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Nepal Research
Website on Nepal and Himalayan Studies

Permanent crisis (current year) [partially commented link collection]

Since the Delhi Agreement between seven parliamentary parties and the insurgent CPN (Maoist) of 22 November 2005, the people of Nepal have been waiting in vain for the promised realisation of an inclusive democratic system. Although the then putsching monarchy was abolished and a constitution was passed in 2015 after long power struggles between the political parties, even this was the sole work of the exclusively male leaders of the three major parties, predominantly male Bahuns. The appropriate participation of all social groups, as provided for in the interim constitution of January 2007, did not take place. In this respect, the constitution of 2015 even represented in part a step backwards compared to the interim constitution.
Thus, apart from the abolition of the monarchy, not much has changed since the 1990 system. Numerous fundamental human rights continue to be disregarded. There is no inclusion of all social groups. All power and the majority of all state functions are still in the hands of male Khas Arya, especially male Bahuns.  The latter make up hardly 6 percent of the population, but the identification of the state and its society and culture, in short the nationalist image of the state of Nepal, is still based on the culture and partly narrow-minded, anarchic, patriarchal and socially discriminating view and thinking of this small minority. As long as this state of affairs continues and the failed generation of political leaders of all parties is not replaced by a younger generation that is inclusive, open-minded, receptive and not exclusively oriented towards personal power interests, there will be no end to the crisis situation.

Since today's political parties and their leaders are proven to be disinterested in solving the crisis and, to make matters worse, supporters of the long-failed systems of monarchy and Hindu state are trying to use the failure of politics to revitalise their own interests, the title of this sub-page has been changed from Crisis solution to Permanent crisis.

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18/03/2024: Federalism brings services and politics closer to people, interview with EU Ambassador Lorenzo by Ishwar Dev Khanal (kh), Krishna Mahara, arrested in gold smuggling case, flown to Kathmandu (kh), Maoist Center’s Krishna Mahara transferred to CIB after arrest in gold smuggling case (kh), Old doubts : People are afraid that ‘compulsions of coalition’ will again spare the guilty in the latest gold smuggling case (kp), Former Vice President Pun’s advisor Gurung released on bail (kh), Rupandehi District Court grants permission to police to detain Dipesh Pun for 8 days (rep), Court grants permission to remand Mahara in custody for four days (kh), Court grants permission for Mahara to remain in hospital (kh) [??], Maoist Center calls office bearers meeting following Mahara’s arrest (kh), Reminiscing Last Week: Politics, gold smuggling probe sparks action (kh), All eyes on Sumana Shrestha over how she handles school education bill : Shrestha had a radical view of education reform and strongly opposed the bill before she became the minister (kp), Nepal is a yam between three boulders : You can’t clearly distinguish between international and domestic factors responsible for the change in ruling coalition, interview with Khagendra Prasai by Thira L Bhusal (kp), Political Uncertainties, by Deepak Kumar Nayak (SAIR)

17/03/2024: Misuse of alliances in political power-lust : To be fair to Dahal, changing colour is a common trait among most Nepali politicians, by Paban Raj Pandey (kp) [Dahal, Oli and Deuba have failed repeatedly. Their immediate withdrawal from active politics is a basic prerequisite for a better policy!], PM Dahal foresees new power dynamics to expedite government operations (kh) [Dahal fails to mention that without the electoral alliance with the NC, his party would have won far fewer seats in parliament. Moreover, it is not his job to turn Nepal into a communist state!], Nepal’s public debt reaches Rs 2.288 trillion (kh), Nepal's debt reaches around Rs 2.4 trillion, with an additional Rs 200 billion accumulated over past eight months (rep), Economy faces sluggishness but not crisis: Finance Minister Pun (kh) [???], NC attack on Home Minister is aimed at toppling govt: UML Chief Whip Bartaula (kh) [What is the difference to the UML policy before the party joined the government? The behaviour of all parties is completely reprehensible and irresponsible towards the state and the people!], Court gives executive four months to set up juvenile courts : In their absence, rehabilitation of children is affected as regular courts often fail to properly handle the cases (kp), Karnali folk return to oil lamps as electricity supply proves unreliable : Nine out of ten districts connected to the grid but residents face frequent power cuts (kp), Long march as resistance : Usury victims have introduced a strong  nonviolent protest in the so-called revolutionary socialist Nepal, by Abhi Subedi (kp), Bumpy Road Ahead For New Alliance, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn)

16/03/2024: Decades after joining CEDAW, Nepal struggles with implementation (kh), As political parties swap seats, they change their views of ‘tainted’ ministers, too : After Congress is pushed to opposition, it obstructs House asking prime minister to clarify on charges against home minister (kp) [This is what Nepal's politicians mean by unbiased investigation and punishment!], Diarrhoeal outbreak risk rises as mercury ticks up in quake-hit districts, by Arjun  Poudel (kp) [Failure of the government to provide timely assistance!], Gold Smuggling Case: Cabinet decides to take probe committee’s report for implementation. Political ties in gold smuggling test government’s integrity, say experts (kh), Attorney office challenges district court verdict on former cricketer Lamichhane : High Attorney Office Patan says punishment handed to Sandeep Lamichhane is insufficient, by Ghanashyam Khadka (kp), World Consumer Rights Day: Here’s why Nepali consumers are upset. Consumers are being cheated left and right, yet the government appears to be making minimal effort to address the issues, by Krishana Prasain (kp), Entertainment Face-Off : Kollywood or Parliamentwood, by Bimal Pratap Shah (rep)

15/03/2024: Nepal ranks 146th on Human Development Index: UNDP report (kh) [see complete report by UNDP, Snapshots and Specific Country Data Nepal], KMC reviving ancient names of local heritages (kh), Elite capture : The usurpation of the PR system by imposters has sowed suspicion about the idea of representation (kp), House of Representatives meeting postponed due to NC obstruction (kh) [The abuse of parliament and thus the prevention of the passing of urgently needed laws continues, regardless of which parties are in government or in opposition!], Skeletons in the Cabinet : Some Cabinet members who have become ministers again despite nefarious pasts, by Shristi Karki (nt), Poor cash-rich Nepal : The country’s coffers are full, but the economy is anemic because of poor investment climate, by Sonia Awale (nt), ‘Bank Account for Daughters, for Secure Life’ programme ineffective in Karnali : The provincial government has not deposited the promised amounts in the girls’ accounts for the past two fiscal years, by Krishna Prasad Gautam (kp) [So much for the credibility of politicians' statements!], Plural histories of school education : Nepal needs more diverse historical works on schooling that go beyond state-centric perspectives, by Pratyoush Onta (kp), Nepal's Quest For Political Stability, by Rameshwar Baral (rn), Gold smuggling case: Former Vice President Pun’s son Dipesh arrested in Kathmandu (kh), Police nab nine including Bibeksheel Sajha’s Chair and General Secretary (kh)

14/03/2024: Court orders parties not to abuse proportional representation system : Constitutional Bench directs them to follow constitutional spirit of giving space to under-represented populations, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [The leading politicians do not abide by the constitution and subordinate laws or court orders, i.e. they will continue to pursue their non-inclusive nepotism system!], In numbers we trust : Dahal has got the vote of confidence again. But the scenes on Wednesday suggest turbulence ahead (kp), UML leader Gyawali rules out UML-Nepali Congress coalition (kh) [What does this statement mean in a world of politicians who never really mean what they say and for whom lies are just fine for the realisation of political power interests?], Govt advocates file petition at Patan High Court for stronger action against cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane in rape case (kh), Parliamentarians not to remain spectator if government turns rampant: Lawmaker Thapa (kh), NC protests over appointment of Rabi Lamichhane as Home Minister amid fraud investigation (kh), Home Minister Lamichhane pledges actions against officials involved in gold smuggling investigation lapses (kh), Writ petition filed at Supreme Court seeking legal recognition for live-in relationships (kh), Seven more Nepali nationals serving in Russian Army killed in Russia-Ukraine conflict (kh), NRB data shows economy not out of recession (ae), A pivot balancing three great powers, by Durga Lamichhane (ae), Child serving time for mother's mistake in overcrowded Kalikot Jail (rep)

13/03/2024: Court orders government to appoint leaderships at transitional justice bodies : The top court has given a month for the government to start the selection process (kp), PM Dahal seeking vote of confidence today (kh), House of Representative meeting commences, PM Dahal seeking vote of confidence (kh), Prime Minister Dahal secures vote of confidence in parliament (kh), PM Dahal receives vote of confidence for the third time; 157 MPs vote in his favor (rep), Resham Chaudhary instructs party lawmakers not to vote in favor of PM Dahal (kh), Prabhu Sah’s AJP decides to extend vote of confidence to PM Dahal (kh), NWPP decides against giving vote of confidence to PM Dahal (rep), Financial Literacy Aids Earning, by Namrata Sharma (rn), Gender equality begins at home, by Shivani Chenjong (ae), FinMin Pun linked to a gold smuggling network!, by Tapendra Karki (rep)

12/03/2024:  Politics of chicanery : The disregard for integrity among leaders has muddied the entire political pool, by Achyut Wagle (kp), PM Dahal has his hands full with a difficult coalition . Voices of unease among partners. UML’s Pradeep Gyawali accuses ‘some elements’ of attempting sabotage, by Anil Giri (kp), Narayan Dahal elected National Assembly Chair : In the voting that took place on Tuesday, 39 votes were cast in favor of his candidacy, while 17 votes were against the proposal to elect him (kh), Janamat Party withholds vote of confidence for PM Dahal, decides to file candidacy for Ilam and Bajhang (kh), NC aims to retain Chief Minister positions in provinces, seeks support from smaller parties (kh), NC leaders suggest President Deuba initiate dialogue with RPP (kh) [??], Nagarik Unmukti issues whip to vote in favor of Prime Minister Dahal (kh), Government, loan shark victims reach agreement : Government to form an inquiry commission. Struggling committee withdraws protests (kp), It’s only words : The UML claims high ideals to explain its support for the Dahal government. There is room to doubt it (kp), Federalism For Effective Governance, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn)

11/03/2024: Nepalis deserve better politicians : Through the recent change of guard, we got a confirmation once again that trust and commitment are not valued currencies in politics, by Simone Galimberti (ae), Politics of pardon : Arbitrary pardons and commutation of jail terms are part of a long trend of criminalisation of Nepali politics (kp), End of Prachanda : With the change in political alliance at the center, there will be an inevitable avalanche in provincial governments, by Narayan Manandhar (rep), ‘Worry’ as Nepal’s forex reserves soar to record Rs1.84 trillion : Huge reserves mean lack of investment and may lead to further decline in economic growth, say experts, by Krishana Prasain (kp), Political wrangling affects parliamentary performance-Lawmaker Chaudhary (kh), Women Empowerment Has Long Way To Go, by Ballav Dahal (rn), 'I became candidate for NA Chair owing to my contribution to party' (rn) [If you were a woman and your name was Pariyar or BK, for example, you would never have been selected no matter what you did for the party. Mr Dahal. As a male Bahun, your chances increase to 80-90 per cent, but  the close relationship with the PM is of course decisive.], Cabinet recommends President Poudel to dismiss governors of three provinces, appoint new ones (rep), Costly ministerial makeovers: Over Rs 600,000 spent on refurbishments with each ministerial change in Kathmandu (rep) [!!!!]

