Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

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Prem
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

Post by Prem »

http://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/ ... -incident/

Indian PM Modi calls up Nepal PM Oli, ‘requests for details’ over death of Indian youth in Birgunj police firing
KATHMANDU: Expressing his concern over the death of an Indian national in a violent protest in Birgunj of Nepal today, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday evening called up Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and requested for details of the case.India’s Office of the Prime Minister tweeted that Modi also expressed his shock over and condemned the incident.In response, Prime Minister Oli apprised Prime Minister Modi that the incident happened as Nepali security forces opened fire in self-defence, Rastriya Samachar Samiti reported, quoting Nepali Prime Minister’s press advisor Pramod Dahal.Oli further urged the Indian Prime Minister not to worry about the safety of Indian nationals in Nepal and to ensure smooth supplies of daily essentials to Nepal.The two also exchanged views on the ongoing Tarai/Madhes agitation and the possible ways for its end, the RSS reported.Modi, on the other hand, assured his Nepali counterpart that there is no obstacle from the Indian side for supply of essentials to Nepal.He has “urged” Nepali leaders to “work towards ensuring an early and effective solution to the crisis,” said the Office.An Indian youth, Aashish Kumar Ram, from Raxaul of Bihar state of India, was killed when Nepali police personnel opened fire on protesters to control the situation in Birgunj of Parsa district, bordering Raxaul, this afternoon.
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

Post by Kakkaji »

What wa an Indian citizen doing partcipating in the Madhesi agitation in Nepal? This does not look good.
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Post by member_28352 »

BTW whose bright idea was it to take this to the UN?
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ ... to-the-un/
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

Post by Muns »

Like this article from Swarajya :

It’s Not Nepal Vs India But Kathmandu Elite Vs Madhesis

http://swarajyamag.com/world/its-not-ne ... -madhesis/

Author makes a fine point. Without the Terai Nepal is not viable as a state. Most of the economy especially agriculture stems from the Terai. Take that away and a already poor Nepal would be banking on maybe tourism and Gorkha remittances.
Most reasonable travel east to west or vice versa at some stage has to dip through the Terai, because of the mountains. For what it's worth the Kathmandu elite have shown their true colors by using live ammunition on crowds.

A porus border with Bihar only deepens India's Interest in the Terai, and then all the way to the China Border. For what it's worth, Katmandu elite or not, more that 85% of Nepal is Hindu. My line would be tempt the Katmandu elite to change winds to favor India.
The maoists and the earthquake have created enough pain and suffering for Nepal. Creating a pro India party with open stating goals asto joining the India as a federal state that benefits all sections : Elite, Madhesi, Jan-Jatis, Tharus etc is the way forward.
Modi's open popularity in Madesh may be a first step. Fielding a pro BJP leader among the Madhesi's is the next.
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

Post by A_Gupta »

http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news ... d-mea.html
Nov 5, 2015- Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson has denied that the bilateral issues between India and Nepal have been internationalised.
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

Post by ramana »

Muns, In a short para can you summarize the recent Nepal crisis for talking points.
All these news reports beat around the bush and don't get to core points.


What is it about?
Give three supporting points to it.
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Post by member_29172 »

Hate to say it, but I told you so. All these "island nations" that are an extension of India but have developed a strange sense of hatred towards it are going to block our progress as well. It's in our best interest to absorb them back and empower them. Otherwise they'll be just another breeding ground for maoists and jihadis. I hope MEA considers that seriously.
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Post by Prem »

http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/arti ... with-india
Nepal’s Contested Constitution Deepens Crisis at Home and With India
Rather than resolve its ongoing political crisis, Nepal’s new constitution has produced a polarized internal landscape and complicated relations with its most important neighbor, India. The product of a peace process that brought insurgent Maoist rebels into mainstream politics, the new constitution was promulgated on Sept. 20, institutionalizing a federal, democratic and secular republic.
But it failed in its core task of bringing the country’s various ethnicities—there are over 100—and social groups together. Many social groups, especially the Madhesis and Tharus of southern Nepal, are deeply unhappy with its provisions on inclusion, political representation, federalism and citizenship, and have been leading a mass movement against it for more than two and a half months, leaving the country paralyzed.India is also upset at the crisis at its doorstep, and is putting pressure on Nepal’s political leadership to make amends. But in Kathmandu, the protest movement against the constitution is being dismissed as an Indian-sponsored plot, while ultra-nationalist sentiments run high and the government’s willingness to correct course is unclear.

