Prez asked to exercise his powers for consensus govt

Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai on May 27 announced new elections for a Constituent Assembly (CA) in November. While making his statement, he claimed that he took such a decision after receiving a nod from the Election Commission (EC) that it could hold new elections within the stipulated deadline. The government has announced the election date a month before the retirement date for Acting Chief Election Commissioner Neelkantha Uprety and a month before the retirement of Commissioners duo Dolakh Bahadur Gurung and Dr Ayodhi Prasad Yadav. Gani Ansari of Republicacaught up with Yadav on Tuesday to talk about the challenges of holding new CA elections within the next six months. Excerpts: 

The government has announced it is to hold an election for a new constituent assembly in November. Is it possible to conduct an election within the next six months?

From the government side it is possible. That´s why the government has announced the new election. We have heard that political parties, which are major actors in the electoral process, have been saying there should be a correction in the process. 
And we, from our side, have been repeatedly telling different stakeholders that we can hold a new election; that there is no problem. But the most important things are legal tools and documents by means of which we can operate and manage the election. 

What are these legal tools and documents? 

One of the tools is the Interim Constitution, which needs to be amended. It has to readjust the cut-off date for the eligible voter age. Another important tool is the Act on Registration and Expenditures of Political Parties. We managed the political parties during the Constituent Assembly (CA) election in 2008 through the Election Commission Act and the Interim Constitution. But, we need a separate act this time. 

In the meantime, there should be consensus among the political parties regarding the new election. Otherwise, it will be like the local elections which were held during Gyanedra´s regime. 

So, if the legal documents are prepared and the political parties forge a consensus, can the EC carry out a new election? 

Of course! But, another thing I would like to tell you is that the election must be weather-friendly. 

So what about the Mangsir (November) date for the new election? Should the government reconsider the announced date?

It is neither eco-friendly nor voter friendly. Yeah! The government should reconsider the date as it is harvest season for farmers. 

Can the political parties persuade the international community over financial and technical support for a CA election yet again? How could the nation afford to hold such an election again? 

I cannot comment on that as it does not fall within my jurisdiction. But we have not heard any comment from the international community. So, it is worth pondering whether we would receive massive support from the international community as during the 2008 election. If we decide to go for electronic voting, we will need support from the international community. They had assisted the EC in preparing ballot papers in the 2008 election




source myrepublica

Present govt is caretaker: President

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav has said that the present government is a caretaker one. 

The president’s office is planning to make the announcement through a press statement to this effect shortly, sources said.

Details soon


Source myrepublica

12 injured in Sindhupalchowk road mishap

 At least 12 passengers including two minors were injured in a road accident at Jholunge of Mangkha VDC in Sindhupalchowk district this morning.

All injured are undergoing treatment at Sadabahar Community Hospital, Khadichaur, according to the Area Police Office, Barhabise. 

The accident took place after a bus (Na 2 Kha 849) heading towards Barhabise from Kathmandu skidded off the road.

Durga GC, 30, of Pangretar-6, her seven-year-old son Kiran GC and 18-month old daughter Karina GC were among the injured.

One of Maneshwora VDC, four of Mangkha VDC, five of Pangretar VDC and two of Kadambad VDC in the district were injured in the accident. 


Source myrepublica

Parties divided over fresh CA election

In a clear manifestation of brewing political polarization, various political parties have united for and against the government’s decision to announce fresh Constituent Assembly (CA) election. 

A joint meeting of Nepali Congress and CPN UML has announced stern protest against the government’s ‘unilateral decision’ to announce the CA election. 

Terming Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai’s decision as unconstitutional, the parties concluded that the move as an attempt to seize state power. 

The parties have also decided to rope in other parties to make their unity more intact. 

Meanwhile, according to Avenus TV channel, a meeting of 19 parties along with UCPN (Maoist) has hailed the government’s decision.




Source myrepublica

ATM(height of sex and vulgarity in Nepali movie industry?)

Today, promo of an upcoming movie ‘A.T.M.’ was released online. It seems, the movie will have a good opening, considering an example of ‘The Last Kiss‘. In spite of a good opening in its initial days, ‘The Last Kiss’ received disappointing reviews and responses late

I have no idea what the movie ‘A.T.M.’ is about, but I can guess that movie is made to get good hype on media and earn some money by selling sex in a cheap way. Because of vulgar dialogues you might want to make sure you have a headphone ready, if somebody else is around, before you watch the promo video. In the promo, one can easily feel the sub-standard acting even in such a short video.

