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668 9 - 15 August 2013 20 Pages Rs 50 #668 9 - 15 August 2013 20 pages Rs 50 DEVAKI BISTA GETTING COLD FEET Parties are nervous about falling popularity and want to delay polls EDITORIAL PAGE 2 A SPOT OF BOTHER A state of statelessness in the plains is helping extremists BY THE WAY by ANURAG ACHARYA PAGE 3 INSECURE ELECTIONS If we must have elections in November, they better be proper elections GUEST COLUMN by BIHARI KRISHNA SHRESTHA PAGE 19 WIRED Nepal’s old media must adapt to a more online readership or wither away by BHRIKUTI RAI PAGE 16-17 NATTU THE ONLINE SINGING SENSATION PAGE 8-9 2 EDITORIAL 9 - 15 AUGUST 2013 #668 GETTING COLD FEET here are only so many ways you can keep their own credibility saying the same thing every week. But it Even non-Maoists voted for the Maoists in 2008, Thas to be said again that although all the either out of fear or because they thought giving blame seems to be heaped on the Baidya Maoist- former rebels the ballot would encourage them to led group of 33 smaller parties for obstructing the give up the bullet. But having squandered their November elections, it is actually the UCPN (M) and mandate during successive tenures in government, the establishment Madhesi parties who are slyly both the Maoists and Madhesis know that it is working towards the same end. not going to be a cake walk this time. Besides, The M&M are going back on the very agreements the Maoists have split, eroding their rural vote they were signatories to in the presidential banks. Some of the discredited leaders within the ordinance that made way for the interim electoral NC and UML are equally nervous about facing administration. That agreement stipulated the voters, but they are secretly happy to let the number of seats and constituencies in the next CA dissident parties and the Maoist-Madhesi elections, but the UCPN (M) and Madhesi parties combine take the blame for being spoilers. are now having second thoughts. They are shifting Which is why the Maoists and Madhesi the goalposts again on electoral constituencies and parties are blowing hot and blowing cold, being going back to a 601 seat CA and old proportional wildly optimistic one day and wildly pessimistic representation provisions. the next, and giving contradictory statements Whatever spin the protagonists put to it, the to the media. Some have started saying “Let’s ongoing talks between the four-party mechanism postpone elections till April.” Indeed, if some and the littler dissident parties look like a futile of the demands of the 33 and the Maoist- exercise because of the mutually exclusive list of SUBHAS RAI Madhesi alliance is to be accommodated, there demands from the 33. Some want the Khil Raj Regmi is no way the Election Commission can conclude government to resign, some want just the High-Level For a party to refuse to go to preparations in time. But there are dangers if Political Committee to be dissolved, others just want polls are postponed till May 2014. Regmi to abandon his Chief Justiceship, some want the the polls because it may not fare Firstly, there is the political minefield over who entire four-party, 11-point agreement and the 25-point well, undermines democracy and should succeed the Regmi government or whether it ordinance to be scrapped and be replaced by an all-party its own credibility should continue. The UCPN (M) and especially Pushpa roundtable. Still others want the electoral constituencies Kamal Dahal, will be blamed because he was the chief to be rearranged to reflect the results of the 2011 census, architect of making Regmi head an interim government to while some want the proportion of candidates nominated the delaying tactics. The reason is that both have read the conduct polls. The four political parties and their leaders under proportional representation increased, or the writing on the wall, seen the public opinion surveys, and will suffer further damage to their credibility. deadline for voter registration extended. Everyone wants are running scared that they will be trounced at the ballot If the public’s apathy and lack of confidence in the rules that will give them a numerical advantage in polls. box. It is natural for political parties at election time to parties and the electoral process decline even further, Even if the UCPN (M) and Madhesi parties are not be curious about whether conditions are favourable for it could irreversibly undermine democracy, benefit the actively colluding with the dissidents and egging them on them, but to refuse to go to the polls because they may extremists of the left and right, and make a future election to put up these pre-conditions, it