Nepal's population rises to 26‚494‚505

Added At: 2012-11-26 10:38 PM

Last Updated At: 2012-11-27 11:27 PM

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s population has risen to 26,494,505 over the past 10 years — an increase by 3,34,3081, according to a new census, with the annual growth rate of 1.35 per cent.

Women in the country outnumber men by almost 80 lakh, with female population counted at 13,645,463 (51.5 per cent) against male population of 12,849,041 (48.5 per cent), according to the census.

The census conducted from June 17 to June 27 last year also marked hundred years of population counting in Nepal and a preliminary report was published on September 27 last year.

The census data show that more than half of the population, about 55 per cent, is below 25 years of age.

The total number of households has increased to 5,427,302 from 4,253,220 in 2001. However, the average household size (average number of family members) has gone down to 4.88 from 5.44 in 2001.

One in every four households (25.42 per cent) reported that at least one member of their household is absent or is living out of country. The highest proportion (44.81 per cent) of absent population is youth aged between 15 and 24 years. Gulmi, Arghakhanchi and Pyuthan districts have the highest proportion of their population being absent (or staying abroad).

There are some remarkable strides the country has made over the decade in terms of literacy, people’s access to electricity, telephone/mobile phone, electronic items like radio, television and refrigerator, and cooking gas.

Overall literacy rate (for population aged five years and above) has increased to 65.9 per cent (from 54.1 per cent in 2001) with male and female literacy rates at 75.1 per cent and 57.4 per cent, respectively. The highest literacy rate is in Kathmandu (86.3 per cent) and lowest in Rautahat (41.7 per cent).

The sex ratio (number of males per 100 females) at the national level has come down to 94.2 from 99.8 in 2001 with highest sex ratio in Manang (127) and lowest in Gulmi (76).

While Tarai constitutes 50.27 per cent (13,318,705) of the total population, hill and mountain regions make up to 43 per cent (11,394,007) and 6.73 per cent (1,781,792), respectively.

Kathmandu has the highest number of population (1,744,240, an increase by 61.23 per cent from 2001) while Manang district has only 6,538 people residing there. The urban population too has increased to 17.7 per cent from 14.2 per cent in 2001.

The census data show that the biggest chunk of total population still get married between the age of 15 and 19 (48.9 per cent). The census shows 11.5 per cent of population is married under the age of 14. More households in Nepal use mobile phones than toilets, according to the census, with 64.63 per cent of families having penetration to cell phones and only 61.83 households having toilets of their own.

At a glance

• Population: 26,494,505

• Households: 5,427,302

• Average household size: 4.88

• Sex ratio (number of males per 100 females): 94.2

• Urban population: 17.7 per cent

• Highest population: Kathmandu (1,744,240)

• Lowest population: Manang (6,538)

Fascinating figures

• The biggest chunk of total population still get married between the age of 15 and 19 (48.9 per cent)

• Marriage under the age of 14 is still prevalent (11.5 per cent)

• More households in Nepal use mobile phones than toilets, with 64.63 per cent of families having penetration to cell phones and only 61.83 households having toilets of their own

• One in every four households (25.42 per cent) or at least one member of their household is absent or is living out of country

• The highest proportion (44.81 per cent) of absent population is youth aged between 15 and 24 years

No of castes/ethnic groups: 125

• Chhetri: 16.6 per cent (4,398,053)

• Brahman-Hill: 12.2 per cent (3,226,903)

• Magar: 7.1 per cent (1,887,733)

• Tharu: 6.6 per cent 1,737,470

• Tamang: 5.8 per cent (1,539,830)

• Newar: 5 per cent (1,321,933)

• Kami: 4.8 per cent (1,258,554)

• Musalman: 4.4 per cent (1,164,255)

• Yadav: 4 per cent ( 1,054,458)

• Rai: 2.3 per cent (620,004)

Number of religions followed: 10

• Hinduism: 81.3 per cent (21,551,492)

• Buddhism: 9 per cent (2,396,099)

• Islam: 4.4 per cent (1,162,370)

• Kirat: 3.1 per cent (807,169)

• Christianity : 1.4 per cent (375,699)

• Prakriti: 0.5 per cent (121,982)

• Bon: Followed by 13,006 people

• Jainism: Followed by 3,214 people

• Bahai: Followed by 1,283 people

• Sikhism: Followed by 609 people

Nepal Maoists to frame own Constitution

By Yubaraj Ghimire
Mon, May 17 05:59 AM


The Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists (UCPN-M) on Sunday warned that it would promulgate its own Constitution on May 29, a day after the deadline set for the Consituent Assembly expires.

The decision was taken by the Politburo of the party chaired by its chief Prachanda. The UCPN-M believes it has the mandate of the people and will, therefore, exercise its right and responsibility by framing the Constitution.

The party had assigned the responsibility of preparing the draft of the Constitution to Baburam Bhattarai, its ideologue. It hopes to establish "people's democracy" with a multi-party system. However, not all existing political parties will be accepted as the legitimate under the new set up. "Feudals and agents of foreign forces will not be allowed to operate," a senior party official told Indian Express.

