KATHMANDU, July 10: Bottled-water, which until a few years ago, was regarded a luxury is now a common sight in Nepali households, thanks to heightening shortage of potable water. However, the fast growing bottled-water industry is highly unregulated as studies have showed that one-fourth of the bottled water distributed in the market is contaminated.
Pramod Koirala, senior food research officer at Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC), said as much as 25 percent of bottled-water companies based in the Kathmandu Valley have been flouting the standards set by the department.
“We tested samples of bottled-waster distributed by 37 companies in the last four months and found that the products of 10 companies were contaminated,” Koirala said, adding, “This shows that the companies are flouting the standard set by the government.”
DFTQC has filed cases against the 10 companies at concerned district administration offices, Koirala said.
The mushrooming of bottled-water companies in every nook and corner of the Valley has not only made it difficult for consumers to differentiate between clean and contaminated bottled-water but also has created fertile ground for unhealthy competition.
Koirala said small-scale companies with little investment and no technical expertise are making things worse, as they are the ones that bottle contaminated water.
The study report prepared by DFTQC states that most of the companies bottle water brought from nearby water sources with negligible or no chemical treatment.
The Valley consumes a total of 900,000 liters of bottled-water in a day, according to Nepal Bottled-water Industries Association (NBWIA).
Though the question on cleanliness and hygiene of bottled-water is doing rounds, bottled-water companies are cashing on the water shortage and selling thousands of liters of bottled-water everyday. The price of water jars (with 20 liters capacity) varies from as low as Rs 35 to as high as Rs 80 per jar.
“It is the unmanaged growth and growing competition among bottled-water companies that has been inviting unhealthy competition in this industry,” Rabin Shrestha, general manager of Aqua 100 - one of the leading bottled-water brands - told myrepublica.com. “Unless and until a perfect inspecting mechanism is put in place, the companies will continue to cheat consumers.”
Shrestha said consumers should be aware of the fact that bottled-water does not necessarily mean that the water is pure and hygienic.
About 300 bottled-water companies are registered with various government agencies, including Nepal Food Corporation and Department of Commerce. The industry directly employs more than 6,000 persons, according to Nepal Bottled-water Industries Association.
“Apart from these registered companies, numerous other companies are operating illegally,” Nabin Kumar Karki of Nepal Bottled-water Industries Association said.
Source: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=20846
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Govt set to introduce casino regulations
KATHMANDU, July 9: The government is all set to introduce a number of regulatory procedures for the casino sector in order to curb possible malpractices in the business.
An official at the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA) told Republica that along with casinos, the ministry is also planning to introduce regulatory framework for gaming club and spa.
Laxman Bhattarai, Spokesperson for MoTCA said they have been constantly receiving complaints about a number of malpractices prevalent in the casino business. “We have realized the necessity of close monitoring and this is why the ministry is planning to introduce a set of regulations,” Bhattarai said.
Currently, Nepal Police has been keeping a tab on such unscrupulous activities but as per the Gambling Act their mandate is limited to restricting the entry of Nepali citizens into the casinos.
The new procedures would set a number of standards, including maintaining international standard service quality, Bhattarai told Republica.
Similarly, we are also planning to introduce separate regulations for health club and spa, as both of them have lately emerged as popular businesses in the city areas. Once the regulations come into effect, tourism related service sectors like travel agencies, trekking agencies and hotel sector, would also come under its purview.
Nepal´s casinos were a popular destination for high spending Indian tourists a few years ago. However, after the establishment of casinos in Goa of India, the attraction towards Nepal´s casinos has dropped sharply.
Currently, there are 10 casinos in operation in Kathmandu and Pokhara, with each casino paying 20 million rupees as royalty to the government.
As the number of the casino-bound Indian tourists decline, resulting in a steep decline in casino´s income, local casinos have starting lobbying for amendment in the law that bars Nepali citizen from gambling in the casinos in Nepal.
