Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

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Supratik
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

Post by Supratik »

Nepal is going to see a power struggle between pro-China elements (Communists) and pro-Indian elements (NC and Madheshi parties). China doesn't have the leverage of the fact that Madhesis i.e. basically Indians from the mainland are one-third of the population. Just make sure they get equal share in power which is what India is trying to force through the blockade.
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

Post by Paul »

Nepali Hindus and Tibetian Buddhists have an adverserial relationship.

I could see traces of this rivalry in Sikkim between Nepali Hindus and Buddhist Bhutiyas.
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

Post by KLP Dubey »

Its really time for that long-overdue land grab. Nepal is in the Indosphere and must become part of India. Even after witnessing what happened to Tibet, and what is going on in Nepal, people still cling to the outdated idea of "buffer states". Holding on to this ideology will lead us to become a "duffer state".
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

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Visa waiver shows Nepal's extra care, concern for Chinese tourists
10 Jan 2016 | 21:35pm

REPUBLICA
DISQUS_COMMENTS




25 11 Google +0 0 0

Wolfgang Georg ArltWolfgang Georg Arlt

Wolfgang Georg Arlt, director of China Outbound Tourism Research Institute (COTRI), was in Nepal recently to participate in a two-day workshop on China Outbound Tourism. Kriti Bhuju of Republica talked to Arlt to know what tourism entrepreneurs should do to bring more Chinese tourists to Nepal, among others. Excerpts:

Do you think the services being provided by Nepali travel agencies are as per the demand of Chinese visitors?

On the basis of interaction with entrepreneurs during the two-day workshop, I feel travel agencies here have similar experience like those in other countries. They are making packages as per the demand of tourists. However, one should understand habits and interest of people of different nationalities while making packages. Chinese, for example, love to make noise and bargain. If they make noise, you have to understand that they are happy. Similarly, they want to bargain even if they don't want to pay lesser price.









What do Chinese prefer in Nepal that Nepali tour operators are not offering?

Nepal has very positive image in China. They like Nepal's clean atmosphere, good nature, culture and friendly people. Chinese come here mostly for experiences. I think Nepal has to convert it into bookable products that one can buy. Nepal has to focus on niche market too as China has huge population and niche markets means hundreds and thousands of potential tourists.

Nepali tour operators can allow Chinese tourists to stay in rural households, and take them on bird watching trips and jungle safari. They can teach Chinese tourists local dances and songs as well ways to prepare local food items, among others. These are things that Chinese cannot arrange themselves.

As many Chinese tourists do not rely on tour operators, tour operators can look into these factors if they want to attract more Chinese tourists. It will be beneficial for both as Chinese want to have unique experience in Nepal which other countries cannot offer.

Nepal should focus on 'Golden Week' that is on first week of October and Chinese New Year when Chinese people have long holidays.

What do you think Nepal should to bring high-end Chinese tourists?

It is good to have more tourists. But it is even more important to look into how long they are staying and how much they are spending. What Nepal has to do is try to have quality products not the low-cost products. Nepal has a good image as a special place to go among Chinese tourists and Nepal should continue be that. I suggest tour operators to develop a good package for special experience and give visitors the best value for money. What you should be careful is do not let tourists feel that Nepal is for poor Chinese only.

Many Chinese nationals are opening restaurants and hotels in major tourist destinations. Do you think this will help cater the need of Chinese visitors?

It depends on segment. It is a boon for people who travel less and do not understand English. When these tourists return home and tell their friends, this will definitely help to bring more Chinese visitors to Nepal. But there are other segments who love to have Nepali food and Nepal hospitality and experience which they cannot get in Chinese hotels and restaurants here in Nepal. As they can easily have best Chinese food in their own country, they want to experience something different here.

The Nepali hospitality is something that matters. It cannot be compared to anywhere in the world.

Nepal has decided to waive visa fee for Chinese tourists. Do you think it will help?

It is a very good move. Paying US$ 25 for two weeks is not a big deal though. But Chinese people will be very happy to get a special attention than people of other countries. It shows your extra care, concern and for them and this is something that Chinese like the most. I am hopeful that the decision will help to bring more Chinese tourists who will be spending more than the visa fee.