10/03/2024: Dispute over secretary appointment divides Human Rights Commission : As an international team assesses commission's performance, calls grow for an executive decision to end the controversy, by Binod Ghimire (kp), The rule of the third : Dahal has done a lot of talking. It's time to justify his position through swift action, by Mohan Guragain (kp), Maoist Center to present Narayan Dahal as National Assembly Chair candidate (kh) [Nepotism in its purest form, as this is the Prime Minister's brother!], RSP: Rise and risks : Certain concepts floating in the orbit of political science may explain what is going on with RSP, by Sucheta Pyakuryal (kp), Maoist Center betrayed NC and people deserting coalition: Former DPM Khadka (kh) [The accusation is justified, but coming from an obviously corrupt politician who should no longer hold any political office at all until his guilt or innocence has been legally clarified, this sounds strange!], Madhes-based parties form working alliance (kh), SC concludes President’s amnesty for murder convict Regal contrary to Rule of Law (kh)

09/03/2024: Contradictory Conduct Infests Party Politics, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Top court cautions executive against arbitrary pardons: Recommends assessing convict’s jail time, remorse and health status for presidential pardon eligibility, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Federal government overstepping provincial and local authorities: Study : Parliamentary study calls for removing federal offices that encroach on the jurisdictions of subnational governments (kp), Ending the Pandemic of Violence Against Women and Girls, by Deepanjali Shrestha (rep)

08/03/2024: Report shows Nepal ahead in closing gender gap. Ground reality is different : Men benefit from state subsidies, particularly those meant to help women become independent entrepreneurs, by Krishana Prasain (kp), Survivors Need Support To Fight For Justice, by Sanjita Timsina (rn), International Women’s Day: Implement laws meant to empower women, by Jivesh Jha (ae), Rural women deprived of reproductive health rights : At recent health camps in Achham, fewer people chose permanent family planning. Patriarchal attitudes and preference for sons blamed as root causes, by Menuka Dhungana (kp), Breaking barriers for women in foreign policy : With equal opportunities, meritorious women can contribute to IR with their intellectual insights, by Shradha Arjyal Joshi (kp), Dahal blames Congress to justify new alliance : ‘This is not called flexibility. This is political dishonesty,’ says the Congress chief whip about the prime minister’s frequent changes of alliances (kp), Sparks fly after collapse of Maoist-NC ruling coalition (ae) [What can you expect when a PM repeatedly breaks his promises and agreements just to maintain his power and blame his failures exclusively on others? The new government won't last long either, be sure, especially as Oli still thinks and acts the same way!], PM Dahal stresses constitutional provisions for women’s rights on International Women’s Day (kh) [And why don't you respect these constitutional provisions? Why, for example, are there only 4 women among the 22 cabinet members so far?], AAIN leads charge against the unacceptable informalization of labor relations (ae), Ilam by-election: RSP to contest independently despite being part of coalition at center (kh) [This is the absolutely correct procedure for democratic elections! Dealings are manipulative and anti-democratic and distort the will of the voters!], Ruling coalition will continue for next four years: UML Chair Oli (kh) [This is exactly what Dahal and Deuba said about the previous coalition until recently!], New power equation fosters hope and political stability: UML Secretariat (kh) [What a load of bollocks! Both Dahal and Oli stand for instability and unpredictability!], Ruling coalition comprises controversial figures: Maoist leader Bhusal (kh), Catapulting to Singha Darbar : The more things change in Nepali politics, the more they remain the same (nt), What difference does it make? Most Nepalis are convinced these main men of the new coalition will bring little positive change to their lives (nt), Pokhara epicentre of Sino-Indian rivalry : The Great Game between China and India is being played out in this scenic tourism capital, by Durga Rana Magar (nt)

07/03/2024: How are different social groups faring? There is a need for disaggregated data by social groups to understand it, by Deepak Thapa (kp), Usury victim continue their protest for justice on Thursday (kh), PM Dahal-led cabinet: Get to know the ministers (kh), 20-member Cabinet has a mix of old and new faces : The largest party, Nepali Congress, is already plotting to deprive the new Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led coalition of majority in the House of Representatives, by Anil Giri (kp), Ground firm for transitional justice bill’s passage: Leaders : The change in government coalition will not impact the legislative function, House committee chair says, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Deputy Speaker raps centre’s reluctance to empower provinces : Nari magazine hosts ‘Nirbhik Nari’ interaction in Biratnagar of Koshi Province (kp), Government short of Rs25 billion to pay pensions : Pension management office seeks more funds from finance ministry, by Prithvi  Man Shrestha (kp), JSP unveils cabinet nominees: Upendra Yadav to lead party in cabinet with role of DPM and Health Minister (kh 07/03/2024) [The proportion of women in the cabinet is now only 18 per cent. Long live the patriarchy! Women are only nominated if a party has more than three ministerial posts and at least seven such posts are required if two women are nominated!], 157 MPs on the ruling bench in parliament! (rep), EC rejects Resham Chaudhary as Nagarik Unmukti Party Chair, affirms continuity with Ranjita Shrestha (kh)

06/03/2024: The great ‘tamasha’ : The latest change of coalition is more indication of politics bereft of ethics. Most top leaders are culprits (kp), Prachanda’s politics is back!, by Ishwar Dev Khanal (rep), New ruling coalition struggles to strike power-sharing deal : As the shape and size of the emerging alliance is still unclear, there is uncertainty over which party gets what, by Anil Giri (kp) [This is exactly what Nepal's politicians live for. They are at best only marginally interested in substantive policies that are orientated towards the country and its people!], Lawmaking at the local level : Unlike the local laws, delegated laws enforced by the centre reportedly promote corruption, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), Political changes in Kathmandu make provincial governments shaky : As UML comes into ruling fold and the Congress shifts to the opposition bench, provinces are feeling the ripples (kp) [The misunderstanding of federalism on the part of Nepalese politicians is unbearable!], Bagmati Province: NC ministers resigning en masse today (kh), Maoist Centre withdraws support to Lumbini Province government (rn), CPN (Maoist Centre) withdraws support to Sudur Pashchim govt (rn) [This is a fine federal state. All decisions on the provincial governments are made and ordered by the national leadership of the parties!], PM Dahal remains busy in political meetings : Holds talks with Jhalanath Khanal, Rabi Lamichhane and KP Oli (kh), Political buzz in Kathmandu as PM Dahal engages in meetings (kh), NC President Deuba spearheads discussions to forge inclusive democratic alliance (kh) [In view of the renewed political failure, wouldn't it finally be time to step down from all political offices and leave such a decision to a younger generation?], A hard lesson for Congress and Deuba, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Rights groups urge Nepal to revise transitional justice law for accountability (rep), China expresses hope for political stability and economic progress in Nepal following new govt formation (rep) [Why does China expect political stability from this new government, in which the autocratic left-wing party leaders, who are constantly at odds with each other, only have a relative majority?], Newly appointed ministers sworn in (kh)

05/03/2024: Caste discrimination in online spaces : Technological advances have complicated the problems of the caste victims, by Mitra Pariyar (kp), NHRC demands fair investigation of Chitwan school incident (kh), The state of State Capture, by Narayan Manandhar (rep), Factors that led Dahal to ditch alliance with NC, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Left alliance, Chapter II : No government can succeed without a minimum level of trust and coalition culture (kp), Growing rift, Oli’s overtures ended Congress-Maoist coalition : Some in the Nepali Congress see external hand in the break-up, but leftist politicians attribute it to long-running differences between Dahal and Deuba, by Anil Giri (kp), New coalition partners cement comradeship with 8-point deal : Maoist Centre to get upper house chair. PM’s post to be divided between Dahal and Oli, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Small parties demand CM positions for support in PM Dahal’s new government formation (kh) [Yes, Nepal is still a centralised state. Politics at provincial level are always closely linked to events at national level! This is not federalism!], CPN (Maoist Center) ministers suspended in Gandaki Province amid political shifts (kh), Sudurpaschim Province CM Shah suspends three Maoist Center ministers (kh), Nine years after adopting federal constitution, federal civil service law remains elusive : Government registered the new bill at Parliament for second time after the previous bill was withdrawn in 2021 after gathering dust for more than two years at the lower house (kp), Janamorcha criticizes new coalition, warns of threat to democratic achievements (kh)

04/03/2024: Caste-based discrimination: A call for equality and change, by Prabin Kumar Yadav (ae), Ruling coalition collapses, new cabinet formation underway (kh), CPN-Maoist to form new coalition government with CPN-UML, RSP (nlt), Coalition govt collapses; parties, including UML, gear up to form new Cabinet (rep), Meeting of new ruling alliance underway at Baluwatar (kh), New alliance ‘course correction’ in Nepal’s politics: Maoist leader Poudel (kh) [A real course correction can only take place without the involvement of the repeatedly failed politicians Dahal, Oli and Deuba!], Prachanda to lead govt for two years, followed by Oli (kh) [Nepal is facing further dark times under the leadership of power-hungry but incompetent politicians who have still not been called to account for their past!], Country will see turmoil as long as I am alive: PM Dahal (kh) [??????}, NC shifts to opposition as Deuba accuses PM Dahal of betrayal (kh), Ruling coalition forms 4-member task force to allocate ministries : Oath of new ministers scheduled at 5 PM (kh), Janamat Party seeks clarification on role in Madhes and federal govt before coalition decision (kh), Balendra Shah treading authoritarian path, say rights activists : They are ‘troubled’ by City police’s use of force on Wednesday against street vendors (kp), We need a national outlook to solve the problem of street vendors : There is a fundamental question: Why can’t we accommodate human beings while we are ready to accommodate vehicles?, interview with Mahendra Subba (kp), Enfeebled assembly : The upper house of Parliament is not being allowed to play its desired role (kp) [Both chambers of parliament are abused and manipulated, from elections to legislation to the dissolution of parliament.], Raisina, Ram and Nepal : Nepali politicians old and new are competing to pay homage to the BJP’s brand of religious politics, by Biswas Baral (kp), Cultivated instability instead of positive renewal, by Karl-Heinz Krämer (Nepal Observer 85)

03/03/2024: Retiring National Assembly members want changes in its working : They question the upper house’s composition and say there are discriminatory legal provisions against it (kp),
PM Dahal prepares for Cabinet reshuffle ahead of parliamentary address (kh), Prime Minister Dahal begins groundwork for Cabinet reshuffle : While an exact modality is to be worked out, most members of the Cabinet could be replaced, by Anil Giri (kp), Is Ruling Alliance On The Skids?, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Republic established through martyrs’ sacrifices, irrefutable: Minister Sharma (kh), Rana calls to reframe gender issues, up women’s participation : Congress leader Arzu Rana Deuba says Nepali women entrepreneurs face a myriad of challenges (kp), Civil society leaders ask KMC Mayor Balen Shah to apologize to street vendors (rep)

02/03/2024: Over 30,000  quake survivors in Rukum West receive first installment (rep) [That's what you call quick, when the PM had promised immediate help only four months ago!], Shifting Choices Of Public Life, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Promoting Political Harmony Via Lullabies, by Anupam Bhattarai (rn)

01/03/2024: Opposition party plans to obstruct HoR meeting today (kh) [A political party that blocks the work of the people's representatives is anti-democratic! Protest must take a different form.], Speaker Ghimire directs govt to respond to opposition queries on March 4 (kh), Prime Minister Dahal admits government failed to deliver as per expectations : Dahal painted a bleak picture of revenue collection. By the end of January, only 74 percent of the revenue target was met (kp), Fate of NC-Maoist coalition, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Whose metropolis? The gentrified Kathmandu of Balen’s imagination, we are afraid, will be a city without a soul (kp), Today’s national news in a nutshell (kh), Online violence escalates due to lack of proper legislation, by Bhasa Sharma (rep), KVDA prepares to stop illegal land-plotting, by Bhuwan Sharma (rep), The accelerated mass migration out of rural mountains is proof that federalism is malfunctioning, by Chetan Adhikari (nt) [Those responsible are the so-called top politicians who insist on centralised power and who, despite their constant failures, declare that they are indispensable!]

