Nepal's Constitutional Process

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Nepal's Constitutional Process NEPAL’S CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS Asia Report N°128 – 26 February 2007 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS................................................. i I. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 1 II. THE END OF THE 1990 CONSTITUTION ............................................................... 2 A. IN WITH A BANG ...................................................................................................................2 B. SECOND THOUGHTS ..............................................................................................................3 C. OUT WITH A WHIMPER..........................................................................................................3 III. THE INTERIM CONSTITUTION............................................................................... 5 A. THE INTERIM CONSTITUTION DRAFTING COMMITTEE ...........................................................5 1. Process .......................................................................................................................5 2. Public participation....................................................................................................6 3. Substance ...................................................................................................................6 4. Lessons ......................................................................................................................7 B. THE FINAL DOCUMENT .........................................................................................................7 1. How it was decided....................................................................................................7 2. Major features............................................................................................................8 3. Centralisation of power..............................................................................................9 IV. THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY........................................................................... 10 A. GOALS ................................................................................................................................10 B. ELECTIONS..........................................................................................................................11 C. PROCEDURES ......................................................................................................................12 D. THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY AS LEGISLATURE ................................................................13 E. DURATION ..........................................................................................................................14 V. THE POLITICAL PLAYERS..................................................................................... 15 A. THE MAINSTREAM PARTIES ................................................................................................15 1. Views on constitutional substance and procedures..................................................15 2. Democratic reform...................................................................................................16 B. THE MAOISTS .....................................................................................................................17 1. Views on constitutional substance and procedures..................................................18 2. Democratic reform...................................................................................................19 C. THE RELUCTANT, THE RESISTANT AND THE REBELLIOUS....................................................19 VI. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION........................................................................................ 23 A. EDUCATION, DISSEMINATION AND DISCUSSION ..................................................................23 B. INCLUSIVENESS...................................................................................................................24 C. FROM CONSULTATION TO PARTICIPATION...........................................................................25 D. INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE .............................................................................................26 VII. INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE............................................................................ 27 A. PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICALITIES .......................................................................................27 B. POLITICAL CONTEXT...........................................................................................................28 C. THE UN MISSION................................................................................................................28 D. AREAS OF ENGAGEMENT.....................................................................................................29 VIII. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................. 31 APPENDICES A. MAP OF NEPAL ...................................................................................................................33 B. UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 1740 (2007).......................................34 C. ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP .......................................................................36 D. CRISIS GROUP REPORTS AND BRIEFINGS ON ASIA...............................................................37 E. CRISIS GROUP BOARD OF TRUSTEES ...................................................................................39 Asia Report N°128 26 February 2007 NEPAL’S CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS With the formation of an interim legislature and international constituencies, primarily the major incorporating mainstream parties and Maoists, Nepal’s party leaderships and India. If their judgement is out peace process hinges on writing a constitution that of step with the national mood – as it often has been permanently ends the conflict, addresses the widespread in the past – it will produce new problems. grievances that fuelled it and guards against the eruption of new violence. Most political actors have The constitutional process has to build a complex accepted the Maoist demand for a constituent equilibrium among elites. It must provide political assembly (CA) tasked with framing a new dispensation, space for the Maoists while limiting their options to although royalists are worried over