Highlights:
- The IDP working group launches conflict induced displacement report
- Mid Year Review consultations on Consolidated Appeal for 2009 conclude – highlight food security, disaster preparedness, and need for more balanced funding across all sectors
- Formation of new government continues, with delays
- Strikes by Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists and its affiliates affects normal life
- Rift in Madhesh People's Right Forum over cabinet appointments
CONTEXT
Political Developments
Consultations regarding the formation of the 22 member coalition government led by Communist Party of Nepal- Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) continued. On 4 June, 8 more Ministers from the main coalition partners Nepali Congress (NC), Madheshi Peoples Rights Forum (MPRF) and CPN-UML were appointed to the government and sworn in. This brings to 11 the number of new cabinet ministers sworn in since the formation of the new government started on 25 May.
During this period, the coalition partners finished the formulation of a Common Minimum Programme, a Code of Conduct for Ministers, and guidelines for operation of the new government. However, inter-party and intra-party wrangling over power-sharing and allocation of government portfolios continued to delay cabinet expansion. On 7 June, a power-sharing meeting between the NC and CPN-UML ended inconclusively as both parties stuck to their demands for influential and high-level ministerial portfolios of Finance, Home, Defence, Local Development and Water Resources. Similarly, a meeting of the CPN-UML's Standing Committee on 8 June failed to finalise the list of CPN-UML ministers to join the government. According to media reports, the decision by the NC President G.P Koirala to hand-pick his daughter to lead the NC in government, and to send junior ministers to the cabinet, has polarised the party. The completion of full cabinet formation was postponed severally during this period.
Differences between the Chairman and Parliamentary party leader of the MPRF, a key coalition partner, over who to lead the party in the new government continued. On 5 June, at a
press conference, MPRF chairman Upendra Yadav announced the withdrawal of MPRF support to the CPNUML led coalition government and the expulsion of Parliamentary Party leader Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar, along with six other central committee members, for joining the new government against party policy. Gachchhadar had already been sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Planning and Works on 4 June.
On 7 June, Yadav informed the Speaker, Prime Minister, President and Election Commission about the party's decision to withdraw support to the new government and to stay in opposition. However, on 8 June Gachchhadar informed the Speaker that the MPRF was a member of the ruling coalition and would continue to support the CPNUML- led government. Both Yadav and Gachchhadar maintain that they enjoy a majority support within the party. On 8 June, the Yadav faction of MPRF called a strike protesting the appointment of Gachchadar as the Deputy Prime Minister without the party's recommendation. The Yadav led faction also criticised the NC and the CPN-UML of trying to split MPRF political party. Kapilbastu, Mahottari, Bara, Nawalparasi, Sunsari, Morang, Banke, Dang, Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusa, Rautahat and other Terai Districts were affected due to the bandh. Vehicles did not ply and markets, educational institutions, factories and offices remained closed. Protesters burnt tyres in several Terai markets area. On 8 June, local shopkeepers and businessmen in Rautahat District Headquarters, Gaur, clashed with the strike supporters, leading to reported injury of more than six MPRF supporters.
The new government continued revoking some of the decisions that had been reached by the former Unified Communist Party of Nepal- Maoist (UCPN-M) government. On 5 June, a cabinet meeting decided to extend the tenure of eight Nepal Army (NA) brigadier generals by a further three years. In mid-March the Defence Ministry had decided not to extend the tenure of the eight. Similarly, on 8 June, the NA decided in principle to initiate a court of inquiry against Lieutenant General Kul Bahadur Khadka for his alleged association with the UCPN-M. Khadka, the NA second-incommand, had been appointed by the former UCPN-M-led government as Acting Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) after the Cabinet sacked CoAS Rookmangud Katawal on 3 May.
During this period, the UCPN-M continued blocking the proceedings of the Legislature-Parliament (L-P), demanding discussion of their "commitment resolution" against the President's move to reinstate the CoAS. The speaker of L-P had decided against such discussion on 30 May due to lack of consensus by L-P members over the issues as well as the fact that the matter was sub-judice. On 12 June, the L-P was postponed indefinitely after it completed discussion of two papers that had been presented by the Constitution subcommittees.
Safety and security
During this period, UCPN-M supporters and allied groups continued holding demonstrations in many districts across the country protesting against the President's decision to reinstate the CoAS and the CA's refusal to table the UCPN-M motion over the issue for discussion. As part of the UCPNM's announced series of nationwide protests against the President's move to reinstate the Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), on 3 June, the UCPN-M organized peaceful sit-in programs in front of all District Administration Offices (DAOs) throughout the country. On 5 June, the UCPN-M affiliated Tharu Rastriya Mukti Morcha enforced a one-day bandh in Banke, Dang, Bardiya and Kailali districts. According to media reports, three people were injured in clashes in Bardiya district when UCPN-M cadres tried to enforce the bandh. On 6 June, the UCPN-M enforced a bandh to protest over the CoAS issue and the 'encroachment' of Nepali land by India in Morang, Jhapa and Sunsari districts. In Morang, a vehicle belonging to Kantipur Publications was vandalized and set on fire by UCPN-M cadres for defying the bandh. On 5 June, UCPN-M affiliated Tharu National Liberation Front (TNLF) called Tharuhat Region Bandh to protest the president's 'unconstitutional move and the foreign intervention in Nepal's internal affairs'. On 6 June, workers of the Sunsari-Morang industrial corridor took to the streets to protest the UCPN-M demonstrations. UCPN-M supporters had reportedly vandalised seven factories along the corridor and had attacked workers for defying the Sunsari, Morang and Jhapa bandh called by the UCPN-M on 6 June. Similarly, during the reporting period, UCPN-M continued with the daily 2 hour nation-wide transportation strikes restricted movement of Humanitarian and development partners in different parts of the country (See below under operational space)
On 11 June, UCPN-M affiliated Madhesi Rastriya Mukti Morcha announced a Mithila Rajya Samiti bandh protesting the President's 'unconstitutional move' and demanding an end on 'foreign intervention' in Nepal. Effects of the bandh were observed in Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusa and Mahottari districts with no vehicular movement and closure of markets. Similarly, on 11 June, UCPN-M announced for Bhojpura Rajya bandh, protesting against the President's 'unconstitutional move' over CoAS. The effect of this bandh was observed in Rautahat, Bara and Parsa districts with no vehicular movement and closure of markets. On 9 June, UCPN-M supporters held a rally in Bhojpur District Headquarters, forcing the closure of shops. Government offices were also padlocked, compelling employees to halt work. On 15 June, UCPN-M affiliated Young Communist League (YCL) called Kathmandu valley bandh to protest the death of one of their cadres- the in charge of Kathmandu 7 area on 11 June. The strike paralysed life in the valley, with closure of educational institutions, markets and industries.
Extortion and demand for huge amounts of money as 'donations' also continued to be reported. On 5 June, Janabadi Hill Tiger, an outfit which has been carrying out armed activities in parts of the eastern hilly districts demanded large 'donations' from businessmen of Bhojpur bazaar, Bhojpur District, stating that the donations were needed to continue the 'People's War' started by the Maoists and to free the people. The leader of the Janabadi Hill Tiger, Hansaraj, reportedly threatened to take 'physical action' if such donations were not provided immediately.