What do you think are Nepal's Unique Selling Points (USP) for the Chinese market?

I think it is proximity, good government to government relation, clean environment and honesty of Nepali people. Smaller things like giving correct change and giving back the things that visitors leave behind is what Chinese mostly like. This is something that they do not find even in their own country most of the times.

Friendly people, and warm and heartfelt hospitality, UNESCO Heritage sites like Lumbini and Sagarmatha, and most importantly the smile and resilience of Nepalis people are Nepal's USPs.

What should Nepal to get more repeat visitors from China?

For now, Chinese are mostly one time visitors. But if you diversify tourism products and services as per their taste and segment, you can repeat visitors. My suggestion is Nepal should organize bilateral programs like Nepal-China musical or cultural festival which can attract more Chinese tourists. Such events can attract Chinese visitors to came here again. China is a window with open opportunities for Nepal. If Nepal fails to capture this opportunity, some other country will do.

What is the reason behind COTRI signing MoU with NATTA. How will it be beneficial to both the parties?

COTRI is working with more than 20 countries. NATTA is now our country partner for Nepal. We have provided training to members of NATTA. We will also provide Training-of- Trainers (ToT) after which NATTA can continue training on its own.

As for COTRI, we are trying to develop projects together with NATTA. We are working on 'pro-poor' like home-stay tourism. For this we need a local partner and local political connection, among others. We are also talking about developing new products for Nepal like 'inclusive tourism' and 'health tourism' among others. We will also help Nepal by providing international experience, third party financing, developing new products and providing resources, among others.
- See more at: http://myrepublica.com/interview/story/ ... va2J1.dpuf
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

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http://www.freepressjournal.in/constitu ... oli/755995
Constitution amendment, Terai resolution before India visit: Nepal PM K.P. Sharma Oli
Kathmandu: Nepali Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli has expressed confidence that his country’s new Constitution would be suitably amended to address the concerns of the Madhesis agitating in the Terai and a solution found to the issue before his visit to India next month. “We have presented a bill in parliament… The Constitution is going to be amended,” Oli told IANS in an interview at his office in Singha Durbar here.

“We have agreed to treat special privileges as fundamental rights. This is democracy… Sometimes in a democracy, such things happen and we have to tolerate (them),” Oli observed while talking about the more than four-month-old anti-Constitution agitation by Madhesi political parties and indigenous groups.
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Thapa seeks foreign support to implement new constitution
The government has sought international help to implement the new constitution as well as carry out post-earthquake reconstruction and recovery.Briefing Kathmandu-based diplomatic community at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa today said their support would be crucial in both fronts.“I am confident of receiving your continued support, which is crucial for the implementation of this constitution,” Thapa said during the briefing, when all Kathmandu-based ambassadors and head of missions, including that of the US, China, France, Germany, Japan, and the UN were present.Charge d’Affairs of the Indian Embassy and British Embassy represented their ambassadors, according to a source at MoFA.DPM Thapa stated that there was “no alternative” to promulgating the constitution to “logically conclude the peace process that began in 2006”.Some of the envoys had inquired as to how the ongoing impasses would improve and supply ease as Nepal had been facing difficulties since the adoption of the new Constitution.Saying no constitution of any country in this world was perfect, he said Nepal’s new Charter encompasses the main features of a democratic and inclusive polity.DPM Thapa referred to the positive developments in different fronts India’s welcoming of Nepal’s constitution amendment bill to address the Madhesi parties’ concerns, the ongoing dialogue, clearance of all southern border routes except Raxual-Birgunj as signs of gradual normalisation of the situation, according to MoFA spokesperson Tara Prasad Pokhrel.He also hoped that the disruption at the Raxual-Birgunj check-point would end in a few days. He reiterated Nepal’s policy of maintaining international relations on the basis of sovereign equality. ( Paki speak)He shared Nepal’s full commitment to further strengthen relations with neighbouring countries, and the policy of friendship with all and enmity with none.Recalling his recent visits to both India and China, he said: “Both with India and China, understanding has been developed for long-term economic relations based on mutual benefit.”
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"Norwegian firm pulls out of $1.5 bln Nepal hydro project"
http://www.trust.org/item/20160113085207-0d9in/
KATHMANDU, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Norwegian energy giant Statkraft AS has withdrawn its plan to build a hydropower project in Nepal, officials said on Wednesday, in a blow to the Himalayan nation's efforts to woo foreign investment and lift its struggling economy.

