Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion

[Stan_Savljevic]

Indian Army chief in Nepal amid protests by Maoists
http://beta.thehindu.com/news/internati ... epage=true

Gen. Kapoor will visit the high-altitude military academy of Nepal Army situated in Jomsom in Mustang district , some 220 k.m. north-west of Kathmandu and the western regional headquarters of military in Pokhara, 200 k.m. west of the capital.

As if, we did nt know...
Prachanda biased against India: Nepal PM
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/det ... n2010/at05

“At times he is behaving responsibly and at times he is behaving in an unpredictable manner,” the Prime Minister said about the Chairman of Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist).

What do you call such people, in my part of the world such people are called mu ka or amma or daaaktar ayya, in short megalomaniacs.

Asked how he saw Prachanda’s frequent visits to China in the recent times, Nepal was dismissive. “I have not taken seriously why he is frequently visiting (China),” he said.

IDSA COMMENT
Sino-Bhutan Boundary Negotiations: Complexities of the ‘Package Deal’ ----- Medha Bisht
http://www.idsa.in/idsacomments/Sino-Bh ... sht_190110
Looks very similar to Dr. Chandrasekaran's analysis in saag

The nature of politics in the package deal has thus elevated the Sino-Bhutan boundary negotiations to a level of strategic importance, where the stakes associated and its resolution thereof could change the framework of interests. Meanwhile the evolving Sino-India relations represent two dominant strands. While the first is a co-operative relationship on issues of mutual concern and interest, the second strand is reflective of a conflictual behaviour which in the recent past has been triggered on territorial and water diversion issues. Indian concerns emerge in response to the latter and therefore any development on Bhutan’s North-Western front could ring alarm bells in Indian strategic circles. Bhutan as a small country surrounded by two Asian giants has been successful in managing external players. However as the diplomatic milieu is changing in South Asia, strategic options have to be inevitably identified by the concerned countries. Based on this analysis the nineteenth round is therefore just the beginning, and much would depend on the evolving China-India-Bhutan triad.

[Stan_Savljevic]

One has to understand Bhutan in the same context as one understands Nepal, Sikkim, and Gorkhaland. Nepali-speaking peoples form a good 40-50% of the population of Sikkim somuchso that when the then PM Morarji Desai claimed that Nepali was a furrin language, even the now-departed Jyoti Basu batted for Nepali saying that Nepali is not. In fact, there is a widespread popularity of a separate Gorkhaland state in Sikkim and this has to be understood in the same context. Bhutan and Sikkim have an "indigenous" Buddhist population that in some cases feel threatened, in some cases feel resigned, and in some cases do fight back to the creeping Nepal-ization of these states. While admittedly, a good fraction of the Nepali-speaking peoples are also tribal and Buddhist, and there is little to no ideological clash as such given the broad streams of current day tolerance, there is nevertheless a point of discord that needs to be noted and appreciated.

One area where that discord flames over is when Nepal exports Maoism and Marxist-Leninism to Bhutan. Recall that both Nepal and Bhutan were/are monarchies in a time-warp, and while Nepal saw a violent and bloody transformation to democrazy, Bhutan is trying to manage this transformation at a more leisurely pace and not throwing away its claim to "Gross National Happiness." There is a huge refugee population of Nepali-speaking peoples that Bhutan has disenfranchised due to fears that they have become elements who are hard-boldened Maoists. Some of these refugees come from the poorest strata of society with access only to Nepali or variants of Hindi and with a softness for Hinduism, Buddhism and Maoism, however complicated the % allocation of loyalties to these three streams of "thought." Bhutan has refused to take these refugees back and after a long and hard bargain, it has been decided that some will be resettled in the US, EU, a few in Nepal and some in India. While most prefer Nepal or India due to familiarity, the resource crunch means that both these states can afford only so much. In the US, many of them have been resettled in Texas and are very much susceptible to conversion as any economically lurable migrant can be.

The reason for this long-winded introduction to one dimension of Bhutan is to put things in context for the following passage:

Bhutan has been hit a series of explosions since 2008. More than a dozen people have been killed with security forces blaming the little known Nepal-based Communist Party of Bhutan (Marxist-Leninist) for the attacks in the otherwise peaceful Himalayan nation. Bhutanese security forces in the past one year busted at least three Maoist camps in southern Bhutan districts and captured about eight rebels.

Bhutan had witnessed a pro-democracy agitation in the 1990s with a section of Nepali-speaking residents in its southern parts rising in revolt against the monarchy. The crackdown that followed led thousands of Nepali-speaking people from southern Bhutan to flee to Nepal. Now an estimated 100,000 people are sheltered in relief camps. There are reports that the Maoists are recruiting among aggrieved refugees now based in Nepal.

from http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/n ... nid=122755

[Stan_Savljevic]

SATP: Join me in

''All decisions PM makes cannot be implemented, integration of Maoist fighters not obligatory'', says Defence Minister Bidhya Bhandari

Kantipuronline reports that Nepal Defense Minister Bidhya Devi Bhandari on January 19 said all the decisions Prime Minister (PM) makes cannot be implemented, and that her ministry does not have any obligation to integrate the Maoist combatants into the Nepal Army (NA). Expressing her dissatisfaction over not including the Defense Ministry and NA representatives in the special committee formed for the army integration, Bhandari argued that since it was not mentioned in the Comprehensive Peace Accord and the integration of former Maoist fighter into the national army was not compulsory even if the army integration special committee decides to do so. She also reiterated to fill up 95,753 vacancies in the NA.