The Maoist move clearly shows that it is not going to support the initiative taken by the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) to extend the tenure of the Constituent Assembly unless Prime Minister Madhav Nepal resigns. "The Politburo was clear that the leadership of Madhav Nepal will not be acceptable and we will not cooperate in extending the House's tenure," K B Mahara, the party's spokesperson said.

The draft Constitution favours pursuing an independent foreign policy and scrapping of all inequal treaties that have been signed with various countries in the past.

Cine artist Biraj Bhatta dancing with other artists during the shooting of a Nepali Movie 'Chino' directed by Sovit Basnet at the Seti river bank in Pokhara on Tuesday.

UML-led govt formation still in limbo

KATHMANDU, May 12 - Negotiations between Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and United Madhesi Democratic Front (UMDF) hit a snag Tuesday night as the Front stuck to its guns: amend the Interim Constitution to address the eight-point agreement signed between the government and UMDF on 28 February 2008. Thus, the government formation process appears to drag on, mired in a politically fluid situation.
The prospects of a Congress-UML-led alliance continues to hang in a balance even though a UML-led government appeared completely feasible earlier in the day. At one point, the democratic alliance, widely touted as a multi-party coalition was optimistic it would garner 341 votes in Madhav Kumar Nepal's favour.
At the meeting with NC and UML on Tuesday, UMDF constituents -- Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF), Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP) and Sadbhavana Party (SP) -- were reportedly ready to support the NC-UML-led alliance after the latter pledged to address the UMDF demands by incorporating them into the Common Minimum Programme of the coalition government.
Talking to journalists, TMLP leader Ram Kumar Sharma said, “We have received positive response from the NC and UML on our eight-point demand, so the UMDF is going to hold a joint meeting in the afternoon and decide to extend support to the new alliance.”
Immediately after the meeting, NC Acting President Sushil Koirala and UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal sent a paper to the UMDF expressing commitment to implement the eight-point agreement. “But issues related to the constitution will be decided through the Constituent Assembly,” the paper read. However, a meeting of UMDF leaders failed to take a final decision. Instead, they floated a precondition telling the NC and UML to address their demands immediately by amending the Interim Constitution.
MJF Chairman Upendra Yadav said UMDF favoured a broad democratic alliance to lead the nation and they were positive towards the new alliance and UML's leadership. “But the new alliance should make its stance clear on certain issues,” he said wi-thout elaborating the issues.
UML leader Raghuji Panta said, “We will hold dialogue with UMDF leaders and sort out issues tomorrow and reach a final agreement to form a coalition.”
Meanwhile, CPN-ML leader Chandra Prakash Mainali handed over the signatures of his party's nine lawmakers to Nepal extending support to lead the new government. Rastriya Prajantantra Party Chairman Pashupati Shumsher Rana, Rastriya Janashakti Party Chairman Surya Bahadur Thapa and Chitra Bahadur KC of National People's Front have directed their lawmakers to vote for Nepal in the prime ministerial poll fray.

Maoist politburo members part ways to meet again

BHAKTAPUR, May 7 -
The Politburo meeting of the Unified CPN (Maoist) held on Thursday to decide its future strategy after the party's disengagement from the government was put off until Saturday.
At today's meeting that lasted for about seven hours at Training Center of Agricultural Development Bank in Bode, Bhaktapur, Maoist politburo members reported about the latest political situation.
Echoing with the party's earlier stand, the politburo members reiterated that President Dr Ram Baran Yadav's decision to reinstate Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Rookmangud Katawal was unconstitutional and urged the party leadership to take forward other procedures only after President Dr Ram Baran Yadav retracts his decision.
The politburo members sought the leaderships' attention to stick its stance on thwarting the parliamentary business and the government formation unless the president corrects his decision, Maoist Politburo member Devendra Poudel said. However, the Maoists, who are infuriated after its pursuit to sack CoAS Katawal was not supported even by its coalition partner CPN-UML, has not formulated any line of attack against its political rivals.
Earlier, the Maoist Secretariat meeting had decided that the politburo would finalise the party's future strategy.
The 45-member politburo is the powerful body of the Maoists after its secretariat. Claiming that the status quoits and regressive powers have began forging alliance to launch, in its own word, "counter revolution" with the support of foreigners, the Maoists are said to make a solid plan to intensify their struggle from the parliament and the streets.
The Maoists have been staging struggle from the streets and the House saying that President Dr Ram Baran Yadav's order to reinstate Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Rookmangud Katawal, whom the Maoist-led government coalition had given retirement, is 'unconstitutional' and was against the civilian supremacy.
The former rebel Unified CPN (Maoist), which emerged as the single largest party in the CA election last year after joining a peace deal in 2006, said that they pulled out of the government eight months after joining it, saying that President's "unconstitutional" move has breached the civilian supremacy and has created a parallel authority.
Posted on: 2009-05-07 07:35:32

