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28/03/2024:
Instability
only constant in Nepali politics : Our coalition
politics is no closer to finding common ground for the
nation’s good, by Meena Bhatta (kp), PM
Dahal calls Constitutional Council meeting (kh), Government
rejects rights commission’s secretary pick citing lack
of transparency : Constitutional rights body asserts
autonomy, claims that executive can’t demand
confidential documents, by Binod Ghimire (kp), BRI:
What’s the plan? More than a specific initiative, this
is a question of how Nepal balances its strategic
interests (kp), Nepal-China
agree to conclude BRI Implementation Plan 'soon' as
Beijing presses for swift implementation of BRI projects,
by Kosh Raj Koirala (rep), Civil
Service Bill On The Anvil, by Mukti Rijal (rn), National
Assembly Vice Chairman Urmila Aryal resigns (kh)
27/03/2024:
Nepal
requests China-backed AIIB for soft loans : Prime
Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, on Monday, urged a visiting
AIIB delegation for a policy arrangement for
concessional loans to Nepal (kp), Equality
For Dalits Remains A Far Cry, by Namrata Sharma
(rn), Nalgad
ward offices collect money from quake victims (rn) [??], Peace
process to conclude based on national consensus: PM
Dahal (kh) [Does "national
consensus" mean the exclusive participation of the
minority of the socially non-inclusive male top
politicians and their parties or the comprehensive
inclusion of the victims and the social majority of the
country?]
26/03/2024:
Who
is not corrupt? The politics of vote-buying has replaced
ideological and ethical competitions in elections,
by Achyut Wagle (kp), Human
Trafficking - An assault of the human civilization,
by Aslesha Luitel (rep), Need
To Ensure Balanced Development, by Uttam
Maharjan (rn), Ruling
Alliance On Rocky Route, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), Urgency
across the aisle to curb RSP’s popularity, by Kamal
Dev Bhattarai (ae)
25/03/2024:
Justice,
when? The Supreme Court directive is an opportunity to
put the derailed transitional justice back on the right
track, by Suman Adhikari (kp), Rabi’s
Freudian slip : It’s Rabi versus Rabi now, and in this
duel between the two selves lies the potential loss of
media freedom (kp), RSP
rejects UML’s election alliance proposal in Ilam-2 :
Advocates “friendly competition” (kh) [No
more power manipulation, please. Agreements in the form
of alliances are the opposite of free and fair
elections!], Ambiguity:
The Key Obstacle for Nepal’s Determined Aspirations,
by Binoj Basnyat (kh), Reminiscing
Last Week: Mahara’s release and political machinations
(kh), New
forces grew from the seeds of alternative politics we
sowed : We can’t rule out the possibility of party unity
with new forces. We shouldn’t be rigid, interview
wirh Ranju Darshana, general secretary, Bibeksheel Sajha
Party. (kp), JSP
lawmaker Deepak Karki appointed as state Minister of
Health (kh), Bring
Cooperatives Swindlers To Book, by Ballav Dahal
(rep), Nepal’s
current crisis and the way out, by Jeetendra Dev
(ae), Woman
consumes poison in National Women Commission
premises (kh), Low
literacy rate among people with disabilities
raises concerns (kh)
24/03/2024:
Nepal’s
federal fed-up : The institutionalisation of federal
intervention will erode provincial democracy and
autonomy, by Semanta Dahal (kp), What
is the possibility of NC-UML alliance?, by Narayan
Manandhar (rep), Is
Broader Left Alliance In Offing?, by Ritu Raj Subedi
(rn) [Apart from the greed for
power and the authoritarianism of their top politicians,
Nepal's pseudo-communist parties do not have much in
common!]
23/03/2024:
Law
revision must for transitional justice progress, victims
say : Parties disagree over categorising killings,
indirect victims of conflict, reduced sentencing, and
reconciliation refusal, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Only
27% of population has access to pure drinking water
(kh)
22/03/2024:
Ailing
institutions, stagnating economy : Political leadership
shapes a nation’s fate, while institutional change is
prerequisite for economic growth, by Durga Gautam
(kp), Is
Prachanda’s move aimed at making Rabi the PM? Amidst
Speculations: Ravi Lamichhane's Political Trajectory,
by Arun Baral (kh), Conflict
of interest : The Congress is duty-bound to push for a
fair probe against the home minister (kp), The
opposition’s role in Parliament (ae), Govt
aboli, shes National Land Commission (rep) [??],
HoR
session suspended for 10 days as Speaker-led team
departs for Switzerland (rep) [Parliament
has nothing urgent to do anyway, or what?], Parliament
at Standstill: Speaker flies to Switzerland with Party
Chief Whips, Deputy Speaker uninformed (kh), Enhance
Legislative Accountability With PLS, by Suravi Rijal
(rn), Krishna
Bahadur Mahara released on personal guarantee (nlt)
[Typical s]pecial treatment of
accused politicians and other celebrities:
Hospitalisation instead of prison and then release on
mere personal guarantee!], Detained
individuals bypassing custody to reach hospital raises
concerns: Home Minister Lamichhane (kh)
21/03/2024:
Power
shift at centre, turmoil in provinces : Chief ministers
scramble to save positions by expanding Cabinets in a
last-ditch effort, by Pratiksha Kafle and Ajit
Tiwari (kp) [This is a
consequence of the Nepalese politicians'
misunderstanding of federalism!], Mr
Prime Minister, here is the evidence that Home Minister
Lamichhane received money (with full report) (kh), Form
probe by March 31 or face House disruption, Congress
warns government : The main opposition wants an in-depth
investigation into Home Minister and Rastriya Swatantra
Party chair Rabi Lamichhane’s suspected involvement in
cooperatives fraud (kp), Trigger
warning : Lethal weapons in Durga Prasai’s possession
should make the state rethink its firearms licensing
policy (kp), Women
racing to the top : Male whiners perhaps fail to
appreciate that women are now massively invested in
education, by Deepak Thapa (kp)
20/03/2024:
Mr.
Uthal-puthal in doldrums, by Narayan Manandhar
(rep), Ruling
five-party alliance unveils an ambitious ‘vision
statement’ : If this coalition fails to deliver, the
nation will slip into crisis, warns Prime Minister
Pushpa Kamal Dahal (kp) [The
country has already been in crisis for a long time!],
Congress
rejects PM’s defence of Lamichhane : CPN-UML chief Oli
dismisses the main opposition party’s call for a
parliamentary probe on the home minister, by Binod
Ghimire (kp), Dissecting
pre-budget discussions : There has been a lack of
serious review regarding why our spending capacity has
not improved, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), Political
economy of development, by Kamal Raj Dhungel (ae)
19/03/2024:
Nuwakot
Dalits: A grim story : Water is considered a
superconductor of ‘caste pollution’ in our
Hindu-dominated society, by Mitra Pariyar (kp), Let
House function : The ruling and opposition parties
shouldn’t waste time before trying to hammer out a
compromise (kp)
[The so-called party leaders
are causing the death of Nepal's democracy with
their power struggles!],
PM
Dahal defends Home Minister Lamichhane amid fraud
allegations : "Reports confirm innocence," says Dahal
(kh), NC
seeks probe into home minister over cooperative scam :
Swatantra Party lawmaker urges Congress to accept
Lamichhane as home minister citing his public support
(kp), Nepali
Congress calls for Home Minister Lamichhane’s
resignation over fraud allegations (kh), NC
demands formation of parliamentary probe committee to
look into charges against DPM Lamichhane (rep), UML
Chair Oli rules out possibility of forming parliamentary
committee to probe cooperative fraud as NC threatens to
obstruct parliament (rep) [What
arrogance!], NHRC
requests govt to protect lives of cooperative victims
participating in hunger strike (rep), Former
Speaker Mahara, a gold smuggling suspect, arrested at
last : The vice-chair of the ruling Maoist Centre has
been remanded to four days in custody (kp), Maoist
Center delays decision on Krishna Bahadur Mahara’s fate
(kh), Prachanda
likely to serve full term as PM: KP Oli (kh) [This is another typical politician's
lie. The truth is that he himself wants to become PM
again as soon as possible. Yet he should no longer be
entitled to such an office after his attempted coup in
2020/21!], WSF
2024 reveals true face of Nepal's communist rulers,
by Lok Bhattarai (rep), AWC
urges swift action on transitional justice following
recent judicial decisions (rep), Reinvigorate
Provincial Governments, by Uttam Maharjan (rn), Census
data exposes widespread occurrences of child marriage,
by Surendra Kafle (ae)
18/03/2024:
Federalism
brings services and politics closer to people,
interview with EU Ambassador Lorenzo by Ishwar Dev Khanal
(kh), Krishna
Mahara, arrested in gold smuggling case, flown to
Kathmandu (kh), Maoist
Center’s Krishna Mahara transferred to CIB after arrest
in gold smuggling case (kh), Old
doubts : People are afraid that ‘compulsions of
coalition’ will again spare the guilty in the latest
gold smuggling case (kp), Former
Vice President Pun’s advisor Gurung released on bail
(kh), Rupandehi
District Court grants permission to police to detain
Dipesh Pun for 8 days (rep), Court
grants permission to remand Mahara in custody for four
days (kh), Court
grants permission for Mahara to remain in hospital
(kh) [??], Maoist
Center calls office bearers meeting following Mahara’s
arrest (kh), Reminiscing
Last Week: Politics, gold smuggling probe sparks action
(kh), All
eyes on Sumana Shrestha over how she handles school
education bill : Shrestha had a radical view of
education reform and strongly opposed the bill before
she became the minister (kp), Nepal
is a yam between three boulders : You can’t clearly
distinguish between international and domestic factors
responsible for the change in ruling coalition,
interview with Khagendra Prasai by Thira L Bhusal (kp), Political
Uncertainties, by Deepak Kumar Nayak (SAIR)
17/03/2024: Misuse
of alliances in political power-lust : To be
fair to Dahal, changing colour is a common trait
among most Nepali politicians, by Paban Raj
Pandey (kp) [Dahal,
Oli and Deuba have failed repeatedly. Their immediate
withdrawal from active politics is a basic prerequisite
for a better policy!], PM
Dahal foresees new power dynamics to expedite
government operations (kh) [Dahal
fails to mention that without the electoral
alliance with the NC, his party would have won
far fewer seats in parliament. Moreover, it is
not his job to turn Nepal into a communist
state!], Nepal’s
public debt reaches Rs 2.288 trillion (kh),
Nepal's
debt reaches around Rs 2.4 trillion, with an
additional Rs 200 billion accumulated over past
eight months (rep), Economy
faces sluggishness but not crisis: Finance
Minister Pun (kh) [???],
NC
attack on Home Minister is aimed at toppling govt: UML
Chief Whip Bartaula (kh) [What
is the difference to the UML policy before the party
joined the government? The behaviour of all parties is
completely reprehensible and irresponsible towards the
state and the people!], Court
gives executive four months to set up juvenile courts :
In their absence, rehabilitation of children is affected
as regular courts often fail to properly handle the
cases (kp), Karnali
folk return to oil lamps as electricity supply proves
unreliable : Nine out of ten districts connected to the
grid but residents face frequent power cuts (kp), Long
march as resistance : Usury victims have introduced a
strong nonviolent protest in the so-called
revolutionary socialist Nepal, by Abhi Subedi (kp),
Bumpy
Road Ahead For New Alliance, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn)
16/03/2024:
Decades
after joining CEDAW, Nepal struggles with implementation
(kh), As
political parties swap seats, they change their views of
‘tainted’ ministers, too : After Congress is pushed to
opposition, it obstructs House asking prime minister to
clarify on charges against home minister (kp) [This is what Nepal's politicians
mean by unbiased investigation and punishment!],
Diarrhoeal
outbreak risk rises as mercury ticks up in
quake-hit districts, by Arjun Poudel
(kp) [Failure of the
government to provide timely assistance!],
Gold
Smuggling Case: Cabinet decides to take probe
committee’s report for implementation. Political ties in
gold smuggling test government’s integrity, say experts
(kh), Attorney
office challenges district court verdict on former
cricketer Lamichhane : High Attorney Office Patan says
punishment handed to Sandeep Lamichhane is insufficient,
by Ghanashyam Khadka (kp), World
Consumer Rights Day: Here’s why Nepali consumers are
upset. Consumers are being cheated left and right, yet
the government appears to be making minimal effort to
address the issues, by Krishana Prasain (kp), Entertainment
Face-Off : Kollywood or Parliamentwood, by Bimal
Pratap Shah (rep)
15/03/2024:
Nepal
ranks 146th on Human Development Index: UNDP report
(kh) [see complete
report by UNDP, Snapshots
and Specific
Country Data Nepal], KMC
reviving ancient names of local heritages (kh), Elite
capture : The usurpation of the PR system by imposters
has sowed suspicion about the idea of representation
(kp), House
of Representatives meeting postponed due to NC
obstruction (kh) [The
abuse of parliament and thus the prevention of
the passing of urgently needed laws continues,
regardless of which parties are in government or
in opposition!], Skeletons
in the Cabinet : Some Cabinet members who have
become ministers again despite nefarious pasts,
by Shristi Karki (nt), Poor
cash-rich Nepal : The country’s coffers
are full, but the economy is anemic
because of poor investment climate,
by Sonia Awale (nt),
‘Bank
Account for Daughters, for Secure Life’
programme ineffective in Karnali : The
provincial government has not deposited the
promised amounts in the girls’ accounts for the
past two fiscal years,
by Krishna Prasad Gautam (kp) [So
much for the credibility of politicians' statements!],
Plural
histories of school education : Nepal needs more diverse
historical works on schooling that go beyond
state-centric perspectives, by Pratyoush Onta (kp),
Nepal's
Quest For Political Stability, by Rameshwar Baral
(rn), Gold
smuggling case: Former Vice President Pun’s son Dipesh
arrested in Kathmandu (kh), Police
nab nine including Bibeksheel Sajha’s Chair and General
Secretary (kh)
14/03/2024:
Court
orders parties not to abuse proportional representation
system : Constitutional Bench directs them to follow
constitutional spirit of giving space to
under-represented populations, by Binod Ghimire (kp)
[The leading politicians do not
abide by the constitution and subordinate laws or court
orders, i.e. they will continue to pursue their
non-inclusive nepotism system!], In
numbers we trust : Dahal has got the vote of confidence
again. But the scenes on Wednesday suggest turbulence
ahead (kp), UML
leader Gyawali rules out UML-Nepali Congress coalition
(kh) [What does this statement
mean in a world of politicians who never really mean
what they say and for whom lies are just fine for the
realisation of political power interests?], Govt
advocates file petition at Patan High Court for stronger
action against cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane in rape case
(kh), Parliamentarians
not to remain spectator if government turns rampant:
Lawmaker Thapa (kh), NC
protests over appointment of Rabi Lamichhane as Home
Minister amid fraud investigation (kh), Home
Minister Lamichhane pledges actions against officials
involved in gold smuggling investigation lapses
(kh), Writ
petition filed at Supreme Court seeking legal
recognition for live-in relationships (kh), Seven
more Nepali nationals serving in Russian Army killed in
Russia-Ukraine conflict (kh), NRB
data shows economy not out of recession (ae), A
pivot balancing three great powers, by Durga
Lamichhane (ae), Child
serving time for mother's mistake in overcrowded Kalikot
Jail (rep)
13/03/2024:
Court
orders government to appoint leaderships at transitional
justice bodies : The top court has given a month for the
government to start the selection process (kp), PM
Dahal seeking vote of confidence today (kh), House
of Representative meeting commences, PM Dahal seeking
vote of confidence (kh), Prime
Minister Dahal secures vote of confidence in parliament
(kh), PM
Dahal receives vote of confidence for the third time;
157 MPs vote in his favor (rep), Resham
Chaudhary instructs party lawmakers not to vote in favor
of PM Dahal (kh), Prabhu
Sah’s AJP decides to extend vote of confidence to PM
Dahal (kh), NWPP
decides against giving vote of confidence to PM Dahal
(rep), Financial
Literacy Aids Earning, by Namrata Sharma (rn), Gender
equality begins at home, by Shivani Chenjong (ae), FinMin
Pun linked to a gold smuggling network!, by Tapendra
Karki (rep)
12/03/2024:
Politics
of chicanery : The disregard for integrity among leaders
has muddied the entire political pool, by Achyut
Wagle (kp), PM
Dahal has his hands full with a difficult coalition .