A casino entrepreneur said since 80 percent of the total income of the casinos comes from local customers, it is high time that the government remove the restriction, he told Republica on the condition of anonymity. He highlighted the contribution the casinos have made in terms of national revenue and employment generation.
However, MoTCA Spokesperson Bhattarai ruled out any possibility of amending the law to allow Nepali to gamble in the casinos. Allowing Nepali citizens in casinos would mean inviting economic and social problem for them,” added Bhattarai.
Source: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=20796
An official at the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA) told Republica that along with casinos, the ministry is also planning to introduce regulatory framework for gaming club and spa.
Laxman Bhattarai, Spokesperson for MoTCA said they have been constantly receiving complaints about a number of malpractices prevalent in the casino business. “We have realized the necessity of close monitoring and this is why the ministry is planning to introduce a set of regulations,” Bhattarai said.
Currently, Nepal Police has been keeping a tab on such unscrupulous activities but as per the Gambling Act their mandate is limited to restricting the entry of Nepali citizens into the casinos.
The new procedures would set a number of standards, including maintaining international standard service quality, Bhattarai told Republica.
Similarly, we are also planning to introduce separate regulations for health club and spa, as both of them have lately emerged as popular businesses in the city areas. Once the regulations come into effect, tourism related service sectors like travel agencies, trekking agencies and hotel sector, would also come under its purview.
Nepal´s casinos were a popular destination for high spending Indian tourists a few years ago. However, after the establishment of casinos in Goa of India, the attraction towards Nepal´s casinos has dropped sharply.
Currently, there are 10 casinos in operation in Kathmandu and Pokhara, with each casino paying 20 million rupees as royalty to the government.
As the number of the casino-bound Indian tourists decline, resulting in a steep decline in casino´s income, local casinos have starting lobbying for amendment in the law that bars Nepali citizen from gambling in the casinos in Nepal.
A casino entrepreneur said since 80 percent of the total income of the casinos comes from local customers, it is high time that the government remove the restriction, he told Republica on the condition of anonymity. He highlighted the contribution the casinos have made in terms of national revenue and employment generation.
However, MoTCA Spokesperson Bhattarai ruled out any possibility of amending the law to allow Nepali to gamble in the casinos. Allowing Nepali citizens in casinos would mean inviting economic and social problem for them,” added Bhattarai.
Source: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=20796
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
265 kg of hashish seized in Chitwan
CHITWAN, July 6: Chitwan police seized 265 kilograms of hashish worth more than IRs 8 lakhs from Manahara river, Chitwan on Tuesday.
The hashish was well packed in 16 different sacks, Chitwan Superintendent of Police Uttam Raj Thanet informed.
The sacks were being smuggled to India via bank of Manahara river which is the most common route for smuggling, locals said.
The smugglers are absconding.
Source: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=20718
The hashish was well packed in 16 different sacks, Chitwan Superintendent of Police Uttam Raj Thanet informed.
The sacks were being smuggled to India via bank of Manahara river which is the most common route for smuggling, locals said.
The smugglers are absconding.
Source: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=20718
Monday, July 5, 2010
Maoists threaten former child soldier for speaking out
KATHMANDU, July 5: Despite having been forced to spend two years for a cause she didn´t believe in, 18-year-old Sita Tamang who went public last month saying her life with the Maoists was “sad and painful” has failed to earn immunity from Maoist intimidation.
Revisited by horror
On Sunday, ninth grader Tamang sat for math test at Bhandara School in Chitwan, returned home, and then left for a nearby forest to tend to cattle when horror revisited her.
Only two weeks ago, she had recounted at a United Nations Security Council meeting on protecting children in armed conflict in New York the travails she went through during two forced years with the Maoist army.
Five Maoist combatants from Shaktikhor cantonment reached her residence in Bhandara, Chaukidanda Sunday morning and chillingly reminded her that her past tormentors were still a potent force.
“They told me and my mother that anything can happen to me,” said Tamang.
