www.newsfront.com.np Kathmandu l 21-27 Jan, 2008 l # 50 l Price Rs. 25 India’s duality? BJP questions India’s Nepal policy ä nf correspondent security. It is also a threat to our democracy.” “Why then has the United Progressive India’s Nepal policy is more guided by the Alliance (UPA) government remained a silent appeasement of Maoists at the cost of pro- onlooker with communists in India playing the democracy forces ignoring its implications on role of a colluder, when constitutional monarchy India’s security, according to Bharatiya Janata was disbanded recently under the pressure of Party leader and its Prime Ministerial candidate Maoists? The monarchy in Nepal was a symbol for the next general election, LK Advani. of its unique national identity and a source of its Advani’s categorical disapproval of the identity,” he continued. government of India’s Nepal policy, comes in the This is first time that a major political party in background of interim parliament adopting the India questions its own government’s policy that resolution declaring Nepal a Republic state, with has virtually abandoned the twin pillar theory, the directive to the future constituent assembly after it mediated a deal between Nepal’s pro- to implement it. Advani said BJP was clearly in democracy parties and the Maoists in November favour of preservation of Nepal as a Hindu 2005. This also literally challenges the Indian Kingdom with constitutional monarchy. government to clarify, if its approach on Nepali He said the genuine aspirations of the people Maoists and the Indian Maoists are different. of Nepal like its Hindu identity and constitutional Singh had recently stated in the context of monarchy were suppressed by the rise of Naxalite problem that ‘the virus of terrorism’ Maoists. “Maoism and democracy are a needed to be eliminated for consolidation of contradiction in terms. The two cannot go democracy and developmental activities. together. It is unfortunate that they have gained “Why did the Indian communists applaud ascendancy in the polity of Nepal,” Advani said when the identity of Nepal as a Hindu kingdom recently in a paper ‘Democracy and Conflict was erased even before the constituent Resolution in Asia’ which he read out during a assembly had discussed it? Would they demand summit organised by Dainik Jagaran, a popular that Pakistan or Bangladesh cease to be Islamic Hindi daily, last week. republics?” he asked. “The examples of Israel- Describing what has been happening in Palestine, Afghanistan and Nepal raise two India’s north as ‘worrisome developments in important questions: should India and other Nepal’, Advani said what has been happening in countries in Asia get entrapped in the western Nepal have grave implications not only for sponsored normative discourse on Asia’s Nepal, but also for India given the close nexus political evolution, or should we imbibe from our Bhaswor Ojha between Maoists on both sides of the border. traditional values and norms? The former path People from different indigenous groups staging a sit-in programme in front of BICC in Kathmandu “The Prime Minister (Man Mohan Singh) is right is likely to ensure that we become the playthings on Thursday, urging the government to add 48 more nationalities on the current list which includes in characterising communist extremism or of external powers seeking to shoot guns off our 59 indigenous groups. Naxalism as the biggest threat to India’s internal shoulders,” said Advani. ä Inside Maoists fear assassination page 2 One million each to MPs for fair election? page 5 Nepal is a delicate flower, about to die: Interview with Prof. Riccardi page 6&7 2 21-27 Jan, 2008 News Coup galore Advising self-reliance Give up your begging bowl: Nancy Powell Maoists fear political assassination United States of America, Nepal’s other peace accords have yet to be ä nf correspondent foremost development partner and implemented. True and lasting peace donor, has given a piece of advice will require more than an election. It It was only last year which others have refrained from will require a national commitment to that Maoist Chief giving so far. The prescription suggests transform this country’s government Prachanda predicted a that Nepal should not only reduce but and its institutions into bodies that series of political must end its dependency on foreign reflect and serve the needs and assassinations that the assistance. And the key to it is striving aspirations of all Nepalis, regardless palace and the Ameri- for higher economic growth. of gender, ethnicity, caste, religion, or cans would be engineer- The suggestion was contained in a economic status.” ing in Nepal. But he speech that US Ambassador Nancy Nancy added that as political maintained silence Powell gave in a programme parties set out for election campaign, regarding the issue after organised by the Chamber of their discussions should also focus on the then