Crisis solution (current year) [partially commented link collection]

Since the Delhi Agreement between seven parliamentary parties and the insurgent CPN (Maoist) of 22 November 2005, the people of Nepal have been waiting in vain for the promised realisation of an inclusive democratic system. Although the then putsching monarchy was abolished and a constitution was passed in 2015 after long power struggles between the political parties, even this was the sole work of the exclusively male leaders of the three major parties, predominantly male Bahuns. The appropriate participation of all social groups, as provided for in the interim constitution of January 2007, did not take place. In this respect, the constitution of 2015 even represented in part a step backwards compared to the interim constitution.
Thus, apart from the abolition of the monarchy, not much has changed since the 1990 system. Numerous fundamental human rights continue to be disregarded. There is no inclusion of all social groups. All power and the majority of all state functions are still in the hands of male Tagadharis, especially male Bahuns.  The latter make up only 6 percent of the population, but the identification of the state and its society and culture, in short the nationalist image of the state of Nepal, is still based on the culture and partly narrow-minded, anarchic, patriarchal and socially discriminating view and thinking of this small minority. As long as this state of affairs continues and the failed generation of political leaders of all parties is not replaced by a younger generation that is inclusive, open-minded, receptive and not exclusively oriented towards personal power interests, there will be no end to the crisis situation.

27/01/2023: People are increasingly adapting to the new federal setup, report says : The overall perception of the country’s direction has been negative but people in remote areas and marginalised groups are more optimistic than others, according to the report, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Rabi Lamichhane found guilty in citizenship case : Loses posts of DPM, Home Minister and parliamentarian (kh), Rabi Lamichhane not eligible to remain lawmaker (nlt), Supreme Court annuls Rabi Lamichhane’s status as lawmaker : The Constitutional Bench concluded that the citizenship presented by Lamichhane to contest the election was invalid (kp), Home Minister Lamichhane submits resignation to PM Dahal (kh), As a non-citizen, I have nothing left to say: Rabi Lamichhane : I accept Supreme Court’s decision, says Lamichhane (kh) [This differentiates him significantly from KP Oli, who to this day does not accept the SC's 2021 decisions, which I guess is called contempt of court!], The rise and fall of Rabi Lamichhane : Nepal’s Home Minister resigns after the Supreme Court rules he is not a Nepali citizen (nt), Maoist Centre, which leads government, is trying to form a sub-alliance : Dahal’s Maoist Centre, Yadav’s Janata Samajbadi, Nepal’s Unified Socialist and Bhattarai’s Nepal Samajbadi are trying to come together in any form, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Maoists discuss consensus President : Leaders for pursuing the strategy without harming relations with ruling partner UML, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [A non-party person from civil society would be better anyway. Why not a qualified woman from among the non-Khas Arya, e.g. Mohna Ansari?], Man arrested on charges of trafficking four Nepali women to Kuwait : They were allegedly sold for 900 dinar for two years and were made to work without pay for 20 hours daily (kp), Eternal wait : The Nirmala Kurmi case is yet another instance of the state’s indifference to the plight of its citizens (kp), USAID’s Samantha Power likely to visit Nepal on February 5 : There are also chances of US Secretary of State Blinken coming here following his India trip in early March, by Anil Giri (kp) [Part of the global power struggle between China and the USA on the back of Nepal?], Anti-Corruption Drive: Preventive Vs Punitive, by Narayan Manandhar (rep)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

26/01/2023: Decay of the party system : Political culture will suffer if parties adopt a nepotistic approach to politics, by Sambridh Ghimire (kp), Flames of resistance : Prem Acharya set himself ablaze as a protest against the dehumanisation of ordinary Nepalis (kp), ‘It’s a murder, not suicide’ : Self-immolation by a young man, who accused the state of failing him repeatedly, could be the tip of a much bigger social problem, experts say, by Anup Ojha (kp), Discontent brewing in ruling coalition : Parties accuse Oli and Dahal of taking decisions unilaterally. Nagarik Unmukti Party fields its own candidate for an upper house seat, going against the alliance, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [With the putschist of 2020/21 as the true ruler and string-puller in the background, democratic structures and procedures are once again degenerating!], Electing President is task cut out for Dahal and Oli : Even after the formation of federal and provincial governments, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and the UML chief KP Sharma Oli still harbour mistrust, say observers, by Purushottam Poudel (kp) [Democracy should look completely different!], Decide and rue: Political predicament of Nepali Congress : Nepali Congress has acquired the identity of the opposition party but many are still asking how a party that gives vote of confidence to the government still remains an opposition (nlt), Corruption fuelling Nepal’s aviation disaster; probe committees mere hoodwink, by Pramod Raj Sedhain (kh), CAAN’s gotta go : The worldwide coverage received by the Pokhara crash is not likely to do Nepal any good, by Deepak Thapa (kp), Victims of last November’s Doti earthquake spend cold winter months under flimsy tarp : Thirty-four people from eight families have been living under one tarpaulin tent in Uparkada, by Mohan Shahi (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

