Hometown in News

And for once, my hometown Hetauda has been in the news in the political context of Nepal. As reported by Kantipuronline, the royal couple wanted to visit Hetauda for a month a la Panchayat era when the royals spent a month every year in the five developmenal region. The prime minister stopped their plan. Why would the king want to visit Hetauda? Probably for the same reason the PM declined, that it is the home of the notorious home minister Kamal Thapa, which possibly meant that the royals wanted to start some foundational moves in Hetauda. But the chances of success for such nefarious design is slim. Hetauda is also the home of mavaricks like Rup Chandra Bista with a strong Maoist presence, Kamal Thapa is a hated politician.


Royal visit called off to avoid possible danger: PM Koirala
Kantipur Report

KATHMANDU, Dec 25 - Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said Monday that he cancelled King Gyanendra’s planned visit to Hetauda to avoid “a possible dangerous situation.”
Accompanied by Queen Komal, the king had planned to head for Hetauda in Makwanpur district on Sunday.
The royal couple was supposed to stay for a month at the Kantishwari palace in Hetauda town.
“The king had planned to leave for Hetauda. He (the king) had consulted with me on this regard and I thought it would be too risky, as Hetauda is the place of Kamal Thapa, so I advised him not to go,” said PM Koirala.
Hetauda is the hometown of former royal minister Kamal Thapa, who had been criticized for his “notorious” role in suppressing the April uprising, which claimed the lives of 21 and injured thousands of others.
The High-Level Probe Commission formed to investigate the state crackdown on the pro-democracy protesters has already recommended the present coalition government to take action against the king, his ministerial colleagues including then home minister Thapa, for their role in the brutal crackdown.
The palace in Hetauda had been given a facelift to receive the royal couple.
With already 50 officials in the city, supporters of the monarchy had intensified their activities at the Hetauda palace.
Students affiliated to the seven-party alliance had staged demonstrations protesting the royal visit and royalist activities in the area.

Noting the Interim Constitution-a moderate victory

This is a notable achievement for Nepalese people if this can be kept on pace. Even as we try to embark on a the path to a democratic republic state, the challenges are by no means far from the surface. If the "incompetent" leaders continue on the same path as in the 12 years of democracy and the people fail to hold them accountable, nothing good will come out of this new dawn...

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INTERIM CONSTITUTION- 2063
Kantipur Report

KATHMANDU, Dec 16 - The seven-party alliance and the CPN-Maoist leaders on Saturday morning finalized the Interim Constitution following 17 hours of intensive discussion at the prime minister's residence at Baluwatar.
The main characteristics of Interim Constitution of Nepal-2063 are as follows:
*Drafted on the collective initiatives of eight political parties as per the spirit of democratic people's movement.
* The sovereignty and ruling power rest on people.
* Religious secularism
* Nepal is defined as an independent, indivisible, sovereign, inclusive and complete democratic state
* National animal cow as it is
* Women's rights and clauses of untouchability and caste discrimination mentioned in fundamental rights,
* Subjects including environment, health, education and culture , employment and social security, children, torture, labour mentioned in fundamental rights,
* Formation of unicameral legislation including 330 members
* Prime Minister to call and conclude parliament convention, and to present annual programmes and policy of the government,
* Executive power to Council of Ministers,
* Constituent Assembly comprising of 425 members including 409 from election based on mixed electoral system and 16 from nomination,
* The tenure of Constituent Assembly would be two years from its first meeting,
* A Constituent Assembly Court would look into the complaints lodged regarding the election of constituent assembly,
* National Human Rights Commission to be set up as constitutional body,
* Formation of interim local body at district, municipality and village level would be revived on the understanding of eight political parties
* At least 10, 000 voters' signature needed to form a new party for election,
* Council of Minister to appoint Chief of Army Staff,
* Formation of Security Council headed by Prime Minister including Defense Ministry, Home Ministry and other ministries as indicated by Prime Minister,
* The Special Committee of Council of Ministers would be responsible for supervision, accommodation and rehabilitation of Maoists Army,
* The Amendment of the Constitution would be made only by two third of the majority of parliamentarians,
* The Constitutional Council headed by Prime Minister that includes Chief justice, Speaker and three Ministers assigned by Prime Minister,
* The Council of Ministers resumed power to look into the punishment sentenced by any court, special court and military court,
* The Council of Minister to appoint Ambassadors and other Special Representatives,
* Prime Minister is to conferee upon title, honour, decoration on behalf of the state,
* Provision of Referendum on any issue that hold national importance,
* The Council of Ministers resumes power to remove difficulties that should be approved by parliament or constituent assembly within a month,
* Prime Minister to use all executive powers of head of the state,
* Fate of the monarchy to be decided by the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly,
* The property of the Late King Birendra, Late Queen Aishwarya and their relatives would be put in the Trust under Nepal government and be utilized for the nation's betterment,
* The property that King Gyanendra received in the capacity of the head of the state to be nationalized,
* Fresh oath of office mandatory to justices of Supreme Court, Appellate Court, District Court as the commitment towards the Constitution and those who ignored would be terminated.
* The existing House of Representatives and National Assembly would automatically be dissolved with the promulgation of this constitution,
* The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal-2047 BS would be nullified after the promulgation of this constitution.

