Dr Chandrakala: Nepal - Anniversary
Anniversary
Dr Chandrakala
Last year this day, the 4th of Jestha, so called historical decision took place in the House of Representatives. There were nine points:
1. Legislature became supreme,
2. All executive powers were vested in the Council of Ministers,
3. The Army was delinked from Monarchy and brought under the Council of Ministers,
4. The Raj Parishad was abolished,
5. Monarchy was belittled with even succession to be decided by the House of Representatives,
6. Citizenship problem was to be solved as soon as possible,
7. National Anthem to be changed,
8. Nepal to be secular, and
9. Miscellaneous: everybody holding public office to take an oath before the House of Representatives.
One year later,
1. The Legislature cannot function,
2. Council of Ministers with its strange combination is riven by internal squabbles,
3. The Maoists are still pressing for a national Army and downsizing the present one,
4. Raj Parishad is long gone,
5. Monarchy is still the favourite whipping boy,
6. Citizenship problem have been addressed, but delineation of electorates and seat allocations have led to blood soaked conflict in the Terai,
7. The wording for the National Anthem has been selected but still no tune,
8. Secularism has had mixed results,
9. Miscellaneous: The interim constitution finally necessitated the Chief Justice and Supreme Court Judges to take oath before the House.
The Maoists were brought in with full fanfare leading to
(i) eight party meetings (now stalled),
(ii) interim constitution,
(iii) nomination in the legislature, and
(iv) finally into the interim government from the last 48 days.
Law and order situation is seriously out of hand and is even the concern of the EU Ambassadors.
Young Communist League take the law in their own hands.
Asian Development Bank has cancelled funding for Melamchi for contravention of earlier agreement.
7.8 million students are being denied education because of the teachers' strike.
Smooth traffic in the highways have been a story of the past.
Not even a single Ambassador has been appointed.
Only last month, three vice chancellors were appointed in three out of four universities.
More than double have died within this year compared to Jana Andolan II.
Fuel shortage has become a fact of life
I dread the second anniversary of this day!
ENDS