Main News, July 2010

31/07/2010: Fringe parties pitch for unity govt: Urge Maoists, NC to withdraw PM candidacy (kp), Fringe left plays Dutch uncle: Asks both Prachanda and Paudel to withdraw candidacy (ht), Madhesi front to vote for Prachanda: MJF; NC may opt out of PM race: Sujata (ht), UCPN (M) rejects 'one Madhes' demand (nn), Prachanda pays court to Bijukchhe for support: Hopeful of getting NWPP backing in the August 2 election (ht), Khanal’s PM candidacy withdrawal writ quashed (ht), Maoist chairman vows to come up with 'consensus strategy' if Aug 2 run-off fails (nn), ‘PLA integration conditional’ (kp), NA preparing to recruit more soldiers (nn), Away From Consensus, by Pranav Bhattarai (rn), Translate Rhetoric Into Action (rn), Meritocracy, Not Democracy, In Nepal, by Rajat Sharma (rn)30/07/2010: Leaders mull all-embracing arrangement, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai and Bhadra Sharma (kp), Maoists snub one Madhes demand (kp), Dahal says no to any agreement that could lead to disintegration of the country (nn), NC courts fringe parties; claims Maoists looking to 'seize power' (nn) [There's obviously no intion from NC to seize power?!], NC ready to withdraw its PM candidacy, Sujata reveals (nn [Does Poudel know this?], UNMIN raises integration alarm (kp), Women’s views on statute get scant priority (ht), Women MPs seek to unlock deadlock: Women members of the CA blame male-dominated politics for stalemate, by Rubeena Mahato (nt), An open letter to the Big Guys: We young MPs must rise above the party line and remember that we, too, represent the people, by Sunil P. Pant (nt), Slow Death Of Peace Process, by Yuba Nath Lamsal (rn), It's getting stale, mate: The third round is unlikely to knock a government into shape, by Prashant Jha (nt), 'UML to remain neutral in next PM run-off' (nn), “Nepalese Are Yet To Taste The Federal Democratic Republic Nepal”, interview with Narahari Acharya (sp), Maoist cantonment: Breaking Barriers, by Kiran Nepal and Saroj Dahal (sp), Constituent Assembly: Breathing It’s Last, by Saroj Dahal (sp)
29/07/2010: Rivals set for fresh fiasco, by Phanindra Dahal (kp), Bhattarai bats
for unity govt (kp), Yadav again flexes stir muscles (kp), Maoists express commitment to UDMF's demands in writing, but reject 'one Madhesh Pradesh' (nn), UML cadres lodge complaint against vice chairperson Bhandari (nn), Indian, US envoys intensify political parleys as new govt looks uncertain (nn) [foreign intervention?!], Escape artists: Ministers are losing bureaucrats’ support as the impasse drags on (kp), SC drops NA, PLA hiring cases, by Kamal Raj Sigdel (kp), SC quashes writ against army recruitment: ‘Joint Monitoring Coordination Committee should resolve row’ (ht), A fine kettle of fish: Nepal is having a hard time naming a prime minister because of its faulty constitution, by Bipin Adhikari (kp), What Cost Political Uncertainty?, by Shyam K.C. (rn), UCPN (Maoist) ready to bring combatants under AISC: Bhattarai (nn), Khanal urges Dahal and Poudel to withdraw PM candidacy (nn)
28/07/2010: NC wooing UML, MJF for Round III polls (ht), Khanal dashes NC hopes (kp), UML’s Stance (rn), Apex court moved against PM Nepal, by Kamal Raj Sigdel (kp), Maoists to send rethink letter to UDMF (kp), Maoists to reply to UDMF in a day or two (ht), Politics of consensus (ht), Consensus for constitution: The Maoists and the Congress should follow the consensual approach of UML and Madhesi parties, by Pramod Mishra (kp), Third face of the coin: Grabbing power prime mover, by Birendra P. Mishra (ht), Crisis of state: Without national leadership, the political crisis will continue to rear its ugly head, by Shobhakar Budhathoki (kp), Implications Of Policy Decisions, by Hira Bahadur Thapa (rn), Passive Nepal President (tg), Nepal’s Republican order has become defunct: Experts discuss Nepal situation (tg), Fulfill our demands first, Get support, interview with Upendra Yadav (tg)
