Time for course correction

Chickens of “consensus” politics have come home to roost. The manhandling of Finance Minister Surendra Pandey by the Maoist members of parliament is a preview of what the future holds for the politicians of the current coalition, who once endlessly harped on the need for consensus, if the outcomes of the political bargain do not go the Maoists’ way. The footage of the ultra-progressives (read the Maoists) manhandling the less-progressive (the minister from the less-progressive CPN-UML) is just a mouse-click away for the world to see. The timing could not have gotten any better. Pandey got roughed up at a time when the never-ending rounds of elections for the post of prime minister was providing the world a glimpse of how exactly a dysfunctional political system looks like.

As usual, each side is blaming the other for the incident. Anything new in that? Not really. The blame-game has been going on for a while now. Instead of trying to figure out who is at fault, it would be helpful if we spent our time and energy trying to understand why something as serious as this happened inside the parliament. It happened for a simple reason. And the reason is that as a nation, we allow politicians to run the country by cutting deals in the name of consensus. Nobody except the dealmakers actually know the terms and conditions of the deals. So, it is very easy for them to lie about them later. What makes this deal-based process even more complicated is that, for these dealmakers, pleasing their masters (Chinese for the Maoists and Indians for the current coalition members) is much more important and lies at the heart of anything they do or agree to than serving the nation’s interest and fulfilling people’s expectations.

Blaming the Maoists for insincerity at this point in time is completely absurd and unintelligent. The Maoists have been inconsistently consistent throughout about their motive behind joining the hands with the political parties. They wanted to use the opportunity to achieve their goal of establishing the dictatorship of the proletariat. The rationalization of the Maoists’ intent to come overground came from the very politicians that now grouch about the Maoist motives, pundits who change their color faster than chameleons to remain politically-relevant and human right activists that are now nowhere to be seen when a people’s representative is manhandled in broad light inside the parliament. Hence, the wound that politicians of the Nepali Congress (NC) and the UML complain about is self-inflicted. The sooner they learn to live with it, the better off they will be.

The Maoists are now one of the dominant players of Nepali politics and there is logic to what they do. Every move of theirs is well-calculated and is meant to serve their political agenda. With India against their quest for power, the Maoists have no choice but to tilt the domestic political balance by coercing their political opponents. They want the opponents to be perceived as feeble and power-hungry who will eventually succumb to their bullying tactics. And there is precedence to what they believe in. On the other side, there is no political preparation to tackle the Maoists. All they have is the same old slogan of how big a threat the Maoists are for democracy, which gives them an opportunity to cash in on India’s soured relationship with the Maoists, both of which will not take the coalition very far.

Putting the blame on the Maoists will not serve any purpose when it comes to correcting the course that they are in. The NC and the UML should prove to the people, which they have not done so far, that they can effectively govern the nation and meet people’s expectations. The state’s reach has been shrinking with each passing day. Regurgitation of the same old stale slogan of democracy being in danger from the likes of Krishna Prasad Sitaula, who not very long ago used every argument that they could think of to justify how bringing the Maoists overground was good for democracy, makes the case that the coalition is trying to make against the Maoists look malicious and empty.

The ongoing small-scale confrontation between the major partners of the coalition and the Maoists will get bigger and more frequent in the days to come. This is just the beginning. The NC, with its new president, can be a game changer if it dares to get away from the influence of the likes of Sitaula that failed miserably to correctly assess the Maoists’ motives. It is time to play the game with the Maoists the way they do. Backdoor dealings with them should be completely stopped. Things as important as budget should be made public with or without the Maoist support. If they oppose, they are the ones that will be seen as obstructionist, and if they get physical, they should end up behind bars. Appeasing the Maoists so far has not gotten the nation anywhere, has it? It is high time that they be held accountable for their acts.

The moving of the political process forward should be done smartly. Staying put in a futile prime ministerial election process makes the NC look like a club of politically-immature jokers. Its obsession with the prime ministership is pushing Jhala Nath Khanal and his fellow comrades closer to Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Helping the UML retain its political base is as important as maintaining its own political space for the NC. The UML’s loss is the Maoists party´s gain. Hence, letting Khanal become the prime minister is politically more profitable for the NC than alienating him by endlessly bidding for Ram Chandra Poudel. Even if Poudel became the prime minister, there will absolutely nothing in this lame duck environment for him to achieve that will change the NC’s face and fate. So, why remain obsessed? Cut your losses by not appearing insensitive to Khanal’s desperation to become the prime minister.

Banking on India’s support and regurgitation of democracy-in-peril rhetoric may work for a while and help the coalition stay put in power for some time, but with China’s support, the Maoist party is hell-bent on tipping the balance. If and when the balance tips, India will have no choice but to reengage with the Maoists. Aung San Suu Kyi received Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding in 1993 from the Indian government, but when the Indian government later on realized that the Burmese junta was not going to release Suu Kyi anytime soon, it started reengaging with the junta that put her under house arrest. Than Swe’s recent gala reception in India and the endless case made by India’s foreign policy experts, including Shyam Saran, about the necessity of becoming pragmatic when it came to dealing with Myanmar’s junta is an example of how far the Indian pendulum can swing with change in domestic political situation. Endless complaints about the Maoists’ anti-democratic acts have not made them change their ways, so it is time you change your ways and do things differently Mr Sushil Koirala. By opting for that, you would be doing a huge favor both to your party as well as the nation.