29/02/2024: No point pretending : The state seeing loan shark victims in Parliament premises as a security issue should fool nobody (kp), Loan shark victims stage ‘whistle march’ from Bhrikutimandap to Baluwatar (In Pictures) (rep), Cooperative, microfinance and loan shark victims complain of govt neglect (ae), Federalism implementation in priority, says Prime Minister Dahal (nlt) [A basic prerequisite for this would be for politicians and parties at national level to finally abandon their centralised mindset. For example, they must stay out of provincial politics or if the national government changes, this must not have any influence on the provincial governments! Another task of federalism is the decentralisation of power and better inclusion of the regional population, something that the Hindu monarchy had failed to do for centuries!], Constitution would fail if marginalized voices remain unaddressed: Lawmaker Pramila Kumari (kh), Maoists up the ante against Congress on Assembly chair : Prime minister’s party decides to field candidate for upper house leader and shun poll alliances, may seek UML’s help, by Anil Giri (kp), Disputes among elected officials leave several local units in Sarlahi paralysed : People have been deprived of essential services, teachers of salaries and beneficiaries of social security allowances, by Om Prakash Thakur (kp), Avoiding over-development : Nepal must be warned about the dangers of excessively focusing on economic growth, by Hridesh Gajurel (kp), Nepal paying 29 percent higher tariff for electricity imports from India than its exports to southern neighbor : The NEA paid as high as Rs 16 per unit for imported electricity in this dry season (rep), Corruption and Moral Bases of Democracy, by Mohan Nepali (rep), Should Nepal extend its LDC graduation deadline?, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae)

28/02/2024: Of plebeians, plutocrats and populists : There are laws in place that proscribe usury, but their enforcement is fraught with institutional hurdles, by CK Lal (kp), Ministerial decision inflicts hardship on government employees, by Laxman Sharma (kh), Kathmandu among top three most polluted cities for air quality (kh), Calls grow in Maoist Centre to toughen stance against Congress : Maoist leaders criticise Nepali Congress leaders’ Mahasamiti reports and a faction’s Hindu state demand, by Anil Giri (kp), Damaging delay : The failure to carry out a detailed damage assessment after the Jajarkot earthquake has caused great hardship (kp), After revamping Japan labour deal, Nepal plans pacts with ten other nations : Developed economies are in a race for high-skilled workers, and are adjusting immigration policies to attract them (kp) [Such pacts should only be a supplement. The government's real duty is to create jobs at home! Remittances only help the economy optically!], Govt throws out G2G deal with Japan to supply workers through manpowers, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Remittance is buoying a crises-ridden economy, by Kamal Raj Dhungel (ae), CPN (Maoist Centre) designates province in-charges (rn) [Including so "many" women. This "revolutionary" party is so gender inclusive and is working for the abolition of patriarchy. And then all these non-Khas Arya, wow!], Rajendra Mahato reaches Maitighar Mandala to defy ‘prohibited area’ decree (kh), LDC graduation: Nepal seeks extension of facilities, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Dr. KC warns of intense protest to expedite TRC Bill in parliament (kh)

27/02/2024: With no post-quake assessment, Jajarkot victims risk neglect : Four months since the quake, damage assessment is yet to start. Government says priority now is temporary shelters, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Network of deputy chairs demand revision on bill designed to amend Local Government Operation Act (kh), Nepal faces inflation risk from Red Sea disruption, by Krishana Prasain (kp), Baglung’s Muslims struggle for burial ground : When a woman died last month, the community had to charter a vehicle to take the body to the neighbouring Gulmi district for burial, by Prakash Baral (kp) [Such problems could increase if the Khas Arya minority prevails with its demand for a return to the Hindu state!], Would Mahato’s exit from LSP bring any substantive change in national politics? Mahato aims to set up an ‘alternative’ political force whose goal is to establish a ‘pluralistic nation-state’ (kp) [No, it wouldn't! Nepal does not need new parties, but finally democratisation, rejuvenation and better social inclusion within the existing ones on the basis of republicanism, federalism and secularism!], Police implement ban on pedestrian activity along footpaths around Singha Durbar (rep) [????], ‘Lawmakers themselves escorted microfinance victims into parliament due to political maneuvering’, by Tapendra Karki (rep), Debtors storm through parliament gate, 50 held (ae), Weeklong detention for protesters of loan sharking and microfinance exploitation (kh) [The behaviour of these desperate people may be unlawful, but the reaction of the obviously disinterested state seems excessive!], Opposition Takes Centre Stage, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), Ilam by-election: NC picks Khadka, UML eyes Suhang as parties prepare for showdown (kh)

26/02/2024: Reminiscing Last Week: NC affirms support to coalition; protests, and key directives (kh), The poverty paradox : The steady rise in urban poverty calls for a shift in the country’s rural areas-centric approach (kp), Authorities prepare to relocate loan shark victims from Bhrikutimandap (rep) [The politicians want to spare themselves the sight of the suffering people whose concerns they should actually be taking care of!], Govt’s bid to evacuate Bhrikutimandap disrupts loan sharking victims’ talks (kh), 49 protesters arrested for breaching prohibitory orders and entering restricted area in Baneshwor (rep), Loan sharking and microfinance victims protest inside parliament premises (kh), Lawmakers advocate for swift post-earthquake reconstruction (kh) [This is exactly what the leading politicians promised four months ago as part of their political tourism programme!]

25/02/2024: International Tribunal on Evictions calls for action as forced evictions continue despite constitutional protections, by Aesha Bajracharya (rep), Misinformation posing a growing threat to democracy, by Nishu Ratna Bastakoti (rep), UML outraged over PM Dahal’s absence in parliament, demands accountability : Speaker Ghimire directs government to address opposition queries (kh), House committee likely to decide on transitional justice bill within a week : The committee is likely to advance the bill with a vote as chances of a consensus look slim (kp), Military diplomacy in focus amid mega peacekeeping exercise : As US Indo-Pacific commander arrives, high-level Chinese military delegation is due to visit Kathmandu in March, by Anil Giri (kp) [Blatant exertion of influence as part of an unabated power struggle between China and the USA in Nepal!], Bill to amend Political Parties Act presented in HoR (kh) [This law needs a fundamental revision. In its current form, it primarily serves an autocratic party leadership and lacks democracy and social inclusion regulations!], NC Mahasamiti meet : Sends Tremors Among Coalition Allies, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Meet Poll Pledge, by Parmeshwar Devkota (rn)

24/02/2024: Pork barrel fund idle as officials struggle to fund quake relief : Based on the number of registered beneficiaries, over Rs4 billion will be required to fund the temporary shelters, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), As government holds off action against minister, Speaker issues third ruling : Prime minister had pledged action after receiving the Balkumari incident probe report (kp), Grasp Shifting Trends In Party Politics, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Concerns raised over impact of fake information on political progress (kh) [This is very serious misbehaviour and falls under the term political corruption!]

23/02/2024: NC and Sanaatan State: Myth or Reality, by Chhering Yonzon (rep) [The number of NC politicians advocating a return to the Hindu state during the Mahasamiti seems disproportionately high. This is due to the fact that at the upper levels of the NC, similar to the other parties, there are predominantly (male) Khas Arya, who simply do not want to understand the multi-ethnicity of Nepal and the centuries-long discrimination of non-Khas Arya under the Hindu monarchy!], Unconventional convention : Hindu state agenda divides the Nepali Congress as religious tension grips the Tarai, by Shristi Karki (nt), Contrary to government claim, Parliament turning ineffective even in new session : The winter session has barely two months to go. Various ministries are said to be working on 109 bills, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Major political parties hold meetings focusing on Mission-84 (rep) [These parties stood for election just over a year ago and those who were elected must finally do their job and stop talking about what will happen in just under four years' time!], Unveiling Nepal’s protectionist paradox: Bootleggers, baptists, and consumer consequences : What do industry and labor want from the regulators? They want protection from competition, from technological change, and from losses that threaten profits and jobs, by Subhekshya Ghimire (nlt), Loan sharking victims demand DPM Shrestha’s resignation (kh), CPN-UML demands govt to present Balkumari incident investigation report in parliament (kh), Parliament session disrupted by opposition, meeting adjourned (kh), Foreign aid spending remains poor compared to use of domestic resources : Spending on Asian Development Bank support stands at eight percent and 14 percent in the case of the World Bank in the first half of the current fiscal year (kp), Get Tough With The Corrupt, by Lok Deep Thapa (rn)

22/02/2024: Fragile sentiments : It is time for everyone to come together and celebrate cultural-religious vitality—not virulence (kp) [A return to the Hindu state, as demanded by the RPP and other radical fundamentalists, would have exactly the opposite effect!], Nepal’s demographics: Then and now : We now know for the first time how the different provinces have been doing, by Deepak Thapa (kp), Rift persists in Congress over electoral alliances : Party chief Deuba says the country’s situation doesn’t allow the largest force to embrace Hindu state agenda, by Anil Giri (kp)

21/02/2024: Shunned and silenced : The long struggle of the women who were sexually assaulted or raped during the conflict period continues (kp), Nepal delays reply to UN concerns over transitional justice : Four UN special rapporteurs had given Nepal 60 days, until February 15, but officials say they need more time, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Coalition will continue, but Congress will contest next elections independently, says Gagan Thapa : Presenting their papers at Mahasamiti, General Secretary Sharma stresses the coalition has no alternative, while party veep calls for curbing corruption (kp), National Assembly reflections : Parliament is where a goat’s head is shown and a dog’s meat is sold, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), RPP to demonstrate across country to exert pressure on govt to meet its 40-point demand (rep) [This sounds like the 40 demands that the CPN (Maoist) presented to then PM Deuba in January 1995. Unlike the RPP's demands today, the Maoist demands at the time were largely rational and largely in line with the state policy guidelines of the constitution, which were ignored by the Deuba government.], Inside the NC, voices in favor of Hindu state are gaining ground, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae) [This is where the NC shows its true face and makes it clear that it is not a socialist and democratic party that stands up for the concerns of all citizens of the country, but a club for the preservation of the power and privileges of the small male Khas Arya elite!], Final hearing begins on writ seeking dismissal of 110 lawmakers elected through proportional representation system (kh) [Then one could also say straight away: the elections to the Constituent Assemblies and the adoption of the new constitution were not based on the interim constitution. Consequently, all governments and parliaments since then would be illegitimate and should be dissolved immediately. While the former statement is entirely true, it does not help the country and its people in view of the chaos caused by the top politicians and now also the Hindu fundamentalists and monarchists!]