27/07/2010: NC, Maoists seek UDMF demand revision (kp), NC to keep UML
alliance intact (ht), UML to opt out if parties ally for power (kp), CPN-UML to abstain from Aug 2 voting (ht), Poudel asks Khanal to support him in August 2 voting (nn), MJF not to back NC unless it commits to UDMF terms (nn), If UML backs us, Madhesis will toe the line: Sapkota (ht), Maoist can of worms opens (kp), Village vacant as war victims yet to return, by Prem Kumari Ghale (kp), A day in Dadeldhura: Politics is still an uncertain and, at times, dangerous activity in Nepal, by Keith D. Leslie (kp), Janajati leaders arrested (ht), CA: Reflection On The PM Election Blues, by Prem Khatry (rn), UNMIN chief meets NC Acting Prez to clear the air (nn), A vote for moving forward, by Sukhdev Shah (rep)
26/07/2010: Written pledge evokes our support: UDMF (kp), UDMF seeks commitment from UCPN-M, NC (ht), NC positive about UDMF conditions (nn), NC lobbies for UML support (kp), Khanal denies he is in minority in party central committee (nn), House rule amendment ‘not possible’, by Arjun Bhandari (ht), Parliamentary regulations cannot be amended now: Speaker Nemwang (nn), Maoists claim 'foreign interference' behind election fiasco (nn), Possibly Europeans should be more prescriptive, interview with Andrew Hall (kp), Derailment of democracy, by C.K. Lal (rep)
25/07/2010: Unwitting UML ties itself into knots: Maoists, NC no to rule amendment (kp), Dahal, Khanal chant left unity mantra (ht), Prez frets over poll impasse (kp), Oli proposing, Khanal disposing, by Bhadra Sharma (kp), Mull and mend: Both the NC and the Maoists need to re-evaluate their recent history (kp), NC discusses next PM run-off with caretaker PM (nn), UMF wants NC's to come clear on its 'common document' for support during PM run-off (nn), Sujata fumes at party leadership (ht), Madhesi parties express conditional 'green signal' to Maoist PM candidate (nn), Suffer the people: With the kind of politicians and bureaucrats we have, good governance is a mirage, by Shyam Prasad Mainali (kp)
24/07/2010: It was a no-go affair again: Aug 2 date set for fresh round, by Phanindra Dahal (kp), Another dud day; Round III on August 2 (ht), UDMF holds the key (ht), PLA integration bone in gullet (kp), Madhes factor stymies PM pick (kp), Sujata wags finger on consensus mode (kp)
23/07/2010: ‘Bit too early’ to expect anything: NC, Maoists not very hopeful, by Kamal Raj Sigdel (kp), Leaders mull way out if PM poll fails again (kp), Lawyers for law amendment (kp), NC's Poudel seeks pro-monarchist RPP-N's support for his PM bid (nn) [a wonderful ally for a new Nepal!], Sujata says NC should clear the path for Maoist led govt if it fails to forge consensus for national govt (nn), UML to boycott polls (kp), CPN-UML not to vote in PM’s run-off polls (ht), 'UML won't partake in Prime Ministerial run-off until consensus govt ensured' (nn), Madhes parties adamant, by Ishwar Rauniyar (kp), Madhesi front sets terms for support, by Tika R. Pradhan (ht), Madhesi parties set conditions for support as House prepares for prime ministerial run-off (nn), Maoist-Madhesi Front talks inconclusive; Front to stay neutral in today's voting (nn), Re-election for PM post gets delayed as parties busy themselves in flurry of meetings (nn), Change stance (ht), Off the ball: Whatever happens today, there is no alternative to politics of consensus (kp), Trial by media: hen journalists ignore the excesses of the security forces but pounce upon Maoist crimes, their neutrality comes into question, by C.K. Lal (nt), Strategic selfishness: The main principle motivating the stalwarts of Nepali politics is individual interest, by Prashant Jha (nt)