25/01/2023: Unheard plights of street vendors in Kathmandu : Despite their irrefutable contributions to the economy, street vendors are often overlooked and undervalued by policymakers, law enforcement agencies and the general public, by Anjila Shrestha (nlt), A painful case: Prem Prasad Acharya’s suicide exposes ills of private sector business, corrupt political system and indifferent state : In his heart-wrenching Facebook status posted before self-immolation, Prem Acharya has stated how the deep rooted cronyism, nexus between businesses and politicians and corruption in the system led him to end his life (nlt), Parties outside ruling coalition are conspiring to topple govt: KP Oli (kh) [The attempt by opposition forces to topple the government is a normal process in a democracy and not a conspiracy, Mr Oli! You yourself have just toppled a government, abusing many votes that voted for the CPN (MC) only because of its election promise to continue the coalition government! This was indeed a conspiracy!], Will Congress get the presidency? Like the NC, the Maoist party too is concerned about giving all vital positions to the UML. Dahal is wary that UML leader KP Sharma Oli could become all-powerful and sideline him, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), US Under Secretary Nuland arriving in Nepal next week : A slew of other top-ranking US officials also express their interest in coming to Kathmandu over the next one year, by Anil Giri (kp) [Reflection of the unchanged global power struggle between China and the USA on the back of Nepal!], Wishy-washy parliamentary committees : Many crucial bills died because the House of Representatives dawdled until the expiry of its term, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), Unimpressive economy : Nepal’s economic policy reform is unsustainable and unsuitable for private investment, by Kamal Raj Dhungel (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

24/01/2023: If children with disabilities aren’t educated, they won’t be able to participate in society : ‘When we work in inclusive education we have to target the government, the children, the teachers and also the communities’, interview with Pauline Nadim Ducos, Regional Director, Humanity & Inclusion (nlt), Many see new ministers’ public instructions to bureaucrats on service delivery as publicity stunt : Ministers should instead get to the root of the problems in the bureaucracy and resolve them, say former bureaucrats, by Purushottam Poudel (kp) [Traditionally, Nepal's politicians in positions of responsibility believe that it is enough to delegate the search for problem solutions!], Choice before the Congress : The time has come for the Nepali Congress to think beyond Sher Bahadur Deuba and his coterie (kp), Corruption as usual : The Yeti Airlines crash has again brought Nepal into the global limelight for the wrong reasons, by Sujeev Shakya (kp), NC On The Horns Of A Dilemma, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), Tackle Textbook Shortage Effectively, by Uttam Maharjan (rn), China resumes outbound group tours excluding Nepal from the list of ‘relevant countries' : The disappearance of Nepal from the list, according to Nepali travel trade entrepreneurs, could affect the government’s target of welcoming 1 million tourists in 2023 (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

23/01/2023: Is Congress the main opposition? It’s Speaker’s call : Different political parties, two with just a seat each, have claimed the main opposition status in the House, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [The Speaker may decide which party is the main opposition party, but whether a party can be called the opposition at all is decided by the party itself through its approval or disapproval of the government!], In search of the main opposition, by Devendra Gautam (ae), Parliament Secretariat grants NC main opposition party status (kh), Despite supporting the government, Nepali Congress gets status of main opposition (nlt) [This is a laughing stock!], ‘Even new parties seem less inclined to embrace people’s agenda’ : CK Raut, the head of the Janamat Party, on different facets of national politics, interview with CK Raut (kp), PM Dahal vows to reduce number of ministries in provinces (kh) [This is urgently needed, but once again a centrally controlled measure in a supposedly federal state!], Pension office short of Rs20 billion as liabilities soar amid drop in revenues : With government allocating less than the required budget, the office seeks extra Rs17 billion from finance ministry, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Shaky coalition and the economy : Inadequate investment in education has led to a huge outflow of students and foreign currency, by Roshee Lamichhane (kp), Street drama performed to demand justice for Nirmala Kurmi (Photo feature), by Prasan Gurung (rep), Rights activists staging street drama demanding justice for Nirmala Kurmi arrested, by Upendra Lamichhane (rep), Activists demanding justice for Nirmala Kurmi in police net : Days after Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane promised investigation, police arrest Ruby Khan and her friends demanding justice for the disappeared Banke woman (nepalminute), US power gambit in South Asia to offset China’s influence, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

22/01/2023: Gupsipakha residents move out due to water shortage : Water supply at the integrated settlement built for earthquake survivors has been disrupted since mid-December due to extreme cold weather conditions, by Hariram Upreti (kp), Diplomatic code of conduct is often flouted in Nepal. What can be done? In Nepal, foreign diplomats often get unrestricted access to political leaders and senior policy-makers and exercise freedom to advise and criticize the Nepal government, something their Nepali counterparts cannot even imagine, by Bhagirath Basnet (nlt)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