20/02/2024: Kathmandu ranks fourth most polluted city worldwide (kh), Incidents of violence against women on the rise: INSEC (rep), Cases of human rights violations surged by 27 percent in 2023. Involvement of government bodies in human right violations in notable number of cases (rep), Caste in Gurkha communities : The patron-client system has become extinct, yet untouchability is still practised among the Gurkhas, by Mitra Pariyar (kp), Urban poverty is on the rise, while rural poverty keeps falling : Experts call for creation of more jobs in order to address the livelihood issues of the urban poor, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Thapa’s proposal against poll alliances gets Deuba’s nod : Without specifying the changes, the Congress chief called for revision of the constitution of Nepal, by Anil Giri (kp) [Just as King Birendra spoke of timely reforms to the panchayat system before the 1980 referendum without specifying them?], Data for effective development : Despite some positive trends, persistent disparities continue to mar the landscape of progress in Nepal, by Ximena Del Carpio, Pippa Bird and Faris Hadad-Zervos (kp), Need To Streamline Public Holidays, by Uttam Maharjan (rn), Nepal an advocate for peace and equality: PM Prachanda (rn) [At least in part, the PM must be talking about a different country. Nepal continues to be characterised by extreme social non-inclusion and the denial of the final peace process through justice for the victims of the insurgency!], SC directs govt to curb road disruptions for VVIP traffic (kh) [!!!], What should Nepal prioritize during the upcoming investment summit? Will the upcoming Investment Summit also be centered on how foreign investments can help achieve the SDGs? What should Nepal do?, by Simone Galimberti (nlt)

19/02/2024: Making Nepal more inclusive, by Simone Galimberti (ae), Conflict-era rape victims’ trauma compounds : Records at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission show that among the 63,700 cases it received, 314 are related to rape or sexual violence from the insurgency, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Various groups organize protest at Maitighar demanding justice for Ajit Mizar (In Pictures) (rep), Reminiscing Last Week: Lalita Niwas verdict to Prachanda’s call for Maoist unity (kh), CIAA should appeal acquittal of politicians in Supreme Court : We concluded that no court can say that the Lalita Niwas land is not government land. We had strong evidence to prove that, interview Sharada Prasad Trital, head of the Lalita Niwas land grab probe committee (kp), Bansbari land: Billionaire Binod Chaudhary evading investigation : Faces allegations of encroaching upon government land in various locations across the country (kh), Journalists denied entry to Democracy Day ceremony in Tundikhel (kh), Federalism unleashes ernormous potential: PM Dahal (kh) [Why do you and your autocratic colleagues like Oli and Deuba not implement and develop the federal system, but abuse it for your own power interests?], Worth preserving : We would do well to internalise the enormous costs at which recent democratic changes have come (kp), Opposition parties press prime minister to sack Minister Jwala : Demand comes after probe says Jwala’s negligence was a contributing factor for the Dec 29 Balkumari deaths (kp), Cold tarps are forcing families back to damaged homes : A magnitude 6.4 earthquake hit Jajarkot, Rukum West and Salyan on November 3 killing scores and damaging around 8,000 public and private houses, by Biplab Maharjan (kp), Air pollution responsible for premature births, low weight : Neonatal deaths have not declined in the past five years, according to a study, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Mounting public frustration tests Nepali democracy : Longevity of democracy rests on effectively combating corruption and economic transformation, say experts, by Anil Giri (kp), Nepal’s health sector under the budget knife : Experts warn budget cuts could undo the progress the country has made in the health sector over the past several years, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Ncell tax fraud architect assumes key role at Nepal Telecom Authority (kh) [Corruption in perfection!], Two members of the hooligan ‘Sanubhai’ group released on bail (kh) [???], How strong is internal democracy within political parties? (rep) [It is in a pitiful state!], How democratic are our parties (ae)

18/02/2024: Speaker Ghimire directs ministers to respond to lawmakers within seven days (kh), Delay in vital law enforcement denies judiciary financial autonomy : The court has to follow a complex bureaucratic process in order to meet some of its financial obligations, by Binod Ghimire (kp), A group in Nepali Congress gears up to raise the Hindu state agenda at Mahasamiti meeting : The party’s central working committee has rejected the agenda’s inclusion in the upcoming Mahasamiti meeting. On Saturday, the group, however, made public its four-page dossier (kp), Liberating academia from partisan politics : For that, we must implement merit-based selection process in top positions, by Kiran Paudel (kp), Madhesi man faces harassment from man referring himself as DSP (kh), Disturbing incident unfolds in Kathmandu as a Madhesi youth harassed in Kathmandu (kh)

17/02/2024: MoFAGA prepares draft bill to suspend local executive for six months (rep) [A serious attack on democracy and federalism!], Love, a ‘deadly trap’ for Dalits!, by Pabitra Sunar (rep), NC leaders, including 22 central members, to announce Special Campaign for Sanatan Hindu State today (kh) [To identify the state and the nation with a single culture and religion is a crime against the multi-ethnic and multi-religious society of Nepal! The country is not the property of predominantly male high caste Hindus, even though they have pretended to be for centuries!], Congress leaders’ reports criticised by own for ‘falling short on solutions’ : 22 central members memo Deuba demanding reinstatement of Nepal as a Hindu state, by Anil Giri (kp), DAO Kathmandu extends prohibited zone duration for two more months (kh), Clarity sought on ‘policy decisions’ as ex-ministers cleared in land scam : Bill to amend the CIAA law seeks to bar probe into such decisions of Centre and provinces without defining them, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) [Impunity continues to apply to politicians without restriction. Is this what the government promises under ruthless investigation or should judges be subject to the instructions of the executive?], Media trials and their impact on the judiciary, by Diwakar Dhakal (rep)

16/02/2024: Not rising Nepal : Statistics tell us the poverty rate has declined, the reality is different for the poorest Nepalis (nt), ‘50% children with cancer are out of medical services’ (kh), Lalita Niwas land grab: 12 convicted, Gachchhadar acquitted (nlt), Ex-officials convicted, politicians acquitted in Lalita Niwas scam : Two years jail for several convicts including Bhatbhateni’s Gurung, ex-secretary Basnyat, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Of course, what else? Politicians will always be spared because they are above the law!], Implementation of Constitution and Challenges, by Kalyan Shrestha (kh), Seven years is not a long time for federalism’s institutionalisation, EU envoy says : Presenting a strong defence of federalism, she said that Nepal’s constitution provides for political stability (kp), Clamour for Hindu state : A political ideology that favours nativism and monoculturalism has no place in a democracy (kp), NC leaders advocate for Vedic Sanatan Hindu State in special proposal (kh) [The 22 signatories are in no way representative of the Nepalese population! You might as well declare Nepal a Tharu, Gurung, Limbu or Sherpa state, which would be just as absurd!], Foreign aid decreases by Rs 77 billion (rep), Budget Must Stimulate Economy, by Lok Deep Thapa (rn)

15/02/2024: Congress group aims to put Hindu state on party meet agenda : While proponents say the party should listen to people’s voices, others dismiss the agenda as a non-starter (kp) [Those who advocate a return to a Hindu state ignore the multi-ethnicity and the multi-cultural and multi-religious character of Nepalese society. Such people oppose social inclusion and are therefore anti-democrats. Political parties that advocate such policies should be ignored! They only stand for the preservation of power and privileges of a predominantly male small elite!], PM Dahal advocates halting outflow of funds for higher education from Nepal (kh), Maoist representatives want direct elections for leadership positions : So far, the party’s general convention only elects central members. Other committees and office bearers are picked from the central committee, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [This party too thinks in authoritarian terms and doesn't think much of basic democratic principles!], As air in Kathmandu Valley deteriorates to hazardous level, patients of respiratory illness rise ; A low-pressure system formed in the west caused cloudy conditions throughout the country on Wednesday, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Old story, new twist : The saga of Nepali youth dying in senseless foreign wars like the one in Ukraine should stop (kp), Remittance: Myths and truths : Although Nepal receives a lot of remittance, it is quickly depleted due to the country’s heavy imports, by Jagadish Prasad Bist (kp), Democratising Party Leadership Essential, by Mukti Rijal (rn), Special Court slaps guilty with cash fines of up to Rs 8 million and two-year jail term (rep), Bhatbhateni owner Min Bahadur Gurung gets 2-year prison sentence in Lalitaniwas land grab scam (kh), Lalita Niwas Land Grab: Leaders acquitted; employees found guilty (kh)

14/02/2024: Promote Human Rights And Inclusion, by Namrata Sharma (rn), Death toll from People’s War waged by the Maoists stands at 18,076: New data (rep), Glass half empty : The latest living standards survey points to all the ways the Nepali state fails to invest in its citizens (kp), Dahal offers lip service of leadership transfer at Maoist Centre statute convention : Party chief does not seem positive about imposing age and term limits for office bearers because he still wants to be in control, says a leader (kp), ‘Another world is possible’: Socialists of the world to convene in Kathmandu this week : People involved in socialist movements from 92 countries will take part in the five-day World Social Forum-2024 (kp), Legalization of same sex marriage paves way for inclusion and equality, by Arjun Oli (rep), Navigating Tradition and Progress: Same-Sex Marriage Recognition in Nepal, by Mona Sharma and Dikshya Aryal (rep), LGBTIQA+ community: A continuing struggle for social acceptance, by Mitali Bharadwaj (ae), High Court deems govt nomination of Health Council Members illegal (kh), Internal democracy and compliance with rules must prevail: CEC Thapaliya (kh)

13/02/2024: Reflections on 17 years since the “People’s War”, by Gyanu Ghimire (kh), “People’s War” achievements are nation’s common assets: PM Dahal (kh) [What achievements? Social non-inclusion persists, as does patriarchy; women are at best second-class citizens, Dalits are discriminated against and are victimised. Justice for the victims of the insurgency is still denied. The poverty rate is high. The constitution was created by the traditional ruling male elite, not by the inclusively elected representatives of the people; promises made during the People's War are often not honoured. The electoral system is manipulated and abused. Civil liberties are often restricted. The federal state exists mainly on paper. Corruption is rampant and is covered up by the political elite. The most important achievement of the People's War remains the abolition of the monarchy and the Hindu state, but it is precisely this that is increasingly being called into question. Support for your party has fallen to a meagre 11 per cent. Voters are simply fed up with narcissistic politicians like Dahal, Oli and Deuba. How are you going to change that?], Nepal sees less than expected decline in poverty : Poverty fell from over 25 percent in 2011 to just over 20 percent in 2023, says the Fourth Living Standard Survey, by Krishana Prasain (kp), 20.27 percent of Nepalis are living under the poverty line (rep), Partnership with Congress not beneficial, says PM Dahal : Yet, he has no immediate plan for a new alliance, by Anil Giri (kp), Commitments and contradictions : The government has started some good initiatives but struggled to follow through (kp), Higher Education Bill: A fiasco : The travesty of the proposed bill is that no authority is willing to take its ownership, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Numerous laws remain unformulated: NA Chair Timilsina (kh)

