Situation Update: 84
Bishnu Pathak, PhD*
Setting
The United Maoist-led Government resigned as of May 4, 2009 and its resignation has been accepted. Almost three weeks back, the senior UML leader, Madhav Kumar Nepal, who failed to win people’s trust in two constituencies he challenged in the last Constituent Assembly (CA) election, was unanimously elected as the second [...]
GHANASHYAM OJHA
Dr Baburam Bhattarai, finance minister and senior leader of Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), claims that the new constitution cannot be written without settling the issue of civilian supremacy. He charges President Dr Ram Baran Yadav of transgressing his constitutional right and ‘raping’ the interim constitution. “Until and unless the Nepal Army Chief [...]
Just a quick update here. While the UML has managed to garner enough support to form a government, the Maoists are obstructing parliament and holding massive rallies until their demand to sack the army chief is met. Meanwhile, a policy for universal national service is being proposed (with Maoist backing) which, if [...]
ABHI SUBEDI
The sorry state of Nepali politics became visible on May 9 at the Buddha Jayanti celebration at the Swayambhu heights by the absence of President Ram Baran Yadav and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda on the occasion. Both are first historical office holders of the republic of Nepal who have been selected and [...]
- Bishnu Pathak, PhD
Setting
The fluid political situation of the country culminated in the Government of Nepal ousting the Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), Rookmangud Katawal, and appointed Lt. General Kul Bdr. Khadka as Acting Head of the Nepal Army (NA) at 11.30 Hrs. on May 3, 2009. Alleging the executive power holder government’s decision unconstitutional, [...]
The government has sacked the Army Chief and he has refused to accept the letter sacking him. This is turning into an interesting situation indeed. This will test whether the post below on “the importance of armies” holds true. The Maoists have made statements indicating they accept the possibility of a vote of [...]
n the last few hours the Maoists have followed through on their intention to sack Chief of Army Staff, Rookmangud Katawal, replacing him with next in line Gen. Khadka It appears that the vast majority of the non-Maoist government figures, including the President, are against the move. The others boycotted the cabinet meeting [...]
- Bishnu Pathak, PhD
Setting
The confrontation between the United CPN (Maoist) and the then Royal Nepal Army began when the former first attacked the Army barracks in Ghorahi, Dang on November 24, 2001 and continued up to the initiation of the Popular Movement (Jana Andolan II) in April 2006. When the present Prime Minister (PM), Puspa [...]