American Commerce, Pokhara recently. “Without Nepal’s economic challenges and the Ambassador, James economic growth, Nepal will continue way to restore robust economic Moriarty, publicly to be dependent on the generosity of decade, Nepal can end its depen- growth that is inclusive and equitable. challenged him to donor countries to meet its expendi- dency on foreign assistance. And the “Peace will always be at risk as long provide any evidence to tures.” She however made it clear that way to do this, we don’t have to look as Nepal lacks a robust rate of substantiate his what she was stating was not an beyond the beautiful, snow-capped economic growth.” She said the allegations. indicator of the likely curtailment in the mountains I saw on my flight to experience of the last 40 years But with Moriarty gone existing level of assistance by the US. Pokhara.” shows that the most successful and fresh election “Over the past half a century, ever Touching upon the prevailing nations in terms of economic schedule announced, since the US first began its assistance political situation, Nancy said, the US development have been the ones in Pix by newsfront Prachanda is back with program to Nepal, our principal aid supports the upcoming polls and is which the private sector has been the public reiteration of the fear. On he said. agency, the US Agency for Interna- committed to doing its part to help it engine of growth. January 18, he told media Prachanda’s revelation of his tional Development, has granted become a reality. “From our The main challenge is to find ways representatives in Kathmandu ‘threat perception’ followed two nearly $1 billion to this country. In perspective, the election is a key step to develop Nepal’s immense hydro- that Nepal could witness political days after he chose to heap 2007 alone, our total assistance in the peace process, but the real power potential in an environmentally upheavals, from political abuses on Chief of Army Staff program was in excess of $70 million. work will begin after the election is and socially acceptable ways, which assassinations to army coup, in (COAS) Gen Katawal at a public We are committed to continuing our over.” She also expressed her will provide affordable energy to the the coming three months He rally jointly organised by the ruling assistance going forward,” she said. frustration saying, “Many of the population and provide additional however, chose not to say who seven party alliance in Tundikhel. “However, it is my hope and my commitments made in the Compre- revenue through large scale export, would be engineering such Prachanda was critical and strong conviction that in the coming hensive Peace Agreement and the said she. activities. abusive of Katawal for his public The way Prachanda revealed stance opposing integration of the the conspiracy theory based on Maoist combatants in the Nepal information from his party army. “Who is Katawal to oppose channels, made it very clear that the move?” he said. His subse- the assassination and the quent diatribes were full of Integration row possible coup would be personal remarks that even the The claim, by Maoist Chief Prachanda and endorsed interview to the media endorsing what Gen Katawal had interlinked. He said that events seven party leaders did not feel by Home Minister KP Sitaula, that Maoist combatants to say on the issue, seemed to have backtracked when similar to the assassination of comfortable about. would soon be integrated in the Nepal Army, has now Maoist ministers cornered him regarding the issue. Benazir Bhutto taking place here Prachanda however relented a snowballed into a major controversy involving political Minister Deb Gurung quoted Koirala having told them would not be far fetched. “Some bit when he announced that his parties across the party lines. that he was misquoted by the media. But Congress groups might make attempts to party would return all the land The first salvo against it was fired by Chief of the leader, Govinda Raj Joshi says that the integration of murder senior leaders, both from and property seized by the party army staff, Gen Rookmangad Katawal who said, the Maoist combatants in the army is not something that Madhesh and the Maoist groups during the insurgency to the inclusion of the cadres who were politically motivated Gen Katawal or even the PM or Prachanda can do to create an atmosphere for a rightful owners, something he is and indoctrinated was not acceptable to the army. independently or on their own. coup.” obliged to do under the Compre- Katawal’s assertion triggered a furious diatribe against Speaking to party workers in Sunderijal on January 19, Prachanda further said that the hensive peace agreement (CPA) him by Prachanda, but there is more pronounced Joshi said the issue has to be settled after building a broader future Nepal could see a mix of and the recently signed 23-point opinion that goes against the Maoist chief.