12/02/2024: Alliance plans to push TJ bill via vote if no consensus : Multiple attempts to build consensus have failed as ruling and opposition parties refuse to budge from their stands (kp), Financial irregularities rampant at all three government levels: CIAA Chief Rai (rep), PM Dahal accuses Nepali Congress of betrayal : Says it is high time that his party reevaluated the coalition dynamics (kh), Maoist Center leaders face criticism for opulent lifestyles and ideological ambiguity (kh), Conventional wisdom : At a minimum, Dahal should declare that he will step down as the head of his party after a specific time (kp) [Party leaders like Dahal, Oli and Deuba will never resign. They are convinced that Nepal needs their endless failures and misbehaviour!], Demography, digitalisation and diaspora will catapult RSP to power : The party doesn’t equate an inclusive liberal democratic order with federalism. We should worry more about the ends, not the means, interview with Swarnim Wagle (kp) [The proposed abolition of the provincial level means federalism without federalism and safeguards the rule of the centralised male high-caste elite in a socially non-inclusive state oriented towards Hindu ideals. What is different from the last few decades? The non-realisation of federalism is due to the centralist attitude of that very elite and the RSP obviously wants to be part of it!], Nepali women face harsh realities of foreign employment in Gulf countries, by Sabita Khadka (rep), Reminiscing Last Week: Parliament, Giri Bandhu Tea Estate and SC (kh), Archaeologists call for halt to defacement of Lumbini heritage sites : Concerned over the construction of structures, Unesco threatens to put Lumbini on ‘Heritage in Danger’ list (kp), Ministry instructs agencies to prepare the health budget within previous ceiling : In the current fiscal year, 35 percent of national health budget was slashed. This hampered several healthcare programmes including maternal health, child health, family planning, and nutrition (kp), Paving the path to prosperity : Investment in road infrastructure is a prerequisite to attracting local and international tourists, by Roshee Lamichhane (kp), Judge Acharya transferred to Mugu following release order for Arun Chaudhary (kh), No public holiday on Falgun 1, says Ministry of Home Affairs (kh), The Red Alert : The State is hell bent on owning all the means of production and curbing freedom of speech and human rights, by CK Raut (rep), What puts Nepal’s democracy in peril?, by Sushil Thapa (ae)

11/02/2024: NC-Maoist Conflict: Oscillating between normalcy and intensity (kh), Panel recommends revision to a dozen laws before investment summit : A member says if they sort out the land acquisition, purchase or lease issue, half of the investment-related problems will be solved (kp), Kathmandu Valley Air Pollution Turning Heaven into Hell, by Madhav Karki (rep), Street vendors stage protests against KMC  (rep), Birgunj Mayor Singh admits during interrogation of having two wives, by Bimala Gupta (rep)

10/02/2024: Bind Leadership To Constitutional Ideals, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Impoverished Netuwa community seeks recognition and rights as minority Dalit caste : The government provides a Rs4,000 monthly social security allowance to impoverished communities, but Netuwas are deprived of this benefit, by Amrita Anmol (kp), Damak View Tower faces crisis in operation, by Dhruba Bhattarai (kh) [When short-sighted politicians like KP Oli interfere in nonsensical mammoth projects in their home districts to secure their re-election....], Koshi government and agitating group ink five-point deal : The Province 1 Renaming Joint Struggle Committee agrees to adopt peaceful protests to press its demands, by Binod Bhandari (kp), A call for responsible legal practice, by Saroj Bhattarai (rep)

09/02/2024: Democracy Day to be marked for three days (kh) [King Tribhuvan promised democracy in 1951, but paved the way for royal autocracy in the following years, which was perfected by his son Mahendra. Today, party politicians are obstructing the implementation of democracy. There is nothing to celebrate! Democracy is not the imitation of royal power and arrogance by party politicians!], Prime Minister Dahal says he favours publicising Lal Commission report : Promises to call a meeting of the ruling alliance to decide the matter (kp), Eye on land : Nepali politicians, bureaucrats and business mafia have been using land to make illegal profits (kp), Discarded heroes : Electricity consumers valiantly fought through years of darkness like soldiers in battle, by Bishal Thapa (kp), Experts call for harnessing remittances for development : Say the growth in remittances has fueled imports, but the money is hardly being used in employment-generating activities (kp), Susta rural municipality launches monetary scheme to discourage child marriage (kh) [The reasons lie in the extremely patriarchal way of thinking, its reflection in politics and laws, the permanent non-inclusion of women and archaic cultural practices in society. They cannot be solved with money!], Koshi govt and identity-based agitators reach five-point agreement (kh), Correcting policy failures in Nepal, by Umesh Raj Rimal (kp), Address Chief Ministers’ concerns, PM tells Singhadurbar (ae) [This concern is so fundamental that a head of government should have some idea of what this should look like, which he has so far been actively involved in preventing! A PM cannot delegate everything!], Nepal facing terrible brunt of Russia-Ukraine war, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae)

08/02/2024: Nepal takes big step to avoid money laundering greylist : House passes amendments to anti-money laundering law, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Court quashes permit to Giri Bandhu estate to swap land above legal limit : Law was revised in 2020 to add provision for exchanging excess land or selling it to pay liabilities after firm closure, by Binod Ghimire (kp), On Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory, by Narayan Manandhar (rep), Federal government buys time to set up provincial police, devolve powers : Local units want significant shares of radio frequency royalty, taxes raised from natural resources, and other rights, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Still no real interest of the central level in the implementation of the federal system!], Nepal becomes top troops contributor to UN peacekeeping missions : As of November 30 last year, 6,247 Nepali personnel were serving in conflict zones (kp), Growth, at a cost : More remittance isn’t something to celebrate if we can’t pump it into building national capital (kp)

07/02/2024: Nepal's peace dilemma : The failure to conclude the transitional justice process undercuts the achievements in the structural transformation of Nepal, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), Light Feb calendar belies government pledge of more effective Parliament : Two ruling parties’ events clash with the House of Representatives’ schedule, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [The politicians continue to believe that the citizens are stupid and do not recognise their constant lies!], Schoolgirls come together to combat outdated pratices : Young girls rally against social ills, urging female relatives to shun harmful traditions like Chhaupadi, child marriage and caste-based discrimination, by Tularam Pandey and DB Budha (kp), Three including Arun Chaudhary released amid controversy (kh) [Only ordinary citizens are subjected to the full rigours of justice. For prominent people, especially those from political parties, there is always a loophole! A constitutional state looks different!], Gagan Thapa demands accountability: No leniency for those involved in public land encroachment, citizenship forgery, or cooperative fraud (kh), Lawmaker Singh accuses coalition government of sheltering corrupt figures (kh), SC overturns land swap decision involving Giri Bandhu Tea Estate made by former Oli government (kh), What is Giri Bandhu Tea Estate scam? (kh), Maoists first became top upper house force. Now they claim chair : Prime Minister Dahal denies having given word to Congress on making Krishna Prasad Sitaula Assembly chairman, by Anil Giri (kp), Maoist Center’s bid for NA Chairman sparks outrage within NC (kh), Money foreign workers send home jumps by 25 percent : Remittances rose to Rs733.22 billion in the first half of the current fiscal and the foreign exchange reserves ballooned to a record high of Rs1.81 trillion (kp), Deportation of Chinese volunteer exposes Maoist Center’s power struggle and betrayal (kh)

06/02/2024: Dangerously deluded monarchists : Sensible Nepalis should aim for the secular republic's reformation and revitalisation, by Mitra Pariyar (kp) [In particular, the person at the centre of the monarchist ambitions should be brought to heel immediately!], Of alternative voting methods : Nepal must assess its capacity to implement absentee voting and digitalise elections, by Arjun Thapa (kp), Don’t waste the winter : People will be closely following the new session of parliament to see if it meets their expectations (kp), Reform in reservation is necessary, by Ritesh Panthee (rep), Will TRC Bill Be Endorsed ?, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn) [Quite unlikely! If it does, the result will still be unsatisfactory for the victims. Potential offenders should not decide on such laws!], Proposal to prevent child marriage (ae), Families of Nepalis in Russian Army protest outside Russian Embassy in Kathmandu (kh), Nepali students take more money abroad than paid by tourists here (kh), Maoist Center asserts claim for National Assembly chairmanship (kh) [Hurray for the undemocratic and manipulative electoral politics of the Nepalese parties!]

05/02/2024: Perversion of democracy : It would be laughable for the leader of the seventh largest parliamentary outfit to lead the government (kp), Major parties shouldn’t forge electoral alliances among themselves : The continuity of the present coalition is necessary to complete the remaining tasks of the peace process and for the effective implementation of the constitution, interview with Barshaman Pun (kp), Former lawmaker and Civil Cooperative promoter Tamang gets three-year jail : Ichchha Raj Tamang is fined Rs1.72 billion. All defendants’ properties will be confiscated, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Political Will Must To Curb Corruption, by Ballav Dahal (rn), Saud’s approach with big powers, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae)

04/02/2024: Quake-displaced people battle inclement weather : Around 34,000 earthquake-displaced people are living under tents in Jajarkot and Rukum West, according to government data, by Mahersh KC (kp), UML renews bid to pull ruling coalition down. Will it succeed? The party tries to foment discord in the Congress-Maoist alliance. Madhav Nepal’s prime minister prospects make UML chief jittery, by Anil Giri (kp) [As long as power is passed back and forth between Oli, Dahal and Deuba, there can be no question of a successful policy. It would be particularly bad if a PM came back who had staged a coup against the constitution and the state in 2020/21!], Electricity trade deal with India divides stakeholders in Nepal : Supreme Court orders the government to explain why the 10,000 MW export agreement’s implementation should not be halted, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Nepal's economy and federalism : Confronting the policy blunders of the past is a must for the renewal of the faltering federal republic, by Kiran Paudel (kp), Draft bill on higher education disappoints experts : Educationists say the prime minister vowed to reform higher education but the bill reeks of the same old mindset of political and bureaucratic control of universities, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Stop setting dangerous precedent (rep), Conspiracy Theories Galore, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Is Nepal’s National Human Rights Commission really weak? What can be done to make it more functioning and relevant? When human rights violations occur and the citizenry expect a prompt and swift intervention, the Commission’s “grand” mandate and mission often crumble to pieces, by Shrawan Adhikari and Simone Galimberti (nlt)

03/02/2024: Salyan and Surkhet report highest number of rape cases among 10 Karnali districts : In most rape cases, the perpetrators of the crime are usually the victims’ family members, according to police, by Biplab Maharjan (kp), Dahal, Oli discuss ways to resolve transitional justice disputes : The opposition leader says the bill to amend the Enforced Disappearances Enquiry, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act should be finalised in consensus after some revisions (kp) [Both are not really interested in justice for the victims.], 'VIPs' get admitted to the hospital to evade detention, by Tapendra Karki (rep), Foul play apparent in Bansbari land transfer, CIB says : Transfer was done illegally allegedly with the intent of grabbing the property for its real estate value, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), UML Chairman Oli accuses President Paudel of crossing constitutional limits (kh) [It leaves you speechless that Oli, of all people, is taking a stand on this. As PM, he has repeatedly broken the constitution and other laws in close co-operation with Paudel's predecessor Bidya Devi Bhandari, grossly disregarded SC judgements and spread brazen lies!], Peace process to accelerate with the consensus of political parties: Prime Minister Dahal (kh) [What matters is justice for the victims, not the consensus of leading politicians, who are also among those responsible for the crimes of that time!]

