Maoists seek six more months

KATHMANDU, AUG 27 -
The UCPN (Maoist) on Friday asked the government to urge the United Nations Security Council for a six-month extension to UNMIN, whose term expires on Sept. 15.

 Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Vice Chairmen Mohan Baidya, Baburam Bhattarai and Narayankaji Shrestha met Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and made this request. The official position of the Maoist leaders on the future of the UN political mission comes a day after the prime minister suggested downgrading UNMIN from a “political mission” to a “technical mission.” The discussion held at the Prime Minister’s Office couldn’t reach any conclusion after the Maoists objected to the government’s suggestion that the Nepal Army be kept out of the purview of UNMIN’s monitoring.

“UNMIN has been very instrumental in bringing the peace process to its current status. It should stay in the country till the peace process reaches its logical end,” Baburam Bhattarai told the Post. “Any attempt to create controversy against UNMIN or reduce its mandate would give a serious jolt to the peace process.”

Prime Minister Nepal, however, reiterated the government’s resolve to drop UNMIN’s monitoring of Nepal Army. The Maoist leaders stated their stand on UNMIN to envoys of the five permanent member states of the UN Security Council. Envoys of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China and Russia attended the discussion.

“We have requested the diplomats to support the extension of UNMIN with its current mandate,” said Bhattarai. “They have expressed their commitment to communicate our concerns to their governments.” The ambassadors stressed the need for “a common understanding” on the future of UNMIN so that it would be easier for the Security Council to make a quick decision on a high-stake issue.

PM proposes limiting UNMIN's role

KATHMANDU, AUG 26 -
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has floated the idea of downgrading the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) from a “political mission” to a “technical mission”, which will only monitor the Maoist army.

However, his own party Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal was not impressed with the proposal pitched during a high level consultation held in Singhadurbar on Thursday afternoon. Leaders of the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Cabinet ministers, officials from the Foreign Ministry and non-Maoist representatives of the Special Committee and Technical Committee attended the discussion organised by the government to seek suggestions on the term extension of UNMIN.

According to a leader, the prime minister suggested that a small technical team comprising officials from the United Nations could be invited as an alternative to UNMIN to monitor the Maoists’ People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The prime minister proposed that the Nepal Army be kept out of the purview of the UN as the concept of “two sides” mentioned in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) has become irrelevant since 2008, after the Maoists joined the Interim Parliament.

Khanal, without referring to the prime minister’s proposal, however, stressed the need to “forge a political consensus before taking any decision” on the fate of UNMIN, whose term expires on Sept. 15. “UNMIN is needed in the country until the peace process reaches its logical conclusion,” UML General Secretary and Special Committee member Ishwor Pokharel told the Post. “But its mandate can be narrowed down in the changed context.”

During the one-and-a-half-hour long discussion, NC leaders supported the prime minister’s proposal to end UNMIN oversight over Nepal Army. They argued that UNMIN could be given an extension with a limited mandate focusing on the monitoring of Maoist combatants.

“The mandate fixed for UNMIN four years ago has now become invalid. We have suggested a revision,” said NC leader Ram Sharan Mahat.

“We listened to various opinions from leaders on the term extension. This is a preliminary consultation,” said Peace Minister Rakam Chemjong. “The government will consult with the Maoists and reach a conclusion.”

Some participants also suggested the government hold discussions with ambassadors of five permanent member countries of the UN Security Council before taking a call on the future of UNMIN.

Following the discussion on Thursday, a three-member task force comprising Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the UN Gyan Chandra Acharya, former Assistant Secretary of the UN General Kul Chandra Gautam and Retired Lt. Gen. Balananda Sharma has been assigned to prepare a proposal on the mandate revision.

NA's UNMIN exit call, parties divided

PHANINDRA DAHAL
KATHMANDU, AUG. 25
With Nepal Army lobbying for the exit of United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) in September, political parties, who will ultimately decide the fate of the UN mission, remain sharply divided.

Nepali Congress and CPN-UML are considering narrowing UNMIN's mandate. UCPN (Maoist), meanwhile, has objected to any revision and warned such a move would put the peace process at serious risk. 

"The Nepal Army must be kept out of UNMIN's purview because the concept of two sides has become outdated," said NC leader Ram Sharan Mahat on Wednesday. "The mandate should be amended and UNMIN should be given the task of first-hand monitoring of Maoist combatants." That, according to him, means UN monitors shouldn't rely on reports of PLA commanders but carry out regular roll calls in and supervision of the cantonments.