21/01/2023: The agony of a stateless citizen : Being without a citizenship at 21 has cost me my ambitions that I had dreamed of since I was 16, by Vivek Baranwal (kp), Ruling coalition fails to ensure inclusiveness in Cabinet : Political parties won’t ensure inclusion, unless it’s made mandatory by amending the constitution, says expert, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [This reflects the basic non-inclusiveness of all political parties! Nepal is still not a democracy, but an oligarchy dominated and controlled by male Khas Arya.], Jhapa leaders dominant in Parliament (ht), The Message from New Zealand (rep) [!!!!! The first problem might already be that these incompetent, power-hungry politicians cannot even read. Maybe someone can read this meaningful editorial to them! It explains how responsible politicians like Jacinda Ardern behave.], Rationality Of Democratic Opposition, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Nepal’s aviation regulatory body in disarray; need for action : CAAN needs to be transformed into an effective regulatory body and service provider, by Pramod Raj Sedhain (kh), Janamat party will decide on ruling coalition support by Sunday: Minister Khan (kh), RSP and RPP chip away at Madhesh parties’ bargaining power : Parties like Janata Samajbadi and Loktantrik Samajbadi find themselves ignored in power-sharing negotiations, by Nishan Khatiwat (kp) [No matter which party, it is always primarily about the personal power positions of their leaders, never about the country and its people!], Indira Rana Magar elected as Deputy Speaker of HoR (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

20/01/2023: Parliament sans opposition: It happen only in Nepal, by Pushpa Raj Joshi (ht), Efforts on to forge national consensus on presidential candidate: PM (kh) [Yes, let's completely abolish the last basic institutions of democracy, like the opposition. Then the ploys of the failed old top politicians like Oli, Dahal and Deuba can continue smoothly!], Nepal’s illiberal democracy : A government with unconditional backing perpetuates its kleptocracy and kakistocracy, by Rabin Giri (nt), Congress on ‘Mission President’ after its futile Speaker bid : The largest party is trying to take advantage of the discontent in the ruling coalition and perceived mistrust between Prime Minister Dahal and CPN-UML chair Oli, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Constitution experts rule out another term for President Bidya Bhandari : Some UML leaders are insisting that the sitting President should be re-appointed to the post. The election for the next President is likely to take place by mid-February, by Purushottam Poudel (kp) [Her blind support of Oli's unconstitutional ploys in 2020 and especially 2021 alone argue against Bhandari's candidacy again!], Parties seek ‘neutral candidate’ for President as HoR elects UML’s Ghimire as Speaker (rep), RSP’s Magar registers nomination for HoR Deputy Speaker (kh), NC fields Mukta Yadav as Deputy Speaker of HoR (kh), Speaker announces his dissociation with party (kh) [In the previous legislature, not even the president managed to do so!], Delayed bill: Crash victims’ kin miss out on millions : As per the proposed law, domestic airlines must pay a minimum of $100,000 for injury or death of a passenger, by Sangam Prasain and Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) [Obviously, since then, Messrs. Oli, Dahal and Deuba have been more concerned with their political intrigues than with the ratification of this bill!], Provinces failed to live up to federal dream : Provincial governments spent 5 years accusing Kathmandu of rendering them ineffective, by Santosh Singh et al. (kp) [Responsible is once again the unwillingness of the national party leaders to implement federalism!], Step at a time : Politicians and ministers should take practical steps to wean the state off remittance (kp), Building gender-responsive policies : Policies fail to address gender inequalities if they are developed with a ‘gender-neutral’ mindset, by Labisha Uprety (kp), Economic recovery : The govt must bring policy-level changes to attract investments in the agriculture sector (ht), Conflicting interests : Nepal’s new Council of Ministers includes 16 new faces, some with conflicts of interest, by Shristi Karki (nt)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

19/01/2023: Such a long wait for justice : The new Parliament must take concrete steps to conclude the transitional justice process, by Suman Adhikari (kp) [One should not expect anything. The parliamentarians are only forced into absolute obedience to their incompetent party leaders.], Right jobs, wrong people : Examples abound of individuals with conflicts of interest taking up ministerial positions (kp), NWPP demands status of main opposition (kh), Rastriya Swatantra Party goes against its own policy as it picks plum Cabinet posts : In its bargain for positions, the new party led by Rabi Lamichhane seems to have forgotten its own commitment to cutting costs of legislature and administration. Experts see the party no different in its quest for power, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Embrace Coalition Culture For Stability, by Shyam Prasad Mainali (rn), Dev Raj Ghimire elected House Speaker : Ghimire of CPN-UML got 167 votes in the 275-member lower house (nlt) [A nation under complete control of male Khas Arya!], UML’s Devraj Ghimire elected HoR Speaker (kh), What does Dahal want?, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