02/02/2024: Mend ways : The political parties should think about resolving the key problems that the country is facing (ae), Nepal Army Inc. : A mad rush for money has eroded the legacy and legitimacy of the institution (kp) Soaring Debt : Nepal’s public debt soars as the country continues to borrow to fund low-return projects, by Ramesh Kumar (nt), Development = Destruction : Kickback-driven maldevelopment is destroying Nepal as megalomania and kleptomania go hand-in-hand (nt), World Social Forum in Kathmandu : Gathering will bring 30,000 Nepali and international participants to Kathmandu on 15-19 February (nt), Dam dangerous : Proposed reservoir inside Shivapuri National Park carries more risk than reward, critics say, by Ramesh Kumar (nt)

01/02/2024: Insurgency victims come up with 27-point demand : Want extrajudicial killings and unlawful killings listed as serious human rights violations and the authority to reduce penalties resting with judiciary, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Break the cycle : Most loan shark victims will continue to be denied justice unless the local bodies become more active (kp), Nepal’s tryst with Corruption Perceptions, by Narayan Manandhar (rep), NHRC Report Card: Action recommended against 66 right violators (ae), Now, Nepal Army wants to operate a textile factory : Amid criticism of its involvement in business ventures, the force comes up with plan to revive Hetauda Kapada Udyog (kp)

31/01/2024: Constitutional watchdog names 60 persons implicated in serious human rights abuses : Those incriminated include top police and government officials, and politicians, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Nepal ranks 108th in Corruption Perceptions Index : Nepal climbs two spots in the global rankings but remains in the category of countries with rampant corruption (kp)

30/01/2024: Fending for themselves : There can be no excuse for the poor handling of the post-disaster situation in Karnali’s quake-affected districts (kp), Nepal ranks 108th in Corruption Perception Index with slight improvement (kh), Nepal remains on list of countries with rampant corruption, by Bhasa Sharma (rep), Orphanising federalism : There is a lack of research-based policy-making institutions within the government system, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Experts call for more proactive handling of new and old security threats : At a function in Kathmandu on Monday, speakers from diverse sectors discussed the interplay of regional and global powers in Nepal (kp), Investigation committee rejects Ncell share transaction; recommends further scrutiny (kh), Study committee finds faults in Ncell deal : Says claim Nepal had an unfavourable business climate was baseless (kp), Safeguarding the Legacy of Martyrs : To forcefully declare a member of a certain party as a martyr is an act of insulting the real martyr and defaming the word martyr, by Saroj Bhattarai (rep), Time to preserve traditional ecological knowledge : Our compensation and relocation schemes disregard traditional ecological knowledge, by Badri Baral (ae), Unlocking Opportunities: Empowering Financial Inclusion in Rural Nepal : For women in rural areas who continue to face low literacy rates and various gender-based barriers, access to and use of digital financial services is not a small task, by Santosh Adhikari and Menila Kharel (nlt)

29/01/2024: After assembly elections : People are getting fed up with this never-ending drama of self-centred politics (kp), Supreme Court intervenes to make rights commission’s role more effective : Successive governments have implemented hardly 15 percent of its recommendations (kp), Loan sharking victims to march again towards Kathmandu for justice (kh), China says rivals trying to sabotage its ties with Nepal : Visiting Chinese leader asserts BRI is not a debt trap and expresses concerns over investment climate, by Anil Giri (kp), Royal Massacre 2001 will be subject to reinvestigation: Prime Minister Dahal (kh), Safeguarding the Legacy of Martyrs, by Saroj Bhattarai (rep)

28/01/2024: What delays the rehabilitation of earthquake-displaced people : Since November, 35 homeless, mainly senior citizens and minors, have died, by Krishna Prasad Gautam (kp), Dalit women: empowered or imperilled? We must ensure equitable access to resources to ensure Dalit women’s active political participation, by Samiksha Baral (kp), Supreme Court says it cannot pass verdicts solely on the basis of media coverage : The court also raises questions over continued delays in advancing the transitional justice process (kp), Rifts in Congress, Maoists on reviewing ties after Koshi loss : Champa Karki of ruling coalition lost National Assembly vote on Thursday, sowing seed of mistrust in the alliance, by Anil Giri (kp), Escaping the remittance trap : Nepal should wean itself off remittances and transition to healthier and more sustainable growth model, by Hridesh Gajurel (kp), From Constitution to Kitchen: Nepal’s Journey to Food Rights, by Raju Prasad Chapagai (rep)

27/01/2024: Maoist Center affirms stability in federal coalition despite Koshi floor-crossing (kh), PM Dahal announces declaration of 3,000 additional martyrs soon, promises comprehensive recognition (kh) [You'd better finally get justice for all the victims from the time of the uprising!], Former King Gyanendra Shah expresses concerns over misconceptions about himself and his family (kh) [And what about the feelings and suffering of the people during your coup in 2005, when they were beaten, maltreated and arrested on your orders!]

26/01/2024: Particracy vs Democracy, by Kalyan Shrestha (kh), “Political parties must adopt a proactive approach”, interview with Devendra Paudel, CPN-MC (kh), UML loses seven upper house seats, even as it pulls off surprise victory in Koshi : The party falls to the third position as the Maoists become the largest force in the National Assembly, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Elections in Nepal are a rigged farce! Once again, there can be no talk of social inclusion. The politicians should finally stop lying about this!], National Assembly election sparks distrust in ruling coalition : Maoist Center emerges as the largest party, UML the third party in the National Assembly (rep) [A party that was elected by just 11 per cent of voters a year ago now has 30 per cent of the seats in the National Assembly. In Nepal, this is called "honouring the will of the people!" The NA has degenerated into a socially non-inclusive object of manipulation by the political parties!], Single women unable to build temporary shelters : Many have not registered for reconstruction aid. Even those who lack the physical and human resources to build a temporary shelter, by Tripti Shahi (kp)

25/01/2024: Nepal launches milestone action plan on business and human rights : The adoption sends a strong message to investors that Nepal is a good place to do business, stakeholders say (kp), Parties tour country to interact with people : Analysts say the political campaigns will not do much of public good besides engaging their cadres (kp), Voting in progress, results expected today (kh), Koshi Province steals the spotlight in NA election (with photos) (kh), NA Elections: 60% turnout so far, results expected today (kh), Successful conclusion of NA Election across seven provinces, results awaited this evening (kh), Alliance with other parties a must as single party unlikely to obtain majority: NC Prez Deuba (rep) [But please not by means of anti-democratic manipulation in the run-up to elections!], Why has the RPP announced street protests?, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae) [The questions should be: Why are unconstitutional demands allowed to be made that are against the interests of the country's multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious society as a whole? What about the women, Dalits, Janajatis, Muslims and to some extent Madheshis in the event of a return to the Hindu state? Why did 17,000 people have to die if the political system is to be reset to the exclusive system of a small male pahadi elite after less than 20 years? Why was the royal family not sent into exile after the abolition of the monarchy? When will the leaders of the ruling political parties finally realise that it is they who have enabled the increased activities of the anti-people forces in the first place?], Smart mobility for Hetauda: A path to sustainable development, by Prasannata Lamichhane (ae), Women Commission urges govt to take action on unlawful children’s homes (kh), SC releases full text of directive order to amend NHRC Act (kh)

24/01/2024: The neglect of federalism : Concentration of power at Singha Durbar overshadows the idea of grassroots-level governance, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), PM Dahal’s push for cabinet reshuffle faces coalition discord (kh), Government working on 109 bills to give more business to Parliament : The Cabinet has recommended the President summon the winter session of Parliament on February 5, by Binod Ghimire (kp), UML is pursuing a monarchy agenda: Gagan Thapa (kh), Challenges of misinformation : Emerging AI tools will result in a playground of information manipulation in the upcoming elections, by Ujjwal Acharya (kp), Silent Sacrifices Beyond Borders, by Prakriti Adhikari (rep), We all have responsibility to develop our country: PM Prachanda (rn) [Then the top politicians of all political parties should resign immediately, because you are all the main reason for the country's inadequate development, the continuing lack of social inclusion and the stubborn refusal to create a federal, secular and democratic republic!]

23/01/2024: Uncommitted committees : The elected Parliament should be the first agency to offer much-needed hope to the people (kp), Gandaki CM Pandey demands adequate rights to province (kh), Labour migration, gender and caste : Working abroad is not all bad for the marginalised as it brings much more than financial gains, by Mitra Pariyar (kp), Growing Yadav-Raut rivalry unfolds at foundation-laying event : Observers call it ‘vote-bank politics’ (kp), UML submits 751-point demand to govt (rep), NAM’s Relevance And Nepal's Stance, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), Women leadership lacking in Badghars (rn), Is traditional media dying?, by Prerana Marasini (ae), Govt recommends Parliament session on Feb 5 (kh)

22/01/2024: Let people protest : Trying to maintain public order by banning peaceful demonstrations is a fool’s errand (kp), Speaker alerts House panels against work duplication : Multiple committees probing the same issue and releasing clashing directives has become a pattern, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Federal parliament in a bind (ae), Centre should have a reserve force for contingencies : The police adjustment process should be handled more cautiously as police personnel work with arms and ammunition, interview with Jaya Mukunda Khanal (kp), RPP-UML form alliance for NA election in Koshi (kh) [Similar mindset?], Enhance National Assembly’s Dignity, by Ballav Dahal (rn), Clash in Rajbiraj leaves Education Minister and three MPs injured (kh)

21/01/2024: Why Nepal needs deliberative democracy : Deliberative democracy could strengthen federalism at grassroots level by bringing people really closer to the decision making, by Simone Galimberti (nlt), Provinces versus Kathmandu : Attitude towards federalism in Nepal is still marked with scepticism, by Semanta Dahal (kp), Anomalies That Beset Left Parties, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Remaining works of peace process to be completed on consensus: PM Prachanda (rn) [Consensus with the victims and their families or consensus among top politicians, some of whom bear great responsibility for the crimes of the past?], Remaining works of peace process to be completed soon: PM Dahal (kh), Russia holds back release of Nepali nationals enlisted in its army: PM Dahal (kh), Russia to compensate families of those killed in war, says Foreign Minister Saud : 13 Nepali nationals have been confirmed killed in Russia’s fight against Ukraine. Moscow official wants families to go to Russia to claim compensation. Nepal says not feasible (kp), HoR Speaker, National Assembly Chairman send letter of reminder over delay in appointing Secretary General of parliament (rep)

20/01/2024: Mahato plans new Madhesh movement. But will it take off? Observers and rival politicians see poor prospects, by Anil Giri (kp), Employees of fraudulent cooperatives hung out to dry : As they grapple with lost savings, unpaid salaries, anger, and threats from desperate depositors, their lives highlight the collateral damage of a broken cooperative system, by Aarati Ray (kp), Main opposition UML plans agitation against Pushpa Kamal Dahal government : Addressing a party meeting, Oli said the government would be unseated by breaking up the ruling alliance (kp) [Replacing an incompetent PM with an even more incompetent one, who, on top of everything else, staged a coup against the state and democracy a good three years ago, is not really helping the country!], Building Rational Political Order, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)

19/01/2024: CPN-UML’s intent to break ruling coalition: How justifiable? (kh), Supreme Court declines to impose restrictions on security personnel using metal bullets (kh), Communist unity top on agenda as Chinese flock to Nepal : Watchers say they are trying to lay ground for a Nepal that is no threat to China. This includes tackling other powers, by Anil Giri (kp), Democracy And Civic Consciousness, by Bibhav Pokhrel (rn), Impact Of Federalisation On Healthcare, by Pallav Bhusal (rn), Trends in Chinese investment in Nepal, by Nihar R Nayak and Purushottam Poudel (ae), Stick to neutrality (ae), The occupation of Tundikhel : Residents and activists protest Kathmandu mayor’s decision to further constrict the last of Kathmandu's open space, by Sahina Shrestha (nt)

