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#246 6 - 12 May 2005 16 pages Rs 30 KANAK MANI DIXIT here has been such a flurry of international activity on Nepal T over the last month that one would think–as with development, Enter the politician peacemaking and conflict Charting the course back to pluralism resolution–the return to democracy too has been farmed out to not hard to understand why the news is that the political parties overseas friends and next-door diplomats tend to be one step are beginning to coordinate, neighbours. Fortunately, the past removed from the political particularly since the release of week saw the beginning of movement on the ground. This NC President Girija Prasad coordinated activity by political demographic distance is a definite Koirala last month and UML parties, on whom rests the factor of Nepali politics because of General Secretary Madhab Kumar responsibility of bringing the the weight the internationals pull on Nepal at midnight on Sunday. The country back to civilised, national affairs due to geopolitics plan apparently is to announce a democratic rule based on primacy and control of the purse strings of common agenda (which is what of law, constitutional evolution and development and arms delivery. NC’s Ram Sharan Mahat and representative government. Three weeks ago, the United UML’s Subhas Nembang were Given that democracy brokered Nations decided in Geneva that the working on when they were by anyone other than the protection of human rights of arrested on 27 April) that is to representatives of the people is Nepali citizens vis-à-vis the rebels lead to a unified movement not bound to be more conservative and the security forces required an only of the ‘five parties’ but the than liberal, amidst their concern international presence of more than ‘seven parties’ including the and activism it is important for 50 international monitors. Ian Deuba Congress. special representatives, Martin, the much-heralded head of The political parties are ambassadors, diplomats and Nepal the Nepal Office of the High hopefully chastened by the desk-officers everywhere to pay Commissioner for Human Rights, criticism of their past behaviour in heed to what is happening on is due to arrive on Friday. On parliament and gullibility while ground level in the country they Tuesday, the UN system in Nepal, fighting regression. Actively want to save. Given that only three in unprecedented action, called for First after February First: watched by an alert public, they individuals of the 205 members of full respect by the government for Koirala meets Nepal on Tuesday. are the ones to chart the course the disbanded Third Parliament the principles of press freedom. KIRAN PANDAY back to pluralism. The world, speak parlour-quality English, it is At a time when the government rollback of fundamental rights. believe there could be having stood firm by the Nepali willingly has its head-in-sand, it is The activism of the world development in the absence of people in the hour of need, must the United Nations and bilateral community in favour of human democracy. regard the politicians and their donors which have taken a stand rights and democracy is today The silence of civil society, parties as representing the Weekly Internet Poll # 246 Q. Should India resume military assistance on emergency, humanitarian and matched by the silence emanating however, is compensated by the aspirations of the population. to Nepal? development assistance to the from the erstwhile (pre-February growing activism of the political Unfortunately, the reported people at risk. As we speak, there First) civil society. What the royal parties, which were initially comments of US Ambassador is a high-level meeting to discuss takeover of 1 February has done is impacted by the shock-and-awe of James Moriarty at the Centre for Nepal developments among Delhi- started a process where civil 1 February. The late blooming Strategic and International Studies based diplomats, ambassadors society wheat is separating from reaction of the parties is also in Washington DC last Friday, arriving from Kathmandu and the civil society chaff and we find no explained by the internal including reference to the Total votes:1050 Indian Foreign Office. Issuing a more than a handful of those who contradictions within them on February First action being Weekly Internet Poll # 247. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com joint statement on Tuesday, Human have dared to speak up for the matters of personality and popular among ordinary Nepalis, Q... Are you satisfied with the response of Rights Watch, Amnesty fundamental principles of principle and the attempts at at the very least, does not inspire the political parties after the lifting of the International and the International governance. Among a particular restructuring while the top men confidence in the intentions of the emergency? Commission of Jurists called for a category, it is almost as if they were still in detention. But the super power. z ISSN 1814-2613 2 EDITORIAL 6 - 12 MAY 2005 #246 Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Chief Editor: Kunda Dixit Desk Editor: Abha Eli Phoboo, Aarti Basnyat Design: Kiran Maharjan Web: Bhushan Shilpakar Advertising: Sunaina Shah [email protected] Subscription: Anil Karki, [email protected] Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Lalitpur GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 01-5543333-6, Fax: 01-5521013 [email protected], www.nepalitimes.com Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hatiban: 01-5547018 The European Nepali Times: You added 10 Eduardo Lechuga Jimenez is acting head of Delegation of LONG AND WINDING ROAD members last year, Romania and the European Commission in Nepal. In the run-up to Bulgaria are next. Is there a feeling Europe Day on 9 May, he spoke to Nepali Times about The removal of emergency has been greeted by all with a sigh of the EU growing too fast? the challenges faced by an expanding Europe and the relief. The UN secretary general, neighbouring India and others have Eduardo Lechuga Jimenez: Yes, expressed their satisfaction and urged the government to follow it up this week there was another step EU’s reaction to events in Nepal. with further relaxation and restoration of democracy. Surprisingly, forward with the enlargement the reaction here in Nepal has been rather muted and for good agreement of the EU for Romania doubt, the EU Constitution is one other EU members will have a reason. and Bulgaria which means that in a of the big aims to be achieved. For say about it. So far, the Firstly, there are those who thought the emergency was working, very short time, in 2007, we will the first time in the EU we have a referendums about this EU at least inside the Ring Road. But draconian restrictions placed on have 27 members. Also, there is a legal point of reference for all the constitution have been positive for freedom of movement and expression are still in place. Even though queue of countries negotiating countries. Six members have its members and if it is approved some important political figures have been released, the period of membership. We have Croatia, already approved it but we are there is no doubt it will detention of many others such as Narhari Acharya and Lila Mani other Balkan countries and in the aware that in the next few months mean that the European Pokharel have been extended by another three months. Cell phones medium term, Turkey. My guess is project is moving ahead. have been partially restored but even landline phones of important that by the end of this decade there political figures are still dead. will be around 30 countries in the Logically, the lifting of the emergency should have automatically EU. The speed could be seen as ended press censorship. But the notorious notification curtailing fast, that is why there is already a press freedom hasn’t yet been withdrawn. News is still banned on debate within the EU to what extent FM. May Day and Word Press Freedom Day had to be celebrated in we can continue on this path. It is defiance of prohibitory orders issued by the district administration. clear that one year after the The state of emergency may enlargement by 10 new members in be officially over but it has May 2004 the EU is working left a bad hangover. surprisingly well. The basic thing The gulf between what is to maintain economic and social the government says and cohesion and for that obviously does is so wide that no one funds have to be distributed within dares take any risk. This the EU so that the cohesion takes has created a crisis of place. But you are right, as we confidence not only between expand we have to keep revising the palace and political our policies. The more parties but also between the government and civil society. For a homogenous we are, the easier it country mired in violent insurgency and international censure for will be for the EU to move in the human rights violations, such uncertainty is intolerable. right direction. This has been The government must go beyond symbolic removal of state of proven when you look at emergency. Local authorities need to be told categorically that achievements like the Euro, as of fundamental rights have been restored. Freedom of the press must today the strongest currency in the not only be guaranteed but ensured through an enabling world, and technological and environment. And remember, this time there are international commercial project as the Airbus monitors watching. 380, the biggest aircraft in the Finally, the process of reconciliation between constitutional globe and so forth. forces can only begin with the rescinding of all extra-legal institutions created under the emergency provisions.