Four men and a woman reached her house, told her parents that they wanted to talk to an old acquaintance and asked that she be summoned.
Tamang reached home after being informed that she had visitors waiting for her. The combatants asked her how she became involved in the war, who took her, and what happened during her two years with the Maoist army.
Intimidated by their questions, Tamang called up local journalists, and seniors at a social organization she is involved in. They advised her to be very careful and say as little as possible.
“I did accordingly. They (Maoists) then said that my intentions were not good, and warned that anything can happen to me,” said Tamang.
“Of the five, I recognize the woman. I don´t remember her name, but I had first met her four years ago,” she said.
Going public
On June 16, Tamang recounted to the Security Council meeting how she suffered during her years with the Maoist army.
Tamang was forced to join the Maoist army in September 2005 when she was just 13.
She was taken by the Maoists under the infamous diktat of one-member-per-family for the Maoist cause.
She was initially taken with the promise that she would be returned home after a week. But she ended up spending two years with the Maoist army.
Tamang had to survive 14-hour jungle walks, dig ditches, and go hungry for weeks. She learned to shoot a gun when she was just 14.
“Many of my friends had died fighting and many had become disabled while fighting. Most of us were weak. During the war, at times, we wouldn´t be able to eat for an entire week. Sometimes, we would survive on water and corn flour,” she told the meeting.
Tamang once became a commander but was demoted to a cook after being accused of faking ill health to avoid work.
She was also stigmatized in her own neighborhood once and went back to the Maoists just 10 days after returning home. She returned home for good in May, 2007.
Security Concerns
Newswire reports on Tamang´s account at the Security Council meeting last month identify her as Manju Gurung, which is a regular journalistic protocol on sensitive stories. But her pictures were made available to the media, thus exposing her true identity.
Until Sunday evening, no concrete measures were taken to protect Tamang, who is terrified after the visit by the Maoists. Additionally, the visit is sure to take a toll on her performance at her school´s internal exams that started Sunday.
Maoist third division deputy commander Uday Chalaune has admitted to a local journalist that the five had been sent from Shaktikhor cantonment, according to a journalist based in Chitwan.
“Chalaune said they had been sent for enquiry as it involved the Maoists,” said Ekal Silwal, correspondent of Himal newsmagazine. Silwal´s story on Tamang was published in the latest edition of the newsmagazine. Chalaune is not happy with that story either.
“After the story was published, Chalaune called me up and said the story was not based on facts,” Silwal said, adding, “He was unhappy that I did not consult with him before filing the story.”
Source: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=20666
Revisited by horror
On Sunday, ninth grader Tamang sat for math test at Bhandara School in Chitwan, returned home, and then left for a nearby forest to tend to cattle when horror revisited her.
Only two weeks ago, she had recounted at a United Nations Security Council meeting on protecting children in armed conflict in New York the travails she went through during two forced years with the Maoist army.
Five Maoist combatants from Shaktikhor cantonment reached her residence in Bhandara, Chaukidanda Sunday morning and chillingly reminded her that her past tormentors were still a potent force.
“They told me and my mother that anything can happen to me,” said Tamang.
Four men and a woman reached her house, told her parents that they wanted to talk to an old acquaintance and asked that she be summoned.
Tamang reached home after being informed that she had visitors waiting for her. The combatants asked her how she became involved in the war, who took her, and what happened during her two years with the Maoist army.
Intimidated by their questions, Tamang called up local journalists, and seniors at a social organization she is involved in. They advised her to be very careful and say as little as possible.
“I did accordingly. They (Maoists) then said that my intentions were not good, and warned that anything can happen to me,” said Tamang.
“Of the five, I recognize the woman. I don´t remember her name, but I had first met her four years ago,” she said.
Going public
On June 16, Tamang recounted to the Security Council meeting how she suffered during her years with the Maoist army.
Tamang was forced to join the Maoist army in September 2005 when she was just 13.