Speak the truth

The political stalemate continues unabated. While the members of the current coalition continue to stick to the demand of the dissolution of paramilitary structure of the Young Communist League (YCL) and return of the property seized property, the Maoists like in the past are trying their best to get away without fulfilling these demands. Given the level of political dishonesty that the Maoists exhibit, will these demands, that have a far reaching consequences on how we live and pursue our livelihoods, be ever met? Many concerned citizens have these questions crossing their minds.

Let’s get this straight: The paramilitary structure of the Young Communist League (YCL) will not be dissolved and the seized property will never be returned. There are many reasons for this, the prime being: In the Maoists’ collective consciousness, YCL is not a paramilitary force. It is a youth political force like the ones that every other major Nepali political party has. As far as the seized properties are concerned, 90 percent have been already returned. This is what the chief architect of the Maoist Party, Baburam Bhattarai said when grilled by Fauziah Ibrahim of the Al Jazeera television, recently. Is Bhattarai telling the truth? Absolutely not! There is ample evidence to support the fact that YCL is a paramilitary force. As far as the return of the seized properties is concerned, the process is yet to begin. Despite their pledge to return the seized properties, the Maoists continue to seize private properties. Ms. Ibrahim presented the fact that the latest event of confiscation occurred in May of 2010.

Bhattarai’s latest interview raises a serious question on his integrity. Bhattarai, whom many youngsters revere as the most honest politician, may not be what they believe him to be. The time has come for the bewildered youths who see political messiah in Bhattarai to take a close look at things he says and does. There is clear disconnect. It might be dangerous to chase fantasies preached by intellectual guru that believes in radical violent means to social reform and has an audacity to lie with a straight face knowing the fact that he will be watched by millions within and beyond the national boundary.

What should we expect from our politicians? Should we expect moral perfection? Or should we expect them to do the job they were hired to do? Or, the both? Answering these questions might be even considered redundant given the level of dishonesty that Nepali politicians exhibit. Despite consistent outlandish remarks and violent outbursts, Bhattarai is considered as a relatively clean and competent leader. He has been so far successful in not only charming relatively well educated youths but also keeping the Indians that call the shots in Nepal guessing. At the end of the day, he might turn out to be not very different from his current boss Pushpa Kamal Dahal, whom India groomed unsuccessfully to serve its interest.

Indians in their never ending experiment to turn Nepal into a client state are hedging their bet on Bhattarai primarily for two reasons. First, the Maoist party at its current form with Pushpa Kamal Dahal as a supreme leader is impossible to dictate. Hence, it needs to be cut down in size. And the best way to do that is by promoting Bhattarai, which they think will eventually lead to a vertical split in the Maoist party. Indian bureaucrats and intelligence operatives, especially the ones stationed in Kathmandu, seriously believe that making Bhattarai the next prime minister will bring about a split in the Maoist party. Second, Indians at this point have no bankable leader with popular mass support, whom they can rely on, to fulfill Indian interests.

Bhattarai with a straight face lied to Ms. Ibrahim. Why did he do that? He did so for a very simple reason. And, the reason is—he can afford to do so. He very well realizes the fact that he is dealing with a fragmented electorate. People whose property has been seized belong to the upper middle class and beyond, who did not support the Maoist rebellion to begin with. Plus, they are the ones that complain about the YCL’s paramilitary activities. So, why even bother about being correct?

Instead of engaging in a futile exercise of wining the hearts and minds of urban elites and “feudal” in hinterland, he talks about the rights of peasants to till the land. It is important to understand why Bhattarai and others ideologues in UCPN (Maoist) raise the issue of land reform, which they failed to act upon, while heading the government. In a country where approximately half of the population lives below the poverty line and millions are landless, the idea of land reform has tremendous political appeal. Through land reform the Maoists want to hand out “rights” to politically correct groups (read landless and tenants). At the end of the day, by expanding the entitlements of these groups, they want to garner their undivided support and use them against other citizens that oppose Maoists’ agendas. In doing so, Bhattarai and his fellow ideologues conveniently ignore the fact that the cost of the gifts they bestow on these groups have to be borne by other hardworking citizens.

