#368 28 September - 4 October 2007 16 pages Rs 30 LEAVING HOME: Weekly Internet Poll # 368 Madhesi civilians Q. How do you rate the Maoist decision like these in Birpur to leave the government? were still fleeing Total votes: 4,017 Kapilbastu for India earlier this week because of fears of being attacked by pahadis backed by Maoists. See p4 Weekly Internet Poll # 369. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Q. What is your opinion on monarchy? MADHU PANTHI Deal or deadlock? Far from the misery of thousands of Kapilbastu refugees, leaders in Kathmandu are trying to hammer out a compromise for elections here is nothing like commitment of all parties to be Thursday afternoon but failed to the mainstream. elections and Dasain ratified by the elected constituent agree on Koirala's compromise on The seven parties also agreed T holidays to focus people's assembly after November. both contentious issues: a on Thursday to launch joint minds, which is probably what But by afternoon, it was clear parliamentary resolution to be election-related meetings over forced the NC to finally unite on Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal ratified later and an electoral Dasain in the districts to ensure Tuesday. This in turn has Dahal couldn't convince his system that would guarantee the maximum participation of the prompted the other parties to try hardline comrades Ram Bahadur Maoists more seats. public in polls. This agreement is to clear roadblocks in the runup Thapa and Mohan Baidya to The election issue is critical significant considering continued to elections. accept this. The two are insisting for the Maoists because they feel violence between UML and It hasn't been easy. Seven on a "package deal" that would they'd fare poorly in direct Maoist cadre in various parts of party leaders met in marathon include a formal declaration by elections, and want to ensure a the country in recent days, and an sessions all Thursday to thrash parliament on republic and a full minimum representation. Dahal announcement by various Maoist- out a compromise that would proportional election. is reported to have admitted to affiliated ethnic groups to assuage Maoist concerns. A broad The NC's unity and party the prime minister he was under intensify street protests. agreement was reached in the declaration to go for a federated pressure from within his party. The real enemies of the seven morning to call for a special loktantrik republic helped Although a pre-poll division of parties are militant groups who session of the interim parliament untangle the issue somewhat. seats would be irregular and have called for a poll boycott, and to pass a resolution on a 'Federal Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal undemocratic, some party leaders elections are only possible if they Democratic Republic of Nepal' Dahal and Prime Minister Koirala say they see no problem as long stand together. z that would formalise a held a one-hour meeting on as it will bring the Maoists into Purna Basnet 2 EDITORIAL 28 SEPTEMBER - 4 OCTOBER 2007 #368 Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Editor: Kunda Dixit Design: Kiran Maharjan Director Sales and Marketing: Sunaina Shah [email protected] Circulation Manager: Samir Maharjan [email protected] Subscription: [email protected],5542525/535 Hatiban, Godavari Road, Lalitpur GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu 5543333-6, Fax: 5521013 Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hatiban: 5547018 “A date has been set” [email protected] www.nepalitimes.com James T Walsh has been a US Congressman representing New York for the past 18 years. He IDOL WORSHIP served as a Peace Corps volunteer Two events this week are reminders that the power of a globalised in Nepal in 1970–72, speaks fluent media now touches even the remotest corners of the world. Nepali and maintains his links with An Indian policeman from Kolkata makes it to the finals of a this country. Walsh was televised song contest marketed by a Japanese multinational media instrumental in drawing conglomerate in partnership with an Indian mobile phone company. Congressional attention to the pro- Nepalis spent an equivalent of Rs 70 million through mass SMS democracy movement in April 2006 voting to make this man win. When Prashant Tamang became India’s idol, why did half of and was also closely involved with Ilam drive across the border to celebrate with fellow-Nepalis? the Northern Ireland peace Prashant made us rethink the definition of what constitutes Nepali process. He is member of the House culture and nationalism. Why were our double triangle banners Appropriations Committee waving at midnight at the Mall in Darjeeling alongside Indian John Narayan Parajuli spoke to