The company was to invest $1.5 billion in the Tamakoshi III plant to generate 650 megawatts for export to energy-hungry India, which has an agreement with Nepal to buy electricity to help cover its own supply shortages.

Ghanashyam Ojha, external affairs chief with the Investment Board Nepal (IBN), said the Norwegian firm withdrew because it was not sure it could send the power to markets in India, as necessary cross-border transmission lines are not in place yet.

He said the decision may have also been prompted by last year's devastating earthquake, which increased investment risks in Nepal.

The project was located in the Dolakha district, about 100 km (62 miles) northeast of Kathmandu and close to the border with Tibet. The area was one of the worst hit by two earthquakes last year that left 9,000 people dead.

Statkraft said it had backed out after a thorough assessment of the commercial, technical and regulatory factors as well as what it called a non-conducive project development environment.

"These factors include a lack of viable power offtake option, lower electricity price forecasts, insufficient transmission capacity for power evacuation and absence of necessary policies and regulatory framework for operationalizing power sales," country director Sandip Shah said in a statement.
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

Post by prahaar »

What is wrong in Nepal? Recently another Scandinavian company exited telecom service business ($1B stake).

http://yle.fi/uutiset/teliasonera_selli ... os/8545394
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

Post by Sid »

It's not that they are leaving but space is being created for Chinese firms. Big changes in our neighborhood.
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

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http://thehimalayantimes.com/science-te ... ult-study/
Nepal earthquake “damaged Main Himalayan Thrust fault”
( This may have long term percussions for building hydroelectric projectc/ Dams in Nepal)
KATHMANDU: The massive earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25 ruptured the Main Himalayan Thrust fault, but not all the way to the surface, according to a recent paper published in Nature Geoscience.Further rupture of the fault, which stopped halfway at 11 kilometre under Kathmandu Valley, cannot be ruled out. Rupture up to the surface in the future — as the Indian tectonic plate gradually slips under the Eurasian tectonic plate — means reoccurrence of tremor(s) of magnitude comparable to the April 25 seismic event, f the Main Himalayan Thrust, south of Kathmandu that has not ruptured in the April 25 earthquake, but is locked, and therefore still has the potential to fail seismically.The researchers had used satellite data to analyse the impact of the seismic event on the rocks underneath.The study suggested that shallow thrust fault flattening occurred at the depth between 5 and 15 kilometre due to the seismic events, and thereby generating about 1 m of uplift in the Kathmandu Basin and yet causing the high Himalaya farther north to subside by about 0.6 m.
The main fault, however, did not rupture all the way to the surface. Rupturing stopped some 11 kilometre under the Kathmandu Valley and the unbroken upper part of the fault — which is over 50 kilometre wide — is continuously building up more pressure over time, lead scientist Elliott of Oxford University said in a statement.“There is still half of the fault — that’s going south of Kathmandu, from a depth of 11km up to the surface — that hasn’t yet broken,” BBC quoted Elliott of Oxford University as saying.“Our hypothesis is that the abrupt stop is because the main fault has been damaged and it was held up where it intersected with other, smaller faults. But this will only be temporary.”
“These earthquakes tend to happen on the century timescale, but this barrier could be pushed through on a shorter timescale. Of course, our problem is that we are not able to predict when; we can never give a date.”If the remaining portion did break all the way to the surface in one go, according to him, it would likely produce a quake of similar magnitude to the April 25 event. “But being much shallower could have more damaging effects.”The study has provided a model for Himalayas’s growth over time, saying growth of Himalayan topography may largely occur during the ongoing post-seismic phase.According to Elliott, the study showed that the fault beneath Nepal has a kink in it, creating a ramp 20 kilometre underground. “Material is continually being pushed up this ramp, which explains why the mountains were seen to be growing in the decades before the earthquake,” he said.“The earthquake itself then reversed this, dropping the mountains back down again when the pressure was released as the crust suddenly snapped in April 2015,” he added, “The highest peaks dropped by up to 60 cm in the first seconds of the earthquake.”
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UDMF demands to be met in four days
Oli, No More Annkh Macholi lest U be boiled Holli Holli
The major parties also decided to form a political mechanism to review the existing demarcation of federal units and the same could be given legitimacy either from the Parliament or through constitutional amendment.According to UCPN-M Vice-chair Narayan Kaji Shrestha, the meeting decided to address demands of the agitating alliance before the next Parliament meeting scheduled for January 19.“Both the task forces would be assigned to prepare the draft of an agreement before the Parliament meeting resumes,” Shrestha said.The parties today assessed progress made by the task forces that are indulged in vigorous negotiations to find a peaceful solution to the ongoing Tarai crisis and conclude the constitution amendment process.Meanwhile, CPN-UML Secretary Pradip Gyawali, addressing a function here today, said Madhes agitation had affected social harmony, adversely hit country’s economy and promoted anarchy and the government should take it seriously and resolve the crisis soon.Gyawali said the agitating parties should be taken into confidence by giving legitimacy to political mechanism through the Parliament.Addressing the same function, UCPN-M spokesperson Dinanath Sharma also said formation of political mechanism with constitutional status should address the UDMF’s concern.Vice-chair of Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Hridayesh Tripathi said UDMF had been impatiently waiting for the major parties to come up with a common stance on their 11-point demands.
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For various reasons, this disturbs me. There should have been no problem asking the Nepal police to arrest Pappu and extradite him to India.