the future of the use violence or coercion against political opponents. monarchy, which has in effect been suspended. The The consolidation of a competitive multiparty system major challenge is to maintain leadership-level consensus naturally bolsters the mainstream political parties but in while building a broad-based and inclusive process the short term will heighten their differences with each that limits room for spoilers and ensures long-term other and may encourage a return to the less than popular legitimacy. Recent unrest in the Tarai plains edifying tactics of earlier parliamentary politics. illustrates the dangers of ignoring popular discontent. Managing the transition in the palace’s role may also Key political actors need to prepare more seriously present difficulties: political leaders have skillfully for the CA. Led by the newly established United stripped royal powers comprehensively but gradually, Nations mission in Nepal (UNMIN), the international with no single step sufficient to prompt a backlash. But community should pressure all sides to abide by their a decisive alteration of traditional power structures will stated commitments and global norms and provide still encounter resistance from conservative institutions technical assistance to the electoral process. – not just the palace but also elements of the army, judiciary and bureaucracy. The interim constitution promulgated on 15 January 2007 established a framework for constitutional change So far the process has concentrated on building elite and enshrined the guiding principles agreed in earlier consensus at the expense of intense political debate or negotiations. The new constitution’s drafting process has extensive public consultation. A handful of SPA and to address the twin objectives of peacebuilding and Maoist leaders have controlled closed-door negotiations; longer-term political reform. It offers an opportunity to limited parliamentary scrutiny has not even extended to cement the Maoists’ integration into mainstream recognising the concept of an opposition. The interim democratic politics, to determine the monarchy’s fate constitution has granted the prime minister and cabinet and to tackle long-standing ethnic, regional and caste sweeping authority, subject to minimal checks and fissures. But successful constitutional processes require balances; the compromised independence of institutions a delicate balance of elite accommodations and broad such as the judiciary has weakened the principle of public participation. If the joint mainstream party/Maoist separation of powers. The inclusion of provisions such leadership fails to balance these sometimes competing as the unrestricted authority to grant pardons suggests demands, or the process stalls, violent conflict may that interim arrangements may enable the political elite emerge once more. to sweep past misdeeds under the carpet. There is also a tension over timescales – a speedy Warnings of a “new dictatorship” are exaggerated but
Recommended publications
  • Mise En Page 1
    ASIA PACIFIC NEPAL FEDERAL COUNTRY BASIC SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS INCOME GROUP: LOW INCOME LOCAL CURRENCY: NEPALESE RUPEE (NPR) POPULATION AND GEOGRAPHY ECONOMIC DATA Area: 147 180 km 2 GDP: 79 billion (current PPP international dollars), 2 697 dollars per inhabitant (2017) Population: 29.305 million inhabitants (2017), an increase of 1.2% Real GDP growth: 7.5 % (2017 vs 2016) per year (2010-2015) Unemployment rate: 2.7 % (2017) Density: 199 inhabitants / km 2 Foreign direct investment, net inflows (FDI): 196 (BoP, current USD millions, 2017) Urban population: 19.3 % of national population Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF): 34% of GDP (2017) Urban population growth: 3.2 % (2017 vs 2016) HDI: 0.574 (medium), ranking 149 (2017) Capital city: Kathmandu (4.5 % of national population) Poverty rate: 15% (2010) MAIN FEATURES OF THE MULTI-LEVEL GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK Following the end in 2006 of a decade-long civil war, Nepal’s governance framework is currently in the transition from being a Monarchy to a multiparty democratic republic. With the promulgation of the new Constitution in 2015, Nepal moved from a unitary form of government to a federal one with a strong focus on decentralization based on “cooperative federalism”. The new federation has three tiers of government, namely federal, state and local, whereby powers shall be exercised pursuant to the Constitution and the state laws. The Constitution has assigned both exclusive and concurrent powers, to be jointly exercised by the federal and the state levels or jointly by all three tiers of government. The jurisdiction of the local governments is outlined under Schedule 8 of the Constitution, which establishes that local governments are responsible for development activities and for mobilizing the necessary resources to carry out such activities.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Publication
    No. 43 Working Papers Working Negotiating Between Unequal Neighbours: India‘s Role in Nepal‘s Recent Constitution-Making Process Prakash Bhattarai December 2018 1 Negotiating Between Unequal Neighbours: India’s Role in Nepal’s Recent Constitution-Making Process1 Prakash Bhattarai ABSTRACT Nepal’s post-conflict constitution-making process has seen the involvement of many international actors. While studies on democracy promotion, to this day, mainly focus on Western “donors” and international organizations, this paper looks at the role played by India in the complicated process of moving from a peace agreement to the establishment of an inclusive, democratic constitution in Nepal. More specifically, it is analysed how a powerful neighbouring democracy (India) participated in what is essentially a domestic negotiation process (constitution-making) with a view to influencing the emerging demo- cratic regime. In terms of the issues on the negotiation table, the analysis shows that India, in pushing for an inclusive constitution, pursued the specific agenda of supporting the inclusion of the Madheshis, an ethnic group mostly living in Nepal’s Terai region. In terms of negotiation strategies, the paper identifies four different ways in which India tried to influence the constitution: high-level dialogue; economic blockade; international coalition building; and targeted support of domestic oppositional forces in Nepal. Com- prehensive as this negotiation strategy was, it only met with partial success. Parameters that limited India’s influence included the domestic strength and legitimacy of the official Nepali position (elite alignment; popular support) as well as scepticism concerning In- dia’s role in Nepal, which was reinforced by India’s overly partisan agenda.