She was taken by the Maoists under the infamous diktat of one-member-per-family for the Maoist cause.
She was initially taken with the promise that she would be returned home after a week. But she ended up spending two years with the Maoist army.
Tamang had to survive 14-hour jungle walks, dig ditches, and go hungry for weeks. She learned to shoot a gun when she was just 14.
“Many of my friends had died fighting and many had become disabled while fighting. Most of us were weak. During the war, at times, we wouldn´t be able to eat for an entire week. Sometimes, we would survive on water and corn flour,” she told the meeting.
Tamang once became a commander but was demoted to a cook after being accused of faking ill health to avoid work.
She was also stigmatized in her own neighborhood once and went back to the Maoists just 10 days after returning home. She returned home for good in May, 2007.
Security Concerns
Newswire reports on Tamang´s account at the Security Council meeting last month identify her as Manju Gurung, which is a regular journalistic protocol on sensitive stories. But her pictures were made available to the media, thus exposing her true identity.
Until Sunday evening, no concrete measures were taken to protect Tamang, who is terrified after the visit by the Maoists. Additionally, the visit is sure to take a toll on her performance at her school´s internal exams that started Sunday.
Maoist third division deputy commander Uday Chalaune has admitted to a local journalist that the five had been sent from Shaktikhor cantonment, according to a journalist based in Chitwan.
“Chalaune said they had been sent for enquiry as it involved the Maoists,” said Ekal Silwal, correspondent of Himal newsmagazine. Silwal´s story on Tamang was published in the latest edition of the newsmagazine. Chalaune is not happy with that story either.
“After the story was published, Chalaune called me up and said the story was not based on facts,” Silwal said, adding, “He was unhappy that I did not consult with him before filing the story.”
Source: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=20666
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Protect yourself
KATHMANDU, July 4: The popularity of an insurance company today depends just not on its customer service but also the diverse varieties of products that it launches in the market to get more customers. Many people today take in account the quality of products while purchasing insurance products.
Realizing this fact, insurance companies are relying heavily on insurance products and this has resulted into a rigorous competition among insurance companies for producing the best insurance products in the market.
Insurance companies - established and newcomers alike - are adopting the policy of ´devising lucrative products to capture the market´ to grow amid cutthroat competition in the market, said Son Bahadur Mager, manager of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) Nepal´s Kamaladi branch.
Mager said Jeevan Aanand Life Insurance policy of LIC (Nepal) is doing very well in the market.
“The Jeevan Aanand policy is one of the most sold insurance products of LIC (Nepal) and it is through this policy that we have been able to attract many customers,” Mager said, adding, “Through this product, insurer can get both the bonus as well as the insurance amount after the maturity of the policy. As the policy also has the provision of free risk coverage up to whole life even after the payment of the policy, this provides double benefit to the insurer.”
This product also covers accidental benefits. The triple benefits of the product are the main reason behind its popularity, he said. “More than 50 percent of the total polices that we have offered is Jeevan Aanand policy,” Mager added.
It is not just LIC (Nepal) that has been able to attract customers through its life insurance products. Nepal Life Insurance Company Ltd (NLIC), the first private sector life insurance company in the country, has also been able to pull a lot of customers through its attractive life insurance products.
Rakshya Baral, senior assistant at NLIC, said Surakshit Jeevan Beema, Dhan Barsha Jeevan Beema, Keta Keti Jeevan Bima and Jeevan Sarathi are the most popular among eight life insurance products offered by the company.
“All of our insurance products are reliable and serve the interest of different individuals. When it comes to cheaper products, people prefer our Surakshit Jeevan Bima scheme. Besides, Dhan Barsha is widely popular amongst businessmen who need cash in between and Jeevan Sarathi is suitable for husband and wife. Keta Keti Jeevan Bima is bought by parents for the security of their children,” Baral added.
Prime Life Insurance Company Ltd -- one of the leading insurance companies in the country - as managed to gain impressive market share through attractive life insurance products.