22/07/2010: Voting for new PM ends in fiasco: Prachanda pitted against Paudel in next round fixed for Friday, by Prakash Acharya (ht), Race for PM proves a non-starter, by Phanindra Dahal (kp), Face-off between Maoists and Congress in offing, by Kamal Sigdel, Bhadra Sharma and Kamal Bhattarai (kp), Madhesi, fringe parties stay neutral (ht), Madhes parties stand firm, by Ishwar Rauniyar (kp), No PM in sight (rep), Agitation takes its toll on Metropolis (kp), Taking us for a ride: None of presumptive PMs had the decency to claim that people’s interest is uppermost in their minds, by Deepak Thapa (kp), The game theory: What would John Forbes Nash say about the current political impasse in Nepal?, by Saroj Dhakal (kp), Apocalypse no: The politico-economic costs and risks of a delay in the peace process can’t be imagined, by Surendra R. Devkota (kp), Realizing deliberative democracy: Opportunities and constraints, by Ganga Thapa (ht)
21/07/2010: Hot seat: Making somebody prime minister knowing that the person will fail is a waste of time, by Pramod Mishra (kp), The 3-Heroes: All is not well in Nepal! (tg), Big three's top guns in PM race: Dahal, Khanal, Poudel file candidacy; House likely to fail to elect premier, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai, Phanindra Dahal and Bhadra Sharma (kp), Prachanda, Paudel, Khanal in fray, by Prakash Acharya (ht), Galloping horse, by N.P. Upadhyaya (tg), UML chairman may opt out at last minute (ht), Madhesi parties holding the ace?, by Ishwar Rauniyar (kp), No candidate likely to be elected as PM in today's election (nn), Maoists support UML chairman Khanal conditionally (nn), UML’s PM candidate Khanal close to securing 2/3rd majority; Maoist, MJF and CPN (ML) express support (nn), Setback for Khanal as Madhesi parties decide to stay neutral (nn), House to convene at 2 pm (nn), Museumising suffering: Let’s establish a museum to show how erstwhile regimes tortured and killed people, by Abhi Subedi (kp), Parliament fails to elect Prime Minister; re-elections on Friday (nn)
20/07/2010: Prime ministerial race a tight affair (kp), CPN-UML fails to see eye to eye (kp), UML’s predicament not over yet: Central Committee to meet today to decide on govt formation, by Arjun Bhandari (ht), UML names Khanal as prime ministerial candidate (nn), Congress hits berth hurdle (kp), Rift rattles Maoist party (kp), Maoist leaders air conflicting views: To back or not to back Khanal is the question, by Tika R. Pradhan (ht), Maoist chairman Dahal files his candidacy for PM post (nn), Madhesi parties yet to fixate on new govt (KP), MJF may stay in opposition (ht)
19/07/2010: CA okays new calendar of events: Nembang urges parties to go extra mile (kp), UCPN-M, NC woo Madhesi parties; CPN-UML to hold CC meet today (ht), UML deciding on prime ministerial candidate today (nn), Parleys continue to form government (kp), Point of departure: Poudel’s unanimous pick is a breath of fresh air for NC (kp) [Nevertheless is he one of the failed NC politicians of the 1990 system who prevented the development of a democratic und inclusive system! He does not stand for renewal!!], NC VP Poudel courts PM Nepal, CPN (ML) leader for support in prime ministerial race (nn), UML on fence over PM bid (kp), Maoist green signal to Khanal (nn), Bid to sideline Maoists: Kiran; People’s war not over:Lawmaker (ht), Feudalism is alive and well: Nepal’s pattern of land ownership is the result of over 100 years of autocratic regime, by Jagat Basnet (kp)
18/07/2010: NEFIN questions SRC relevance (ht), NEFIN plans month-long stir (kp), 22 parties express their 'disagreement' on formation of SRC (nn), It’s Poudel, Cong says in unison (kp), NC tries to woo Madeshi parties for govt leadership (nn), NC for Paudel as PM, asks Maoist support (ht), UCPN (M) keeps govt options open, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (kp), UCPN-M bid to avoid another ‘puppet govt’ (ht), UCPN (Maoist) seeks support of Madhes-based, fringe parties to form govt (nn), Fringe parties vie for power (ht), Outfits into squad formation: Disqualified fighters, retired Gurkhas among entrants, by Shankar Kharel (kp) [The full responsibility for this failed development goes to the so-called big three parties with their Bahunbad power games!!], A cup of sugar and some help: Nepal may be one of the few places whre politics as a profession has become systematised, by Sushma Joshi (kp)
