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FES Nepal in the Press

FES-Nepal seminar: “Democracy Building” discussed <Top>

TGW

Chautara, Sindhupalchowk, July 8-9: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), Nepal office organized a two-day seminar on "Initiative about Democracy Building: state building and constitutional questions" at Sindhupalchowk where 170 participants took active part in constitutional discussion. Chairing the seminar district judge Mahesh P. Pudasaini said, "The future constitution should reflect the aspiration of entire Nepalese and seek the stability of the state-society ties through popular legitimacy." Dev Raj Dahal argued, "If politics increases the cost on the tax-paying citizens by bloating the size of politicians they might become either non-political or even anti-political. Politics as a vocation should serve the public interest and resolve all political conflicts in society. It should not become a burden for citizens."

Another Speaker Kashi Raj Dahal argued that consensus is required on a number of key questions—"election for the head of state, nature of state, democracy, concept of federalism and unity in diversity. National pride strengthens the concept of statehood and subordinates primordial loyalties of people." Chandra Dev Bhatta explained universal elements of democracy and the necessity of their application in Nepal. He made a clear distinction between the voluntary sphere of civil society and projectization of NGOs and expressed anxiety over the fusion of business, political and civil society in Nepal and neglecting the notion of public good.

Chief District officer, local development officer, election officer, army officials, armed police force, party leaders, civil society members, Dalits, business leaders, local government officers and religious people viewed that the seminar of this nature should be organized regularly to instill civic responsibility in citizens. Participants recommended taking such seminars at the village level for consciousness building so that people feel that sovereignty springs from bottom up and reconciliation supports the reconstruction of peace and progress. One male and one female participant evaluating the seminar said that it has good impact on social transformation.

Source: The Telegraph Weekly (16 July 2008)


Demand of one Madhes province against past pact with govt: UML <Top>

Kathmandu, June 30

CPN-UML general secretary Jhala Nath Khanal on Monday said that the demand of Madhesi leaders of incorporating autonomous ‘One Madhes One Province’ in the Fifth Amendment Bill was against the agreement signed in February 2007 with the government.

"The whole Madhes cannot be a single province as there are so many cultural, linguistic and geographical diversities even in Madhes. It cannot be in harmony with the aspirations of Madhes minorities," he said.

Speaking at a press conference organised in the party headquarters Balkhu, he asked the Madhesis leaders to solve the dispute through negotiations rather than regular disruption of the Constituent Assembly (CA) meetings.

"They have been stalling the CA meeting regularly and it is a misfortune for the country as the crucial business of forming the new government is delayed," Khanal said adding, "All the agreements cannot be incorporated in the constitution. These are political issues and will be solved through political discussions."

He, however, noted that his party was in favour of multi-province but would strongly stand against the demand of declaring whole Madhes as single province. He also said that the CA would be left without businesses if all the important issues were to be incorporated in the constitution before writing the new constitution.

Meanwhile, General secretary of the CPN-UML Jhala Nath Khanal Monday claimed his party’s role in convincing the CPN-Maoist, which carried with it a legacy of a decade long armed struggle, to sign the 12-point agreement and join the peace process through a series of dialogue.

The holding of successful elections to the Constituent Assembly (CA) and abolition of the 240-year long monarchy were the twin victories of the people. Both of which have paved the way to liberate the Nepalese at large, Khanal said.

Khanal was speaking at an interaction on ‘Future Strategies of Trade Unions in the Federal Democratic Republic Nepal’ organised by Nepal Trade Union Federation.

Appreciating the role of trade unions in the process of abolition of monarchy and re-establishing democracy, he said that the workers should be more conscious about their rights and duties while drafting new constitution and making a new Nepal.

"More than 60 per cent leftists’ representation in the historic CA has proven that the Nepalese people want radical social change. The left forces have to shoulder the challenges that have surfaced in the nation and lead it towards change and progress." Khanal added.

He argued that the constitution making process would remain incomplete without co-operation among CPN-Maoist, CPN-UML and Nepali Congress, as the three parties held a two-third majority in the CA. "The demand of ‘One Madhes One Province’ raised by the Madhes based political parties, is illogical and unjustified which may disintegrate the nation. There should be multi-provinces in Terai, mountainous and Himalayan regions."