Meanwhile, the first meeting of the High Level Political Mechanism (HLPM) was held on January 19 where it formed a six-member committee to prepare Term of Reference (ToR) for the mechanism, reports Nepal News. Further, 150 Maoist combatants who failed to get through the UN verification were discharged from the 4th division of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) located at Jhyaltung Danda, Nawalparasi District. There are a total of 622 disqualified combatants in the cantonment including minors, who were below the 18-yr threshold when the verification started. The remaining will be discharged on January 21.

Shortlived....

We do not subscribe to Defence Minister's views on Army integration, say Government

The Government on January 20 clarified that Defence Minister Bidhya Bhandari's remark on the issue of army integration was entirely her own and not an official position of the Government. Talking to media-persons after a meeting of the cabinet, information minister and Government spokesperson Shankar Pokharel said that the Government is committed to the ongoing peace process. On January 19, minister Bhandari opposed the Maoist demand for bulk integration of their combatants into Nepal Army, and demanded representation of her ministry and the Army if any decision has to be made regarding the issue of army integration.

Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (Unified CPN-Maoist) leaders took a serious exception to the defense minister's remark, warning that they will have to opt out of the Army Integration Special Committee if the Government doesn't condemn her views. Meanwhile, Maoist cadres captured approximately 29 hectares (579 ropanies) of private landin Mahadevsthan Village Development Committee (VDC) in Kavre District. Maoist-affiliated activists of the Danuwar Rastriya Mukti Morcha announced the land seizure by fixing party flags amid a function on January 20.

Similarly, the Maoist-affiliated All Nepal Farmers Association activists captured 21 hectares (32 bighas) of private land in Hathausa in Kapilvastu District. Further, Maoist activists also captured 13 hectares of private land at the Dainiya Village Development Committee (VDC) in Morang District. Separately, the Constituent Assembly (CA) Committee on State Restructuring and Distribution of State Powers chose the 14-state model out of two alternative models proposed by a sub-committee.

[Stan_Savljevic]

About a month after his visit to India where he was conferred the rank of Honorary General of Indian Army, Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) Chhatra Man Singh Gurung has received an invitation to visit China. A senior foreign ministry official has confirmed the Army chief's visit to China, but said that the date for the trip will be finalised after consultations with Chinese officials. Prior to this, China has already invited defence minister Bidhya Bhandari and home minister Bhim Rawal. CoAS Gurung is an alumnus of the National Defence University of China.

UNSC extends UNMIN term by nearly four months

The UN Security Council last night has voted to extend the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) term by nearly four months amid heightened tensions in Nepal ahead of the framing of a new constitution. According to UN News Center, in a resolution adopted unanimously, Council members agreed to extend UNMIN through May 15, two weeks before the new constitution is due to be promulgated. The government had urged the UN to extend the UNMIN term until the army integration process completes.

The resolution additionally maintains that the mission should continue working with the government on making arrangements to withdraw as it winds down and completes its mandate. The Council members acknowledged “the strong desire of the Nepalese people for peace and the restoration of democracy and the importance in this respect of the implementation” of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). The UNSC also welcomed the formation of a high-level political mechanism under the leadership of NC president Girija Prasad Koirala working to ensure the promulgation of a constitution by May 28, as well as the action plan signed last year by the UN, the Government and Unified CPN (Maoist) on releasing child soldiers.

The 15-member political body called on all parties to “take full advantage of the expertise and readiness” of UNMIN before May 15, which is also the deadline for the Government and Unified CPN (Maoist) to agree on a timetable for the integration and rehabilitation of Maoist army personnel. The resolution urged “all political parties in Nepal to expedite the peace process, and to work together in a spirit of cooperation, consensus and compromise in order to continue the transition to a durable long-term solution to enable the country to move to a peaceful, democratic and more prosperous future.”

Last week, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s representative to Nepal and chief of the UNMIN Karen Langren stressed that although Nepal’s four-year-old peace process remains fragile and concerns that it could derail are real, the recent urgency shown by the parties in focusing on peace-related issues gives some grounds for hope. In his report to the UNSC, Ban last month had warned that Nepal’s peace process remained largely stalled and the major disagreements “remain unresolved, increasing the risk of its collapse.”

A meeting of the Army Integration Special Committee (AISC) on Thursday expressed its severe objection to defense minister Bidhya Bhandari's recent statement that her ministry and Nepal Army (NA) would not be compelled to abide by the decision of the AISC on the issue of army integration. She also opposed the Maoist demand for bulk integration of their combatants into NA, and demanded representation of her ministry and the Army if any decision has to be made regarding the issue of army integration.

The meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office in Singh Durbar this morning affirmed that the decision made by the special committee for the upervision, integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants will be "final" on all issue concerning the army integration. Talking to media-persons after the meeting, chief government secretary and AISC spokesperson Madhav Ghimire said that the meeting confirmed that the decisions of the special committee on the army integration issue would be final as the Interim Constitution has given it full authority over the matters related to army integration, maintenance and rehabilitation.