Democratic Nepal tolerates this kind of infraction?

I read this news today with great alarm. This does not sound consistent with the new democratic Nepal. The royals continue to exert undue privileges at the public's cost. I had read that their power has all been stripped? That is hard to believe when something as public and "in your face" display is taking place in the capital. It is time for people to rise against the politicians who tolerate and shelter this kind of privilege.


Royal carcade snarls traffic
Kantipur Report
KATHMANDU, Dec 14 - Traffic movement in the Ring Road area was largely paralyzed after security personnel blocked vehicles citing security concerns of the royal couple who were attending a wedding ceremony at Chhauni Wednesday evening.
Military police had arranged 'A' grade security escort for Queen Mother Ratna, King Gyanendra and Queen Komal to the wedding ceremony of the grand daughter of one Dharma Rajya Laxmi Devi Chand at Chhauni this evening. The escorting began from Narayanhiti Royal Palace at about 7:30 and continued through Lazimpat, Maharajgunj, Dhapasi, Swoyambhu and finally to Chhauni.
Vehicular traffic along the road section was brought to a complete halt much before the royal escorting started from the palace. Traffic police had barred large vehicles from entering the Kalanki-Maharajgunj area since afternoon. Ordinary public were inconvenienced as thousands of vehicles were left stranded for over an hour along the road.
Even as the reinstated parliament scrapped almost all the powers of the king, the ordinary public in Kathmandu is yet to get relief from the troubles caused due to every royal visit.
Posted on: 2006-12-13 21

What a woderful day it is!

The times are changing. 238 years of injustice is meeting the 21st century. It bodes well for Nepal that no one is above the law and no one can treat the territory and people of Nepal like their personal property. While this is a great leap for Nepal, there are other injustice in the world that are much larger in scope. The day of reconing would be at hand if Bush and his gang could be tried for crime against humanity.

King, crown prince made to pay tax
BY BISHNU BUDHATHOKI
KATHMANDU, Dec 8

Probably for the first time in the history of Nepal since the founding of the Shah dynasty 238 years ago the King and Crown Prince have been made to pay tax.
The Customs Office at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Wednesday charged Rs 53,739 as duty and tax on 50 pieces of torch light that came recently from the US in the name of King Gyanendra.
The office also charged Rs 77,193 in customs duty, demurrage charge, tax and fine earlier when royal palace officials reached TIA to acquire a 'Hunting Trophy' that came from Vienna, Austria, for Crown Prince Paras, an official said, preferring anonymity.
"We released the torch lights and the Hunting Trophy after slapping Rs 130,702 in customs duty and other charges," the official said.
The 19 kg parcel containing 50 pieces of black rechargeable torch light had arrived at the airport Customs Office from the US in the name of "the King of Nepal" through courier service recently. The Hunting Trophy had arrived on September 10.
Following restoration of democracy in the country in April, the reinstated House of Representatives had made a historic proclamation on May 18 declaring that all royal property as well as the income of the king and royal family members would be taxed.
The customs official said, "This is the first time in the history of the country that tax and other charges have been slapped on goods imported for the king and royal family members."
If there is continued support from political parties, civil society, civil administration and the government, no one will be able to evade taxes and customs duty in future, he added.
On Wednesday, officials from the palace reached the Customs Office and produced letters from the Department of Commerce (DoC) and invoices amounting to 2,245 Euros (Rs 214,105) for the Hunting Trophy and US$ 2,233 (Rs 159,972) for the torchlights.
The office charged Rs 77,193 tax on the Hunting Trophy including 15 percent customs duty, 2 percent insurance charge, 1.5 percent local tax, Rs 1,607 demurrage charge. On the total sum 13 percent VAT was charged before releasing the trophy, the source said.
When asked about the purpose of the letters from the DoC, the official said the Customs Office needs the letters in order to release goods that do not have Letter of Credit and self-declaration form. "We cannot release such goods without taking consent from the DoC," he added.
Meanwhile, the 56 kg Hunting Trophy packed in a wooden box, which arrived by Gulf Air cargo had remained unclaimed at the Customs Office for the last 88 days. According to the official, the trophy is a round, gold-plated item.
A few days after the trophy arrived, some officials from the palace had reached the Customs Office to collect the parcel. They said that they were sent by Sagar Prasad Timilsina, chief of the Private Secretariat at the Royal Palace. They, however, returned empty-handed after the Customs Office asked for an invoice to charge necessary customs duty.
According to the Financial Act, if the concerned person fails to collect goods from Customs Office within seven days of arrival, s/he can claim it within three months by clearing all customs duty and demurrage charge.
Crown Prince Paras and Crown Princess Himani had visited Vienna on March 19 and gifted a pair of rhinos to the Austrian government.