At the root of the divisions is the fact that the country’s political structure has never reflected the remarkable ethnic and social diversity of Nepal, producing deep inequality. Power has been monopolized by the Hindu upper castes based in the mid-hills of Nepal who, although they constitute less than one-third of the country’s populati
on, dominate politics, bureaucracy, the army and even civil society and media. Madhesis, who live in the southern plains region known as the Terai, have historically not been treated as equal citizens and are even viewed as a “fifth column” due to their extensive ethnic, linguistic and kinship ties across the border with India. Janjatis—the indigenous peoples of both the hills and plains—have historically been subsumed by a centralized state, with their culture and languages marginalized, and remain underrepresented in politics. Women, meanwhile, have lived under a traditional patriarchal society, with gender discrimination institutionalized in law. At the bottom of the hierarchy are the Dalits, the “untouchable” caste who are stripped of dignity, opportunity and any participation in the mainstream.But after the devastating earthquake in April, political equations changed. Top political leaders realized their failure to adequately respond to the humanitarian crisis had damaged their credibility. A breakthrough on the constitutional impasse, which had lasted too long, became necessary. The tragedy also offered a pretext to others to drop some of their demands and shift tracks. The Maoists, who had until then sided with the marginalized social groups, agreed to support a draft constitution fielded by the two other top parties—Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist)—making Nepal a federal democratic republic with a parliamentary system. It would also be secular, albeit with a pronounced Hindu tilt.

The resulting document alienated the ethnic Madhesis in the Terai, as their share of seats in both houses of parliament would be reduced due to the formulas used to determine representation. The new constitution also dropped a key provision from the interim constitution of 2007 for “proportionate inclusion” of Madhesis and other historically marginalized ethnic groups in state organs, while further diluting the principle of quotas by adding a host of other groups, including dominant upper castes, as eligible for representation.Meanwhile, the constitution’s citizenship clauses require the offspring of mixed marriages to get Nepali citizenship by naturalization only when the father is a foreigner. In turn, naturalized citizens are not eligible for a range of public positions, including president, prime minister, heads of security agencies, chief minister and more. In addition to violating gender equality, the provision appears driven by the fear—many see it as paranoia—of Indians marrying into Nepal and taking over key positions, given the extent of cross-border marriages in the Terai.

Adding to opposition to the constitution was its gerrymandering of provincial demarcations, which favors the hill groups that have long dominated Nepali politics. Terai groups wanted the country’s 20 plains districts divided into two provinces, one in the east dominated by Madhesis and the other in the west dominated by Tharus, an indigenous group. Instead, while leaving eight districts in a plains province, the constituent assembly merged 12 districts with various hills provinces. The result was an eastern Madhesh province deprived of resources, and the Tharus reduced to a political minority in western Nepal. The decision to push the constitution through despite protests against it, with police then killing and harassing demonstrators, only added to the unrest. The constitution’s technical legitimacy cannot be contested. After all, an elected constituent assembly by an overwhelming majority passed it. But its political legitimacy is under grave threat, given the climate in which it was passed.The movement in the Terai against the constitution reflects genuine anger, and if its moderate demands are not addressed, there could be further radicalization and even a secessionist movement. That is a scenario New Delhi wants to avoid at all costs. Despite India’s temporary unpopularity in Kathmandu, it is nudging Nepal’s leadership to make the difficult decisions necessary to accommodate the opposition.Nepal managed its transition from an autocratic monarchy and civil war to peace and a republic. The constitution represents the culmination of this process. But it holds the seeds of discord within it. Before it can be enforced, it has to be amended.
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

Post by Prem »

Nepali Saakashavilli ,Oli Needs lesson in decency, diplomacy for his duplicity. Look at the road oil tankers have to traverse to bring fuel from China. And soon winter comes in and snow falls on ame hills.