18/01/2023: Nepal politics: No Panacea In Sight, by Ganga Thapa (kh), Litmus Test For PM Prachanda, by Yuba Nath Lamsal (rn), UML opposes PM’s idea of sharing key posts with Congress : KP Sharma Oli leaves an all-party meeting midway after warning Congress not to plot against the ruling coalition, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [This state is the property of the coup leader of 2020/21, KP Oli. He destroys his opponents without mercy. His current puppet Dahal will also have his turn sooner or later!], Having multiple deputy prime ministers adds to the state’s liability : The trend of appointing many deputy prime ministers indicates Nepali politics’ degeneration into just a ‘number’s game’, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Deluge of deputies : Top leaders continue to prefer the symbolism of attractive posts to the substance of delivery (kp), Putting national interest first : Nepal should learn from its neighbours that it needs to pursue an independent foreign policy, by Nischal Dhungel and Abijit Sharma (kp), Unannounced power outage hits manufacturing sector : In Lumbini Province, all factories have started cutting production, by Madhav Dhungana (kp), Making Nepal Prosperous: 2H Priorities, by Atindra Dahal (rep), 26pc women in new Cabinet, by Bal Krishna Sah (ht) [All of them are Khas Arya. Only four of them are full-fledged ministers, i.e. 20 per cent. This is again a clear violation of the inclusion provision of the Constitution in several respects. Moreover, most of the male ministers are also Khas Arya!]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

17/01/2023: Baitadi local unit changes names of Dalit settlements to assuage caste discrimination : Residents say name change is a good step but attitudes towards Dalits have not changed, by Basanta Pratap Singh (kp), (Un)Common Minimum Program : Anyone taking a deeper dive into the new coalition government’s common minimum program will immediately find it to be hurriedly drawn, highly ambitious, populist and distributive in character, by Narayan Manandhar (rep), No government in waiting : The idea of Dahal and Oli as rotating prime ministers could still face constitutional hurdles, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Major coalition partners reach agreement on ministerial allocation : Unhappy with its share, Janata Samajbadi Party says it will not join the government immediately, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), PM Dahal expands cabinet; new ministers sworn in (kh), Team Prachanda: Know your ministers in the 23-member cabinet : According to the constitution, the members of the council of ministers cannot exceed 25. As such, the ruling coalition can appoint only two more members in the cabinet (nlt), RSP minister criticized for conflict of interest : Newly emerged political force Rastriya Swatrantra Party is heavily criticized on social media for sending a remittance company CEO to handle the Ministry for labor, employment and social security (nlt), Bimala Rai Paudyal: Third female foreign minister of Nepal : The newly appointed foreign minister has assured that Nepal will stick to the policy of non-alignment in its foreign policy conduct with neighbors and friendly countries (nlt), Nepal: What the Election of 2022 Denotes, by Binoj Basnyat (kh), Implement the Charter in letter and spirit for progress, prosperity, by Jivesh Jha (ae) [The Oli and Dahal manufactured government of 2018 had no interest in this, nor did those manufactured by Deuba, Dahal and others in 2021! Why should this change with the current government, manufactured by Dahal, Oli and others? Oh, I just see, Dahal has always been involved!]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

16/01/2023: Parties snub inclusion principle in top provincial posts : All chief ministers are male. Constitution is silent on what should be done if the authorities fail to ensure proportional representation, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [This is not a trivial offence, but a serious violation of the Constitution, the fundamental law of the land, and should be punished accordingly. In an increasingly conscious society, the social balance is in danger!], Uphold Spirit Of PR Election System, by Sangita Subedi (rep), Permanent instability : There is no principled understanding and long-term thinking to underpin political alliances (kp), UML optimistic on longevity of current ruling coalition : Maoist leader Pokharel says Congress’ support for government has changed the situation, by Purushottam Poudel (kp) [For citizens, there is little reason for optimism. KP Oli accepted a destruction of democracy in 2020/21 just to stay in power. His personal return to power is his only concern even now, whatever the cost! PK Dahal he needs only for the moment.], PM to expand cabinet on Tuesday (kh), RPP and RSP to get three ministries each along with DPM : UML gets 8 ministries, Maoist Center 4 and Janamat Party 1 ministry (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

15/01/2023: Yeti Air plane carrying 72 people crashes near Pokhara Airport (kh), Yeti Airlines aircraft crashes in Pokhara : A total of 68 passengers and four crew members were on board the aircraft (kp), Our metamorphosis to kakistocracy : To make matters worse, we now have a newly formed Parliament with no opposition, by Sucheta Pyakuryal (kp), Prime minister’s overture to Congress on key posts makes UML jittery : Cabinet expansion by Monday and all-party meeting on Tuesday, Dahal tells journalists, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), New PM's Overwhelming Mandate, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Kerung border reopening brings little joy to traders : Exports from Nepal are allowed to pass every fortnight while imports to Nepal are permitted to pass daily, officials say, by Krishana Prasain (kp) [This is obviously China's understanding of equal partnership and free trade!], HRW report paints dismal picture of rule of law (ht)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