Parijat awards today

Kantipur Report
Parijat Memorial Centre, Kathmandu has announced its annual prizes given out in three different fields. Accordingly, Parijat Creation Award -2065 has gone to Ninu Chapagain, Parijat Struggle for Women Award-2065 to Kamala Naharki and Parijat Art Award-2065 to Ramkrishna Bhandari. The award ceremony as well as Parijat memorial is being held today at Nepal Tourism Board, Exhibition Road.
The award is given in the memory of writer Bishnu Kumari Waiba alias Parijat who published three poetry collections and ten novels in addition to many short stories. Born in 1937 in Darjeeling, she is best known for her novel "Siris ko Ful."
Posted on: 2009-05-08 22:19:27 (Server Time)

Nepal crisis may hit Pancheshwar dam

Shishir Prashant / New Delhi/ Dehra Dun May 07, 2009, 0:23 IST

The 6,000 megawatt dam planned on the Indo-Nepal border likely to be delayed.The ongoing upheavals in Nepal in the wake of the resignation of Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ can further delay the proposed 6,000 Mw Pancheshwar dam on the Indo-Nepal border.
“We view the developments in Nepal very disturbing as far as the Pancheshwar dam is concerned,” an official here said.
Prachanda, who had shown keenness in developing the Pancheshwar dam, had visited the 2400Mw Tehri hydel project, an engineering marvel, last November to understand the problem of rehabilitation. He also went inside the powerhouse of the dam, which is the highest in Asia, and watched various mechanisms of the project.
After visiting Tehri, Prachanda also had a luncheon meeting with chief minister BC Khanduri in Dehra Dun where the two leaders discussed matters related to the Pancheshwar dam, which is being jointly developed by Nepal and India with an estimated investment of Rs 30,000-40,000 crore.
At that time, the Maoist leader had also told Khanduri that Nepal was looking forward to work with India on more hydel projects.
Significantly, Uttarakhand, which had opposed big dams for a long time, gave its consent for the Pancheshwar hydel project.
For the development of the mega dam, a separate Pancheshwar development authority comprising top officials from both Nepal and India was also in the process of being set up. The Uttarakhand power secretary is a member of the authority established to expedite matters related to the project as well as its detailed project report. The project was proposed on the basis of the 1996 Mahakali Treaty.
Initially, after the formation of the Maoist government in Nepal, doubts were being raised over the future of the hydel projects sharing border with Nepal. But after the visit of Prachanda to India, the air of uncertainty had been removed largely, the official added. Now, all depends on the situation in Nepal and future government at Kathmandu, the official added.
The Pancheshwar hydel project, thrice the size of the Tehri dam, is being proposed on the Kali river in Pithoragarh and Champawat districts of the state along with some parts of Nepal. The project, having 12 units of 540 Mw each, would uproot hundreds of people from Pithoragarh and Champawat districts and submerge a large area in the region. Nearly 80 percent of the catchment area would be in India and rest in Nepal.
There are reports that the height of the Pancheshwar dam has been increased from 238 metre to 315 metre. Besides, a huge reservoir is being planned for the Pancheshwar dam in which over 100 villages would be submerged completely. But the sources here said as compared to the potential of the dam, the number of people being uprooted would be far less.
There will be two underground power projects in the proposed site. Most of the areas in Pithoragarh and Champawat districts are ecologically very fragile as well as earthquake prone.
The project has also come under fire with social activists saying they do not want another Tehri-like experiment in the state again.

Bad Omens For Nepal’s New Government

KATHMANDU, NEPAL, May 4, 2009:
When King Gyanendra’s army-backed reign ended three years ago followed by the abolition of monarchy in the world’s only Hindu kingdom, it did not come as a surprise to the Himalayan nation’s devout Hindus. “It was on the charts,” says Upendra Dahal, a Brahmin priest who also dabbles in astrology at the revered Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu. “The Gods were against him and sent him omens.”
There were several omens. An annual procession during which the Kumari was disrupted after an axle broke; a second chariot procession for Rato Machhindranath, God of rains, was halted; a famous deity, Bhimsen, began to sweat in a Kathmandu temple. The people of Nepal took these signs to heart.
Now a year after the exit of the king and his former arch enemies, the Maoist guerrillas, there are fresh divine rumblings. On Sunday, the procession of Rato Machhindranath came to a standstill once again as the immense chariot almost keeled over.
As the spectre of a no-trust vote and a humiliating defeat hangs over the Maoist government, people are also talking of the former rebels’ professed disdain for religion.
In the Sunsari district in southern Nepal, which was hit by major floods last year, discontent is visible. “The prime minister took the oath of office in the name of people and not God,” a villager said. “It was his disbelief that brought about the flood.”

Clashes on Durbar Marg mar republic celebrations

Riot police encircle the statue of King Mahendra on Durbar Marg.

Early on Thursday morning people had climbed onto the statue and

tried to drape it with the national flag. After Nepal officially became

a republic on Wednesday night, the historic first sitting of the

Constituent Assembly declared the 240 year old Shah dynasty

null and void, giving the last remaining head of

the dynasty 15 days to vacate the Narayanhiti Palace.

Kantipur Report
KATHMANDU, May 29 - Excited crowds and riot police clashed in front of the main gate of the Narayanhiti Palace on Durbar Marg throughout Thursday after republic celebrations turned unruly.