    [Show full text]
  • Nepal's Constitution (I): Evolution Not Revolution
    NEPAL’S CONSTITUTION (I): EVOLUTION NOT REVOLUTION Asia Report N°233 – 27 August 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................. i I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1 II. STEPPING OFF THE EDGE .......................................................................................... 3 A. FRUSTRATED IN FEDERALISM ...................................................................................................... 3 1. The sticking points ....................................................................................................................... 3 2. Bogeymen .................................................................................................................................... 5 3. Missing all the signs ..................................................................................................................... 6 4. The final weeks of the assembly .................................................................................................. 8 5. The mood outside Kathmandu ................................................................................................... 10 B. WHAT HAPPENED ON 27 MAY ................................................................................................... 12 1. Talks ........................................................................................................................................... 12
    [Show full text]
  • Federalism Is Debated in Nepal More As an ‘Ism’ Than a System
    The FEDERALISM Debate in Nepal Post Peace Agreement Constitution Making in Nepal Volume II Post Peace Agreement Constitution Making in Nepal Volume II The FEDERALISM Debate in Nepal Edited by Budhi Karki Rohan Edrisinha Published by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Support to Participatory Constitution Building in Nepal (SPCBN) 2014 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Support to Participatory Constitution Building in Nepal (SPCBN) UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. United Nations Development Programme UN House, Pulchowk, GPO Box: 107 Kathmandu, Nepal Phone: +977 1 5523200 Fax: +977 1 5523991, 5523986 ISBN : 978 9937 8942 1 0 © UNDP, Nepal 2014 Book Cover: The painting on the cover page art is taken from ‘A Federal Life’, a joint publication of UNDP/ SPCBN and Kathmandu University, School of Art. The publication was the culmination of an initiative in which 22 artists came together for a workshop on the concept of and debate on federalism in Nepal and then were invited to depict their perspective on the subject through art. The painting on the cover art titled ‘’Emblem” is created by Supriya Manandhar. DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in the book are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of UNDP/ SPCBN. PREFACE A new Constitution for a new Nepal drafted and adopted by an elected and inclusive Constituent Assembly (CA) is a key element of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) of November 2006 that ended a decade long Maoist insurgency.
