UNMIN demand objectionable: Maoist leader Badal

Kathmandu, 26 Nov: Demand of United Nations for extension of UNMIN’s Nepal mandate that ends 23 January 2008 is objectionable, a top Maoist military leader said Monday."The present demands for the extension of tenure and jurisdiction is objectionable. The Nepali people, political parties and government should advise them regarding the extension oaf their jurisdiction as per our necessity," Ram Bahadur Thapa "Badal", one of top five Maoist leaders told The Rising Nepal in reply to a question: "What should be the role of the UNMIN?Badal is the top party military leader assisting Chairman Prachanda; Badal directed the insurgency from within Nepal during the people’s war when Prachanda was mostly directing the rebellion from India."’The UNMIN"s role has not only raised questions but also made our neighbours susceptible [suspicious].

"UNMIN’s role should be an auxiliary one, rather than behind decisive. If the UNMIN gives decisions to the political parties and the government, it would be decisive role rather than being supportive one."The decisive role would be an encroachment on our nationality," Badal said.Government and Maoists have to agree to the extension of the one-year mandate that expires 23 January 2008 following mixed reaction to the UN new Nepal operation..Even after 16 years, UNHCR hasn’t resolved the Bhutanese refugee problem of 108,000 displaced persons in east Nepal.Government Sunday assured UN it will extend the UNMIN mandate for another six months without additional responsibilities as demanded and requested with western government support and opposed by immediate neighbours India and China.India has objected to cross-border UNMIN activities. UNMIN mandate cannot be extended without Maoist concurrence yet to be forthcoming.

New Maoist condition for assembly elections

Kathmandu, 26 Nov: Maoist Chairman Prachanda Sunday apparently set new conditions for assembly elections while talking to reporters in Chitwan. "Constituent assembly elections will be held only after the integration of two armies and state restructuring," Prachanda said,Such an army will be a national army, he added. Maoists had previously said declaration of a republic and assembly vote on proportional representation were their two demands. Hours earlier, Congress leader Dr Manindra Rijal said Maoists weren’t serious about elections and were constantly changing goalposts for it.

Without mentioning Jimmy Carter, Chairman Prachanda said foreigners suggested him elections be conducted through seat allotment amid assembly election uncertainty.
"Various foreign power centers suggested to me to hold elections through seat allotment between political parties. We were assured 100 to 125 seats from 83. How can such farcical elections be held? "Maoists have 83 seats in the interim parliament. "India and USA want to finish off Maoists. USA wants to use Nepal to control India and China," he told reporters. "Maoist movement is an obstacle for imperialists and expansionists. Nepali people should consciously analyze their conspiracy," Prachanda added. "Then US Ambassador James F. Moriarty visited different places and incited people in east Nepal to create disturbances. So-called leaders of Bihar issued directives to fight to finish Maoists in Madesh," Prachanda said in Chitwan Sunday referring to the murdr of 28 Maoists in Lahan earlier this year.

Maoist leaders visit Washington DC, not only New York

New York, 25 Nov: Maoist lawmakers Suresh Ale Magar and Janardhaan Sharma have arrived in New York, Jangbu Sherpa reports in Rajdhani."We’ve come not to visit USA but the UN now matter how much the questioning [at New York by visa authorities]," Maoist lawmaker and PLA deputy Commander Prabhakar said.He said the continued US terrorist tag on Maoist is shameful.Maoist lawmaker Nandakumar Rai had arrived in USA earlier.Ale Magar and Prabhakar earlier met representatives of various Nepai organizations in Washington DC.

Laxman Aryal hits out a Premier Koirala

Kathmandu, 19 Nov: Coordinator of Interim Constitution Commission Laxman Aryal hit Monday took on Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala who called for former supreme court justice a ‘revolutionary’ by drafting an ‘impractical’ constitution."The prime minister said three things: the constitution was revolutionary, impractical and they [drafters] disobeyed my instructions," Aryal said putting the PM’s charges against him and others earlier this month in perspective.