Image
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

Post by SBajwa »

Don't worry NAMO will fix them and make them to learn Dharam!!
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

Post by A_Gupta »

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2015/11 ... ge-Nov-9th
If you go to MyRepublica and click on the writer’s name, you can get a list of specific editorials from that person ( similar to here on DailyKOS). The editorial above is the latest from one of the nationalists — the ones who promote unity by hating on India. Up til the very last paragraph, I had the idea that maybe he finally “gets it” in terms of the need to negotiate with Nepalis of the Terai. For me, I actually think that what they have now is a living death. Somewhere along the way, another writer whose name escapes me pointed out that it’s easy for the pundit class of Kathmandu to praise everyone else for resilience because they themselves are not yet deprived of anything.
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http://www.thestatesman.com/news/latest ... 05068.html
ndia said on Thursday it has conveyed to the Nepalese Government its willingness to help reroute vehicles carrying medicines to the country, and also to airlift medical supplies even as New Delhi reiterated that the blockade in Nepal is “not due to any restrictions imposed by India”.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup, addressing a weekly briefing, said: “We have seen reports of shortages of medicines. Like the re-routing of trucks, we have conveyed to the government of Nepal we are ready to facilitate re-routing of vehicles carrying medicine. We are also willing to facilitate airlift. Nepalese importers of medicine are also advised to use those border crossings where there are no protests and disruption in supplies."

Read more at http://www.thestatesman.com/news/latest ... DraVToU.99
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Post by Prem »

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress leader Bimalendra Nidhi on Friday accused Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli of ‘imposing a blockade’ by halting discussions on the Constitution Amendment Bill registered at the parliament.Speaking at an interaction at the Reporters’ Club in the Capital today, the lawmaker even claimed that Oli’s blockade was more dangerous than that of India and Madhesi parties.The leader said, “Declared or not, any blockade is not good for the nation.”The former minister was of the view that if the Constitution was amended as per the proposal registered by the NC-led government, most of the problems the nation is currently facing today would not surface.He further informed that the party’s lawmakers would pile pressure on the government to endorse the Bill at the earliest as it would be imperative for a successful reconstruction campaign in the aftermath of April 25 earthquake.The party could even obstruct the House proceedings, according to nidhi.Likewise, local committees of the party would also pile pressures for the Act, he dded.Meanwhile, Nidhi maintained that the party is open for all options of demarcation.
http://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/ ... amendment/
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Post by Prem »

UDMF agitation turns violent
http://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/udmf ... s-violent/
Within hours of the United Democratic Madhesi Front decision to allow operation of schools and the passage of medicines, the front’s protracted agitation took a violent turn last night.UDMF cadres vandalised an ambulance carrying a sick child at Katahari of Morang, while the agitators set ablaze a truck laden with vital drugs in Birgunj. The protesters also hurled stones at the house of former prime minister and senior CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal at Rautahat headquarters Gaur.UDMF cadres vandalised a truck loaded with life-saving drugs, sprinkled petrol on it and set it on fire on Thursday night. District Police Office Parsa said UDMF cadres vandalised and set the truck loaded with drugs on fire in Birgunj’s Om Ashram.The truck, escorted by police, was to deliver drugs to Nabin Medical Hall in Janakpur this morning. Police said drugs worth Rs 2 million were destroyed in the incident. After the UDMF leadership placated the agitators, further damage was averted.An eyewitness said Nepal Police and APF personnel guarding the house were reduced to mere spectators when the protesters threw stones.UDMF cadres vandalised at least 25 motorbikes for defying bandh in Rautahat today. UDMF leader Anil Singh said they had blocked the movement of two-wheelers to curb petrol smuggling.Agitating UDMF cadres also broke the windowpanes of Nepal Investment Bank and vandalised a mini-truck and more than a dozen motorbikes parked in Birgunj’s Aadarsh Nagar.They also blocked the movement of two-wheelers in Birgunj today
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Post by Prem »

Petroleum deal with China delayed by taxation issues

http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news ... ssues.html
“As the government has been making effort to avoid the double tax on petroleum products before signing the commercial deal, we have postponed the government level visit for now,” said the MoCS Spokesperson Shambhu Ghimire. According to the ministry, the NOC’s directors Sushil Bhattarai and Deepak Baral will be heading to China on Monday.Earlier, the government team was set to leave to China on Sunday to sign the commercial agreement to import petroleum. Although the government has been seeking the Chinese side to waive the local taxes there, China has not officially confirmed on waiving the local tax and export duty on petroleum.Ghimire said they were sending the technical team after China had remained silent on waiving the tax on petroleum they would export. “Although China has unofficially agreed to waive the tax, it has not officially confirmed on the issue,” he said. According to him, the technical team will also discuss on risk, transport subsidy along with the tax there besides the fuel price.On the last Thursday, the government was all set to send a seven member team led by Ghimire to China. The team was supposed to sign the agreement paper.Provided China will waive the local tax, the NOC would be able to provide the petroleum products at similar price as the fuel imported from India. “However, the cost will go up to 170-180 liters if we have to import through paying tax,” said the NOC’s Spokesperson Mukunda Ghimire.
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Post by Prem »