14/01/2023: Space of exclusion: No women, no Dalits, no Janajatis in chief ministers of Nepal’s provinces : Experts say the tendency of the political parties to repeatedly undermine constitutional obligation to proportional inclusion could pose a threat to federalism itself, by Dhanu Bishwakarma (nlt), Coalition struggles to expand Cabinet with too many contenders : Mutual suspicions between Dahal and Oli may also have tied the hands of the PM who is juggling seven forces, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Madhesh as the flagbearer of federalism has some way to go to cement gains : Madheshi leaders have been most vocal about the need to strengthen provinces and, by extension, federalism, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Journalists who perished in the Maoist armed conflict in Nepal, by Nagendra Upadhyaya (rep) [The one who claimed responsibility for many of these crimes has just become PM for the third time!], Resolve transitional justice at the earliest (rep), Nepal In Cauldron Of Security Initiatives, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Oli architect of political chaos: Gautam (ht) [After his SC-prevented coup in 2021, Oli was considered an untouchable by all parties. Now he is once again pulling the strings of power, even though his party has slipped by more than 6 percent in the electorate!]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

13/01/2023: They still hope : All that the conflict victims are now looking for is a sense of respectful closure (kh) [Nepal continues with the rule of unlaw!], PM Dahal got 268 out of 270 votes in a confidence motion. What does this mean for him, for other parties? With all the parties drawing to him like moths to flame, PM Dahal has gained politically and personally but at the cost of many other things that actually matter (nlt), Nepal’s opposition-less Parliament : Near-unanimous support for PM Dahal creates a legislature without opposition in Nepal, by Shristi Karki (nt), CIAA ex-commissioner Raj Narayan Pathak gets over 3 years in jail for graft : Lambodar Neupane, former chair of Nepal Engineering College, gets three years jail. Both ordered to pay a Rs3.9 million fine each (kp), Street vending ban a kick in the belly of urban poor : Urban planners accuse municipal officials of not keeping the poor people in mind while formulating policies, by Anup Ojha (kp), US rights group says President Bhandari’s inaction deprived many Nepalis of citizenship : The Human Rights Watch expresses concerns over lack of progress in transitional justice process (kp) [The President's "inaction" was a deliberate breach of the Constitution and should be named as such!], Nepal’s growth trajectory : When population growth outstrips economic growth, the output per person falls, by Bijendra Man Shakya (kp), Sustainable health insurance for all : The new government should follow the constitutional directive of access to free basic health services, by Pushpa Raj Joshi (kp), Political Stability Key To Growth, by Yug Bhahadur (rn), Who is comfortable with new govt?: China, India, or both?, by Bishwo Gauchan (ht), Dahal’s immediate external challenges, by Kamal dev Bhattarai (ae), PM Dahal faces foreign policy challenges of Himalayan scale, by Gopal Khanal (ae), Nepali media need to integrate human rights in election reporting: Study (ae) [see report by Media Action Nepal], Now the economy, stupid : Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel must undo the mistakes of his predecessor, but his own past record is not stellar (nt), Kathmandu’s toxic trash : Open garbage burning is reducing the lifespan of Nepalis, by Sonia Awale (nt), Left, Right…Right Left…..No Right, No Left, by Keshab Poudel (sp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

12/01/2023: Nepal sees no progress in Transitional Justice: Report. “Nepal restricting free assembly, expression rights of Tibetans under Chinese pressure” (kh) [see Nepal: Events of 2022, HRW World Report 2023], 16 years since conflict ended, Nepal not serious in investigating wartime crimes, abuses : “Women and members of marginalized communities, including Dalits, are disproportionately the victims of rights violations, and also find it hardest to seek redress” (nlt), New government, new commitment on transitional justice : Successive administrations have listed transitional justice among their top priorities but the delivery is dismal, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [The one who declared to be responsible for the death of 5,000 people during the time of the uprising without drawing any consequences is PM again. What should we expect?], The liberal young : There is not one political party that remains unswayed by the shenanigans of power politics, by Deepak Thapa (kp), Chitra Bahadur KC and Prem Suwal: Only two faces of opposition in Nepal’s 274-member parliament : They were the only ones to raise some important issues in parliament on Tuesday while the rest of the MPs cast votes for the PM (nlt) [Voters have clearly expressed that they no longer want the ageing failed politicians, but they have taken control in ways never before experienced and are supported by parties and politicians who offered themselves as alternatives in the elections!], US envoy stresses Nepal’s geopolitical importance : Thompson vows to continue supporting Nepal’s democracy and sovereignty and says the US is working to find a lasting solution for refugees, by Anil Giri (kp) [So he admits to the interference!], Chief ministers appointed in all provinces : All provincial administrations take cues from ruling coalition’s power-sharing deal in Kathmandu (kp) [The national level continues to see Nepal as a centralised state. The provinces remain under its complete control!], Chief ministers appointed in all seven provinces as ruling parties finalize power-sharing deal (rep) [In a federal state, each province should make its own power sharing deal, depending on its own needs and circumstances!], What is he thinking? In his lust for power, Sher Bahadur Deuba seems determined to take down Nepali Congress with him (kp), The indelible permanent establishment, by Pranab Kharel (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