Voices of unease among partners. UML’s Pradeep Gyawali
accuses ‘some elements’ of attempting sabotage, by
Anil Giri (kp), Narayan
Dahal elected National Assembly Chair : In the voting
that took place on Tuesday, 39 votes were cast in favor
of his candidacy, while 17 votes were against the
proposal to elect him (kh), Janamat
Party withholds vote of confidence for PM Dahal, decides
to file candidacy for Ilam and Bajhang (kh), NC
aims to retain Chief Minister positions in provinces,
seeks support from smaller parties (kh), NC
leaders suggest President Deuba initiate dialogue with
RPP (kh) [??], Nagarik Unmukti issues whip to vote in favor of
Prime Minister Dahal (kh), Government,
loan shark victims reach agreement : Government to form
an inquiry commission. Struggling committee withdraws
protests (kp), It’s
only words : The UML claims high ideals to explain its
support for the Dahal government. There is room to doubt
it (kp), Federalism
For Effective Governance, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn)
11/03/2024:
Nepalis
deserve better politicians : Through the recent change
of guard, we got a confirmation once again that trust
and commitment are not valued currencies in politics,
by Simone Galimberti (ae), Politics
of pardon : Arbitrary pardons and commutation of jail
terms are part of a long trend of criminalisation of
Nepali politics (kp), End
of Prachanda : With the change in political alliance at
the center, there will be an inevitable avalanche in
provincial governments, by Narayan Manandhar (rep),
‘Worry’
as Nepal’s forex reserves soar to record Rs1.84 trillion
: Huge reserves mean lack of investment and may lead to
further decline in economic growth, say experts, by
Krishana Prasain (kp), Political
wrangling affects parliamentary performance-Lawmaker
Chaudhary (kh), Women
Empowerment Has Long Way To Go, by Ballav Dahal
(rn), 'I
became candidate for NA Chair owing to my contribution
to party' (rn) [If you
were a woman and your name was Pariyar or BK, for
example, you would never have been selected no matter
what you did for the party. Mr Dahal. As a male Bahun,
your chances increase to 80-90 per cent, but the
close relationship with the PM is of course decisive.],
Cabinet
recommends President Poudel to dismiss governors of
three provinces, appoint new ones (rep), Costly
ministerial makeovers: Over Rs 600,000 spent on
refurbishments with each ministerial change in Kathmandu
(rep) [!!!!]
10/03/2024:
Dispute
over secretary appointment divides Human Rights
Commission : As an international team assesses
commission's performance, calls grow for an executive
decision to end the controversy, by Binod Ghimire
(kp), The
rule of the third : Dahal has done a lot of talking.
It's time to justify his position through swift action,
by Mohan Guragain (kp), Maoist
Center to present Narayan Dahal as
National Assembly Chair candidate
(kh) [Nepotism
in its purest form, as this is the Prime
Minister's brother!],
RSP:
Rise and risks : Certain concepts floating in the orbit
of political science may explain what is going on with
RSP, by Sucheta Pyakuryal (kp), Maoist
Center betrayed NC and people deserting coalition:
Former DPM Khadka (kh) [The
accusation is justified, but coming from an obviously
corrupt politician who should no longer hold any
political office at all until his guilt or innocence has
been legally clarified, this sounds strange!], Madhes-based
parties form working alliance (kh), SC
concludes President’s amnesty for murder convict Regal
contrary to Rule of Law (kh)
09/03/2024:
Contradictory
Conduct Infests Party Politics, by Dev Raj Dahal
(rn), Top
court cautions executive against arbitrary pardons:
Recommends assessing convict’s jail time, remorse and
health status for presidential pardon eligibility,
by Binod Ghimire (kp), Federal
government overstepping provincial and local
authorities: Study : Parliamentary study calls for
removing federal offices that encroach on the
jurisdictions of subnational governments (kp),
Ending
the Pandemic of Violence Against Women and Girls, by
Deepanjali Shrestha (rep)
08/03/2024:
Report
shows Nepal ahead in closing gender gap. Ground reality
is different : Men benefit from state subsidies,
particularly those meant to help women become
independent entrepreneurs, by Krishana Prasain (kp),
Survivors
Need Support To Fight For Justice, by Sanjita
Timsina (rn), International
Women’s Day: Implement laws meant to empower women,
by Jivesh Jha (ae), Rural
women deprived of reproductive health rights : At recent
health camps in Achham, fewer people chose permanent
family planning. Patriarchal attitudes and preference
for sons blamed as root causes, by Menuka Dhungana
(kp), Breaking
barriers for women in foreign policy : With equal
opportunities, meritorious women can contribute to IR
with their intellectual insights, by Shradha Arjyal
Joshi (kp), Dahal
blames Congress to justify new alliance : ‘This is not
called flexibility. This is political dishonesty,’ says
the Congress chief whip about the prime minister’s
frequent changes of alliances (kp), Sparks
fly after collapse of Maoist-NC ruling coalition
(ae) [What can you expect when a
PM repeatedly breaks his promises and agreements just to
maintain his power and blame his failures exclusively on
others? The new government won't last long either, be
sure, especially as Oli still thinks and acts the same
way!], PM
Dahal stresses constitutional provisions for women’s
rights on International Women’s Day (kh) [And
why don't you respect these constitutional provisions?
Why, for example, are there only 4 women among the 22
cabinet members so far?], AAIN
leads charge against the unacceptable informalization of
labor relations (ae), Ilam
by-election: RSP to contest independently despite being
part of coalition at center (kh) [This
is the absolutely correct procedure for democratic
elections! Dealings are manipulative and anti-democratic
and distort the will of the voters!], Ruling
coalition will continue for next four years: UML Chair
Oli (kh) [This is exactly
what Dahal and Deuba said about the previous coalition
until recently!], New
power equation fosters hope and political stability: UML
Secretariat (kh) [What a
load of bollocks! Both Dahal and Oli stand for
instability and unpredictability!], Ruling
coalition comprises controversial figures: Maoist leader
Bhusal (kh), Catapulting
to Singha Darbar : The more things change in
Nepali politics, the more they remain the same
(nt), What
difference does it make? Most Nepalis are
convinced these main men of the new coalition
will bring little positive change to their lives
(nt), Pokhara
epicentre of Sino-Indian rivalry : The Great
Game between China and India is being played out
in this scenic tourism capital, by Durga
Rana Magar (nt)
07/03/2024:
How
are different social groups faring? There is a need for
disaggregated data by social groups to understand it,
by Deepak Thapa (kp), Usury
victim continue their protest for justice on Thursday
(kh), PM
Dahal-led cabinet: Get to know the ministers
(kh), 20-member
Cabinet has a mix of old and new faces : The
largest party, Nepali Congress, is already
plotting to deprive the new Pushpa Kamal
Dahal-led coalition of majority in the House of
Representatives,
by Anil Giri (kp), Ground
firm for transitional justice bill’s passage: Leaders :
The change in government coalition will not impact the
legislative function, House committee chair says, by
Binod Ghimire (kp), Deputy
Speaker raps centre’s reluctance to empower provinces :
Nari magazine hosts ‘Nirbhik Nari’ interaction in
Biratnagar of Koshi Province (kp), Government
short of Rs25 billion to pay pensions : Pension
management office seeks more funds from finance ministry,
by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), JSP
unveils cabinet nominees: Upendra Yadav to lead
party in cabinet with role of DPM and Health
Minister (kh 07/03/2024) [The
proportion of women in the cabinet is now only
18 per cent. Long live the patriarchy! Women are
only nominated if a party has more than three
ministerial posts and at least seven such posts
are required if two women are nominated!],
157
MPs on the ruling bench in parliament!
