Nepal: One Hundred Days of Govt, And Constitution Writing

Prime Minister Sushil Koirala has successfully led the coalition government for one hundred days. Assessing the performances of his government PM Koirala said that he was not happy with the performances, as it moved slowly because of its nature of the coalition. Different committees, subcommittees and teams have been seriously working on crafting a new constitution. However, some members of the CA defied the ruling of the chairman of the CA on not leaving Kathmandu until the first draft of a new constitution was done. The forum of the former members of parliament held a talk program on the number of province Nepal should have. At the talk program PM Koirala said that the number of provinces would depend on the resources available.

One Hundred Days of Sushil Government
Some politicians and political analysts said that Prime Minister Sushil Koirala had done a lot in 100 days of his tenure while other said that he had done a little, and his government had moved at the pace of tortoise. Those who said that PM Koirala had done a lot had seen every movement of Koirala as his work while those who had not seen his work criticized him for not moving fast.

One thing Nepalis in general and voters in particular would not forget PM Koirala for increasing the prices of petroleum products immediately after taking the office. PM Koirala did so without correcting the corruption-infested administration of the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC): the state-owned oil company that enjoyed the monopoly on importing the oil. The State-run newspaper ‘gokhapatra’ of May 20, 2014 wrote that the NOC had been losing Rs 1.5 billion worth of oil every month due to the theft on the way from the Indian depot to the Nepalese depot. However, NOC denied it without any strong arguments.

Kathmandu, May 19: Speaking at an interaction to discuss the 100-day performance of the government held in Kathmandu on May 19, 2014, Secretary of CPN-UML Shanker Pokhrel urged the government to evaluate its work done in the 100 days and then only move ahead being more active in the days to come to meet the people’s aspirations for development.

Secretary Pokhrel stressed that the government needed to give its priority to the constitution writing and move ahead to meet public desires for a new constitution and economic growth and development of the nation.

Speaking at the same interaction, NC leader Chandra Bhandari said that the government brought the Act on Truth and Reconciliation Commission that had been long debated; chairmen of different thematic committees were elected creating an environment conducive to promulgate a new constitution within a year; get the parliament endorsed 21 ordinances; and convinced different countries and donor agencies of the need for funding Nepal about Rs 63 billion in the very short time.

However, leader of UCPN-Maoist Devendra Poudel said that though the prime minister was a simple person, leftist leaders needed to emulate his life style but he missed giving the freshness in the administration making his 100-day performance a failure.

Likewise, Secretary of CPN-Maoist Dev Prasad Gurung stressed the need for holding a round table conference on building a political consensus among the parties to move forward the constitution writing process. (Source: Gorkhapatraonline.com, May 19, 2014)

Speaking at the opening function of an interaction on state restructuring held by the former-MPs' Forum in Kathmandu on May 21, 2014, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala said that his government had not been able to meet the people's expectations in the last 100 days since it had to focus its attention on the constitution writing.

Kathmandu, May 20, 2014: Prime Minster Sushil Koirala has failed to meet the demands of his own party, to run the government in tandem with other coalition partners including CPN-UML, and fill out the long vacant constitutional positions and ambassadorial positions in more than a dozen diplomatic missions, and to nominate the 26 members to the CA to give it a full shape.

Given the support of two-thirds of the members of the House and the all-round support at both national and international levels, PM Koirala enjoyed, he was very well placed at the helm of the administration. However, many observers believed that he lacked the vision to move the country ahead. His main task was to complete drafting a new constitution within a year from the day the CA began, i.e. the third week of January 2014.

PM Koirala lacked a pro-active approach as far as his working style was concerned. He had not even built up a team that would support him in his work. This shortcoming has become one of the key reasons for an overall weak performance.