Around a dozen persons from both sides were reported injured. Durbar Marg was the scene of frequent skirmishes today after crowds of people, euphoric with the declaration of a federal democratic republic, marched to the Narayanhiti Palace to hoist the national flag on its walls. Police had to fire tear gas to bring the situation under control after demonstrations turned violent.


The people chanted anti-King slogans demanding the king to leave the palace immediately. Elements at the head of the crowd managed to hoist the national flag on the main gate of the palace which overlooks Durbar Marg, also popularly known as King’s Way, stating that the government had delayed hoisting the national flag in the palace premises even after the royal flag was removed by palace officials early this morning.However, police personnel quickly intervened and used batons to push back the crowd and removed the flags hoisted by the demonstrators.


The demonstrators also attempted to cover the statue of King Mahendra on King’s Way with the national flag but were stopped by riot police. Early this morning, palace officials had removed the flag with the royal seal inside the palace premises at about 8 am today after the first sitting of the Constituent Assembly yesterday announced the country a republic and abolished the centuries old monarchy.


The CA meeting had also directed the king to leave the palace within 15 days. The government had earlier declared Durbar Marg a prohibited zone for all forms of rallies and demonstrations.

Happy Mother's day!

Maoists to lay claim to govt leadership

The central Committee meeting of CPN-Maoist has decided that the party would claim leadership of the next government, as it has emerged as the single largest party in the Constituent Assembly.

“We should get a chance to lead the government but we will work in tandem with other major parties,” Maoist leader CP Gajurel told this daily about the party’s decision. He said his party was in favour of intensifying dialogue with other major parties to forge a consensus. The party formed a sixmember committee under the coordination of Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’ to finalise the names for 100 PR seats the party has won under PR system. RSS quotes Gajurel as saying that the Maoists will not allow amendment to the Constitution to appoint or oust the PM by a simple majority.

He said, “The meeting has taken decision that the appointment of the PM and the formation of the government should be done in accordance with the present constitution.” Interim Constitution states that the PM’s appointment shall be done on the basis of two thirds majority if consensus could not be reached among the political parties. He added that the meeting formally took a decision to ask party chairman Prachanda to take up the responsibility of the head of state-cum-government.

Meanwhile, central committee of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum met today to review its election performance. According to MJF central committee member Shyamanand Shuman, his party would finalise the names for PR seats tomorrow. Asked about the party’s future strategy, he said, “We will pressure the NCled government to stepdown, as it has lost the mandate to lead.” He said the Maoists had the people’s mandate to lead the next government. “Our next strategy will be to rally support of other stakeholders to end ambiguities in the Interim con stitution with regard to the formation and ouster of a government,” he said. NC vice-president Gopal Man Shrestha said the Maoists should form the next government on the basis of a consensus.

“Let it be loud and clear we don’t want to go against the popular mandate by exploring the alternative to the Maoist-led government at this point,” he said. He added that the Maoists should renounce all kinds of violence and fulfil their past commitments to convince others that they have really transformed into a democratic party. He also criticised the UML for pulling out of the government even as it has urged the PM not to quit the government until a political consensus is evolved for a next government. UML leaders, however, hold a tougher line and maintain that they can forge understanding with the Maoists only if the latter strictly adhere to the peace pact. UML leader Ishwor Pokharel said, “We have to seek consensus but it should not come at the cost of our identity.”

The central Committee meeting of CPN-Maoist has decided that the party would claim leadership of the next government, as it has emerged as the single largest party in the Constituent Assembly. “We should get a chance to lead the government but we will work in tandem with other major parties,” Maoist leader CP Gajurel told this daily about the party’s decision. He said his party was in favour of intensifying dialogue with other major parties to forge a consensus.

The party formed a sixmember committee under the coordination of Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’ to finalise the names for 100 PR seats the party has won under PR system. RSS quotes Gajurel as saying that the Maoists will not allow amendment to the Constitution to appoint or oust the PM by a simple majority. He said, “The meeting has taken decision that the appointment of the PM and the formation of the government should be done in accordance with the present constitution.” Interim Constitution states that the PM’s appointment shall be done on the basis of two thirds majority if consensus could not be reached among the political parties.
He added that the meeting formally took a decision to ask party chairman Prachanda to take up the responsibility of the head of state-cum-government.

Meanwhile, central committee of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum met today to review its election performance. According to MJF central committee member Shyamanand Shuman, his party would finalise the names for PR seats tomorrow. Asked about the party’s future strategy, he said, “We will pressure the NCled government to stepdown, as it has lost the mandate to lead.” He said the Maoists had the people’s mandate to lead the next government. “Our next strategy will be to rally support of other stakeholders to end ambiguities in the Interim con stitution with regard to the formation and ouster of a government,” he said. NC vice-president Gopal Man Shrestha said the Maoists should form the next government on the basis of a consensus.

“Let it be loud and clear we don’t want to go against the popular mandate by exploring the alternative to the Maoist-led government at this point,” he said. He added that the Maoists should renounce all kinds of violence and fulfil their past commitments to convince others that they have really transformed into a democratic party. He also criticised the UML for pulling out of the government even as it has urged the PM not to quit the government until a political consensus is evolved for a next government.

