Both sides agree to adopt policy to severely punish
people amassing properties by means of corruption while remaining in
government posts.”
The
above mentioned lines are from Clause 3.11 of the Comprehensive Peace
Accord signed by the Nepal government and the Maoists on November 21. On
those lines, both the sides have expressed their commitments to
severely punish those corrupts. However, the latest developments from
politics to judiciary are proving that those words also may just be the
high rhetoric. Both the sides have failed to convince people that they
are really serious on punishing those evils. Some people have taken this
as a commitment to punish those remaining in government posts during
the Royal regime, while others have taken this just as a tool to eyewash
the general public.
As time passes,
it is human nature that the people forget and forgive the crime of
anyone. Nepal’s Ranas who amassed billions of property from the state
are still enjoying the state privileges at other parts of the world and
even within the country with that money. Then the Palace coteries
amassed billions and billions of rupees. That too, is forgotten and
forgiven after the fall of Panchayat. Those corrupts were totally
forgiven when a Judicial Inquiry Commission on Property, headed by
Supreme Court Justice Bhairab Prasad Lamsal was formed some four years
back. The Lamsal Commission submitted its report recommending strong
action against some 2,000 persons remaining in the government posts
after the restoration of democracy. Now too, the political system of the
country has changed and it seems like that the corrupts of the
multiparty democracy era will also be forgotten and forgiven any day;
setting example that Nepal is the state of impunity. None will be
punished.
The Everest Uncensored has been trying uncovering such
evils to remind people so that at least they could point their fingers
to them and say, you are enjoying with our money and some day, you will
be brought to the book and punished.
In this series, the Everest
Uncensored tries to uncover the top ten corrupt politicians and what
sort of political and social privilege they have been enjoying. As many
of those evils are the members of the House of Representatives and
National Assembly, they have secured their position in the interim
legislature as well as per the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and Maoist
agreement. Thus the Nepalese are still not being free from those evils.
Prospects loom large those evils may try to fish in the troubled water,
taking advantage of the ongoing transition.
1. Chiranjibi Wagle
It is the single and record case ever in the history of Commission for
the Investigation of Abuse of Authority on which a prominent political
figure was proved corrupt by the court. Wagle remained in key positions
after Multi Party democracy. He is still a member of House of
Representatives from Gorkha-1 so that his position is secured in the
interim legislature as well. He was the Minister for Land Reforms and
Management; during Krishna Prasad Bhattrai’s cabinet. He was Minister
for Supplies in the cabinet headed by Girija Prasad Koirala in 1990 and
Minister for Information and Communication in the cabinet headed by Sher
Bahadur Deuba in 1996. He was also deputy to Prime Minister Sher
Bahadur Deuba in 2002. He was one of the key members to instigate Deuba
on dividing the Nepali Congress in 2002.
Wagle was fined Rs.27.3 million and given a two-and-a-half-year prison
sentence by a special court. The Commission for the investigation of
Abuse of Authority accused Wagle of misappropriating over Rs.30 million
by using his clout to bolster his son’s travel and trekking business,
and of making false declarations about his assets. The court also
ordered that the property Wagle had acquired illegally be confiscated.
This
was the first time in Nepal that action was taken against such a senior
political leader. However, Wagle has been enjoying the dilly dally of
Nepalese Judicial system. He immediately filed a writ petition in the
Supreme Court which released him on bail. And now Wagle has begun to
appear in the front of political arena. Though he resigned from the post
of Party vice President, he is still the Ceotral Committee member of
Nepali Congress (Democratic). Wagle, once a key member to divide Nepali
Congress, is now forcing Party President Sher Bahadur Deuba to unite
with Nepali Congress. Maybe, he is looking for another shield to conceal
his misappropriated property.
(Pics: Wagle is seen talking
to journalists in both the pitures. Two pictures carry two opposite
meanings. At the pictures at left he is talking to the journalists at
his residence in capacity of a Minister whereas on the next he is
talking to journalists at the premise of CIAA after recording his
statement,)
2. Govinda Raj Joshi
Govinda Raj Joshi was the Minister for Water Resources in Krishna Prasad
Bhattrai cabinet in 2000. He was the Home Minister in the caretaker
cabinet headed by Girija Prasad Koirala. He served as Minister for
Education twice in 1991 and 1996.