Prime Life Dhana Sagar and Prime Life Swarnim policies are two most popular products introduced the company. More than 50 percent of Prime Life´s total customer base has purchased either of these products.
The increasing popularity of life insurance products has prompted life insurance companies to come up with even attractive policies. LIC (Nepal) is shortly is coming up with a new life insurance product called Jeevan Aastha. In this product, the insurer has to pay premium only once.
The new policy will be a fixed premium plan where insurer will get bonus of Rs 85 per Rs 1,000. In case of death of the insurer within the policy period, the company will provide double of the insurance amount plus accidental death benefit to next of kin.
“The new product targets big businessmen, who look after investment return as well as risk coverage,” Mager said.
Not only LIC (Nepal), other players in the life insurance market are also coming up with new and attractive policies to attract more customers.
Source: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=20636
Realizing this fact, insurance companies are relying heavily on insurance products and this has resulted into a rigorous competition among insurance companies for producing the best insurance products in the market.
Insurance companies - established and newcomers alike - are adopting the policy of ´devising lucrative products to capture the market´ to grow amid cutthroat competition in the market, said Son Bahadur Mager, manager of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) Nepal´s Kamaladi branch.
Mager said Jeevan Aanand Life Insurance policy of LIC (Nepal) is doing very well in the market.
“The Jeevan Aanand policy is one of the most sold insurance products of LIC (Nepal) and it is through this policy that we have been able to attract many customers,” Mager said, adding, “Through this product, insurer can get both the bonus as well as the insurance amount after the maturity of the policy. As the policy also has the provision of free risk coverage up to whole life even after the payment of the policy, this provides double benefit to the insurer.”
This product also covers accidental benefits. The triple benefits of the product are the main reason behind its popularity, he said. “More than 50 percent of the total polices that we have offered is Jeevan Aanand policy,” Mager added.
It is not just LIC (Nepal) that has been able to attract customers through its life insurance products. Nepal Life Insurance Company Ltd (NLIC), the first private sector life insurance company in the country, has also been able to pull a lot of customers through its attractive life insurance products.
Rakshya Baral, senior assistant at NLIC, said Surakshit Jeevan Beema, Dhan Barsha Jeevan Beema, Keta Keti Jeevan Bima and Jeevan Sarathi are the most popular among eight life insurance products offered by the company.
“All of our insurance products are reliable and serve the interest of different individuals. When it comes to cheaper products, people prefer our Surakshit Jeevan Bima scheme. Besides, Dhan Barsha is widely popular amongst businessmen who need cash in between and Jeevan Sarathi is suitable for husband and wife. Keta Keti Jeevan Bima is bought by parents for the security of their children,” Baral added.
Prime Life Insurance Company Ltd -- one of the leading insurance companies in the country - as managed to gain impressive market share through attractive life insurance products.
Prime Life Dhana Sagar and Prime Life Swarnim policies are two most popular products introduced the company. More than 50 percent of Prime Life´s total customer base has purchased either of these products.
The increasing popularity of life insurance products has prompted life insurance companies to come up with even attractive policies. LIC (Nepal) is shortly is coming up with a new life insurance product called Jeevan Aastha. In this product, the insurer has to pay premium only once.
The new policy will be a fixed premium plan where insurer will get bonus of Rs 85 per Rs 1,000. In case of death of the insurer within the policy period, the company will provide double of the insurance amount plus accidental death benefit to next of kin.
“The new product targets big businessmen, who look after investment return as well as risk coverage,” Mager said.
Not only LIC (Nepal), other players in the life insurance market are also coming up with new and attractive policies to attract more customers.
Source: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=20636
Friday, July 2, 2010
Who's the next prime minister?
KATHMANDU, July 2: After Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal resigned from his post, the formation of even a majority government appears complicated, let alone formation of a consensus government.