(rep), EC
rejects Resham Chaudhary as Nagarik Unmukti
Party Chair, affirms continuity with Ranjita
Shrestha (kh)
06/03/2024:
The
great ‘tamasha’ : The latest change of coalition is more
indication of politics bereft of ethics. Most top
leaders are culprits (kp), Prachanda’s
politics is back!, by Ishwar Dev Khanal (rep), New
ruling coalition struggles to strike power-sharing deal
: As the shape and size of the emerging alliance is
still unclear, there is uncertainty over which party
gets what, by Anil Giri (kp) [This
is exactly what Nepal's politicians live for. They are
at best only marginally interested in substantive
policies that are orientated towards the country and its
people!], Lawmaking
at the local level : Unlike the local laws, delegated
laws enforced by the centre reportedly promote
corruption, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), Political
changes in Kathmandu make provincial governments shaky :
As UML comes into ruling fold and the Congress shifts to
the opposition bench, provinces are feeling the ripples
(kp) [The misunderstanding of
federalism on the part of Nepalese politicians is
unbearable!], Bagmati
Province: NC ministers resigning en masse today
(kh), Maoist
Centre withdraws support to Lumbini Province
government (rn), CPN
(Maoist Centre) withdraws support to Sudur
Pashchim govt (rn) [This
is a fine federal state. All decisions on the
provincial governments are made and ordered by
the national leadership of the parties!],
PM
Dahal remains busy in political meetings : Holds talks
with Jhalanath Khanal, Rabi Lamichhane and KP Oli
(kh), Political
buzz in Kathmandu as PM Dahal engages in meetings
(kh), NC
President Deuba spearheads discussions to forge
inclusive democratic alliance (kh) [In
view of the renewed political failure, wouldn't it
finally be time to step down from all political offices
and leave such a decision to a younger generation?],
A
hard lesson for Congress and Deuba, by Kamal Dev
Bhattarai (ae), Rights
groups urge Nepal to revise transitional justice law for
accountability (rep), China
expresses hope for political stability and economic
progress in Nepal following new govt formation (rep)
[Why does China expect political
stability from this new government, in which the
autocratic left-wing party leaders, who are constantly
at odds with each other, only have a relative majority?],
Newly
appointed ministers sworn in (kh)
05/03/2024:
Caste
discrimination in online spaces : Technological advances
have complicated the problems of the caste victims,
by Mitra Pariyar (kp), NHRC
demands fair investigation of Chitwan school incident
(kh), The
state of State Capture, by Narayan Manandhar (rep),
Factors
that led Dahal to ditch alliance with NC, by Kamal
Dev Bhattarai (ae), Left
alliance, Chapter II : No government can succeed without
a minimum level of trust and coalition culture (kp),
Growing
rift, Oli’s overtures ended Congress-Maoist coalition :
Some in the Nepali Congress see external hand in the
break-up, but leftist politicians attribute it to
long-running differences between Dahal and Deuba, by
Anil Giri (kp), New
coalition partners cement comradeship with 8-point deal
: Maoist Centre to get upper house chair. PM’s post to
be divided between Dahal and Oli, by Binod Ghimire
(kp), Small
parties demand CM positions for support in PM Dahal’s
new government formation (kh) [Yes,
Nepal is still a centralised state. Politics at
provincial level are always closely linked to events at
national level! This is not federalism!], CPN
(Maoist Center) ministers suspended in Gandaki Province
amid political shifts (kh), Sudurpaschim
Province CM Shah suspends three Maoist Center ministers
(kh), Nine
years after adopting federal constitution, federal civil
service law remains elusive : Government registered the
new bill at Parliament for second time after the
previous bill was withdrawn in 2021 after gathering dust
for more than two years at the lower house (kp), Janamorcha
criticizes new coalition, warns of threat to democratic
achievements (kh)
04/03/2024:
Caste-based
discrimination: A call for equality and change, by
Prabin Kumar Yadav (ae), Ruling
coalition collapses, new cabinet formation underway
(kh), CPN-Maoist
to form new coalition government with CPN-UML, RSP
(nlt), Coalition
govt collapses; parties, including UML, gear up to form
new Cabinet (rep), Meeting
of new ruling alliance underway at Baluwatar (kh), New
alliance ‘course correction’ in Nepal’s politics: Maoist
leader Poudel (kh) [A real
course correction can only take place without the
involvement of the repeatedly failed politicians Dahal,
Oli and Deuba!], Prachanda
to lead govt for two years, followed by Oli (kh) [Nepal is facing further dark times
under the leadership of power-hungry but incompetent
politicians who have still not been called to account
for their past!], Country
will see turmoil as long as I am alive: PM Dahal
(kh) [??????}, NC
shifts to opposition as Deuba accuses PM Dahal of
betrayal (kh), Ruling
coalition forms 4-member task force to allocate
ministries : Oath of new ministers scheduled at 5 PM
(kh), Janamat
Party seeks clarification on role in Madhes and federal
govt before coalition decision (kh), Balendra
Shah treading authoritarian path, say rights activists :
They are ‘troubled’ by City police’s use of force on
Wednesday against street vendors (kp), We
need a national outlook to solve the problem of street
vendors : There is a fundamental question: Why can’t we
accommodate human beings while we are ready to
accommodate vehicles?, interview with Mahendra Subba
(kp), Enfeebled
assembly : The upper house of Parliament is not being
allowed to play its desired role (kp) [Both
chambers of parliament are abused and manipulated, from
elections to legislation to the dissolution of
parliament.], Raisina,
Ram and Nepal : Nepali politicians old and new are
competing to pay homage to the BJP’s brand of religious
politics, by Biswas Baral (kp), Cultivated
instability instead of positive renewal, by
Karl-Heinz Krämer (Nepal Observer 85)
03/03/2024: Retiring
National Assembly members want changes in its working :
They question the upper house’s composition and say
there are discriminatory legal provisions against it
(kp), PM
Dahal prepares for Cabinet reshuffle ahead of
parliamentary address (kh), Prime
Minister Dahal begins groundwork for Cabinet reshuffle :
While an exact modality is to be worked out, most
members of the Cabinet could be replaced, by Anil
Giri (kp), Is
Ruling Alliance On The Skids?, by Ritu Raj Subedi
(rn), Republic
established through martyrs’ sacrifices, irrefutable:
Minister Sharma (kh), Rana
calls to reframe gender issues, up women’s participation
: Congress leader Arzu Rana Deuba says Nepali women
entrepreneurs face a myriad of challenges (kp), Civil
society leaders ask KMC Mayor Balen Shah to apologize to
street vendors (rep)
02/03/2024:
Over
30,000 quake survivors in Rukum West receive first
installment (rep) [That's
what you call quick, when the PM had promised immediate
help only four months ago!], Shifting
Choices Of Public Life, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Promoting
Political Harmony Via Lullabies, by Anupam Bhattarai
(rn)
01/03/2024:
Opposition
party plans to obstruct HoR meeting today (kh) [A political party that blocks the
work of the people's representatives is anti-democratic!
Protest must take a different form.], Speaker
Ghimire directs govt to respond to opposition queries on
March 4 (kh), Prime
Minister Dahal admits government failed to deliver as
per expectations : Dahal painted a bleak picture of
revenue collection. By the end of January, only 74
percent of the revenue target was met (kp), Fate
of NC-Maoist coalition, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae),
Whose
metropolis? The gentrified Kathmandu of Balen’s
imagination, we are afraid, will be a city without a
soul (kp), Today’s
national news in a nutshell (kh), Online
violence escalates due to lack of proper legislation,
by Bhasa Sharma (rep), KVDA
prepares to stop illegal land-plotting, by Bhuwan
Sharma (rep), The
accelerated mass migration out of rural mountains is
proof that federalism is malfunctioning, by Chetan
Adhikari (nt) [Those responsible
are the so-called top politicians who insist on
centralised power and who, despite their constant
failures, declare that they are indispensable!]
29/02/2024:
No
point pretending : The state seeing loan shark victims
in Parliament premises as a security issue should fool
nobody (kp), Loan
shark victims stage ‘whistle march’ from Bhrikutimandap
to Baluwatar (In Pictures) (rep), Cooperative,
microfinance and loan shark victims complain of govt
neglect (ae), Federalism
implementation in priority, says Prime Minister Dahal
(nlt) [A basic prerequisite for
this would be for politicians and parties at national
level to finally abandon their centralised mindset. For
example, they must stay out of provincial politics or if
the national government changes, this must not have any
influence on the provincial governments! Another task of
federalism is the decentralisation of power and better
inclusion of the regional population, something that the
Hindu monarchy had failed to do for centuries!],
Constitution
would fail if marginalized voices remain unaddressed:
Lawmaker Pramila Kumari (kh), Maoists
up the ante against Congress on Assembly chair : Prime
minister’s party decides to field candidate for upper
house leader and shun poll alliances, may seek UML’s
help, by Anil Giri (kp), Disputes
among elected officials leave several local units in
Sarlahi paralysed : People have been deprived of
essential services, teachers of salaries and
beneficiaries of social security allowances, by Om
Prakash Thakur (kp), Avoiding
over-development : Nepal must be warned about the
dangers of excessively focusing on economic growth,
by Hridesh Gajurel (kp), Nepal
paying 29 percent higher tariff for electricity imports
from India than its exports to southern neighbor : The
NEA paid as high as Rs 16 per unit for imported
electricity in this dry season (rep), Corruption
and Moral Bases of Democracy, by Mohan Nepali (rep),
Should
Nepal extend its LDC graduation deadline?, by Kamal
Dev Bhattarai (ae)
28/02/2024:
Of
plebeians, plutocrats and populists : There are laws in
place that proscribe usury, but their enforcement is
fraught with institutional hurdles, by CK Lal (kp),
Ministerial
decision inflicts hardship on government employees,
by Laxman Sharma (kh), Kathmandu
among top three most polluted cities for air quality
(kh), Calls
grow in Maoist Centre to toughen stance against Congress
: Maoist leaders criticise Nepali Congress leaders’
Mahasamiti reports and a faction’s Hindu state demand,
by Anil Giri (kp), Damaging
delay : The failure to carry out a detailed damage
assessment after the Jajarkot earthquake has caused
great hardship (kp), After
revamping Japan labour deal, Nepal plans pacts with ten
other nations : Developed economies are in a race for
high-skilled workers, and are adjusting immigration
policies to attract them (kp) [Such
pacts should only be a supplement. The government's real
duty is to create jobs at home! Remittances only help
the economy optically!], Govt
throws out G2G deal with Japan to supply workers through
manpowers, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Remittance
is buoying a crises-ridden economy, by Kamal Raj
Dhungel (ae), CPN
(Maoist Centre) designates province in-charges (rn)
[Including so "many" women. This
"revolutionary" party is so gender inclusive and is
working for the abolition of patriarchy. And then all
these non-Khas Arya, wow!], Rajendra
Mahato reaches Maitighar Mandala to defy ‘prohibited
area’ decree (kh), LDC
graduation: Nepal seeks extension of facilities, by
Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Dr.
KC warns of intense protest to expedite TRC Bill in
parliament (kh)
27/02/2024:
With
no post-quake assessment, Jajarkot victims risk neglect
: Four months since the quake, damage assessment is yet
to start. Government says priority now is temporary
shelters, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Network
of deputy chairs demand revision on bill designed to
amend Local Government Operation Act (kh), Nepal
faces inflation risk from Red Sea disruption, by
Krishana Prasain (kp), Baglung’s
Muslims struggle for burial ground : When a woman died
last month, the community had to charter a vehicle to
take the body to the neighbouring Gulmi district for
burial, by Prakash Baral (kp) [Such
problems could increase if the Khas Arya minority
prevails with its demand for a return to the Hindu
state!], Would
Mahato’s exit from LSP bring any substantive change in
national politics? Mahato aims to set up an
‘alternative’ political force whose goal is to establish
a ‘pluralistic nation-state’ (kp) [No,
it wouldn't! Nepal does not need new parties, but
finally democratisation, rejuvenation and better social
inclusion within the existing ones on the basis of
republicanism, federalism and secularism!], Police
implement ban on pedestrian activity along footpaths
around Singha Durbar (rep) [????],
‘Lawmakers
themselves escorted microfinance victims into parliament
due to political maneuvering’, by Tapendra Karki
(rep), Debtors
storm through parliament gate, 50 held (ae), Weeklong
detention for protesters of loan sharking and
microfinance exploitation (kh) [The
behaviour of these desperate people may be unlawful, but
the reaction of the obviously disinterested state seems
excessive!], Opposition
Takes Centre Stage, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), Ilam
by-election: NC picks Khadka, UML eyes Suhang as parties
prepare for showdown (kh)
26/02/2024:
Reminiscing
Last Week: NC affirms support to coalition; protests,
and key directives (kh), The
poverty paradox : The steady rise in urban poverty calls
for a shift in the country’s rural areas-centric
approach (kp), Authorities
prepare to relocate loan shark victims from
Bhrikutimandap (rep) [The
politicians want to spare themselves the sight of the
suffering people whose concerns they should actually be
taking care of!], Govt’s
bid to evacuate Bhrikutimandap disrupts loan sharking
victims’ talks (kh), 49
protesters arrested for breaching prohibitory orders and
entering restricted area in Baneshwor (rep), Loan
sharking and microfinance victims protest inside
parliament premises (kh), Lawmakers
advocate for swift post-earthquake reconstruction
(kh) [This is exactly what the
leading politicians promised four months ago as part of
their political tourism programme!]
25/02/2024:
International
Tribunal on Evictions calls for action as forced
evictions continue despite constitutional protections,
by Aesha Bajracharya (rep), Misinformation
posing a growing threat to democracy, by Nishu Ratna
Bastakoti (rep), UML
outraged over PM Dahal’s absence in parliament, demands
accountability : Speaker Ghimire directs government to
address opposition queries (kh), House
committee likely to decide on transitional justice bill
within a week : The committee is likely to advance the
bill with a vote as chances of a consensus look slim
(kp), Military
diplomacy in focus amid mega peacekeeping exercise : As
US Indo-Pacific commander arrives, high-level Chinese
military delegation is due to visit Kathmandu in March,
by Anil Giri (kp) [Blatant
exertion of influence as part of an unabated power
struggle between China and the USA in Nepal!], Bill
to amend Political Parties Act presented in HoR (kh)
[This law needs a fundamental
revision. In its current form, it primarily serves an
autocratic party leadership and lacks democracy and
social inclusion regulations!], NC
Mahasamiti meet : Sends Tremors Among Coalition Allies,
by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Meet
Poll Pledge, by Parmeshwar Devkota (rn)
24/02/2024:
Pork
barrel fund idle as officials struggle to fund quake
relief : Based on the number of registered
beneficiaries, over Rs4 billion will be required to fund
the temporary shelters, by Prithvi Man Shrestha
(kp), As
government holds off action against minister, Speaker
issues third ruling : Prime minister had pledged action
after receiving the Balkumari incident probe report
(kp), Grasp
Shifting Trends In Party Politics, by Dev Raj Dahal
(rn), Concerns
raised over impact of fake information on political
progress (kh) [This is
very serious misbehaviour and falls under the term
political corruption!]