He has a clean image no doubt about it. However, his clean image would not remain intact if he were to continue lobbying for the appointment of controversial judges and engage himself in unwarranted issues. Instead, keeping the current coalition government intact and convincing the opposition parties and parties outside of the CA of the need for them to be on board of the constitution writing, the constitution-making process would be a big achievement for him. (Source: myrepublica.com, May 21, 2014)

Ilam, May 21: The Federal Limbuwan State Council (FLSC) called a traffic shutdown along the Mechi highway on May 21, 2014 demanding the release of its cadres arrested during the elections to the current CA, a press release issued by the Council stated. Long route and short route transport services have been disrupted due to the shutdown. Passengers traveling back and forth in Taplejung, Ilam, Panchthar and Jhapa district have been hit hard due to the shutdown. The District Court had taken Dhruba Maden, Bibchan Angbohang, Bipendra Limbu and Lacky Thebe of the Federal Limbuwan State Council into custody on the charge of attacking candidate of UCPN-Maoist for the CA Sanchapal Maden. (Source: RSS news on Gorkhapatraonline.com, May 21, 2014)

Kathmandu, May 25: Minister for Information and Communications also spokesperson for the government Minendra Rijal made public a 55-page document on the major achievements the government had made in the 100 days starting on February 10, 2014. The government claimed the recently enacted Act on Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and Commission on Enforced Disappearances (CED) as one of its major achievements during its first 100 days in office.

“Act on the TRC and CED has been introduced through the parliament following a political consensus of the major parties. The government has fulfilled its commitments to conclude the peace process. This has created an environment conducive to drafting a new constitution,” said the minister at a press conference held at the Harkha Gurung hall of the Singha Durbar State secretariat on May 25, 2014.

“Different Constituent Assembly committees have been formed and they have expedited their work with an aim to complete a new constitution onJan 21 next year as scheduled” said he adding, “The government is confident of those committees focusing on owning up achievements of the erstwhile CA and going ahead with completing the remaining tasks.”

“The government will nominate 26 persons to the CA slots allocated to the outstanding personalities as soon as possible following a consensus among major political parties. In fact, we are at the final stage of preparing the list of nominees,” said Minister Rijal.

The government has almost completed its preparation on holding elections to the local bodies, said Minister Rijal adding the government is making efforts on forging a political consensus among major parties to this end. “The government alone cannot hold local polls. It needs a political consensus. That’s why we have not been able to announce the date for the election,” said he.

The document also listed the announcement of 72 new municipalities a few weeks ago, and the cash award of Rs 500,000 given to each player for their glorious victory at the ICC WT20 Cricket held in Bangladesh as major achievements.

The government listed the opening of the Kumbha Mela: a religious festival in the Sunsari district by Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, and the prime minister’s recent field visits to Sikta and Babai irrigation projects as well as a trip to the Mechi Bridge as its achievements, too.

Preparation made to host the Eighteenth SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Summit in Kathmandu on November 22 this year also is mentioned as one of the major achievements. “A high-level SAARC organizing committee has been formed and preparations underway to hold the summit,” said Minister Rijal.

Another major achievement the government pointed out is the participation of the delegation led by Foreign Minister Mahendra Pandey in a business conclave in South Korea this month.

Minister Rijal also said that the government was mulling to appoint ambassadors to different countries as soon as possible. “The criterion and Terms of Reference (ToR) for appointing ambassadors have been finalized,” said Minister Rijal.

The government claimed that the economic condition of Nepal was moving toward the right direction, and predicted the economic growth of 5.2% in the current fiscal year.

Minister Rijal said that the government was committed to the effective administration and good governance, and the road expansion and blacktopping had been moving smoothly in the capital.

Mentioning that foreign assistance has significantly increased during the last 100 days, the minister said, “Agreements have already been reached for Rs 33 billion foreign aid, of which Rs 20 billion is grant and Rs 13 billion is loan.”

Providing additional benefit to hydro projects, upgrading the International Airport in Kathmandu, seeking investment in constructing the second international airport in Kathmandu, and the Kathmandu-Tarai fast-track highway are other achievements mentioned as the major achievements. (Source: myrepublic.com, May 26, 2014, Thehimalayantimes.com, May 26, 2014, Gorkhapatraonlie.com, May 26, 2014)

Constitution Writing
Kathmandu, May 13: The Constitution Records Study and Determination Committee (CRSDC) on May 13, 2014 submitted the report incorporating in it the issues of agreement and disagreement on state restructuring and division of state power to chairman of Constituent Assembly (CA) Subas Nemwang. Committee president Bishnu Prasad Poudel turned over the report to chairman Nemwang. Receiving the report, chairman Nemwang said that the report would contribute significantly to the CA pursuing its work on crafting a new constitution.

