Public jubilation after the king's April climb-down
Nepal's Maoist rebels have reached a breakthrough agreement with the civilian government on ending the country's long civil war.
The agreement will see the rebels join a transitional government, while their arms will be put under UN supervision.
Why have the rebels suspended their armed struggle?
The Maoists called a ceasefire after King Gyanendra ended his controversial direct rule in April and restored parliament.
The king backed down after weeks of strikes and protests against his rule which saw huge demonstrations against him.
Political parties who were then in opposition, and are now in government, had promised to work with the Maoists as a prelude to bringing them into government.
What were the main issues for negotiation?
The parties and the Maoists had to draw up plans for elections to a constituent assembly they agreed to last year that will decide the country's future.
Key issues were:
How those elections and the constituent assembly would be organised
How power would be shared in the interim government when the constituent assembly is in place
Weapons decommissioning.
In theory, the issue of the monarchy has been resolved. Although the Maoists declared aim is for a communist republic, they say they will respect whatever the constituent assembly decides about the future of the monarchy.
Why did the king back down and agree to reconvene parliament?
The short answer is the sheer size of the demonstrations against him - some of the biggest that the country has ever witnessed.
King Gyanendra is now a ceremonial figure
Faced with this vast display of people power, analysts say that the king had no choice but to back down or the country would have descended into anarchy.
Observers say with international pressure mounting on him and the mood among his opponents at home hardening, particularly after the deaths of a number of protesters at the hands of the security forces, the king had few other options.
The current parliament has now effectively reduced the monarchy to a ceremonial role. It has also ended Nepal's status as a Hindu state and turned it into a secular state.
Why did the king seize power in February, 2005?
He accused Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's government of failing to win the support of the Maoist rebels for a deadline for peace talks and of failing to prepare the ground for elections in the spring of 2005.
However, analysts suggest the king might have been using these issues to strengthen his own role in Nepalese politics, perhaps seeking to create an absolute monarchy.
Whatever his intentions, his plans backfired and he finds himself in a much weaker position now, having in effect catalysed his opponents and the rebels into forging peace.
How strong are the rebels?
The Maoists are virtually in control of most of rural Nepal, although the authorities dispute this. Rebel fighters melt away into the hills when troops arrive in force.
They have frequently enforced blockades of major towns and cities through fear of reprisals, showing they have the power to paralyse the economy.
Senior military officers say there are between 10,000 and 15,000 well-trained rebel fighters, known as the movement's "hard core". It is estimated that there could be up to 50,000 so called "militia" who fight alongside them.
The Maoists claim to be inspired by Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong and want to establish a communist state.
Their shadowy leader's name, Prachanda, is translated as "the fierce one". The group is modelled on Peru's Maoist Shining Path guerrillas.
The army is better equipped, but mountainous terrain and popular support in some areas favours the rebels.
Analysts say that, as the war has progressed, it has become increasingly clear that neither side has the military muscle to win decisively.
What's the human cost of the conflict?
More than 13,000 people have been killed in violence in Nepal since the insurgency began 10 years ago, many of them civilians caught in cross-fire with security forces.
Both sides in the conflict are frequently accused of carrying out human rights abuses.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Friday, April 13, 2007
The economy > Industry and trade
Industrial production represents a small but growing segment of economic activity. Most industries are small, localized operations based on the processing of agricultural products. The jute industry, centred in Biratnagar, is an important earner of foreign exchange. Sugar factories are located in Biratnagar, Birganj, and Bhairahawa. There are a sawmill and a meat-processing plant in Hitaura and a number of rice and oil mills in the Tarai. Other industries include brick and tile manufacture; processing of construction materials, paper, and food grain; cigarette manufacture; cement production; and brewing of beer. In general, there are more industrial enterprises in the private than in the public sector, although most of these are cottage industries. The main areas of manufacturing concentration are Biratnagar, the Birganj–Hitaura corridor, and the Kathmandu Valley.
Tourism represents a small but expanding industry. Foreign tourism is primarily confined to the Kathmandu Valley, which is the only area equipped with the necessary hotels, food supplies, roads, and international transport services. There are, however, many areas outside the Kathmandu Valley with potential for the development of tourism; these include Pokhara, the Mount Everest area, and the Narayani area (where big game exists).
For geographic and historical reasons, nearly all of Nepal's trade is with India. Attempts have been made to diversify trade through agreements with such countries as Japan, South Korea, Pakistan, the United States, Germany, Poland, and China. The state trading agency, National Trading Limited, has expanded its activities by fostering the development of commercial entrepreneurial activity. Large-scale commercial activity has hitherto been in the hands of foreigners, primarily Indians.
Nepal's foreign trade and balance of payments have suffered setbacks, and exports have not increased enough to pay for imports of consumer goods and basic supplies. Nepal's dependence on the Indian market for most of its imports and exports and on the port of Calcutta for its access to the sea has been the source of periodic friction between the two countries Transport facilities in Nepal are very limited; few independent nations in the world of comparable size have such little road mileage and so few motor vehicles. Construction of new roads has been undertaken since the 1970s with aid from India, China, Great Britain, and the United States. The main means of transportation has been the network of footpaths, which interlace the mountain terrain and valleys. Trails have evolved into main trade routes, which tend to follow the river systems.
The meagre road-transport facilities in Nepal are supplemented by only a few railway and air-transport links. Increased use of road transport has reduced the significance of the two narrow-gauge railroads that run from Amlekhganj to Raxaul (India) and from Janakpur to Jaynagar (India). The Royal Nepal Airline Corporation, an autonomous government agency, is the only commercial airline. Together with Indian Airlines, it operates flights from Kathmandu to various points in India and other nearby countries. Domestic air service within the country has been expanded. The United States built the Kathmandu–Hitaura aerial ropeway in the 1950s, and it is still used for carrying goods into the capital.
Tourism represents a small but expanding industry. Foreign tourism is primarily confined to the Kathmandu Valley, which is the only area equipped with the necessary hotels, food supplies, roads, and international transport services. There are, however, many areas outside the Kathmandu Valley with potential for the development of tourism; these include Pokhara, the Mount Everest area, and the Narayani area (where big game exists).
For geographic and historical reasons, nearly all of Nepal's trade is with India. Attempts have been made to diversify trade through agreements with such countries as Japan, South Korea, Pakistan, the United States, Germany, Poland, and China. The state trading agency, National Trading Limited, has expanded its activities by fostering the development of commercial entrepreneurial activity. Large-scale commercial activity has hitherto been in the hands of foreigners, primarily Indians.
Nepal's foreign trade and balance of payments have suffered setbacks, and exports have not increased enough to pay for imports of consumer goods and basic supplies. Nepal's dependence on the Indian market for most of its imports and exports and on the port of Calcutta for its access to the sea has been the source of periodic friction between the two countries Transport facilities in Nepal are very limited; few independent nations in the world of comparable size have such little road mileage and so few motor vehicles. Construction of new roads has been undertaken since the 1970s with aid from India, China, Great Britain, and the United States. The main means of transportation has been the network of footpaths, which interlace the mountain terrain and valleys. Trails have evolved into main trade routes, which tend to follow the river systems.
The meagre road-transport facilities in Nepal are supplemented by only a few railway and air-transport links. Increased use of road transport has reduced the significance of the two narrow-gauge railroads that run from Amlekhganj to Raxaul (India) and from Janakpur to Jaynagar (India). The Royal Nepal Airline Corporation, an autonomous government agency, is the only commercial airline. Together with Indian Airlines, it operates flights from Kathmandu to various points in India and other nearby countries. Domestic air service within the country has been expanded. The United States built the Kathmandu–Hitaura aerial ropeway in the 1950s, and it is still used for carrying goods into the capital.
The people
The large-scale migrations of Asian groups from Tibet and Indo-Aryan people from northern India, which accompanied the early settlement of Nepal, have produced a diverse linguistic, ethnic, and religious pattern. Nepalese of Indo-Aryan ancestry comprise the people of the Tarai, the Pahari, the Newar, and the Tharus—the great majority of the total population. Indo-Aryan ancestry has been a source of prestige in Nepal for centuries, and the ruling families have been of Indo-Aryan and Hindu background. Most of the Tibeto-Nepalese groups—the Tamang, Rai, Limbu, Bhutia (including the Sherpa), and Sunwar—live in the north and east, while the Magar and Gurung inhabit west-central Nepal. The majority of the famous Gurkha contingents in the British army have come from the Magar, Gurung, and Rai groups.
The principal and official language of Nepal is Nepali (Gorkhali), spoken in the Tarai and the mid-mountain region. Nepali, a derivative of Sanskrit, belongs to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European family. There are a number of regional dialects found in the Tarai and mountain areas. The languages of the north and east belong predominantly to the Tibeto-Burman family. These include Magar, Gurung, Rai, Limbu, Sunwar, Tamang, Newari, and a number of Bhutia dialects, including Sherpa and Thakali. Although Newari is commonly placed in the Tibeto-Burman family, it was influenced by both Tibeto-Burman and Indo-European languages.
In Nepal a vast majority of the population is Hindu, but a small percentage follows Buddhism or other religious faiths. Hindus and Buddhists tend to be concentrated in areas where Indian and Tibetan cultural influences, respectively, have been dominant.
Almost all Nepalese live in villages or in small market centres. Outside of Kathmandu, there are no major cities. Smaller urban centres (Biratnagar, Nepalganj, and Birganj) are located in the Tarai along the Indian border, and Pokhara is situated in a valley in the mid-mountain region. In addition, a few townships—such as Hitaura, Butwal, and Dharan—have begun to emerge in the foothills and hill areas, where economic activity has developed.
The principal and official language of Nepal is Nepali (Gorkhali), spoken in the Tarai and the mid-mountain region. Nepali, a derivative of Sanskrit, belongs to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European family. There are a number of regional dialects found in the Tarai and mountain areas. The languages of the north and east belong predominantly to the Tibeto-Burman family. These include Magar, Gurung, Rai, Limbu, Sunwar, Tamang, Newari, and a number of Bhutia dialects, including Sherpa and Thakali. Although Newari is commonly placed in the Tibeto-Burman family, it was influenced by both Tibeto-Burman and Indo-European languages.
In Nepal a vast majority of the population is Hindu, but a small percentage follows Buddhism or other religious faiths. Hindus and Buddhists tend to be concentrated in areas where Indian and Tibetan cultural influences, respectively, have been dominant.
Almost all Nepalese live in villages or in small market centres. Outside of Kathmandu, there are no major cities. Smaller urban centres (Biratnagar, Nepalganj, and Birganj) are located in the Tarai along the Indian border, and Pokhara is situated in a valley in the mid-mountain region. In addition, a few townships—such as Hitaura, Butwal, and Dharan—have begun to emerge in the foothills and hill areas, where economic activity has developed.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
GEOGRAPHY, CLIMATE AND ECOLOGY
NEPAL
Elongated along the Himalayas, Nepal is a landlocked country with a total land area of 147,181 sq.km.. (56,136 sq.mi.). The country is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the North and the Republic of India to the South, East and West. Its topography varies from the high snow-clad peaks and the mid mountain region with fertile valleys to the southern plains known as Terai. So is the climate ranging from the alpine in the north to hot and humid in the southern plains.
World's highest peak Mt. Sagarmatha (Everest), 8,848 meters (29028 ft.) lies in Nepal. Its capital, Kathmandu, is a valley with pleasant climate. The main rainy season is during the monsoon period (June to September) with rainfall of over 56 inches a year.
The geography of Nepal is blessed with a number of small and large rivers. Three main river systems - Kosi, Gandaki and Karnali originate in the Himalayas, flow southward and empty into the Ganges. Nepal has been a habitat of different rare species of flora and fauna. In order to protect the fragile eco-system, Nepal has set up thirteen national parks and wildlife reserves in different parts of the country.
PEOPLE
Nepal's population in 1991 was 18.4 million with a growth rate of 2.1 percent per annum. Well over half of the population live in the hills and the rest live in the southern lowlands. Rate of literacy is 39 percent. Lingua franca is the Nepali language The people of Nepal share a bond of comrnon aspirations and faith in the independence and integrity of nation irrespective of religion, race, caste or tribe.
FLAG AND NATIONAL EMBLEMS
The national flag of Nepal consists of two juxtaposed triangular figures with crimson coloured base and deep blue borders, there being a white emblem of crescent moon and a white emblem of sun in the lower part. Rhododendron Arboream is the national flower, Crimson is the national colour, Cow is the national animal and the Danphe (Lophophorus) is the national bird.
