Nepal & Bhutan Brief (13/15)

Post Earthquake Reconstruction Efforts:

International Donors Conference for Reconstruction:

1. An International Donor’s Conference on Nepal’s reconstruction was held in Kathmandu on June 25. The event drew around 300 representatives, including ministers, from 56 countries and donor agencies, who generously pledged support for reconstruction after the devastating quake and it’s after shocks. Addressing the Conference, Prime Minister Koirala assured the international community of transparency and accountability in utilisation of aid received for reconstruction efforts. He assured that the government would leave no stone unturned to ensure that the support received reached the targeted beneficiaries. He declared the setting up of a high-level National Reconstruction Authority under his Chairmanship for ensuring sustained, durable and planned reconstruction. This agency would be run by professionals from different disciplines. Foreign Minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey appealed to the international community to respond in robust and coordinated manner in this hour of crisis. He said that such response may be financial support, market access, technology transfer and announcement of special economic zone and foreign investment.

2. India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj pledged US$ one billion, one fourth of which would be provided as a grant and the remaining as concessional loan. China pledged US $ 460 million, followed by Japan (US $ 260 million), US (US $ 130 million), European Union (US $ 112 million) and Norway (US $ 13 million). World Bank and Asian Development Bank pledged US$ 500 million and US$ 600 million respectively. Ministers from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Bhutan also pledged their support but did not indicate the quantum of assistance. Pakistan pledged US $ 1 million. The total amount pledged by the donor community reached the figure of $ 4.4 billion.

3. Even though the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) estimates prepared by the government had pegged the requirement of funds at US $6.7 billion, Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat described the conference as a grand success both in terms of participation and outcome. The pledge of $ 4.4 billion was more than expected, he added. Besides, the donors also made commitment to provide technical assistance, advisory service and training to enhance Nepal’s capacity building in dealing with natural disasters. He said that we needed to improve our capacity to better utilize their money.

Fund Collection in UK:

4. An Evening for Gorkha Charity for Earthquake victims of Nepal was organised by the Help Nepal Network, UK, on June 28, at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Nepali singers and musicians performed at the famed venue for charity show. All Nepali organizations in UK came together to make this show a success.

After Shock and Landslide Refugees:

5. A fresh after shock of 5 on the Richter scale with epicenter in Ramechhap district, was felt early morning on June 29. Earlier, a quake of 4.3 after shock with epicenter in Sindhapalchowk district occurred on June 28. Devastating earthquakes of April 25 and subsequent after shocks have caused unstable slopes and rains are now playing havoc with frequent landslides, compelling the locals to leave the affected areas to find shelter in the plains. Landslides are now emerging as big disaster in the 15 mountain districts worst affected by earthquakes. For the past weeks, the land slide refugees have been living in tented settlement outside town.

Political Developments:

Constitution Draft Tabled in the CA:

6. Seventeen months after the formation of the second Constituent Assembly, the preliminary draft of the new constitution was tabled in the CA on June 30, paving the way for promulgation of the new charter. Even though several steps still remain to be taken before the constitution is finally promulgated, leaders termed the move as a great achievement considering that the first CA elected in 2008 was dissolved after 4 years in 2012 without producing even the first draft. Presenting the draft, CDC Chairman Sitaula said that it had been a difficult task to come up with the draft as the parties had their own ideologies and views on various issues of national concerns. There is still room for amendment to the provisions through wider discussion, he clarified. The document can also be changed to incorporate views of public. Deliberations on the draft will begin on July-9. The draft will then be presented to the people to solicit their opinions on the provisions. Despite some notes of dissent over some provisions, major parties including the UCPN (Maoist) have backed the document. The Maoists have reservations about the parliamentary system and provision on citizenship and the role of districts in the federal system, among others. Top leaders have agreed to continue discussions on the unresolved issues.

7. CA members belonging to three Madhes – based parties – Singhiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal, Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party and Sadbhawna Party – tore up the draft in protest soon after Sitaula presented it in the House. Forum Chairman Upendra Yadav said they would launch street agitation as the draft had curtailed the rights of Dalits, Janjati, Madhesi, Muslim and other marginalised communities. The parties are against the 16-point deal, signed by the major parties on June 8, and numerous other provisions of the draft constitution. The regional parties want statute promulgation only after the delineation of federal units was finalised. Kamal Thapa, Chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party – Nepal, reiterated his demand for referendum on secularism, federalism, monarchy and republicanism. He said his party was ready to face democratic processes but its proposal submitted earlier to the CA secretariat should be taken up for discussion. Some other parties and lawmakers also registered dissent but they pledged support to the ongoing process.

8. On the question of Supreme Court stay order on the implementation of the 16-point pact, Subash Nembang, Chairman of the Constituent Assembly, said that the Assembly was free to conduct its business independently, on the basis of its own rules and procedure. He said that the process has moved ahead as per the earlier directive of the court that the constitution should be drafted as soon as possible. The dissenting views have also been presented along with the draft.

9. It may be mentioned here that the CDC was supposed to present the draft to the CA on June-29, but the Maoists had refused to sign the document stating that Sitaula had unilaterally overturned several positions that were already agreed to. They had demanded that either “father or mother” should have the right to pass on citizenship by descent to their children, instead of the “father and mother” requirement. The draft however still maintains the “father and mother” provision; despite objections from the Maoist and Madhes-based parties and women rights activists.

President and CA Chairman Argue on Need for Restraint:

10. President Ram Baran Yadav and CA Chairman Subash Nembang were locked in a verbal duel on existing relationship between executive, legislative and judiciary. June 22, during a meeting with Nembang, President Yadav expressed the view that restraint was needed for the three state organs to share excellent relationship between themselves. Yadav was expressing his concern over fierce criticism being made by the cabinet members and the members of the Constituent Assembly following the Supreme Court ruling to stay the implementation of the 16-point pact between four political parties. Nembang, in his reply, made it clear to the President that all three state organs should also refrain from encroaching upon each other territories and suggested that he should rather tell the judiciary to exhibit restraint. Nembang also complained that the SC ruling had come in a unilateral manner without asking the other side to clarify their stance on the issue.

Contempt of Court Case Filed Against Four Party Leaders:

11. A contempt of court case was filed on June 24, against four party leaders Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and Chairman of the Constituent Assembly Chairman Subash Nembang for publicly voicing dissent against the Supreme Court ruling to stay implementation of the 16-point pact. A single bench of Justice Girischandra Lal, on June 19, had issued a stay order based on Article 1, 82, and 138 of the interim constitution asking the parties not to promulgate the new constitution without resolving matters related to state restructuring. Advocate Laxmi Prasad Pokharel claimed that public statements made by the leaders following the SC ruling tantamount to contempt of court.

Bhutan

There were no significant developments to report.