Nepali Congress leader Shekhar Koirala has stood against party’s decision to form electoral government in the leadership of Chief Justice Khilaraj Regmi. While expressing his dissatisfaction with his party leadership, Koirala has warned to take up the issue in all fronts of the party. Nepali Reporters’s Rishi Dhamal recent talked with this hard core democrat recently. Here are the excerpts:

Has Nepali Congress endorsed the decision to form CJ led government unanimously?

The party has not taken such decisions. All Central Committee member of the party have stood against the decision to put a single person in charge of the judiciary and the government. In such conditions, the party leadership does not have any rights to take decisions that are against the party’s decision. Thats we are not ready to put Chief Justice in the Prime Minister’s chair at any cost.

But isn’t it necessity to form CJ led government to resolve status quo?

Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has been heading towards totalitarianism. In such a condition if a single person is given the reins of both- judiciary and the executive, then that person is bound to be an authoritarian and dictator. This has been proved by many historical incidents. Considering such historial evidences, Nepali Congress should not concede to remove one dictator with another prospective dictator. Congress should not support any move that tramples constitution and endangers multi party democracy under the hide of resolution.

That means you will not accept CJ led electoral government?

We cannot pave way for the rise of a dictator to remove existing dictator. But Iam afraid thats just what our senior leaders are doing. We haven’t given such authority to our party leadership and if they do it, we won’t let them go with it.

How can you say that the CJ will be dictator once he becomes the PM?

We are not talking about the Chief Justice. We are talking about the Chief Justice who will also be the executive.You are confusing it. Khilaraj Regmi and Chief Justice are both different entities. I want to see Khilaraj Regmi as a Prime Minister but i don’t want to see a chief justice having executive authorities too. Im fully confident in the proposition that bestowing two authorities upon a single individual transforms him into a dictator.
But parties have decided that Khilaraj won’t have any relation with the judiciary on becoming PM?

Political decisions do not make any sense here as long as Khilaraj Regmi is recognised constitutionally as the Chief Justice and Prime Minister of Nepal. Now how can a single person occupy both of these positions. Parties must point out this provision in the constitution to me.

Bangladesh’s Chief Justice had also held similar position for similar role

There are many dictators in this world who have held elections. Baburam Bhattarai was also ready to hold elections but we did not accept it because he was turning totalitarian. If a person is posited with executive, legislative, and judiciary powers then his commands must be obeyed. And this our concern presently.
Does this confrontation in your party hints at polarisation?

No, I don’t see this as polarisation. Leaders of Nepali Congress who have sacrificed their whole life for democracy are committed to it. Leaders like Sushil, Sher Bahadur, Ram Chandra and others like them are trying to sabotage the core fundamentals of the party. We have stood to our stance that has its basis on democratic norms and the principle of power division in a democratic nation. Therefore senior leaders should themselves decide where they want to stand.

What should be done to resolve the status quo then?

Election is the only way to resolve the political status quo. But the nature of election is the major concern here. And though election is necessary to keep democracy active, present conditions are not favourable to hold election. Though some citizen’s parents are Nepali they don’t have citizenship, and no one is interested to resolve this issue.

The nation has two voters list. One prepared during the earlier CA elections and one prepard by the election commission. Which will be the basis for election? In other nations only citizens can vote, but here whenever there are elections, demands to allow voters without voter IDs come forward. In such conditions how do you expect to hold fair election?

Parties have decided to hold elections on May 14. How can you rule it out?

Elections on May 14 are impossible, even if parties have reached such an agreement. There are many complexities to materialise that agreement into action. There have been many such understandings in the past and none of them have been transformed, so how can yyou trust that this will be done? This agreement will never materialise. Political parties have pushed this nation towards totalitarianism by signing this deal.

Narayan Man Bijukche is one of most revered leftist politicians in Nepal and is mostly popular for his theoretical understanding of the leftist ideology and more than that his denial for assuming power in the state politics. As Chairman of Nepal Labor and Peasants Party, Bijukche aka Rohit is also equally taken as a dexterous political analyst and thinker. Reportersnepal.com’s Rishi Dhamala and Chitra Raj Bhandari spoke to this inspiring political think tank on issues related to Nepal’s political stalemate. Here are the edited excerpts.

Q. Is it possible to hold CA and local elections simultaneously?
Bijukche: Yes, it is possible by preparing two types of ballot papers. One of this paper should be made for selecting CA representative and other one for selecting local representative. The local body elections should be either held before the CA elections or during the CA elections.

Q Why are political parties mute on holding local elections?
Bijukche: The nation would not have been in this condition if the parties had some ideas or morality. We had stressed on the need to reinstate the local bodies or holding fresh elections 10 years earlier, but they denied to do any of that. Major political parties’ actions are determined by the orders of our foreign friends. Though the nation is undergoing such hardships, none of the major parties have come forward for holding local elections. None of them care for public’s sentiment. As responsible persons they must figure out the actual problem.  It is their primary responsibility to head for hospital, if the ailment gets serious. The aliment is serious now.