Head of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung -Nepal (FES-Nepal) Dev Raj Dahal said that the workers should be actors and implementers of the policies, rather than being mere consumers.

"The more the trade unions become competitive the more they can uphold their rights in the changed context. The trade unions should contribute to the democratisation process, the process of making the country more inclusive and achieving lasting peace."

Source: The Rising Nepal (1 July 2008)


Politics of confrontation can weaken CA: Dahal <Top>

JANAKPURDHAM, June 17: Speakers at a talk programme organized here Monday by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung have said the people's wishes and expressions can not be reflected in the constituent Assembly (CA) built arithmetically, while drawing attention that the country should not be made a laboratory of constitution-making.

Speaking at the talk programme on "Modern State Building ad aspects of constitution", legal experts informed that some 42 countries of the world have made the constitution as per the CA process.

The countries mainly successful in this are Italy, Norway, South Africa, Venezuela, India and Columbia.

Chief Judge of the Appellate Court Bhola Kharel said the CA should play a responsible role as a best alternative for making constitution from larger people's participation.

Judge Giriraj Paudel said constitution should be made to guarantee the rights of all as the constitution is the roadmap of the constitutional forces of the state.

Constitutional expert Kashi Raj Dahal said formulating constitution as per the loktantrik norms is not enough but it is needed to develop a culture of politics as per it. Chief of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Dev Raj Dahal sad the CA can be weak because of the politics of confrontation.

Source: The Rising Nepal (18 June 2008)


Discussion on Building Modern State <Top>

Janakpurdham-June 16. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) initiated two-day discussion on building modern state and constitutional questions. Head of FES Dev Raj Dahal highlighted the works of FES and presented his paper on building modern state. "The future constitution should include the views and concerns of rural people" said Bhola Kharel, appellate court judge of Janakpur. Chief Justice of Appellate Court Giri Raj Paudel said, "Constitution is drafted to legitimize political issues. It should therefore include the concerns, interests and aspirations of all classes of people." The constitution is not to be drafted frequently. It should reflect the long-term aspiration of people. "In a post-conflict Nepal the drafting process must be reflective of the opinion of Nepal's social and cultural diversity," said Kashi Raj Dahal. He added, "The current deadlock of political parties over the selection of president does not give message to the people because leaders see ever thing from numerical point of view. Nepali Congress leader Digambar Roy said that people's trust over politicians is declining because of their self and family-centeredness. So many kings have emerged after the abolition of monarchy. In this condition how can we build modern Nepal? Leader of Dalit and janajatis Bipti Mandal argued that we have to focus on serious problem of federalism, the problems of agricultural economy and participatory constitution-making process. The discussion was lively as many people asked questions and passed their comments.

Source: Simanchal (The only Maithili Language Daily) 17 June 2008


Modern state agenda, contents of constitution under discussion <Top>

BARDIBAS, June 15: A Two Day Talks Programme on 'Building Modern State and Contents of Constitution' kicked off in Jaleshwor today.

At the programme, constitutional expert Kashi Raj Dahal presented a working paper on 'Building Modern State and Contents of Constitution' while FES Chief Dev Raj Dahal presented on 'Building Modern State: Possibility and Challenges' and Chandra Dev Bhatta on 'Fundamental Principles of Democracy'.

Chief District Officer, Netra Prasad Sharma and media person Gopal Baral expressed their views in the inaugural session of the seminar.

The programme has been chaired by Mahottari District Judge Daya Nanda Kharel.

Altogether 131 people including representatives of various political parties, legal practitioners, teachers, professors and civil society have participated in the programme.

Source: Gorkhapatra Daily (15 June 2008)


Nepal: Participatory Constitutional Discussion Sparked off <Top>

Dhulikhel, Kavre May 23-24. Over 160 political leaders, civil society members and the attentive public of Kavre district favored participatory process of constitutional making in the country. They expressed this in a two-day seminar on "Building Modern State and Constitutional Questions" organized by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Kathmandu office as a part of its ongoing constitutional awareness debate. The local public articulated their concern as to how the voices and visibility of grassroots needs are reflected in the Constituent Assembly. Many of them expressed anxiety about their elected representatives as to whether they will come back from Kathmandu to collect their legitimate suggestions and include them into the technical committees of the Constituent Assembly (CA) for reasoned debate and consideration.