UML leader Pradeep Gyawali said there is no need to keep NA under UNMIN's surveillance in the changed political context. "We can bid UNMIN farewell if there is agreement among political parties on an alternative mechanism to take over the monitoring," he said. "There is no point keeping the Army under the UN scanner. We need to take a political decision." 

However, the Maoists say the peace process will collapse if such a decision is taken. "Congress and UML want to send UNMIN away at India's behest. After the exit of UNMIN, they want to impose presidential rule in the country and dissolve the Constituent Assembly," said Maoist leader Barsha Man Pun. "The PLA will come out of the cantonments if such a decision is taken and it will cost the country dear."

While the government and the Maoists remain divided over UNMIN's term, UN officials say the fate of the mission rests in the hands of national stakeholders and of the five members of the UN Security Council. "If there is consensus among the parties for a domestic monitoring mechanism, UNMIN wouldn't want to lengthen its stay in Nepal," said a UN official.

Special Representative of the Secretary General Karin Landgren is leaving for New York early next month to attend the discussion on Nepal's peace process at the UN Security Council. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is scheduled to table his report over the progress in the peace process on Sept. 7.

Meanwhile, the Army has recommended the names of three retired generals -- Balananda Sharma, Amar Panta and Bajra Gurung -- to head the proposed new mechanism under the special committee. Other members of the mechanism include representatives of the Home Ministry, Defence Ministry, the Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force, the National Investigation Department and the political parties at the centre as well as retired personnel from the Gurkha Army to carry out monitoring at the cantonments.

UNMIN has to go, says Nepal Army

Amid deepening political crisis in the country, the Nepal Army has suggested the government not to extend the term of UNMIN, that expires on Sept. 15. The stand comes at a time when the country is being governed by a caretaker government and the parliament has failed to choose the new leader even in its fourth attempt. The fifth voting is slated for Monday.

Observers say the UNMIN's departure at a time when the Maoist and non-Maoist parties are at loggerheads over the peace process and constitution drafting could create a void.




PHANINDRA DAHAL
KATHMANDU, AUG 20 -

The Nepal Army has asked the government not to extend the term of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), which expires on Sept. 15. This is the first time the Army has taken an official position on UNMIN’s term extension.

Chief of Army Staff Chhatra Man Singh Gurung met Peace and Reconstruction Minister Rakam Chemjong on Friday and presented the Army’s position on UNMIN. UNMIN, whose first year-long tenure started on Jan. 23, 2007, is currently serving its sixth term.

“There is no conflict in the country and the premise that there are two sides to the conflict no longer exists. Hence, UNMIN should not be imposed on the country,” Chemjong told the Post, explaining what the Army chief said in their bilateral meeting.

“UNMIN’s responsibilities should now be transferred to the Special Committee formed for the Supervision, Integration and Rehabilitation of Maoist combatants.”

During their 20-minute talks at the Peace Ministry, Gen. Gurung quoted clause 10.5 of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), arguing that the concept of “two sides” as referred to in the CPA had ceased to exist after the formation of the Interim Parliament in January 2007.

The clause states that all responsibility for implementing the obligations referred to in the accord shall be as per the arrangements made by the Council of Ministers after the constitution of Parliament.

“The government has not taken any decision on UNMIN. We will do that after consultations with the parties,” said Chemjong.

The Maoists have opposed Gen. Gurung’s stand, saying that the Army doesn’t have the authority to take a call on what is a political issue. “It is the political parties that need to decide the fate of UNMIN. The Army’s position has no relevance,” said Maoist leader Barsha Man Pun.

Never in the best of terms, relationship between the Army and UNMIN soured mainly after the UN body questioned the recruitment announced by the Army in November 2008.Prior to the four-month term extension of UNMIN in May, NA had lobbied the government to get rid of UNMIN’s monitoring role of the national army.

The relations between the two further soured early this month after UNMIN said NA’s decision to recruit 3,464 personnel was a breach of the CPA and Agreement on Monitoring and the Management of the Arms and Armies (AMMAA).

Early this month, UNMIN said that the proposed recruitment should be referred to the Joint Monitoring Coordination Committee (JMCC) for approval. The NA, however, shot back saying the UN body had no authority to question the decision taken by the government of Nepal.