Also speaking to media-persons, Maoist leader Barsha Man Pun, who is the party's representative in the special committee, stated that the defense minister's remark had challenged the authority of the special committee headed by the prime minister himself and was clearly against the peace process. He said that his party has demanded action against the defense minister for her controversial statements which he had earlier said was intended to derail the peace process.

Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal had assured that the government was committed to timely statute drafting and taking the constitution to a logical conclusion. He said that Bhandari's statement were her personal views and did not reflect the government's official position.

The major parties - Unified CPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) - registered a joint resolution in the legislative parliament Thursday, seeking a parliamentary order to the government to take necessary steps to activate the post of Vice President. A meeting of the chief whips of the three parties finalised the draft of the resolution.

The three parties also agreed to proceed with the 7th amendment in the Interim Constitution only after the passage of the joint resolution on the VP. Vice President Paramananda Jha was stripped off his official duties after the Supreme Court nullified his oath taken in Hindi. The proposed 7th amendment in the Interim Constitution will allow the Vice President to retake his oath in his mother language and retain his office.

Recall P. Jha is from the Terai-Madhes belt empowering MJF-lites, thus getting rid of people such as Upendra Yadav who were acting as the go-betweens between the Valley and the Terai belt.

Now comes joke(s) of the day time, cos most of you folk need a break from work... These are reports culled from mainstream media, from the stupid to stupider to stupidest, ensoi.

Unified CPN (Maoist) vice-chairman Dr. Baburam Bhattarai on Thursday said that his party is struggling for a change in the system of governance rather than changing the government. Stating that a mere change in the government won't resolve the various problems faced by the people of the country, the senior Maoist leader said that his party is for changing the system of governance as only this would ensure a revolutionary transformation of the country for the better. He further said that the main objective of his party was to establish the people's federal democratic republic.

UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said on Thursday that expansionist India was behind the murder of then King Birendra Shah because he was a nationalist. Addressing a mass meeting at Bardia district headquarters Gularia, the Maoist chief said that the expansionist power had murdered Shah and his entire family for his attempt to purchase arms from China and other countries.

Stating that Shah was a true nationalist, the former prime minister said the late king wanted to meet him five years after his party started the People’s War. He reiterated that the expansionist power had also killed UML leader Madan Bhandari as he clearly stood for nationalism. The chief of the one-time rebels further added that the then Army chief had to take responsibility for the assassination, as he had failed to provide security. “The Army should be held accountable for the royal massacre,” he demanded.

In an unparalleled event in Nepali politics, a CPN (UML) leader Durga Prasad Pandey was severely thrashed and tortured by his colleague Hitkaji Gurung- a Constituent Assembly member. The thrashing event took place Thursday, January 20, 2010. In the party’s Parliamentary Board Office the fighting took place when Gurung, who hails from Syanja district, thrashed Pandey.

Gurung attacked with a helmet after a UML central member Durga Prasad Pandey allegedly accused him of not focusing on developmental works in all districts except his own home constituency. The other leaders who were present at the fighting venue were of the opinion that Gurung’s development expectations focusing his district would not help the party in expanding its organization. No wonder he emerged victorious from district of Syangja in the CA election. Another UML leader Pradeep Gyawali mercifully rushed Pandey to Model Hospital for treatment.

Rakesh Sood, the Indian ambassador and the host of the ceremony, summed up the state in Nepal as follows: “Prachanda ko bhi Gyanendra banadengey. Bas itna hi kafi hai." {For ye Hindi-challenged bevadaas like me, "We will make Prachanda’s fate similar to Gyanendra, this much is enough."}

And the Maoists have a vision of a Greater Nepal also and if you are that despo, here is the link of what it looks like. http://telegraphnepal.com/uploaded/others/5-quest.jpg
I have a vision of a Greater Nepal too, but that lies completely within Indian territory, we have enough space for one more state to be assimilated somuchso I use the war-cry Ayo Gorkhali as my own .

[Mukesh.Kumar]

China building new roads from Tibet to Nepal.


Engineers from China have begun creating a road through previously inaccessible mountains to try and connect Nepal to Tibet, and China beyond.

The aim is to modernise trade routes on a new Asian ''super highway''.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8477356.stm

[Stan_Savljevic]

Some backroom deals a-cooking?! Prachanda also seems to have mellowed down over the last few days...

Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is scheduled to visit Nepal in the Nepali month of Falgun (February-March) this year. The Indian premier has accepted the invitation of his Nepali counterpart Madhav Kumar Nepal, reports quoting sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The dates of the trip are yet to be worked out.

Atal Bihari Bajpayee was the last Indian Prime Minister to visit Nepal. He was in Kathmandu to attend the SAARC summit in 2002. India's Minister for External Affairs S.M Krishna and Indian Army Chief Deepak Kapoor were in Kathmandu in the third of this month whereas a number of high-level political visits have been made to New Delhi from Nepal in the recent months.

Indian firm in Maoist sights
http://telegraphindia.com/1100126/jsp/f ... 029525.jsp
Sowing mistrust ---- LOK RAJ BARAL
http://www.ekantipur.com/2010/01/26/Ope ... st/307078/

To the extent Prachanda has been digging up old issues such as the Treaty of Sugauli (1815-16) and the alleged Indian complicity to kill king Birendra and CPN (UML) leader Madan Bhandari without any evidence, he would be more responsible for straining mutual relations. Such issues that lack veracity have been blown out of proportion as a mobilising strategy which in the given context would be nothing but counterproductive for both the Maoist party and the country. Raising genuine issues concerning Nepal’s interests needs broader political understanding and confidence among the Nepali leaders in general. It is more significant at a time when no parties are in a dominant position.