http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news ... anted.html
"Indian police men enter Nepal in search of ‘most wanted’ fugitive"
Jan 15, 2016- A team of Indian police entered Nepal via Bara border in a bolero jeep informing Nepal’s Armed Police Force stationed at border that they were visiting renowned Gadhimai temple situated at Bariyarpur in the district.

However, the Indian police team consisting of seven/eight personnel including three junior police officers did not head the road leading to Gadhimai. Instead they headed 15 km north towards district headquarters Kalaiya.

They parked their vehicles at Bharat Chok and directly went to Janaki Hall Chok at Kalaiya-5. There the Indian police went to a retail shop belonging to one Pappu Shah, who goes by a name ‘Mitthu’. Mitthu is a fugitive from India. The plain-clothed Indian police caught Shah, who attempted to run upon recognising the Indian police.

Locals say that Pappu had arrived at the place few days ago. His parents had been operating the shop for the past few years. After his parents shouted for help alleging that his son was being kidnapped, locals rounded up the Indian police.

The Indian police produced their identity cards and tied to explain that they were trying to arrest Pappu because he was a most-wanted fugitive in India. No sooner the Nepal police personnel arrived on the scene to intervene and escorted the Indian police.

Nepal police later agreed to release Indian police after the latter called their Superintendent at Sitamadi and established a conversation with the Nepali security officers.

According to Indian police, Pappu is in ‘most wanted’ list of Indian police. He has been charged with three murders and two abduction cases.


http://bit.ly/1Om5MoC
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http://www.india.com/news/world/us-to-p ... my-870299/
US to provide training, support to Nepal Army
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http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asi ... 38802.html
Nepal constitution talks fail to end protests
Talks between the Nepali government and minority groups to resolve a dispute over a new constitution have fallen apart, opposition leaders said on Tuesday, dashing hopes that protests that have led to crippling fuel shortages will end soon.
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UDMF cadres intensify agitation in Birgunj
Nepal will split in two Because of Oli's stupidity
BIRGUNJ: Cadres of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) intensified agitation in Birgunj on Tuesday.They resorted to the streets, burning tyres and forcing local businesses to shut in the morning. The market areas, however, reopened after 2 pm.The UDMF had held a meeting yesterday and reviewed the ongoing agitation. The alliance of agitating four Madhesi parties had staged a torch rally yesterday evening.The protests had slackened in the city for some days.
And

