[Unlike in the past, despite all brave noises and despite the fact that the business communities have urged Madav Nepal to quit in a positive response to withdrawal of the indefinite strike and even the (Western) foreign missions are exerting pressure, the UCPN(M) has this time only boycotted the Parliament session instead of blocking it. That's a bit baffling. The last piece, frankly sympathetic to the Maoist strike and all that, quite poignantly captures the current mood of despondency.]
I/IV. http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2010/05/09/nation/pms-fresh-terms-for-quitting/208086/ <http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2010/05/09/nation/pms-fresh-terms-for-quitting/208086/> PM’s fresh terms for quitting KATHMANDU, MAY 09 - Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on Sunday put forth two more conditions to pave way for a national consensus government. Nepal said a new power equation or national consensus is impossible unless the Maoist cantonments are vacated and the paramilitary structure of the Young Communist Leagues (YCL) is dissolved. In Sunday’s meeting with the business community at his official residence in Baluwatar, the prime minister said, “Firstly, Maoists should vacate their cantonments and dismantle the Young Communist League (YCL) camp as per past agreements. I will then resolve the political crisis.” Nepal added he had desire to hold on to power if the Maoists go by the past agreements. Earlier, the prime minister had been repeatedly saying that he is ready to quit if the Maoists withdraw their street protests and come up with a national consensus candidate to replace him. Entrepreneurs affiliated to the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce (FNCCI) and Industries and Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) met Nepal to request him to resign if that was imperative for national consensus. “We are in the midst of a problem as both sides are not ready to go for a win-win situation,” NCC President Surendra Bir Malakar said. Indicating at the government’s inability to feed the UN-verified Maoist combatants forever, Nepal said, “I have no idea if you have agreed to feed and provide employment opportunities to them. If not, we must manage them on time.” II. http://www.nepalnews.com/main/index.php/news-archive/2-political/5949-maoists-withdrawal-of-strike-has-angered-partys-rank-and-file.html 'Maoists withdrawal of strike has angered party's rank and file' Monday, 10 May 2010 12:06 A former Maoist leader has said that the "ideological discord" seen within the Unified CPN (Maoist) party which has established itself as a force for a change will put the country into further trouble. Matrika Yadav, coordinator of CPN (Maoist) party which he went on to form after leaving the Unified CPN (Maoist) led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal following ideological differences with the top leadership of the party, also said that the Unified CPN (Maoist) should have withdrawn their indefinite general strike only after taking their movement to a definite conclusion. Yadav, who was speaking at a press meet organized in Janakpur on Monday, said that the UCPN (Maoist) calling off their strike in the middle of their movement has only worked to raise frustration and anger among the party ranks and general people. On the occasion, Yadav also called for unity among all the forces in favor of change in order to draft a people's constitution and push the country towards a progressive path. III. http://www.nepalnews.com/main/index.php/news-archive/1-top-story/5962-ten-parties-including-ucpn-maoist-call-for-pms-resignation.html Ten parties including UCPN (Maoist) call for PM's resignation Monday, 10 May 2010 19:59 Ten political parties including Unified CPN (Maoist), Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) and eight other fringe parties have called for Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal's immediate resignation to make way for the formation of a national unity government, Monday. Issuing a joint press statement after a meeting at Maoist headquarters in Perisdanda, the parties have said, there is no alternative to a national unity government and a consensus among all political parties to end the ongoing political deadlock, complete the peace process successfully and promulgate a new constitution through the Constituent Assembly (CA). The statement reads, 'national sovereignty, federalism, republicanism, secularism, democracy, social justice, peace and Constitution are our common agenda. And to promulgate the new constitution by May 28 and complete the peace process successfully is today's most important task.' The parties have accused the present government of totally failing in such tasks. The other parties signing the press release are CPN (United), Nepal Sadbhawana Party (NSP), Nepali Janata Dal, Rastriya Janamukti Party, Nepa Rastriya Party, Sanghiya Loktantrik Manch, Chure Bhawar Rastriya Ekta Party and Dalit Janjati Party. Sources say, the Maoists have started efforts to garner support from various parties to prepare for a vote-of-no confidence motion against the present government as a last resort to change the government. UCPN (Maoist) has 230 seats in the parliament, MJF has 32, and other fringe parties present at the meeting have about 20 seats in the parliament. 