HISTORY
Throughout ages, Nepal has preserved its national identity and independence. It has never been under any foreign rule. Ancient Nepal was composed of many small autonomous principalities. Prithvi Narayan Shah unified Nepal in the present form in 1768. Kathmandu has been made the capital since then. After the 1814-1816 Anglo-Nepali war, the Mechi and Mahakali rivers became the eastern and western borders of the country. In 1846, Jung Bahadur Rana consolidated his powers as a Prime Minister. His family became hereditary prime ministers and ruled the country till 1950. Organized resistance against the Ranarchy began after the end of World War I. In 1940, four Nepalese youths were hanged to death for anti-Rana activities. This gained momentum after World War II. A popular revolution engineered by Shri B.P. Koirala overthrew the Rana Oligarchy in February 1951 culminating in a first experiment in democracy. King Tribhuvan promised Constituent Assembly Elections but could fulfill. After an arduous struggle by the people, first General Elections were held under multi-party system in February 1959. The Nepali Congress party won two thirds majority in the Lower House of the Parliament, making B.P. Koirala the first ever elected Prime Minister of Nepal. King Mahendra could not tolerate the democratic system of governance of the popularly elected government. Ultimately, the King staged a coup in December 1960, banned all political activities and imprisoned the Prime Minister and his comrades without trial till 1968. In January 1972, King Birendra ascended the throne and continued to remain the sole source of authority and exercised the broad powers over ;he country. The Palace preferred direct rule with iron hand but the people waged a relentless struggle even taking to arms sometimes. During 29-year long continuous struggle, thousands of multi-party enthusiasts suffered unspeakable pains. Hundreds were maimed, mutilated and martyred. B.P. Koirala passed away in 1982. Other weather-beaten leaders like Ganesh Man Singh, K.P. Bhattarai, Girija Prasad Koirala carried on the struggle as shown by the late Koirala. In the beginning of 1990 the Nepalese communists led by Man Mohan Adhikary collaborated with the Nepali Congress led peaceful movement for the restoration of multi-party democracy launched on the historic democracy day of Falgun 7 (February 18). People came on to the streets braving batons and bullets. With the loss of a great many precious lives, they won the political freedom, which is very dear to their heart. Capital punishment is now abolished.
POLITICAL SYSTEM AND GOVERNMENT
With partyless Panchayat System gone in 1990, Nepal adopted a new Constitution of Nepal with the restoration of multiparty democracy with constitutional monarchy. According to the Constitution of Nepal 1990, the sovereignty of Nepal is vested in the Nepalese people. It also guarantees full fundamental rights with human dignity. The Judiciary is independent. Under the new Constitution, the General Elections based on adult suffrage were held in a free and fair manner on May 12, 1991, after 32 years. Voting age was lowered to 18. The Nepali Congress Party won a clear majority in the House of Representatives and formed the government on May 29, 1991 under the Prime Ministership of Mr. Girija Prasad Koirala. The Koirala Government was pulled down by 36 ruling party deputies in July 1994. Fresh elections were held on 15 November 1994. Nepal Communist Party (United Marxist Leninist) became the larger party with 88 seats in the 205-member House of representatives and formed the Government on 30 November, making its President Man Mohan Adhikary, Prime Minister of Nepal.
PARLIAMENT
According to the Constitution of Nepal 1990, the Nepalese Legislature consists of His Majesty the King and two Houses of Parliament namely the House of Representatives and the National Council. The Lower House has 205 elected members for five year term. In the election to the Lower House, at least five percent of the contestants from every political party must be women. The National Council has 60 members for six-year term out of which 35 members including at least 3 women members are elected by the house of Representatives, 15 members are elected by local bodies and 10 members are nominated by His Majesty the King. The National Council is a permanent body with one third of its members retiring every two years. The Parliament is functioning smoothly.
JUDICIARY
The Courts in the country comprise three tiers:
a. Supreme Court (Apex Court)
b. Appellate Courts
c. District Courts
The orders and decision made in the course of hearing of a suit by the court shall be binding on all. Any interpretation to a law or any legal principal laid down by the Supreme Court in the course of hearing of a suit shall be binding on His Majesty's Government and all other courts and offices.
ECONOMY
Nepal's modern era began in 1951. Modern amenities of education, health care, communications, power and industry were non existent at that time. Economic structure was based on subsistence agriculture. Foundations for economic growth were laid with the external assistance mainly from India, the United States, China and Russia. Per capita income has reached $ 202. Immediately after forming the government, Mr. Koirala formulated Nepal's Eighth Plan which defines our economic philosophy, and launched a programme of wide ranging economic reforms which includes amongst others, full convertibility of Nepalese Rupee, industrial deregulation, privatization and reforms in pricing of public utilities in order to make our economy dynamic and growth oriented. So far, the results have been very positive. Nepal's exports - woolen rugs, ready made garments, pulses, oilseeds and handicrafts, in the last two years have almost doubled. Industrial investment has increased significantly. New financial institutions are coming up. Private investment is attracted towards even hydropower generation. Foreign Exchange Reserve is now at $ 786 million, an all time high, adequate to cover imports for next 11 months. The inflation rate has been contained to a single digit.
Mineral surveys are still going on and the rugged terrain makes exploitation very difficult. Limestone, magnesite and mica are being exploited to some extent.
Energy plays an important role in the economic development of a country. The rate of energy consumption is often viewed as a key index of development. Despite an abundance of rivers and rivulets, hydropower availability is also becoming a problem. Adverse monsoon conditions often creates situation of load shedding. The proposed Arun III project with ultimate generating capacity of 402 MW will be the country's biggest hydel plant. The consumption of petroleum products, electricity and coal is largely confined to the urban and semi-urban areas. This has led to greater pressures on the depletion of forest resources in rural areas and has precipitated ecological imbalances.
Nepal has started promoting private sector to set up mini hydel plants. The program has been quite effective in rural electrification and lessening pressure on forests.
Transport and communication has their own significance in a mountainous country like ours. It is a prerequisite for economic prosperity, especially if the fruits of development are to filter down to the masses. Rajmarg is the only national road network that links the eastern and western borders of Nepal. It was initiated in 1963 and as of now, with the completion of Karnali bridge is considered complete.
Radio Nepal services can now be received on short wave frequencies in every region of the country. To ensure further reliability in broadcasts, medium wave transmitters with 100 KW capacity are set up in Dharan, Kathmandu, Pokhara and Surkhet. Similarly, medium wave transmitters with 10 KW capacity have been established in Gauri Danda (Mahottari) and Dipayal.
A healthy, skillful and educated population is another prerequisite for economic development of the country. Education plays an important role in the development of a nation. With unnecessary hurdles in higher education gone, medical college hospitals have started with popular participation in Dharan, Bharatpur, Pokhara, Dang and Nepalgunj, also outside Kathmandu. Similarly, engineering colleges have begun with local initiatives. A new university is opened under private management at Banepa-Dhulikhel. This university is expected to become a centre of excellence.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
Preserving national sovereignty and territorial integrity and enabling the Nepalese people to exercise their freedom to the fullest extent and to enjoy a decent standard of life are at the core of Nepal's foreign policy. The elements of Nepal's foreign policy are determined by geo-political realities, strict adherence to the principle and Charter of the United Nations, Nonalignment, five principles of co-existence and promotion of human rights and international cooperation for the greater good of mankind. We cherish the best relationship with our contiguous neighbours - India and China. Nepal is an active and committed member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.
Nepal's commitment to the principles and Charter of the United Nations is unflinching and total. The Royal Nepalese Army has served with distinction in UN Peacekeeping missions. Besides peacekeeping operations, Nepal has responded to the UN calls like maintaining civil order, humanitarian relief and election observation. Kathmandu is gaining an importance as a regional centre. In the last two years, three UN agencies have set up their regional offices in Nepal. The only problem is with regard to the Bhutanese refugees.
NEPAL - U.S. RELATIONS
Nepal-U.S. Relations were formally established in 1947. Nepalese Embassy was opened in Washington DC in 1958. American Embassy was opened in Kathmandu in 1959. His Majesty King Birendra made a state visit to the United States in December 1983. President Jimmy Carter had been to Kathmandu on a private visit in June 1985. Former Nepali Congress Supremo Ganesh Man Singh visited the United States and met with President George Bush on December 18, 1990. During the last four decades, the United States has not only contributed nearly S 500 million to Nepal's development but has now taken keen interest in the consolidation of nascent democracy.
TRAVEL TIPS
Tourist Visas: American tourists are most welcome in Nepal. They constitute more than seven percent of our total tourists arrival. US $ 15 has been fixed as the fee for tourist visa with 15 days validity and US $ 25 for that with 30 days validity, which can be obtained at any Nepalese Embassy or Consulate or Kathmandu Airport or any entry point on arrival. Longer visa extensions will be available for up to 150 days for one dollar per day.
Trekking Permits: A trekking permit is required to visit Nepal's interior, i.e., any place not linked by major roads. To obtain a trekking permit one must apply to the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu or Pokhara.
Climate and Clothing: Summer clothing may be worn March through October. In winter, light woolen will suffice.
Health: No immunization is required for entry.
How to Get There: Royal Nepal Airlines operates international flights to Calcutta, New Delhi, Bombay, Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Frankfurt, Paris and London. This apart, Lufthansa, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Aeroflot, Indian Airlines, Pakistan Airlines and Bangladesh Biman serve Kathmandu.
Telecommunications: International telephone, telex and fax services are easily available from places of touristic interest and hotels.
Currency Exchange Rate: A US $ is equivalent to Nepali Rupees 49/87 paisa.
WHO IS WHO?
Head of State: His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev
Head of Government: Prime Minister Man Mohan Adhikary
Chief Justice: Biswa Nath Upadhyay
Speaker of the House of Representatives: Ram Chandra Poudel
Chairman of the National Council: Beni Bahadur Karki
CABINET MINISTERS
1. Man Mohan Adhikary - Prime Minister and Royal Palace.
2. Madhav Kumar Nepal - Deputy Prime Minister, Defence and Foreign Affairs.
3.Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli - Home.
4. Chandra Prakash Mainali - Local. Development and Supply.
5. Bharat Mohan Adhikary - Finance.
6. Radha Krishna Mainali - Agriculture, Land Reforms and Management.
7. Modnath Prashit - Education, Culture and Social Welfare.
8. Pradip Kumar Nepal - Information and Communications.
9. Padma Ratna Tuladhar - Labour and Health.
MINISTERS OF STATE
10. Ashok Kumar Rai - Works and Transport.
11. Salim Miya Ansari - Forest and Soil Conservation.
12. Prem Singh Dhami - Housing and Physical Planning.
13. Subhas Chandra Nembang - Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and General Administration.
14. Bhim Bahadur Rawal - Commerce, and Tourism and Civil Aviation.
15. Hari Prasad Pandey - Industry and Water Resources.
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The above Information was kindly provided by the Royal Nepalese Embassy in Washington D.C.
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Change in Government
In September 1995, the Government headed by Prime Minister Man Mohan Adhikary - faced a vote of no confidence, and on September 12 a Coalition Government was formed led by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. The following is an abstract from Kathmand u Post, Kantipur Publications Pvt. Ltd., Nepal & Mercantile Communications Pvt. Ltd., Nepal that keeps the details of the political change in Nepal, and brings the news to US with the assistance of Rajendra Shrestha.
September 1, 1995
KATHMANDU - The Parliamentary Party meeting of the ruling Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist), Thursday, has demanded postponement of the special session of the parliament.