Republica assesses the possibility/impossibility of each of the six possible candidates becoming the next prime minister. Based on our analysis, UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal appears to be the frontrunner for the post. But Nepal´s politics is so uncertain and so volatile, not to mention the ever changing positions of individual leaders, it´s only wise to refrain from making any predictions about the next prime minister.
Pushpa Kamal Dahal
Dahal, as the chairman of the largest party in the Constituent Assembly, is still the most legitimate candidate to lead the next government, provided there is agreement among the political parties on all contentious issues and on forming a national consensus government. Maoist leader Barsaman Pun, who switched his loyalty from Baburam Bhattarai to Dahal, told Republica that the Maoist party would forge a theoretical understanding on the issues related to the peace process and that would pave the way for a Dahal-led national government.
But NC and UML leaders rule out any compromise on issues related to the peace process. Without progress over these issues, Dahal is unlikely to get any support from the NC, UML or the Madesh-based parties even to form a majority government. So rule out Dahal for the time being.
Dr Baburam Bhattarai
Maoist Vice Chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai could be a more acceptable figure for the NC, UML and Madhes-based parties, but not if there is no progress in the peace process. "Whether Dahal or Bhattarai, they must demonstrate real progress on the issues in the peace progress; otherwise we cannot support them any longer on face value," said one NC leader.
Dr Bhattarai, however, commands good support from the Madhes-based parties and if all the Madhesi parties unite behind him, he can lead a majority-based alliance of the UCPN-Maoist and Madhesi parties. But not unless his party decides to form the next government under his leadership, something that seems less and less likely as some of his supporters are again teaming up with Maoist Chairman Dahal.
Ram Chandra Poudel
Nepali Congress (NC) Vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel, who is also Parliamentary Party leader of the party, has a higher possibility of getting the prime ministerial post should the NC get to head the new government. Poudel is a strong contender within the party to lead a new government not only because he has the support of party Acting President Sushil Koirala but also because he commands the support of a majority of NC lawmakers by virtue of being NC Parliamentary Party leader. He defeated his rival Sher Bahadur Deuba, garnering 61 votes against Deuba´s 43, in the Parliamentary Party election.
Much to Deuba’s disadvantage, the power equation in the NC Parliamentary Party remains intact still. Add to this a nearly two-thirds majority of NC CWC members who had thrown their weight behind Poudel during a CWC meeting held recently to name a new prime ministerial candidate.
However, Poudel can become prime minister only if the present coalition or the Maoist party supports his candidacy, the chances of which are very slim. The UCPN-Maoist is sure to oppose him and it´s also less likely that the UML central committee will take a decision to back him, especially in a scenario in which the UCPN-Maoist throws a carrot to UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal.
If the Maoists decide to remain in opposition and neither support or oppose a new government, Poudel has a greater chance of becoming prime minister from among the parties in the existing ruling coalition
Sher Bahadur Deuba
Though NC senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba has projected himself as a prime ministerial candidate and has to that end even lobbied the other parties, especially the Madhes-based ones, to garner their support, it is simply impossible to get his name endorsed as prime ministerial candidate from his own party. He is in a minority both in the party’s CWC and Parliamentary Party, as compared to Poudel, apparently due to an unofficial alliance between Poudel and Acting President Koirala.
Though Deuba has claimed that he has greater international clout and may also be in a better position to garner the support of other parties, that is less likely to change the internal dynamics of the NC in his favor. So he doesn´t stand much chance of becoming prime minister for a fourth time.
Jhala Nath Khanal
As the chairman of the third largest party one of whose leaders is an outgoing prime minister, one would think that he has the least chance of becoming the next prime minister. But the irony is, as things stand now, he has a more realistic chance of getting to Baluwatar than any other leader across the parties.
If the Maoists don´t get the leadership of the next government, it would be in their best interests to try to break the ruling alliance. Failure to do so would mean continuation of that alliance and gradual weakening of the Maoist party.
The Maoists will also benefit in another way from breaking the ruling alliance: It will not just break that alliance but also deepen intra-party conflict in the UML, their communist brethren with whom they share the left constituency.