18/01/2024: Ensure Justice To Conflict Victims, by Balmukunda Regmi (rn), After months of pressure, Dahal orders police force adjustment across provinces : Prime minister gives Home Minister Shrestha and other senior officials 15 days for the task, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Triggering mistrust :The police must be sensitised on the need of exercising maximum restraint during public protests (kp) [They believe they have the right to beat, torture and kill people. This was the case under the royalist-absolutist panchayat system and it hasn't changed to this day!], RPP Chairman Lingden announces non-participation in govt (kh) [Anti-democratic and unconstitutional parties like the RPP have no place in government!], DPM Shrestha advocates prioritizing domestic power consumption over exports (rep), Will save country from turning into old age home: DPM Shrestha (rn), Attempt of assault on Durga Prasain in Baglung (rep) [Such anti-social and anti-democratic demagogues must be fought with powerful arguments and upright democratic action and not through crime!], Cabinet reshuffle after NA election (kh)

17/01/2024: The weight of patriarchy : Nepali women continue to be persecuted in the name of outdated traditions (kp), Signs of strain emerge within the ruling coalition (kh) [After a year at the latest, this is absolutely normal in Nepalese politics, as the so-called top politicians are primarily concerned with power and privileges and see their obligation to pursue policies that are geared towards the welfare of the country and its citizens as a secondary task at best, which they are not up to anyway!], Long hair symbolizes the nature of a rebel: CK Raut. Rebellion in Strands: Unveiling the Political Odyssey of CK Raut (based on interview), by Gyanu Ghimire (kh), Foreign employment: 539 deaths in six months (rep), Concerns mount over rising Nepali migrant deaths : Around 15 Nepali workers die abroad each month. Reports says 95 migrants from Gandaki Province died abroad in the first six months of this fiscal year, by Pratiksha Kafle (kp) [This is also a consequence of climate change, economic inequality and the government's inability to create jobs at home!], Check Youth Exodus, by Dixya Poudel (rn), Nepal to review SDGs (rep)

16/01/2024: The ills of pending electoral reforms : Democratising Nepal’s political parties has been a Sisyphean endeavour, by Achyut Wagle (kp), President urges effective implementation of constitution to end public frustration : Though the constitution is excellent, Nepali people have not been able to benefit from it, Paudel told leaders (kp), Diversifying diaspora and remittances : Nepal must come up with strategies to ensure remittances are repatriated by all, not just labour migrants, by Sanjit Shrestha (kp), End Overdependence On Remittance, by Uttam Maharjan (rn), Five, including police personnel, accused of gang-raping 14-year-old girl in Mugu (kh), Unified Socialist warns of exit from ruling coalition (kh), Nepal to present NVR report on SDGS to UN body by July (kh)

15/01/2024: NIC instructs universities to implement Right to Information laws (kh) [The right to information is a fundamental right that is very often not even respected by the government!], Budget mid-year assessment reveals national fiscal deficit (kh), Govt collects Rs 515 billion in revenue, meets only 77 percent of the target for first half of current FY (rep), Govt remains incapable of raising capital expenditure (rep), Student unions one on converting private schools into trusts : A bill registered in Parliament by the Dahal government in September doesn’t make conversion mandatory, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Weeks after auto-renewal of trade treaty with India, Nepal wants revision : The bilateral trade treaty was automatically renewed in November without addressing several of Nepal’s concerns, by Krishana Prasain (kp), Deepening water crises : Addressing the impacts of temperature and precipitation changes isn’t within our institutions’ scope, by Madhukar Upadhya (kp), National Assembly can serve as a coordinating body between federal units : The upper house needs more women who have worked in the field of women’s empowerment, interview with Bimala Rai Paudyal (kp) [The entire political system needs social inclusion, especially in leading positions: Women, Dalits, Muslims, Janajatis, Madheshis. Male Bahuns, for example, should only be represented by six per cent at most. Even today, they act as if they own this country! This is in contrast to the promises made by all political parties in 2006. Social unrest will be unavoidable at some point. The perverse demand for a return to Hindu state and monarchy further aggravates this!], President Paudel urges leaders for complete implementation of Constitution (kh) [Not with this generation of so-called political leaders!]

14/01/2024: Right to protest under threat : Despite the strengthening of human rights, the repression of protests persists in Nepal and worldwide, by Marissa Taylor and Ashmita Sapkota (kp), Echo chamber in Nepali media : There has been no progress in institutionalising press freedom and ensuring editorial independence, by Bhanu Bhakta Acharya (kp), Ex-NC minister Aftab Alam’s trial resumes from today (kh), Hearing on Aftab Alam case postponed (kh) [It's always the same!], Ruling alliance finds equation in Koshi tricky to win upper house seats : Party leaders find it challenging for Sitaula to win the votes of all members of the party and coalition partners (kp), Data show inflation easing but people don’t feel it : According to Nepal Rastra Bank, the year-on-year consumer price inflation moderated to 4.95 percent in the mid-November to mid-December period (kp), Maximum election expenditure for NA candidate set at Rs 350,000 (kh) [Since the NA election is held by a relatively small electoral body and the voting behaviour has already been arranged in advance by the party leaders, it is reasonable to ask why there is any major expenditure at all, unless it is to buy votes!]

13/01/2024: Resham Chaudhary elected party chair. Does the law allow it? Constitutional lawyer says presidential pardon doesn’t mean Chaudhary got a clean chit on the 2015 killings (kh) [Murder trials against other politicians have been delayed for many years. Can Nepal still be described as a state governed by the rule of law?], Widening Boundaries Of Politics, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Understanding Phenomenon Of Nepali Exodus, by Sugam Gautam (rn), The political system is under threat from parties nominating losers to National Assembly: Rabi Lamichhane (kh)

12/01/2024: No state for women : Nepali mothers can confer citizenship to their children, but conditions still apply, by Neha Gurung (nt) [Only males are real Nepalis and they are best from the so-called high Hindu castes! This country belongs to them! Only men are real Nepalis and they are best from the so-called high Hindu castes! This country belongs to them! Therefore, they have to bear the burden of holding all responsible posts!], Victim’s cry for justice met with disbelief and counteraccusations, by Sita Neupane (kh), Transitional justice commissions get one more extension but legal issues remain : MPs accuse government of not showing urgency to find consensus on amending the law, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [There will be no willingness to do justice for the victims as long as those responsible on both sides of the conflict are in power today!], Nepal's TJ law needs more progress: Human Rights Watch (rep) [see HRW report on Nepal], Much ado about nothing : Without a commitment to end the process right, term-extension of the TJ bodies is meaningless (kp), South Asia amid global contestations : What we need is a unique, irreplaceable and functional regional organisation, by Sisir Bhandari and Rajib Neupane (kp), Nepal’s geopolitical challenges and Prithvi Narayan Shah’s teachings, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae)

11/01/2024: Why has the transitional justice process not moved ahead?, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Deuba exhibiting despotism in the party, interview with Arjun Narsingh KC (kh), Health workers manning Covid desks on Nepal-India border unpaid for six months : Amidst the increased workload and health risk following a resurgence of coronavirus cases, the health workers feel cheated, by Bhawani Bhatta (kp), Oli and the hubris of ‘great’ Nepal : No one should bother reading about Oli’s hallucinatory visions of Nepal’s past, by Deepak Thapa (kp), Challenge To Define Vision Of Socialism, by Mukti Rijal (rn)

10/01/2024: Rape trial in Nepal is an endless journey, by Sabina Acharya (nlt), Teenage girls in Rukum East live in terror of outdated traditions : Deep-rooted customs where young girls are forcibly hauled away and abducted by men for marriage persist in several areas of the western Nepal district, by Durgalal KC (kp), Conflict victims, rights defenders, lawyers, professionals and other citizens welcome SC decision to cancel People’s War Day (rep), A nation on the move, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Parties kill National Assembly’s spirit : Among those being elected, there are no field experts. The post-election upper house will also be less inclusive, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Power-hungry and authoritarian male high-caste politicians are systematically destroying all aspects of democracy and social inclusion of the modern Nepali state!], Six years of provincial assemblies : Around 450 laws have been enacted across the seven provinces, but they often look like a replica of federal laws., by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), India reluctant on power purchase from China-funded projects: PM (kh), Kathmandu District Court sentences Sandeep Lamichhane to 8 years in rape case (kh), RPP seized opportunity in Koshi Province, our advocacy for the end of federalism prevails: Bhakti Sitaula (kh) [Anyone who runs for political office that he wants to abolish is deceiving the citizens of the country! The RPP should immediately withdraw from all Provincial Assemblies!]

09/01/2024: Silence and shame in Ajit Mijar’s killing : Caste hatred often precipitates caste violence, and hardly any criminal is sentenced to jail, by Mitra Pariyar (kp), Conflict victims, rights defenders and professionals welcome invalidation of the ‘People’s War Day’ by the Supreme Court : In February last year, Dahal government had declared Falgun 1 as People’s War Day. The conflict victims as well as the civil society members had objected to the government’s decision (nlt), Nepal’s Dream: Tale of broken promises, unfulfilled ambitions, by Ishwar Dev Khanal (kh), Parties turn the National Assembly into a platform for losers, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), National Assembly candidacies fuel discontent in ruling coalition, Congress : Senior Congress leaders express dissent. Alliance partner Janamat Party revolts by fielding two candidates (kp), Partnership Among Ruling Alliance, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), Nepali women in foreign policy : Despite an inclusive constitution, appointment and recruitment are highly male-dominated, by Anjan Shakya (kp), Bista unanimously elected as Speaker of Koshi Province Assembly (rep) [Bista and his party want to abolish federalism and thus the Koshi Province as soon as possible! How can such a politician be made Speaker of the Provincial Assembly? Politicians of the anti-democratic and anti-constitutional RPP should not be allowed to hold state offices!], No respite for earthquake victims, by Rajendra Karki (ae), Conflict-affected families of security personnel urge PM Dahal to address their genuine concerns (rep)

08/01/2024: Reminiscing Last Week: NA Scheduled Election Ignites Tensions (kh), No to collusion : The failure of ruling parties to share upper house seats with CPN-UML must be celebrated (kp), Fringe ruling parties unhappy over Assembly seat-sharing : Janamat, Nagarik Unmukti and Loktantrik Samajbadi parties get no candidacies, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Sher Bahadur Deuba’s Vision Revisited : “You Nepalis are good at talking, but you have not worked!”, by Raj Kishore Yadav (kh), Administration and Barahathawa protesters reach agreement : With the deal, family agrees to receive the body of the man killed on Friday, by Om Prakash Thakur (kp), Attorney General under political pressure not to appeal to SC against former minister Khand (rep) [This is how Nepal's dishonest politicians fight crime and corruption!], Use of mother tongue should be increased: Minister Sharma (rn) [Make knowledge of at least one national language, other than Nepali, compulsory for access to all public and political offices. This would increase the importance of these languages enormously and also improve the chances of applicants who are not native Nepali speakers!]