His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev has already summoned the special session of the House of Representatives on September 5 after the Supreme Court ordered its reinstatement. The meeting, presided over by Home Minister K P Sharma Oli in absence of Prime Minister Manmohan Adhikari, decided to request the Speaker to postpone the session due to the Premiers health. Doctors have asked PM Adhikari to rest for another three weeks. PM Adhikari has also requested His Majesty the King and the Speaker to postpone the session. As the expected no-confidence motion will be introduced against the PM, it is necessary that he be present to face it, said Devi Prasad Ojha, addressing journalists after the meeting. The meeting also passed a resolution wishing speedy recovery of PM Adhikari and others, injured in the recent chopper crash. Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister and General Secretary of the party Madhav Kumar Nepal, addressing the parliamentarians, shed light on the present political scenario. Chief Whip of the parliamentary party Ojha refused to take responsibility for the slogans chanted by party workers on the street. But as people are the source of the constitution and the sovereignty lies on them, they obviously can protest any mistakes made by any judiciary, executive or legislative bodies, he said. Though the party has not officially taken the responsibility, the protesters in Thursdays rally chanted slogan like Hang Biswonath (Upadhyaya), the Chief Justice. The concerned authorities should seriously think about checking these slogans as well as the drawbacks and mistakes of the Supreme Court, said Jhalanath Khanal, a politburo member. When asked about the possibilities of mass resignation of the MPs if the session is not postponed, Ojha said, We do not want to leave the field open by resigning. The parliamentary party of the CPN (UML) is scheduled to meet again on Friday. After silence, UML fury grips the Valley KATHMANDU - First came silence, then the sound, and now the fury. Barely two days after the Supreme Court handed its land mark judgement, the Valley was gripped Thursday by the fury of yet another bandh, this time called ironically by none other than the ruling CPN-UMLs sister organisations. It started with the silence though, like the lull before a storm. It took 24 hours for the government to come up with a reaction in the aftermath of the SC verdict. But when it came, the disappointment and the implied anger contained in the Prime Ministers statement baffled and puzzled many. Perhaps for the first time in the nations history, the executive was refuting the judgement meted out by the judiciary. And again for the first time, organisations affiliated with the ruling party were openly calling for the blood of SC justices for daring to hand out an adverse verdict. That bit of theatrics may have squandered away some of the goodwill earned by the government, even among its supporters. Says Pankaj Sharma, a die-hard UML supporter, yes, I was shocked by the verdict. But I am even more shocked by the Prime Ministers statement. UML should pull its act together and stop behaving like a spoiled kid whose toys have just been snatched. The Prime Minister and the governing UMLs official reactions have predictably also invited scathing criticism from opposition parties. However, as the dust settles over the controversy surrounding the SC judgement, all eyes are now focussing towards the special parliamentary session called to convene Monday evening next week. The special session of the House of Representatives is being convened to take up the Nepali Congress sponsored no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Manmohan Adhikari. It was the fear of facing this special session which led Adhikari to advise King Birendra to dissolve parliament in June, an advice which was termed unconstitutional Monday by the Supreme Court. So far there are no indications which suggest the Prime Minister could successfully weather the no-confidence vote. Having decided to face the motion rather than opt for a quiet retreat (by resigning), Adhikari is headed to be only the second Prime Minister to be ousted through a no-confidence motion. The first was Panchayat era prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa in 1983, who is now the leader of RPP, the third largest party in parliament with 19 seats. The tactical alliance forged by NC (82 seats), RPP, Nepal Sadbhavana Party (2) and a handful of independent lawmakers in the wake of Adhikaris gamble in June gives the coalition a comfortable majority to push the no-confidence motion through parliament. RPP, which holds the balance of power in the House is striving to make the most of it - sources within both NC and RPP say, the party is asking for, and probably getting, at least five high profile ministries in the coalition cabinet to be led by NCs Sher Bahadur Deuba. NSP is slated to recieve one ministerial berth. Meanwhile, a feeler sent by UML to RPP on the possibility of the latter putting up a government with the outside support of the former has been rejected by RPP leaders. Party sources said, RPP is firm in its earlier commitments to NC to join together in a coalition government.
House Starts Deliberation On No-Confidence Motion
By a Post Reporter
KATHMANDU - Amid protests on the streets and applause inside, a victorious parliament sat for its special session Tuesday - a session which had nearly wiped out the existence of the House of Representatives last June. Barely a week after the nations highest court infused new life into parliament, the Lower House finally met for its long awaited special session to move a vote of no-confidence against Prime Minister Manmohan Adhikari.
Barring the prime minister, all the members of parliament were present during the opening session Tuesday. PM Adhikari is still recuperating from injuries sustained in last months helicopter crash.
On the opening day, the opposition coalition comprising of the Nepali Congress, Rashtriya Prajatantra Party and Nepal Sadbhavana Party finally got to deliberate on the no-confidence motion against Adhikari.
The PM is scheduled to furnish replies to the points raised during the discussions on Saturday. The Lower House business advisory committee Tuesday has fixed Saturday as the date for tabling of the no-confidence motion. Discussions on the motion will continue Thursday and Friday.
On Tuesday NC parliamentary party leader Sher Bahadur Deuba started deliberations on the motion after Speaker Ramchandra Paudel gave the permission to do so.
The permission came after more than an hour of acrimonious debate between the treasury bench and the opposition. Minutes after the session got underway at 5:02 PM, it soon became clear that the ruling UML was intent on causing as much filibuster as possible before giving way for the tabling of the motion.
UML MPs raised objections to whatever was said by opposition MPs and even the Speaker. At one point, UMLs Raghu Pant (PMs press advisor) and NCs Ram Sharan Mahat (former NPC vice-chairman) got into a verbal spat over technicalities, with both of them pointing accusing fingers at each other.
The UMLs game plan was evident from the start when its lawmakers dwelt at length on the Supreme Court verdict, which they said, overstepped the boundaries of the constitution. Firing the first salvo, UML whip Rajendra Pandey said the verdict had contradicted the precedence set by the Court itself during last years Court case. This verdict has also infringed on the sovereignity of the Nepalese people.
However the opposition bench objected to the ruling partys mudlsinging at the Court. Our constitution forbids the discussion of a court case which is still subjudice, RPPs Kamal Thapa said, drawing attention to the UMLs raising the subject of how the Court had finally accepted their writ petition to consider the rejection of an earlier writ asking the Court to rule the present session as unconstitutional.
After an hour of such debate, Speaker Paudel finally moved the proceedings by allowing UMLs chief whip Devi Prasad Ojha to table a motion wishing speedy recovery to the prime minister and all others injured in last months helicopter crash.
The motion was seconded by NC whip Chiranjeebi Wagle and was duly declared passed unanimously. After that it was the turn of Deuba to move the no-confidence motion. Explaining the reason for calling the special session Deuba said, we decided to call the special session after the government started functioning increasingly like a totalitarian regime.
The government encouraged extraconstitutional power centres, recruited their activists in administration and government institutions and derailed the nations economy, he added.
Deubas accusations were replied to by UMLs Jhalnath Khanal, after whom it was the turn of NCs Chiranjeebi Wagle, RPPs Surya Bahadur Thapa, NSPs Gajendra Narayan Singh and Nepal Workers and Peasants Partys Narayan Man Bijukchhe.
Earlier, Speaker Paudel welcomed all parliamentarians to the House. He also welcomed the Supreme Courts verdict that reinstated parliament by overturning its dissolution announced by His Majesty on June 13, three days before the special session was originally scheduled to meet.
The next sitting of the Special session is slated for Thursday. Meanwhile, thousands of UML supporters gathered outside Singha Durbar to protest the comencement of the special session. Heavy police deployment prevented any major outbreak of violence.
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A Day That Made History
By a Post Reporter
KATHMANDU - The time is 4:30 PM Tuesday. Scores of curious onlookers who somehow managed to get inside Singha Durbar can be seen mingling among security personnel outside the gates of the parliament.
People are talking and joking with each other in hushed tones, but above all, they are waiting for history to be made inside the House which is about to sit after eighty eight days lull.
Meanwhile, legislators of all the opposition parties are lining up outside the main entrance to the cavernous hall of the House of Representatives. They file in one by one after a cursory security check by parliamentary marshalls. At 4:45 PM, ruling party MPs line up at the entrance and go through the same process.
A host of media photographers and television cameramen are busy clicking and shooting the scene outside the imposing Lower House building. The air is filled with excitement.
The clock strikes 5 PM,. and keeping with parliamentary tradition, a marshall shouts at the top of his voice to inform the House - whose members have by now taken their seats - of the arrival of Speaker Ram Chandra Paudel.
At 5:01 PM, all the MPs stand up and the Speaker walks in behind a replica of the Royal Crown carried by one of the marshalls who places it on the Royal throne overlooking the large hall.
Immediately thereafter, Speaker Paudel takes his seat and announces the commencement of the special session of the House of Representatives. The time is 5:02 PM. One more page is written in the history of the nations parliament.
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Kathmandu Fest Hit By Unrest
By a Post Reporter
KATHMANDU - The first consumer fair, the Kathmandu festival has been hit by political turmoil. Fifteen Indian stalls failed to show up at the fair that got under way here Tuesday, the organizers said. Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi participations have also been affected.
However, sixteen stalls each from Pakistan and India have registered themselves. Consumer items ranging from food stuffs to machinery parts are on sale in the fair that is being held at Bhrikutimandap.
About 120 stalls have been opened by Nepal, India and Pakistan at the Kathmandu festival.
Readymade garments, decoration items, furnitures, herbal medicines, honey, toys, juice, watches, sarees, suiting and shirting materials, food items and books are on display and sale at the festival.
Other attractions at the festival are Hindi and Nepali feature films, cultural programmes, fashion shows and food festival.
In order to lower the impact of political unrest, the movies and cultural shows are being shown free of cost, said Bhaskar Rajkarnikar, the exhibitions managing director.
The vice-chairman of the Nepal-Pakistan Friendship and Cultural Association Abbas Muraj isnt unduly worried by the unrest, a common Third World phenomenon.
The Minister for Commerce, Industries and Tourism, Bhim Rawal admitted that the unrest had affected the financial activities. We will do our best to bring in stability, he added.
Abbas said that Pakistan considers, Nepal a good market for its products. All of South Asia and China will soon have good business ties with us, he added.
Karnikar, the organizer said the government was getting increasingly involved in trade fairs. The government has made our life much easier by exempting tax on foreign stalls.
Karnikar hopes to get 50,000 Nepalis to the fair this year. We will make the fair attractive for Indian tourists next year.
The Kathmandu festival is being organised with the cooperation of Kathmandu municipality, His Majestys Government, Nepal Film Development Company, Pakistan-Nepal friendship and cultural association and international trade and exhibition management service of Pakistan.
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Mob Threatens Kantipur Journalists
By a Post Reporter
KATHMANDU - An angry UML mob stopped Kantipur journalists from entering the parliament Tuesday. A police officer standing nearby refused to assist the journalists from the perilous situation.
Kishore Nepal, the coordinator of the publications reporting bureau, and senior reporter Taranath Dahal were not allowed beyond the Maitighar crossroads by UML activists. Several other journalists were also stopped at Maitighar. Both however managed to escape unhurt from the agitated crowd who shouted Bash them, Bash them (Thok, Thok).
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September 11
House Votes Out Communist Govt
By a Post Reporter
KATHMANDU - By a tally of 107 to 88, parliament on Sunday voted out the nations first elected communist government, bringing the nine month tenure of Prime Minister Manmohan Adhikari to an abrupt halt.
When the motion of no-confidence came up for voting, the Nepali Congress (with 82 seats), Rastriya Prajatantra Party (19), and Nepal Sadbhavana Party voted as a block in favour of the motion, striking a death blow to Adhikaris minority government.
They were supported by three independent lawmakers who recently joined the NC and also by an independent MP Jyotendra Mohan Chaudhary, and MP Hridayesh Tripathi who remains suspended from the NSP.
Three lawmakers of the Nepal Peasants and Workers Party led by Narayan Man Bijukchhe abstained from the vote. However, two legislators of the extreme left Mashal party voted against the motion. Conspicuously absent from the House were UML deputy general secretary Bam Dev Gautam and another ruling party MP.
Prime Minister Adhikari who is recuperating at Teaching Hospital from last months helicopter crash could not come in the House. Speaker Ram Chandra Paudel who belongs to the NC did not cast his vote because the Speaker can vote only to break a tie.
The long awaited and expected results of the vote puts the ball in the NCs court which is once again poised for power with the help of its smaller allies.
The NC is awaiting King Birendra to call them anytime to form a coalition government to be cobbled together with RPP and NSP. NCs parliamentary leader Sher Bahadur Deuba is expected to lead the new government.
Talking to newsmen soon after the vote Deuba said the new coalition cabinet could be announced by Monday morning at the earliest.
Asked what would be the priorities of the new government, Deuba replied, The priority will be to bring Nepal back to fiscal discipline.
Pressed if that meant rolling back UMLs flagship programme, Build Your Village Yourself, he categorically said, No.
Adhikaris Reply
After days of acromonious bickering Adhikari finally got to defend himself in parliament just before the vote, airing his views on television which had been recorded from his hospital bed in the morning.
A frail looking Adhikari, in halting voice, put up a last minute defense of his governments performance and urged the opposition to reconsider the motion.
Prime Minister Adhikari said that all the allegations made in the vote of no-confidence motion against him were baseless, ill intentioned and prejudiced.
Adhikari said it is ridiculous that those who have the habit of running an authoritarian system and trying to impose totalitarinism under the pretext of democracy should teach us how to follow a democratic conduct and how to work for the welfare of the people.
Stating that whatever the CPN-UML government did after coming to power had been done sincerely for the welfare of the country and the people, Adhikari said that nine months time was not sufficient to fulfil all the aspirations of the people and to consolidate democracy since it normally takes nine months to build an ordinary house and to give birth to child.
The prime minister said that there was enough grounds for the CPN-UML government to be proud of the works done by it in the past nine months despite the limitations imposed by the budget presented by the Nepali Congress government through an ordinance.