Three killed, 25 injured in police firing
http://thehimalayantimes.com/
At least three people were killed in police firing and 25 demonstrators of the agitating United Madhesi Democratic Front were hurt in a clash between protesters and police along Bharadaha-Rupani road in Saptari last night. Indefinite curfew ordered in the area.
http://thehimalayantimes.com/opinion/179382/
There are indications, and apprehensions, that the UDMF’s agitation seems to be “going out of its control
. The district of Saptari has become very tense following violent clashes between police and the UDMF workers on Saturday night. At least two protesters have been killed and several others were injured when the police opened fire. It has been learnt that the clashes started when hundreds of agitating activists began to round up the police personnel patrolling the highway, apparently to escort vehicles heading towards their destinations at night. The police say protesters in large numbers carrying sharp traditional and home-made weapons attacked the police, prompting the security personnel to open fire in self-defense. The agitating side on the other hand dismiss the police version and maintain that the security personnel used excessive force, unprovoked. More protests and violence broke out in several parts of Tarai on Sunday. Reports coming out all day indicated Saptari had virtually turned into a battle ground. UDMF leaders needs to introspect and assess if the nature of their agitation is going against the very concept and spirit of democracy. They have every right to make their demands and protests, but these should not come at the cost of others’ right to hold different opinions or refuse to participate in their activities. They are also supposed to respect others’ right to travel freely, so such acts as their blockade on the highways and throwing stones at vehicles or attacking drivers and passengers, trying to disrupt others’ rallies, even goodwill rallies, and threatening the news media for airing news and views not to their liking are simply unacceptable in any democracy worth the name.There are indications, and apprehensions, that the UDMF’s agitation seems to be “going out of its control”. To this concern the UDMF leaders should pay adequate attention. The country, including the people of Tarai-Madhes, will suffer more, and so will the parties spearheading the current agitation in such an event. Certainly, violence and vandalism will not take the UDMF any nearer to achieving its goals. As the adage goes, violence begets violence. Such activities may on the contrary trigger off a backlash, including from the general people of Tarai-Madhes
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

Post by RoyG »

Nepal is heading for civil war. No way we can stay neutral. We should move in. May actually turn out to be our first major foreign military intervention in a long time.
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Post by Prem »

http://news.niticentral.com/2015/11/24/ ... ment-bill/
Nepalese parties agree to advance Constitution amendment bill
Kathmandu, Nov 23 (PTI) Nepal’s major political parties today agreed to table a Constitution amendment bill to accommodate the demands of Indian-origin Madhesis over the division of their homeland and better representation, a move likely to ease the political logjam and spiralling violence.A day after four protesters were killed in police firing during a blockade in the volatile Terai region along the Indian border, Prime Minister K P Oli called a meeting of all major political parties at his residence this morning to find a way out of the ongoing political crisis in the nation.During the meeting, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, UCPN- Maoist, Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal, Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Democratic agreed to proceed with the Bill, currently pending.Meanwhile, the ruling and opposition parties would hold talks with the agitating Madhesi parties separately, local media reported.Nepali Congress Acting President Ram Chandra Poudel said the meet decided to seek agreement with Madhes-based parties before making changes in the constitution.The Sushil Koirala-led government had registered the amendment bill at the House in an attempt to address the demands of Madhesis, who are against the division of their homeland in the newly promulgated Constitution and are pressing for better representation in the Parliament.A meeting of Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party yesterday had decided to pile pressure on the ruling parties for endorsement of the bill, the media reports said.The meeting of the parliament is scheduled for Thursday.The Madhesi Front has been obstructing proceedings at the House demanding to address its demands.
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

Post by Mukesh.Kumar »

Anyone hear BBC World Service today around 1130 hrs GMT. Carrying reports from Nepal against India- Have school kids from Maitrai school make appeals in pitiful voices "India stop blockade, we are dying here, etc...."

What c#ap. PeePeeSee needs to be sued for libel
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

Post by Supratik »

This is unavoidable. The Madhesis need a share in power - both for themselves and for long term Indian interests. Otherwise the two communist parties are going to run Nepal from Beijing. In the short-term highland Nepalis are going to hate us.
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

Post by sum »

Mukesh.Kumar wrote:Anyone hear BBC World Service today around 1130 hrs GMT. Carrying reports from Nepal against India- Have school kids from Maitrai school make appeals in pitiful voices "India stop blockade, we are dying here, etc...."