Women participants were particularly concerned about strengthening the political competence of women CA members in the various committees of CA, others wanted to know the importance of cultural rights of minorities in a secular and federal state. Participants viewed that as long as the culture of impunity prevailed in the country and law dominated by partisan politics, there is no way to build modern state.

"The balance of power approach to constitutional process, therefore, does not foster durable peace and development", the participants observed.

Chief Guest of the seminar Judge of the District Court Prakash R. Mishra said, "The beauty of modern state is that it serves the people in various ways from cradle to grave. The future constitution of Nepal should be brief, inclusive and visionary."
The Chief District Officer Kabi Raj Khanal speaking on the occasion stressed the need to "set up guiding principles before drafting the constitution".

Presenting his paper Dev Raj Dahal said, "Modern state alone can fit together the diverse interest of society, muster legitimacy and resources, fulfill people's freedoms and propel this post-conflict nation into a peaceful future." To him, the future challenge of Nepal is to bridge a gap between legitimacy and performance of the government so that the political transition from the fatal fault line conflict and gridlock to constitutional state reconciles the cracks of society and enables to resolve the problem of collective action.

K. R. Dahal, noted constitutional exert, shared the constitution making experience of Germany, India, South Africa and India, the multi-stage negotiation processes and methods of sorting out differences.

Source: The Telegraph weekly (28 May 2008)


Constitutional debate commenced <Top>

BY OUR REPORTER

Bidur, Nuwakot, May 16-17: The intellectuals, political leaders and civil society members of Nuwakot district expressed various social, economic and political measures to build a new Nepal. They argued that drafting a democratic constitution in the country requires inclusion of contesting visions, voices and views of all the segments of Nepali society. Long-term and shared vision of the people can be mediated by regular public debates, rational agreement on key public questions such as head of the state, nature of democracy, political system, ecological, social, economic, political and foreign policies, and proper distribution of powers among the various institutions of governance. They viewed that law-abiding government, political parties and citizens alone can protect the culture of human rights and abolish prevailing chaos in the country.

Speaking from the chair district judge Krishna Prasad Banstola said, "Mere floating various concepts in the public is not sufficient unless they are implemented to change the life of the people for the better. In the transition phase of politics, justice should be fostered at the various levels of society so that conflicts can be contained and losers of the political game have faith in the future." Similarly, Chief District Officer Bhanu Bhakta Pokherel stated that constitutional debates are essential to educate the public about the issues and build their informed choices and opinions on political affairs. Constitutional expert Kashi Raj Dahal while presenting various models of constitution, such as the US, Indian and German stressed that constitution basically legitimizes the political ideology of the nation. Since Constituent Assembly election in Nepal has produced a fractured mandate recently, politicians of all hues must evolve a politics of compromise and consensus. What is essential is to develop unsentimental understanding about national issues so that social cohesion contributes to collective future of Nepalese people.

Dev Raj Dahal, head of FES Nepal office, presenting his paper on building modern state, needs and challenges of Nepal argued that modern state is based on civic political culture which transcends the particularisms of the nation's prevailing caste, class, region, religion and ethnic affiliations. Civic spirit is the product of rationalistic and humanistic culture as it tends to balance freedom and order, rights and responsibilities and aspirations and institutions. Nepal has to foster the conditions of modernity in various areas, such as education, technology, economy, organization and leadership and steer the nation's transition from post-conflict peace building to participatory democracy. Modern politics ought to be based on ideology rather than biology. He furnished five points for the solution of Nepal's ills: people-oriented politics, democratic peace, socially embedded economy, equal social integration, good governance and balanced foreign policy.