UML leaders, however, hold a tougher line and maintain that they can forge understanding with the Maoists only if the latter strictly adhere to the peace pact. UML leader Ishwor Pokharel said, “We have to seek consensus but it should not come at the cost of our identity.”

Parties begin intra-party talks

Kantipur Report
KATHMANDU, April 28 - The major political parties have stepped up intra-party talks to review the electoral outcome and to decide future strategies following the announcement of the Constituent Assembly (CA) election results. The parties’ central committee meetings will be choosing party representatives under the proportional representation electoral system in the CA. Today, the Nepali Congress Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting resumed at the Prime Minister’s official residence at Baluwatar. The party’s role in the next government and the party’s agendas during the making of a new constitution were key issues duscussed. Speaking at today’s meeting, NC central members remarked that the party was beaten in the CA polls due to weak leadership and Maoist excesses.

The NC leaders maintained their stance that the next government cannot be formed under the leadership of the Maoists, who emerged as the largest party in the CA winning 240 seats out of 575 seats- it failed to secure a majority of two-thirds in the 601-membered CA. However, the NC leaders opined that the party should be prepared for a political consensus with the other parties. Emerging from the meeting, NC central member Dilendra Prasad Badu said, “The NC is prepared to work in alliance with other political parties and will not abandon political consensus,” adding, “NC’s main objective is to establish a republican Nepal and we urge everyone to concentrate on the same.”

Similarly, the CPN-UML central meeting continued today at the party’s central office in Balkhu. Today’s meeting decided to ask PM Koirala to accept the resignation tendered by its ministers of the interim government. The UML standing committee had asked the ministers representing the party in the cabinet to tender their resignations after the party’s humiliating loss in the April 10 polls. PM Koirala had requested the UML ministers to carry out their ministerial responsibilities after the en-masse resignation. However, today’s meeting decided to stand by the standing committee’s decision to withdraw the ministers from the cabinet. The meeting also discussed the political report prepared by the party Acting General Secretary Amrit Bohara, UML sources said. Sunday’s UML meeting had accepted the resignation tabled by Madhav Kumar Nepal from the post of party General Secretary. Nepal had resigned on moral grounds following the party’s humiliating defeat in the CA polls.

Meanwhile, the central committee meeting of the CPN-Maoists kicked off at party Chairman Prachanda’s residence Nayabazaar this afternoon. Among other issues, the committee discussed the formation of the next government, relief programmes, selection of the party’s representatives from the closed-list in the CA under the proportional representation system and the implementation of a republic. Central committee members submitted organizational details from their respective regions while Chairman Prachanda submitted political reports during today’s meeting.

The Maoist meet will decide the model for the party’s participation in the new government after reviewing the electoral results, according to leader Posta Bahadur Bogati alias Diwakar. Diwakar informed that the first CA meeting, the future of the monarchy and the party’s role in drafting a new constitution are other key issues for the committee.
Posted on: 2008-04-28 00:16:29 (Server Time)

Maoists to work together with private sector

Kantipur Report

KATHMANDU, April 23 - With the emergence of the former rebels CPN-Maoist as the largest party in the new government to be formed soon, the party Wednesday said that it has been striving to work together with the private sector and create a friendly environment for investment for the economic development.

Maoist leadership this morning consulted with office bearers of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) and clarified that they will focus on teaming up with private sector.

Maoist Chairman Prachanda said that they have been concentrating to bring in foreign investment and towards creating a fovourable environment, during the meeting held at Maoist Central Office at Buddhanagar in the capital.

The Maoist Supremo had also urged the team led by FNCCI President Kush Kumar Joshi not to be misguided by the Maoist’s economic policy. Maoist leadership assured that it will include private sector while formulating all kinds of economic policies, Joshi informed.

The meeting comes amidst fears that the Maoist’s economic policy will not be liberal and will nationalise major economic hubs. The entrepreneurs drew the Maoist leadership’s attention towards issues including insufficiency of petroleum products and other necessary commodities.

Maoist Second-in-Command Dr Baburam Bhattarai and Maoist’s economic department chief Krishna Acharya were also present at the meeting that lasted for around two hours.

Latest Poll Tally

Seats -- Party
Maoist -- 120
NC -- 37
UML -- 33
MPRF -- 29
TMDP -- 9
NSP-M -- 4
PFN -- 2
NWPP -- 2
Others -- 3

2nd Loktantra Day observed

A parade at Kathmandu’s Sainik Manch (army pavilion) marks

the 2nd Loktantra Day on Wednesday. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala

and other high-level government officials attended the programme.

Kantipur Report

KATHMANDU, April 23 - The second anniversary of the historical Loktantra Day was observed through out the country on Wednesday to commemorate the victory of Nepalis people over the direct rule of King Gyanendra. Exactly two years back on this very day (Nepali month Baishakh 11), democracy was restored following a nationwide mass uprising popularly known as April movement for the reinstatement of parliament dissolved by the King.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala stated that the responsibility to transform Nepal into a peace and prosperous nation has come upon everyone’s shoulder, in his special message. Stressing on the need of making the responsibility a success through mutual harmony, PM Koirala called on all to end poverty, scarcity, illiteracy and unemployment in the country by establishing new culture and tradition.