What c#ap. PeePeeSee needs to be sued for libel
A decent size protest was organised outside Indian embassy in Seoul by atleast 40-50 Nepalese with slogans like "stop interfereing", "No Big brother" etc.

Wonder who coordinated all this?
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

Post by member_29186 »

Amusing, Modi's views abt Nepal EQuake with Israeli PM.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bddVejKoqQM
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Post by Prem »

http://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/nepa ... -in-limbo/
Nepal-China fuel deal in limbo
At a time when the country has been facing a crippling shortage of fuel due to Tarai blockade which has choked import of petroleum products since the last two months, the government has not been putting in a serious effort to import fuel through alternative sources to ease people’s lives.Almost a month after the memorandum of understanding was signed with Chinese government undertaking — China National United Oil Corporation (PetroChina) — the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies sent a letter to the Ministry of Finance on Friday requesting it to write to the government of China through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to waive duty on petroleum exports to Nepal.After the framework deal with PetroChina was signed on October 28, people had expected the MoCS and Nepal Oil Corporation to work on a war footing to ease the crisis, however, things have not been moving ahead as expected.The issue of Chinese government levying duties on fuel exports to Nepal came to the fore when the government delegation led by Joint Secretary of MoCS Shambhu Prasad Ghimire and comprising officials from finance ministry, law ministry, foreign ministry, NOC and Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology was ready to leave for Beijing to seal B2B deal with PetroChina. The visit was cancelled at the last moment when the Nepali Embassy in Beijing informed the government about the duties to be levied by China on export of fuel.NOC Spokesperson Mukunda Ghimire today informed that NOC was not aware of what the team was doing in Beijing and when they would return.Khadka had signed a contract with Birat to purchase petrol and diesel at a rate that was almost double the existing market price and had released payment to the latter to import fuel. Birat scrapped the contract with NOC on November 8 after the oversight agencies began a probe. Khadka was told to submit his clarification within three days on Friday.
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http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/d ... 941989.ece
Deal to end blockade reached: Nepal Deputy PM
Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa, who is on a tour of India, told The Hindu on Wednesday that a three-step political agreement to resolve the crippling economic blockade has been reached between the government of Nepal and the protesting Madhesi parties.“The consensus which is in a preliminary stage needs a lot of care, support and understanding from all the stakeholders,” Mr Thapa told The Hindu in an exclusive interview.Earlier, Mr Thapa met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to discuss ways and means to keep internal politics of the neighbour on a separate track from India-Nepal relationship. “We have to de-link the internal developments of Nepal from India-Nepal relationship,” he said.The minister said that under the framework agreement, the issue of territorial demarcation of the Madhesis and their cultural and political rights would be adequately addressed. While the demarcation might take three months to be implemented, other decisions would be implemented immediately. He also conceded that “past errors” by certain groups might have contributed to the present crisis in Nepal.A key aspect of the solution package will be the constitutional amendments. Mr Thapa pointed out that the Nepal government has proposals for amendments ready and will clear the ambiguities around the process.His visit to India was prompted by the onset of snowing and heavy rains in Nepal that intensified the suffering of the people in the mountainous region. “Winter has set in and people are suffering because of the blockade and we feel absolutely certain that we can end the blockade by building greater consensus,” he said.Mr Thapa said emphatically that “proportional and inclusive representation” — a key issue for the Madhesi people — will be ensured to the Madhesis. He began his visit on Tuesday evening by meeting a cross-section of Indian parliamentarians in the Embassy of Nepal. During the meeting, Mr Thapa requested Indian Parliament to take up the issue of humanitarian crisis that has begun to affect a winter-bound Nepal.Nepal-India ties, Mr Thapa pointed out, would return to normalcy as the blockade is resolved along with political differences at home.
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http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/ind ... E28kJ.html
When Nepal’s Madhesi leaders met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Tuesday evening, one of them – Rajendra Mahato – outlined the consequences of the failure of the current Madhesi agitation, which has now crossed 115 days.

“If our legitimate demands are not met, and we fail, three things will happen. The young in Tarai will lose faith in non-violence, and many may pick the gun. The demand for a Madhes Pradesh within Nepal will lose the argument, and the demand for a separate Madhes country will gain traction. And communal tensions between pahadis and Madhesis will increase.”