Nepal urged to join Commonwealth
http://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/ ... monwealth/
Presenting his paper on Nepal’s prospects of joining the CoN, former Finance Minister Madhukar SJB Rana today said Nepal meets the criteria of being a CoN member.The former minister referred to Nepal’s proposal of becoming a part of CoN in the mid-1990s and urged the concerned stakeholders to take up this issue now as Nepal and the UK are celebrating the bicentennial of diplomatic relations.He suggested that Nepal could be a CoN member by adopting the bloc’s core values such as democracy, human rights and rule of law as per the Harare Declaration of Commonwealth of Nations.“Joining to the CoN will provide an exceptional opportunity for us to diversify our interests and diplomacy,” he argued.Rana argued that most CoN member states share Nepal’s situation as they are either Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), Small Island Nations, or vulnerable states and if Nepal becomes part of the grouping Nepal has bigger platform to raise its interests and issues.Among SAARC countries, Afghanistan, Bhutan and Nepal are not CoN members while Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are members.In the programme, Professor Shreedhar Gautam and Bihari Krishna Shrestha, however, suggested that Nepal, as it has maintained its independent status throughout history, shouldn’t join the grouping largely referred to as a club of ex-British colonies.
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http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report-th ... ml-2168644
In fresh violence in Nepal, three persons, including a woman, were killed on Thursday when police opened fire to quell clashes between agitating Madhesis and ruling CPN-UML youth wing cadres in a town bordering India, forcing Prime Minister K P Oli to cancel his visit there.
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Nepal votes to amend new Constitution
KATHMANDU: Nepal's parliament today voted to amend the country's Constitution with a two-thirds majority four months after its promulgation, in a bid to resolve a political dispute with the minority Madhesi community.

The amendment aims at resolving the ongoing agitation by the Madhesi parties. The lawmakers of the agitating parties, however, boycotted the voting this evening, saying the purported amendment was incomplete and would not address their demands.
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http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news ... thapa.html
Nepal-India relations getting warmer: Deputy PM Thapa
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http://www.nepalitimes.com/blogs/thebri ... -protests/
Madhesis unveil fresh protests
Madhesis unveil fresh protests
Monday, January 25th, 2016
..................................................................................................................

Miffed at the way the Big Thee pushed through the first constitution amendment bill, the agitating Madhesi parties have unveiled a fresh protest program.

On Monday, a meeting of the Madhesi Front, a coalition of four Madhes-based parties, decided that it will carry out a candle light vigil and hold various interaction programs from 27 January to 1 February. The Front said it would unveil more protest programs after further discussion.

A statement issued by the Front is silent about whether sit-ins at Nepal-India checkpoints will continue. But the Front leaders said border protests will go on.
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

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Nice to see the Nepali Dy PM talk about "warming ties". As the old saying goes, you get them by the family jewels and their hearts and minds will follow. All the nehruvian acolytes in Indian think tanks were calling this govt.'s response to Nepal as a bad move...clearly it isn't. A softer approach would only prove the likes of Oli and Thapa that there would no consequences for screwing Indian interests in the region -- not the right lesson for them to learn. They are going to swing between India and China anyway, for maximum benefit to themselves.
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Wotsissain wrote:Nice to see the Nepali Dy PM talk about "warming ties". As the old saying goes, you get them by the family jewels and their hearts and minds will follow. All the nehruvian acolytes in Indian think tanks were calling this govt.'s response to Nepal as a bad move...clearly it isn't. A softer approach would only prove the likes of Oli and Thapa that there would no consequences for screwing Indian interests in the region -- not the right lesson for them to learn. They are going to swing between India and China anyway, for maximum benefit to themselves.
THey are still keeping 52% power base for hill people which will perpetuate discrimination against Terrai.
This means India will have to buy favours from Hill representatives to keep Terrai secured. But still better than the way Oli was shooting goli from his hips.
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That is why the madeshis have no intention of calling off the blockade. They cannot allow the Olis and Thapas and Hill tribes to sideline them using their constitution, while ensuring that the constitution leaves a majority in power essentially making the constitution not amenable to amendments in the future. What short-sighted bunch, these stupid nepali politicians.
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http://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/govt ... arliament/
NC LAWMAKER RAMESH LEKHAK CALLS PRIME MINISTER OLI-LED GOVERNMENT A BUNCH OF JOKERS
Kathmandu, January 26
Ramesh Lekhak, a lawmaker from the main opposition Nepali Congress today called Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and ministers in his government a bunch of jokers for making frivolous statements.Speaking during the Parliament’s Special Hour today, Lekhak said the prime minister was always making light of serious problems the country was facing and Deputy Prime Minister Chitra Bahadur KC was no less.He wanted to know whether a deputy prime minister could vote against a government-tabled bill in a parliamentary system as DPM KC had done in the case of constitution amendment bill and how come a majority government repeatedly fails to maintain quorum in the parliament, halting passage of bills.Yesterday’s Parliament meeting had to be postponed, as it could not pass the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights due to lack of quorum.The House, however, endorsed the agreement today.DPM Chitra Bahadur KC, however, defended his move to vote against the said bill. “Nationalism is above the government.Since the amendment bill was brought in the interest of foreign forces going against the national interest, I voted against it,” he told the lawmakers while speaking in the Parliament.He, however, gave wish-washy reply when asked why he was in a government that brought an anti-national bill.Meanwhile, the agitating Madhes-based lawmakers continued to boycott the Parliament meeting today as well, demanding that their concerns be addressed.“The constitution amendment is incomplete, as it neither settles the issue of boundaries of federal units nor does it properly address their concern about proportional inclusion,” said Tarai Madhes Democratic Party member Brijesh Kumar Gupta before Madhes-based lawmakers walked out of the meeting hall.
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