The CRSDC had constituted a subcommittee presided over by CA member Haribol Prasad Gajurel as a coordinator for identifying the points of agreement and disagreement on the topics of restructuring of the state and distribution of state powers: the two most-contentious issues in the erstwhile CA. The subcommittee prepared a report. After holding necessary discussions on it, the committee submitted it to the CA chairman. (Source: Gorkhapatraonline.com, May 14, 2014)

Kathmandu, May 14, 2014: The CA is scheduled to begin deliberations on the contents of a new constitution starting on May 15, 2014 after Chairman of CRSDC Bishnu Prasad Poudel presented two reports at the CA meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2014.

Following the CA calendar of crafting a new constitution, a draft of the new constitution should be done on October 17. Then, the draft constitution should be presented to the people for the public opinion within November 16 and a new constitution should be promulgated onJanuary 22, 2015.

Chairman of CRSDC Poudel presented the reports of the then Committee on sharing of natural resources, economic rights and revenue, and of the Committee on Protection of National Interest.

The reports were presented following the political agreement to discuss both settled and contentious issues of the constitution at the CA meetings gradually, according to Chairman Poudel.

Following the presentation of reports, Chairman of CA Subas Nemwang said, "The CA is entering an important phase of constitution-writing from today." (Source: RSS news on nepalnews.com, May 14, 2014)

Kathmandu, May 16: The Constitutional-Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee (CPDCC) of the CA identified altogether 145 points related to a new constitution including the 101 main agreements, understandings, pacts, declarations and decisions the political leaders had reached with the government in the past.

The 101 included the 30 accords including the 12-point understanding reached between the then seven-party alliance and the CPN-Maoist in 2005, and the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) in 2006, and 71 others reached with different stakeholders. This was stated in a report of the subcommittee submitted to the CPDCC on May 16, 2014.

Studying the contents of the agreements and the accords, the subcommittee identified 145 points that have to be taken into account while crafting a new constitution. Among the 145 points identified the 16 points were stated in the CPA.

Committee member Purna Bahadur Khadka was the coordinator of the subcommittee. Coordinator Khadka submitted the report to Chairman of CPDCC Dr Baburam Bhattarai at the committee meeting on May 16, 2014.

The subcommittee in its report submitted to the CPDCC suggested setting up a subcommittee for promptly initiating talks with the parties in the CA and the parties remaining outside of it, other stakeholders, the parties, and groups that had held the meetings with the government for talks in the past but did not reach agreements.

The subcommittee also recommended in its report to the government to immediately deal with the agreements and understandings it had reached with various stakeholders.

The report also drew the attention of the government to the need for keeping the records of the agreements reached with the stakeholders in the past in a systematic manner and update the status in the coming days in view of the sensitivity and gravity of the issues, and of many records of such accords and decisions made by the government remaining incomplete.

The subcommittee also felt the need for constituting thematic sub-committees for making the work of the CPDCC reliable and credible. (Source: Gorkhapatraonline.com, May 17, 2014)

Kathmandu, May 16: members of the CPDCC suggested holding talks immediately with the parties and groups with political character. Speaking at the today's meeting, majority of the members of the CPDCC suggested holding talks with the CPN-Maoist and other political parties and groups after setting the process and the procedures.

They also stressed the need for finding out the facts about the dissolution of the erstwhile CA, and for correcting the weaknesses of the past. They said to identify the parties and groups with political character and without.

Committee members also pointed out the need for putting an end to the tendency of violating and criticizing each other right after the political consensus and agreement were reached.

They also suggested not moving the constitution writing process ahead without formulating the main principles of a new constitution, as it would be difficult to achieve results without the main principles of a new constitution.

They stressed the need for building a consensus among at least three major political parties on the issues of federalism and the form of governance to be set in a new constitution.