Likewise, CPN-UML Acting General Secretary Amrit Bohora underscored the need to focus on drafting a new Constitution adding it is the responsibility of everyone at this historical juncture. Also on this special day for all Nepalis, senior NC leader and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba offered condolences to the martyrs and conveyed his best wishes to the people.

Marking the Loktantra Day, a special programme was organised at the Army forum in Tudikhel in which Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, other Ministers, Speaker, Chief Justice, constitutional heads, heads of security agencies among others participated. The government also held a tea reception at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sheetal Niwas this noon. Ministers, speaker of the parliament, leaders of various political parties, high ranking officials, heads of foreign diplomatic agencies, industrialists, businessmen and prominient figures of diiferent fields were present in the reception organised by the PM. Speaking to the press during the reception, Speaker Subash Nemwang said that formulation of a new constitution is the chief responsibility of the CA. “High level of understanding between the all the major political parties is essential. Unity among the people of all castes, ethnicity and religion is necessary. Then only can we formulate a feasible and strong new constitution,” Nemwang said.

However, senior leaders of CPN-Maoist did not attend the PM’s reception.
Various programmes have been organised, not just in the capital but, nationwide to mark the historical day. The Home Ministry has urged everyone to light up their houses in the evening for three days starting Tuesday to mark the Loktantra Day.

India: How will Maoist gains in Nepal shape two countries' ties?

Maoist leader Prachanda

The Maoist party had a surprisingly strong showing in recent elections. India is worried about the impact on its own Maoist rebel movement, the Naxalites.
By Mian Ridge
from the April 22, 2008 edition

The victory of Nepal's Maoists is as worrying for neighboring giant India as it was surprising. Following the former rebels' strong showing in general elections this month, government officials in New Delhi are wondering where the Maoists' victory leaves relations between the two countries. They are also concerned that the win may embolden India's own Maoist movement.
According to results posted Monday, Maoists won half of the 240 directly elected seats. Results for an additional 335 seats allotted to political parties based on the percentage are expected later in the week. Nepal's Maoists have said they want to scrap the Treaty of Peace and Friendship signed by Nepal and India in 1950. The treaty defines the countries' relationship, allowing Nepalis and Indians to travel freely across each other's borders. Until 1969, it also allowed India to keep security positions on Nepal's border with China.

(A map of the region can be found here.)

But it is the effect the win will have on Indian Maoists – a group known as Naxalites – that poses the greatest threat to India, reports Agence France-Presse. India's Naxalites say they are fighting for India's poor and landless – just as Nepal's Maoists did. India's prime minister, Manmohan Singh, has previously identified the Naxalite movement as the country's single biggest security threat. The Naxalites had reportedly expanded to half of India's 28 states in 1996, prompting a military counteroffensive, said The Christian Science Monitor.

Daily News and Analysis, a Mumbai (Bombay) newspaper, reports the concerns of an official from India's Border Security Force (BSF) about possible future links between the two groups: No direct links between Nepali Maoists and Naxalites in India have been established. But what turn it will take in the near future, your guess is as good as mine. When you have a Marxist government in Nepal, there may possibly be sympathies with Maoists here. It is too early to say anything," said AK Mitra, BSF director general....

The Nepal Telegraph, noting that the Indian ambassador to Nepal, Shiva Shanker Mukherjee, had met with "Comrade" Prachanda – the nom de guerre of Nepal's Maoist leader, which means "fierce" or "terrible" – said that India was anxious that Nepal not scrap "unequal treaties" made between the two countries.

However, with the new earth shaking political developments in Nepal and the Maoists ready to form their own new government in a matter of month[s] if not days, a nervous looking Indian establishment is doing all it can in order to "calm down" the Maoists possible wrath that they are sure to exhibit against India the moment they step in the power corridors in Singh Durbar.
New Delhi is pretty concerned with the Maoists' presumed insistence on changing the 1950 and other unequal treaties signed with Nepal at different intervals of history.

Writing in The Times of India, columnist Swapan Dasgupta Deep said that India's attempts to foster diplomatic ties with Nepal's new leaders would be pointless. Maybe it is best to let bygones be bygones and allow the Maoists an opportunity to change their stripes. Unfortunately, if history is anything to go by, the prospects of those who capture power [by] professing Marxism-Leninism, transforming themselves instantly into honourable social-democrats, are extremely remote. Revolutionaries do see the light eventually, but not as long as the pioneers of the revolution are at the helm. Africa is littered with examples of radical nationalists who lost no time subverting the Constitution and turning their countries into one-party autocracies. Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe who "stole an election" last month followed a long tradition of self-professed Marxist-Leninists who believe 'once in power, always in power'. But other commentators were more hopeful of improved future relations between the two countries. India's Financial Express reported that India had expressed such a hope during Mr. Mukherjee's meeting with Prachanda .