tricolours? At a time when people wearing Nepali caps are being Walsh this week. hounded out of the tarai, Prashant proudly wore the headgear that JOHN NARAYAN PARAJULI is a symbol of Nepaliness in India. When Bhanubhakta statues are being demolished by inclusivists in Nepal, our own Martin Luther Nepali Times: What’s your Is there a shift in US policy I understand that you are is almost worshipped by Nepali speakers in Sikkim and the take on the latest hiccups in towards Nepal with the interested in coming to Nepal Indian northeast. Dasain boycotts have become the norm in parts of Nepal, but it Nepal’s peace process? departure of Ambassador to observe elections. is still the main holiday for Indian Nepalis. The very symbols of James Walsh: The government James Moriarty? If the opportunity arose to go back monolithic nationhood that are being questioned in post-April 2006 of Nepal needs to adhere to its At the moment, I don’t see any to Nepal and observe the Nepal are indentifiers for India’s Nepali-speaking minority. Five commitment to hold constituent such shift. However, I do know elections, I would be very Nepali workers in the Gulf have jointly published a book of poignant assembly elections on 22 that Ambassador Nancy Powell is interested. poetry in which they observe that while people back home now see November. It is vital that the a very thoughtful person and is each other as madhesi or pahadi, Hindu or Muslim, Tamang, people of Nepal have a specific taking the necessary time to come Will you be meeting Maoist Gurung, Limbu or bahun, in the Middle East they are all Nepali. date to work toward. I worry that to her own decisions about the leaders? At one level the Prashant Tamang phenomenon showed the if the government pushes back role of the United States in It’s hard to say. If I had the chance current Nepali craving for a feel-good story, the need for a knight in the date even more, the elections Nepal. I know we both agree that to visit Nepal, I would cross that shining armour who, even if he can’t rescue us, will make us feel will not happen. You can only these elections need to happen as bridge when I got there. However, momentarily proud. At another, it proved the need for national symbols when the motherland itself is being torn apart by delay something as significant as scheduled and that the I would only consider a meeting centrifugal identity politics. this for so long. intimidation needs to stop. with Maoist leaders if they Prashant epitomizes the shared geography, shared history, Success takes time, but it also stopped de-railing the upcoming shared lingua franca of Nepalis no matter what their passport. But helps if everyone involved is Do you think there should elections. They need to play an he also underlines a flaw in our perception of ourselves and the working toward the same goal. It be some moderation, active and positive role in making way Nepaliness has traditionally been defined by hill-centric isn’t fair to the people of Nepal particularly on the US sure the elections are fair and nationalism. to continue to push back the stance on the Maoists? without interference. We wonder if there would be the same interest or excitement in elections. A date has been set and I think the US needs to continue Nepal if, instead of Prashant, an Indian of Nepali madhesi origin it needs to stay that way. to encourage the full Do you see the elections was the finalist. Probably not. Then there is the Ramdev participation of all eight political happening in November? phenomenon, which showed that televangelism has arrived and no Is there a difference parties, which include the The people of Nepal have part of the subcontinent is beyond its powerful footprint anymore. That an Indian yoga guru has such a following in ostensibly secular between your views and Maoists. All of Nepal needs to overcome so much and they Nepal also goes to prove our spiritual deficit and that lifestyle that of the Bush put their weapons down and deserve to be represented in a stress is now endemic in this country’s urban administration? commit to having an election on government they trust. Nepalis middle class. I support the views of this 22 November. Given the recent have put up with a civil war, a Crossborder television has redefined the public sphere and now administration, I agree with the withdrawal from the government dysfunctional monarchy and sets our national agenda. It is beyond regulation, and the message view of our government to by the Maoists it’s apparent that heinous forms of violence and goes directly to audiences. Nepal and India don’t just have an open support the elections on 22 they think of themselves intimidation. It’s time for Nepal border, we are now in the same geostationary orbit.