Meanwhile, UNMIN Chief Karin Landgren on Friday urged the three major parties—UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress and CPN-UML—to take a unanimous decision on the future of UNMIN.

She said the UN Security Council will look for a clear request from the government of Nepal based on consensus among the parties for the term extension beyond Sept. 15.

In March, UNMIN had floated five options for its exit, including replacement of its monitoring role through domestic or a new international monitoring body. However, parties have not made any decision towards that end.

NA nay PLA aye to JMCC

PHANINDRA DAHAL

 AUG 07 -
In the wake of controversy over their fresh recruitment plan, the Nepal Army and the People’s Liberation Army are at loggerheads over the jurisdiction of the Joint Monitoring Coordination Committee (JMCC), the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) mechanism to assist the parties in the implementation of peace agreements.

The Maoists want the recruitment row to be settled by the JMCC. But Nepal Army says the mechanism can’t make any decision on the issue as it has become “irrelevant in the present context.”

The 98th meeting of JMCC held in Kathmandu on 23 April 2009.
Photo source: UNMIN

Clause 6.1 of the Agreement on Monitoring of the Management of Arms and Armies (ANNAA) states that the JMCC would comprise three members each from UNMIN, Nepal Army and PLA and serve as a dispute-resolution mechanism regarding the implementation of the agreement.

“The concept of the two sides as referred to in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement has ceased after the formation of the Interim Legislature Parliament. The JMCC has no meaning now,” said Nepal Army Spokesman Brig. Gen. Ramindra Chhetri. “Such a mechanism can’t question the government’s decision to permit the Nepal Army to go ahead with its recruitment.”

Referring to clause 10.5 of the CPA, Chhetri said the responsibility for implementing the obligations referred in the peace agreement shall now be as per the arrangement made by the Council of Ministers. “Neither any peace agreement nor the Interim Constitution forbids the Army to continue recruitment. The enrolment will continue,” said the Nepal Army spokesman.

PLA Spokesman Chandra Prakash Khanal “Baldev” said the JMCC is a legitimate place to resolve the recruitment dispute. “The meaning of the mechanism can only get over after the task of integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants is accomplished,” he said. “We are waiting for the JMCC meeting to lodge our written complaint against the new recruitment of the Nepal Army,” added the PLA deputy commander. He said the PLA would go ahead with its recruitment drive only after providing formal notice to the JMCC.

The recruitment row cropped up again last week after Supreme Court quashed a writ demanding the halt of recruitment in the Nepal Army saying that the matter was beyond its jurisdiction and the JMCC could deal with the row.

The PLA announced new recruitment after the Nepal Army opened up vacancy for 3,464 personnel in its infantry on Monday. Subsequently, UNMIN voiced concern over both the recruitment plans saying any recruitment by the two sides would be a breach of the CPA and AMMAA. UNMIN Spokesperson Kosmos Biswokarma said the JMCC would soon take up the matter.

“In the JMCC, UNMIN can press the alarm button that recruitment by both sides is a breach of CPA and AMMAA,” said Biswokarma. “It is up to the signatories to abide by the agreement and find a way forward to resolve the dispute.”

The mechanism is chaired by UNMIN’s Chief Arms Monitor Col. Marcos Manuel Miranda Caceres. Brig. Gen. Purna Chandra Thapa, Col. Sudershan Rana and Col. Arun Ghale represent NA while Nanda Kishore Pun, Chandra Prakash Khanal and Birendra Kumar Buda represent the PLA in the JMCC.

Prime Minister's election; a joke in Nepal

KATHMANDU, AUG 06 -
The fourth round of prime ministerial election on Friday ended in a debacle again, with both the UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel failing to secure a majority. The next election has been scheduled for Aug. 18 at 3 p.m.

Dahal garnered 213 votes, 46 less than in the previous round. Poudel got 122 votes, two down from the third round. Two other major voting blocs—CPN-UML and Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM)— abstained for the fourth time. A dozen fringe parties including the CPN (ML) and RPP (Nepal) also stayed away from the polls.

The winning candidate had to secure 301 votes in the 601-member parliament. Two new Maoist lawmakers were sworn in to fill the vacant posts before Friday’s voting. The House saw the absence of 133 lawmakers when Dahal’s candidacy was put to the test. When the session convened, all 28 lawmakers of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Loktantrik) were busy at a Parliamentary Party meeting in Singha Durbar. The attendance increased to 561 when Poudel’s candidacy was put for vote.