Protecting
Corrupts: Joshi is still close aide of Girija Prasad Koirala. So why
Koirala can’t be spared from the allegations that he has protected
corrupts and institutionalised corruption.
Joshi was
supposed to have been involved in many scams. He was supposed to have
benefited millions while publishing the result of the permanent teachers
which was later annulled by the court. The CIAA had charged him of
embezzling 3.93 million rupees. The CIAA sought a 13-year imprisonment,
seizure of all illegal property and a penalty equal to the property he
had amassed.
To the best of Joshi, the special court has acquitted
him of all those charges. The CIAA petition has been quashed by the
Special court. The court took the decision even without entering the
facts, just for a reason that the case was not filed within the
timeframe. The Special Court judges Bhupadhwaj Adhikari, Komal Nath
Sharma and Cholendra Shumsher Rana in their ruling have said that the
case filed against Joshi did not even draw the attention of the court to
enter the “facts” to make a verdict.
He is still a central member
of Nepali Congress, and close aide of Girija Prasad Koirala. Joshi
reserves the position in the interim legislature as he represents
Tanahu-1 at the House of Representatives. May be, again people may
reiterate his name as a Minister some day again.
3. Khum Bahadur Khadka
Khadka has also assumed many key positions in the governments after the
Multi Party democracy. He was another key figure on instigating Deuba
for Nepali Congress faction. He was Minister for Housing and Physical
Planning; and Local Development in Krishna Prasad Bhattrai Cabinet in
2000. He was Minister for Works and Transport in the cabinet headed by
Girija Prasad Koirala in 1991, Minister for Home in the cabinet headed
by Sher Bahadur Deuba in 1996 and Minister for Supplies in the cabinet
headed by Girija Prasad Koirala in 1998. Khadka also has the reserved
position in the interim legislature as he is the member of House of
Repreesentatives from Dang-1. He assumed the portfolio of Home Ministry
in Deuba cabinet in 2002.
The
CIAA has filed several cases against this political player from western
Nepal. However, Khadka has got the clean chit from the court. The
recent verdict of his acquittal by the special court has come under
controversy. A three-member bench comprising chairman of the Special
Court, Bhupadhoj Adhikari, and members Komal Nath Sharma and Cholendra
Shumsher Rana had given clean chit to Khadka. The CIAA had charged him
of embezzling 23.6 million rupees illegally during his tenure as the
minister. (Pic: Khadka, once the powerful Home Minister is seen under police custody at the picture)
Khadka
had got clean chit in the separate case as well. The CIAA had accused
Khadka of embezzling Rs 40.5 million while awarding a work of Bakraha
River Control Project to China Henan Company. However, the special court
had acquitted him.
Khadka, once a key member to divide Nepali
Congress, has now returned to the Nepali Congress, severing his ties
with the Sher Bahadur-Deuba-led NC (Democratic); and is seen making
gracious presence in the central Committee meetings of the Nepali
Congress.
4. Rabindra Nath Sharma
The hard liner Royalist and Panchayat minister Rabindra Nath Sharma
leads the list among the corrupt politicians. He has assumed the port
folio of Finance Minister multiple times during Panchayat and after
Multi party Democracy as well. The CIAA has charged Sharma of embezzling
41.5 million rupees. His case is under review at the Special court.
However, there are speculations that he will also be acquitted in the
same ground as the to former Ministers duo Khadka and Joshi were.
Sharma
had become notorious for his speech at the public account Committee of
House of Representatives in 1998 where he had readily accepted that the
corruption and smuggling continued in the past, is still continued and
will continue in the future as well.
After Royal takeover in
February 2005, Sharma panel firmly supported the move. The group along
under the leadership of another diehard Royalist and the then Home
Minister Kamal Thapa forcefully captured the Rastriya Prajatantra Party.
After the election Commission denied to recognize Kamal Thapa led
faction, they have separately formed Rastriay Prajatantra Party Nepal
and Sharma holds the dignified position of the Chairman. In recent days
he has begun to claim position in the interim legislature and the
government as well.
5. Kamal Thapa
This
diehard Royalist since Panchayat era made a dramatic move in the
multiparty democracy. He jumped into the Rastriya Prajatantra Party
which was initially formed as an alliance of the Royal loyals. Thapa
went on making playing his card game and succeeded on being minister for
multiple times.