One thing is sure, ‘A.T.M.’ is another movie in the heard of movie with cheap scenes and dialogues. We are not sure if such movies will get permission to be featured in theatres or not but, Nepali film industry is surely testing the waters in the extreme edge of decency. I hope this will open an avenue to add art aspect to sex and make some really good movies. I hope this movie will be another example that sex alone won’t sell a movie. 

When the movie ‘Darpan Chaya’, made on a triangular love story, created a history by doing an excellent business, other film makers started to follow the trend and start making similar movies. After Rekha Thapa‘s action in ‘Durga’ became a hit, film makers started featuring actresses in action role. In the similar manner, when a movie made on adult theme ‘Chapali Height‘ did an excellent business a few months ago, I knew I will have to write a lot of reviews on adult themed movies in future. You can see I was right – writing reviews of more than a few such movies!

We had previously posted the photo featuring the actor grabbing (link to article in Nepali) the chest of one of the actresses – from one of the scenes featured in the following promo. Here is the promo (be warned, it has vulgar dialogues and scenes)

                                                                Trailor

Maoists not to blame for CA demise: Dahal

UCPN (Maoist) Pushpa Kamal Dahal said on Monday that his party tried its best until the last moment to keep the Constituent Assembly alive, the tenure of which expired Sunday, failing to deliver a new constitution.

Speaking at a press meet at the Gyanzou Hotel in Lazimpat following the party´s standing committee meeting held in Paris Danda, the Maoist chairman blamed the dissolution of CA on those who did not want change in the country, referring to the Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML as status quotists. 

Dahal alleged that NC and UML were more focused on government formation at the final stage of the negotiations, whereas his party, Dahal maintained, had put constitution writing on priority. He argued that it was largely due to this mismatch in priorities that ultimately caused the CA to fail.

Even though the CA got dissolved, the struggle for the new constitution has not ended, Dahal said, adding the struggle just has entered a new phase. He stressed that unity and consensus among political parties should be the key to see off the present political crisis.

He also revealed that his party actually wanted to impose emergency in the country, as the last resort, to extend CA’s term by six months as negotiations over federalism did not look heading to a conclusive end even at the eleventh hour. 



Dahal defended the government decision to go for fresh elections as, he argued, there could have been no more democratic option available, with CA facing certain dissolution. “The fresh polls will be held as per Supreme Court verdict,” Dahal said, claiming that his party would garner two-thirds majority in the elections so that the new constitution would not have to suffer another setback.

He ruled out any chances of constitutional vacuum in the country as the new elections, announced for November 22 this year, has been called and the CA dissolved also in line with the apex court´s verdict.

Dahal made it clear that PM Baburam Bhattarai will not step down immediately. He said a consensus government would be formed in the near future, claiming that NC and UML  rejoin the government in a few days. Dahal, however, said discussions then could be held to decided on the leadership of the new government.

Dahal further said he, while facing up to his ´historical´ duty of peace process and constitution writing as the Maoist chairman, did not fail even though the country could not get a new constitution this time. "I don´t concede that I failed. The history will prove this," Dahal said.


Source myrepublica

UML blames Maoists for present crisis

 Lack of commitment from UCPN (Maoist) and its failure to adhere to politics of consensus are the main cause that the country failed to deliver the new constitution through the Constituent Assembly (CA), CPN UML said on Monday.

Issuing a press statement after the party’s standing committee meeting at the party office in Balkhu, UML has said that the party made every effort to write a new constitution and even proposed extended parliament to settle all the disputed issues of the constitution writing process. 

However, the UML’s proposal was obstructed after the UCPN (Maoist) refused to cooperate rather made a unilateral announcement to dissolve the CA and a new date for fresh CA elections without forging consensus among the parties, the statement further reads. 

“The present government has lost its constitutional and political grounds to claim the premiership after it failed to adopt constitutional means for a fresh people’s mandate,” the UML has said. 

The UML has also urged everyone to unite to maintain peace and communal harmony in the country.


source myrepublica