23/02/2024:
NC
and Sanaatan State: Myth or Reality, by Chhering
Yonzon (rep) [The number of NC
politicians advocating a return to the Hindu state
during the Mahasamiti seems disproportionately high.
This is due to the fact that at the upper levels of the
NC, similar to the other parties, there are
predominantly (male) Khas Arya, who simply do not want
to understand the multi-ethnicity of Nepal and the
centuries-long discrimination of non-Khas Arya under the
Hindu monarchy!], Unconventional
convention : Hindu state agenda divides the Nepali
Congress as religious tension grips the Tarai, by
Shristi Karki (nt), Contrary
to government claim, Parliament turning ineffective even
in new session : The winter session has barely two
months to go. Various ministries are said to be working
on 109 bills, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Major
political parties hold meetings focusing on Mission-84
(rep) [These parties stood for
election just over a year ago and those who were elected
must finally do their job and stop talking about what
will happen in just under four years' time!], Unveiling
Nepal’s protectionist paradox: Bootleggers, baptists,
and consumer consequences : What do industry and labor
want from the regulators? They want protection from
competition, from technological change, and from losses
that threaten profits and jobs, by Subhekshya
Ghimire (nlt), Loan
sharking victims demand DPM Shrestha’s resignation
(kh), CPN-UML
demands govt to present Balkumari incident investigation
report in parliament (kh), Parliament
session disrupted by opposition, meeting adjourned
(kh), Foreign
aid spending remains poor compared to use of domestic
resources : Spending on Asian Development Bank support
stands at eight percent and 14 percent in the case of
the World Bank in the first half of the current fiscal
year (kp), Get
Tough With The Corrupt, by Lok Deep Thapa (rn)
22/02/2024:
Fragile
sentiments : It is time for everyone to come together
and celebrate cultural-religious vitality—not virulence
(kp) [A return to the Hindu
state, as demanded by the RPP and other radical
fundamentalists, would have exactly the opposite effect!],
Nepal’s
demographics: Then and now : We now know for the first
time how the different provinces have been doing, by
Deepak Thapa (kp), Rift
persists in Congress over electoral alliances : Party
chief Deuba says the country’s situation doesn’t allow
the largest force to embrace Hindu state agenda, by
Anil Giri (kp)
21/02/2024: Shunned
and silenced : The long struggle of the women who were
sexually assaulted or raped during the conflict period
continues (kp), Nepal
delays reply to UN concerns over transitional justice :
Four UN special rapporteurs had given Nepal 60 days,
until February 15, but officials say they need more time,
by Binod Ghimire (kp), Coalition
will continue, but Congress will contest next elections
independently, says Gagan Thapa : Presenting their
papers at Mahasamiti, General Secretary Sharma stresses
the coalition has no alternative, while party veep calls
for curbing corruption (kp), National
Assembly reflections : Parliament is where a goat’s head
is shown and a dog’s meat is sold, by Khim Lal
Devkota (kp), RPP
to demonstrate across country to exert pressure on govt
to meet its 40-point demand (rep) [This
sounds like the 40 demands that the CPN (Maoist)
presented to then PM Deuba in January 1995. Unlike the
RPP's demands today, the Maoist demands at the time were
largely rational and largely in line with the state
policy guidelines of the constitution, which were
ignored by the Deuba government.], Inside
the NC, voices in favor of Hindu state are gaining
ground, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae) [This
is where the NC shows its true face and makes it clear
that it is not a socialist and democratic party that
stands up for the concerns of all citizens of the
country, but a club for the preservation of the power
and privileges of the small male Khas Arya elite!],
Final
hearing begins on writ seeking dismissal of 110
lawmakers elected through proportional representation
system (kh) [Then one
could also say straight away: the elections to the
Constituent Assemblies and the adoption of the new
constitution were not based on the interim constitution.
Consequently, all governments and parliaments since then
would be illegitimate and should be dissolved
immediately. While the former statement is entirely
true, it does not help the country and its people in
view of the chaos caused by the top politicians and now
also the Hindu fundamentalists and monarchists!]
20/02/2024:
Kathmandu
ranks fourth most polluted city worldwide (kh), Incidents
of violence against women on the rise: INSEC (rep),
Cases
of human rights violations surged by 27 percent in 2023.
Involvement of government bodies in human right
violations in notable number of cases (rep), Caste
in Gurkha communities : The patron-client system has
become extinct, yet untouchability is still practised
among the Gurkhas, by Mitra Pariyar (kp), Urban
poverty is on the rise, while rural poverty keeps
falling : Experts call for creation of more jobs in
order to address the livelihood issues of the urban poor,
by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Thapa’s
proposal against poll alliances gets Deuba’s nod :
Without specifying the changes, the Congress chief
called for revision of the constitution of Nepal, by
Anil Giri (kp) [Just as King
Birendra spoke of timely reforms to the panchayat system
before the 1980 referendum without specifying them?],
Data
for effective development : Despite some positive
trends, persistent disparities continue to mar the
landscape of progress in Nepal, by Ximena Del
Carpio, Pippa Bird and Faris Hadad-Zervos (kp), Need
To Streamline Public Holidays, by Uttam Maharjan
(rn), Nepal
an advocate for peace and equality: PM Prachanda
(rn) [At least in part,
the PM must be talking about a different
country. Nepal continues to be characterised by
extreme social non-inclusion and the denial of
the final peace process through justice for the
victims of the insurgency!], SC
directs govt to curb road disruptions for VVIP
traffic (kh) [!!!],
What
should Nepal prioritize during the upcoming
investment summit? Will the upcoming Investment
Summit also be centered on how foreign
investments can help achieve the SDGs? What
should Nepal do?, by Simone Galimberti (nlt)
19/02/2024:
Making
Nepal more inclusive, by Simone Galimberti (ae), Conflict-era
rape victims’ trauma compounds : Records at the Truth
and Reconciliation Commission show that among the 63,700
cases it received, 314 are related to rape or sexual
violence from the insurgency, by Binod Ghimire (kp),
Various
groups organize protest at Maitighar demanding justice
for Ajit Mizar (In Pictures) (rep), Reminiscing
Last Week: Lalita Niwas verdict to Prachanda’s call for
Maoist unity (kh), CIAA
should appeal acquittal of politicians in Supreme Court
: We concluded that no court can say that the Lalita
Niwas land is not government land. We had strong
evidence to prove that, interview Sharada Prasad
Trital, head of the Lalita Niwas land grab probe committee
(kp), Bansbari
land: Billionaire Binod Chaudhary evading investigation
: Faces allegations of encroaching upon government land
in various locations across the country (kh), Journalists
denied entry to Democracy Day ceremony in Tundikhel
(kh), Federalism
unleashes ernormous potential: PM Dahal (kh) [Why do you and your autocratic
colleagues like Oli and Deuba not implement and develop
the federal system, but abuse it for your own power
interests?], Worth
preserving : We would do well to internalise the
enormous costs at which recent democratic changes have
come (kp), Opposition
parties press prime minister to sack Minister Jwala :
Demand comes after probe says Jwala’s negligence was a
contributing factor for the Dec 29 Balkumari deaths
(kp), Cold
tarps are forcing families back to damaged homes : A
magnitude 6.4 earthquake hit Jajarkot, Rukum West and
Salyan on November 3 killing scores and damaging around
8,000 public and private houses, by Biplab Maharjan
(kp), Air
pollution responsible for premature births, low weight :
Neonatal deaths have not declined in the past five
years, according to a study, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Mounting
public frustration tests Nepali democracy : Longevity of
democracy rests on effectively combating corruption and
economic transformation, say experts, by Anil Giri
(kp), Nepal’s
health sector under the budget knife : Experts warn
budget cuts could undo the progress the country has made
in the health sector over the past several years, by
Arjun Poudel (kp), Ncell
tax fraud architect assumes key role at Nepal Telecom
Authority (kh) [Corruption
in perfection!], Two
members of the hooligan ‘Sanubhai’ group released on
bail (kh) [???], How
strong is internal democracy within political parties?
(rep) [It is in a pitiful state!],
How
democratic are our parties (ae)
18/02/2024:
Speaker
Ghimire directs ministers to respond to lawmakers within
seven days (kh), Delay
in vital law enforcement denies judiciary financial
autonomy : The court has to follow a complex
bureaucratic process in order to meet some of its
financial obligations, by Binod Ghimire (kp), A
group in Nepali Congress gears up to raise the Hindu
state agenda at Mahasamiti meeting : The party’s central
working committee has rejected the agenda’s inclusion in
the upcoming Mahasamiti meeting. On Saturday, the group,
however, made public its four-page dossier (kp), Liberating
academia from partisan politics : For that, we must
implement merit-based selection process in top positions,
by Kiran Paudel (kp), Madhesi
man faces harassment from man referring himself as DSP
(kh), Disturbing
incident unfolds in Kathmandu as a Madhesi youth
harassed in Kathmandu (kh)
17/02/2024:
MoFAGA
prepares draft bill to suspend local executive for six
months (rep) [A serious
attack on democracy and federalism!], Love,
a ‘deadly trap’ for Dalits!, by Pabitra Sunar (rep),
NC
leaders, including 22 central members, to announce
Special Campaign for Sanatan Hindu State today (kh)
[To identify the state and the
nation with a single culture and religion is a crime
against the multi-ethnic and multi-religious society of
Nepal! The country is not the property of predominantly
male high caste Hindus, even though they have pretended
to be for centuries!], Congress
leaders’ reports criticised by own for ‘falling short on
solutions’ : 22 central members memo Deuba demanding
reinstatement of Nepal as a Hindu state, by Anil
Giri (kp), DAO
Kathmandu extends prohibited zone duration for two more
months (kh), Clarity
sought on ‘policy decisions’ as ex-ministers cleared in
land scam : Bill to amend the CIAA law seeks to bar
probe into such decisions of Centre and provinces
without defining them, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp)
[Impunity continues to apply to
politicians without restriction. Is this what the
government promises under ruthless investigation or
should judges be subject to the instructions of the
executive?], Media
trials and their impact on the judiciary, by Diwakar
Dhakal (rep)
16/02/2024:
Not
rising Nepal : Statistics tell us the poverty rate has
declined, the reality is different for the poorest
Nepalis (nt), ‘50%
children with cancer are out of medical services’
(kh), Lalita
Niwas land grab: 12 convicted, Gachchhadar acquitted
(nlt), Ex-officials
convicted, politicians acquitted in Lalita Niwas scam :
Two years jail for several convicts including
Bhatbhateni’s Gurung, ex-secretary Basnyat, by Binod
Ghimire (kp) [Of course, what
else? Politicians will always be spared because they are
above the law!], Implementation
of Constitution and Challenges, by Kalyan Shrestha
(kh), Seven
years is not a long time for federalism’s
institutionalisation, EU envoy says : Presenting a
strong defence of federalism, she said that Nepal’s
constitution provides for political stability (kp),
Clamour
for Hindu state : A political ideology that favours
nativism and monoculturalism has no place in a democracy
(kp), NC
leaders advocate for Vedic Sanatan Hindu State in
special proposal (kh) [The
22 signatories are in no way representative of the
Nepalese population! You might as well declare Nepal a
Tharu, Gurung, Limbu or Sherpa state, which would be
just as absurd!], Foreign
aid decreases by Rs 77 billion (rep), Budget
Must Stimulate Economy, by Lok Deep Thapa (rn)
15/02/2024:
Congress
group aims to put Hindu state on party meet agenda :
While proponents say the party should listen to people’s
voices, others dismiss the agenda as a non-starter
(kp) [Those who advocate a
return to a Hindu state ignore the multi-ethnicity and
the multi-cultural and multi-religious character of
Nepalese society. Such people oppose social inclusion
and are therefore anti-democrats. Political parties that
advocate such policies should be ignored! They only
stand for the preservation of power and privileges of a
predominantly male small elite!], PM
Dahal advocates halting outflow of funds for higher
education from Nepal (kh),
Maoist representatives want direct elections for
leadership positions : So far, the party’s general
convention only elects central members. Other committees
and office bearers are picked from the central committee,
by Binod Ghimire (kp) [This
party too thinks in authoritarian terms and doesn't
think much of basic democratic principles!], As
air in Kathmandu Valley deteriorates to hazardous level,
patients of respiratory illness rise ; A low-pressure
system formed in the west caused cloudy conditions
throughout the country on Wednesday, by Arjun Poudel
(kp), Old
story, new twist : The saga of Nepali youth dying in
senseless foreign wars like the one in Ukraine should
stop (kp), Remittance:
Myths and truths : Although Nepal receives a lot of
remittance, it is quickly depleted due to the country’s
heavy imports, by Jagadish Prasad Bist (kp), Democratising
Party Leadership Essential, by Mukti Rijal (rn), Special
Court slaps guilty with cash fines of up to Rs 8 million
and two-year jail term (rep), Bhatbhateni
owner Min Bahadur Gurung gets 2-year prison sentence in
Lalitaniwas land grab scam (kh), Lalita
Niwas Land Grab: Leaders acquitted; employees found
guilty (kh)
14/02/2024:
Promote
Human Rights And Inclusion, by Namrata Sharma (rn),
Death
toll from People’s War waged by the Maoists stands at
18,076: New data (rep), Glass
half empty : The latest living standards survey points
to all the ways the Nepali state fails to invest in its
citizens (kp), Dahal
offers lip service of leadership transfer at Maoist
Centre statute convention : Party chief does not seem
positive about imposing age and term limits for office