Adhikari said it is meaningless for the opposition parties who have threatened to use machine guns and made public speeches against the institutions of crown to accuse the CPN-UML of deviating from the path of the constitution, the parliamentary system and healthy political competition.
The tendency of the opposition parties not to lag behind in forging an unholy alliance for grabbing power might serve as an obstacle to healthy development of the countrys politics, he said.
Sher Bahadur Deuba, who moved the motion, refused to reconsider the motion and Speaker Paudel finally put the motion through the vote.
PM Adhikaris attempt to derail the special session last June by dissolving parliament was struck down by the Supreme Court and the 74 year old Adhikari had no choice but to face the no-confidence vote.
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Reactions
After the expected results, UML MP and Adhikaris press advisor Raghu Pant told The Kathmandu Post, We accept the democratic process. But if the new government cannot function smoothly, we are always there (to stage a comeback).
But opposition lawmakers were more than happy with the outcome. Its been a peaceful transition. In the present situation that is required. And we hope the future government will show tolerance, RPPs Pashupati SJB Rana said.
The partys top leader Surya Bahadur Thapa, who incidentally is the first PM to be voted out from power, said, We are confident the coalition government will rule for the remaining period.
In 1983, Thapa, then PM in the Panchayat system, was defeated in a no-confidence motion.
With the NC back in power, there is likely to be an intense effort to revive Arun-III, the mega hydroelectric project which was derailed last month by the World Bank.
NCs Ram Sharan Mahat, who is widely touted to head the Finance Ministry in the coalition said, We will try to bring back the project. I am very much hopeful, but not very confident that we will succeed since the World Bank has already taken a decision.
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PMresigns
By a Post Reporter
KATHMANDU - Prime Minister Manmohan Adhikari Sunday evening tendered his resignation to His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev following his communist partys loss of no-confidence motion in the parliament, Radio Nepal announced.
His Majesty accepted Adhikaris resignation and asked him to continue in office until a new government could be formed, the radio said quoting a Royal Palace press communique.
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Coalition Govt Will Survive Full Term
By a Post Reporter
KATHMANDU - Amid speculations over the coalition government-to-be, the former prime minister G P Koirala said the three-party government will survive its full term.
Talking to journalists after the no-confidence vote Sunday, the Nepali Congress leader ruled out the possibility of history repeating itself. He dismissed queries that indicated whether coalition government would survive while a majority government failed last year. Thats history. We have learned a lot from the history.
The coalition government will strengthen democracy and bring out programmes to boost the living standard of the poor, he said.
Surya Bahadur Thapa, the RPP chairman said his party would make an all-out efforts to strengthen the coalition The coalition will not do anything that will destabilize the people. We will be engaged in boosting democracy, constitution and the monarchy, said Thapa.
The UML Upper House member Mohanchandra Adhikari, however, was guarded in his reaction. If the future government becomes stable and carries out development activities well, it will be a great news for the nation, he said adding, But if the coalition gets bogged down in internal wrangling, it wont be good for the country. The role of other three parties is equally important as that of the UML in the consolidation of democracy. If the parties are mutually tolerant the peoples aspirations will be fulfilled.
The RPP General Secretary Prakash Chandra Lohani said the upholding of the no-confidence vote is the victory for democracy and not anyones win or defeat.
The coalition government will function smoothly since the Nepali Congress and the RPP have decided to work together, said Lohani.
Damannath Dhungana, the former Speaker of the House hailed Sundays vote as a three-fold victory. The Court verdict has established the ability of the House. There has been an exercise on vote of no-confidence and ultimately it has succeeded in bringing together those who had refused to abide by the parliamentary rule. This is a victory for democracy-three cheers for democracy ! hailed Dhungana.
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September 12
HM Appoints Deuba New Prime Minister Economic, Political Stability To Be New Govts Priority
By a Post Reporter
KATHMANDU - His Majesty King Birendra appointed Sher Bahadur Deuba as the Prime Minister of Nepal on Monday.
The King appointed Deuba as the prime minister in accordance with article 42 (1) of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal-1990.
Talking to the press on Monday, Deuba said the priority of his government would be to establish political stability and economic order.
Asked about the size of the cabinet he said, You will know about this only by tomorrow.
Deuba earlier made a submission to His Majesty establishing his ability to command the confidence of a majority of the House members with the support of 106 members.
Deuba, one of the prominent young generation NC leaders, heads a three-party coalition government comprising Nepali Congress (NC), Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP).
The coalition voted out the nations first elected communist government Sunday by a tally of 107 to 88 in the parliament.
Deuba was born in June 1946 in Dadheldhura district.
He came to Kathmandu for his college education in 1965 and became chairman of the far-western students committee in Kathmandu.
He was in prison for nine years at different times during 1966 to 1985 due to his involvement in politics.
In 1970, he, with a few friends, founded the Nepal Students Union, the student wing of the Nepali Congress party.
He played an important role in promoting multi-party democracy in Nepal during the National Referendum in 1980.
He was elected to the House of Representatives on a Nepali Congress ticket in the 1991 general election and became the Home Minister in the NC government formed under the leadership of Girija Prasad Koirala.
After the mid-term election in last November, Deuba was elected the parliamentary party leader of the Nepali Congress.
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Coalition Pledges Mutual Accord On National Issues
By a Post Reporter
KATHMANDU - The Nepali Congress, Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Nepal Sadbhavana Party on Monday issued a joint policy statement, declaring that they have agreed to form a coalition government to work for national welfare on the basis of mutual understanding.
The statement signed by the respective parliamentary party chiefs of the three parties, Sher Bahadur Deuba, Lokendra Bahadur Chand and Gajendra Narayan Singh, said they would work for balanced foreign policy and maintain national harmony through equal opportunity to all citizens. We respect the achievements of the 1990 popular movement and our commitment to multi party democracy, constitutional monarchy, parliamentary system and independent judiciary will remain unflinching, the statement said.
Criticizing the communist party government for working in contravention with constitution and parliamentary norms, the statement said the coalition government would give due prominence to the voice of the opposition.
Human rights, human values and individual freedom will be kept unrestrained. Government media will be developed as national-level communications media and efforts will be made for their autonomy and impartiality, the statement said. It said the coalition cabinet will remain committed to the dignity and freedom of the press.
Slamming the UML governments financial policy as indisciplined and irresponsible, the coalition partners said they would strive to heal the wounds of the economy. They said market economy and private sector would be promoted and poverty alleviation be given top priority.
On the water resource front, the three parties have agreed to expedite bilateral, regional as well as multilateral cooperation.
Besides, programmes will be launched to provide citizenship certificates to all Nepalese without inconvenience, and uplift the living standard of underprivileged sections of the society, including those from the Terai region.
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Cabinet Expanded
By a Post Reporter
kathmandu, Dec 13 - His Majesty the King has in accordance with the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990 and on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, appointed additional ministers, one minister of state and assistant ministers to the council of ministers constituted on Sept 12 under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and expanded on Sept 22.
His Majesty has also allocated portfolios to the new ministers, one minister of state, and assistant ministers as follows retaining Royal Palace affairs and defence in the Prime Ministers portfolio.
Ministers Portfolio
Lila Koirala Women and Social Welfare
Bal Bahadur KC Youth, Sports and Culture
Bimalendra Nidhi General Administration
Prakash Man Singh Population and Environment
Nara Hari Acharya Parliamentary affairs
State Minister
Sarad Singh Bhandari Without Portfolio
Assistant Ministers
Chin Kaji Shrestha Finance
Gopalji Jung Shah Industry
Hasta Bahadur Malla Education
Dipak Banskota Home
Ganesh Bahadur Khadka Works and Transport
Chhabi Prasad Devkota Population and Environment
Duryodhan Choudhari Women and Social Welfare
Ram Chandra Kusabaha Information and Communications
Suresh Chandra Das Yadav Health
Min Bahadur Khatri Forest and Soil Conservation
Palten Gurung Youth Sports and Culture
Jyotendra Mohan Choudhary Labour
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Deuba Now Heads Largest Ever Cabinet
By Suman Pradhan
KATHMANDU, Dec 13 - In a long anticipated move designed to silence his critics within the Nepali Congress, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba expanded the council of ministers Wednesday by 18 new members taking the total to 44.
But the sheer size of the council of ministers have raised more eyebrows than he perhaps expected. Deuba now has the distinction of heading the largest ever council of ministers assembled in the nations history.
Though primarily intended to put an end to criticisms from disgruntled party colleagues, and by implication to also strengthen the three-party coalition government he leads, Deubas latest move flies straight in the face of fiscal belt tightening he espoused when assuming power in early September.
Critics point out the new addition is likely to cost a whopping sum to the national exchequer in ministers salaries and benefits.
The new additions include five cabinet rank ministers, all from Deubas Nepali Congress party, one minister of state and 12 assistant ministers. The nation now has 25 full ministers, two ministers of state and 17 assistant ministers.
Ever since Deuba expanded the cabinet for the first time from an initial five members to 26 on September 22, speculation had been rife about further additions. The prime minister had clung to seven vital portfolios, five of which he relinquished this time, holding only onto the traditional portfolios of Royal Palace Affairs and Defence.
But the new expansion that was announced Wednesday surprised many political pundits by its sheer size, and some unexpected portfolio divisions.
The new Minister for Population and Environment, Prakash Man Singh, had long been rumoured to receive the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. That portfolio went instead to Bal Bahadur KC.
Singhs cabinet berth was virtually confirmed last month after he was picked for a seat in the Upper House which he eventually contested and won. He had been defeated to the House of Representatives by former prime minister Manmohan Adhikari in last years general elections. The constitution mandates that a minister be a member of either the Upper or Lower House of parliament.
However, the ministry Singh has been given is not considered as high profile as KCs, for the fact that the Youth, Sports and Culture minister has to wield enormous influence among the younger generation.
Among other notable additions is the inclusion of Mrs Lila Koirala to head the Ministry for Women and Social Welfare. Her appointment was a foregone conclusion, since it was already accepted that a woman would head the ministry. She also is the first and only woman member in Deubas cabinet.
Sarad Singh Bhandari, Palten Gurung and Jyotendra Mohan Chaudhari, three lawmakers who had contested elections as independents but later re-entered the NC, have also been included. Observers say, they have been rewarded for their allegiance to the Nepali Congress, the party they left to contest the elections last year in the aftermath of the conspiracy controversy.
A notable feature of the expansion is the inclusion of relatives of powerful party bosses in the council of ministers. Mrs Koirala is the sister-in-law of NC heavyweight and former PM Girija Prasad Koirala. Singh is the son of NC Supremo Ganesh Man Singh and Nidhi is the son of NC general-secretary Mahendra Narayan Nidhi.
The latest expansion gives the NC the lions share of portfolios. It has 30 members in the council of ministers. The Rashtriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has 13 and the Nepal Sadbhavna Party has 1.
NC insiders say the reason for the RPP and NSP not being represented in the latest expansion is for the fact that both the parties had already exhausted the quotas provided to them under an elaborate portfolio sharing arrangement worked out in September.
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Return to ASNIC
Elongated along the Himalayas, Nepal is a landlocked country with a total land area of 147,181 sq.km.. (56,136 sq.mi.). The country is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the North and the Republic of India to the South, East and West. Its topography varies from the high snow-clad peaks and the mid mountain region with fertile valleys to the southern plains known as Terai. So is the climate ranging from the alpine in the north to hot and humid in the southern plains.
World's highest peak Mt. Sagarmatha (Everest), 8,848 meters (29028 ft.) lies in Nepal. Its capital, Kathmandu, is a valley with pleasant climate. The main rainy season is during the monsoon period (June to September) with rainfall of over 56 inches a year.
The geography of Nepal is blessed with a number of small and large rivers. Three main river systems - Kosi, Gandaki and Karnali originate in the Himalayas, flow southward and empty into the Ganges. Nepal has been a habitat of different rare species of flora and fauna. In order to protect the fragile eco-system, Nepal has set up thirteen national parks and wildlife reserves in different parts of the country.
PEOPLE
Nepal's population in 1991 was 18.4 million with a growth rate of 2.1 percent per annum. Well over half of the population live in the hills and the rest live in the southern lowlands. Rate of literacy is 39 percent. Lingua franca is the Nepali language The people of Nepal share a bond of comrnon aspirations and faith in the independence and integrity of nation irrespective of religion, race, caste or tribe.
FLAG AND NATIONAL EMBLEMS
The national flag of Nepal consists of two juxtaposed triangular figures with crimson coloured base and deep blue borders, there being a white emblem of crescent moon and a white emblem of sun in the lower part. Rhododendron Arboream is the national flower, Crimson is the national colour, Cow is the national animal and the Danphe (Lophophorus) is the national bird.