Khanal himself realizes this possibility very well. UML leaders close to Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal claim that it is this very possibility that made Khanal uncooperative toward a government headed by a leader of his own party. For about the last two months, some leaders loyal to Khanal have been arguing in political parleys that he can be a suitable candidate since the NC will not accept a prime minister from the Maoist party and vice versa. One UML politburo member close to Khanal even claimed that there was no possibility of any leader other than Khanal becoming the next prime
minister.
Agreed that Nepal and the KP Oli faction in the UML don´t want Khanal to become prime minister, but they can´t stand in his way if the Maoists decide to support him. "We know that the Maoist party can make this strategic move and support Khanal’s candidacy, and we will not be in a position to oppose it," Nepal´s aides confide.
But again it all depends upon whether Maoist Chairman Dahal is able to sell the idea of a Khanal-led government in his own party, and the possibly become a part of it. The faction led by Bhattarai will surely oppose such a move and advocate a government led by the Maoist party itself.
And there is also a school of thought that says Dahal can take his revenge against Khanal at the eleventh hour for the latter´s betrayal over the army chief row that forced Dahal to quit the government.
Source: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=20560
Republica assesses the possibility/impossibility of each of the six possible candidates becoming the next prime minister. Based on our analysis, UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal appears to be the frontrunner for the post. But Nepal´s politics is so uncertain and so volatile, not to mention the ever changing positions of individual leaders, it´s only wise to refrain from making any predictions about the next prime minister.
Pushpa Kamal Dahal
Dahal, as the chairman of the largest party in the Constituent Assembly, is still the most legitimate candidate to lead the next government, provided there is agreement among the political parties on all contentious issues and on forming a national consensus government. Maoist leader Barsaman Pun, who switched his loyalty from Baburam Bhattarai to Dahal, told Republica that the Maoist party would forge a theoretical understanding on the issues related to the peace process and that would pave the way for a Dahal-led national government.
But NC and UML leaders rule out any compromise on issues related to the peace process. Without progress over these issues, Dahal is unlikely to get any support from the NC, UML or the Madesh-based parties even to form a majority government. So rule out Dahal for the time being.
Dr Baburam Bhattarai
Maoist Vice Chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai could be a more acceptable figure for the NC, UML and Madhes-based parties, but not if there is no progress in the peace process. "Whether Dahal or Bhattarai, they must demonstrate real progress on the issues in the peace progress; otherwise we cannot support them any longer on face value," said one NC leader.
Dr Bhattarai, however, commands good support from the Madhes-based parties and if all the Madhesi parties unite behind him, he can lead a majority-based alliance of the UCPN-Maoist and Madhesi parties. But not unless his party decides to form the next government under his leadership, something that seems less and less likely as some of his supporters are again teaming up with Maoist Chairman Dahal.
Ram Chandra Poudel
Nepali Congress (NC) Vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel, who is also Parliamentary Party leader of the party, has a higher possibility of getting the prime ministerial post should the NC get to head the new government. Poudel is a strong contender within the party to lead a new government not only because he has the support of party Acting President Sushil Koirala but also because he commands the support of a majority of NC lawmakers by virtue of being NC Parliamentary Party leader. He defeated his rival Sher Bahadur Deuba, garnering 61 votes against Deuba´s 43, in the Parliamentary Party election.
Much to Deuba’s disadvantage, the power equation in the NC Parliamentary Party remains intact still. Add to this a nearly two-thirds majority of NC CWC members who had thrown their weight behind Poudel during a CWC meeting held recently to name a new prime ministerial candidate.
However, Poudel can become prime minister only if the present coalition or the Maoist party supports his candidacy, the chances of which are very slim. The UCPN-Maoist is sure to oppose him and it´s also less likely that the UML central committee will take a decision to back him, especially in a scenario in which the UCPN-Maoist throws a carrot to UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal.
