539 4 - 10 February 2011 16 Pages Rs 30
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#539 4 - 10 February 2011 16 pages Rs 30 Prime Minister-elect and UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal scored an improbable victory on Thursday MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA ML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal is now Uthe Prime Minister- elect, thanks to support from the Maoists in Thursdays election. He faces the multiple challenges of taking the MAN peace process forward while balancing the interests of the other parties, especially leaders within UML and the Maoists. OF THE MATCH 2 EDITORIAL 4 - 10 FEBRUARY 2011 #539 SLAP-HAPPY he media is better placed than most perceptive enough to recognise the public to predict what will happen next in anger against him and his ilk in the applause Tpolitics, but in Nepal this does not that slap generated? To go from red-faced to always apply. When politicians cannot be held abir-faced will not be enough to erase the accountable for what they say or do in private memory. He may be able to spin his ludicrous or public, anyone who claims to know what is position into one of necessity, but all we going on is on shaky ground indeed. can hear is this: I withdrew support for a With every turn of events in the ongoing majority government led by my own party, saga of the peace process, there has been and now I am ready to lead another majority cause for hope, cynicism or despair. The government. formal handover of PLA combatants to the The difference, of course, is that there will Special Committee a fortnight ago was one be many more hands reaching out to slap such milestone. Did the event represent a him once he settles down in Baluwatar. He major stride towards integration of the ex- will lead a government, thanks to the last- combatants, and thereby the conclusion of the minute shenanigans of MJF (Democratic)'s peace process? Or was it another red herring Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar. But this will be a let loose by Chairman Dahal to appease his government that the Maoists will assume they detractors on the domestic and international can control. His party and the nation may have fronts? been better off letting the Maoists lead from Once more, the potential significance of the the front. With leaders like Khanal, who needs event has been obfuscated by statements from followers? the Maoist leadership claiming they still hold Khanal won't have a honeymoon; the the chain of command over the PLA. More knives will be out before very long. Let's immediately, the possibility of building on the hope the famous slap sharpened his senses. symbolic handover is fizzling out in the all-too- He will be hard-pushed to keep his eyes on familiar tussle for power. the tough road ahead if he's busy watching Which brings us to Jhala Nath Khanal, our his back. But we wish him luck. He will likely prime minister-elect at the time of going need all the diplomatic skills he can muster to press. Did that resounding slap not bring just to stay afloat, but if he is to make a mark him to his senses? Even if he could dismiss before 28 May, he will need to rise above the his attacker as a gnat, surely he is politically treacherous waters of Nepali politics. RSS ON THE WEB www.nepalitimes.com PRIVATE ECONOMIES Damakant Jayshi, #538). Puppets are not the zIt is highly commendable that Jun What’s the lesson learnt? Our ‘leaders’ The political economy of Nepal is not doers, the string-pullers are. Chiyabari has taken the higher ground and lack empathy, and sadly, it’s only empathy going to change unless the political KK Sharma is empowering women and allowing gender that can bring the best out of people. parties stop using the government as a equality in the workplace, while expanding FunkyBuddha venue to give their cadres employment zDamakant’s analytical power at its best. in the international market. This topic is (‘The politics of the economy’, Prashant The suggestions put forward by him deserve much talked about in the global sphere, SLAP-HAPPY Jha, #538). Privatisation of public entities due attention. However, he is telling dogs to but not too many businesses are able to Ek mukka diye pugdaina dui mukka diye will take that power out of the politicians’ leave bones alone! Not done in New Nepal. handle it this way. Apart from this, having badi hunchha, ke garne? (‘The slap that hands and make them weak. And for NC as a party has been fractured, and tasted tea from this estate, I must say that shook Nepal’, Ashutosh Tiwari, #538) that reason, there is no political will to discredited mainly due to its most corrupt as a staunch tea drinker, the quality is (One blow isn’t enough, two blows are too privatise public