HISTORY
Throughout ages, Nepal has preserved its national identity and independence. It has never been under any foreign rule. Ancient Nepal was composed of many small autonomous principalities. Prithvi Narayan Shah unified Nepal in the present form in 1768. Kathmandu has been made the capital since then. After the 1814-1816 Anglo-Nepali war, the Mechi and Mahakali rivers became the eastern and western borders of the country. In 1846, Jung Bahadur Rana consolidated his powers as a Prime Minister. His family became hereditary prime ministers and ruled the country till 1950. Organized resistance against the Ranarchy began after the end of World War I. In 1940, four Nepalese youths were hanged to death for anti-Rana activities. This gained momentum after World War II. A popular revolution engineered by Shri B.P. Koirala overthrew the Rana Oligarchy in February 1951 culminating in a first experiment in democracy. King Tribhuvan promised Constituent Assembly Elections but could fulfill. After an arduous struggle by the people, first General Elections were held under multi-party system in February 1959. The Nepali Congress party won two thirds majority in the Lower House of the Parliament, making B.P. Koirala the first ever elected Prime Minister of Nepal. King Mahendra could not tolerate the democratic system of governance of the popularly elected government. Ultimately, the King staged a coup in December 1960, banned all political activities and imprisoned the Prime Minister and his comrades without trial till 1968. In January 1972, King Birendra ascended the throne and continued to remain the sole source of authority and exercised the broad powers over ;he country. The Palace preferred direct rule with iron hand but the people waged a relentless struggle even taking to arms sometimes. During 29-year long continuous struggle, thousands of multi-party enthusiasts suffered unspeakable pains. Hundreds were maimed, mutilated and martyred. B.P. Koirala passed away in 1982. Other weather-beaten leaders like Ganesh Man Singh, K.P. Bhattarai, Girija Prasad Koirala carried on the struggle as shown by the late Koirala. In the beginning of 1990 the Nepalese communists led by Man Mohan Adhikary collaborated with the Nepali Congress led peaceful movement for the restoration of multi-party democracy launched on the historic democracy day of Falgun 7 (February 18). People came on to the streets braving batons and bullets. With the loss of a great many precious lives, they won the political freedom, which is very dear to their heart. Capital punishment is now abolished.
POLITICAL SYSTEM AND GOVERNMENT
With partyless Panchayat System gone in 1990, Nepal adopted a new Constitution of Nepal with the restoration of multiparty democracy with constitutional monarchy. According to the Constitution of Nepal 1990, the sovereignty of Nepal is vested in the Nepalese people. It also guarantees full fundamental rights with human dignity. The Judiciary is independent. Under the new Constitution, the General Elections based on adult suffrage were held in a free and fair manner on May 12, 1991, after 32 years. Voting age was lowered to 18. The Nepali Congress Party won a clear majority in the House of Representatives and formed the government on May 29, 1991 under the Prime Ministership of Mr. Girija Prasad Koirala. The Koirala Government was pulled down by 36 ruling party deputies in July 1994. Fresh elections were held on 15 November 1994. Nepal Communist Party (United Marxist Leninist) became the larger party with 88 seats in the 205-member House of representatives and formed the Government on 30 November, making its President Man Mohan Adhikary, Prime Minister of Nepal.
PARLIAMENT
According to the Constitution of Nepal 1990, the Nepalese Legislature consists of His Majesty the King and two Houses of Parliament namely the House of Representatives and the National Council. The Lower House has 205 elected members for five year term. In the election to the Lower House, at least five percent of the contestants from every political party must be women. The National Council has 60 members for six-year term out of which 35 members including at least 3 women members are elected by the house of Representatives, 15 members are elected by local bodies and 10 members are nominated by His Majesty the King. The National Council is a permanent body with one third of its members retiring every two years. The Parliament is functioning smoothly.
JUDICIARY
The Courts in the country comprise three tiers:
a. Supreme Court (Apex Court)
b. Appellate Courts
c. District Courts
The orders and decision made in the course of hearing of a suit by the court shall be binding on all. Any interpretation to a law or any legal principal laid down by the Supreme Court in the course of hearing of a suit shall be binding on His Majesty's Government and all other courts and offices.
ECONOMY
Nepal's modern era began in 1951. Modern amenities of education, health care, communications, power and industry were non existent at that time. Economic structure was based on subsistence agriculture. Foundations for economic growth were laid with the external assistance mainly from India, the United States, China and Russia. Per capita income has reached $ 202. Immediately after forming the government, Mr. Koirala formulated Nepal's Eighth Plan which defines our economic philosophy, and launched a programme of wide ranging economic reforms which includes amongst others, full convertibility of Nepalese Rupee, industrial deregulation, privatization and reforms in pricing of public utilities in order to make our economy dynamic and growth oriented. So far, the results have been very positive. Nepal's exports - woolen rugs, ready made garments, pulses, oilseeds and handicrafts, in the last two years have almost doubled. Industrial investment has increased significantly. New financial institutions are coming up. Private investment is attracted towards even hydropower generation. Foreign Exchange Reserve is now at $ 786 million, an all time high, adequate to cover imports for next 11 months. The inflation rate has been contained to a single digit.
Mineral surveys are still going on and the rugged terrain makes exploitation very difficult. Limestone, magnesite and mica are being exploited to some extent.
Energy plays an important role in the economic development of a country. The rate of energy consumption is often viewed as a key index of development. Despite an abundance of rivers and rivulets, hydropower availability is also becoming a problem. Adverse monsoon conditions often creates situation of load shedding. The proposed Arun III project with ultimate generating capacity of 402 MW will be the country's biggest hydel plant. The consumption of petroleum products, electricity and coal is largely confined to the urban and semi-urban areas. This has led to greater pressures on the depletion of forest resources in rural areas and has precipitated ecological imbalances.
Nepal has started promoting private sector to set up mini hydel plants. The program has been quite effective in rural electrification and lessening pressure on forests.
Transport and communication has their own significance in a mountainous country like ours. It is a prerequisite for economic prosperity, especially if the fruits of development are to filter down to the masses. Rajmarg is the only national road network that links the eastern and western borders of Nepal. It was initiated in 1963 and as of now, with the completion of Karnali bridge is considered complete.
Radio Nepal services can now be received on short wave frequencies in every region of the country. To ensure further reliability in broadcasts, medium wave transmitters with 100 KW capacity are set up in Dharan, Kathmandu, Pokhara and Surkhet. Similarly, medium wave transmitters with 10 KW capacity have been established in Gauri Danda (Mahottari) and Dipayal.
A healthy, skillful and educated population is another prerequisite for economic development of the country. Education plays an important role in the development of a nation. With unnecessary hurdles in higher education gone, medical college hospitals have started with popular participation in Dharan, Bharatpur, Pokhara, Dang and Nepalgunj, also outside Kathmandu. Similarly, engineering colleges have begun with local initiatives. A new university is opened under private management at Banepa-Dhulikhel. This university is expected to become a centre of excellence.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
Preserving national sovereignty and territorial integrity and enabling the Nepalese people to exercise their freedom to the fullest extent and to enjoy a decent standard of life are at the core of Nepal's foreign policy. The elements of Nepal's foreign policy are determined by geo-political realities, strict adherence to the principle and Charter of the United Nations, Nonalignment, five principles of co-existence and promotion of human rights and international cooperation for the greater good of mankind. We cherish the best relationship with our contiguous neighbours - India and China. Nepal is an active and committed member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.
Nepal's commitment to the principles and Charter of the United Nations is unflinching and total. The Royal Nepalese Army has served with distinction in UN Peacekeeping missions. Besides peacekeeping operations, Nepal has responded to the UN calls like maintaining civil order, humanitarian relief and election observation. Kathmandu is gaining an importance as a regional centre. In the last two years, three UN agencies have set up their regional offices in Nepal. The only problem is with regard to the Bhutanese refugees.
NEPAL - U.S. RELATIONS
Nepal-U.S. Relations were formally established in 1947. Nepalese Embassy was opened in Washington DC in 1958. American Embassy was opened in Kathmandu in 1959. His Majesty King Birendra made a state visit to the United States in December 1983. President Jimmy Carter had been to Kathmandu on a private visit in June 1985. Former Nepali Congress Supremo Ganesh Man Singh visited the United States and met with President George Bush on December 18, 1990. During the last four decades, the United States has not only contributed nearly S 500 million to Nepal's development but has now taken keen interest in the consolidation of nascent democracy.
TRAVEL TIPS
Tourist Visas: American tourists are most welcome in Nepal. They constitute more than seven percent of our total tourists arrival. US $ 15 has been fixed as the fee for tourist visa with 15 days validity and US $ 25 for that with 30 days validity, which can be obtained at any Nepalese Embassy or Consulate or Kathmandu Airport or any entry point on arrival. Longer visa extensions will be available for up to 150 days for one dollar per day.
Trekking Permits: A trekking permit is required to visit Nepal's interior, i.e., any place not linked by major roads. To obtain a trekking permit one must apply to the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu or Pokhara.
Climate and Clothing: Summer clothing may be worn March through October. In winter, light woolen will suffice.
Health: No immunization is required for entry.
How to Get There: Royal Nepal Airlines operates international flights to Calcutta, New Delhi, Bombay, Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Frankfurt, Paris and London. This apart, Lufthansa, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Aeroflot, Indian Airlines, Pakistan Airlines and Bangladesh Biman serve Kathmandu.
Telecommunications: International telephone, telex and fax services are easily available from places of touristic interest and hotels.
Currency Exchange Rate: A US $ is equivalent to Nepali Rupees 49/87 paisa.
WHO IS WHO?
Head of State: His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev
Head of Government: Prime Minister Man Mohan Adhikary
Chief Justice: Biswa Nath Upadhyay
Speaker of the House of Representatives: Ram Chandra Poudel
Chairman of the National Council: Beni Bahadur Karki
CABINET MINISTERS
1. Man Mohan Adhikary - Prime Minister and Royal Palace.
2. Madhav Kumar Nepal - Deputy Prime Minister, Defence and Foreign Affairs.
3.Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli - Home.
4. Chandra Prakash Mainali - Local. Development and Supply.
5. Bharat Mohan Adhikary - Finance.
6. Radha Krishna Mainali - Agriculture, Land Reforms and Management.
7. Modnath Prashit - Education, Culture and Social Welfare.
8. Pradip Kumar Nepal - Information and Communications.
9. Padma Ratna Tuladhar - Labour and Health.
MINISTERS OF STATE
10. Ashok Kumar Rai - Works and Transport.
11. Salim Miya Ansari - Forest and Soil Conservation.
12. Prem Singh Dhami - Housing and Physical Planning.
13. Subhas Chandra Nembang - Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and General Administration.
14. Bhim Bahadur Rawal - Commerce, and Tourism and Civil Aviation.
15. Hari Prasad Pandey - Industry and Water Resources.
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The above Information was kindly provided by the Royal Nepalese Embassy in Washington D.C.
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Change in Government
In September 1995, the Government headed by Prime Minister Man Mohan Adhikary - faced a vote of no confidence, and on September 12 a Coalition Government was formed led by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. The following is an abstract from Kathmand u Post, Kantipur Publications Pvt. Ltd., Nepal & Mercantile Communications Pvt. Ltd., Nepal that keeps the details of the political change in Nepal, and brings the news to US with the assistance of Rajendra Shrestha.
September 1, 1995
KATHMANDU - The Parliamentary Party meeting of the ruling Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist), Thursday, has demanded postponement of the special session of the parliament.