Dahal was backed by Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party, Nepal Pariwar Dal, Rastriya Janmukti Party, Nepa Rastriya Party, Sadhbhawana (Sarita Giri) and CPN-ML (Samajwadi), the new party that split from CPN-ML on Friday. Poudel got votes from Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Rastriya Janashakti Party.


Despite the fourth failure, both Dahal and Poudel have stood in favour of giving continuity to the ongoing prime ministerial race.

UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal said the Maoists and NC should review their position to end the current stalemate. “The failure to elect a majority government time and again means we should make a fresh start for national consensus,” said Khanal reiterating that UML wouldn’t support the formation of majority government even in the next election.

US warns terrorist risk in India due to Nepal's instablity

The United States has warned that the political instability in Nepal poses serious terrorist threat to India. The country reports on Terrorism 2009 issued by the State Department in Washington on Thursday states “Given Nepal‘s continued instability, however, there is a possibility that members of extremist groups could transit Nepal, especially into India.”

The report has been published at a time when seasoned diplomat Shyam Sharan as a special envoy of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was busy in parleys with Nepali political leaders in Kathmandu. The Kathmandu Post in its Friday edition has reported that the Maoist leaders tried to address India’s security concern during the meeting with the visiting envoy.


The Nepali parliament has failed to elect the new prime minister despite three elections has been conducted since July 21. Both UCPN (Maoist) Chairman and Nepali Congress (NC) Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel has failed to garner majority and according to sources, the indecisiveness would only end once India backs one of the two candidates.


What the report states about Nepal ?
While Nepal experienced no significant acts of international terrorism, several incidents of politically-motivated violence occurred in the country. Maoist -affiliated Young Communist League (YCL) criminal activity continued, including intimidation and extortion. In response to the YCL violence, other political parties condoned the use of violence by their youth wings. Unrest in the southern Terai plains remained high with the proliferation of numerous armed groups and an inadequate police presence. More than 100 armed groups are estimated to be operating in the Terai, some in pursuit of independence or autonomy, most composed of opportunistic criminal elements. Competing factions clashed with each other, with the Maoists, with hill-origin Nepalese, and with police, instigating numerous strikes, demonstrations, and Indo-Nepal border road closures. A Special Security Plan (SSP) was put in place in July to curb violence and end the culture of impunity. Despite this program, police still do not have an active presence in many parts of the Terai.

Nepal experienced several acts of religiously-motivated violence, most prominently the bombing of a Catholic Church in May. The attack was conducted by the Nepalese Defense Army (NDA), a Hindu extremist group that was responsible for shooting a Catholic priest and bombing a mosque in 2008. The leader of this group has since been arrested and their activities appear to have ceased.

There were no indications that Nepal was a safe haven for international terrorists. Given Nepal‘s continued instability, however, there is a possibility that members of extremist groups could transit Nepal, especially into India. The large ungoverned space along the Nepal/Indian border exacerbates this vulnerability, as do security shortfalls at Tribhuvan Airport, Nepal‘s international airport. In June, Lashkar-e Tayyiba (LT) member Muhammad Omar Madni traveled through Nepal enroute to New Delhi.

 Nepal is not a regional financial center and there were no indications that the country was used as an international money laundering center.

There were no prosecutions or arrests for money laundering in 2009. However, YCL illicit financial activities, including smuggling, extortion, and protection demands, increased in 2009.The United States sponsored the attendance of Nepalese security force officers at various international counterterrorism events.

About the UCPN (Maoist): In April, 2008, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) won the national Constituent Assembly election and formed a Government under Maoist Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Following Dahal‘s May 2009 resignation, the Maoists continued in political opposition and remained a U.S.-designated terrorist entity under the Terrorism Exclusion List and Executive Order 13224.

For full  report:
http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/documents/USGOV_CountryReportsOnTerrorism2009.pdf

Army wants more top rank teeth

Asks govt to add two more Lt. Gen's 
Move could influence the appointment of Gurung's successor 


KATHMANDU, AUG 02 - The Nepal Army has put forward an institutional restructuring proposal and has asked the government to “strengthen its top ranks” by creating two additional posts of Lieutenant Generals.