Doval listened carefully, for these are precisely the worries of the Government of India. Since Nepal promulgated a constitution on September 20th, Kathmandu-Tarai, and Kathmandu-Delhi ties have dipped. Madhesis and Janjatis (tribal groups) claim the constitution erodes the architecture of political representation, of affirmative action, of citizenship and of federalism.

All three consequences mean increased instability in Nepal and in the worst case, a possible civil-war like situation. It means Indian interests, its citizens and economy, across the northern frontier of Bihar and UP, will be hurt. It will disrupt the close kinship links between people of the two sides. It will create further bitterness in relations with Kathmandu, for even if India has nothing to do with the ground situation in Tarai, Kathmandu will blame Delhi. It will result in parallel cross-border political-criminal networks, and complicate domestic politics.

And that is why Delhi has invested enormous political capital in telling the Kathmandu establishment to accommodate the aspirations of its own disaffected people. A united and stable Nepal is in India’s interest – and a united and stable Nepal is possible only with an inclusive constitution, for only an inclusive constitution can be a sustainable constitution.
In official engagements, three key messages emerged from the Indian establishment. One, Delhi would continue to support the quest for an inclusive constitution. Two, India urged Madhesi leaders to exercise utmost flexibility. Swaraj requested them to look at Thapa’s non paper and take forward the conversation. However, there was no pressure – as Kathmandu propaganda had it – to accept such a roadmap. And three, there was concern expressed at the extended duration of the movement and hope that there would be a speedy resolution.
Sustained political attention to Nepal crisis in Delhi is a good sign. But convincing Kathmandu, and Nepali PM K P Oli, to wake up to democratic aspirations remains India’s biggest diplomatic challenge at the moment.
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

Post by Prem »

Nepal seeks fuel grant from Saudi Arabia
http://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/nepa ... di-arabia/
The government of Nepal has approached the government of Saudi Arabia for grant assistance of 20,000 kilolitres of gasoline, citing severe shortage of fuel in the country.The supply lines from India, on who the country is totally reliant for gasoline import, have been disrupted since the last two-and-a-half months.The government’s move, however, has been criticised by a former government secretary, who says Nepal should have sought alternative channels to purchase fuel rather than seek petroleum products for free.It is to be noted that Chinese government has already provided 1,300 kl of petrol to Nepal as grant assistance that Nepal Oil Corporation the state-owned petroleum supply monopoly had received from Kyirong, which is 28 km from Nepal’s Rasuwagadhi border.According to MoFA Spokesperson Tara Prasad Pokharel, the government has sought support from oil-exporting country, Saudi Arabia, with whom the country has long-standing diplomatic ties. “However, we have to wait for a few days to get the Saudi government’s response,” he said.he country has sought 50 gas bullets of 14 tonnes capacity from China to ferry cooking gas.“The government has also asked the Chinese government to help build storage facility in Panchkhal of Kavre, Khaireni of Tanahun and Trishuli of Nuwakot district,” said Shiva Prasad Tripathi, MoCS under-secretary .Nepal is also seeking exemption of taxes levied by Chinese central and local governments on petroleum export.
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http://www.firstpost.com/world/nepal-po ... 40600.html
"Nepal police arrest 30 activists protesting border blockade outside Indian embassy"
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http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 122708.cms
"Serious danger to India if Madhesi protests continue: Nepal's Madhesi leader"
NEW DELHI: A senior Madhesi leader has warned that delaying a resolution to the ongoing four-month-old agitation in the Nepal Terai could spell a serious danger for neighbour India which has an almost 1,100-km open border with the southern plains of the Himalayan nation.

"New Delhi should be alert to elements inimical to Indian interests gaining ground in the Nepal Terai if the agitation prolongs inordinately and goes out of the hands of the political leadership presently guiding it," Rajendra Mahto, Sadbhawana Party president and a prominent leader of the ongoing agitation seeking amendments to the new Constitution, told IANS in an interview during a visit here.
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http://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/big- ... oth-bills/
Big Three likely to table both bills
Leaders of the three major political parties today discussed four alternatives to clear the House obstruction and make way for tabling Constitution Amendment Bill and Reconstruction Authority Bill.They are likely to table both the bills together, ignoring objections from the United Democratic Madhesi Front.Although the UDMF has agreed to table the reconstruction authority bill, it is against tabling it along with the Constitution Amendment Bill.On the other hand, the NC has been obstructing the House since last week demanding to table both the bills together. Both the bills were registered in the Parliament by previous NC-led government.Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, on behalf of the ruling coalition, told NC leaders Ramchandra Paudel, Prakash Man Singh and Chinkaji Shrestha to choose any of the alternatives and assured them that the ruling parties would back NC’s decision, said the sources.Unified CPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and former Speaker Subas Chandra Nembang were also present in the meeting, while NC President Sushil Koirala was absent, as he was unwell.Both the bills are important and can be tabled together or separately at a short interval, she said.Former Speaker Nembang said today’s meeting ended on a positive note and most probably the major parties would agree to clear the House obstruction tomorrow.UDMF, however, will obstruct the House if the Constitution Amendment Bill was included in the business schedule without reaching consensus on the concerns of agitating Madhes-based parties, said Sadbhawana Party’s Co-Chair Laxman Lal Karna.
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Oli made To Swallow his own Bitter Goli but Slowly