After
Royal takeover in February 1, 2005, Thapa changed his skin and kneeled
before the King. As a result, he was able to resume the portfolio of the
Home Minister in the Royal cabinet. Though he hasn’t been charged and
convicted yet, he was notorious for 500 thousand rupees pocket money
during his latest tenure as Home Minister. There were reports that he
took the money every day during the staged municipal polls and later in
people’s uprising, which didn’t need any receipts and place of
expenditure. He is supposed to have been embezzling millions of rupees
alone during this tenure; let alone his previous tenures.
After
Royal takeover in February 2005, Thapa, along with other most tainted
men Padma Sundar Lawoti and Rabindranath Sharma forcefully captured the
Rastriya Prajatantra Party. After the election Commission denied to
recognize the faction, they have separately formed Rastriaya Prajatantra
Party Nepal and Thapa resigned as its chairman, paving way for no less
corrupt Sharma.
6. Tarini Datta Chataut and Lauda Scam
He is the prominent personality behind Lauda scam that ever in the
Nepalese parliamentary history made the House to continuously postpone
for 57 days and finally end without single parliamentary session.
Exactly from the point Nepalese parliamentary system lost people’s faith
which finally paved the way for Royal takeover in 2002.
Chataut,
the then Minister for Tourism and civil aviation, was charged of
illegally operating and benefiting from the most infamous Lauda air
procurement deals. The CIAA had claimed that the lease led to a direct
loss of the RNAC of over 389 million and that should be compensated from
the convicts. The case reached the Patan appellate court from where he
was released in a bail of 2.1 million rupees. The case, after the
establishment of Special court to look after the corruption cases, was
transferred to special court. The Special court is yet to give verdict
on the most infamous case. The delay on delivering verdict on such case
is taken as a failure of the Special court. The
speculations behind such delay are that the case also involves the then
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala who is the key figure in the
national politics so far.
Chataut was supposed to be the close
mate of Girija Prasad Koirala. He was also initially proposed as the
Speaker in the House of Representatives which was later bagged by
Taranath Ranabhat. The political debate was ignited when there were
reports that the then Prime Minister Koirala hid him in his official
residence when Patan Appellate court had ordered him to be present
before the court.
(Pic: Chataut talking to journalists after recording his statement at the CIAA regarding Lauda scam.)
The far westerner Chataut is Still an MP and reserves a position at the
Interim legislature. And still is an influential leader inside Nepali
Congress.
7. Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta
This multiple time Minister was notorious not only for embezzling the
state funds, but also curbing the media during his tenure as the
Minister for Information and Communications. He was who barred the FM
stations from broadcasting the News which was later followed to the best
by the Royal regime.
CIAA accused Gupta of making more than Rs.30
million through illegal telecommunication deals, unlawful procurement
of mobile phone sets and wrongful renewing of cinema licenses during his
tenure. He was also charged and acquitted in a deal with the Kantipur
Television Network for clearing the security bund of 25 million rupees.
This
guy was a Congressman. As the Minister in Deuba cabinet, he was one of
those who incited Deuba to divide party. However, later he became
uncertain whether to follow Deuba too. That’s why he has taken the other
communal slogan now. He has formed a party named Madheshi Jana Adhikar
forum and is busy doing the communal politics. Still, gupta, as a member
of House of Representatives from Saptari – 1, reserves position in the
interim legislature.
8. Bijaya Gachchhedar
Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar served lately as Minister for Tourism and Civil
Aviation in Deuba government in 2002. He assumed same port folio in
Krishna Prasad Bhattrai cabinet in 2000. He served as Minister for
Information and Communication in 1992 and Minister for Works and
Transport in 1996. As others Gachhadar also reserves a position in the
interim legislature as a member of House of Representatives from
Sunsari-2.
As the Minister in Deuba cabinet, Gachchhedar was also
one among those who incited Deuba to divide party. Hence, he was able to
reserve the post of Joint General Secretary of Nepali Congress
(Democratic). Now, in line with other corrupts including Chiranjibi
Wagle and Bal Bahadur KC, Gachchhedar is pressuring Deuba for Party
unification with Nepali Congress.