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http://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/yada ... nst-india/
Yadav dares govt to proclaim war against India
Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal leader Upendra Yadav today challenged ruling parties to either announce war against India or to step down as the ministers were spreading rumours that India was working to separate some Tarai districts and annex them to India.The deputy prime ministers have alleged in their speeches that India is attempting to annex the Tarai districts. If it is so I challenge them to proclaim war against India and go to the border for the same.If they are unable to do this they should leave their chairs,” Yadav told reporters on the premises of the Parliament when asked about the rumour.He said that ministers are making irresponsible statements. Yadav objected to the fact that he was not allowed to speak at the House meeting today.“I was preparing to speak at the House meeting about state suppression and violence against agitating Madhes-based parties, but, it was obstructed to prevent the voice of Madhes,” Yadav said
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http://health.economictimes.indiatimes. ... y/50737070
"India donates 40 ambulances, eight buses to Nepal on R-Day
On its 67th Republic day, India has donated 40 ambulances and eight buses to various hospitals, non-profit charitable organisations and educational institutions in Nepal to strengthen the education and health services in the Himalayan nation."
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

Post by member_29172 »

Wonder how the reconstruction efforts are going in Nepal, there were news reports that most of the efforts have only recently begun. Hope things change for them soon.
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http://www.newsindiatimes.com/will-not- ... d-nepal-pm
"Will not visit India until blockade is lifted: Nepal PM"
https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/blo ... says-pm-2/
"Blockade will end in a day or two, says PM"
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today said the blockade at border entry points would end in a day or two.
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Post by member_29172 »

As I was saying... there's no reason for Nepal to exist as an independent entity with communists at the core. The sickularism is going to bite them in the a$$ and by extension to us. They are better off being a part of India. They are part Indian anyways, and more Indic than most mowdurn Indians.

This is only going to cause more pain to Nepalis and to us as we are their neighbours and Indic brothers. The non-intervention bs doesn't work. Bangladesh,pukistan,Srilanka, Burma they all are an extension of India and are better off in India. Atleast Burma and Nepal and Sri Lanka.

They'll get safety and we will get peace of mind.
member_29325
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

Post by member_29325 »

As long as the Madhesis don't give up, these incompetent fools Oli and Co. cannot push their self-serving consitution down the throat of the madhesis. As one of the article states, the Dy CM voted against a bill by his own ruling party rather than passing a bill that would have internal party consensus. One could say they are new at this whole constitutional democracy and running a parliament, but that does not explain why they seek to disempower and disenfranchise the Madheshis. That is just bigotry.
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

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Madhesis should continue their agitation against the bigotry displayed by the hills people, and they should not back down until the constitution is in favor of the majority, as it should be.