    [Show full text]
  • An Application of Doctrine of Necessity: Previous Constituent Assembly of Nepal 117
    Jayshwal, An Application of Doctrine of Necessity: Previous Constituent Assembly of Nepal 117 AN APPLICATION OF DOCTRINE OF NECESSITY: PREVIOUS CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY OF NEPAL AND ITS TIME EXTENSION TO AVOID CONSTITUTIONAL UNCERTAINTY Vijay Pd. Jayshwal* Department of Constitutional Law, Kathmandu School of Law, Dadhikot 09 Purbanchal University-44811, Bhakatpur, New Thimi, Kathmandu, Nepal Abstract This paper aims to investigate issues in relation of constitutional doctrine which had potential debate among the jurists of Nepal for the issues of time extension. The paper will also argue some weaknesses in the constituent assembly and their role expected by the people of Nepal. This paper will discuss about the evolution of constitution in Nepal, its features, the principle of Constitutionalism embodied in Nepalese constitution. This paper will further argue about the legitimacy of Doctrine of Necessity and its application in Nepal. In last, this paper will show the possibility of constitutional uncertainty by newly elected constituent assembly. Keywords: constituent assembly, constitutional uncertainty, constitution. Intisari Penulisan ini dalam rangka mengkaji doktrin konstitusional yang tengah ramai diperdebatkan oleh para ahli hukum di Nepal, khususnya berkaitan dengan isu mengenai perpanjangan waktu. Me- lalui tulisan ini, terdapat temuan yang menunjukkan beberapa kelemahan yang ada dalam majelis konstituate Nepal di samping peran-perannya sebagaimana yang diharapkan oleh rakyat Nepal. Tulisan ini membahas pula mengenai evolusi konstitusi Nepal sebagaimana diwujudkan dalam prinsip-prinsip konstitusionalism yang dianut oleh Konstitusi Nepal. Lebih lanjut, berkaitan de- ngan legitimasi dari Doctrin of Necessity dan penerapannya di Nepal. Pada akhirnya, tulisan ini akan memberikan gambaran mengenai kemungkinan ketidakpastian secara konstitusional berkai- tan dengan kondisi majelis konstituante yang baru saja terpilih.
    [Show full text]
  • How Women Influence Constitution Making After Conflict and Unrest
    JANUARY 2018 RESEARCH REPORT AP Photo / Aimen Zine How Women Influence Constitution Making After Conflict and Unrest BY NANAKO TAMARU AND MARIE O’REILLY RESEARCH REPORT | JANUARY 2018 CONTENTS Executive Summary . 1 Introduction: The Global Context . 3 1 | How Do Women Get Access? . 9 2 | What Impact Do Women Have? . 19 3 | Case Study: Women InfluencingConstitution Reform in Tunisia . 30 4 | Challenges to Women’s Influence . 50 5 | Lessons for Action . 56 Annexes . 61 Acknowledgements . 66 PHOTO ON FRONT COVER | Members of the Tunisian National Constituent Assembly celebrate the adoption of the new constitution in Tunis, January 26, 2014 . How Women Influence Constitution Making t RESEARCH REPORT | JANUARY 2018 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Constitution reform is a frequent feature of peace Despite these hurdles, the cases show that women and transition processes: 75 countries undertook have exerted considerable influence on the decision- constitution reform in the wake of armed conflict, making process, the text of the constitution, and unrest, or negotiated transition from authoritarianism broader prospects for a successful transition to lasting to democracy between 1990 and 2015 . Often peace. Women repeatedly bridged divides in the complementing peace talks, constitutional negotiations negotiating process, contributing to peacebuilding and advance new political settlements, bringing diverse reconciliation in deeply divided societies, while also parties together to agree on how power will be advancing consensus on key issues. They broadened exercised in a country’s future. Increasingly, citizens societal participation and informed policymakers of and international actors alike advocate for participatory citizens’ diverse priorities for the constitution, helping constitution-making processes that include a broader to ensure greater traction for the emerging social cross-section of society—often to address the contract .