bearers because he still wants to be in control, says a
leader (kp), ‘Another
world is possible’: Socialists of the world to convene
in Kathmandu this week : People involved in socialist
movements from 92 countries will take part in the
five-day World Social Forum-2024 (kp), Legalization
of same sex marriage paves way for inclusion and
equality, by Arjun Oli (rep), Navigating
Tradition and Progress: Same-Sex Marriage Recognition in
Nepal, by Mona Sharma and Dikshya Aryal (rep), LGBTIQA+
community: A continuing struggle for social acceptance,
by Mitali Bharadwaj (ae), High
Court deems govt nomination of Health Council Members
illegal (kh), Internal
democracy and compliance with rules must prevail: CEC
Thapaliya (kh)
13/02/2024:
Reflections
on 17 years since the “People’s War”, by Gyanu
Ghimire (kh), “People’s
War” achievements are nation’s common assets: PM Dahal
(kh) [What achievements? Social
non-inclusion persists, as does patriarchy; women are at
best second-class citizens, Dalits are discriminated
against and are victimised. Justice for the victims of
the insurgency is still denied. The poverty rate is
high. The constitution was created by the traditional
ruling male elite, not by the inclusively elected
representatives of the people; promises made during the
People's War are often not honoured. The electoral
system is manipulated and abused. Civil liberties are
often restricted. The federal state exists mainly on
paper. Corruption is rampant and is covered up by the
political elite. The most important achievement of the
People's War remains the abolition of the monarchy and
the Hindu state, but it is precisely this that is
increasingly being called into question. Support for
your party has fallen to a meagre 11 per cent. Voters
are simply fed up with narcissistic politicians like
Dahal, Oli and Deuba. How are you going to change that?],
Nepal
sees less than expected decline in poverty : Poverty
fell from over 25 percent in 2011 to just over 20
percent in 2023, says the Fourth Living Standard Survey,
by Krishana Prasain (kp), 20.27
percent of Nepalis are living under the poverty line
(rep), Partnership
with Congress not beneficial, says PM Dahal :
Yet, he has no immediate plan for a new alliance,
by Anil Giri (kp), Commitments
and contradictions : The government has started
some good initiatives but struggled to follow
through (kp), Higher
Education Bill: A fiasco : The travesty of the
proposed bill is that no authority is willing to
take its ownership, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Numerous
laws remain unformulated: NA Chair Timilsina
(kh)
12/02/2024:
Alliance
plans to push TJ bill via vote if no consensus :
Multiple attempts to build consensus have failed as
ruling and opposition parties refuse to budge from their
stands (kp), Financial
irregularities rampant at all three government levels:
CIAA Chief Rai (rep), PM
Dahal accuses Nepali Congress of betrayal : Says it is
high time that his party reevaluated the coalition
dynamics (kh), Maoist
Center leaders face criticism for opulent lifestyles and
ideological ambiguity (kh), Conventional
wisdom : At a minimum, Dahal should declare that he will
step down as the head of his party after a specific time
(kp) [Party leaders like Dahal,
Oli and Deuba will never resign. They are convinced that
Nepal needs their endless failures and misbehaviour!], Demography,
digitalisation and diaspora will catapult RSP to
power : The party doesn’t equate an inclusive
liberal democratic order with federalism. We should
worry more about the ends, not the means,
interview with Swarnim Wagle (kp) [The
proposed abolition of the provincial level means
federalism without federalism and safeguards the
rule of the centralised male high-caste elite in a
socially non-inclusive state oriented towards Hindu
ideals. What is different from the last few decades?
The non-realisation of federalism is due to the
centralist attitude of that very elite and the RSP
obviously wants to be part of it!],
Nepali
women face harsh realities of foreign employment in Gulf
countries, by Sabita Khadka (rep), Reminiscing
Last Week: Parliament, Giri Bandhu Tea Estate and SC
(kh), Archaeologists
call for halt to defacement of Lumbini heritage sites :
Concerned over the construction of structures, Unesco
threatens to put Lumbini on ‘Heritage in Danger’ list
(kp), Ministry
instructs agencies to prepare the health budget within
previous ceiling : In the current fiscal year, 35
percent of national health budget was slashed. This
hampered several healthcare programmes including
maternal health, child health, family planning, and
nutrition (kp), Paving
the path to prosperity : Investment in road
infrastructure is a prerequisite to attracting local and
international tourists, by Roshee Lamichhane (kp), Judge
Acharya transferred to Mugu following release order for
Arun Chaudhary (kh), No
public holiday on Falgun 1, says Ministry of Home
Affairs (kh), The
Red Alert : The State is hell bent on owning all the
means of production and curbing freedom of speech and
human rights, by CK Raut (rep), What
puts Nepal’s democracy in peril?, by Sushil Thapa
(ae)
11/02/2024: NC-Maoist
Conflict: Oscillating between normalcy and intensity
(kh), Panel
recommends revision to a dozen laws before investment
summit : A member says if they sort out the land
acquisition, purchase or lease issue, half of the
investment-related problems will be solved (kp), Kathmandu
Valley Air Pollution Turning Heaven into Hell, by
Madhav Karki (rep), Street
vendors stage protests against KMC (rep), Birgunj
Mayor Singh admits during interrogation of having two
wives, by Bimala Gupta (rep)
10/02/2024:
Bind
Leadership To Constitutional Ideals, by Dev Raj
Dahal (rn), Impoverished
Netuwa community seeks recognition and rights as
minority Dalit caste : The government provides a Rs4,000
monthly social security allowance to impoverished
communities, but Netuwas are deprived of this benefit,
by Amrita Anmol (kp), Damak
View Tower faces crisis in operation, by Dhruba
Bhattarai (kh) [When
short-sighted politicians like KP Oli interfere in
nonsensical mammoth projects in their home districts to
secure their re-election....], Koshi
government and agitating group ink five-point deal : The
Province 1 Renaming Joint Struggle Committee agrees to
adopt peaceful protests to press its demands, by
Binod Bhandari (kp), A
call for responsible legal practice, by Saroj
Bhattarai (rep)
09/02/2024:
Democracy
Day to be marked for three days (kh) [King
Tribhuvan promised democracy in 1951, but paved the way
for royal autocracy in the following years, which was
perfected by his son Mahendra. Today, party politicians
are obstructing the implementation of democracy. There
is nothing to celebrate! Democracy is not the imitation
of royal power and arrogance by party politicians!],
Prime
Minister Dahal says he favours publicising Lal
Commission report : Promises to call a meeting of the
ruling alliance to decide the matter (kp), Eye
on land : Nepali politicians, bureaucrats and business
mafia have been using land to make illegal profits
(kp), Discarded
heroes : Electricity consumers valiantly fought through
years of darkness like soldiers in battle, by Bishal
Thapa (kp), Experts
call for harnessing remittances for development : Say
the growth in remittances has fueled imports, but the
money is hardly being used in employment-generating
activities (kp), Susta
rural municipality launches monetary scheme to
discourage child marriage (kh) [The
reasons lie in the extremely patriarchal way of
thinking, its reflection in politics and laws, the
permanent non-inclusion of women and archaic cultural
practices in society. They cannot be solved with money!],
Koshi
govt and identity-based agitators reach five-point
agreement (kh), Correcting
policy failures in Nepal, by Umesh Raj Rimal (kp), Address
Chief Ministers’ concerns, PM tells Singhadurbar
(ae) [This concern is so
fundamental that a head of government should
have some idea of what this should look like,
which he has so far been actively involved in
preventing! A PM cannot delegate everything!],
Nepal
facing terrible brunt of Russia-Ukraine war,
by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae)
08/02/2024:
Nepal
takes big step to avoid money laundering greylist :
House passes amendments to anti-money laundering law,
by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Court
quashes permit to Giri Bandhu estate to swap
land above legal limit : Law was revised in 2020
to add provision for exchanging excess land or
selling it to pay liabilities after firm closure,
by Binod Ghimire (kp), On
Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory, by
Narayan Manandhar (rep), Federal
government buys time to set up provincial
police, devolve powers : Local units want
significant shares of radio frequency royalty,
taxes raised from natural resources, and other
rights, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Still
no real interest of the central level in the
implementation of the federal system!], Nepal
becomes top troops contributor to UN
peacekeeping missions : As of November 30 last
year, 6,247 Nepali personnel were serving in
conflict zones
(kp), Growth,
at a cost : More remittance isn’t something to celebrate
if we can’t pump it into building national capital
(kp)
07/02/2024:
Nepal's
peace dilemma : The failure to conclude the transitional
justice process undercuts the achievements in the
structural transformation of Nepal, by Khim Lal
Devkota (kp), Light
Feb calendar belies government pledge of more
effective Parliament : Two ruling parties’
events clash with the House of Representatives’
schedule, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [The
politicians continue to believe that the
citizens are stupid and do not recognise their
constant lies!],
Schoolgirls
come together to combat outdated pratices : Young girls
rally against social ills, urging female relatives to
shun harmful traditions like Chhaupadi, child marriage
and caste-based discrimination, by Tularam Pandey
and DB Budha (kp), Three
including Arun Chaudhary released amid
controversy (kh) [Only
ordinary citizens are subjected to the full
rigours of justice. For prominent people,
especially those from political parties, there
is always a loophole! A constitutional state
looks different!],
Gagan
Thapa demands accountability: No leniency for those
involved in public land encroachment, citizenship
forgery, or cooperative fraud (kh), Lawmaker
Singh accuses coalition government of sheltering corrupt
figures (kh), SC
overturns land swap decision involving Giri
Bandhu Tea Estate made by former Oli government
(kh), What
is Giri Bandhu Tea Estate scam? (kh),
Maoists
first became top upper house force. Now they claim chair
: Prime Minister Dahal denies having given word to
Congress on making Krishna Prasad Sitaula Assembly
chairman, by Anil Giri (kp), Maoist
Center’s bid for NA Chairman sparks outrage within NC
(kh), Money
foreign workers send home jumps by 25 percent :
Remittances rose to Rs733.22 billion in the first half
of the current fiscal and the foreign exchange reserves
ballooned to a record high of Rs1.81 trillion (kp),
Deportation
of Chinese volunteer exposes Maoist Center’s power
struggle and betrayal (kh)
06/02/2024:
Dangerously
deluded monarchists : Sensible Nepalis should aim for
the secular republic's reformation and revitalisation,
by Mitra Pariyar (kp) [In
particular, the person at the centre of the monarchist
ambitions should be brought to heel immediately!],
Of
alternative voting methods : Nepal must assess its
capacity to implement absentee voting and digitalise
elections, by Arjun Thapa (kp), Don’t
waste the winter : People will be closely following the
new session of parliament to see if it meets their
expectations (kp), Reform
in reservation is necessary, by Ritesh Panthee
(rep), Will
TRC Bill Be Endorsed ?, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn) [Quite unlikely! If it does, the
result will still be unsatisfactory for the victims.
Potential offenders should not decide on such laws!],
Proposal
to prevent child marriage (ae), Families
of Nepalis in Russian Army protest outside Russian
Embassy in Kathmandu (kh), Nepali
students take more money abroad than paid by tourists
here (kh), Maoist
Center asserts claim for National Assembly chairmanship
(kh) [Hurray for the
undemocratic and manipulative electoral politics of the
Nepalese parties!]
05/02/2024:
Perversion
of democracy : It would be laughable for the leader of
the seventh largest parliamentary outfit to lead the
government (kp), Major
parties shouldn’t forge electoral alliances among
themselves : The continuity of the present coalition is
necessary to complete the remaining tasks of the peace
process and for the effective implementation of the
constitution, interview with Barshaman Pun (kp), Former
lawmaker and Civil Cooperative promoter Tamang gets
three-year jail : Ichchha Raj Tamang is fined Rs1.72
billion. All defendants’ properties will be confiscated,
by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Political
Will Must To Curb Corruption, by Ballav Dahal (rn),
Saud’s
approach with big powers, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai
(ae)
04/02/2024:
Quake-displaced
people battle inclement weather : Around 34,000
earthquake-displaced people are living under tents in
Jajarkot and Rukum West, according to government data,
by Mahersh KC (kp), UML
renews bid to pull ruling coalition down. Will it
succeed? The party tries to foment discord in the
Congress-Maoist alliance. Madhav Nepal’s prime minister
prospects make UML chief jittery, by Anil Giri (kp)
[As long as power is passed back
and forth between Oli, Dahal and Deuba, there can be no
question of a successful policy. It would be
particularly bad if a PM came back who had staged a coup
against the constitution and the state in 2020/21!],
Electricity
trade deal with India divides stakeholders in Nepal :
Supreme Court orders the government to explain why the
10,000 MW export agreement’s implementation should not
be halted, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Nepal's
economy and federalism : Confronting the policy blunders
of the past is a must for the renewal of the faltering
federal republic, by Kiran Paudel (kp), Draft
bill on higher education disappoints experts :
Educationists say the prime minister vowed to reform
higher education but the bill reeks of the same old
mindset of political and bureaucratic control of
universities, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Stop
setting dangerous precedent (rep), Conspiracy
Theories Galore, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Is
Nepal’s National Human Rights Commission really weak?
