Castro's Spirit Taking Over In Nepal?

It has been decided by the SPA (7) and Maoist (1), i.e., 8 parties SPAM that Subash Nembang and Chitralekha Yadav will continue to be the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the new 'interim legislature' and the next Deputy Prime Minister would be a Maoist. Given the ill health of the present incumbent, how long before an acting Maoist Prime Minister and then the rest can follow. Castro's spirit taking over in Nepal?

In the interim constitution there is no mechanism of removing the Prime Minister. Article 38, sub article 7 states that the Prime Minister shall be relieved of his office in the following circumstances:

(a) if his resignation submitted to Speaker in writing;

(b) if he ceases to be a member of the Legislature;

(c) if he dies.

Article 36(5b) of the earlier Constitution has been taken off.

Article 38 (10) mentions:

If Prime Minister dies, Deputy Prime Minister or Senior Minister shall carry out the duties of Prime Minister until new Prime Minister is appointed.

There is no mention as to by when the new Prime Minister has to be appointed.

Both the American and Indian Ambassadors have stated that the new interim government should be formed only after the arms management is complete. But how long will it take to develop an inventory of the arms which are submitted and put into the containers. Any storekeeper could do the job very quickly. We have the whole UN contingent to do it. Anyway, it is keeping stock of whatever stuff is brought in. (It is public knowledge that the best guns and best fighters are not going into the camps as the top leadership hasn't joined the new Legislature.) So how long would it take for the above scenario to unfold?

Another interesting point to note is that the wives of the fallen warriors on all sides are together in the House. Some are wives or family members of Maoists killed by the government, some of UML workers killed by the Maoists. Better than shooting at each other or pulling each other's hair.

The diplomatic community and many other thinking people have gone along with this charade because the Maoists are going to join the mainstream and this would lead to peace. But now the Maoists have to demonstrate enough discipline worthy of a political party. This remains to be seen.

If it is a level field of play, then all sides are ready to convince the people about their own convictions. But no more politics of intimidation. That also remains to be seen.

In the mean time:

(a) no justice is being dispensed because the judges haven't swore allegiance to the new interim constitution, and

(b) when there was celebration the day after the adoption of the constitution in the valley, especially pronounced by the lack of load shedding, the whole Terai came to a halt because of the call of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum.

In the mean time, Maoists atrocities are continuing:

people aged between 22 to 61 are in the captivity of Maoists for the last 18 months.

Sher Bahadur Paudel, a teacher in Bhojpur has been given death threats for failing to pay regular levy to the rebels.

threw away all preparatory goods and articles belonging to the police post at Bhotechaur VDC, Chautara in Dolakha district on January 11 and pressured policemen to turn back from the village.

chased away police team from Chheda of Gothpani VDC in Kavre district; and Khairichandpur and Baniyabhar VDC in Bardiya district. In Ramechhap district, 15 policemen were forced to return from Bethan VDC.

disrupted VDC meetings in Deurali of Bhojpur district.

abducted Devendra Mishra and his son from Mishra's house at Bhudala of Badauli VDC in Kapilvastu district on January 13.

on January 14, padlocked the office of Khandbari micro-hydropower project run jointly by three campuses of the Sankhuwasabha district.

sent 45-year old Maila Tamang of Khimti VDC-9 of Ramechhap district to a labour camp.

ENDS

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