    [Show full text]
  • Chronology of Major Political Events in Contemporary Nepal
    Chronology of major political events in contemporary Nepal 1846–1951 1962 Nepal is ruled by hereditary prime ministers from the Rana clan Mahendra introduces the Partyless Panchayat System under with Shah kings as figureheads. Prime Minister Padma Shamsher a new constitution which places the monarch at the apex of power. promulgates the country’s first constitution, the Government of Nepal The CPN separates into pro-Moscow and pro-Beijing factions, Act, in 1948 but it is never implemented. beginning the pattern of splits and mergers that has continued to the present. 1951 1963 An armed movement led by the Nepali Congress (NC) party, founded in India, ends Rana rule and restores the primacy of the Shah The 1854 Muluki Ain (Law of the Land) is replaced by the new monarchy. King Tribhuvan announces the election to a constituent Muluki Ain. The old Muluki Ain had stratified the society into a rigid assembly and introduces the Interim Government of Nepal Act 1951. caste hierarchy and regulated all social interactions. The most notable feature was in punishment – the lower one’s position in the hierarchy 1951–59 the higher the punishment for the same crime. Governments form and fall as political parties tussle among 1972 themselves and with an increasingly assertive palace. Tribhuvan’s son, Mahendra, ascends to the throne in 1955 and begins Following Mahendra’s death, Birendra becomes king. consolidating power. 1974 1959 A faction of the CPN announces the formation The first parliamentary election is held under the new Constitution of CPN–Fourth Congress. of the Kingdom of Nepal, drafted by the palace.
    [Show full text]
  • Creating the New Constitution: a Guide for Nepali Citizens
    Creating the New Constitution: A Guide for Nepali Citizens Creating the New Constitution: A Guide for Nepali Citizens Editors Yash Ghai Jill Cottrell Contributors Bipin Adhikari Lok Raj Baral Surendra Bhandari Jill Cottrell Yash Ghai Krishna Hachhethu Krishna Khanal Dhruba Kumar Sapana Malla Kumar Regmi Geeta Pathak Sangroula Yubaraj Sangroula Pitamber Sharma Tek Tamrakar Mihir Thakur International IDEA publications are independent of specifi c national or political interests. Views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the views of Internatinoal IDEA, its Board or its Council members. @ International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance 2008 Applications for permission to reproduce or translate all or any part of this publication should be made to: International IDEA SE - 103 34 Stockholm Sweden International IDEA encourages dissemination of its work and will promptly respond to request for permission to reproduce or translate its publications. Cover Photo: Deependra Bajracharya Graphic Design: Subarna Humagai ISBN : 978-91-85724-51-2 Preface The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) is an intergovernmental organization that supports sustainable democratic change worldwide, including support to the constitution-making process. Since 2006, and on the basis of requests by national parties including political parties and more recently the Constituent Assembly, International IDEA has been providing support to the constitution-making process in Nepal. This support has focused mainly on the pro- visioning of resource materials and the convening of dialogues among national political actors on topics of key importance to the constitutional process. International IDEA will continue supporting the constitution-making process by open- ing avenues through which a broad cross-section of Nepali society can come together to discuss a host of constitutional issues.
    [Show full text]
  • The Abolition of Monarchy and Constitution Making in Nepal
    THE KING VERSUS THE PEOPLE(BHANDARI) Article THE KING VERSUS THE PEOPLE: THE ABOLITION OF MONARCHY AND CONSTITUTION MAKING IN NEPAL Surendra BHANDARI Abstract The abolition of the institution of monarchy on May 28, 2008 marks a turning point in the political and constitutional history of Nepal. This saga of constitutional development exemplifies the systemic conflict between people’s’ aspirations for democracy and kings’ ambitions for unlimited power. With the abolition of the monarchy, the process of making a new constitution for the Republic of Nepal has started under the auspices of the Constituent Assembly of Nepal. This paper primarily examines the reasons or causes behind the abolition of monarchy in Nepal. It analyzes the three main reasons for the abolition of monarchy. First, it argues that frequent slights and attacks to constitutionalism by the Nepalese kings had brought the institution of the monarchy to its end. The continuous failures of the early democratic government and the Supreme Court of Nepal in bringing the monarchy within the constitutional framework emphatically weakened the fledgling democracy, but these failures eventually became fatal to the monarchical institution itself. Second, it analyzes the indirect but crucial role of India in the abolition of monarchy. Third, it explains the ten-year-long Maoist insurgency and how the people’s movement culminated with its final blow to the monarchy. Furthermore, this paper also analyzes why the peace and constitution writing process has yet to take concrete shape or make significant process, despite the abolition of the monarchy. Finally, it concludes by recapitulating the main arguments of the paper.