Chandra Dev Bhatta explained various components of democracy that are necessary to be incorporated into the future constitution. The floor discussion spotlighted about the question of equal representation of various people in CA, formation of CA, role of technical committees and the drafting process. Some participants raised issues about property rights, de-politicization of educational and health institutions, bureaucracy, police, army and foreign policy and a sense of collective leadership. Others wanted to know how people can enforce the accountability of leadership and transform political parties into mass-based organizations. Still, others wanted to know how self-determination works at individual, sub-nation and the state levels so that local identities do not contest with, rather contribute to, the formation of national identity. A group of people stressed on the role of religion and culture in reconciliation and peace. Participants argued that it is important to learn about various models of democracy, development and peace but we must try to indigenize them to suit national conditions.

The two-day seminar attracted 185 participants from all the political parties, civil society groups, government officials and representatives of various social institutions, students, business chamber of newly elected CA members. On the occasion Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) distributed its publications on women and CA, Handouts on Democracy and Compromise Politics to all the participants.

Source: People's Review (22-28 May 2008)


Constitutional debate begins <Top>

Bidur, Nuwakot May 16-17: The intellectuals, political leaders and civil society members of Nuwakot district expressed various social, economic and political measures to build a new Nepal. They argued that drafting a democratic constitution in the country required inclusion of contesting visions, voices and views of all the segments of Nepali society.

They viewed that law-abiding government; political parties and citizens alone can protect the culture of human rights and abolish prevailing chaos in the country.

Speaking from the chair District judge Krishna Prasad Banstola said, "Mere floating of various concepts in the public is not sufficient unless they are implemented to change the life of the people for the better.

Similarly, Chief District Officer Bhanu Bhakta Pokherel stated that constitutional debates are essential to educate the public about the issues and build their informed choices and opinions on political affairs.

Constitutional expert Kashi Raj Dahal while presenting various models of constitution, such as the US, Indian and German stressed that constitution basically legitimizes the political ideology of the nation.

Dev Raj Dahal, Head of FES Nepal office presenting his paper on building modern state, needs and challenges of Nepal argued that modern state is based on civic political culture which transcends the particularisms of the nations prevailing caste, class, region, religion and ethnic affiliations.

“Civic spirit is the product of rationalistic and humanistic culture as it tends to balance freedom and order, rights and responsibilities and aspirations and institutions”, Dahal stated.

Modern politics ought to be based on ideology rather than biology. Dahal furnished five points for the solution of Nepals ills which were, for example, people-oriented politics, democratic peace, socially embedded economy, equal social integration, good governance and balanced foreign policy.

Chandra Dev Bhatta explained various components of democracy that are necessary to be incorporated into the future constitution.

The floor discussion spotlighted about the question of equal representation of various people in CA, formation of CA, role of technical committees and the drafting process.

Source: The Telegraph weekly (21 May 2008)


Trade Union Cooperation <Top>

Kathmandu, May 9-10, Asian and Pacific Regional Organization of the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers' Federation (TWARO)'s Nepal affiliates of Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC) and General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) organized two-day training on "Trade Union Education," on May 9-10, in Kathmandu. It involved 35 district level leaders of carpet, garment and handicraft workers from seven national affiliates in the training. Trainers provided the training on role of trade union in the drafting of constitution, industrial relations and Collective Bargaining Agreement, gender equality, women and youth participation in union, basic legal knowledge including social security, flexibility of labor demanded by employers and core labor rights articulated by the International Labor Organization.

Speaking on the occasion head of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Nepal office, underlined that the CA has unveiled new opportunities for the workers to participate in the long-term vision for nation-building. The future tasks of unions are: make human rights as non-negotiable agenda, strengthen unions' role in the technical committees of CA through their elected members, link economy to democratic politics, insert issues of social security and workers rights and support the institutional pillars of democracy and peace. He added that the unions have provided the workers five critical resources-knowledge, linkages, voice, organization and solidarity to combat their situation. These roles need to be further institutionalized by making the union autonomous of party politics.

General Secretary of General Federation of Nepalese Trade Union Binod Shrestha stressed the need for the bottom-up development of leadership in the union while General-Secretary of Nepal Trade Union Congress focused on the transformation of relationship between political parties and trade unions towards more equality and democracy. Other speakers voiced their concern for the unity of all trade union confederation on their agenda for the CA. The two-day program was organized with the support of FES Nepal office.

Source: Tej Tara Weekly Chronicle (12 May 2008)

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