What can be done to make it more functioning and
relevant? When human rights violations occur and the
citizenry expect a prompt and swift intervention, the
Commission’s “grand” mandate and mission often crumble
to pieces, by Shrawan Adhikari and Simone Galimberti
(nlt)
03/02/2024:
Salyan
and Surkhet report highest number of rape cases among 10
Karnali districts : In most rape cases, the perpetrators
of the crime are usually the victims’ family members,
according to police, by Biplab Maharjan (kp), Dahal,
Oli discuss ways to resolve transitional justice
disputes : The opposition leader says the bill to amend
the Enforced Disappearances Enquiry, Truth and
Reconciliation Commission Act should be finalised in
consensus after some revisions (kp) [Both
are not really interested in justice for the victims.],
'VIPs'
get admitted to the hospital to evade detention, by
Tapendra Karki (rep), Foul
play apparent in Bansbari land transfer, CIB says :
Transfer was done illegally allegedly with the intent of
grabbing the property for its real estate value, by
Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), UML
Chairman Oli accuses President Paudel of crossing
constitutional limits (kh) [It
leaves you speechless that Oli, of all people, is taking
a stand on this. As PM, he has repeatedly broken the
constitution and other laws in close co-operation with
Paudel's predecessor Bidya Devi Bhandari, grossly
disregarded SC judgements and spread brazen lies!],
Peace
process to accelerate with the consensus of political
parties: Prime Minister Dahal (kh) [What
matters is justice for the victims, not the consensus of
leading politicians, who are also among those
responsible for the crimes of that time!]
02/02/2024:
Mend
ways : The political parties should think about
resolving the key problems that the country is facing
(ae), Nepal
Army Inc. : A mad rush for money has eroded the legacy
and legitimacy of the institution (kp) Soaring
Debt : Nepal’s public debt soars as the country
continues to borrow to fund low-return projects, by
Ramesh Kumar (nt), Development
= Destruction : Kickback-driven maldevelopment is
destroying Nepal as megalomania and kleptomania go
hand-in-hand (nt), World
Social Forum in Kathmandu : Gathering will bring 30,000
Nepali and international participants to Kathmandu on
15-19 February (nt), Dam
dangerous : Proposed
reservoir inside Shivapuri National Park carries more
risk than reward, critics say, by Ramesh Kumar (nt)
01/02/2024:
Insurgency
victims come up with 27-point demand : Want
extrajudicial killings and unlawful killings listed as
serious human rights violations and the authority to
reduce penalties resting with judiciary, by Binod
Ghimire (kp), Break
the cycle : Most loan shark victims will continue to be
denied justice unless the local bodies become more
active (kp), Nepal’s
tryst with Corruption Perceptions, by Narayan
Manandhar (rep), NHRC
Report Card: Action recommended against 66 right
violators (ae), Now,
Nepal Army wants to operate a textile factory : Amid
criticism of its involvement in business ventures, the
force comes up with plan to revive Hetauda Kapada Udyog
(kp)
31/01/2024:
Constitutional
watchdog names 60 persons implicated in serious human
rights abuses : Those incriminated include top police
and government officials, and politicians, by Binod
Ghimire (kp), Nepal
ranks 108th in Corruption Perceptions Index : Nepal
climbs two spots in the global rankings but remains in
the category of countries with rampant corruption
(kp)
30/01/2024:
Fending
for themselves : There can be no excuse for the poor
handling of the post-disaster situation in Karnali’s
quake-affected districts (kp), Nepal
ranks 108th in Corruption Perception Index with
slight improvement (kh), Nepal
remains on list of countries with rampant
corruption, by Bhasa Sharma (rep), Orphanising
federalism : There is a lack of research-based
policy-making institutions within the government
system, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Experts
call for more proactive handling of new and old
security threats : At a function in Kathmandu on
Monday, speakers from diverse sectors discussed
the interplay of regional and global powers in
Nepal (kp), Investigation
committee rejects Ncell share transaction; recommends
further scrutiny (kh), Study
committee finds faults in Ncell deal : Says claim Nepal
had an unfavourable business climate was baseless
(kp), Safeguarding
the Legacy of Martyrs : To forcefully declare a member
of a certain party as a martyr is an act of insulting
the real martyr and defaming the word martyr, by
Saroj Bhattarai (rep), Time
to preserve traditional ecological knowledge : Our
compensation and relocation schemes disregard
traditional ecological knowledge, by Badri Baral
(ae), Unlocking
Opportunities: Empowering Financial Inclusion in Rural
Nepal : For women in rural areas who continue to face
low literacy rates and various gender-based barriers,
access to and use of digital financial services is not a
small task, by Santosh Adhikari and Menila Kharel
(nlt)
29/01/2024:
After
assembly elections : People are getting fed up with this
never-ending drama of self-centred politics (kp), Supreme
Court intervenes to make rights commission’s role more
effective : Successive governments have implemented
hardly 15 percent of its recommendations (kp), Loan
sharking victims to march again towards Kathmandu for
justice (kh), China
says rivals trying to sabotage its ties with Nepal :
Visiting Chinese leader asserts BRI is not a debt trap
and expresses concerns over investment climate, by
Anil Giri (kp), Royal
Massacre 2001 will be subject to reinvestigation: Prime
Minister Dahal (kh), Safeguarding
the Legacy of Martyrs, by Saroj Bhattarai (rep)
28/01/2024:
What
delays the rehabilitation of earthquake-displaced people
: Since November, 35 homeless, mainly senior citizens
and minors, have died, by Krishna Prasad Gautam
(kp), Dalit
women: empowered or imperilled? We must ensure equitable
access to resources to ensure Dalit women’s active
political participation, by Samiksha Baral (kp), Supreme
Court says it cannot pass verdicts solely on the basis
of media coverage : The court also raises questions over
continued delays in advancing the transitional justice
process (kp), Rifts
in Congress, Maoists on reviewing ties after Koshi loss
: Champa Karki of ruling coalition lost National
Assembly vote on Thursday, sowing seed of mistrust in
the alliance, by Anil Giri (kp), Escaping
the remittance trap : Nepal should wean itself off
remittances and transition to healthier and more
sustainable growth model, by Hridesh Gajurel (kp), From
Constitution to Kitchen: Nepal’s Journey to Food Rights,
by Raju Prasad Chapagai (rep)
27/01/2024:
Maoist
Center affirms stability in federal coalition despite
Koshi floor-crossing (kh), PM
Dahal announces declaration of 3,000 additional martyrs
soon, promises comprehensive recognition (kh) [You'd better finally get justice for
all the victims from the time of the uprising!],
Former
King Gyanendra Shah expresses concerns over
misconceptions about himself and his family (kh) [And what about the feelings and
suffering of the people during your coup in 2005, when
they were beaten, maltreated and arrested on your
orders!]
26/01/2024:
Particracy
vs Democracy, by Kalyan Shrestha (kh), “Political
parties must adopt a proactive approach”, interview
with Devendra Paudel, CPN-MC (kh), UML
loses seven upper house seats, even as it pulls off
surprise victory in Koshi : The party falls to the third
position as the Maoists become the largest force in the
National Assembly, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Elections
in Nepal are a rigged farce! Once again, there can be no
talk of social inclusion. The politicians should finally
stop lying about this!], National
Assembly election sparks distrust in ruling coalition :
Maoist Center emerges as the largest party, UML the
third party in the National Assembly (rep) [A
party that was elected by just 11 per cent of voters a
year ago now has 30 per cent of the seats in the
National Assembly. In Nepal, this is called "honouring
the will of the people!" The NA has degenerated into a
socially non-inclusive object of manipulation by the
political parties!], Single
women unable to build temporary shelters : Many have not
registered for reconstruction aid. Even those who lack
the physical and human resources to build a temporary
shelter, by Tripti Shahi (kp)
25/01/2024:
Nepal
launches milestone action plan on business and human
rights : The adoption sends a strong message to
investors that Nepal is a good place to do business,
stakeholders say (kp), Parties
tour country to interact with people : Analysts say the
political campaigns will not do much of public good
besides engaging their cadres (kp), Voting
in progress, results expected today (kh), Koshi
Province steals the spotlight in NA election (with
photos) (kh), NA
Elections: 60% turnout so far, results expected today
(kh), Successful
conclusion of NA Election across seven provinces,
results awaited this evening (kh), Alliance
with other parties a must as single party unlikely to
obtain majority: NC Prez Deuba (rep) [But
please not by means of anti-democratic manipulation in
the run-up to elections!], Why
has the RPP announced street protests?, by Kamal Dev
Bhattarai (ae) [The questions
should be: Why are unconstitutional demands allowed to
be made that are against the interests of the country's
multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious society
as a whole? What about the women, Dalits, Janajatis,
Muslims and to some extent Madheshis in the event of a
return to the Hindu state? Why did 17,000 people have to
die if the political system is to be reset to the
exclusive system of a small male pahadi elite after less
than 20 years? Why was the royal family not sent into
exile after the abolition of the monarchy? When will the
leaders of the ruling political parties finally realise
that it is they who have enabled the increased
activities of the anti-people forces in the first place?],
Smart
mobility for Hetauda: A path to sustainable development,
by Prasannata Lamichhane (ae), Women
Commission urges govt to take action on unlawful
children’s homes (kh), SC
releases full text of directive order to amend NHRC Act
(kh)
24/01/2024:
The
neglect of federalism : Concentration of power at Singha
Durbar overshadows the idea of grassroots-level
governance, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), PM
Dahal’s push for cabinet reshuffle faces coalition
discord (kh), Government
working on 109 bills to give more business to
Parliament : The Cabinet has recommended the
President summon the winter session of
Parliament on February 5, by Binod Ghimire
(kp), UML
is pursuing a monarchy agenda: Gagan Thapa (kh), Challenges
of misinformation : Emerging AI tools will result in a
playground of information manipulation in the upcoming
elections, by Ujjwal Acharya (kp), Silent
Sacrifices Beyond Borders, by Prakriti Adhikari
(rep), We
all have responsibility to develop our country: PM
Prachanda (rn) [Then the
top politicians of all political parties should resign
immediately, because you are all the main reason for the
country's inadequate development, the continuing lack of
social inclusion and the stubborn refusal to create a
federal, secular and democratic republic!]
23/01/2024:
Uncommitted
committees : The elected Parliament should be the first
agency to offer much-needed hope to the people (kp),
Gandaki
CM Pandey demands adequate rights to province (kh),
Labour
migration, gender and caste : Working abroad is not all
bad for the marginalised as it brings much more than
financial gains, by Mitra Pariyar (kp), Growing
Yadav-Raut rivalry unfolds at foundation-laying event :
Observers call it ‘vote-bank politics’ (kp), UML
submits 751-point demand to govt (rep), NAM’s
Relevance And Nepal's Stance, by Narayan Upadhyay
(rn), Women
leadership lacking in Badghars (rn), Is
traditional media dying?, by Prerana Marasini (ae),
Govt
recommends Parliament session on Feb 5 (kh)
22/01/2024: Let
people protest : Trying to maintain public order by
banning peaceful demonstrations is a fool’s errand
(kp), Speaker
alerts House panels against work duplication : Multiple
committees probing the same issue and releasing clashing
directives has become a pattern, by Binod Ghimire
(kp), Federal
parliament in a bind (ae), Centre
should have a reserve force for contingencies : The
police adjustment process should be handled more
cautiously as police personnel work with arms and
ammunition, interview with Jaya Mukunda Khanal (kp),
RPP-UML
form alliance for NA election in Koshi (kh) [Similar
mindset?], Enhance
National Assembly’s Dignity, by Ballav Dahal (rn), Clash
in Rajbiraj leaves Education Minister and three MPs
injured (kh)
21/01/2024:
Why
Nepal needs deliberative democracy : Deliberative
democracy could strengthen federalism at grassroots
level by bringing people really closer to the decision
making, by Simone Galimberti (nlt), Provinces
versus Kathmandu : Attitude towards federalism in Nepal
is still marked with scepticism, by Semanta Dahal
(kp), Anomalies
That Beset Left Parties, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Remaining
works of peace process to be completed on consensus: PM
Prachanda (rn) [Consensus
with the victims and their families or consensus among
top politicians, some of whom bear great responsibility
for the crimes of the past?], Remaining
works of peace process to be completed soon: PM Dahal
(kh), Russia
holds back release of Nepali nationals enlisted in its
army: PM Dahal (kh), Russia
to compensate families of those killed in war, says
Foreign Minister Saud : 13 Nepali nationals have been
confirmed killed in Russia’s fight against Ukraine.