And The Press Trust of India (PTI) news wire reported that the Maoists were in talks with the United States to lose their "terrorist" tag. Outlook, a leading Indian news magazine, noted that thus far, Prachanda had shown signs of being a sensible and cautious leader. So far the statements from Prachanda and others of his ilk have been sober and statesman-like, keeping a balanced approach between India and China. He recognises that developments in Nepal are tied to India and the two share a special relationship. Mukherjee got a call from Prachanda's office soon after the victory trend became clear, asking for a meeting. In the half-hour meeting, the Indian ambassador assured him of all support. Sources say the Maoists appreciate that India stuck with the democratic process and helped with material and money.

The most important task for India's foreign office is to help shape events in Nepal so that New Delhi's vital interests are secure and the open border does not become a security threat. [Nepal's] government has been "responsive" to Indian concerns about Pakistan using the Indo-Nepal border to send across troublemakers. China too is entrenched in the area. But in the end it is India's responsibility to "sanitise" the border, keep up surveillance, monitor the traffic, and build the infrastructure on its side. "You need cooperation from Nepal but you also need to do your own job more vigorously," a well-informed official said.

Indeed, many analysts expect the former rebels to be pragmatic in power, focusing on development. Nepal, one of the world's poorest countries, has suffered from decades of weak governance. The Maoists know that they will be unable to reduce poverty without the support of India, Nepal's main trading partner and the source of its fuel.

The weekly news magazine India Today noted that Prachanda had acknowledged the importance of a cordial relationship with Nepal's big neighbors. He had specifically mentioned the importance of friendly relations with India and China, the paper reported. Because the Maoists could ill-afford to antagonize Delhi, India should seize the opportunity to strengthen ties with Nepal.

Arvind Deo, a retired Indian diplomat, writing in the Economic Times also urged India to play a constructive role in Nepal's future development: India has some vital security concerns which need to be put across tactfully but unambiguously. In offering economic assistance for development, India must be generous without sacrificing any of its long-term interests. We must remember that it always pays to be courteous yet firm. Commentator Anuj Mishra, a Nepali journalist, writing on the Open Democracy blog predicted that India would have little to fear from Nepal's new leaders. However, the Maoists do have substantial limitations in their maneuverability, not least from regard for the wishes of the international community and of India. The former provides much of Nepal's development budget and the latter has not only enormous regional economic clout, but, more importantly was midwife of the April 2006 political process. Hence Nepal's move from Monarchy towards a liberal democratic republic is being led by a party which calls itself Maoist, and which it will not be, save in its name.

Maoists ask UML to reconsider pull-out from govt

KATHMANDU, April 17 - The CPN-Maoist Thursday requested the CPN-UML to rethink its decision on withdrawing from the government. Maoist Chairman Prachanda called on UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, who recently resigned from the General Secretarial post of his party, this morning and asked him to reconsider withdrawal from the government. Following Prachanda’s request, Nepal said that the decision comes from the meeting of UML Standing Committee (politburo) adding the UML is committed to the seven-party unity.

During the nearly 45 minute-long meeting at Nepal’s residence at Koteshwor in the capital today, the duo discussed the results of the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections and future strategies. Maoists second-in-command Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai was also present at the meeting.
The UML, which was the second largest political party after the Nepali Congress following the last parliamentary election in 1999, pulled out of the coalition government Wednesday after it suffered a huge loss in the CA polls. All seven ministers of the party submitted their joint resignation to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala at Baluwatar.

Almost all Standing Committee and Central Committee members, including Nepal, KP Oli, Bamdev Gautam, Bharat Mohan Adhikari, Raghuji Panta, Keshav Badal, Yubaraj Gyawali, Bidya Devi Bhandari and Krishna Gopal Shrestha, have lost in the CA elections. The UML is leading in the second position in the ongoing vote count under Proportional Representation

POLL TALLY
Party --- Seats

Maoist --- 116
NWPP --- 2
NC --- 33
SP-M --- 3
UML --- 31
PFN --- 2
MPRF --- 24
TMDP --- 7
Others --- 2

Nepal Maoists to embrace capitalism

NEW DELHI: Maoist supremo Prachanda, whose party is poised to form a coalition government in Nepal, said capitalism will be the new regime’s tool for bringing economic advancement.

Reports from Kathmandu quoting Prachanda said Maoists will promote capitalism and encourage foreign investment. This statement is expected to soothe the frayed nerves of those who have invested in Nepal. Mr Prachanda assured industrialists that Maoists were not going to nationalise industries at the moment. "We will allow private investment and also promote foreign investment. Don’t loose confidence, we are not going to capture industries, but we need your cooperation to gain economic prosperity," he said.

But industries will have to function under the gaze of the Maoists was clear when he said that the new government will provide a force to guard industrial establishments. He said the government will "create conducive industrial environment to businesses by creating special security force with the involvement of Maoist combatants stationed in cantonments."

Prachanda also appealed to the private sector to trust them fully and give them a chance saying the government will expand the tax base, eliminate red tape and end culture of commissions and corruption.

Maoists continue to be on a roll

The Maoists are clearly emerging as the largest party in the country after the April 10 constituent assembly election as it has won 112 out of the 200 con stituencies declared till late tonight. The Maoists are also leading in four constituencies. Nepali Congress stands in the second position today as it now has 31 candidates elected to the constituent assembly, while the CPN-UML is trailing in the third position with 28 candidates elected for the constituent assembly. The NC is leading in two constituences, while the UML is also leading in two constituencies till late tonight.

