CINA

본문

A NEW CHAPTER IN NEPAL'S

STRUGGLE FOR DEMOCRACY (??)

Nepal's rebels ready to join establishment (IHT/Reuters, 1.16)

Nepal's Parliament opened Monday at the start of a historic day that was expected to see Maoist rebels take their seats in an interim legislature for the first time after a decade of civil war that killed thousands.

The sight of 83 rebel nominees sitting alongside those they opposed for so long may comfort even the most cynical Nepalis, whose country has been brutalized by killings by both the state and the rebels that have severely damaged its tourism-dependent economy.

The Parliament's speaker, Subhash Nemwang, said the existing House of Representatives would approve a new temporary constitution, prepared by the ruling seven-party alliance and the rebels.

It would then establish an interim legislature, in which the Maoists would be the second biggest group, perhaps the most significant step toward cementing a lasting peace since the rebels put down their guns in April.

"The House of Representatives will be dissolved after passing the constitution and declaring the composition of the interim legislature," Nemwang said of the parliament only reinstated in 2006 following weeks of bloody street protests against the king.

"This is the achievement of 10 years of people's war waged by the Nepali people," a Maoist leader, Khim Lal Devkota, said.

"We think the new interim legislature will give a new direction for the creation of a new Nepal," said Devkota, one of the nominees of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) to the proposed 330-member interim legislature.

The Maoists began fighting the monarchy in 1996, but they declared a ceasefire last year after mass street demonstrations forced King Gyanendra to give up direct rule.

In November, the multiparty government and the guerrillas struck a peace deal and declared an end to the conflict in which more than 13,000 people died in the Himalayan kingdom.

The pact called for the rebels to lock up their weapons under United Nations supervision in return for a promise by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to name them in an interim government.

That administration is meant to oversee elections for an assembly that is required to prepare a new constitution and decide the future of the monarchy, which the Maoists want abolished.

The Maoists will have to learn the politics of compromise, said Kunda Dixit, editor of the Nepali Times weekly.

The interim body will consist of 209 current members and the Maoists with 38 seats to be shared by constituents of the ruling alliance.

Critics say the draft interim constitution gives unlimited power to the prime minister, including the right to appoint the chief justice of the Supreme Court and has no provision for legislative control over the executive.

The Maoists, who have vowed not to return to war, were also set to start storing their arms in metal containers under UN supervision on Tuesday, but keep the keys as part of the deal.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/15/news/nepal.php

☞ Maoists enter parliament, first sitting of interim legislature begins, all MPs sworn in

Poor and powerless overnight (eKantipur, 1.16)

The Shah Kings, through royal decree, usurped power and amassed wealth umpteen times during the last 238 years. But today people have turned the tables on the monarchy: By proclaming a constitution invoking their sovereign rights the people have made the reigning king both poor and powerless overnight.

The king will no longer act as head of state - let alone exercise any political power. Significantly, the constitution has also snatched away a major chunk of the royal assets. According to the interim constitution, property belonging to the late King Birendra will go into a trust and the property inherited by King Gyanendra by virtue of ascending the throne will be nationalized. But the king will continue to enjoy his private property, including his businesses. How much does the king own in business? Contrary to popular perception, The Kathmandu Post investigation revealed that he owns "very little"

The common perception that the king is "super rich" comes from an assumption that he owns a majority share in the Soaltee Group, which does not exist any longer. However, the investigation also revealed that he owned only a "miniscule" share in the Group's businesses that expanded rapidly over last two decades. Before being dismantled in December 2005, the Group had nine business enterprises in its fold: Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd, Bhotekoshi Company Pvt Lt, Himal International Power Corporation, Sipradi Trading Pvt Ltd, Gorkha Lawrie Pvt Ltd, Himalaya Goodricke Pvt Ltd, Amaravati International Pvt Ltd, Maersk Nepal Pvt Ltd and Amaravati Travels Pvt Ltd. Out of these nine enterprises, Gorkha Lawrie was sold off in 2004.
 

Now a majority of these enterprises are owned and managed by Tara Management, which belongs to Prabhakar Sumsher Rana and his son, Siddhartha Rana. Records at the Office of the Company Registrar show that the king and his family own only 0.15 percent share in Himal International Power Corporation; 56 percent in Himal Goodricke, 40 percent in Soaltee Hotel and 10 percent in Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd.
 

But the king and his family have no share in Bhotekoshi Company Pvt Ltd, Sipradi Trading Pvt Ltd, Amaravati International Pvt Ltd, Amaravati Travels Pvt Ltd and Maersk Nepal Pvt Ltd.
 

Among the enterprises that the king has a share in, both Soaltee Hotel and Himal Goodricke are currently loss making ventures. While Soaltee Hotel, a public limited company, hasn't distributed any dividend for the last six years, Himal Goodricke has paid out about Rs 1.5 million as dividend during the last one decade. The only company that seems to be paying a significant dividend to the royal family is Surya Nepal. Last year it paid Rs 12.5 million to the family.
 

A source privy to King Gyanendra's financial situation said, "The income from his [king's] businesses is hardly enough to meet his expenses." The source also said the king often withdrew dividends from the companies in advance. This claim has a lot of credence since officials at the Kaushitosh Khana - the office that disburses state sanctioned funds to the royal palace - also said the palace used to withdraw all annual allocations within 48 hours of the budget announcement till last year.
 

The source also claimed that King Gyanendra was neck deep in debt by the time he ascended the throne in June 2001. "In 2002, he sold 10 percent of his stake in Surya Nepal to Indian Tobacco Company Ltd and used the proceeds to repay his huge debt."

In terms of share capital, the king and his family have Rs 80 million worth of share capital in Soaltee Hotel; Rs 6.5 million in Himal Goodrick; Rs 33.6 million in Surya Nepal and Rs 250 thousand in Himal International Power Corporation.

http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=97660

The Historic Day, today we Nepali kick off new Journey collectively!

This day will be remembered as one of the historical days in Modern Nepal. Today, the House of Representatives popularly known as reinstated parliament by the Janaandolan–II has completed its historical task. Bringing Maoist in mainstream political process and paving way to hold election of Constituent Assembly for sustainable peace, the parliament has endorsed Interim Constitution of "New Nepal". Just after the endorsement, the House itself dissolved along with existing National Assembly (the upper House of the parliament) clearing way for New Interim Parliament, which is inducting 83 Maoists in the 330- member Interim Legislature as the new partner in the forth coming 8-party coalition interim government of the country.

The new Statute has ended any political role of Monarchy of Shah Dynasty, which was continued in Nepal since 238 years. Obviously, there is no room for King Gyanendra as the Head of the State. This is a landmark step taken by the parliament after May 18, 2006 historical proclamation to make Nepali a sovereign citizen.

Furthermore, GEFONT has as well, point to express its joy. Two senior leaders of GEFONT- one of the two vice-chairmen Comrade Lalit Basnet and One of the three regional coordinators Com. Chudamani Jungali became new law maker in the Interim Parliament.  Vice-chair Basnet was sitting parliamentarian in old Upper House where as Coordinator for western Region Chudamani has been nominated by CPN (UML) on the quotas designated for Dalit, Women, professional Organisation, ethnic-minority groups. Com. Chudamani also represents outcaste (Dalit) community.

Expressing its gratitude, GEFONT has today issued a press communiqué welcoming declaration of Interim Constitution and establishment of New Interim Parliament.

"Two ensure workers right, we call upon all concerned parties to establish parliamentary office for trade unions in the newly launch Interim Parliament", the communiqué says.

GEFONT, 1.15

www.gefont.org