His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev has already summoned the special session of the House of Representatives on September 5 after the Supreme Court ordered its reinstatement. The meeting, presided over by Home Minister K P Sharma Oli in absence of Prime Minister Manmohan Adhikari, decided to request the Speaker to postpone the session due to the Premiers health. Doctors have asked PM Adhikari to rest for another three weeks. PM Adhikari has also requested His Majesty the King and the Speaker to postpone the session. As the expected no-confidence motion will be introduced against the PM, it is necessary that he be present to face it, said Devi Prasad Ojha, addressing journalists after the meeting. The meeting also passed a resolution wishing speedy recovery of PM Adhikari and others, injured in the recent chopper crash. Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister and General Secretary of the party Madhav Kumar Nepal, addressing the parliamentarians, shed light on the present political scenario. Chief Whip of the parliamentary party Ojha refused to take responsibility for the slogans chanted by party workers on the street. But as people are the source of the constitution and the sovereignty lies on them, they obviously can protest any mistakes made by any judiciary, executive or legislative bodies, he said. Though the party has not officially taken the responsibility, the protesters in Thursdays rally chanted slogan like Hang Biswonath (Upadhyaya), the Chief Justice. The concerned authorities should seriously think about checking these slogans as well as the drawbacks and mistakes of the Supreme Court, said Jhalanath Khanal, a politburo member. When asked about the possibilities of mass resignation of the MPs if the session is not postponed, Ojha said, We do not want to leave the field open by resigning. The parliamentary party of the CPN (UML) is scheduled to meet again on Friday. After silence, UML fury grips the Valley KATHMANDU - First came silence, then the sound, and now the fury. Barely two days after the Supreme Court handed its land mark judgement, the Valley was gripped Thursday by the fury of yet another bandh, this time called ironically by none other than the ruling CPN-UMLs sister organisations. It started with the silence though, like the lull before a storm. It took 24 hours for the government to come up with a reaction in the aftermath of the SC verdict. But when it came, the disappointment and the implied anger contained in the Prime Ministers statement baffled and puzzled many. Perhaps for the first time in the nations history, the executive was refuting the judgement meted out by the judiciary. And again for the first time, organisations affiliated with the ruling party were openly calling for the blood of SC justices for daring to hand out an adverse verdict. That bit of theatrics may have squandered away some of the goodwill earned by the government, even among its supporters. Says Pankaj Sharma, a die-hard UML supporter, yes, I was shocked by the verdict. But I am even more shocked by the Prime Ministers statement. UML should pull its act together and stop behaving like a spoiled kid whose toys have just been snatched. The Prime Minister and the governing UMLs official reactions have predictably also invited scathing criticism from opposition parties. However, as the dust settles over the controversy surrounding the SC judgement, all eyes are now focussing towards the special parliamentary session called to convene Monday evening next week. The special session of the House of Representatives is being convened to take up the Nepali Congress sponsored no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Manmohan Adhikari. It was the fear of facing this special session which led Adhikari to advise King Birendra to dissolve parliament in June, an advice which was termed unconstitutional Monday by the Supreme Court. So far there are no indications which suggest the Prime Minister could successfully weather the no-confidence vote. Having decided to face the motion rather than opt for a quiet retreat (by resigning), Adhikari is headed to be only the second Prime Minister to be ousted through a no-confidence motion. The first was Panchayat era prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa in 1983, who is now the leader of RPP, the third largest party in parliament with 19 seats. The tactical alliance forged by NC (82 seats), RPP, Nepal Sadbhavana Party (2) and a handful of independent lawmakers in the wake of Adhikaris gamble in June gives the coalition a comfortable majority to push the no-confidence motion through parliament. RPP, which holds the balance of power in the House is striving to make the most of it - sources within both NC and RPP say, the party is asking for, and probably getting, at least five high profile ministries in the coalition cabinet to be led by NCs Sher Bahadur Deuba. NSP is slated to recieve one ministerial berth. Meanwhile, a feeler sent by UML to RPP on the possibility of the latter putting up a government with the outside support of the former has been rejected by RPP leaders. Party sources said, RPP is firm in its earlier commitments to NC to join together in a coalition government.
House Starts Deliberation On No-Confidence Motion
By a Post Reporter
KATHMANDU - Amid protests on the streets and applause inside, a victorious parliament sat for its special session Tuesday - a session which had nearly wiped out the existence of the House of Representatives last June. Barely a week after the nations highest court infused new life into parliament, the Lower House finally met for its long awaited special session to move a vote of no-confidence against Prime Minister Manmohan Adhikari.
Barring the prime minister, all the members of parliament were present during the opening session Tuesday. PM Adhikari is still recuperating from injuries sustained in last months helicopter crash.
On the opening day, the opposition coalition comprising of the Nepali Congress, Rashtriya Prajatantra Party and Nepal Sadbhavana Party finally got to deliberate on the no-confidence motion against Adhikari.
The PM is scheduled to furnish replies to the points raised during the discussions on Saturday. The Lower House business advisory committee Tuesday has fixed Saturday as the date for tabling of the no-confidence motion. Discussions on the motion will continue Thursday and Friday.
On Tuesday NC parliamentary party leader Sher Bahadur Deuba started deliberations on the motion after Speaker Ramchandra Paudel gave the permission to do so.
The permission came after more than an hour of acrimonious debate between the treasury bench and the opposition. Minutes after the session got underway at 5:02 PM, it soon became clear that the ruling UML was intent on causing as much filibuster as possible before giving way for the tabling of the motion.
UML MPs raised objections to whatever was said by opposition MPs and even the Speaker. At one point, UMLs Raghu Pant (PMs press advisor) and NCs Ram Sharan Mahat (former NPC vice-chairman) got into a verbal spat over technicalities, with both of them pointing accusing fingers at each other.
The UMLs game plan was evident from the start when its lawmakers dwelt at length on the Supreme Court verdict, which they said, overstepped the boundaries of the constitution. Firing the first salvo, UML whip Rajendra Pandey said the verdict had contradicted the precedence set by the Court itself during last years Court case. This verdict has also infringed on the sovereignity of the Nepalese people.
However the opposition bench objected to the ruling partys mudlsinging at the Court. Our constitution forbids the discussion of a court case which is still subjudice, RPPs Kamal Thapa said, drawing attention to the UMLs raising the subject of how the Court had finally accepted their writ petition to consider the rejection of an earlier writ asking the Court to rule the present session as unconstitutional.
After an hour of such debate, Speaker Paudel finally moved the proceedings by allowing UMLs chief whip Devi Prasad Ojha to table a motion wishing speedy recovery to the prime minister and all others injured in last months helicopter crash.
The motion was seconded by NC whip Chiranjeebi Wagle and was duly declared passed unanimously. After that it was the turn of Deuba to move the no-confidence motion. Explaining the reason for calling the special session Deuba said, we decided to call the special session after the government started functioning increasingly like a totalitarian regime.
The government encouraged extraconstitutional power centres, recruited their activists in administration and government institutions and derailed the nations economy, he added.
Deubas accusations were replied to by UMLs Jhalnath Khanal, after whom it was the turn of NCs Chiranjeebi Wagle, RPPs Surya Bahadur Thapa, NSPs Gajendra Narayan Singh and Nepal Workers and Peasants Partys Narayan Man Bijukchhe.
Earlier, Speaker Paudel welcomed all parliamentarians to the House. He also welcomed the Supreme Courts verdict that reinstated parliament by overturning its dissolution announced by His Majesty on June 13, three days before the special session was originally scheduled to meet.
The next sitting of the Special session is slated for Thursday. Meanwhile, thousands of UML supporters gathered outside Singha Durbar to protest the comencement of the special session. Heavy police deployment prevented any major outbreak of violence.
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A Day That Made History
By a Post Reporter
KATHMANDU - The time is 4:30 PM Tuesday. Scores of curious onlookers who somehow managed to get inside Singha Durbar can be seen mingling among security personnel outside the gates of the parliament.
People are talking and joking with each other in hushed tones, but above all, they are waiting for history to be made inside the House which is about to sit after eighty eight days lull.
Meanwhile, legislators of all the opposition parties are lining up outside the main entrance to the cavernous hall of the House of Representatives. They file in one by one after a cursory security check by parliamentary marshalls. At 4:45 PM, ruling party MPs line up at the entrance and go through the same process.
A host of media photographers and television cameramen are busy clicking and shooting the scene outside the imposing Lower House building. The air is filled with excitement.
The clock strikes 5 PM,. and keeping with parliamentary tradition, a marshall shouts at the top of his voice to inform the House - whose members have by now taken their seats - of the arrival of Speaker Ram Chandra Paudel.
At 5:01 PM, all the MPs stand up and the Speaker walks in behind a replica of the Royal Crown carried by one of the marshalls who places it on the Royal throne overlooking the large hall.
Immediately thereafter, Speaker Paudel takes his seat and announces the commencement of the special session of the House of Representatives. The time is 5:02 PM. One more page is written in the history of the nations parliament.
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Kathmandu Fest Hit By Unrest
By a Post Reporter
KATHMANDU - The first consumer fair, the Kathmandu festival has been hit by political turmoil. Fifteen Indian stalls failed to show up at the fair that got under way here Tuesday, the organizers said. Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi participations have also been affected.
However, sixteen stalls each from Pakistan and India have registered themselves. Consumer items ranging from food stuffs to machinery parts are on sale in the fair that is being held at Bhrikutimandap.
About 120 stalls have been opened by Nepal, India and Pakistan at the Kathmandu festival.
Readymade garments, decoration items, furnitures, herbal medicines, honey, toys, juice, watches, sarees, suiting and shirting materials, food items and books are on display and sale at the festival.
Other attractions at the festival are Hindi and Nepali feature films, cultural programmes, fashion shows and food festival.
In order to lower the impact of political unrest, the movies and cultural shows are being shown free of cost, said Bhaskar Rajkarnikar, the exhibitions managing director.
The vice-chairman of the Nepal-Pakistan Friendship and Cultural Association Abbas Muraj isnt unduly worried by the unrest, a common Third World phenomenon.
The Minister for Commerce, Industries and Tourism, Bhim Rawal admitted that the unrest had affected the financial activities. We will do our best to bring in stability, he added.
Abbas said that Pakistan considers, Nepal a good market for its products. All of South Asia and China will soon have good business ties with us, he added.
Karnikar, the organizer said the government was getting increasingly involved in trade fairs. The government has made our life much easier by exempting tax on foreign stalls.
Karnikar hopes to get 50,000 Nepalis to the fair this year. We will make the fair attractive for Indian tourists next year.
The Kathmandu festival is being organised with the cooperation of Kathmandu municipality, His Majestys Government, Nepal Film Development Company, Pakistan-Nepal friendship and cultural association and international trade and exhibition management service of Pakistan.
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Mob Threatens Kantipur Journalists
By a Post Reporter
KATHMANDU - An angry UML mob stopped Kantipur journalists from entering the parliament Tuesday. A police officer standing nearby refused to assist the journalists from the perilous situation.
Kishore Nepal, the coordinator of the publications reporting bureau, and senior reporter Taranath Dahal were not allowed beyond the Maitighar crossroads by UML activists. Several other journalists were also stopped at Maitighar. Both however managed to escape unhurt from the agitated crowd who shouted Bash them, Bash them (Thok, Thok).
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September 11
House Votes Out Communist Govt
By a Post Reporter
KATHMANDU - By a tally of 107 to 88, parliament on Sunday voted out the nations first elected communist government, bringing the nine month tenure of Prime Minister Manmohan Adhikari to an abrupt halt.
When the motion of no-confidence came up for voting, the Nepali Congress (with 82 seats), Rastriya Prajatantra Party (19), and Nepal Sadbhavana Party voted as a block in favour of the motion, striking a death blow to Adhikaris minority government.
They were supported by three independent lawmakers who recently joined the NC and also by an independent MP Jyotendra Mohan Chaudhary, and MP Hridayesh Tripathi who remains suspended from the NSP.
Three lawmakers of the Nepal Peasants and Workers Party led by Narayan Man Bijukchhe abstained from the vote. However, two legislators of the extreme left Mashal party voted against the motion. Conspicuously absent from the House were UML deputy general secretary Bam Dev Gautam and another ruling party MP.
Prime Minister Adhikari who is recuperating at Teaching Hospital from last months helicopter crash could not come in the House. Speaker Ram Chandra Paudel who belongs to the NC did not cast his vote because the Speaker can vote only to break a tie.
The long awaited and expected results of the vote puts the ball in the NCs court which is once again poised for power with the help of its smaller allies.
The NC is awaiting King Birendra to call them anytime to form a coalition government to be cobbled together with RPP and NSP. NCs parliamentary leader Sher Bahadur Deuba is expected to lead the new government.
Talking to newsmen soon after the vote Deuba said the new coalition cabinet could be announced by Monday morning at the earliest.
Asked what would be the priorities of the new government, Deuba replied, The priority will be to bring Nepal back to fiscal discipline.
Pressed if that meant rolling back UMLs flagship programme, Build Your Village Yourself, he categorically said, No.
Adhikaris Reply
After days of acromonious bickering Adhikari finally got to defend himself in parliament just before the vote, airing his views on television which had been recorded from his hospital bed in the morning.
A frail looking Adhikari, in halting voice, put up a last minute defense of his governments performance and urged the opposition to reconsider the motion.
Prime Minister Adhikari said that all the allegations made in the vote of no-confidence motion against him were baseless, ill intentioned and prejudiced.
Adhikari said it is ridiculous that those who have the habit of running an authoritarian system and trying to impose totalitarinism under the pretext of democracy should teach us how to follow a democratic conduct and how to work for the welfare of the people.