NEPAL: AIDS/HIV

In Nepal HIV/AIDS is emerging as one of the major social and economical challenges. The people most affected by HIV/AIDS are those between the ages of 15 and 49.
AIDS may become the leading cause of death in the many working age of 15 and 49 years if an effective response is not taken now. The increasing prevalence of HIV/Aids is pushing our country towards a disaster. People are ignorant they lack information about the critical health consequences of HIV/AIDS. Cases of HIV/AIDS are among sex workers, injecting drug users, clients of sex workers; a small number of cases in housewives and children from vertical transmission.
Political instability in Nepal is leading to increased population mixing following displacement, which may promote high risk behavior sexual violence, increase in the rate of HIV infection in the time of conflict. The trafficking of Nepalese women and young girls to India is a major risk factor for HIV transmission. Every women's are not trafficked. Some has no any options left behind, to fulfill their requirements and responsibility towards families. Poverty drives large numbers of women to become prostitutes & bar girls consciously. Girls trafficked in India after returning to their families and villages are mostly not accepted in the society with respect. They do feel that this will disgrace the village's reputation and no one will marry and will reject others eligible girls. As a result, these victims of trafficking may be forced to keep selling themselves. They may also become pregnant and spread the virus to their babies during pregnancy or birth or through breast-feeding. These smallest victims need to be protected from HIV. With adequate treatment,mother-to-child-transmission is almost entirely preventable. An expectant mother can pass HIV during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. If a pregnant woman is given antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy and labor, and her baby gets a dose of medication immediately after birth, the chances of her spreading HIV to the infant can be reduced.
People who suffer are reluctant to discuss such issues because they fear of being marked as disgrace or infamy. One of the most serious and widespread problems is discrimination in the society and in the workplace. Business can play an important role in miniaturizing the socioeconomic costs of AIDS epidemic by enforcing non-discriminatory strategy, educating working classes, and providing medical facilities to HIV positive employees. These implications can help people understand and accept that people with HIV/Aids can live a normal productive life.
The poverty and powerlessness of women in most developing countries are making them increasingly susceptible to AIDS/HIV. Poverty, which forces women to stay with promiscuous, HIV- infected husbands and risk infection for themselves in order to maintain their access to men's economic resources. Most underprivileged societies girls and women do not have the power to reject unwanted or unsafe sex. Poverty and powerlessness among women's is an obstacle that makes reducing prostitution difficult so,the spread of AIDS continues.

Housewives are now becoming one of the vulnerable groups in the country, with the infection rate increasing. Due to the migrant laborers going to India and Middle East and remain away for years.They do have sexual contacts and spread infections to their wives once they are home. Injecting Drug Users forms the population in which HIV poses threat of explosive HIV epidemic. In Nepal wide spread sharing of contaminated injecting needle is the common and a major risk factor for HIV. So,AIDS happens to be the concentrated epidemic within the groups of sex workers and injecting drug users. All these might ultimately lead be a major health problem in Nepal. Government should take action immediately because ignoring such issues can soon increase the number of death from AIDS. If the AIDS epidemic continues to grow Nepal will have to face a tragic situation. MSM those married may put their wives at risk of becoming infected with HIV. Gays risk of acquiring HIV. men having sex with men must be urged to get HIV test regularly so that treatment could be started earlier and reduce the rate of transmission to partners. A late diagnosis increases the likelihood of passing HIV as well as greatly reducing the quality of health & lifestyle of people living with HIV.

Condom awareness plays a vital role in improving sexual health.Enforcing to practice safe sex by using condom with partners is the best way to halt the high numbers of emerging new cases.Young adults who are sexually active must be urged to carry and use condoms. Positive trends in young sexual behaviors like increased use of condoms, delay of sexual debut, and fewer sexual partners. This helps prevent sexually transmitted diseases rising among young people.Passing on Hopes to youths in dealing with emotions & stress, support them and communicate in issues that they cannot discuss with family members because of lack of social acceptance.
Nationalist concerns needs to be strong commitment of the governments, and from our political leaders with actions that would bring political stability and development. AIDS/HIV is also a developmental issue therefore a multi-sectoral approach is a must. A strong coordination and cooperation is necessary from all sectors. Education and health care must be the key government priority. Use of targeted intervention program in recognition of high risk groups from the population. Sexual health services needs to be made easier and faster to reach the people. HIV prevention needs to be focused and persistent reaching to those most at risk of HIV infection. Better prevention could halt its spread by reducing risk of HIV infection among sex workers and their clients, injecting drug users, and homosexuals. Government should march forward to resolve the social and economical cause of this epidemic such as poverty, inequality, stigma, discrimination, sex trafficking of women, illiteracy, and cultural restrictions on discussing sex. Along with all improvements we also need better HIV testing strategies.

Women in Nepal mail condoms to husbands

KATMANDU, Nepal - Women in a Nepal mountain village have been mailing condoms to their husbands working overseas to protect them from sexually transmitted diseases, a news report said Tuesday.

The women of Pang village have been writing their husbands letters urging them not to have sex with others — but they have been enclosing condoms just in case, the Kantipur newspaper reported.

Social workers have been counseling the women about sexually transmitted diseases.

"As I learned that unsafe relations make a person vulnerable to HIV, I sent a condom along with the letters to my husband," one of the village wives, Laxmi Sunar, told the newspaper.

An estimated 3 million people from impoverished Nepal work overseas, most as manual laborers, and send money home to support their families.

courtesy:http://health.yahoo.com/news/ap/nepal_condoms_for_husbands.html