It seems that whatever positive signs were observed in India-Nepal relations during and after the 2006 movement have now been temporarily overshadowed by the Maoist anti-India movement. Most recent utterances of the Maoist leaders, especially of former prime minister Prachanda, are likely to damage the party and Prachanda himself since such issues particularly relating to the border and the treaties have been raised in the name of rashtrabad, which is basically understood as anti-Indianism. Addressing issues that make the people strong has been given little attention. How could a feeling of true rashtriyata or nationalism develop if the poor people who constitute it are perennially fed on empty slogans?

Nepal-India relations are determined by constants such as geography, culture, religion, open border, landlocked position and so on. Variables, on the other hand, should be contextual in order to devise strategies and policies that also entail treaties and understanding. As perceptions often come in the way of better Nepal-India understanding, all the concerned people who handle neighbourly relations should also be intelligent. Indian perceptions that Nepal would undercut India’s security and other vital interests by tilting towards China, or by allowing terrorists within Nepali territory, or the Nepali elite’s preoccupation with the negative Indian role or being too meddlesome can be changed if the leaders of the two countries try to set a new mantra of a cooperative and coordinated relationship.

It can be stated that an emphasis on converging interests rather than on divergent issues would help develop cordial relations. Such converging interests can now be broadly put forth as peace, stability, security, development and democracy. And under no circumstances should India try to show its party preferences in Nepal; and even if some differences were to arise, they should be settled amicably. On the Nepali side, better homework defining the relations in the changing context and a greater degree of rationality can alone change the conventional mindset of the leaders. India needs to reciprocate by not sticking too much to past patterns.

Reactive strategies adopted by the Nepali and Indian elite have often contributed to worsening relations. The Nepali political elite, in particular, has failed to handle foreign policy with adequate groundwork taking cognizance of new trends in regional and international politics. If such a casual (ad hoc) approach continues any longer, Nepal is likely to encounter serious challenges, even squeezing, on its foreign policy front in the future. The emergence of China as a potential world power and Indian sensitivity to any kind of pro-China tilt in Nepal’s foreign policy would create more problems for a country like Nepal. At the same time, India should also understand Nepal’s claustrophobic position between India and China.

Clock Ticks for Nepal to Settle Its Future
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/world ... ?ref=world

India has donated 26 ambulances and six buses to various hospitals, non-profit charitable organisations and educational institutions in 21 districts of Nepal on the occasion of its 61st Republic Day of India on Tuesday.

http://www.nepalnews.com/main/index.php ... c-day.html
India offers MRPs at $ 4 each
http://www.nepalnews.com/main/index.php ... -each.html

The Indian government has offered to provide Machine-Readable Passports (MRP)s at the cost of about $ 4 each, reports say. Indian minister for external affairs SM Krishna had discussed it with foreign minister Sujata Koirala during the former's visit to Kathmandu earlier this month. Earlier, Indian ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood had forwarded such proposal to the foreign ministry. According to the Indian proposal, the passport books will be printed and bound in Indian Security Printers (ISP). The Indian government owns the ISP.

Nepal has shown positive response on India's proposal, it is learnt. The foreign ministry had cancelled all tenders related to MRPs one day before the Indian minister's arrival in Nepal citing technical glitches. Nepal is almost certain to miss the international deadline on introducing compulsory use of MRPs stipulated for April 1. Immigration offices of various countries across the world will not recognize passports that are not machine-readable issued after April 1, 2010. Passports issued before that need to be replaced by MRPs by 2014. Nepal needs 0.4 million machine-readable passport books, as a stock for one year, before April 1 and about 4 million passport books to replace the ones already issued.

The government has tabled new bills in the parliament for the establishment of three universities. Education Minister Ram Chandra Kushwaha tabled the bills, proposing the establishment of the Mid-Western University, Far-Western University, and Agriculture and Forest Sciences University in the country. The budget for the current fiscal year has pledged to set up the three universities.

[shyamd]

Indian flag desecrated by Nepal Maoists

Marshalling ties

As reported in this newspaper, the Central government issued a demarche on Nepal a week ago seeking greater cooperation on the deployment of sky marshals on board flights to that country. The request reaches back to the immediate aftermath of the hijack in December 1999 of flight IC-814 from Kathmandu, which the hijackers eventually commandeered to Kandahar to win the release of three terrorists then in Indian custody. The fact that there has been so little movement on sky marshals aboard Indian carriers flying to and from Nepal should be cause for concern. Concern in Kathmandu presumably stems from a possible scenario in which for some reason — of inclement weather, for instance — sky marshals are forced to deplane and enter Nepal’s territory. These are, however, issues that can easily be thrashed out to the satisfaction of both governments. And, more importantly, these are issues that can be sorted out without them acquiring political overtones.

