THT 10 years ago: NC backs Nepal as next PM

Kathmandu, May 7, 2009

Politburo meeting of the Unified CPN-Maoist today stressed the need to restore civilian supremacy over the Nepali Army and to rectify the President’s unconstitutional move on Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Rookmangud Katawal. During the meeting, held at the Bhaktapur-based Training Centre of Agriculture Development Bank, almost all the politburo members aired views on the possibility of forming the broad-based national government under the Maoist leadership.

While addressing a press conference yesterday, Prachanda had said they might come to power again. Narayan Kaji Shrestha, deputy parliamentary party leader of the UCPN-Maoist, however, told The Himalayan Times that the possibility of forming the national government would not arise unless the President rectified his unconstitutional move against the elected government and the decision taken by the Prachanda-led government on the CoAS was implemented.

“We have been saying that the civilian authority should prevail over the army and the President’s unconstitutional move should be rectified,” Shrestha said, adding: “This is our bottomline for the formation of the national government.”

Around 15 politburo members had aired views in today’s meeting, which was adjourned till Saturday morning. Devendra Poudel, a politburo member, said the party leadership would meet leaders of the NC and the CPN-UML to put forth the party’s view about the formation of the national government. The President has asked all the parties to form the national government by Saturday.

Starvation threat looms large

Kalikot, May 7, 2009

Hundreds of families of seven VDCs — located around 100 km north of Manma — the district headquarters, have been displaced due to acute shortage of food. Prolonged spells of drought has deepened the crisis as starvation threat looms large in Dhaulagoha, Khin, Thirpu, Ramnakot, Nanikot, Phurkot and Syuta VDCs. Locals complained that lack of rainfall led to poor yield of agricultural produce like wheat, barley and buckwheat that were sown during winter. To make matters worse, hailstorms damaged most of the standing crops. Dhir Bahadur Bom, 39, a resident of Thirpu-4, said that food shortage was an annual occurrence. “How can I provide food for 11 members in my family as there is nothing left to eat in the village?” he asked helplessly. Jayalal Bom, ex-chairman, Dhulagoha VDC, felt that the crisis had never been addressed due to the government’s apathy. “The District Council had announced Patala, under which the VDC falls, as drought-hit eight years ago. However, little effort has been made by the state in all these years to tide over the humanitarian crisis,” he explained.

Locals are having a tough time in ferrying food items.