07/01/2024: Protests continue in Barahathawa for second day : Barahathawa Municipality’s decision to upgrade and hand over a 15-bed municipal hospital to the province triggered the violent protest on Friday, by Om Prakash Thakur (kp), Jaishankar Sah's mortal remains left on road for 72 hours (rep), Barahathwa tense: 'petrol bomb' thrown at police, police fire teargas shells on protestors, by Madn Thakur (rep), UML left to fight upper house election with own strength : Even with the main opposition out of picture, ruling parties are struggling to finalise names of coalition candidates, by Anil Giri (kp), NC President Deuba prepares to make Sitaula Chairman of National Assembly (rep) [At present, around two thirds of NA members of parliament are Khas Arya (population share < 30 per cent). Deuba is doing everything he can to increase this proportion! In order to make the NA more socially inclusive, no more Bahuns should currently be elected (nominated) at all!]

06/01/2024: Prohibitory order enforced in Sarlahi following protest-related fatality (kh), Curfew in Sarlahi local unit after man dies in protest : Local residents were protesting a municipal plan to hand over a health post to provincial authorities. Protesters claim the man died from police bullet, by Om Prakash Thakur (kp), Child marriage, teen pregnancy exacting heavy toll on Bajura girls : Efforts to curb child marriage ineffective due to deep-rooted traditions, local officials say, by Arjun Shah (kp), Rethinking Geopolitical Labels: An Asian Perspective on 'Global South' and 'Middle East', by Prem Lamichhane (rep), Building Trust In Public Institutions, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Nepal has no dearth of working-age population, by Manjima Dhakal (rn), Govinda KC and supporters arrested in Maitighar protest (kh), Ruling alliance rejects collaboration with CPN-UML in NA election : Alliance meeting at 4 PM, official decisions awaited (kh), NC’s Shekhar Koirala faction demands four seats in NA elections (kh), Coalition parties fail to reach consensus on NA elections seat-sharing (kh), National Assembly member elections: NC demands 13 seats, while Maoists claim 7 seats (rep) [The members of the two chambers of parliament should be nominated exclusively by the leading politicians of the parties in secret consultation. That would finally be a real "democracy"! It would also save a lot of money if there was no need to involve the responsible voters!], The country seeks change: RSP Chair Lamichhane (kh) [There will be no change as long as power keeps shifting back and forth between the failed and anti-democratic politicians Dahal, Oli and Deuba!]

05/01/2024: Federal express : Kathmandu never really devolved power to provinces to give federalism a chance to!  work, by Sonia Awale (nt), The F word : Federalism has failed not because the system is flawed, but because Nepal’s politicians have (nt), The marginalised on the margins : Two Nepali families on either side of a path suffer from state neglect, but one is much doing better. Why?, by Sonia Awale (nt), Nepal and India review relations, sign 10,000MW power export deal : Delhi grants Rs10 billion for reconstruction of structures destroyed in Nov 3 earthquake, by Anil Giri (kp), Former PM Khanal denounces Dahal-led government’s agreement with India as “anti-national” (kh), School education bill getting knottier : At the House committee, representatives of local units and teachers’ organisations make contradictory demands, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Will declaring an emergency help accelerate infrastructure projects? Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal floated the idea of declaring a state of emergency to speed up infrastructure development in his address to the nation last week, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), NC close students demand PM Dahal’s resignation (kh), Covid coming: Nepal is again witnessing coronavirus cases. But there seems to be little preparation (kp), Hindu nation and constitutional monarchy should be restored: RPP Nepal Chairman Thapa (kh) [What are the "interests of the nation"? Those of the male Khas Arya or those of the country's multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious society? Sorry, I forgot, only the barely 15 per cent male Kas Arya are real Nepalis who own the country! Dalits, Janajatis, Muslims and women in general simply have to accept this!], Everywhere I go, I hear Nepalis calling on me to save Nepal: Former King Shah (rep) [You are obviously talking to the wrong people! People's resentment is understandable, but people who have suffered under monarchy and Hindu state cannot wish them back!], Curfew imposed in Barahathawa, Sarlahi (kh), Sarlahi’s Barahathwa tense as hotel owner dies in police firing (rep) [Once again!], Local administration of Sarlahi enforces curfew till Saturday morning after a person died in police firing (rep), Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar expresses displeasure over simultaneous Chinese officials' visit to Nepal (rep) [???], Accountability For Good Governance, by Lok Deep Thapa (rn), President Paudel raises alarm over rural depopulation due to lack of employment opportunities (rn), National Assembly: Whose representation matters? (rep) [Anti-democrats at work!], Monarchy ended with the massacre of Birendra’s family, interview with KP Oli (ae)

04/01/2024: Civil society group urges govt to exercise caution in agreements with India (rep), Nepali citizens express concerns about agreements with India (with full text) (nlt), UML may secure six seats in NA election if it backs TRC bill (kh), Daily surge in housing applicants overwhelms authorities : Many people displaced by the November 3 earthquake are still languishing in flimsy tents and huts due to delays in the distribution of housing grants, by Krishna Prasad Gautam and Harihar Singh Rathour (kp), Change starts at top : Doing away with the provision of the PM and political leaders in top positions will help reform universities (kp) [!!!!], Absence of Dalits in the private sector : Caste-based preference motivates workers to focus on ‘chakari’ rather than skills, by Abhishek Jha (kp), How Does Technology Affect Politics? Social media has disrupted traditional political landscapes, empowering individuals to engage in public discourse like never before, by Hari Prasad Shrestha (rep), Former King Gyanendra Shah meets five RPP leaders in Bhairahawa (rep) [Coup preparation by a Hindu fundamentalist minority? The Shah monarchy once created the non-inclusive state of men from so-called high Hindu castes. And now the ousted monarch claims in all seriousness that all Nepalis are equal for him. Presumably this means, as in the Panchayat period, the eradication of all ethnic languages and cultures!]

03/01/2024: Three years on, monsoon-displaced people in outlying Bajura settlements await rehabilitation : A total of 519 families have been displaced over the past three years after their homes were destroyed by heavy rains, government data show, by Arjun Shah (kp), Winning Justice Can Be A Hard Struggle, by Namrata Sharma (rn), Leveraging Political Interests Amidst Democratic Shadows, by Ishwar Dev Khanal (kh), Ruling coalition grapples with NA seat allocation dilemma : 19 National Assembly seats remain contentious, by Gyanu Ghimire (kh), Maoist Center asserts claim on six seats for upcoming NA election (kh) [Megalomania of an increasingly insignificant party?], Ruling coalition to hold talks with UML regarding NA election (kh) [When elections turn into a farce!], Parties in talks as UML angles for upper house seats : PM wants to accommodate the opposition in the Assembly hoping for help in passing the transitional justice bill, by Anil Giri (kp), UML’s strategic moves fuel alliance uncertainty, by Gyanu Ghimire (kh), Ruling coalition meeting convened for NA seats discussion ends inconclusively : Next meeting scheduled for Thursday (kh), Dissatisfaction within ruling coalition, minor parties warn to quit government (kh), Flying away from despondency : The poor youths have always been pushed out of the country to wherever they could find work for survival, by CK Lal (kp), Is Tribhuvan University grappling with decline in academic standards?, by Pushpa Raj Joshi (rep), SC seeks government response for not formulating climate change laws (rep)

02/01/2024: How development projects can go wrong when they disregard the rights of the indigenous people : Hydropower is the cleanest form of energy. But should it come at the cost of indigenous people being abused and oppressed simply because they want to have a say on how such development projects will impact their lives?, by RK Tamang and Simone Galimberti (nlt), Economic slump takes toll on sustainability of free media : Nepali media industry needs immediate rescue with favorable legal/policy environment and financial support so that press freedoms would be survived, protected and promoted, by Taranath Dahal (nlt), Time for fifth generation reforms : Fact-based periodisation is important to capture the long evolution of Nepal’s reform process, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Ministers trade blame over Balkumari deaths : Parliamentary committee urges investigation into transport minister Prakash Jwala and Labour Ministry, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Families of Balkumari clash victims, government sign four-point agreement : With the deal, the families agree to receive the dead bodies and the government pledges ‘extra relief’ in addition to the Rs1 million announced on Saturday (kp), Kamal Thapa advocates systemic change amidst critique of current governance mode (kh) [The monarchy and the panchayat system, of which Kamal Thapa was a part, have failed even more and were even worse than what the politicians of today's political system, which is actually not a bad one, are disfiguring!], Three more Nepalis in Russian Army die in Russian-Ukraine conflict, toll climbs to 10 (kh)

01/01/2024: Dahal’s hubris, inflation and misgovernance : Nepal’s remittance quickly travels back overseas due to our failure to utilise it in the productive sector, by Jagadish Prasad Bist (kp), You can’t blame bureaucrats for your failure to lead the country : Besides undertaking regular development works, politics should also create hope in people. But frustration is palpable everywhere, interview with Umesh Mainali (kp), Reminiscing Last Week: Govt’s crackdown on youths (kh), Police arrest 63 people, including RJP Chairman CK Raut, in Kathmandu (kh), Janamat Party Chair CK Raut and members released after detention (kh), Shots fired as Minister’s vehicle came under siege: Home Minister (kh) [And the siege of a minister's vehicle justifies the police killing and injuring people with firearms? The government and the police need to change their attitude if Nepal is to be a state governed by the rule of law!], Home Minister losing control over police force: RSP Chair Lamichhane (kh), Perfect storm : Friday’s twin deaths should teach the state and its agencies to always err on the side of caution (kp), Coalition to decide this week on sharing Assembly seats : Leaders say ruling parties will field their candidates for seats they now hold. They plan to share UML-held seats , by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Hopefully nobody will think of calling these manipulations "democracy"!], PM downplays growing pessimism. Youth exodus suggests otherwise : Prime Minister Dahal tries to counter popular perceptions that Nepalis’ future is bleak, asking observers to look at positive national indicators too, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Address Concerns Of Youths, by Ballav Dahal (rn), 2023: A year to forget for major parties, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae)

Chronology of the failed creation of a socially inclusive multi-ethnic and multicultural Nepal:

6691
days since Delhi agreement of political parties
6539
days since the people forced King Gyanendra to end his putsch
6327
days since Comprehensive Peace Agreement; government, leading party politicians, former Maoists and army leaders still prevent conclusion of the peace process
6272
days since promulgation of the Interim Constitution
5822
days since elections to CA-I
3372
days since elections to CA-II
3102
days since promulgation of non-inclusive and until today not really implemented constitution through illegal procedure (text of constitution)
2247
days since the federal system should have been implemented; still missing: numerous laws, infrastructure, fiscal regulations, naming of Province 1, etc.
2222
days since KP Oli became PM: most of the necessary working processes not really completed; instead, growing violation of fundamental rights, federal chaos, unabated nepotism, corruption and power struggles
1183
days since PM Oli putsched and tried to destroy the democratic system with the help of President Bidya Devi Bhandari
1106
days since the Supreme Court ruled that the merger of CPN-UML and CPN-MC to form the NCP on 17 May 2018 was illegitimate, thereby reactivating the two original parties
0979
days since the Supreme Court reinstated the House of Representatives again and ordered the replacement of Prime Minister KP Oli by Sher Bahadur Deuba; continued disregard of constitution and democratic principles
0448 days since PK Dahal became PM in cooperation with KP Oli, misusing the votes of former coalition partners



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