The fact of the demarche, based on a genuine and grave security concern, spotlights a larger problem in India-Nepal bilateral relations. Fears of infringement of Nepal’s territory, and the possibility of these fears to acquire political strength and destabilise a fragile government in Kathmandu, are invoked to stall processes that should be non-controversial between most neighbours — and certainly between neighbours which have a unique arrangement of accommodating the free movement and economic activities of each other’s citizens as India and Nepal do. This arrangement is to the mutual benefit of both countries. But it is worth highlighting the accommodation that has strengthened this special bilateral relationship to make a point or two to Kathmandu — the most important being that it would be jeopardised if India’s legitimate security concerns are ignored by misrepresenting notions of sovereignty.

Link

Meanwhile, Kathmandu, after much persuasion, allowed India to instal X-ray scanners for secondary checks at the ladder-point but Air India has still not been able to do so.

Incidentally, the Madhav Nepal government accepted 100 military vehicles from India on the first day of External Affairs S M Krishna’s visit to the country on January 15. These vehicles crossed into Nepal from Gorakhpur and went to military bases via Maoist strongholds.

[RoyG]

China too has a role to play in Nepal: US

Press Trust Of India
Washington, February 04, 2010

Though Nepal has traditionally looked towards India but China too has some role to play in this Himalayan nation, Ambassador-nominated to Nepal has told US lawmakers.

"I think that traditionally in many ways they have looked south where the border is more open and their engagement, their trade relationship and other relationships with India have always been fairly robust, but certainly the Chinese have played a role there as well," Scotte H DeLisi, the US Ambassador-nominated to Nepal, said in his confirmation hearing before the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

A career Foreign Service officer, DeLisi has served in the US missions in Mumbai, Islamabad, and Colombo and headed the Nepal desk at the State Department in Washington.

The hearing was chaired by Senator Jim Webb, Chairman of the Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs.

"I think for us in our engagement in Nepal we certainly want to work closely with the government, but in doing that I think we have to recognise that we also have to talk to the other regional actors and that Nepal has the ability to play a role within the region," DeLisi told lawmakers in response to a question form Senator Webb.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/China-too ... 05069.aspx

[RoyG]

Pro-monarchy factions in Nepal unite

HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times

Kathmandu, February 07, 2010

Two of the three factions of the pro-monarchist Rashtriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) in Nepal have decided to get united and rename their party as the National Shakti Prajatantra Party.

The decision to merge the RPP and Rashtriya Janashakti Party (RJP) was announced at a joint press conference here on Saturday. Shaking hands after formally agreeing to unite, RPP chief Pashupati Shamsher JB Rana and RJP chief Surya Bahadur Thapa informed that both leaders would take turns to hold the chairman’s post of the new outfit.

A committee has been formed under senior leader Bishwambandhu Thapa to oversee the merger process. It has also been entrusted with the responsibility of holding a general convention within a year to elect a new chairman.

At present all the three factions have just 15 members in the 601-member Constituent Assembly.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed ... 06192.aspx

[Tamang]

Gunmen kill Nepal media baron with alleged Dawood links

KATHMANDU: Twelve years after Mirza Dilshad Beg, a controversial – and powerful – Nepali MP with links with Dawood Ibrahim and the ISI, was gunned down on a public road in Kathmandu by a rival gang, a Nepali media baron, also rumoured to have the same connexions, shared the same fate.

Jamim Shah, a Nepali of Kashmiri origin who headed the Space Time Network, was gunned down in broad daylight near the French Embassy in Kathmandu's crowded Lazimpat area on Sunday, close to the Indian and British Embassies. Police told TNN two masked men on a motorcycle fired at Shah's car around 2.55 pm, hitting both him and his chauffeur, Mathura Man Malakar. Shah, in his 40s, was shot in the chest and died while being treated at the nearby Teaching Hospital. Malakar has been hit in his left thigh.

Good news!

[Lilo]

China too has a role to play in Nepal: US

looks like a cold warrior has landed.

Career diplomat Scott H. DeLisi has been named as the new US envoy to Nepal by the US President Barack Obama. He had earlier been the US ambassador to Eritrea and ex-vice counsel in India.....
The Minnesotan has also served as director for Southern African Affairs, vice counsel at the US Embassy in New Delhi and the chief of the political section in Sri Lanka.
He has also held an unspecified posting in Pakistan.

[Lilo]

Good news!

Good riddance. He was the instigator behind the Hritik roshan riots.

[pgbhat]

Jamim Shah, a Nepali of Kashmiri origin who headed the Space Time Network, was gunned down in broad daylight near the French Embassy in Kathmandu's crowded Lazimpat area on Sunday, close to the Indian and British Embassies.

I have been there.... there should be security guards around. Brit and Indian embassies are right next to each other IIRC.
good riddance.

[joshvajohn]

India returns to Nepal with road, rail projects near border
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/India ... der/577031

Nepal putting China before SAARC?
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/wor ... 15772.html

http://www.telegraphnepal.com/news_det.php?news_id=7135

Nepali Maoists do not know what they are doing? If India sends the Indian Nepalis back to Nepal they will fight and throw out the Nepali Maoists there. I think during Rajiv Gandhi's time a lesson was taught but now Nepal should realise the fact that they have to work with India in many ways. Without which they economy and their development cannot move forward. In this way their maoist rule should give rise to a free and fair democratic rule in the country not work against Indian interests.

India should also develop a nationalist regime that would be both politically as well as militarily counter the maoist in Nepal if the Maoists are working closely to Chinese than Indians.

