
did not want the advisors explicitly mentioned in the
resolution, citing the potential for mission creep and UN
“intrusiveness” in a Nepal-led election process. Mukherjee
also said India preferred that language on mines, improvised
explosive devices (IEDs), and unexploded ordinance be
omitted. These arms management details were already included
in the prior November 28 Agreement on the Management of Arms
and Armies, he said. Ambassador Mukherjee reiterated India’s
goal of a focused and limited UN Mission in Nepal with
ownership of the peace process firmly in the hands of the
Nepali Government. Both Ambassadors agreed that speedy
finalization of a resolution was critical for success of arms
management, and that small details in the draft UNSCR’s
language should not get in the way of its rapid adoption. Continue reading →

→ 1 Comment

Posted in American Diplomatic Cable, Announcements

Tagged , , , ,

American Diplomatic Cable: How Indian Pressure on Girija Prasad Koirala Saved the Sher Bahadur Deuba Government in 2002

Posted on September 7, 2011 by | Leave a comment

2002-04-18 10:39

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000768

Classified By: AMB. MICHAEL E. MALINOWSKI. REASON: 1.5 (B,D).

———-
SUMMARY
———–

¶1. (C) Ongoing attempts by former Prime Minister and Nepali
Congress Party President Girija Prasad Koirala to topple the
current Prime Minister, Sher Bahadur Deuba, appear to be on
hold for the time being. According to the Indian Ambassador,
PM Vajpayee, Minister for External Affairs Singh, Home
Minister Advani, Defense Minister Fernandes and the BJP
President had each discouraged Koirala during his current
visit from pursuing a no-confidence motion. In an April 17
meeting with Nepali Congress Party General Secretary (and
Koirala cousin) Sushil Koirala, the Ambassador stressed the
importance of a united political front to face down the
threat from the Maoist insurgency. Sushil Koirala seemed to
take the message on board–albeit somewhat grudgingly–and
did not raise the subject of a change in government.
Although G.P. Koirala may be dissuaded for now, he can be
counted on to resume his machinations against Deuba the next
opportunity he sees. Continue reading →

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Announcements

Tagged , , , , ,

American Diplomatic Cable: Girija Prasad Koirala and Prachanda Meet in Singapore

Posted on September 6, 2011 by | 1 Comment

Prachanda did not trust his son Prakash

2009-12-01 12:07

S E C R E T KATHMANDU 001094

SIPDIS
NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR IN NP SN CH
SUBJECT: NEPAL: PRACHANDA MEETS KOIRALA, INDIANS, CHINESE
IN SINGAPORE

REF: KATHMANDU 1090

Classified By: Charge d’Affaires, a.i., Randy W. Berry. Reasons 1.4 (b/
d).

¶1. (S/NF) During his November 16-18 trip to Singapore, Maoist
Chairman Pusha Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” met Nepali Congress
leader G.P. Koirala, Indian diplomats, and Chinese officials.
Maoist head of international affairs Krishna Bahadur Mahara
and Nepali businessman Dinesh Manandhar accompanied
Prachanda. Manandhar (strictly protect) told Emboff November
30 that the Singapore-based telecommunications company Smart
Telecom paid for airfare (business class), vehicle rental
(BMW), and hotels (Four Seasons) for the Maoist delegation.
Manandhar — who is personally close to Mahara but says he is
not a member of the Maoist party — is the local Nepali
partner of Smart Telecom, and handled logistics for the
delegation. He did not participate in the meetings. Continue reading →

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Announcements

Tagged , , , ,

American Diplomatic Cable: Moriarty Meets Girija Prasad Koirala, Complains Against Home Minister Sitaula

Posted on September 6, 2011 by | 2 Comments

2006-06-05 12:02

S E C R E T KATHMANDU 001432

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER IN NP
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER BRIEFS AMBASSADOR ON UPCOMING NEW
DELHI VISIT

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JAMES F. MORIARTY, REASONS 1.4 (B/D).

Summary
——-

¶1. (S/NF) Ambassador Moriarty, accompanied by A/DCM Schwartz
met June 5 with Prime Minister G.P Koirala and Senior Foreign
Policy Adviser Chalise on the eve of the Prime Minister,s
upcoming visit to New Delhi. Although press accounts have
speculated that the trip will focus on economic and trade
matters, the Prime Minister immediately volunteered that he
had only one goal for his visit ) to obtain Government of
India (GoI) consent to participation of a “witness” in the
Nepal peace process. Gaunt and repeatedly coughing, the Prime
Minister asked the Ambassador to inform Washington of his
desire to firmly draw the Maoists into the peace process,
while foreclosing Maoist military threats and containing
potentially recalcitrant Nepal Army (NA) elements by engaging
a credible and independent group of foreign witnesses,
preferably including India and the United Nations. End
Summary. Continue reading →

→ 2 Comments

Posted in Announcements

Tagged , , , ,

American Diplomatic Cable: On General Rukmangat Katawal

Posted on September 6, 2011 by | 1 Comment

2006-01-26 10:11

VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEBDE RUEHKT #0255/01 0261011
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 261011Z JAN 06
FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0054
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 3857
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 3524
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 9096
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000255

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2016
TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL NP
SUBJECT: RNA WORRIED THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO CONSENSUS ON HOW
TO TACKLE INSURGENCY

REF: A. KATHMANDU 172

¶B. KATHMANDU 199

Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).

Civilian Leadership Should Explain Counter-Insurgency Plan
———————————-

¶1. (C) On January 20, Lt. General Katawal, Royal Nepalese
Army (RNA) Chief of General Staff, told the Ambassador he
was worried that the government did not have a unified
strategy for tackling the Maoist insurgency. Katawal
reiterated that there was no purely military solution to the
insurgency; the RNA could only work to create space for a
negotiated political solution. He noted that the civilian
government should lead the effort to inform its citizens
about Nepal’s overall plan to tackle the insurgency. Katawal
stressed that a civilian government needed to explain to the
people what the military was doing and why, especially why
the government needed to restrict civil liberties. Continue reading →

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Announcements

Tagged , , , ,