India welcomes Nepal govt’s decision to advance Constitution Amendment Bill
KATHMANDU: India on Monday welcomed the Government of Nepal’s decision to advance the Constitution Amendment Bill in order to ensure proportional inclusion and election constituencies on the basis of population, and resolve the current crisis in Tarai-Madhes region.Issuing a statement today a day after the Cabinet endorsed a three-point roadmap to address the demands put forth by the agitating Madhesi parties, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said, “Government of India welcomes these developments as positive steps that help create the basis for a resolution of the current impasse in Nepal.”The MEA further urged the Nepali stakeholders to “now demonstrate the necessary maturity and flexibility to find a satisfactory solution to the Constitutional issues through constructive dialogue in an agreed timeframe.”“We are confident that a return to normalcy in Nepal would create a more secure and predictable climate for unimpeded commerce between our two countries.”The Madhes-based parties have been agitating for over three months, before the promulgation of new constitution, demanding more rights and review in the proposed provincial boundaries. After the constitution was delivered on September 20, they resorted to obstructing the Nepal-India border in order to exert pressure on the government to meet their demands.Over 50 people have been killed in the violent protests in the Tarai-Madhes region.Nepal is currently reeling under acute shortage of essential supplies including fuel and medicines due to the border blockade, which the major parties including the ones in government say was unofficially imposed by the India side on Nepal. Thousands of cargo vehicles have been left stranded on the Indian side bordering Nepal due to the obstruction at border.
Indian MEA’s Statement on Nepal
1. External Affairs Minister was informed by Nepal’s Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa today that the Nepalese Cabinet has taken some important decisions to address and resolve demands regarding the Constitution raised by agitating Madhes-based parties.
2. These decisions include amendments to the Constitution on participation in the state
organs on the basis of proportionate inclusiveness and delineation of electoral
constituencies on the basis of population. The demarcation of provinces is also to be
addressed through an appropriate arrang
ement in the Constitution on the basis of
political consensus. Similarly, others demands including citizenship are to be resolved
through negotiations and consensus.
3. Government of India welcomes these developments as positive steps that help create the basis for a resolution of the current impasse in Nepal. As a neighbour and well-wisher, India was deeply concerned at the unrest stemming from internal differences in Nepal on
the Constitution. We urge all Nepali political forces to now demonstrate the necessary
maturity and flexibility to find a satisfactory solution to the Constitutional issues
through constructive dialogue in an agreed timeframe.

4.We are confident that a return to normalcy in Nepal would create a more secure and
predictable climate for unimpeded commerce between our two countries.
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Who are the Madhesis, why are they angry?

Image

It's about 50% of Nepal's population.
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http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 359263.cms
PITHORAGARH: In an attempt to soothe the frayed nerves, a new bus service between India and Nepal has been started.

The bus service-- 'janrath'-- started yesterday. It will operate from New Delhi via Banbasa in Champawat district of Uttarakhand to Mahendra Nagar bordering town of Kanchanpur district of Nepal.

"The bus service started from December 26 from New Delhi. It has been named 'janrath' and the number of buses will be increased if the passengers from both side gets in ..
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http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news ... gulmi.html
Dec 29, 2015- India has extended a financial assistance of NRs 41.36 million for construction of campus building for Chandrakot Campus, Shantipur VDC in Gulmi District as a part of Nepal-India Cooperation Programme of the Government of India.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed for construction of the building on Monday. The project is being implemented by the District Development Committee, Gulmi.

The campus building is sixth educational project supported by the Government of India in Gulmi district.