17/07/2010: PLA integration: Now, NC has a proposal (kp), CPN-UML still harping on unity government, ba Arjun Bhandari (ht), Prachanda ready to support patriotic govt (ht), UCPN (M) ready for Dahal's alternative as future PM (nn), NC picks Poudel as prime ministerial candidate (nn), UML leaders discuss possibility of Khanal-led govt (nn), NC-Maoist meeting inconclusive as both stake claim over govt leadership (nn), 18 parties renew call for consensus among major parties (nn), UN rejects NA plea to okay peacekeeping training centre, by Kamal Raj Sigdel (kp), Madhes–based parties reactivate alliance: Decry state re-do panel formation (kp), Madhesi parties resurrect alliance: United Democratic Madhesi Front to engage state on Madhesi issues (ht), OHCHR asks Dahal to uphold rights (kp), Jockeying For Power, by Pranav Bhattarai (rn)
16/07/2010: Big Three settle on new schedule: Say new statute by April 13 next year (kp), Three parties make deal for peace, constitution (ht), NC, UML ready with proposal for consensus (ht), Fringe parties vent ire at Big Three (ht), NC to stake claim to govt leadership, by Kamal Raj Sigdel (kp), UML busy in internal meetings to control reins of govt under Khanal (nn), The way to do it: A mix of criteria will have to be evaluated for the division of the nation into federal units, by Khagendra N. Sharma (kp), Muddy waters: The political parties are too caught up in their own internal dilemmas to be able to forge a consensus with each other, by Prashant Jha (nt), Peace first, then constitution, please!, by Shirish Ranabhat (sp) [For the disadvantaged sections of society, i.e. the great majority of the Nepali people, there will be no 'peace' without a new constitution and a political system that is based on inclusion, participation, equal rights and chances, and a decentralized federal system!!], Why This Penchant for Form over Substance?, by Dipak Gyawali (sp), Promising and not Delivering, by Yubaraj Ghimire (sp), Rat Race: With no common cause to bind them together power remains the only goal for major parties, by Sushil Sharma and Saroj Dahal (sp)
15/07/2010: Big Three agree to set up SRC (ht), SRC members to be chosen by new govt; to begin work from July 31 (nn), 22 parties object to three-party decision on SRC (nn) [State restructuring and constitution or not the task of the government nor that of party leaders but the mandate of correctly elected (through FPTP and PR) MPs], Dahal bounty under mutiny: Dahal bounty under mutiny, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (kp), NC to fish out PM trump card soon: To unveil peace roadmap today (kp), NC decides to lead next govt; few CWC members want party to sit in opposition (nn) [How a can a non-inclusive minority party, that has been severely punished for its failures by the voters, claim such things??], UNMIN digs in heels over non-paper row (kp), Things don't look good: The failure of the leaders to provide the CA a positive work environment is a real letdown, by Bipin Adhikari (kp)
14/07/2010: Countdown to July 21 (kp), Race for PM berth starts: Power equation picture still hazy (kp), Maoists seek govt take on integration (kp), UN backs UNMIN stand (kp), State of press freedom touches a raw nerve (kp 14/07/2010)
13/07/2010: Majority government's turn now (kp), Prez calls House to elect PM, by Ananta Raj Luitel (ht), House to elect new PM on July 21 (nn), Three-party efforts bite the dust (kp), 22 parties take big three to task for failing to reach consensus (nn), UNMIN integration plan comes under govt fire, by Phanindra Dahal (kp), Rehabilitation now: The Maoist combatants may get fed up with the endless bickering and turn to violence, by Rabi Raj Thapa (kp) [The selfish, power greedy, and to a greater part not elected politicians will never understand how dangerous their political games are! The rehabilitation of all combatants should have been the task of the interim government of Girija Prasad Kopirala in early 2007 according to the compehensive peace agreement!], Fighter factor blocks unity, by Prakash Acharya ht)