A new constitution should include the aspirations of all political parties, as the new constitution is being drafted after a long wait of the people, chairman of CPDCC Dr Baburam Bhattarai added.

Chairman Dr Baburam also informed the members of the committee at the meeting that the CPN-Maoist was willing to participate in the constitution-drafting process despite some reservations to enter the CA. Dr Bhattarai had further apprised his informal meeting with chairman of CPN-Maoist Mohan Vaidhya, and his party's willingness to go ahead with the round-table conference. The next meeting of the committee is scheduled for May 19. (Source: Gorkhapatraonline.com, May 17, 2014)

Kathmandu, May 16: the Constitutional Records Study and Determination Committee (CRSDC) agreed to present the issues of agreements and disagreements mentioned in the report of the sub-committee on determining the basis of cultural and social unity to the CA. Chairman of CRSDC Bishnu Poudel presided over the meeting. Coordinator of sub-committee Usha Gurung presented the report to the CRSDC, which unanimously agreed to present it to the CA.

The sub-committee incorporated in its report different topics such as promotion of social solidarity, rights to education, cultural and language, rights of indigenous and nationalities, against racial and caste-based discrimination and untouchables, rights to social justice, rights to social security, the responsibility of the state in terms of language and culture, the directive principles of the state and the state policy, among others.

Coordinator of Sub-committee Gurung said that the state should be serious about the issues of language and culture; and these issues should not be the topics of dispute.

At the same time, Coordinator of sub-committee on studying the reports of the Committee on State Restructuring And Allocation Of State Powers and of the Committee On Determining Forms Of Governance, Haribol Prasad Gajurel submitted the sub-committee's report to chairman of CRSDC Poudel. The committee is scheduled to deliberate on the report on May 18, 2014. (Source: Gorkhapatraonline.com, May 17, 2014)

Kathmandu, May 18: The report prepared by the Committee on State Re-structuring and Division of State Powers, and the Committee on Determining Form of Governance in the erstwhile CA would be sent to the second CA without making any change in it. The meeting of the CRSDC held on May 18, 2014 discussed the report, and took this decision on sending it to the CA. The Sub-committee on studying the reports of the Committee on State Re-structuring and Division of Powers and of the Committee on Determining Forms of Governance prepared it.

During the meeting, discussions were held on the federal and central executive powers, elections of and rights of the President, Vice-president, and Prime Minister, formation of central and federal executives, formation of federal government, and other issues settled building a political consensus in the previous CA.

The meeting also discussed the proposals for the federal executives finalized by the Dispute Resolution Sub-Committees under the erstwhile Constitutional Committee.

The Sub-Committee studied the political consensus built and joint efforts made by different 27 political parties representing the previous CA. Majority of the members of the sub-committee led by lawmaker Haribol Prasad Gajurel spoke at the meeting held on May 18, 2014. They decided to send all the issues finalized by a consensus in the previous CA for passing them at the current CA without any changes.

CRSDC set up six different Sub-committees to submit reports studying documents prepared for a new constitution in the previous CA using its rights provided in the regulations.

Chairman of CRSDC Bishnu Poudel said that the previous CA was dissolved when the political parties could not reach a conclusion and stressed the need for building a consensus rising above the partisan interests in the future.

At the meeting, Coordinator of Sub-committee Haribol Prasad Gajurel said that the constitution writing process could be affected by the international environment besides the national ones; so all should pay due attention to it.

Lawmakers Man Bahadur Bishwakarma, Bharat Shah, Ganga Chaudhary, Ganesh Thagunna, Minakshi Jha, and Dhanaraj Gurung among others stressed the need for sending the report as it was including some recommendations to the CA. (Source: myrepublica.com, May 18, 2014, and Gorkhaaptraonline.com, May 19, 2014)

Kathmandu, May 19: An alliance of 33 political parties led by the CPN-Maoist submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Sushil Koirala on Monday, May 19, 2014 demanding that an all-party convention be held at the earliest to build a consensus on a new constitution.