This PM is a joker

During the 12 years of multi-party democracy this guy had the opportunity to lead the country by rising above the family and party oriented politics and elevate himself to national interest. He is one of the main reasons for the poor state of Nepal. He has finally stood against the monarchy, not because of his conviction, but because he now sees that Nepali people are not going to take it any more. He definitely saw the poll result how there is not much support for monarchy. He is merely blowing with the wind. We do not need this kind of leader who continues to dupe people.

NC won't shoulder king, says PM Koirala
Kantipur Report
KATHMANDU, Dec 3 - Prime Minister and President of the Nepali Congress (NC) Girija Prasad Koirala said Sunday that the NC would not shoulder the king to protect the existence of the monarchy in the country.
PM Koirala made the remarks during a meeting with the members of his party's sister organizations at his residence at Baluwatar this morning.
"In a meeting today, PM Koirala asked all our party organizations to deliver a message to the people that the Nepali Congress doesn’t need to shoulder the king," said Binod Kayastha, president of the NC's youth wing -- Nepal Tarun Dal (NTD).
Kayastha added that his party workers would convey Koirala's message to all the districts during their "District Campaign" programme to be organized in the near future.
The prime minister also directed NTD to prepare for the imminent constitutional assembly elections.
Koirala directed all party cadres to initiate campaigns on the issues of interim legislature, interim government, peace and constitutional assembly in all 75 districts.
The PM during the meeting with his party workers opined that with the official end of the 11-year-long insurgency, the young generation needs to be involved in launching such campaigns across the country.
Koirala's statement came when his party has been facing allegations from other members of the ruling alliance that the NC attempted to give a ceremonial role to the king at a time when republican sentiment is rising among the Nepali people.
Earlier on Saturday, CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, hinting at the NC, said that the need of unity among republican forces was becoming more relevant as some forces had started becoming active to protect the king either in a constitutional or a ceremonial form.
In a landmark agreement reached on November 8, the seven-party alliance and the Maoists agreed to decide the future of monarchy through the first sitting of the constituent assembly.
Posted on: 2006-12-03 08:52:30 (Server Time)

A healthy sign for democracy

It seems that the Nepalese people are finally throwing away the mental shackles of monarchy and have started to believe in their own power. In the 21st century, there is no way to move forward than to empower each individual. Sure is a good sign that Nepal is coming out of mideaval mentality.

87 percent Nepalis favour democratic republic: Survey
Kantipur Reprot
KATHMANDU, Dec 2 - 87 percent of the people in Nepal favour a democratic republic system of governance, while 13 percent support monarchy, according to a privately carried out survey released today.
The Informal Sector Service Centre (Insec), a prominent human rights watchdog, in its recent survey conducted in 56 districts, published Saturday said that the survey was based on views collected from more than 17,000 people.
The report said 5 percent of the people favour a constitutional monarchy, while 8 percent said that the king should be given a ceremonial role.
Talking to Kantipur Television, Hrishikesh Pandey, head of the survey group, said that interactions were held at nearly 1022 places to collect the views.
"We found that 87 percent of the public voice support for a democratic republican setup, while 13 percent of the people said that a powerless king should be kept," said Pandey.
The non-governmental rights body also said that it would soon make public the survey conducted after April's pro-democracy movement.
Posted on: 2006-12-02 08:50:28 (Server Time)