11/01/2023: Prithvi Jayanti being marked today : Government announces a public holiday (ht) [Nepal's indigenous groups and Dalits commemorate the brutal crackdown on their ancestors on this day. The socially non-inclusive state of Nepal and its orientation towards Hindu ideals can be traced back to Prithvi Narayan, as can his merit for Nepal's unification and independence, which continues to this day.], Marking Unity Day With Ardour, by Shreeram Upadhyaya (rn) [The problem is that reality differs in many ways from this glorifying image of history!] Prime Minister Dahal proves his majority—and how! Of the 270 lawmakers present, 268 voted in favour of Dahal, while two voted against the prime minister, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Main opposition concept comes into question : Congress leaders say the party has lost moral ground to claim opposition role after giving confidence vote to Dahal, by Anil Giri (kp), Plot thickens as Nepali Congress gives Dahal vote of confidence : Speculations rife of Deuba striking some kind of tacit agreement with prime minister, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), No opposition party in parliament!, by Kosh Raj Koirala (rep), UML loses ‘key’ of govt as PM Dahal wins vote of confidence with unprecedented votes, by Kosh Raj Koirala (rep) [The mastermind behind this government is and remains KP Oli, who trampled on the constitution and laws in 2021 to stay in power, which is why the SC removed him. The legality of this court order is denied by Oli in his intransigence to this day!], Oli's remark triggers heated debate in HoR (ht), Dahal's change of attire suggests 'ideological transformation' (ht) [Dahal and his Maoists now formally welcome back the Hindu state!], Government’s liabilities soar amid declining revenue : Successive governments have been burdening the economy with populist cash schemes, by Prithvi man Shrestha (kp), Strengthening federalism : Reforming the electoral system is a vital condition for the stability of federalism, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp) [However, legal changes are also needed that stop the constant interference of the national level in the executive and legislative affairs of the provinces!]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

10/01/2023: Nepal’s parliament becomes opposition-less : In the parliamentary system, the role of an opposition party is considered crucial to follow the principle of check and balance. But Nepal’s parliament, on Tuesday, approved the opposition-less government (nlt) [A victory from the point of view of the old, long-failed political guard, but a heavy defeat for democracy!], Unopposed PM: Maoist chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal wins vote of confidence from nearly all members of parliament : Addressing the house session before the confidence vote, PM Dahal dubbed the support as 'unprecedented' and justice done to him by political parties (nlt) [And what about justice for the victims of the Maoist insurgency?], First House meeting fails to sow seed of hope for stability, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Ruling parties commit to bring back India-controlled Nepali territories : It is likely to be the top priority of Prime Minister Dahal during his upcoming India visit, say sources, by Anil Giri (kp) [This is reminiscent of the numerous hardly fulfilable promises made by political parties in their election manifestos!], Four NC lawmakers against giving vote of confidence to PM Dahal (rep), Division in Congress adds interest to a foregone conclusion : Deuba camp wants to support Dahal during today’s vote of confidence, while the rival faction is against the idea, by Purushottam Poudel (kp) [A functioning democracy requires a strong opposition. A party that openly supports the government is not an opposition!], PM Dahal wins vote of confidence (ae), PM Dahal wins confidence vote : Prime Minister Dahal gets 268  votes in his favor with two votes against him (kh), Nepal's new PM secures vote of confidence in parliament (ht), Government of national consensus: Easily said but difficultly done, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht), Oli defends HoR dissolution as new session begins, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht) [This is a clear contempt of court! Oli continues to claim that he interprets the constitution correctly and not the SC!]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

09/01/2023: ‘We have failed to build pressure on transitional justice’ : Mandira Sharma, a senior international legal advisor at the International Commission of Jurists, on the state of transitional justice in Nepal, interview with Mandira Sharma (kp), Women activists stage protest demanding justice for Nirmala Kurmi in capital (ht), Recipe of Nepali politics: Betrayal, immorality and power bargain, by Pushpa R Joshi (ht), UML set to govern 3 provinces, Maoists 1; 3 CMs to be rotated : UML’s Hikmat Karki becomes chief minister of Province 1, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [The ageing, failed top politicians continue to see Nepal as a central state. A system in which the national level decides on provincial governments and coalitions is not federalism!], Sceptics discount Lamichhane’s cutbacks as gimmicks : Similar populist programmes have in the past proved to be ineffective and unsustainable, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Not your time : The public wants the defeated candidates to stay out of Parliament for the next five years (kp), Janmat, NUP sign 12-point pact, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), China’s Nepal plan: Firmer footing, weakened Delhi, by Pramod Jaiswal (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