12/07/2010: Big three fail to finalise timeframe for constitution writing (nn), Prez unlikely to oblige again: Set to ask parties to form majority govt, by Anil Giri (kp), No Maoist-led government at the current date, interview with Pradeep Gyawali (kp), Maoists ready to be flexible (ht), Congress to float peace roadmap (kp), Step forward: Detailed negotiations on integration and rehabilitation must start now (kp), Politics of words: Never-ending saga, by Binod Bhattarai (ht), Alternatives for managing Maoist combatants, by Kul Chandra Gautam (rep)
11/07/2010: Maoist prescription to get things back on track, by Tika R. Pradhan (ht), UCPN-M brings out programmes on peace bid PLA to be brought under control of AISC (rn), Maoist Proposal For PLA Adjustment (rn), Maoist integration plan fails to please (kp), Proposal lacks bases: Sitaula (ht), NC, UML agree to disagree on Maoist proposal (nn), State re-do panel hangs (kp), NEFIN unveils stir programme (kp), On the balance of things: In short term state effectiveness must be sacrificed where necessary to augment state legitimacy, by Martin Searle (kp), Elusive Consensus, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Worsening security situation concerns UN (ht)
10/07/2010: UCPN-Maoist set to unveil 6-point action plan today (rn), UCPN (M) unveils dossier for consensus, proposes to bring combatants under Special Committee immediately (nn), Poudel throws hat in ring: Says his turn to lead a majority combo (kp), UNMIN’s integration schedule rattles PM (kp), PM warns against external meddling (rn), Robbed of our names: Before any physical development, before more autonomy, we long to live with our own names, by Phuntsok Dorjee (kp), Give Them Justice, by Pranav Bhattarai (rn)
09/07/2010: UNMIN paper offers 60-week time plan (kp), Non-territorial federalism: This system would address the needs of groups that are dispersed across the country, by Mahendra Lawoti (kp), Secular forever: If secularism is good for India, there’s no reason why it should be bad for Nepal, by Khagendra N. Sharma (kp), Peace Process And Army Integration, by Yuba Nath Lamsal (rn), The Gambler: Prachanda is exposed on multiple fronts, but may not recognise the limits of his power, by Prashant Jha (nt)
08/07/2010: Maoists to walk their talk, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (kp)
07/07/2010: Parties nowhere near unity govt deal (kp), Maoist leaders rue lost hopes, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (kp), CPN-UML backs Khanal as PM, by Ananta Raj Luitel (ht), Women lawmakers say high time for consensus (kp), Dalits under the upper caste heel in Siraha, by Bharat Jarghamagar (kp), Softly, softly: The Maoists need to apologise for trying to intimidate their critics (kp), Here's to the future: I don’t believe the advertised Pradesh bogies and threats of cessation in a federal setup, by Abhi Subedi (kp), Maoists must abide by past pacts: DPM (ht) [.. and other parties must not??], Armed outfit threatens to wage war (ht)
06/07/2010: Maoists hounding rights activists: ICJ (kp), UN starts investigation (kp), Parties throw gauntlet at Maoists: Ask the main oppn to implement May 28 pact (kp), Maoists fear same
coalition with new PM (ht), Unhealed wounds: War victim is now a porter (kp), See you in court: The Maoist constitution has envisaged a three-tier judiciary: federal, state and local, by Prakash A. Raj (kp), 86 per cent NHRC recommendations have been ignored, by Ananta Raj Luitel (ht), 'Big three' set April 13 target for constitution drafting (nn)