301 votes at the parliament are required to change the government. IV. http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2010/05/09/oped/all-too-predictable/208102/ Oped» All too predictable SHRADHA GHALE MAY 09 - The Kathmandu elite’s response to the Maoist mass movement has been unsurprising. Days before the rallies began, the defence minister publicly declared the possibility of mobilising the army; editorials warned of Maoist violence; TV channels whipped up fear and loathing for the incoming marauders; the business community cried “chanda atanka!” and shut down the market a day in advance; an extravagant press conference was held to denounce a heap of slingshots allegedly smuggled in to attack the capital. It seemed our mighty Kathmandu was cowering in terror as hordes of rural aliens descended upon her. Despite the cessation of the strike, the show continues. Now we are told that the hundreds of thousands of people united against a bunch of losers in government are all “Maoist cadres”, whereas people mobilised to “retaliate” against them are all innocent “locals”. Headlines triumphantly announce how many protestors have been hospitalised, how many more have fallen ill, how many got beaten up by “locals”, how many lie listless in the midday heat or are lashed by the rain. We are meant to gloat over every misfortune that befalls these unwelcome masses. We are meant to say, “Serves them right, they should go back, how undemocratic, this banda is making our life hell.” While people with broken dreams rally on our streets, we are meant to worry about the “deteriorating macroeconomic situation.” Not far from my house, hundreds of villagers from nearby districts are sleeping on the floor in cramped spaces. All night they endure mosquito bites; they rise at five in the morning to picket Singha Durbar; they wait in endless queues to go to the toilet and get their meals; they haven’t showered in a week; they brave hunger and thirst and boredom and exhaustion on the streets of Kathmandu; they say they won’t return until their demands are fulfilled. All this just to kick Madhav Nepal out of power? I ask. Their slogan is being misrepresented, they say. What they want is peace and a constitution that reflects their aspirations. They want a Maoist-led government because — they are tired of repeating — they are the largest party in parliament. And unlike the current cabinet ministers, they won the election. They may not be heroes or saints, but vast numbers of people who bear the brunt of all that is wrong in Nepal have pinned their hopes on them. They think a Maoist-led government might bring them employment, healthcare, education, dignity. “Remember Baburam Bhattarai’s self-employment scheme?” they remind me. The farm loan waiver scheme? I remember those schemes as well as the outrage they had generated in Kathmandu. Populist tricks they were called. As I walk around town looking at the sweaty, jubilant, haggard, angry and hopeful faces of these men and women and youth on the streets, I wonder; but don’t they represent that abstract collective term called “the people”? If these multitudes from across the country are indeed Maoist supporters, then isn’t that all the more reason why Madhav Nepal should quit now? A little girl stops beside me to watch women protestors sing and dance in Kupandol. A minute later, a man with glistening, gym-molded biceps comes and drags her away. “Why are you watching this pakhe, stupid crowd?” he says. Class caricatures abound in Kathmandu. Next, I run into a young acquaintance who attends a prestigious university in the US. “Why is the government quiet?” he moans. “Why is the police quiet?” He wants all these Maoists wiped out because he abhors their politics of violence. But despite his twisted logic, he cannot be dismissed. Unlike those protestors he belongs to the lot that matters and knows how to get what it wants. Meanwhile, a buddhijibi offers his analysis on the radio, “Changing the government from the streets! Have you even heard of such a thing?” Amid this din, one can’t help seeing these masses as a defeated people. Even their vote — that haloed principle of democracy — has been reduced to a joke. I am told they were duped and threatened. Unlike us, they are simple-minded folks devoid of agency, susceptible to any amount of lies and indoctrination. The Maoists have merely “exploited” their poverty, whereas the state-sanctioned “development” industry never did that. Speaking in their favour means risking your credibility as a rational, objective and sophisticated liberal. The best one can do is repeat that old and tired wisdom of all parties being equally horrible. The largely peaceful protest gradually turns violent. Hindu extremists, ruling party cadres and “locals” are being mobilised. As days go by, I am afraid our eminent commentators might be right after all. Perhaps these masses are inconsequential. Their “banda” cannot become a “people’s movement” without the consent of the clean, well-dressed and well-heeled people who organised their “peace rally” on Friday. Actor Madan Krishna addressed the gathering, “I see big industrialists, doctors, engineers, teachers, intellectuals and journalists here. You are the respectable, intelligent and law-abiding section of this society. You shape the destinies of simple, ordinary folks. Aren’t you the ones most entitled to have your say?” It seems the talented comedian has lost his ability to catch irony. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. 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