Stating that whatever the CPN-UML government did after coming to power had been done sincerely for the welfare of the country and the people, Adhikari said that nine months time was not sufficient to fulfil all the aspirations of the people and to consolidate democracy since it normally takes nine months to build an ordinary house and to give birth to child.
The prime minister said that there was enough grounds for the CPN-UML government to be proud of the works done by it in the past nine months despite the limitations imposed by the budget presented by the Nepali Congress government through an ordinance.
Adhikari said it is meaningless for the opposition parties who have threatened to use machine guns and made public speeches against the institutions of crown to accuse the CPN-UML of deviating from the path of the constitution, the parliamentary system and healthy political competition.
The tendency of the opposition parties not to lag behind in forging an unholy alliance for grabbing power might serve as an obstacle to healthy development of the countrys politics, he said.
Sher Bahadur Deuba, who moved the motion, refused to reconsider the motion and Speaker Paudel finally put the motion through the vote.
PM Adhikaris attempt to derail the special session last June by dissolving parliament was struck down by the Supreme Court and the 74 year old Adhikari had no choice but to face the no-confidence vote.
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Reactions
After the expected results, UML MP and Adhikaris press advisor Raghu Pant told The Kathmandu Post, We accept the democratic process. But if the new government cannot function smoothly, we are always there (to stage a comeback).
But opposition lawmakers were more than happy with the outcome. Its been a peaceful transition. In the present situation that is required. And we hope the future government will show tolerance, RPPs Pashupati SJB Rana said.
The partys top leader Surya Bahadur Thapa, who incidentally is the first PM to be voted out from power, said, We are confident the coalition government will rule for the remaining period.
In 1983, Thapa, then PM in the Panchayat system, was defeated in a no-confidence motion.
With the NC back in power, there is likely to be an intense effort to revive Arun-III, the mega hydroelectric project which was derailed last month by the World Bank.
NCs Ram Sharan Mahat, who is widely touted to head the Finance Ministry in the coalition said, We will try to bring back the project. I am very much hopeful, but not very confident that we will succeed since the World Bank has already taken a decision.
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PMresigns
By a Post Reporter
KATHMANDU - Prime Minister Manmohan Adhikari Sunday evening tendered his resignation to His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev following his communist partys loss of no-confidence motion in the parliament, Radio Nepal announced.
His Majesty accepted Adhikaris resignation and asked him to continue in office until a new government could be formed, the radio said quoting a Royal Palace press communique.
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Coalition Govt Will Survive Full Term
By a Post Reporter
KATHMANDU - Amid speculations over the coalition government-to-be, the former prime minister G P Koirala said the three-party government will survive its full term.
Talking to journalists after the no-confidence vote Sunday, the Nepali Congress leader ruled out the possibility of history repeating itself. He dismissed queries that indicated whether coalition government would survive while a majority government failed last year. Thats history. We have learned a lot from the history.
The coalition government will strengthen democracy and bring out programmes to boost the living standard of the poor, he said.
Surya Bahadur Thapa, the RPP chairman said his party would make an all-out efforts to strengthen the coalition The coalition will not do anything that will destabilize the people. We will be engaged in boosting democracy, constitution and the monarchy, said Thapa.
The UML Upper House member Mohanchandra Adhikari, however, was guarded in his reaction. If the future government becomes stable and carries out development activities well, it will be a great news for the nation, he said adding, But if the coalition gets bogged down in internal wrangling, it wont be good for the country. The role of other three parties is equally important as that of the UML in the consolidation of democracy. If the parties are mutually tolerant the peoples aspirations will be fulfilled.
The RPP General Secretary Prakash Chandra Lohani said the upholding of the no-confidence vote is the victory for democracy and not anyones win or defeat.
The coalition government will function smoothly since the Nepali Congress and the RPP have decided to work together, said Lohani.
Damannath Dhungana, the former Speaker of the House hailed Sundays vote as a three-fold victory. The Court verdict has established the ability of the House. There has been an exercise on vote of no-confidence and ultimately it has succeeded in bringing together those who had refused to abide by the parliamentary rule. This is a victory for democracy-three cheers for democracy ! hailed Dhungana.
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September 12
HM Appoints Deuba New Prime Minister Economic, Political Stability To Be New Govts Priority
By a Post Reporter
KATHMANDU - His Majesty King Birendra appointed Sher Bahadur Deuba as the Prime Minister of Nepal on Monday.
The King appointed Deuba as the prime minister in accordance with article 42 (1) of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal-1990.
Talking to the press on Monday, Deuba said the priority of his government would be to establish political stability and economic order.
Asked about the size of the cabinet he said, You will know about this only by tomorrow.
Deuba earlier made a submission to His Majesty establishing his ability to command the confidence of a majority of the House members with the support of 106 members.
Deuba, one of the prominent young generation NC leaders, heads a three-party coalition government comprising Nepali Congress (NC), Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP).
The coalition voted out the nations first elected communist government Sunday by a tally of 107 to 88 in the parliament.
Deuba was born in June 1946 in Dadheldhura district.
He came to Kathmandu for his college education in 1965 and became chairman of the far-western students committee in Kathmandu.
He was in prison for nine years at different times during 1966 to 1985 due to his involvement in politics.
In 1970, he, with a few friends, founded the Nepal Students Union, the student wing of the Nepali Congress party.
He played an important role in promoting multi-party democracy in Nepal during the National Referendum in 1980.
He was elected to the House of Representatives on a Nepali Congress ticket in the 1991 general election and became the Home Minister in the NC government formed under the leadership of Girija Prasad Koirala.
After the mid-term election in last November, Deuba was elected the parliamentary party leader of the Nepali Congress.
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Coalition Pledges Mutual Accord On National Issues
By a Post Reporter
KATHMANDU - The Nepali Congress, Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Nepal Sadbhavana Party on Monday issued a joint policy statement, declaring that they have agreed to form a coalition government to work for national welfare on the basis of mutual understanding.
The statement signed by the respective parliamentary party chiefs of the three parties, Sher Bahadur Deuba, Lokendra Bahadur Chand and Gajendra Narayan Singh, said they would work for balanced foreign policy and maintain national harmony through equal opportunity to all citizens. We respect the achievements of the 1990 popular movement and our commitment to multi party democracy, constitutional monarchy, parliamentary system and independent judiciary will remain unflinching, the statement said.
Criticizing the communist party government for working in contravention with constitution and parliamentary norms, the statement said the coalition government would give due prominence to the voice of the opposition.
Human rights, human values and individual freedom will be kept unrestrained. Government media will be developed as national-level communications media and efforts will be made for their autonomy and impartiality, the statement said. It said the coalition cabinet will remain committed to the dignity and freedom of the press.
Slamming the UML governments financial policy as indisciplined and irresponsible, the coalition partners said they would strive to heal the wounds of the economy. They said market economy and private sector would be promoted and poverty alleviation be given top priority.
On the water resource front, the three parties have agreed to expedite bilateral, regional as well as multilateral cooperation.
Besides, programmes will be launched to provide citizenship certificates to all Nepalese without inconvenience, and uplift the living standard of underprivileged sections of the society, including those from the Terai region.
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Cabinet Expanded
By a Post Reporter
kathmandu, Dec 13 - His Majesty the King has in accordance with the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990 and on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, appointed additional ministers, one minister of state and assistant ministers to the council of ministers constituted on Sept 12 under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and expanded on Sept 22.
His Majesty has also allocated portfolios to the new ministers, one minister of state, and assistant ministers as follows retaining Royal Palace affairs and defence in the Prime Ministers portfolio.
Ministers Portfolio
Lila Koirala Women and Social Welfare
Bal Bahadur KC Youth, Sports and Culture
Bimalendra Nidhi General Administration
Prakash Man Singh Population and Environment
Nara Hari Acharya Parliamentary affairs
State Minister
Sarad Singh Bhandari Without Portfolio
Assistant Ministers
Chin Kaji Shrestha Finance
Gopalji Jung Shah Industry
Hasta Bahadur Malla Education
Dipak Banskota Home
Ganesh Bahadur Khadka Works and Transport
Chhabi Prasad Devkota Population and Environment
Duryodhan Choudhari Women and Social Welfare
Ram Chandra Kusabaha Information and Communications
Suresh Chandra Das Yadav Health
Min Bahadur Khatri Forest and Soil Conservation
Palten Gurung Youth Sports and Culture
Jyotendra Mohan Choudhary Labour
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Deuba Now Heads Largest Ever Cabinet
By Suman Pradhan
KATHMANDU, Dec 13 - In a long anticipated move designed to silence his critics within the Nepali Congress, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba expanded the council of ministers Wednesday by 18 new members taking the total to 44.
But the sheer size of the council of ministers have raised more eyebrows than he perhaps expected. Deuba now has the distinction of heading the largest ever council of ministers assembled in the nations history.
Though primarily intended to put an end to criticisms from disgruntled party colleagues, and by implication to also strengthen the three-party coalition government he leads, Deubas latest move flies straight in the face of fiscal belt tightening he espoused when assuming power in early September.
Critics point out the new addition is likely to cost a whopping sum to the national exchequer in ministers salaries and benefits.
The new additions include five cabinet rank ministers, all from Deubas Nepali Congress party, one minister of state and 12 assistant ministers. The nation now has 25 full ministers, two ministers of state and 17 assistant ministers.
Ever since Deuba expanded the cabinet for the first time from an initial five members to 26 on September 22, speculation had been rife about further additions. The prime minister had clung to seven vital portfolios, five of which he relinquished this time, holding only onto the traditional portfolios of Royal Palace Affairs and Defence.
But the new expansion that was announced Wednesday surprised many political pundits by its sheer size, and some unexpected portfolio divisions.
The new Minister for Population and Environment, Prakash Man Singh, had long been rumoured to receive the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. That portfolio went instead to Bal Bahadur KC.
Singhs cabinet berth was virtually confirmed last month after he was picked for a seat in the Upper House which he eventually contested and won. He had been defeated to the House of Representatives by former prime minister Manmohan Adhikari in last years general elections. The constitution mandates that a minister be a member of either the Upper or Lower House of parliament.
However, the ministry Singh has been given is not considered as high profile as KCs, for the fact that the Youth, Sports and Culture minister has to wield enormous influence among the younger generation.
Among other notable additions is the inclusion of Mrs Lila Koirala to head the Ministry for Women and Social Welfare. Her appointment was a foregone conclusion, since it was already accepted that a woman would head the ministry. She also is the first and only woman member in Deubas cabinet.
Sarad Singh Bhandari, Palten Gurung and Jyotendra Mohan Chaudhari, three lawmakers who had contested elections as independents but later re-entered the NC, have also been included. Observers say, they have been rewarded for their allegiance to the Nepali Congress, the party they left to contest the elections last year in the aftermath of the conspiracy controversy.
A notable feature of the expansion is the inclusion of relatives of powerful party bosses in the council of ministers. Mrs Koirala is the sister-in-law of NC heavyweight and former PM Girija Prasad Koirala. Singh is the son of NC Supremo Ganesh Man Singh and Nidhi is the son of NC general-secretary Mahendra Narayan Nidhi.
The latest expansion gives the NC the lions share of portfolios. It has 30 members in the council of ministers. The Rashtriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has 13 and the Nepal Sadbhavna Party has 1.
NC insiders say the reason for the RPP and NSP not being represented in the latest expansion is for the fact that both the parties had already exhausted the quotas provided to them under an elaborate portfolio sharing arrangement worked out in September.
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Return to ASNIC
Monday, April 2, 2007
Prachanda - hero or villain?
The recent public appearance in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, of Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal, alias Prachanda, led to much excitement.
But for some, it is ironic that a man who has led a ruthless war that took the lives of 13,000 people is being treated like a hero.
For many others, he is a hero, who has given a voice to millions of downtrodden people in one of the poorest countries in the world.
So is he a hero or villain?
Demands
When Prachanda launched an armed rebellion in 1996, Nepal had just restored multi-party democracy after 30 years of direct rule by the king.
A peaceful people's uprising in 1990 had forced the then King Birendra to become a constitutional monarch and after a smooth transition, a new constitution was written and democratically elected leaders were in power.
The war has encouraged and spread a culture of intimidation and violence
Maoists' reclusive leader
Despite concerns about corruption, democracy was slowly taking root.
Schools, roads and bridges were being built and businesses were expanding.
Though records have fluctuated, the GDP growth rate in 1995/96, when the Maoists began their insurgency, was 5.4%, an encouraging figure for Nepal.
The immediate reason given by the Maoists for the declaration of war was that the government rejected their demands "without giving them any attention".
Many of those demands related to political and social reforms which most Nepalis would find acceptable.
However, few agree that the government's rejection of the demands was enough reason to declare a war which has caused Nepal enormous suffering.