The newly formed Madhesi Janadhikar Forum is in the fourth position with its 19 candidates securing victory in the election.

The Tarai Madhes Democratic Party follows the MJF with six of their candidates winning so far. Nepal Workers' and Peasants' Party has not been able to increase its seats in the assembly after winning both the constituencies in Bhaktapur a couple of days ago. The Sadbhavana Party has expanded its win to two constituencies, while the People's Front Nepal has managed to win only one constituency. The election results continued to surprise the country today, too. Independent candidate Baban Singh, who is in the police's most-wanted list, has been elected to the assembly with an impressive 9,201 votes. Singh's rival Ajaya Kumar Gupta of the Sadbhawana Party secured 6,588 votes.

People's Front Nepal Vice-chairman Lilamani Pokharel was humbled by Maoist candidate Nir Kumari Kunwar in Sindhuli-3 while Bal Bahadur KC was defeated by his Maoist contender Gopal Kirati at NC's bastion in Solukhumbu.

UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal lost to Maoist Devendra Prasad Patel in Rautahat-6. Patel won in Rautahat-6 with 10,133 votes, while Nepal polled 8,966 votes. Altogether 240 members are to be elected to the 601 member constituent assembly through the firstpast-the-post election and 335 members are elected through proportional rep- resentation.

Strong showing by the Maoists in Nepal elections has taken its influential neighbour India by surprise.

Some fear Nepal's Maoists could encourage Maoist rebels in India

By Sanjoy Majumder BBC News, Delhi April 14, 2008

Diplomats at its sprawling embassy in Kathmandu, its largest mission anywhere, privately concede that it is a result that they hardly expected and least favoured. With a strong possibility of the Maoists forming the next government, many in Delhi are wondering where it leaves relations between the two countries. While India has nurtured some ties with the former rebels, there is growing concern over the Maoists' links with China, and also with India's own troubling Maoist insurgency. Reports in the Indian and Nepalese media have quoted Maoist leader Prachanda talking about taking a more "balanced" approach in his country’s dealings with its neighbours. Saying that he will develop "new relations" with India, he is reported to have said that Nepal will maintain an equal distance between Delhi and Beijing. It is a comment that has already sent policy-makers in Delhi into a tailspin.

Special relationship

Many here are concerned that the Maoists will use their new-found electoral clout as leverage over India. "It means that the special relationship between India and Nepal which dates back to British days and 1950 is in its terminal phase," says KV Rajan, a former Indian ambassador to Nepal. A Treaty of Peace and Friendship, which both countries signed in 1950, defined their political and economic relationship.


Under the Treaty, people living in both countries could freely travel across the border for employment, and could reside in either place. It also granted preferential trade arrangements and, until 1969, allowed India to maintain security posts in Nepal's northern border with China, as well as a military mission in Kathmandu. India's basic concern, say diplomats, was always China. Delhi, which had already fought a bitter border war with Beijing in 1962 which it lost comprehensively, was paranoid about China establishing a major presence in Kathmandu.

Influence

"The 1950 treaty was basically meant to help address India's security needs," says Ambassador Rajan. "In return, Nepal got economic benefits, such as the right to live and work in India. That was the basic arrangement." But increasingly, many Nepalese were uncomfortable with the Treaty, believing it gave India major political and economic influence. The Maoists have regularly raised the issue and said they want the Treaty scrapped. They also want a review of other agreements, especially those relating to river water and irrigation – issues which are very sensitive on both sides of the border.
And there is the question of links between the Maoists in Nepal and those in India.

Security threat

India's bloody Maoist insurgency runs across a broad swathe of its territory from its northern border with Nepal down to its central tribal belt and the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. It was recently identified by the Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, as the country's single biggest security threat. Security experts believe that the Maoist victory in Nepal will come as a big morale booster to Maoist rebels fighting in India. India's problems also stem from the fact that they have traditionally backed the mainstream political parties, particularly the Nepali Congress of the outgoing Prime Minister, Girija Prasad Koirala.
They have always backed a role for the monarchy, too, albeit one that has changed somewhat over the past two years following the pro-democracy protests of 2006.
Ironically, many of the senior Maoist leaders have studied in India and would often hide in the country at the height of the insurgency.

Next government

They also have relatively close ties with India’s own mainstream Communist parties, who support the governing coalition in Delhi. But their influence is limited, particularly after the Maoists' current political position following the election. "We will have to accept that India will have to deal differently with the next government, and accept that Prachanda represents the sensitivities and aspirations of the majority of Nepalese," says one foreign office mandarin who wished to remain unnamed. But there are some who believe it is time for relations between both countries to change, and reflect the new realities, rather than be mired in history. "Our relation was one between a sovereign country and a semi-protectorate. It now needs to be one of equals," says Ambassador Rajan. Ultimately, some believe, India’s importance to Nepal outweighs its political imperatives. Both countries have strong cultural, economic and ethnic ties, and India is Nepal's largest neighbour. And many here think that no government can ignore that.