Q Are the CA elections possible in April/May
BIJUKCHE: Given the present circumstances, I don’t think it is possible. There are host of provisions in the Interim Constitution to be amended and besides it major political parties are ever slipping away from their commitment and stance. Lack of trust between major political parties have positioned them apart. In such circumstances, coming together for amending existing laws and making new laws for holding CA elections within April/May seems to be a ambitious task.

Q Amending Interim Constitution is a contended issue among major parties. What would be suitable process for it and why are major parties not resorting to it.
BIJUKCHE: Constitution amendment has become a contentious issue due to the unwillingness of political parties to work in national interest. The most suitable and best alternative to amend the Interim Constitution would be to use the Presidential rights. Even though lead parties are well aware of this alternative, they fear that using it might foster Presidential rule and eventually rob them of the state reins.

Q So, where do you think Nepal is heading? And what should the President do?

Trust defect between political parties and their incapability to transcend over personal and partisan interests is moving the nation towards anarchy. The President should take the reins in his hands for some days with the consent of political parties. This will pave way for reseting the political course. But, as i told earlier, the lead political parties will never urge the President to do so.

Q, Can the President remove Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai?

Why not, if all political parties urge the President for such an action. The President himself can’t take such an action, but if all political parties urge him to do so, he definitely can do so by taking the state reins in control.

Q The opposition is obstructing budget. What is your appraisal of the confrontation?

Surrenderism on the part of opposition parties can lead the nation towards anarchy. Strong opposition is the backbone of a strong democracy. But in Nepal, opposition parties have utterly failed to exhibit a strong and leading role. Both Nepali Congress and CPN UML have failed to take strong stance on resolving political status quo. They have reflected lack of judgement and commitment to work for national interest. And this has brought the nation to the present condition.

Q Do you think PM Bhattarai will step down?

No one will step down from his position terming himself incapable. Similarly, Bhattarai will also not step down unless he is forced to do so. He must be pressurised to step down. However, Bhattarai is not holding the PM’s stead on his own accord. His government is governed by external sources, as his party chairman Prachanda said earlier.

China is gearing up for its 18th Congress of the CPC which will set up future policy of one of the world’s most powerful nation and close neighbor of Nepal. Considering the importance that China’s economic and social prosperity development carries in Nepal’s similar sector, Reporters Club Nepal’s President Rishi Dhamala and Reportersnepal.com’s Chitra Raj Bhandari interacted with ambassador Houlan on issues related to media, development and China’s 18th National Congress of the CPC.

1.What do you think of the role of the media in Nepal in promoting the exchanges between Nepal and China ?

For a long time, the Nepali media has been playing an active role in promoting the exchanges of the two countries in various fields, which helps increase the mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries and peoples. Since taking office last year , I have been engaged with the Nepali media extensively. I make a lot of media friends. They leave me a good and deep impression. Firstly, the Nepali media care about China’s development. Media friends always ask me the situation of the development of China in political, economic and other fields. Their enthusiasm is beyond my imagination.

Secondly, Nepali media pay special attention to the Nepal-China relations. Friends in the media are concerned about the bilateral high-level visits, economic and trade exchanges, cultural exchanges between the two countries. The exchanges and cooperation in any field will cause a great deal of interest in the local media, and will be widely reported.

Thirdly, Nepali media is generally friendly to China. There are a large number of media in Nepal, but their attitude toward China is friendly and frank. This is the reflection that Nepali people are generally friendly to China.

2. What can the Reporters Club of Nepal do in this regard ?

The Reporters Club of Nepal is an influential media platform. Many influential people from all walks of life and many envoys in Nepal, including me, have delivered speeches there. I hope the Reporters Club of Nepal can organize some more interactive activities about China, and make new contributions to promoting the development of bilateral relations. Chinese Embassy in Nepal is willing to continue to participate in the various activities of the Reporters Club of Nepal.

 2. How do you comment on the current China-Nepal relations?

China and Nepal are friendly neighbors linked by mountains and rivers. The friendly exchanges between the two countries have a long history. Since China and Nepal established diplomatic ties in 1955, the bilateral relations have always maintained a healthy and stable development.

In 2009, our bilateral relations have been uplifted to the Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation featuring Ever-lasting Friendship. At the beginning of this year, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao paid a successful visit to Nepal. The two sides issued a Joint Statement and reached a series of consensus on the cooperation in various fields. Since then, China-Nepal relations have stood on a new historical starting point.

At present, our bilateral relations are developing on a healthy, stable and comprehensive track. Firstly, the exchange of high-level visits is frequent and the mutual political trust is deepening.