A delegation of senior army officials led by Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Chhatra Man Singh Gurung on Sunday presented the proposal to Defence Minister Bidhya Bhandari and Defence Secretary Nabin Kumar Ghimire. Insiders in the Army maintain that endorsement of such a proposal could influence the appointment of Gen. Gurung’s successor.


 The Army chief is completing his three-year term on Sept. 9, 2012.“The creation of additional posts will put Maj, Gen. Gaurab Samsher Rana and Maj. Gen. Nepal Bhusan Chand in the race for the Army’s top post,” a senior Army official told the Post.

Under the new arrangement, the post will go to Chand if Rana, after his promotion to the post of Lt. Gen., fails to get one year term extension, he said.

Under the existing provision, Rana, Director General of Military Operation (DGMO), will be elevated to Lt. Gen. in April next year after the retirement of Chief of General Staff Pawan Jung Thapa. Adjutant Gen. Chand will get promotion only a month after Chief of Staff Gen. Toran Jung Bahadur Singh retires.

 If Rana stays put as Lt. Gen. for a year even after completing a two-year term, he will then be the Army chief and Chand will be his deputy. “The meeting was just a briefing by the Army,” said a Defence Ministry official. “The government will have to discuss the issue with other stakeholders, including line ministries and agencies.”


During Sunday’s meeting, the senior Army officials argued that the restructuring of top ranks was necessary to transform the institution into international standard and create senior ranks parallel to the civil service.
Of the two additional Lt Gen posts, one can be adjusted from Raaj Prasad Sewa and another from “core group” that is not in existence yet, even though the plan to form it was made a decade ago. They suggested that the four Lt. Gens. should head four departments of the Army.
Maj. Gens. Anil Jung Thapa, Ram Bahadur Gurung, Daman Ghale and BA Kumar Sharma had attended the briefing. Citing the rank structure of of Indian, British and Pakistani armies, the generals maintained that additional posts of major general and brigadier general should be created.

New PM plan a hat-trick flop

Dahal bags additional votes after 11 MJF lawmakers cross the Floor 

PHANINDRA DAHAL 
KATHMANDU, AUG 02 -
The third round of the prime ministerial election ended inconclusively on Monday despite some lawmakers from the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) crossing the floor and voting for UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal. The fourth round of voting has been scheduled for 3 p.m. on Aug. 6.

Dahal garnered 259 votes, while his opponent Nepali Congress’ Ram Chandra Poudel got 124 votes in the polling. Of the 599 Members of Parliament, the winning candidate had to secure 300 votes to form a majority government.

Dahal got 17 votes more than in the second round after 11 lawmakers of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) defied the party’s decision to abstain from voting. MJF Chairman Upendra Yadav and Co-Chairman Jay Prakash Prasad Gupta did not vote for Dahal as per a decision made by the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM).

UCPN(Maoist) Chairman Dahal with Caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Nepal before voting.
Photo: Narendra Shrestha 

While Dahal was also voted by lawmakers of Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party, Nepal Pariwar Dal, Rastriya Janamukti Party and Nepa Rastriya Party, Poudel was backed by Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Rastriya Janashakti Party. The CPN-UML and other fringe parties voted for none of the candidates.

The voting session scheduled for 4 p.m. was delayed by four hours as the SLMM was indecisive until the last hour. Dahal made a last ditch effort to get the backing of the Madhes-based parties by sending his aides to hold talks in Singha Durbar.

While Dahal appeared upbeat after Sunday’s result, Poudel expressed dissatisfaction and accused the Maoists of “malpractice” in the polling. “The malpractice was visible in today’s election. The crossing of the floor is a clear indication of this,” said Poudel. “I have asked the UML chairman to take the incident seriously and review the party’s decision.”

UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal, however, said the party would not vote for a majority government in the next election. Maoist leader Pun, however, claimed that the NC’s allegation was baseless as MJF had formally decided to vote for Dahal. “The increasing votes in our favour shows we will secure majority in the fourth round,” he said.

The House proceeding continued till late in the night due to a serious rift between the Maoists and the NC on the date of the fourth round of election. The Maoists proposed Friday, while the NC demanded the polls be held on Aug. 18 saying that party leaders would be busy in preparations for the upcoming party convention.
The fate of the two candidates now depends on the decision of the UML and the four Madhes-based parties. Dahal will get a majority if the Madhes parties vote for him in the fourth round, while Poudel will get a chance to lead a government if the UML and the Madhes parties vote for him.