companies. leaders. Apart from the Maoists, there needs second to none. I wish Thailand had some much, what to do?) However, for Nepal to become a to be an alternative force (read: party). Only available! Gole vibrant economy, the government should time will tell. Dr Nalinee Taveesin, Thailand get out of consumer business and focus Ram B. Chhetri SERVE THE POOR on implementing fair rules. A nation I totally agree with Dr Karki (‘Missionary cannot be run by government entities, WHOLESOME CUPPAS LOOK WEST zeal’, Michael Cox, #538) - it is not only and that’s why the Maoist model will not Delighted to see that equal opportunities Excellent piece! (‘A default state’, Bibhav academic/intellectual abilities that should work. While they decry the feudalists and for women are being observed on this Acharya, #538) I will add two personal be considered when medical students the private sector, their social program tea estate (‘Everyone’s cup of tea’, Jana observations: are selected - are they really keen on is based on hand-feeding their cadres First, it’s not like the ‘far’ healing and helping fellow human beings? with plum sectors like media, banking, western districts never had Are they able to empathise? Do they have etc. There is no sustainable economic representation in Kathmandu. the capacity to feel for those who are model there. No incentive for cadres to In fact, a lot of such politicians suffering? create jobs and sustain the economy. have even managed to hold Or are they pressurised into it by Why should they, when their mother party ministerial positions in the their family or society? Best wishes to is showering them with gans, bans and cabinets since 1990. Deuba Dr Karki on his mission. kapas? It’s just the collection of funds even went on to become prime R Rai from one group to give it to another minister. We now have Bhim group. Nothing is created, nothing is Rawal in a prominent portfolio. traded. Why did not a single one of S Onta them take a few steps to make life easier for these fellow Weekly Internet Poll # 539 zIf the Government of Nepal is Nepalis? Q. Will we have a prime minister by February 5? privatised it will be far better, the Second, the ‘Maoists’ Total votes: 1,817 new constitution should say ‘may used and abused the ‘far’ west be privatised’. We will pay equity to during their guerilla war. One everyone. There will be no strikes, no Asenbrennerova, #538). I’m sure that for would think that having seen the diffi cult difference of opinion, etc. companies like Jun Chiyabari the benefi ts of topography and struggled fi rst hand Chatur this kind of forward thinking will have had both through the harsh conditions, they would immediate and long-term positive ramifi cations be more susceptible to the cries for help NATURALLY NC for the day-to-day running of the business, from the destitute population in these Attributing actions or inactions to NC is and contributes to the social credibility of their areas. Not a single policy was put forward like attributing actions or inactions to a international image as well. to help them when the ‘Maoists’ came to Weekly Internet Poll # 540. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com puppet (‘What is the NC waiting for?, Karen Haines, NZ power. Q. Should anyone be allowed to bury their dead in Pashupati area? Publisher: Kunda Dixit | Editor: Rabi Thapa Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd | Chief Operating Offi cer: Sunim Tamang | Hattiban, Godavari Road, Lalitpur | GPO Box 7251 Kathmandu [email protected] | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5250333/845 Fax: +977-1-5251013 Design: Kiran Maharjan | Marketing: Arjun Karki, Surendra Sharma [email protected] | Advertorial/features: Ram Krishna Banjara | Subscription: Santosh Aryal [email protected] Printed at Jagadamba Press | 01-5250017-19 | www.jagadambapr.com OP-ED 3 4 - 10 FEBRUARY 2011 #539 had a position that was at once clear, yet left room for interpretation. He Presidential poise emphasised that Nepali institutions were functional; there was no constitutional Even though it was a the Indian perception, either combatants. While expressing crisis; and the impasse was a PLAIN SPEAKING public event, the presidents wish to reverse the 2006 optimism about recent result of political differences. Prashant Jha message set the tenor for the republican transformation developments in the peace Nepals interim constitution rest of his visit and was a or go beyond it. The warm process such as the handover would remain in force as fair indication of the kind of reception was also intended of the PLA to the special long as there was no new conversations he had. During to reaffirm their respect for committee, the president constitution, and in his NEW DELHI.