05/07/2010: ‘Secret deal’ saw PM go: ‘Do’ said Dahal, ‘nay’ didn’t say Nepal, by Kamal Sigdel and Kamal Bhattarai (kp), NC,CPN-UML likely to keep coalition intact: Tell Maoists to implement first point of the May 28 deal, by Prakash Acharya (ht), NC, UML urge oppn to implement deal (kp), UCPN (M), NC discuss govt formation, army integration (nn), Maoists bare fangs at ‘rat’: Ex-kid soldier had told UNSC of her war travails (kp), Big 3 for new statute timetable (kp), Remote control: The parties might as well sit back and let the string pullers write the constitution, by Shyam K.C. (kp), Prachanda as PM can push through tough decisions, interview with Barsa Man Pun (kp), ‘Tharuhat giving children armed training on school premises’ (ht), The game is on, by Hari Bansha Dulal (rep), Sujata sings different tune now, claims NC will lead 'unity govt' (nn)
04/07/2010: Faking Democracy In Nepal, by Siddhi B. Ranjitkar (km), HRW urges govt to address impunity (kp), Allies’ terms for Maoists (kp), Maoists seek support to lead government: Parties say address issues of peace process,statute drafting first (ht), Stick together: One majority government was bad enough, another dysfunctional one would be disastrous, by John Narayan Parajuli (kp), Time To Cleanse Politics, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn)
03/07/2010: NC projects Poudel as PM: Deuba camp chants own chorus (kp), Maoist spadework
for govt formation (kp), Eleven parties for Maoist - led govt (rn), NC, Maoists lobbying hard to lead new govt (ht), Maoists urge UML to support for national govt under its leadership (nn), NC leaders turn down Maoist call for support to form govt (nn), Janajati-led govt must, says Pasang (ht), UN, EU urge parties to expedite efforts (kp), HRW asks govt to investigate Maoist role in killing during insurgency (nn)
02/07/2010: Prez gives parties a week’s deadline (kp), July 7 deadline to pick new PM: Maoists stake claim to lead govt, yet to decide on prime minister (ht), Maoists, UML both want themselves at the helm (kp), Fringe parties caution Big 3: Say it’s Maoist turn to respect May-28 deal (kp), Elusive unity: Madhav Nepal's exit is a positive move, but grants little certainty to the political process, by Prashant Jha (nt), Forces get ‘remain alert’ order (kp), Security beefed up after PM quit: Caretaker status doesn’t mean govt can’t act: Rawal (ht), Knots and bolts: A rupture in UCPN (Maoist) at this crucial juncture is in no one’s interest, by Bipin Adhikari (kp), Prosperous east: In the east, the mountains, hills and the Tarai can prosper as an integrated province, by Dambar Krishna Shrestha (nt), Choose wisely: I would say that a parliamentary model would be better than a presidential model, by Khagendra N. Sarma (kp), “Nepal is not a failed state yet”, interview with Surya Dhungel (sp), After the resignation: Destination Uncertainty, by Sushil Sharma (sp)
01/07/2010: Jaws drop as PM throws in the towel (kp), Nepal bows out with lambast-Maoist swan song, by Prakash Acharya (ht), But is it the solution? (kp), Seize the day: PM Nepal’s resignation means little unless it gets the desired results (kp), Confusion on even after PM’s off, by Arjun Bhandari (ht), Maoists welcome PM’s decision (rn), UCPN (Maoist) decides to strive for national govt under chairman Dahal's leadership, forms three-member talks team (nn), NC’s turn to lead govt: Poudel (nn), UML to accept Maoist claim to govt leadership only if past deals implemented (nn), Alternative to chairman Dahal for PM post can be discussed: Baidya (nn), President sets July 7 deadline for formation of 'consensus government' (nn), Big parties start consultations over next govt (nn), Fringe parties want 'national govt' acceptable to all (nn), Call to smoothen House business (kp), Nembang raises statute alarm (kp), No News Is New News, by Uttam Maharjan (rn), Conflict victims continue to live in trauma, injustice, by Arpana Adhikari (rn)