On behalf of the alliance, coordinator of the alliance Dev Gurung submitted the memorandum to the prime minister. "There is no possibility of promulgating a new constitution through the current CA. So an all-party convention must be held for reaching a consensus on the constitution and giving an outlet for the country," said Gurung.

Warning that the achievements of the various movements of the past were at risk, the alliance urged the government to take the issue seriously and work for a consensus. Gurung said that PM Koirala assured him of consulting the parties about the demands. "He said that he would put in best efforts from the government’s side to organize an all-party convention. However he did not have any concrete idea over how to address our demands," said Gurung.

The alliance also has demanded to unconditionally release its cadres arrested by the police during the CA election from Taplejung last year. Six cadres of the National Dalit Front were arrested on the charge of attempting to obstruct the elections on November 19, 2013. (Source:myrepublica.com, May 20, 2014)

Kathmandu, May 21: Speaking at the 'Third Memorial Day of the Disappeared Fighters held by the Association of Families of Disappeared Fighters (AFDF) at Ratna Park Shanti Batika in Kathmandu on May 21, 2014, chairman of CPN-Maoist Mohan Vaidhya demanded that the government should make whereabouts of the disappeared people public. The Maoist chief argued that the State should not discriminate its citizens in providing justice. "The state must take guardianship of the families of the disappeared and all other victims of the conflict," he said. He also said, "Since we are not consulted for making legislation on forming commission on disappearances and truth and reconciliation commission, we are not obliged to accept it." "We need to review this aspect. We are ready to take guardianship of the disappeared fighters and their families."

He called for a new national political consensus on ensuring the writing of a pro-people constitution. He blamed the ruling parties, NC and CPN-UML in particular, for plotting to repress the Maoists. "If this continues, we will not stay hand folded."

UCPN-Maoist leader Post Bahadur Bogati admitted helplessness in providing justice and compensation to the families of the disappeared warriors. "It is true even when we were in the government, we could not do much to provide justice to the families of the disappeared. Their aspirations have not been met and our struggle is continued."

Civil society stalwart Daman Nath Dhungana remarked that the situation was so despairing that the civil society members were even not in a position to assure the families of the disappeared people of justice. "Even then let me make it clear that formation of commission will be better than pending of the issue. We can change the Act and ensure justice for the victims and take actions against the culprits," said Dhungana.

Chairman of AFDF Ek Raj Bhandari lambasted both the Maoist parties and the state for ignoring the plight of the families of the disappeared warriors. "Neither the state nor the Maoist parties have taken the guardianship of the families of the disappeared fighters. This is a horrible situation of us that we are just ignored even seven years after the peace process started," said he.

Human rights defender Charan Prasai and civil society leader Dr Sundar Mani Dixit among others also demanded justice for the families of the disappeared people and of all the victims of the conflict. (Source: Gorkhapatraonline.com, May 21, 2014)

Kathmandu, May 22: the CRSDC passed the report of the Sub-committee on studying the report of the previous Constitutional Committee, Concept Letter and Preliminary Draft, and the report of the Dispute Resolution Sub-committee, and then agreed on sending them to the CA on May 22, 2014.

Coordinator of the Subcommittee Bhim Bahadur Rawal presented the reports. Members of the Sub-committee also lawmakers Man Bahadur Bishwakarma, Dipak Bohara, Shreemaya Thakali, Agni Prasad Sapkota, and Rajendra Pandey submitted their suggestions.

Similarly, the report of the Sub-committee of the Committee on the Minorities and Marginalized Communities' Rights Protection and the report of the Committee on Determining the Basis of Cultural and Social Unity were presented by Usha Gurung, Coordinator of the Sub-committee.

The report identified the issues both settled and to be settled concerning the state policy, directive principles of the state, rights of the marginalized communities, rights to religion, culture and education, rights against caste-based discrimination and untouchables, and right to equality and citizenship, and definition of national language and the nation. Chairman of the Committee Bishnu Poudel presided over the meeting. (Source: RSS news on Gorkhapatraonline.com, May 22, 2014)

Kathmandu, May 22, 2014: The CPDCC set up a five-member team to initiate homework for holding talks with political parties including Mohan Vaidhya-led CPN-Maoist that had remained outside of the current CA on Thursday, May 22, 2014 for involving them in the process of crafting a new constitution. The team included NC's Narahari Acharya, CPN-UML's Surendra Pandey, UCN-Maoist's Shakti Basnet, Tarai Madhes Democratic Party's Sarbendra Nath Shukla and Federal Socialist Party's Ashok Rai.