In addition, the Government of India has extended financial assistance of approximate NRs 551 million towards renovation, restoration and upgradation of various sites of religious, educational, cultural and historical importance in Nepal in financial year 2015-2016.
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http://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/ ... -says-rae/
Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae said the southern neighbour supported attempts of the government and protesting parties to end the ongoing political crisis.

“The Madhes problem is political and its solution should be made through talks,” Rae said with a team from the Reporters’ Club on Wednesday, “We support the bids of the government, the main opposition party and the protesting parties for consensus.”
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http://www.hindustantimes.com/world/nep ... btaxH.html
‘Nepal PM Oli’s first foreign visit will be to India’
Ending speculation about Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s first foreign trip, deputy prime minister Kamal Thapa said on Wednesday that his first visit would be to India.

Thapa said preparations are underway for the visit, expected to take place in the first half of February.

“The Prime Minister will visit both India and China soon and based on preparations for both visits, I can say his first official foreign trip will start with India,” he told a news conference.

Keeping Nepal’s close ties with India in mind, prime ministers usually make New Delhi their first port of call after assuming office.

Recently there were reports that Oli, perceived to be closer to Beijing than New Delhi, would first visit the northern neighbour to snub India for an ongoing blockade of the India-Nepal border.

The blockade by Madhesi parties, who are pushing for changes in Nepal’s new constitution, has severely curtailed the supply of goods and fuel. New Delhi has denied any role in the blockade, but many in Nepal, including Oli, have blamed India.

During a phone conversation last week, Oli told his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi he is “not anti-India” and blamed reports in certain sections of the media for that perceived image.
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Chinese strategy in Nepal:
http://indianexpress.com/article/explai ... -and-tact/
"India has old ties with Nepal, China has cash and tact
The 16 Nepalese districts bordering China have received special concessions on grazing land and the supply of medicines, and special humanitarian and developmental aid from Beijing."
Chinese goodwill has also touched the Nepalese army, which has historically had strong ties with the Indian Army. A Colonel from the Nepal army, who worked in earthquake rescue operations in Gongabu and Bhaktapur in April-May along with the Chinese army, says, “While we rescued more people, the Chinese rescued the more difficult ones. They had specialist equipment with them, and robots that could sense body heat and even heartbeats. They were also experienced in such rescue operations. But when they rescued someone, they were under clear instructions to give credit to us. We were so embarrassed.”

The Chinese subtlety in engaging Nepal stands out in contrast to the Indian approach which has not won many friends in Kathmandu in recent months. A far cry indeed from the time, between 1952 and 1969, when the Indian Army manned 18 military checkposts on Nepal’s northern border with China.
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https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/ncs ... -proposal/
NC’s Tarai lawmakers may register separate proposal
Madhes-based lawmakers of the Nepali Congress are preparing to register separate amendment proposal on the Bill on First Amendment of Constitution of Nepal, seeking to downsize the number of clusters to benefit from proportional inclusion and ensure more than 50 per cent constituencies in Tarai-Madhes region.They will, however, register their proposal only if the major parties and agitating Madhes-based parties failed to register unanimous proposal on the basis of consensus.As the new constitution mentions 17 clusters to benefit from proportional inclusion, the amendment proposal will seek to downsize the number so that only needy and marginalised groups would benefit from the proposed provision of proportional inclusion, said NC lawmaker Ganesh Kumar Mandal, who is working on the amendment proposal.“Although the Interim Constitution had five clusters, the new constitution mentions 17 clusters. As many clusters in the new constitution are unnecessary and curtail the rights of marginalised people we want to downsize the number of clusters,” Mandal said adding it would also address the concerns of agitating Madhes-based parties.The amendment proposal will also seek to ensure 83 of the 165 electoral constituencies in the Tarai-Madhes region and 82 in hilly and mountainous regions, according to Mandal.“The meeting of Madhes-based lawmakers of the party will finalise the proposal tomorrow morning,” Mandal said. The proposal, which the party leadership has been dwelling on, is likely to be registered by the NC itself, he said. But if the party did not take initiative on it, the Madhes-based lawmakers of the party would register the proposal, according to him.
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

Post by Paul »

Nepal has started allowing Chinese into Nepal visa free.

So far 4 Chinese airlines fly into Nepal.
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

Post by Hari Seldon »

IMO, Nepal is lost to us now. PRC will dominate now on. The Nepalis, Indics to the core, show the peculiar Indic trait of being OK with a phorener gaining advantage rather than a fellow Indic only.

Sigh.
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