08/01/2023: They lost elections but still want to get into Parliament somehow : Attempts of some influential leaders to become lawmakers post-election is an insult to voters, analysts say, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), The rise of Nagarik Unmukti Party : A look into how it became a formidable political force within a year of its establishment, the agenda it carries and its way forward, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Janamat and Unmukti Party sign 12-point agreement : Agreement includes unity between the two parties (kh), Nagarik Unmukti Party chooses opposition bench in parliament (kh), The gods of mediated things : The media is often derided for all the ills, with little appraisal of the forces behind it, by Dharma Adhikari (kp), Prachanda: An epitome of survival : During his electoral campaigns, Prachanda admitted that aligning with KP Sharma Oli was a tragedy, by Sambridh Ghimire (kp) [Like many of the ageing and failed politicians, Dahal never means what he says. Everything depends only on his personal advantage and interest. He has nothing to do with his pretended ideals of the People's War era!], Nepal’s outstanding debt in data : The total public debt in Nepal reached 2,007.84 billion rupees at the end of the first quarter of the fiscal year in October, 2022, by Sushil Hamal (nlt), Nepal’s external debts swell in rupee terms as dollar surges : The greenback had risen to Rs132.07 by the end of the first quarter from Rs128.11 at the start of the fiscal year (kp), EC calls for party registration for National Assembly by-election (rep), Election has  institutionalized democracy: CEC Thapaliya (rep) [Yes, thanks to the broken electoral alliance, a government has now been formed with the votes of traditional voters from other parties! This is voter fraud!], Prachanda’s Third Innings : Treading A Tightrope, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Pre-election announcement to topple unconstitutional alliance successful: Oli (kh 08/01/2023) [Electoral alliances are not necessarily unconstitutional, but the form of the one in 2022 was as undemocratic as that of the CPN (UML) and CPN (MC) in 2017. To now form a government with the coup plotter of 2021 contrary to the cooperation promised in the elections is a betrayal of the electorate and lacks any political morality! It reminds of Oli's unconstitutional actions in 2021!], Ruling parties finalize power sharing in Provinces (kh) [A system in which the national level decides on provincial governments and coalitions is not federalism!]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

07/01/2023: Nursing staff crunch leaves hospitals high and dry : Although the government makes big claims on building hospitals and expanding health services, it is ignoring the need to hire nurses that form the backbone of hospitals, by Rita Lamsal (nlt) [Despite this great shortage at home, the government has reached an agreement with the UK to send 10,000 nurses, even though nurses there are currently on the barricades because of poor pay and working conditions!], NHRC recommends investigation against 130, including Upendra Yadav in 2007 Gaur carnage (kh), Foreign power centers are trying to topple govt by not allowing vote of confidence: KP Oli (kh) [The USA, China and India are trying to influence Nepal, but Oli should finally be ashamed of his stupid talk. The allegation is not new from leftist circles, though no evidence has ever been presented. But China's influence in connection with the change of government is particularly evident. Is this what Oli is referring to?], Experts suggest executive take bureaucracy into confidence to improve services : Prime Minister Dahal this week upbraided bureaucrats for their tardiness in providing services to the public, and threatened action, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), PM Dahal's Difficulties (rep), Politics As A Domain Of Liberty, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

06/01/2023: Power sharing, inclusive politics in Nepal: Honour the constitutional principle, by Yagya Bahadur Karki (ht) [When will the arrogant high-caste macho males at the top of the state and political parties finally be punished for their constant disregard of the constitution and laws? A permanent ban from political office should be the minimum punishment! This is not a trivial offence, but malicious intent!], Improved but unstable : While there has been an increase in news media outlets, there has also been a surge in fake news, by Bhanu Bhakta Acharya (kp), Govt and CIAA : The govt must take policy decisions only in the public interest confined to the existing laws (ht), No small wonder : Even the emergent forces in Nepali politics seem ever-ready to sacrifice their cherished beliefs and public trust (kp), Parties are taking back rebels who won polls : With their return, the party gets one more seat in parliament, giving them a leg up in parliamentary politics, observers say, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Deuba intensifies talks with parties as PM Dahal prepares for trust vote in parliament (rep) [It's all about personal power. Deuba would do better to resign from all offices and leave this task to a younger generation. This would be more credible.]. Apex Court refuses to issue interim order in Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane’s case : The Supreme Court has said that the full hearing for the case has been scheduled for January 25 (nlt), Nepal’s political economy : The new government's biggest challenge is to save Nepal's economy (and itself) from collapse (nt), Baburam Bhattarai’s 4-point formula  : National consensus needed on geopolitics, federalism, inclusion and infrastructure-led growth, by Namrata Sharma (nt 06/01/2023)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