Nepal has been utterly spoiled under Indian patronage and friendship pricing. Let Oli tow the China line all it wants, if he wants to sell his country to them then let them be, we saw what happened with Vietnam. And Tibet. And the Uyghurs. In the end Oli will come back with the begging bowl and New Delhi will tell him the truth once again that India has no control over the Madhesis, as they are Nepali citizens peacefully protesting.
Last edited by member_29294 on 27 Jan 2016 10:16, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

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proportional representation would suffice, but the Hill people want disproportionate representation, which is the point of contention, it looks like.
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

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The gap between posturing and reality is best illustrated by the province division in the new constitution. The proposal is to create six provinces such that each one shares border with India. Seems to me that a lot of outrage is manufactured.
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Govt forms team to strengthen Nepal-India ties
The government has constituted a group of eminent persons to recommend ways to further deepen the multi-faceted relations subsisting between Nepal and India.A meeting of the Council of Ministers held at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar this evening decided to form the group comprising four eminent persons.After the meeting, government spokesperson and Minister for Information and Communications Sherdhan Rai said economist Bhekh Bahadur Thapa, legal expert Surya Nath Upadhyaya, civil society leader Nilambar Acahrya and lawmaker Rajan Bhattarai were in the group of eminent persons.Thapa is the former foreign minister and ambassador to India, while Upadhyaya is the former chief of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority. Similarly, Acharya from the civil society and lawmaker Bhattarai have also been included in the group of eminent persons. The government formed the group as per the agreement reached during the third meeting of Nepal-India Joint Commission meeting held last year in Kathmandu. It has been given two year terms.
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

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Nepal PM may visit China ahead of India if blockade remains: official
Kathmandu: Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli may head to China ahead of India if the trade “blockade” is not lifted, a top official of the ruling Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) said on Saturday, making the normalisation of situation at the Indo-Nepal border a pre-condition for the premier’s maiden trip to Delhi.Surya Thapa, deputy chief of the publicity committee of the CPN-UML, said that Oli is waiting for India to lift its “unofficial blockade”, mainly at the Raxaul-Birgunj border check point, which accounts for about 70% of the bilateral trade.“If the embargo is not lifted, the Prime Minister may visit China first, instead of India,” Thapa told PTI. The usual practice of the new prime ministers of Nepal is to travel to India on maiden foreign trip. Only Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ had rubbed India the wrong way when he chose China as the first destination of his foreign visit after taking over as Nepal’s prime minister in 2008.Thapa said though the Prime Minister has high regards for Indo-Nepal ties, if India does not show any gesture Oli’s trip to China as the first foreign destination was inevitable. Preparations for Oli’s China visit have been made at the same time as his India visit, likely in the third week of February, Thapa said. Shortly after Oli took charge about four months ago, he had a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who invited him to visit India. That same day, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Wu Chuntai also called on Oli and invited him to visit Beijing, Thapa said.There is pressure on Oli from party leadership not to visit India first, if the situation at the border does not return to normalcy, Thapa said, adding that the situation of Nepal-India relations was “unexpected and beyond imagination.” “They are pressing the Prime Minister to visit China first, in case the situation doesn’t improve,” he said.
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Thakur deny that blockade at border check points would be lifted after February 1.
KATHMANDU: Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Chairman Mahantha Thakur refuted media reports that claimed blockade at border check points would be lifted after February 1.He made such statement during an interaction organised at the Reporters’ Club in the Capital on Saturday.Leader Thakur informed that next meeting of the United Democratic Madhesi Front to be held before February 3 would decide its future strategy.Stating that the first amendment to the Constitution had addressed only some of their demands, he made it clear that the agitation would continue until the demands were addressed.When asked if India piled pressure to the Front to leave the border checkpoints as PM KP Sharma Oli was planning to visit India, Thakur said, “People are with us and we have pressure to continue the agitations.”He said that the agitation would continue until the people of Tarai got their rights.Claiming that they had never rejected the government’s proposal to sit for talks, theTMDP Chairman said, “We have held talks with the government for 26 times till date, but they couldnot yield any result.”Meanwhile, Thakur said that he was planning to visit India for a medical check-up, not for other reasons
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http://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/ ... kade-lift/
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

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http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/nep ... 52057.html

Nepal army chief made honorary general of Indian Army
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