    [Show full text]
  • IFES, Faqs, 'Elections in Nepal: 2020 National Assembly Elections'
    Elections in Nepal 2020 National Assembly Elections Frequently Asked Questions Asia-Pacific International Foundation for Electoral Systems 2011 Crystal Drive | Floor 10 | Arlington, VA 22202 | www.IFES.org January 22, 2020 Frequently Asked Questions When is Election Day? ................................................................................................................................... 1 What is the National Assembly and how is it constituted? .......................................................................... 1 Which electoral system will be used in these elections?.............................................................................. 1 What is the structure of the ballots? ............................................................................................................ 1 Who can vote in these elections? ................................................................................................................. 2 What is the process for counting and tabulation? ....................................................................................... 3 Who is eligible to contest these elections? .................................................................................................. 4 Are there reserved seats for women and minorities? .................................................................................. 4 When do elected representatives assume office? ....................................................................................... 4 What is the term of office for
    [Show full text]
  • Nationalism and Regional Relations in Democratic Transitions: Comparing Nepal and Bhutan
    Wright State University CORE Scholar Browse all Theses and Dissertations Theses and Dissertations 2018 Nationalism and Regional Relations in Democratic Transitions: Comparing Nepal and Bhutan Deki Peldon Wright State University Follow this and additional works at: https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/etd_all Part of the International Relations Commons Repository Citation Peldon, Deki, "Nationalism and Regional Relations in Democratic Transitions: Comparing Nepal and Bhutan" (2018). Browse all Theses and Dissertations. 1981. https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/etd_all/1981 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at CORE Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Browse all Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of CORE Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. NATIONALISM AND REGIONAL RELATIONS IN DEMOCRATIC TRANSITIONS: COMPARING NEPAL AND BHUTAN A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts By DEKI PELDON Bachelor of Arts, Asian University for Women, 2014 2018 Wright State University WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL [May 4, 2018] I HEREBY RECOMMEND THAT THE THESIS PREPARED UNDER MY SUPERVISION BY DEKI PELDON ENTITLED NATIONALISM AND REGIONAL RELATIONS IN DEMOCRATIC TRANSITIONS: COMPARING NEPAL AND BHUTAN BE ACCEPTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS. Laura M. Luehrmann, Ph.D. Thesis Director Laura M. Luehrmann, Ph.D. Director, Master of Arts Program in International and Comparative Politics Committee on Final Examination: Laura M. Luehrmann, Ph.D. School of Public and International Affairs Pramod Kantha, Ph.D. School of Public and International Affairs Judson Murray, Ph.D.
    [Show full text]
  • The Maoist Insurgency in Nepal: a Monograph
    THE MAOIST INSURGENCY IN NEPAL: A MONOGRAPH CAUSES, IMPACT AND AVENUES OF RESOLUTION Edited by Shambhu Ram Simkhada and Fabio Oliva Foreword by Daniel Warner Geneva, March 2006 Cover Pictures – clockwise from the top: 1) King Gyanendra of Nepal; 2) Madhav Kumar Nepal, leader of the CPN-UML Party; 3) A popular peace rally; 4) Girija Prasad Koirala, President of the Nepali Congress party; 5) The Maoist leadership; 6) The Maoist People’s Liberation Army (PLA); 7) A political rally of the Seven-party Alliance in Kathmandu; 8) Soldiers from Royal Nepal Army (RNA). This publication has been possible thanks to the financial support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Bern, and is part of a larger project on the “Causes of Internal Conflicts and Means to Resolve Them: Nepal a Case Study” mandated and sponsored by the SDC in May 2003. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not reflect the views of the PSIO. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means - electronic, mechanical, photo-copying, recording or otherwise - without the prior permission of the Institut universitaire de hautes études internationales (HEI) Copyright 2006, IUHEI, CH-Geneva 2 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS __________________________________________________________________________________ LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.................................................................................. 5 FOREWORD......................................................................................................
    [Show full text]