"The comment shows the level of his commitment to the interim constitution. The constitutional crisis that has now cropped up is because of the insincerity of the leadership of political parties to the constitution," Aryal told Sanghu in an interview.Aryal revealed the concept on a ‘baby king’ recommended by Koirala was not incorporated in the constitution."He [Koirala] brought up the matter of a baby king. We will make the constitution; you corporate this."I told him, this will create a confusion amongst people. We didn’t agree to some things," Aryal revealed.He didn’t detail what other Koirala suggestions weren’t incorporated in the interim constitution.

‘While hair doesn’t demonstrate ability. You can’t say your hair has grayed with continued involvement in politics. The problem now is government’s commitment to the constitution," Aryal said refuting Koirala’s charge against him. "There are technical problems." "A prime minister who says the constitution is impractical should leave. Others will come who can implement it," Aryal said.‘Why did the seven parties approve the constitution. That’s my only questin," Aryal asked.

Jimmy Carter coming to push election not monitor it

Kaathmandu, 19 Nov: Former US President Jimmy Carter is coming on a four-day visit Wednesday ‘to encourage’ Nepal’s political leaders ‘to achieve a climate in which a constituent assembly election can be held’, the Carter center said Sunday.Carter who heads the Center, is not coming to monitor elections which he has done credibly in many pats of the world.The Carter Center, funded mainly by EU member states, especially Scandinavian countries that have maintained remarkable interest in Nepal- disproportionate to their world status.The Scandinavian countries have even limited influence within the EU of which they are members.The Scandinavians are using their oil-wealth to gain influence and foothold in South Asia.

Norwegians received a jolt in Sri Lanka where the peace they brokered has run into trouble; Scandinavians are pushing communism, including Maoism, and Christianity in predominantly Hindu Nepal.Carter is coming at a time when assembly elections are again in doubt mainly because of a lack of a proper environment with deteriorating law and order situation in the terai where government has ordered special security for party leaders, activists and government officials.Foreigners are pushing election at any cost—even if may cost countless lives and even with minimum popular participation.

Final effort to reach agreement; rebellion brewing in Congress

Kathmandu, 19 Nov: Amid a continuing government crisis, a top leader of Nepali Congress ruled out any agreement Monday morning at a summit of seven parties scheduled to begin at nine in the morning ahead of a regular winter session of parliament in the afternoon."I don’t think there will be an understanding in today’s meeting ," Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat told Radio Nepal."We’ve [seven parties] established a procedure for that [to declare republic through first meeting of elected members of constituent assembly]. The Maoist position that a republic I s important not the constitution has made us suspicious," Dr Mahat told state radio.

‘A republic has become the property of the parliament and people. Constitution is not important; they have been repeatedly amended in the past to accommodate political developments," Maoist leader Dinanath Sharma told state radio demanding immediate declaration of a republic even by overriding the constitution.Dr Baburam Bhattarai Sunday threatened to oust Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala if twin communist demands for an immediate declaration of a republic and assembly election through proportional representation aren’t fulfilled.When Koirala Sunday asked party central leaders at meetings of the party central committee and parliamentary party committee to be ‘flexible’ to Maoists, there was almost rebellion with influential members saying they will defy a party whip.Defiant central leaders, including Khum Bahadur Khadka, Dr Ram Sharan Mahat and Gobinda Raj Joshi, insisted general convention decision to oppose twin communist demands must be implemented fully.

"The party cannot any longer be a carrier for Maoists," Joshi said.Koirala earlier described the winter session as a ‘peace session’.Koirala told the committee meetings Sunday the summit will fix date for assembly election—Koirala has proposed the twice postponed vote should be held by mid-April 2008.Koirala is under conflicting pressures from his party and communists.Party leaders started assembling at Baluwatar from eight in the morning for the crucial summit meeting.