[joshvajohn]

India aid to Bhutan, ties with Russia worrying China
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 549276.cms

[Anantz]

If India sends the Indian Nepalis back to Nepal they will fight and throw out the Nepali Maoists there.

Pardon my ignorance, but what on Earth do u mean by sending the Indian Nepalis back??? Indian Nepalis are by Nationality Indian if they are suppose to go back, it would be to India and not Nepal or anywhere else! Please understand that all Indian Nepalis are not migrants who immigrated from Nepal to India, they were and are the original inhabitants of a large chunk of land which is today part of India! So there is no question of sending them back, coz if they have to be sent somewhere then so will their land! As for throwing out Maoists or whoever is concerned, it is not the prerogative of Indian Nepalis to do that. Indian Nepalis are neither bothered nor concerned about what happens in Nepal or the Nepali Maoists! Indian Nepalis are Indians and they are concerned only about India period!

[svinayak]

Pardon my ignorance, but what on Earth do u mean by sending the Indian Nepalis back??? Indian Nepalis are by Nationality Indian if they are suppose to go back, it would be to India and not Nepal or anywhere else!

Ask him if he knows Indian history and various communities of India and their history and how every community is interconnected to other community.

[Stan_Savljevic]

http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNe ... sID=220619
Panel to decide who manages Pashupathinath temple

[arun]

Nepals Minister for Information and Communication Shankar Pokhrel on the killing of media tycoon Jamim Shah who allegedly was the D Company’s and the ISI’s point man in Nepal:

Jamim Shah killed due to tension between India and Pakistan: minister Pokhrel

The Indian reaction:

Indian Embassy 'surprised' at minister Pokharel's remark on Jamim murder

Nepal distances itself from Minister Pokhrel’s comment:

Foreign Ministry clarifies govt doesn’t subscribe to its own spokesperson’s statement on Shah murder

[Stan_Savljevic]

Big, but much expected, news has been that GPK died a few days back... A big Indian contingent, cutting across party lines, Rajnath Singh, SM Krishna, Sitaram Yechury, Meira Kumar, etc. went to Kathmandu to see off GPK's remains. The funeral pyre was lit by his daughter and furrin mantri, Sujata Koirala, giving some takleef to the traditionalists.

Now in terms of geopolitics, brings in a see-saw battle for control between Sushil Koirala, Sher Bahadur Deuba and Ram Chandra Paudel. The maoists, who were treated as "our brothers", may see the strong end of the stick from NC sooner than later. Jhalnath Khanal may try to usurp Madhav Ku. Nepal in the CPN (ML) side. The noisy chotta bahadurs in MJF are making just the same noises. The monarchists are biding their time, no news or rather same old shite. I am seeing more and more news of Paramanand Jha these days, has come out of his hiding. Ram Baran Yadav, under whose head the constitutional impasse, may fall when the deadline for CA process reaches is also trying to make his presence felt.

Overall, same old same old, nepal is mighty cold mighty cold.

Some saag update: http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/%5Cnot ... te574.html
Waiting for Nihar Nayak's take on the matter...

[Karan Dixit]

Challenging China to allow Nepalese citizens to freely enter the country and work like they do in India, Ramdev stated that if it fails to do so it will expose the country's ulterior motives in Nepal.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/rssfeed/n ... 23633.aspx

[Karan Dixit]

China too has a role to play in Nepal: US

US has no role in making China play a role.

[svinayak]

China too has a role to play in Nepal: US

US has no role in making China play a role.

It should be like - US has a role to play in China.

[Karan Dixit]

Acharya,

I will agree with US has a role to play in China. Why is US not playing its role in China?

[svinayak]

I will agree with US has a role to play in China. Why is US not playing its role in China?

Because they want to do a G2

[Karan Dixit]

I will agree with US has a role to play in China. Why is US not playing its role in China?

Because they want to do a G2

It seems like some people in US think the world is their 'bapouti' to divide between China and USA. That is funny.

---

Guwahati, Mar 23 (PTI) The Bhutan government has cleared the proposal for introducing direct flight between the Himalayan Kingdom and the north eastern region in India.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/578541_Bhut ... N-E-region

[svinayak]

It seems like some people in US think the world is their 'bapouti' to divide between China and USA. That is funny.

---

It is not funny and it will be the most dangerous thing for India. PRC will be one of the most cruel power in history

[munna]

I second that! In some ways we are staring at pretty cruel times ahead. The country is in a 1962 like torpor, will write more on it once I can think it through.

[Karan Dixit]

It seems like some people in US think the world is their 'bapouti' to divide between China and USA. That is funny.

---

It is not funny and it will be the most dangerous thing for India. PRC will be one of the most cruel power in history

Sir,

I did not mean funny in a hilarious way. I meant funny in a ridiculous way. By the way, China is already the most cruel power in the history. We have all seen how it treats Tibetans under its occupation. It is even ruthless to Chinese citizens. Only thing that is changing is its power play style.

Also, US has been trying to make China the manager of Asia since Clinton era. This idea is quite popular among democrats. And, now that they are back, they will try to peddle the same BS again. It was countered by India in past and it will be countered by India in future.

