The Nepali political tradition of wrangling over top government posts continues. The largest party, the Maoists, are claiming the moral right to 
the appointments of both President and Prime Minister, while the other mainstream parties are saying that it should be one or the other. The Maoists have responded by saying that if they don't get their way within a couple of days they'll withdraw from government and take to the streets. And today the conservative Nepali Congress party has retaliated by calling a rally next week. And so it goes on. With all this infighting going on it is quite remarkable that anyone in the Constituent Assembly can manage some sleep, but the newly-elected highly-paid member pictured right managed to grab forty winks against the odds.
the appointments of both President and Prime Minister, while the other mainstream parties are saying that it should be one or the other. The Maoists have responded by saying that if they don't get their way within a couple of days they'll withdraw from government and take to the streets. And today the conservative Nepali Congress party has retaliated by calling a rally next week. And so it goes on. With all this infighting going on it is quite remarkable that anyone in the Constituent Assembly can manage some sleep, but the newly-elected highly-paid member pictured right managed to grab forty winks against the odds.Meanwhile, over the weekend Maoist Chairman Prachanda warned the press - specifically The Kathmandu Post - to refrain from criticising his party or to face the consequences. Needless to say this sent a huge shiver through the media. I have to write that I fully support press freedom, however over the years I have found myself on the receiving end of inaccurate and vicious press reporting that has been baseless. In Nepal this has been the result of disgruntled former staff members making unsubstantiated allegations in a bid to get "revenge" and the papers love to print sensational stories here without risk of penalty. For me it's a case of liberty yes, license no.
It remains to be seen how the Maoists manage power in whatever manifestation that takes. I am hopeful that once things settle down the good relationships we have enjoyed with Maoist commanders at local level will extend to the centre. Last week Shailaja at our Kathmandu refuge received a threatening call from someone in the home district of a girl trafficking agent that we were involved in apprehending in March. Purporting to be a Maoist area commander, essentially his message was that the agent (who to escape justice claims to have senior Maoist connections) wished to apologise and be given a chance to amend her ways. Perhaps her enlightenment could be the result of her being currently in jail pending trial and facing the prospect of a conviction that could mean a 20 year sentence. When he followed up his call with a visit to Shailaja he was very unsettled to be introduced to pukka local Maoist personnel. After an exchange of opinions he returned home to carry out "further investigations". I doubt if he will be back again.
If the Maoists nationally can support our anti trafficking work - as their mainstream predecessors have failed to do in the past - then maybe we can begin to win the "fight" that I have referred to in previous posts.