Secondly, the economic cooperation is deepening and the concrete cooperation is being advanced steadily. From January to August this year, our bilateral trade volume amounted to 917 million USD, increasing by 57.1% compared to the same period of last year.

There have been strong, reputable Chinese enterprises come to and invest in Nepal. China also vigorously carries out the assistance to Nepal. During Premier Wen’s visit to Nepal, he announced that China will provide 750 million yuan of grant to Nepal in next three years. The Kathmandu ring road reconstruction as well as other projects assisted by China is also being implemented speedily.

Thirdly, humanities exchanges are dynamic and the content is rich and colorful. The two sides signed Cultural Exchange Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of Chinese cultural Center in Nepal.

Hon. Mr. Kiraty, Minister for Culture for Nepal went to Hongkong to participate in the Third World Buddhist Forum. Nepalese cultural festival held in Beijing for the first time. And the Happy Spring Festival, Ambassador Cup Chinese Language Competition, Chinese Film Festival were also held successfully in Nepal.

3. In what areas that China would expand for boosting Nepal’s economic growth ?

Chinese side would take measures to enhance the pragmatic cooperation in economic and trade secters in order to promote Nepal’s economic development as follows: the first is to expand bilateral trade.

Chinese side has offered Nepal zero tariffs to more than 5000 commodities. We hope Nepal side could take full advantage of this to promote Chinese side to import more goods from Nepal and expand bilateral trade volume. The second is to increase investment to Nepal.

Chinese side would continuously encourage qualified Chinese companies with good reputation to invest in Nepal. We hope both sides could enhance cooperation in fields of infrastructure, hydropower, agriculture, tourism, etc.

The third is to strengthen assistance to Nepal. China will continue to increase the aid efforts to Nepal, lifting Nepal’s traffic and infrastructure level, sending more Nepali students to China, and inviting more Nepali officials to China for training.

4. What is China’s assessment of Nepal’s present political development?

Currently, Nepal is in the process of political transition. Although the peace process has almost come to an end, the constitution drafting has confronted many frustrations. Parties are divided over some political issues. China sincerely hopes that all parties in Nepal could enhance communications and negotiation, and reach consensus at the earliest in order to finish the constitution drafting process.

5. Please brief us the economic development, foreign policy and external relations of China and the importance of 18^th National Congress of CPC for Nepal?

China’s economy has maintained an average annual growth rate of more than 10% in the last decade, which has created a Chinese miracle featured sustained and rapid growth while the world economy has undergone rapid unrest. China’s GDP has already ranked second in the world, and the per capita GDP has been more than 5000 U.S. dollars. The Foreign exchange reserves are now ranking first in the world. Currently, China is the largest export country, the second largest import and highest foreign direct investment country, the fifth largest overseas investment country and the largest emerging market, and its rate of contribution to the world economic growth is over 20%.

China adheres to an independent foreign policy of peace, pursues an opening-up strategy featuring mutual benefit and win-win results, firmly safeguards national sovereignty, security and development interests, and actively promote the establishment of a more equal and more balanced new global partnership for development, strengthens the North-South dialogue and South-South cooperation, enhances foreign aids, safeguards the common interests of the developing countries, and pushes the international order toward a fairer and more rational direction. China’s stand, including the path of peaceful development and the building of a harmonious world, has broken through the traditional model of the rising of big powers, a powerful country seek hegemony usually, and is now affecting the world profoundly.

Strengthening relations with China is increasingly becoming the mainstream of national policies of many countries, and China has begun the process to build a new type of relations with major power, and China’s interests with the neighboring countries have been further deepened.

China’s influence in the international arena is increasing. In international and regional affairs, China always insists on the maintenance of the United Nations and the Security Council’s authority, actively assume its international responsibilities, involves in the process of construction and reform of the multilateral mechanisms, positively participates in the coordination in policies of international macro-economy, actively promotes economic globalization and regional economic integration, becomes an important party in international coordination and cooperation in counter-terrorism, climate change, energy resources and food security and other global issues, and plays a unique and constructive role in international and regional hotspot issues.
The 18^th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, is a very important meeting during the critical period of the building a moderately prosperous society and the deepening of reform and opening up, and the important stage of the acceleration of the transformation of economic development pattern. The congress will summarize the brilliant achievements and valuable experiences since the 16^th Congress of the CPC especially over the past five years, and will introduce the strategic plan of comprehensively promoting the reform and opening up, socialist modernization, and the new great project of party building in the future.

The Chinese Communist Party will unite and lead Chinese people of all ethnic groups to adhere to and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, to emancipate the mind, to persist in reform and opening up, to gather strength, to overcome the difficulties, and to strive for the realization of building a moderately prosperous society by 2020, and to achieve socialist modernization in the middle of this century.