Moscow official wants families to go to Russia to claim
compensation. Nepal says not feasible (kp), HoR
Speaker, National Assembly Chairman send letter of
reminder over delay in appointing Secretary General of
parliament (rep)
20/01/2024:
Mahato
plans new Madhesh movement. But will it take off?
Observers and rival politicians see poor prospects,
by Anil Giri (kp), Employees
of fraudulent cooperatives hung out to dry : As they
grapple with lost savings, unpaid salaries, anger, and
threats from desperate depositors, their lives highlight
the collateral damage of a broken cooperative system,
by Aarati Ray (kp), Main
opposition UML plans agitation against Pushpa Kamal
Dahal government : Addressing a party meeting, Oli said
the government would be unseated by breaking up the
ruling alliance (kp) [Replacing
an incompetent PM with an even more incompetent one,
who, on top of everything else, staged a coup against
the state and democracy a good three years ago, is not
really helping the country!], Building
Rational Political Order, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
19/01/2024:
CPN-UML’s
intent to break ruling coalition: How justifiable?
(kh), Supreme
Court declines to impose restrictions on security
personnel using metal bullets (kh), Communist
unity top on agenda as Chinese flock to Nepal : Watchers
say they are trying to lay ground for a Nepal that is no
threat to China. This includes tackling other powers,
by Anil Giri (kp), Democracy
And Civic Consciousness, by Bibhav Pokhrel (rn), Impact Of
Federalisation On Healthcare, by Pallav Bhusal (rn),
Trends
in Chinese investment in Nepal, by Nihar R Nayak and
Purushottam Poudel (ae), Stick
to neutrality (ae), The
occupation of Tundikhel : Residents and activists
protest Kathmandu mayor’s decision to further constrict
the last of Kathmandu's open space, by Sahina
Shrestha (nt)
18/01/2024:
Ensure
Justice To Conflict Victims, by Balmukunda Regmi
(rn), After
months of pressure, Dahal orders police force adjustment
across provinces : Prime minister gives Home Minister
Shrestha and other senior officials 15 days for the task,
by Binod Ghimire (kp), Triggering
mistrust :The police must be sensitised on the need of
exercising maximum restraint during public protests
(kp) [They believe they have the
right to beat, torture and kill people. This was the
case under the royalist-absolutist panchayat system and
it hasn't changed to this day!], RPP
Chairman Lingden announces non-participation in govt
(kh) [Anti-democratic and
unconstitutional parties like the RPP have no place in
government!], DPM
Shrestha advocates prioritizing domestic power
consumption over exports (rep), Will
save country from turning into old age home: DPM
Shrestha (rn), Attempt
of assault on Durga Prasain in Baglung (rep) [Such anti-social and anti-democratic
demagogues must be fought with powerful arguments and
upright democratic action and not through crime!],
Cabinet
reshuffle after NA election (kh)
17/01/2024:
The
weight of patriarchy : Nepali women continue to be
persecuted in the name of outdated traditions (kp),
Signs
of strain emerge within the ruling coalition (kh) [After a year at the latest, this is
absolutely normal in Nepalese politics, as the so-called
top politicians are primarily concerned with power and
privileges and see their obligation to pursue policies
that are geared towards the welfare of the country and
its citizens as a secondary task at best, which they are
not up to anyway!], Long
hair symbolizes the nature of a rebel: CK Raut.
Rebellion in Strands: Unveiling the Political Odyssey of
CK Raut (based on interview), by Gyanu Ghimire (kh),
Foreign
employment: 539 deaths in six months (rep), Concerns
mount over rising Nepali migrant deaths : Around 15
Nepali workers die abroad each month. Reports says 95
migrants from Gandaki Province died abroad in the first
six months of this fiscal year, by Pratiksha Kafle
(kp) [This is also a consequence
of climate change, economic inequality and the
government's inability to create jobs at home!],
Check
Youth Exodus, by Dixya Poudel (rn), Nepal
to review SDGs (rep)
16/01/2024:
The
ills of pending electoral reforms : Democratising
Nepal’s political parties has been a Sisyphean endeavour,
by Achyut Wagle (kp), President
urges effective implementation of constitution to end
public frustration : Though the constitution is
excellent, Nepali people have not been able to benefit
from it, Paudel told leaders (kp), Diversifying
diaspora and remittances : Nepal must come up with
strategies to ensure remittances are repatriated by all,
not just labour migrants, by Sanjit Shrestha (kp), End
Overdependence On Remittance, by Uttam Maharjan
(rn), Five,
including police personnel, accused of gang-raping
14-year-old girl in Mugu (kh), Unified
Socialist warns of exit from ruling coalition (kh),
Nepal
to present NVR report on SDGS to UN body by July
(kh)
15/01/2024:
NIC
instructs universities to implement Right to Information
laws (kh) [The right to
information is a fundamental right that is very often
not even respected by the government!], Budget
mid-year assessment reveals national fiscal deficit
(kh), Govt
collects Rs 515 billion in revenue, meets only 77
percent of the target for first half of current FY
(rep), Govt
remains incapable of raising capital expenditure
(rep), Student
unions one on converting private schools into trusts : A
bill registered in Parliament by the Dahal government in
September doesn’t make conversion mandatory, by
Binod Ghimire (kp), Weeks
after auto-renewal of trade treaty with India, Nepal
wants revision : The bilateral trade treaty was
automatically renewed in November without addressing
several of Nepal’s concerns, by Krishana Prasain
(kp), Deepening
water crises : Addressing the impacts of temperature and
precipitation changes isn’t within our institutions’
scope, by Madhukar Upadhya (kp), National
Assembly can serve as a coordinating body between
federal units : The upper house needs more women who
have worked in the field of women’s empowerment,
interview with Bimala Rai Paudyal (kp) [The
entire political system needs social inclusion,
especially in leading positions: Women, Dalits, Muslims,
Janajatis, Madheshis. Male Bahuns, for example, should
only be represented by six per cent at most. Even today,
they act as if they own this country! This is in
contrast to the promises made by all political parties
in 2006. Social unrest will be unavoidable at some
point. The perverse demand for a return to Hindu state
and monarchy further aggravates this!], President
Paudel urges leaders for complete implementation of
Constitution (kh) [Not
with this generation of so-called political leaders!]
14/01/2024:
Right
to protest under threat : Despite the strengthening of
human rights, the repression of protests persists in
Nepal and worldwide, by Marissa Taylor and Ashmita
Sapkota (kp), Echo
chamber in Nepali media : There has been no progress in
institutionalising press freedom and ensuring editorial
independence, by Bhanu Bhakta Acharya (kp), Ex-NC
minister Aftab Alam’s trial resumes from today (kh),
Hearing
on Aftab Alam case postponed (kh) [It's
always the same!], Ruling
alliance finds equation in Koshi tricky to win upper
house seats : Party leaders find it challenging for
Sitaula to win the votes of all members of the party and
coalition partners (kp), Data
show inflation easing but people don’t feel it :
According to Nepal Rastra Bank, the year-on-year
consumer price inflation moderated to 4.95 percent in
the mid-November to mid-December period (kp), Maximum
election expenditure for NA candidate set at Rs 350,000
(kh) [Since the NA election is
held by a relatively small electoral body and the voting
behaviour has already been arranged in advance by the
party leaders, it is reasonable to ask why there is any
major expenditure at all, unless it is to buy votes!]
13/01/2024:
Resham
Chaudhary elected party chair. Does the law allow it?
Constitutional lawyer says presidential pardon doesn’t
mean Chaudhary got a clean chit on the 2015 killings
(kh) [Murder trials against
other politicians have been delayed for many years. Can
Nepal still be described as a state governed by the rule
of law?], Widening
Boundaries Of Politics, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Understanding
Phenomenon Of Nepali Exodus, by Sugam Gautam (rn), The
political system is under threat from parties nominating
losers to National Assembly: Rabi Lamichhane (kh)
12/01/2024:
No
state for women : Nepali mothers can confer citizenship
to their children, but conditions still apply, by
Neha Gurung (nt) [Only males are
real Nepalis and they are best from the so-called high
Hindu castes! This country belongs to them! Only men are
real Nepalis and they are best from the so-called high
Hindu castes! This country belongs to them! Therefore,
they have to bear the burden of holding all responsible
posts!], Victim’s
cry for justice met with disbelief and
counteraccusations, by Sita Neupane (kh), Transitional
justice commissions get one more extension but legal
issues remain : MPs accuse government of not showing
urgency to find consensus on amending the law, by
Binod Ghimire (kp) [There will
be no willingness to do justice for the victims as long
as those responsible on both sides of the conflict are
in power today!], Nepal's
TJ law needs more progress: Human Rights Watch (rep)
[see
HRW report on Nepal], Much
ado about nothing : Without a commitment to end the
process right, term-extension of the TJ bodies is
meaningless (kp), South
Asia amid global contestations : What we need is a
unique, irreplaceable and functional regional
organisation, by Sisir Bhandari and Rajib Neupane
(kp), Nepal’s
geopolitical challenges and Prithvi Narayan Shah’s
teachings, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae)
11/01/2024:
Why
has the transitional justice process not moved ahead?,
by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Deuba
exhibiting despotism in the party, interview with
Arjun Narsingh KC (kh), Health
workers manning Covid desks on Nepal-India border unpaid
for six months : Amidst the increased workload and
health risk following a resurgence of coronavirus cases,
the health workers feel cheated, by Bhawani Bhatta
(kp), Oli
and the hubris of ‘great’ Nepal : No one should bother
reading about Oli’s hallucinatory visions of Nepal’s
past, by Deepak Thapa (kp), Challenge
To Define Vision Of Socialism, by Mukti Rijal (rn)
10/01/2024:
Rape
trial in Nepal is an endless journey, by Sabina
Acharya (nlt), Teenage
girls in Rukum East live in terror of outdated
traditions : Deep-rooted customs where young girls are
forcibly hauled away and abducted by men for marriage
persist in several areas of the western Nepal district,
by Durgalal KC (kp), Conflict
victims, rights defenders, lawyers, professionals and
other citizens welcome SC decision to cancel People’s
War Day (rep), A
nation on the move, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Parties
kill National Assembly’s spirit : Among those being
elected, there are no field experts. The post-election
upper house will also be less inclusive, by Binod
Ghimire (kp) [Power-hungry and
authoritarian male high-caste politicians are
systematically destroying all aspects of democracy and
social inclusion of the modern Nepali state!], Six
years of provincial assemblies : Around 450 laws have
been enacted across the seven provinces, but they often
look like a replica of federal laws., by Khim Lal
Devkota (kp), India
reluctant on power purchase from China-funded projects:
PM (kh), Kathmandu
District Court sentences Sandeep Lamichhane to 8 years
in rape case (kh), RPP
seized opportunity in Koshi Province, our advocacy for
the end of federalism prevails: Bhakti Sitaula (kh)
[Anyone who runs for political
office that he wants to abolish is deceiving the
citizens of the country! The RPP should immediately
withdraw from all Provincial Assemblies!]
09/01/2024:
Silence
and shame in Ajit Mijar’s killing : Caste hatred often
precipitates caste violence, and hardly any criminal is
sentenced to jail, by Mitra Pariyar (kp), Conflict
victims, rights defenders and professionals welcome
invalidation of the ‘People’s War Day’ by the Supreme
Court : In February last year, Dahal government had
declared Falgun 1 as People’s War Day. The conflict
victims as well as the civil society members had
objected to the government’s decision (nlt), Nepal’s
Dream: Tale of broken promises, unfulfilled ambitions,
by Ishwar Dev Khanal (kh), Parties
turn the National Assembly into a platform for losers,
by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), National
Assembly candidacies fuel discontent in ruling
coalition, Congress : Senior Congress leaders express
dissent. Alliance partner Janamat Party revolts by
fielding two candidates (kp), Partnership
Among Ruling Alliance, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), Nepali
women in foreign policy : Despite an inclusive
constitution, appointment and recruitment are highly
male-dominated, by Anjan Shakya (kp), Bista
unanimously elected as Speaker of Koshi Province
Assembly (rep) [Bista
and his party want to abolish federalism and
thus the Koshi Province as soon as possible! How
can such a politician be made Speaker of the
Provincial Assembly? Politicians of the
anti-democratic and anti-constitutional RPP
should not be allowed to hold state offices!],
No
respite for earthquake victims, by Rajendra
Karki (ae), Conflict-affected
families of security personnel urge PM Dahal to
address their genuine concerns (rep)
08/01/2024:
Reminiscing
Last Week: NA Scheduled Election Ignites Tensions
(kh), No
to collusion : The failure of ruling parties to share
upper house seats with CPN-UML must be celebrated
(kp), Fringe
ruling parties unhappy over Assembly seat-sharing :
Janamat, Nagarik Unmukti and Loktantrik Samajbadi
parties get no candidacies, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Sher
Bahadur Deuba’s Vision Revisited : “You Nepalis are good
at talking, but you have not worked!”, by Raj
Kishore Yadav (kh), Administration
and Barahathawa protesters reach agreement : With the
deal, family agrees to receive the body of the man
killed on Friday, by Om Prakash Thakur (kp), Attorney
General under political pressure not to appeal to SC
against former minister Khand (rep) [This
is how Nepal's dishonest politicians fight crime and
corruption!], Use
of mother tongue should be increased: Minister Sharma
(rn) [Make knowledge of at least
one national language, other than Nepali, compulsory for
access to all public and political offices. This would
increase the importance of these languages enormously
and also improve the chances of applicants who are not
native Nepali speakers!]