The CPDCC also formed another five-member team to settle contentious issues identified by the CRSDC, and sent them to the CPDCC for settlement. Gokarna Bista, Bal Krishna Khand, Rekha Sharma, Mahendra Raya Yadav and Shiva Lal Thapa were the members of the team.

On Monday, May 19, 2014, the CPDCC formed a nine-member team led by NC lawmaker Purna Bahadur Khadka to prepare modalities and procedures for holding talks with political parties and stakeholders that had remained outside of the CA. The cross-party team was also assigned the task of identifying political parties outside of the constitution-drafting body that could play a role in the constitution-drafting process.

The CPDCC urged the various political parties remaining outside of the CA and stakeholders on May 22, 2014 to submit their suggestions and opinions in writing concerning the issues or contents to be incorporated in a new constitution. (Source: Thehimalayantimes.com, andmyrepublica.com, May 22, 2014)

Kathmandu, May 22: Legal experts such as Khimlal Devkota and Mahadev Yadav presented their views on crafting a new constitution at the meeting of the Constitution Drafting Committee presided over by chairman of the committee Krishna Prasad Sitaula on May 22, 2014. They presented the constitutional history of the world, constitution drafting process, constitutional system major countries of the world adopted, and the CA needed to follow the work plan on the drafting of a new constitution. Chairman of the committee Krishna Prasad Sitaula said that such consultations with legal experts were done following the committee's policy. He further said that discussions on the report sent by the CRSDC would be held soon. (Source: RSS news ongorkhapatraonline.com, May 23, 2014)

Defying the Ruling of Chairman of CA
Kathmandu, May 14, 2014: Chairman of CA Subas Nemwang directed the CA members not to go for foreign trips or to attend programs outside of the capital, as their presence in the CA was necessary to craft a constitution.

Chairman Nemwang drew the attention of the lawmakers to the constitution writing at the meeting of the CA held on Tuesday, May 13, 2014. Reminding the CA members that the draft of a new constitution should be completed in the mid October in order to meet the deadline promised to the people that they would get a new constitution within a year, Chairman Nemwang urged the CA members to work actively on the CA committees they belonged to rather than frequently visiting foreign countries.

Similarly, he urged the people not to invite their CA members to the districts but instead inspire them for and encourage them to constitution writing. (Source: RSS news on nepalnews.com, May 14, 2014)

Kathmandu, May 21, 2014: the ruling of Chairman of CA Subas Nemwang on the CA members not going for foreign junkets until a new constitution is promulgated has a little effect, as a 20-member team of NC leaders including nine CA members departed for a 10-day visit to China on May 21, 2014.

The 20-member team of NC leaders included nine CA members such as Sudhir Kumar Sibakoti, Mahadev Badu, Taraman Gurung, Lalbabu Rai, Kalpana Sob, Chandra Bahadur Kunwar, Ramchandra Yadav, Sangita Mandal and Abdul Razzak Gardic.

Chairman of CA had announced the ruling on May 13, 2014 on stopping CA members from frequently visiting foreign countries and making visits to districts outside of the Kathmandu Valley. He had urged the CA members to be serious about implementing the CA’s commitment to prepare the first draft of a new statute by mid-October and promulgate it by January 2015 following the schedule the CA had passed.

“It is height of irresponsibility that nine CA members have gone to China defying the CA chairman’s ruling. There is no provision that allows for actions against those defying the ruling but the CA members are deemed responsible and are expected to respect democratic practices,” a senior official of the CA Secretariat told THT. They should have acted responsibly, as CA will be discussing important issues related to state restructuring and federalism next week.