[Pranav]

Prachanda and fellow Maoists flock to Ramdev’s camp : http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed ... 24497.aspx

[NehraA]

X-posting from another thread

One of the reasons that the army has had to pump in larger numbers of gurkha's into the SFF. With that came another problem as now they had to have more gurkha officers seconded to them.

someone should have anticipated this a long time back. Also the indian army fields 7 gorkha regiments (1,3,4,5,8,9,11 GR) most of the soldiers being from nepal and a very small number being indian (usually the nepali chaps beat their indian counterparts at various physical tests during recruitment) . Prachanda had made a number of speeches in nepal threatening families of those who join IA and questioning their patriotism towards their motherland. This had quite an effect in the various regimental centres, now those with indian citizenship are prefered for selection in GR.
In the event of any trouble with china, we can be sure of some more poking by Mr Prachanda hoping for desertion. Remember during kargil there were protests in nepal because 1/11 GR was the first unit inducted, now for a jawan from any GR that would have been a source of pride but back in nepal it wasnt the same.

how does the indian army hope to keep such a large force of gorkhas as the way it is when things get worse in nepal

[Stan_Savljevic]

For those who may be keen, claws has a new book on nepal matters.

The Unmaking of Nepal ---- by RSN Singh
http://claws.in/index-new.php?action=bookdetail

There was an article somewhere i read about mrp (machine readable passports) which india has won at 4$ per pp against a cheeni bid of 3.75$ per pp (which was made in the last minute). For the record, it has been india which has been insisting on mrp for nepalis and madhav ku. nepal and sujata koirala's insistence on india getting that project. the cheeni bid looks like a plant to generate anti-india interests with a nepali pp and fostering em inside india. but the snideness lies in the last minute bid, why the fck dont the cheenis try to mess with india directly? why this natak and games? cmon you fcking nimrods, be a man, as russel peter says.

[Murugan]

Patanjali Yogpeeth Haridwar to start operating three Prakalps in Nepal.

REPUBLICA, Invest in medicinal herbs: Ramdev

KATHMANDU, March 28: Yoga Guru Ramdev has urged Nepali business community to invest in farming of medicinal herbs to increase their export in the international market.

During a meeting with office bearers of the Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Ramdev advised Nepali businessmen to promote and develop Nepali medicinal herbs.

“Economic development is of foremost importance. I urged all business people to contribute to the economic development of the country,” said Ramdev.

Balkrishna, medicinal herb expert and close associate of Ramdev, said Nepal has largest resources of medicinal herb in the world, where around three thousand varieties of medicinal herbs can be found.

“Nepali medicinal herbs are left unused in the jungle due to lack of processing facilities. Nepali medicinal herbs can be popular in the international market if they are promoted properly,” said Balkrishna.

[Chinmayanand]

Nepal govt withdraws passport printing order from India

[Rony]

In Nepali media, when some says he is talking about India-Nepal relations in "different angle", that basically means he is not following the habitual anti-India rants but for a change is speaking truth .

Nepal-India Relation: From a different angle

Finally, Nepal’s political actors have succeeded in their tacit mission in portraying India as the main villain.
Beginning the infamous New Delhi based 12-Points Agreement, November 22, 2005, while they sought India’s overt and covert support in each and every decision that they took then, and India heeded to their requests as friendly gestures, to be precise from overthrowing Monarchy and to make and break successive governments, the friendly neighbor in the South, India, has been excessively used by the political parties here in Nepal.
This is perhaps another angle, not yet explored and talked, to look into Nepali politics and its multifaceted India links. And this provides an interesting picture.
Seriously talking, the question is what India has got in return for the unequivocal support it has extended to the Nepali political parties. Cipher!
Except public snubbing and being blamed for unnecessary interference and what not, India has virtually got nothing in return. This is true.
Expectedly, Somnath Chaterjee, the then Indian Lok Sabha speaker was the first to congratulate Nepal on the first meet of its constituent assembly, May 28, 2008, that did away with the nation's 239-year-old monarchy and declared the country a Federal Secular Republic.
Chaterjee’s letter was read out at the first CA proceeding by none less than his counterpart Kul Bahadur Gurung and, the newly arrived Indian Ambassador (he landed in Kathmandu April 23, 2008) seated in the CA balcony was seen more than happy concluding that his first Nepal mission got accomplished.
He had reasons to rejoice then.
But, our leaders felt it not necessary even to thank India publicly for its support for those revolutionary decisions that they took which would not have been successful without India’s support.
This is the reality that is there for all to see and there is nothing to hide. But, our leaders ignore this fact. How could they? Oh! these Beggars!Not even Seti and Upper Karnali deal have been smooth…forget Koshi High Dam. No one knows the fate of Upper Karnali as the matter is being dealt in the Nepal Communist Party- Unified Maoist Party’s court. Yes, it is the same Maoists’ party that is being run by those leaders who were sheltered by New Delhi for a decade plus with loving care.
The situation has been so worse for India that those who have exhibited their affinity to India have been already labeled anti-nationals. And those who see India as a partner have been termed as the agents of India’s intelligence agency, RAW. Poor friends of India! Between frying pan to fire.
As Nepal becomes increasingly unsafe for India- as they see it, neither India’s request to sign Extradition Treaty and Deploy Air-Marshals at the International Airport in Kathmandu have been heartily accepted. Who dare talk in favor of the two forgotten proposals?
Not even those who sought Indian support to force Nepali ruling elites (pahadiya) to increase their vote banks by accepting the Citizenship Bill and to arrange Mahindra Bolero Vehicles for their Madhesh Swabhiman Yatara would support Indian claims that Nepal was slowly but surely turning into a terrorist hub and the capital of fake currency racketing.The MRP debacle must have come as a severe jolt to “whom it may concern”.