If the Maoists decide to remain in opposition and neither support or oppose a new government, Poudel has a greater chance of becoming prime minister from among the parties in the existing ruling coalition
Sher Bahadur Deuba
Though NC senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba has projected himself as a prime ministerial candidate and has to that end even lobbied the other parties, especially the Madhes-based ones, to garner their support, it is simply impossible to get his name endorsed as prime ministerial candidate from his own party. He is in a minority both in the party’s CWC and Parliamentary Party, as compared to Poudel, apparently due to an unofficial alliance between Poudel and Acting President Koirala.
Though Deuba has claimed that he has greater international clout and may also be in a better position to garner the support of other parties, that is less likely to change the internal dynamics of the NC in his favor. So he doesn´t stand much chance of becoming prime minister for a fourth time.
Jhala Nath Khanal
As the chairman of the third largest party one of whose leaders is an outgoing prime minister, one would think that he has the least chance of becoming the next prime minister. But the irony is, as things stand now, he has a more realistic chance of getting to Baluwatar than any other leader across the parties.
If the Maoists don´t get the leadership of the next government, it would be in their best interests to try to break the ruling alliance. Failure to do so would mean continuation of that alliance and gradual weakening of the Maoist party.
The Maoists will also benefit in another way from breaking the ruling alliance: It will not just break that alliance but also deepen intra-party conflict in the UML, their communist brethren with whom they share the left constituency.
Khanal himself realizes this possibility very well. UML leaders close to Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal claim that it is this very possibility that made Khanal uncooperative toward a government headed by a leader of his own party. For about the last two months, some leaders loyal to Khanal have been arguing in political parleys that he can be a suitable candidate since the NC will not accept a prime minister from the Maoist party and vice versa. One UML politburo member close to Khanal even claimed that there was no possibility of any leader other than Khanal becoming the next prime
minister.
Agreed that Nepal and the KP Oli faction in the UML don´t want Khanal to become prime minister, but they can´t stand in his way if the Maoists decide to support him. "We know that the Maoist party can make this strategic move and support Khanal’s candidacy, and we will not be in a position to oppose it," Nepal´s aides confide.
But again it all depends upon whether Maoist Chairman Dahal is able to sell the idea of a Khanal-led government in his own party, and the possibly become a part of it. The faction led by Bhattarai will surely oppose such a move and advocate a government led by the Maoist party itself.
And there is also a school of thought that says Dahal can take his revenge against Khanal at the eleventh hour for the latter´s betrayal over the army chief row that forced Dahal to quit the government.
Source: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=20560
Thursday, July 1, 2010
President Yadav sets July 7 deadline for consensus govt
KATHMANDU, July 1: President Dr ram Baran Yadav has asked the political parties represented in the Constituent Assembly to form a consensus government by July 7, one of his aides said.
The President’s office sent a letter to the Parliament Secretariat Thursday morning suggesting that such a government be formed in the wake of resignation of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on Wednesday, according to our correspondent Kiran Chapagain.
The President´s aide Lalit Basnet said that if the political parties failed to form a consensus government, a priority mandated by the Interim Constitution, then the parties will have to form a majority government.
PM Nepal resigned on Wednesday, blaming the main opposition, UCPN (Maoist), for non-cooperation and obstruction throughout his 13-month tenure. He has been asked by the president to continue as caretaker prime minister until a new government takes oath of office.
Source: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=20535
The President’s office sent a letter to the Parliament Secretariat Thursday morning suggesting that such a government be formed in the wake of resignation of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on Wednesday, according to our correspondent Kiran Chapagain.
The President´s aide Lalit Basnet said that if the political parties failed to form a consensus government, a priority mandated by the Interim Constitution, then the parties will have to form a majority government.
PM Nepal resigned on Wednesday, blaming the main opposition, UCPN (Maoist), for non-cooperation and obstruction throughout his 13-month tenure. He has been asked by the president to continue as caretaker prime minister until a new government takes oath of office.
Source: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=20535
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