07/01/2024:
Protests
continue in Barahathawa for second day : Barahathawa
Municipality’s decision to upgrade and hand over a
15-bed municipal hospital to the province triggered the
violent protest on Friday, by Om Prakash Thakur
(kp), Jaishankar
Sah's mortal remains left on road for 72 hours
(rep), Barahathwa
tense: 'petrol bomb' thrown at police, police fire
teargas shells on protestors, by Madn Thakur (rep),
UML
left to fight upper house election with own strength :
Even with the main opposition out of picture, ruling
parties are struggling to finalise names of coalition
candidates, by Anil Giri (kp), NC
President Deuba prepares to make Sitaula
Chairman of National Assembly (rep) [At
present, around two thirds of NA members of
parliament are Khas Arya (population share <
30 per cent). Deuba is doing everything he can
to increase this proportion! In order to make
the NA more socially inclusive, no more Bahuns
should currently be elected (nominated) at all!]
06/01/2024:
Prohibitory
order enforced in Sarlahi following protest-related
fatality (kh), Curfew
in Sarlahi local unit after man dies in protest : Local
residents were protesting a municipal plan to hand over
a health post to provincial authorities. Protesters
claim the man died from police bullet, by Om Prakash
Thakur (kp), Child
marriage, teen pregnancy exacting heavy toll on Bajura
girls : Efforts to curb child marriage ineffective due
to deep-rooted traditions, local officials say, by
Arjun Shah (kp), Rethinking
Geopolitical Labels: An Asian Perspective on 'Global
South' and 'Middle East', by Prem Lamichhane (rep),
Building
Trust In Public Institutions, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn),
Nepal
has no dearth of working-age population, by Manjima
Dhakal (rn), Govinda
KC and supporters arrested in Maitighar protest
(kh), Ruling
alliance rejects collaboration with CPN-UML in NA
election : Alliance meeting at 4 PM, official decisions
awaited (kh), NC’s
Shekhar Koirala faction demands four seats in NA
elections (kh), Coalition
parties fail to reach consensus on NA elections
seat-sharing (kh), National
Assembly member elections: NC demands 13 seats, while
Maoists claim 7 seats (rep) [The
members of the two chambers of parliament should be
nominated exclusively by the leading politicians of the
parties in secret consultation. That would finally be a
real "democracy"! It would also save a lot of money if
there was no need to involve the responsible voters!],
The
country seeks change: RSP Chair Lamichhane (kh) [There will be no change as long as
power keeps shifting back and forth between the failed
and anti-democratic politicians Dahal, Oli and Deuba!]
05/01/2024:
Federal
express : Kathmandu never really devolved power to
provinces to give federalism a chance to! work,
by Sonia Awale (nt),
The
F word : Federalism has failed not because the
system is flawed, but because Nepal’s
politicians have (nt),
The
marginalised on the margins : Two Nepali
families on either side of a path suffer from
state neglect, but one is much doing better.
Why?, by Sonia Awale (nt),
Nepal
and India review relations, sign 10,000MW power export
deal : Delhi grants Rs10 billion for reconstruction of
structures destroyed in Nov 3 earthquake, by Anil
Giri (kp), Former
PM Khanal denounces Dahal-led government’s agreement
with India as “anti-national” (kh), School
education bill getting knottier : At the House
committee, representatives of local units and teachers’
organisations make contradictory demands, by Binod
Ghimire (kp), Will
declaring an emergency help accelerate infrastructure
projects? Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal floated the
idea of declaring a state of emergency to speed up
infrastructure development in his address to the nation
last week, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), NC
close students demand PM Dahal’s resignation (kh), Covid
coming: Nepal is again witnessing coronavirus cases. But
there seems to be little preparation (kp), Hindu
nation and constitutional monarchy should be restored:
RPP Nepal Chairman Thapa (kh) [What
are the "interests of the nation"? Those of the male
Khas Arya or those of the country's multi-ethnic,
multi-cultural and multi-religious society? Sorry, I
forgot, only the barely 15 per cent male Kas Arya are
real Nepalis who own the country! Dalits, Janajatis,
Muslims and women in general simply have to accept this!],
Everywhere
I go, I hear Nepalis calling on me to save Nepal: Former
King Shah (rep) [You are
obviously talking to the wrong people! People's
resentment is understandable, but people who have
suffered under monarchy and Hindu state cannot wish them
back!], Curfew
imposed in Barahathawa, Sarlahi (kh), Sarlahi’s
Barahathwa tense as hotel owner dies in police firing
(rep) [Once again!], Local
administration of Sarlahi enforces curfew till Saturday
morning after a person died in police firing (rep),
Indian
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar expresses
displeasure over simultaneous Chinese officials' visit
to Nepal (rep) [???],
Accountability
For Good Governance, by Lok Deep Thapa (rn), President
Paudel raises alarm over rural depopulation due to lack
of employment opportunities (rn), National
Assembly: Whose representation matters? (rep) [Anti-democrats at work!], Monarchy
ended with the massacre of Birendra’s family,
interview with KP Oli (ae)
04/01/2024: Civil
society group urges govt to exercise caution
in agreements with India (rep), Nepali
citizens express concerns about agreements
with India (with full text) (nlt), UML
may secure six seats in NA election if it backs TRC bill
(kh), Daily
surge in housing applicants overwhelms authorities :
Many people displaced by the November 3 earthquake are
still languishing in flimsy tents and huts due to delays
in the distribution of housing grants, by Krishna
Prasad Gautam and Harihar Singh Rathour (kp), Change
starts at top : Doing
away with the provision of the PM and political leaders
in top positions will help reform universities (kp)
[!!!!], Absence
of Dalits in the private sector : Caste-based preference
motivates workers to focus on ‘chakari’ rather than
skills, by Abhishek Jha (kp), How
Does Technology Affect Politics? Social media has
disrupted traditional political landscapes, empowering
individuals to engage in public discourse like never
before, by Hari Prasad Shrestha (rep), Former
King Gyanendra Shah meets five RPP leaders in Bhairahawa
(rep) [Coup preparation by a
Hindu fundamentalist minority? The Shah monarchy once
created the non-inclusive state of men from so-called
high Hindu castes. And now the ousted monarch claims in
all seriousness that all Nepalis are equal for him.
Presumably this means, as in the Panchayat period, the
eradication of all ethnic languages and cultures!]
03/01/2024:
Three
years on, monsoon-displaced people in outlying Bajura
settlements await rehabilitation : A total of 519
families have been displaced over the past three years
after their homes were destroyed by heavy rains,
government data show, by Arjun Shah (kp), Winning
Justice Can Be A Hard Struggle, by Namrata Sharma
(rn), Leveraging
Political Interests Amidst Democratic Shadows, by
Ishwar Dev Khanal (kh), Ruling
coalition grapples with NA seat allocation dilemma : 19
National Assembly seats remain contentious, by Gyanu
Ghimire (kh), Maoist
Center asserts claim on six seats for upcoming NA
election (kh) [Megalomania
of an increasingly insignificant party?], Ruling
coalition to hold talks with UML regarding NA election
(kh) [When elections turn into a
farce!], Parties
in talks as UML angles for upper house seats : PM wants
to accommodate the opposition in the Assembly hoping for
help in passing the transitional justice bill, by
Anil Giri (kp), UML’s
strategic moves fuel alliance uncertainty, by Gyanu
Ghimire (kh), Ruling
coalition meeting convened for NA seats discussion ends
inconclusively : Next meeting scheduled for Thursday
(kh), Dissatisfaction
within ruling coalition, minor parties warn to quit
government (kh), Flying
away from despondency : The poor youths have always been
pushed out of the country to wherever they could find
work for survival, by CK Lal (kp), Is
Tribhuvan University grappling with decline in academic
standards?, by Pushpa Raj Joshi (rep), SC
seeks government response for not formulating climate
change laws (rep)
02/01/2024:
How
development projects can go wrong when they disregard
the rights of the indigenous people : Hydropower is the
cleanest form of energy. But should it come at the cost
of indigenous people being abused and oppressed simply
because they want to have a say on how such development
projects will impact their lives?, by RK Tamang and
Simone Galimberti (nlt), Economic
slump takes toll on sustainability of free media :
Nepali media industry needs immediate rescue with
favorable legal/policy environment and financial support
so that press freedoms would be survived, protected and
promoted, by Taranath Dahal (nlt), Time
for fifth generation reforms : Fact-based periodisation
is important to capture the long evolution of Nepal’s
reform process, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Ministers
trade blame over Balkumari deaths : Parliamentary
committee urges investigation into transport minister
Prakash Jwala and Labour Ministry, by Prithvi Man
Shrestha (kp), Families
of Balkumari clash victims, government sign four-point
agreement : With the deal, the families agree to receive
the dead bodies and the government pledges ‘extra
relief’ in addition to the Rs1 million announced on
Saturday (kp), Kamal
Thapa advocates systemic change amidst critique of
current governance mode (kh) [The
monarchy and the panchayat system, of which Kamal Thapa
was a part, have failed even more and were even worse
than what the politicians of today's political system,
which is actually not a bad one, are disfiguring!],
Three
more Nepalis in Russian Army die in Russian-Ukraine
conflict, toll climbs to 10 (kh)
01/01/2024:
Dahal’s
hubris, inflation and misgovernance : Nepal’s remittance
quickly travels back overseas due to our failure to
utilise it in the productive sector, by Jagadish
Prasad Bist (kp), You
can’t blame bureaucrats for your failure to lead the
country : Besides undertaking regular development works,
politics should also create hope in people. But
frustration is palpable everywhere, interview with
Umesh Mainali (kp), Reminiscing
Last Week: Govt’s crackdown on youths (kh), Police
arrest 63 people, including RJP Chairman CK Raut, in
Kathmandu (kh),
Janamat Party Chair CK Raut and members released after
detention (kh), Shots
fired as Minister’s vehicle came under siege: Home
Minister (kh) [And the
siege of a minister's vehicle justifies the police
killing and injuring people with firearms? The
government and the police need to change their attitude
if Nepal is to be a state governed by the rule of law!],
Home
Minister losing control over police force: RSP Chair
Lamichhane (kh), Perfect
storm : Friday’s twin deaths should teach the state and
its agencies to always err on the side of caution
(kp), Coalition
to decide this week on sharing Assembly seats : Leaders
say ruling parties will field their candidates for seats
they now hold. They plan to share UML-held seats ,
by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Hopefully
nobody will think of calling these manipulations
"democracy"!], PM
downplays growing pessimism. Youth exodus suggests
otherwise : Prime Minister Dahal tries to counter
popular perceptions that Nepalis’ future is bleak,
asking observers to look at positive national indicators
too, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Address
Concerns Of Youths, by Ballav Dahal (rn), 2023:
A year to forget for major parties, by Kamal Dev
Bhattarai (ae)
|
Chronology
of the failed creation of a socially inclusive
multi-ethnic and multicultural Nepal:
6701
|
days
since Delhi agreement of political parties
|
6549
|
days
since the people forced King Gyanendra to end his putsch
|
6337
|
days
since Comprehensive Peace Agreement; government, leading
party politicians, former Maoists and army leaders still
prevent conclusion of the peace process
|
6282
|
days
since promulgation of the Interim Constitution
|
5832
|
days
since elections to CA-I
|
3782
|
days
since elections to CA-II
|
3112
|
days
since promulgation of non-inclusive and until today not
really implemented constitution through illegal procedure
(text
of constitution)
|
2258
|
days
since the federal system should have been implemented;
still missing: numerous laws, infrastructure, fiscal
regulations, naming of Province 1, etc.
|
2233
|
6days
since KP Oli became PM: most of the necessary working
processes not really completed; instead, growing violation
of fundamental rights, federal chaos, unabated nepotism,
corruption and power struggles
|
1194
|
days
since PM Oli putsched and tried to destroy the democratic
system with the help of President Bidya Devi Bhandari
|
1117
|
days
since the Supreme Court ruled that the merger of CPN-UML
and CPN-MC to form the NCP on 17 May 2018 was
illegitimate, thereby reactivating the two original
parties
|
0990
|
1days
since the Supreme Court reinstated the House of
Representatives again and ordered the replacement of Prime
Minister KP Oli by Sher Bahadur Deuba; continued disregard
of constitution and democratic principles
|
0459 |
days since PK Dahal
became PM in cooperation with KP Oli, misusing the votes
of former coalition partners
|
|