As you sow so shall you reap!

[Stan_Savljevic]

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood on Wednesday met UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and expressed his displeasure over what he reportedly said the Maoists' anti-India activities. During the meeting that lasted for about an hour at Dahal’s residence in Nayabazar, the Indian Ambassador expressed his dissatisfaction over the Maoist activities against India.

Sood had also met Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on Tuesday and expressed his dissatisfaction over the recent government decision to scrap the MRPs deal with India. He also expressed his concern over the publication of confidential letter sent by the embassy to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

[Karan Dixit]

http://sify.com/news/after-nepal-govern ... afaaj.html

'The Maoists are instead seeking to build new relations with India that will recognise the changed scenario in Nepal.'

Prachanda,

What is the changed scenario are you talking about? Is it presence of people like yourself who are disrupting the peaceful relationship between India and Nepal? It is clear that you do not care about well being of Nepali people because if you did you would have realized that India and Nepla are part of the same family tied together with same religion and culture.

[Rupesh]

Toilet

KATHMANDU: With less than six weeks to go before the deadline for a new constitution expires in Nepal, the republic’s controversial army has kicked up a fresh row once again by trying to recruit despite repeated warnings by the UN in the past that it was against the peace agreement.

The nearly 96,000-strong army, that the government had pledged would have no more fresh blood till the peace negotiations concluded, is now seeking to recruit about 270 people for non-combatant posts like doctors, technicians and mechanics.

So whats the issue. They are non combatants. WTF has UN got to do with this.

The army move has, predictably, triggered an angry response from the Maoists, who have in the past warned that they too would then start inducting new fighters in their People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The PLA, confined in 28 barracks since the end of the 10-year People’s War, has over 196,000 combatants. ( Seems Pure DDM BS )Though while signing the 2006 peace pact the ruling parties agreed to merge the PLA with the national army, the pledge has run aground after stiff resistance by army generals. In this, the Nepal Army is also backed by the Indian Army.

However, the army plan has been challenged by a rights organisation, Inhured International, that had in the past too filed a writ against the army’s move to begin recruitment.

[Stan_Savljevic]

The maoists have restarted "physical" training believing that a confrontation is inevitable. All the while, the Constitutional Authority was always a chimera of hope and hype. Not like the mao-pests would have acceded to the new Constitution if push came to shove.

The US ambassador meets with NC Dep Head, Sushil Koirala and Prachanda to mediate matters on a compromise. But he heads off in disgust after prachanda meeting. No news on Rakesh Sood yet.

One of the ruling coalition partner, Nepali Congress, has been advocating for fresh elections if the constituent assembly fails to write new constitution by the May 28 deadline.

Wonderful, so what is Jhalnath Khanal thinking about elections?

If the elections do happen, I want to see the mao-pests reap the rewards for their akshuns in the last few years. Aamchi nepali, awake.

[Hari Seldon]

Nepali Maoists maintain strict org discipline and zero defections n the runup to devastate the country with protests and violence

KATHMANDU: Ahead of their massive protests to topple the coalition government in Nepal, hundreds of Maoist cadres, including combatants, have quit the party due to differences with their top leaders' current policy.

More than 200 Maoist cadres, including Maoist People's Liberation Army Brigade Commander at 7th Division in Kailali Ram Krishna Chaudhari, have quit the party saying that they disfavour the idea of their leaders who see power as the ultimate goal.

Chaudhari said he had quit the party as the Maoists were taking the country to nowhere. Those defecting the party include 44 Maoist combatants.

Ramechhap district commander of the Maoist party Ashish Tamang is among those defecting the party. Others include company commander, battalion commander, section commander, platoon commander and Young Communist League members.

The defecting Maoists have joined Sanghiya Rastriya Lokatantrik Manch, an ethnic organisation of Terai region led by Laxman Tharu.

Meanwhile, police yesterday seized bomb making materials from a room at Seti Mahakali Hotel in Sundhara of Kathmandu.

The seized materials included 450 litres of petrol, over 1,000 bottles, saw dust and cloth pieces, among others, according to Superintendent of Police of Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Range.

The materials were enough to make over thousands of petrol bombs that could have caused a big loss to human lives and properties in the capital, according to the police.

The seizure took place hours after Home Minister Bhim Bahadur Rawal instructed police officials to beef up security in the capital in the wake of Maoists' protests.

Ajay Pandey, the owner of the guesthouse who was detained for investigation, told the police that two persons had booked a room on Wednesday and brought the sacks next morning.

The police have also seized a large number of sticks and knives from public vehicles in Dhankuta and Sarlahi in southern Nepal on Thursday.

The Maoists have stepped up training to their cadres carrying khukuri and sticks in various parts of the country to prepare for their agitation tomorrow.

In the capital, hundreds of Maoist cadres wearing red shirts are seen doing march pass ahead of their protests.

Meanwhile, the envoys of European Union have asked the Maoists to withdraw their protests as it could turn violent.

French envoy to Nepal Gilles Henry Garault, who met Maoist chief Prachanda, said the country would plunge into crisis if consensus was not sought immediately.