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http://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/udmf ... t-meeting/
UDMF likely to review protest programmes in next meeting
Leaders associated with the United Democratic Madhesi Front today said the next meeting of the front would change the form of its protests.Senior leader of the Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party Nepal Ram Naresh Ray said the UDMF was likely to review its protest programmes in its next meeting, as one type of protest could not be sustained for a long time.Ray said the UDMF needed to expand its agitation in the hills and mountain with the cooperation of like-minded forces for the government was not feeling the heat, as the agitation was Tarai centric. He claimed that the UDMF agitation was meant to strengthen country’s nationality and integrity.Co-chair of Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal Rajendra Shrestha said the new forms of protest would be capital centric. “We need to change the form of our protest and make it capital centric,” he added. Shrestha, however, said the border blockade would continue till the UDMF continued its programme of general strike.He said the Tarai standoff prolonged mainly because the government was not ready to give up its status quoits policies. Shrestha said Tarai agitation was a matter of concern for both Nepal and India, therefore it was not unnatural for Madhesi leaders to visit Bihar and seek moral support of the leaders there.General Secretary of Sadbhawana Party Manish Kumar Suman said the Madhes agitation had affected Madhesi people the most and hence the agitating Madhesi forces were keen to end the agitation, provided the major parties addressed their agendas.“It is natural for a person to visit his/her relatives in the times of difficulties,” he said and added that the UDMF leaders visited Bihar as per the front’s policy to make national and international communities aware of the front’s demands.Suman said the number of Bihari women having marital relations in Nepal and Nepali women having marital relations in Bihar was 2.6 million and two million, respectively.“We have familial, linguistic and cultural relations with the residents of Bihar. Therefore, it is natural for us to inform them of our grievances. We have sought their moral support but not material support,” Suman clarified.
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

Post by Sachin »

A_Gupta wrote:Nepal army chief made honorary general of Indian Army
This I guess is the norm. Indian Army Chief also is the honorary general for the Nepalese Army as well.
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

Post by Aditya_V »

I think we are missing anther dimension in this dispute, many of Nepali Congress and Communist leaders have been educated at JNU. The have close tie ups with this set up and are prolonging these problems at the cost of the Nepali people.
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Re: Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

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Oli The Unholy Will Be Made to Eat his Own Bitter Goli & Turned Into Sweet Molly
KATHMANDU: An unwieldy coalition of lawmakers trying to implement Nepal’s first democratic constitution is finding common cause with protesting minority groups, isolating Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and increasing the risk his government could fall this spring.Oli, of the leftist Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), promised to resolve simmering tensions in the southern plains and lift a blockade of the Indian border when he was voted in to power almost four months agoYet sporadic violence, in which more than 50 people have died since August, continues in the Himalayan nation with police shooting dead three demonstrators last month.“Oli, 63, heads a fractious cabinet with no less than six deputy premiers – one a royalist bent on reinstating the monarchy and another the leader of a party representing minority Madhesis who has yet to sign the constitution.Oli’s hostile rhetoric has annoyed New Delhi, said a former diplomat, even as increased cooperation between Indian and Nepali officials has eased the impact of the blockade in recent weeks.India has sympathised with the protest movement, hosting a briefing by Madhesi and other leaders last week, amid talk on the New Delhi cocktail circuit that Oli’s days in power may be numbered.
“Madhes is a colony of the ruling class. We are living under apartheid,” Vijay K. Karna, a Madhesi protest leader, said in New Delhi. He described Oli as “the main problem” in efforts to reach a constitutional compromise.Following a winter lull, Madhesi leaders are under pressure to revive their campaign for a unified plains province that has hampered efforts to recover from two devastating earthquakes last year.The party to watch is the opposition Nepali Congress, the largest in parliament, which will elect a president at its general convention in March.The party – which has ties to both India and southern Nepal – will then face a choice between joining a government of national unity or attempting to capture power by dislodging Oli, according to a local level Congress leader.Senior Congress leaders contacted by Reuters played down speculation they would oust Oli, although a central committee member said Congress was best placed to mediate between ruling “ultra nationalists” and the protesters.Maoist spokesman Sharma said the party was not considering leaving the coalition yet. “But we’ll discuss with the prime minister about our concerns seriously,” he said. “He must change his ways.”
Last edited by Prem on 05 Feb 2016 03:54, edited 1 time in total.
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