Violence and intimidation
Accurate independent figures about the economic costs of war are not available.
The Maoists have used violence to push demands
However, according to Finance Minister Ramsharan Mahat, the damage to infrastructure alone amounted to $246m - around 15% of Nepal's current annual budget.
The Maoists have used threats, extortion and killings to get their way.
They have killed poor, innocent people and those who have criticised their top leaders.
The war has encouraged and spread a culture of intimidation and violence, which is bound to have a long-term impact in a society which was credited for peace and harmony.
Prachanda and others have defended these tactics, arguing that during war such incidents do occur and that they regret mistakes.
Many find it difficult to agree. They argue that Prachanda and many top Maoist leaders are, in fact, more feudal and hypocritical than those whom they regard as such.
There appears to be some truth in this.
'Well-fed' rebel
Prachanda speaks passionately about the need to dismantle feudal structures to create a proletarian society but he has remained quiet about his own elevation as a demi-god by his supporters.
The rich and ruling elite in Kathmandu, who the Maoists view as feudal and want to destroy, has been left untouched throughout the war, whereas poor and ordinary villagers have suffered.
The war has caused ordinary Nepalis enormous suffering
After seeing Prachanda's pictures, a teacher at a village school recently told me: "Prachanda looks very well-fed. In fact, his healthy diet is bought from the money extorted from poor people like myself.
"Or else, where does he get the money from?"
For Prachanda India was an expansionist foe.
Out of the first nine points in his 40-point demands submitted to the government in 1996, seven were directed against India.
However, it has been an established fact that during much of the insurgency both Prachanda and his deputy, Baburam Bhattarai, have spent time in India.
There have been credible reports that Indian authorities have covertly co-operated with the Maoists at times.
That explains why after the insurgency started they have rarely been critical of India.
'Power of the gun'
This does not mean Prachanda is devoid of virtue.
Many middle-class villagers like Prachanda would have preferred an easy route in life. However, he chose a difficult path to pursue his conviction that "power comes from the barrel of the gun".
Risking his life, he did derive that power and made the powerful ruling elite of the country realise that they cannot take their privileges for granted.
Prachanda claims to have dismantled the feudalistic social structure in the villages under Maoist control. To an extent this is true.
There is also a growing awareness about social and political rights in rural Nepal because of the insurgency.
For now Prachanda seems to have accepted that there is no alternative to multi-party democracy in Nepal.
But many would continue to question whether all the killing and destruction was necessary for him to accept what Nepal's major communist parties accepted a long time ago.
Much will depend on how much he can deliver in Nepal's future political set-up.
Nepal swears Maoists into cabinet
Nepal swears Maoists into cabinet
The prime minister (left) will serve alongside Maoists
Maoist ex-rebels have been sworn in as ministers in Nepal's interim government after a deal on the make-up of the new cabinet tasked with building peace.
Parties in the ruling alliance reached a deal after a day of haggling over senior posts.
Five Maoist ministers are joining the government under a peace deal that ended 10 years of bloody civil war.
The election of a constituent assembly, which will determine Nepal's future course, was set for 20 June.
A new chapter has begun in the history of Nepal
PM Girija Prasad Koirala
Attention turns to king
Maoists' transition
Up until last year's truce, the Maoists were engaged in a violent civil conflict with the state. Based in the mountains and jungles, they were banned as terrorists.
Now the Maoists are getting control of five out of 21 ministries: the departments of information, local development, planning and works, forestry, and women and children.
They are joining the government as the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist).
"A new chapter has begun in the history of Nepal," Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala told the interim parliament.
June election
An initial deal on cabinet posts was reached on Friday but differences over seniority rankings in the cabinet delayed its final formation until Sunday.
The constituent assembly to be elected in June will chart out Nepal's future.
It has to decide, among other issues, whether Nepal will remain as a kingdom or become a republic, as the Maoists want.
King Gyanendra relinquished key powers amid street protests last year, prompting the Maoist truce.
That ended 10 years of civil strife during which at least 13,000 people died.
The prime minister (left) will serve alongside Maoists
Maoist ex-rebels have been sworn in as ministers in Nepal's interim government after a deal on the make-up of the new cabinet tasked with building peace.
Parties in the ruling alliance reached a deal after a day of haggling over senior posts.
Five Maoist ministers are joining the government under a peace deal that ended 10 years of bloody civil war.
The election of a constituent assembly, which will determine Nepal's future course, was set for 20 June.
A new chapter has begun in the history of Nepal
PM Girija Prasad Koirala
Attention turns to king
Maoists' transition
Up until last year's truce, the Maoists were engaged in a violent civil conflict with the state. Based in the mountains and jungles, they were banned as terrorists.
Now the Maoists are getting control of five out of 21 ministries: the departments of information, local development, planning and works, forestry, and women and children.
They are joining the government as the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist).
"A new chapter has begun in the history of Nepal," Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala told the interim parliament.
June election
An initial deal on cabinet posts was reached on Friday but differences over seniority rankings in the cabinet delayed its final formation until Sunday.
The constituent assembly to be elected in June will chart out Nepal's future.
It has to decide, among other issues, whether Nepal will remain as a kingdom or become a republic, as the Maoists want.
King Gyanendra relinquished key powers amid street protests last year, prompting the Maoist truce.
That ended 10 years of civil strife during which at least 13,000 people died.
Peak Climbing in Nepal
With the help of our experienced Sherpas, Mountain Guides and well-equipped trekking team we will make your dream come true, succeeding the climbing of these challenging trekking peaks. We expect the climbers to bring their own Ice axes, Crampons Harness, Carrabinars, Good quality double boots, and proper clothing though we provide some of the necessary camping equipment.
Peaks are opened for trekking groups with permission from Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA)
Group "A" Peaks S/N. Name of Peak Height Region
01 Mt. Cholatse 6440 m. Khumbu
02 Mt. Machermo 6273 m. Mahalangur
03 Mt. Kyazo Ri 6186 m. Mahalangur
04 Mt. Phari Lapcha 6017 m. Mahalangur
05 Mt. Nirekha 6159 m. Mahalangur
06 Mt. Langsisa Ri 6427 m. Jugal
07 Mt. Ombigaichen 6340 m. Mahalangur
08 Mt. Bokta 6143 m. Kanchanjunga
09 Mt. Chekigo 6257 m. Gaurishankar
10 Mt. Lobuche West 6145 m. Khumbu
11 Mt. Larkya Peak 6010 m. Manaslu
12 Mt. ABI 6097 m. Mahalangur
13 Mt. Yubra Himal 6035 m. Langtang Himal
14 Mt. Chhukung Ri 5550 m. Khumbu
15 Mt. Yala Peak 5732 m. Langtang
Group "B" Peaks
S/N. Name of the peak Height Region
01 Hiunchuli 6441m. Annapurna Himal, Gandaki.
02 Singu chuli 6501m. Annapurna Himal, Gandaki.
03 Mera Peak 6654m. Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha.
04 Kusum Kangru 6367m. Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha.
05 Kwangde 6011m. Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha.
06 Chulu West 6419m. Manang District, Gandaki.
07 Chulu East 6584m. Manang District, Gandaki.
08 Imja Tse (Island peak) 6160m. Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha.
09 Parchemuche 6187m. Rolwaling Himal, Janakpur.
10 Lobuje 6119m. Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha.
11 Ramdung 5925m. Rolwaling Himal, Janakpur.
12 Pisang peak 6091m. Manang District, Gandaki.
13 Tharpu Chuli (Tent peak) 5663m. Annapurna Himal, Gandaki.
14 Khongma Tse (Mehra peak) 5849m. Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha.
15 Ganja La Chuli (Nyakanga) 5844m. Langtang Himal, Bagmati.
16 Pokhalde 5806m. Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha.
17 Mardi Himal 5587m. Annapurna Himal, Gandaki.
18 Paldor peak 5896m. Langtang Himal, Bagmati.
Some Major Peak Climbing and Expedition mountains in Nepal
Island Peak (6,189m.) 20 Days
The highlight of this adventure is the climbing of Island peak. Allowing 2/3 days for this peak climbing with the support of our well-trained sherpas.
Mera Peak Climbing Trek (6,467m) 21 Days
This climbing trek passes through the homes of Sherpas at Solukhumbu and crosses the Dudh Koshi river. The view from this peak is unmatchable exciting.
Pisang Peak (6,091m.) 16 Days
Pisang peak is considered one of the easy climbing peaks among the trekking peaks in Nepal.
Lobuche Peak East (6,119m) 21 Days
This is beautiful trekking peak, offers various existing as well as new climbing routes to all the amateur mountaineers.
Mt. Yala Peak (5,732 m.) 14 Days
Yala peak is a part if the Langtang Himal which is located at the centerl part of Nepal.The base camp of Yala Peak is Kyangjin Gompa (3749m/12300 ft). Yala Peak is a fantastic beginner’s mountaineering trip, to one of Nepal’s easier trekking peaks.
Hiunchuli Peak (6,441m.) 23 Days
Hiunchuli, at a height of 6,441 meters, forms a massive south-facing wall together with Annapurna South. Its eastern face overlooks the Modi Khola and guards the entrance to the Annapurna Sanctuary.
Peaks are opened for trekking groups with permission from Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA)
Group "A" Peaks S/N. Name of Peak Height Region
01 Mt. Cholatse 6440 m. Khumbu
02 Mt. Machermo 6273 m. Mahalangur
03 Mt. Kyazo Ri 6186 m. Mahalangur
04 Mt. Phari Lapcha 6017 m. Mahalangur
05 Mt. Nirekha 6159 m. Mahalangur
06 Mt. Langsisa Ri 6427 m. Jugal
07 Mt. Ombigaichen 6340 m. Mahalangur
08 Mt. Bokta 6143 m. Kanchanjunga
09 Mt. Chekigo 6257 m. Gaurishankar
10 Mt. Lobuche West 6145 m. Khumbu
11 Mt. Larkya Peak 6010 m. Manaslu
12 Mt. ABI 6097 m. Mahalangur
13 Mt. Yubra Himal 6035 m. Langtang Himal
14 Mt. Chhukung Ri 5550 m. Khumbu
15 Mt. Yala Peak 5732 m. Langtang
Group "B" Peaks
S/N. Name of the peak Height Region
01 Hiunchuli 6441m. Annapurna Himal, Gandaki.
02 Singu chuli 6501m. Annapurna Himal, Gandaki.
03 Mera Peak 6654m. Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha.
04 Kusum Kangru 6367m. Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha.
05 Kwangde 6011m. Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha.
06 Chulu West 6419m. Manang District, Gandaki.
07 Chulu East 6584m. Manang District, Gandaki.
08 Imja Tse (Island peak) 6160m. Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha.
09 Parchemuche 6187m. Rolwaling Himal, Janakpur.
10 Lobuje 6119m. Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha.
11 Ramdung 5925m. Rolwaling Himal, Janakpur.
12 Pisang peak 6091m. Manang District, Gandaki.
13 Tharpu Chuli (Tent peak) 5663m. Annapurna Himal, Gandaki.
14 Khongma Tse (Mehra peak) 5849m. Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha.
15 Ganja La Chuli (Nyakanga) 5844m. Langtang Himal, Bagmati.
16 Pokhalde 5806m. Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha.
17 Mardi Himal 5587m. Annapurna Himal, Gandaki.
18 Paldor peak 5896m. Langtang Himal, Bagmati.
Some Major Peak Climbing and Expedition mountains in Nepal
Island Peak (6,189m.) 20 Days
The highlight of this adventure is the climbing of Island peak. Allowing 2/3 days for this peak climbing with the support of our well-trained sherpas.
Mera Peak Climbing Trek (6,467m) 21 Days
This climbing trek passes through the homes of Sherpas at Solukhumbu and crosses the Dudh Koshi river. The view from this peak is unmatchable exciting.
Pisang Peak (6,091m.) 16 Days
Pisang peak is considered one of the easy climbing peaks among the trekking peaks in Nepal.
Lobuche Peak East (6,119m) 21 Days
This is beautiful trekking peak, offers various existing as well as new climbing routes to all the amateur mountaineers.
Mt. Yala Peak (5,732 m.) 14 Days
Yala peak is a part if the Langtang Himal which is located at the centerl part of Nepal.The base camp of Yala Peak is Kyangjin Gompa (3749m/12300 ft). Yala Peak is a fantastic beginner’s mountaineering trip, to one of Nepal’s easier trekking peaks.
Hiunchuli Peak (6,441m.) 23 Days
Hiunchuli, at a height of 6,441 meters, forms a massive south-facing wall together with Annapurna South. Its eastern face overlooks the Modi Khola and guards the entrance to the Annapurna Sanctuary.
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