#679 1 - 7 November 2013 20 pages Rs 50 BIKRAM RAI DIVIDED WE DON’T RULE NOT IF, BUT HOW EDITORIAL PAGE 2 Love It was inevitable that this month’s election was going to BOYS WILL BE BOYS Bhim be a referendum on federalism. After sifting through the by TRISHNA RANA PAGE 3 Love it or hate it, manifestos of the main parties in the fray, it is clear that but you can’t ignore the only issue that really divides them now is the question Sunday morning of how many federal provinces Nepal should be carved (DIS) QUIET IN NEPALGANJ love you as it goes into and on what basis. Ironically, this election is going to by MALLIKA ARYAL PAGE 15 viral and you can’t be less inclusive than the previous one. The NC and UML stop yourself from are fi elding fewer women in direct polls and the UCPN (M) VOTE humming the tune. has even cut its women candidates by half. Reports from 19 NOVEMBER CAMPAIGNING AT HARVEST TIME central and western Nepal in this issue show apathy and 2013 disillusionment about polls on 19 November. by SUBHAS DEVKOTA PAGE 19 PAGE 13 2 EDITORIAL 1 - 7 NOVEMBER 2013 #679 DIVIDED WE DON’T RULE t was inevitable that this month’s election was going to The Nepali people have has stuck to its slogan of One Madhes. be a referendum on federalism. After sifting On the other hand, the Nepali Congress, UML, TMLP, through the manifestos of the main parties always shown that they are and other smaller parties feel having more than seven inI the fray, it is clear that the only issue that wiser and have more common provinces would be unviable and say those provinces really divides them now is the question of should not be named after single ethnicities. The how many federal provinces Nepal should sense than those who want RPP-N and RPP-D agree and also want provinces to be be carved into and on what basis. to rule over them demarcated, taking into account economic viability, There is also disagreement about state infrastructure development including hydropower, structure: whether we should have a prime history, and geography. They want the provinces to have minister elected by parliament, or a geographical names. At the fringe of this formation is president directly elected by the people. the Jana Morcha of Chitra Bahadur KC who is garnering But public opinion polls show the considerable support for being vocally against people are fed up with the uncertainty federalism itself. of a parliamentary system and favour From all this, it is clear that the result directly elected leaders who would be of this election will be keenly watched more accountable to them. to gauge public support for ethnicity- One could argue that the real divide based federalism. There are serious is between those who want polls and the misgivings among Nepal’s neighbours 30 or so parties led by the CPN-M who as well as donor groups that previously don’t. But it now looks pretty certain that supported autonomy for the backward the election juggernaut is unstoppable. An classes. What Nepal really needs is genuine acrimonious difference has erupted within the decentralisation and self-governance that rump Maoists between the main leadership, which is still JON APPEL also gives the marginalised a voice. You can looking for an accommodation and the group of hotheads call it what you want. led by Netra Bikram Chand, that wants to go back to war. UCPN (M), for instance, wants 11 provinces named Nationwide public opinion surveys carried The fact that a faction of a party which was engaged in Limbuwan, Kirat, Tamsaling, Newa, Tamuwan, Magarat, out over the past four years by Himalmedia (publisher an armed struggle against the state is actively involved in Tharuwan, Kochila, two provinces in the trans-Karnali of the Nepali Times) have shown that three-fourths sabotaging polls has implications not just for the quality along geographical lines and even one mysterious ‘non- of respondents have consistently said ethnicity-based of the voting, but also for the Constituent Assembly being territorial’ province for the smaller indigenous groups. It federalism is a bad idea. Disaggregated data even show able to come up with a workable draft. is clear that the UCPN (M) is trying to be everything to that 78 per cent of Madhesi caste groups and 58 per cent Leaving that aside, Nepalis head to the polls with a everyone and this is just an election stunt. It is not really of Madhesi ethnic groups were against ethnic federalism. broad choice between parties and candidates who support serious about self-governance for the provinces, whatever The proportion of respondents from the Newar community