is clear they benefit from not do well at the ballot box undermines democracy and whenever it is held, meaningless. ON THE WEB www.nepalitimes.com HUMLA’S GREEN HOUSE EFFECT country dirt poor. I’ll take a corrupt, but so full of cynicism. I used to love your ECONOMY FIRST SINGING NUN So delighted to read good news elected leader anytime over a corrupted articles but not after this ‘one sided, The author makes some excellent Watching Ani Choying Drolma about Humla Development Initiative unelected one. hatred, self-labeled opinion’. Like me, points about how to improve Nepal’s perform alongside AR Rahman was (HDI) and how far it has progressed SK millions of Nepalis are having a change economy by boosting investments and like seeing contemporary art and and the positive impacts it has had Gyanendra could possibly play a of heart, we shall talk after elections demands (‘Believing in Nepal’, Srisanth traditional Tibetan art come to life on the people of Humla (‘Humla’s much needed role in our democracy. He take place, if they do. Srinivasamadhavan, #667). However, I (‘Ani meets AR’, Sahina Shrestha, green house effect’, Sunir Pandey, is there, but beating the wrong drum. BG feel that most of the recommendations #667). Ani truly has a melodious #667). May their livelihoods become He may be smart, but lacks the heart to I smell a rat here. Pranav, can you are closely linked: without improving tax voice which is enhanced by the easier and sustainable. Keep up the really reach out to Nepalis. The former name a person whom you as a Nepali collection (and proper tax utilisation), words of the powerful mantras she spirit. king would do well to surround himself trust at the moment? If I am not wrong, I don’t see many of the other things sings. I wish her all the success for Rabindra Roy with better advisors. you are also thinking of Gyanendra as falling in place. future performances. Amal Gurung an answer. Morten Rolsted Tashi Lama Well done Yogi ji and HDI team. Gorkha Nepali Life in Humla must be very harsh, A Nepali tries to help fl ood victims in Great points Mr I don’t want to sound like a but this is a testament to how even the far-west and suddenly there is such ECONOMY, STUPID Srinivasamadhavan. Although your spoilt sport, but I didn’t fi nd the song small-scale initiatives can lead to a hue and cry right from the election Punish the guilty responsible for article was written keeping the economy as exceptional as it was hyped up to major changes in people’s lives. I commissioner to Maoist leaders. Some this horrible decline of the economy in mind, I think it would have made be. Ani Choying’s part in particular look forward to visiting you someday want to jail him, some want to exile (‘Economy,stupid,’ Editorial, #667). more sense if you had also touched was rather disappointing. Perhaps soon and witnessing this change him, and some just can’t stand the We all know who the big players are upon the political instability that has she will make a greater impact and fi rsthand. possible popularity this might bring in this game. If Nepali people could hijacked Nepal’s prosperity for years. impression when the full version is Nirmal Rijal him. As an ordinary Nepali, what am I get rid of 20 men from the highest Luv Nepal released later this month. to understand from this incident? I now corridors of power today, we could get Shaili Enjoyed reading this piece. understand that this man is important, back on track. Every Nepali deserves Why don’t our politicians and Great work Sunir Pandey. that he can make a difference, and is the opportunity to live in peace and bureaucrats have the common sense Rajan Kathet giving sleepless nights to our so called prosperity and if we know what the that Mr Srinivasamadhavan has? leaders. Politicians need to be scared. problem is, then we must fi nd a Sometimes it looks like foreigners care LOST CROWN AND COUNTRY Anonymous solution. Unfortunately, we don’t have more about Nepal than we do. Excellent article by Pranav the backbone or pride to take a stance. Jaya N Weekly Internet Poll #668 Budhathoki (‘Lost crown and Old Nepali habits don't die easily, do Nirmal Kafl e country’, #667). Gyanendra Shah they? Someone lends a hand to fl ood FULL CIRCLE Q. Do you think elections will happen on 19 November? is not what this country needs, far victims (regardless of his motives) and Finally, an article that calls a I agree with Muma Ram Khanal’s from it. He gets big crowds because we are all up in arms whining about spade a spade and highlights what is analysis of the Maoist party (‘Revolution Total votes: 1,354 Nepalis love spectacles, they will it.
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