05/01/2023: Why can't CIAA probe Cabinet decisions, asks apex court, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), Rehabilitating squatter settlements : Begin with affordable housing solutions, by Anuska Singh (ht), Tension brewing in Congress with rival factions ready to spar : Neither the Deuba camp nor opponents appear in a mood for compromise before crucial central committee meeting, by Anil Giri (kp) [It would not be the first time that Deuba has contributed to a split in the NC for reasons of claiming power!], Will a slew of executive instructions fix bureaucracy?, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae) [It is always the same: The government appoints administrators who are loyal to it but often incompetent. Otherwise, their actions are exhausted by orders. Personal responsibility does not exist!], Development projects suffer from funds crunch as government revenue takes hit : Prime minister questions poor revenue collection, dismal development spending in 30-point directive to secretaries, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Fixing Nepal’s low and slow development spending (rep), Prime minister struggling to strike a power-sharing deal in coalition : Due to the delay in Cabinet expansion, four ministers are left without portfolios, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Short of justices, Supreme Court’s work further slows : High courts have a 59.33 percent case clearance rate, district courts come second at 54.56 percent, while the apex court is last at 17 percent, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Talk is cheap : Government should lead by example on good governance : The new government can also take a leaf out of the book from some good practices the governments in the past had tried to institutionalize, by Ashim Neupane (nlt), RPP demands 4 ministries including Deputy PM : RPP likely to settle on three ministries: Source (kh), Govt to finalize Common Minimum Program by Friday (kh) [In a democratic state, coalition partners only form a government after adopting a common government programme! In Nepal it is primarily, if not exclusively, about power and positions!]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

04/01/2023: Harsh laws, stiff penalties : Multiple loopholes need to be closed to prevent trafficking of Nepali women and girls (kp), Mass Communications Academy concerns threat against journalist Mahato (kh), Why the new government should revitalize Hello Sarkar : Revitalization of Hello Sarkar can be the first step of the new government to receive and address people's grievances and complaints and establish some semblance of accountability (nlt), Prime minister Dahal warns top bureaucrats to either shape up or ship out : Dahal wants immediate improvements in the government’s service delivery mechanism (kp), Three Nepali women escape their coercive Chinese employers in Laos. They still feel unsafe back home : The women were previously taken to Laos to work at a call centre. More than two dozen Nepalis are still languishing at the centre, police say, by Anup Ojha (kp), The season of liberal exuberance : Dahal knows that Kathmandu’s libertarians love the announcement of game-changer proposals, by CK Lal (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

03/01/2023: Nepal needs critical reforms to achieve economic prosperity : Nepal has a long road ahead in terms of economic development. Continuation of current practices might just hinder the growth prospects, by Ayushma Maharjan (nlt), Nepal reports 45 cases of press freedom violations in 2022 : In the last one year, a total of 45 incidents of press freedom violations occurred in Nepal, where 120 journalists were directly affected, according to a report (nlt), Nepal’s PM warns of action in case of unnecessary delay in service delivery. Then Passport Department announces system failure. Is this only a coincidence? : Nepal’s democratization processes have failed to foster effective civil service reform. Largely characterized as a conformist force, bureaucracy is politically divided and less accountable to people (nlt), Ruling alliance still struggling to get reliable candidate for the new president : Several names are being floated for the Presidency. Top guns of ruling parties, however, seem undecided. National and international interests have played a role, observers say (nlt), Bureaucracy snubbed the Prime Minister’s directive? In less than a week, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal twice directed the bureaucracy not to implement MDMS. But has the bureaucracy complied with the PM’s directive? (nlt), Let returnees bring two mobile phones from abroad: PM Dahal (kh), PM Dahal removes facebook status on directives given to finance ministry to take action against TIA customs officials (rep), Independent MP Kiran Shah joins UML (kh), Dahal promoting daughters at the expense of party leaders : Dissatisfaction is growing in the CPN (Maoist Centre) due to the party chief’s manifest bias towards his family members. He has always handpicked party officials, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [Nepotism is a special form of corruption that can be found in all parties!], Top priority to economy : The revenue base is so weak that the revenues are not enough to cover recurrent expenditure, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Nepal-China: Border is open, not the trade (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

02/01/2023: Identity politics going through a churn : The November elections were not in favour of the parties that have long relied on it, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Nepal risks being ‘greylisted’ for abetting money laundering : An Asia-Pacific regional watchdog recently visited Nepal for two weeks to assess the country’s response to money laundering and terror financing, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Deuba can salvage the image : History will remember him for how he fumbled the ball in the past couple of weeks, by Paban Raj Pandey (kp), Prime Minister Dahal to take vote of confidence on January 10 (kh), EC suggests holding National Assembly by-election on February 8 (rn), Fractured Popular Mandate and Political Stability, by Rajaram Bartaula (rep), Dahal may be the prime minister, but it’s Oli who runs the show, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae) [Oli was already responsible for the failure of the 2017 legislature because of his authoritarian and finally unconstitutional ambitions for power.],  CPN-UML claims popularity in election race : Popularity of Nepali Congress has declined by more than seven percent and the popular votes of Maoist Centre have decreased by 2.5 percent, says UML’s election report (nlt) [As is so often the case, this is not true. Only the PR votes say something about the popularity of a party. Here the result is: NC -6.97%, UML -6.31%, MC -2.53%. So they are all losers!]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

01/01/2023: Unified Socialist leaders divided over whether to join Dahal-led government : Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is said to be discussing with Madhav Kumar Nepal to take the party on board, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), 53 cases of press freedom violation (ht)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV : morning (English), evening (Nepali); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

Timetable