federal units named after a single ethnic entity and those they are named. who think ethnicity-based federalism is wrong is who back federal units with multiple-identities or along The FSP led by Ashok Rai wants even more, as many over 80 per cent. topographical lines. The UCPN (M), the MJFN, and the as 14, ethnicity-based provinces that include autonomous The Nepali people have always shown that they are Federal Socialist Party composed of Janajati leaders who regions for Sherpas, Mithila, and Jadan in northwestern wiser and have more common sense than those who defected from the UML are for ethnicity-based federalism Nepal. The MJF-N’s formula is identical to the UCPN (M) want to rule over them and this election (if it is free and and have made this their main electoral plank. The for ethnic autonomy and self-determination, but the party independent) once more will be proof of that. ON THE WEB www.nepalitimes.com MORNING AFTER dealings with spooks and godmen is on guides from south of the border. David once when I was in Nepal and DYING TO GO TO NEPAL It all boils down to the same a political witch hunt ...’, this is why the Grimalji his energy was infectious. Thanks to I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at question: is a fl awed election upcoming election is fatally fl awed. It is him for giving us the Last Resort and this week’s Backside, but I do hope the pushed by foreigners better than no being supervised by crooks answerable As suggested by Bihari Shrestha, bringing adventure back into the life of Tourism Board is reading this column, elections at all (‘The morning after’, to outside puppet masters not the let’s all take a pledge this time to vote Nepalis and visitors. I would also like they’ll have a blast for sure (‘Dying Editorial, #678)? Outsiders had Nepali people. for new faces and save the nation. to commend the work that the Last to go to Nepal’, #678). I have visited to step in because Nepali leaders Mum Bhaicha Resort has been doing with the local Nepal twice and the last experience couldn’t agree on power sharing community. was equally unforgettable. I went to and simplistically felt that elections CITIZEN CANDIDATE People voted for the Maoists in the Ravi Norvic to complain of chest pain and I would set everything right. But I think Nepal needs its own version last CA because they were new faces. ROOTED almost collapsed for two reasons: the that plan is structurally unsound of the Aam Aadmi Party (‘Citizen But what difference did they make and There’s nothing new to this story, exorbitant consultation fee and being because it destroyed two institutions candidate’, Ajaz Ashraf, #678). There how much can we expect from new sounds like one of those NGO paid required to run on a treadmill. The of democracy with one blow: the are some promising activist groups faces from this election if the entire articles (‘Rooted in the grassroots’, doctor didn't diagnose properly, in the judiciary and the executive. All this is like Bibeksheel Nepali who have house we are living in is rotted from the Elelyn Hartz, #678). NT, would you end a younger ER doctor stationed going to backfi re badly on the Indians fi elded independent candidates in foundation up? stop being a mouthpiece for donor at the airport prescribed me much and of course us Nepalis will pay the some constituencies, but they have too Ram Lal agencies, NGOs/INGOs and get needed relief: acid refl ux. But I’ll be price. much of an elite base and not enough us real, interesting stories from real back, god willing, next year to meet up Joshi grassroots penetration to pull off a FREE, FAIR, FEAR-FREE Nepal? again with some very lovely local folks win. The issue with small parties and Pahadis and Madhesis are all basically Nepali (this one is sincerely true). By claiming that the upcoming independent contenders is that when Nepalis and have been living together COMEBACK CATS Tennessee elections is being foisted upon us and elections are tightly contested, as the harmoniously for generations and they It is wonderful to see that Nepal’s implying that the Nepali people don’t upcoming one is expected to be, if you would like to continue doing so (‘Free, conservation efforts are being This is so true, so funny, and so want it, Nepali Times is disrespecting vote for the candidate you like the most, fair, and fear-free’, Anurag Acharya, applauded and emulated by the sad. Satire at its best. our aspirations to have full-fl edged you could end up electing the candidate #678). For example majority of the international community (‘The Jug democracy.