Spokesman for NC Dilendra Prasad Badu informed about the trip during a press conference held at the party headquarters in Sanepa on May 21, 2014. “We have informed the CA about the visit, which will help Nepal’s constitution-drafting process and development,” he claimed. The visit was scheduled for on the invitation of Communist Party of China.

Asked why the NC CA members defied CA chairman’s ruling, NC Chief Whip Chinkaji Shrestha said, “Although it is not good to embark on foreign trips when the constitution-drafting process is gaining momentum, the trip could not be avoided as it was scheduled for before the CA chairman’s ruling.” “However, we’ll not allow party’s CA members to accept such invitations in future and have issued a circular for the same,” said Shrestha.

Constituent Assembly Chairman Subas Nemwang’s ruling on curbing the CA members’ foreign trips applies even to ministers if they are CA members. But Minister for Foreign Affairs Mahendra Bahadur Pandey seems to be disregarding the ruling. Here’s how:

• Pandey returned from South Korea on Saturday, May 17, 2014

• He will be leaving Kathmandu for Algeria on May 26 and Vladivostok in Russia on May 30. In Algeria, he will be attending a ministerial conference on Non-Align Movement, while in Vladivostok he will take part in the meeting of the Standing Committee of International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP). ICAPP is a consortium of Asian political parties; CPN-UML is its member.

• He will visit Bolivia for celebrating the Golden Jubilee Summit of G-77: a group of 133-countries set up to push economic agenda of Global-South countries on June 14-15. Prime Minister Sushil Koirala was to attend the Summit but he decided not to visit Bolivia.

• “As an active member of NAM, my presence in Algeria-meeting is important,” Minister for Foreign Affairs Mahendra Bahadur Pandey told THT. “We’ll dwell on how to strengthen the group as well as come up with appropriate suggestions for the peaceful solution of burning global issues such as turmoil in Syria and Crimea.”

• He will be attending the ICAPP meeting in the capacity of the CPM-UML leader than as a foreign minister. (Source: Thehimalayantimes.com, May 21, 2014)

Number of Provinces
Kathmandu, May 21: Speaking at the opening function of an interaction on state restructuring held by the former-MPs' Forum in Kathmandu on May 21, 2014, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala said that the number of federal provinces would depend on the economy of the country could sustain. PM Koirala reiterated that the county could hold only a limited number of provinces, as the study on the forms of federalism throughout the world indicated. Concerning the form of governance, he said that it would be appropriate to have a constitutional president and a prime minister with executive power.

Presenting a concept paper on the State restructuring at the function, Former Speaker of Parliament Taranath Ranabhat said that the provinces that would be set up after the promulgation of a new constitution should not be deprived of accessibility and proximity to the neighboring countries such as China and India.

In the concept paper, he suggested judicious allocation and use of natural means and resources to the federal provinces on the basis of capability so that there would not be dispute among them.

Forum advisor also CPN-UML leader Pradip Gyawali, president of Nepal Bar Association Hari Krishna Karki, constitutional lawyers such as Tikaram Bhattarai and Kumar Regmi, Forum senior vice-president Omkar Shrestha, former administrators such as Damodar Gautam and Surya Kiran Gurung and former Director General at the Department of Survey Buddhi Narayan Shrestha said that the federal provinces should be in the future financially and administratively viable. (Source: gorkhapatraonline.com, May 21, 2014)

Prime Minister Sushil Koirala should understand that the number of provinces could be sustained no matter how many of them were set up, as the size of parliament and the administration would be proportional to the size of the population each province would have. Nepal could make as many provinces as it would desire. Each province could sustain on its own resources. The administrative setup of each province would be based on the population. Certainly, the Humla-Jumla province would have a few members of the province parliament whereas the highly populated provinces of the central region would have a large number of members of the province parliament. The size of the administration would be to serve the number of the population each province had to serve. As such, no question about not being able to sustain the administration of each province was valid.

Regarding the concern of former speaker Taranath Ranabhat about the provinces touching both northern and southern border, he should understand that such things would not be possible unless the maps of provinces were drawn straight north-south. In this case, each province would be like a little Nepal. Probably, most of the political parties would not accept such maps.

ENDS

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