(Partners in crime: Gachhadar and Shrestha host a press Conference)
Here is an excerpt from a 1999 issue of a weekly that helps us find how notorious could have he been:
Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Bijaya Kumar Gachchhedar has
been contacting various power centres to cover up his wrong doings.
Gachchedar has been charged for taking financial benefit during his
tenure as Minister for Works and Transportation. Presently, he has been
charged for supporting and helping international smuggler.
News
source says the INTERPOL has also been trying to arrest Gachchhedar.
Similarly, an international gang has been threatening him that they
would reveal all his past history if they don’t get the money demanded
by them. Nevertheless Gachchedhar’s dark secrets have already been
revealed.
(See: Khabarkagaj, Thursday, August 19, 1999)
9. Radha Krishna Mainali
This hard liner Communist who once raised arms against the
establishment in 1971 and suffered many years in prison dramatically
changed his stance and became the icon of feudal system. He was the
leader of Left Front that co worked with the Nepali Congress to make the
1990 movement a success. His role on this movement was lauded. With the
legacy of Jhapa uprising, he was elected at the House of
Representatives multiple times and as an influential leader inside the
Party, assumed the port folio of various ministries as well. However,
his close aides had already begun to find rift on his stances. The party
leaders and cadres were already skeptic about his activities. He was
interrogated by Lamsal Judicial Commission on property followed by a
CIAA investigation for amassing property illegally.
(Royalty and the Loyalty: Mainali follows King Gyanendra at an inaugural function.)
Fed
up with his diminishing influence inside the party, Mainali turned a
royalist in latter years and subsequently was able to be appointed
Education Minister in King’s cabinet. He was in the forefront on
defaming the political parties during his 15 months term as the
Minister. After the success of people’s uprising 2006, Mainali is seen
nowhere. However, there are possibilities that he may, any day in the
future, come out in the political arena as the Panchayat heroes changed
their skin during multi Party democracy.
10. Gopal Man Shrestha
Gopal Man Shrestha was proposed as the candidate for Deputy Prime
Minister in present government led by Girija Prasad Koirala. He has
assumed the portfolios of Minister for Commerce, Forest and Soil
Conservation and lately as the Minister for Physical planning and works
in the current government.
Khanal-Rojin
and Turpentine case shook the parliament in 2002. On the recommendation
of CIAA the then minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Shrestha
along with his State Minister Surendra Hamal, was fired for taking a
bribe for approving a file of Khanal-Rojin and Turpentine Ltd.
Shrestha
also reserves his position in the interim legislature as the member of
House of Representatives from Syangja-2. He is also the vice President
of Nepali Congress Democratic.
Shrestha has however succeeded on
improving his public figure to some extent. During Party President
Deuba’s imprisonment at the custody of Royal Commission for Corruption
Control, he played an active role on behalf of Deuba during talks with
the Maoists. He also actively participated in the people’s uprising
2006. There haven’t been any incidents of corruption reported during his
current tenure.
None the Royal Ministers and the King’s coteries
can’t be spared off this list. Those may include Satshitshumsher,
Sharadchandra Shah, Ramesh Nath Pandey and hundreds others who have been
embezzling state property since ages. There are as many as hundred
politicians in the list of Everest Uncensored who have deceived the
people who elected them to the parliament and paved way to the
government. They have not only amassed huge property but also formed
alliances with the Royalists to defame the multi party democracy. Such
politicians are somehow more protected by Nepali Congress who still
enjoy privileged position in the Nepali Congress. President Girija
Prasad Koirala, though he succeeded on making King bow down before the
public, is still protecting such corrupts. It was his tenure in the past
which was full of many scams and he ever remained dumb towards such
events. People say Koirala is not a corrupt. But people can’t forgive
him as an institutionalizer of corruption.
The number is higher in
Nepali congress Democratic. The Rastriya Prajatantra Party has very few
people without the stains of corruption or illegal deeds. The CPN UML
has also never been serious towards interrogating its comrades if how
they could amass such large property.
In the given scenario,
people are only hopeful about the Maoists. But they have also failed to
assure the people. People have taken the extortion drive in the latter
days as an indication to show how much the Maoists loved money. People
don’t have much expectation with the Maoists either. However, the
Maoists can only benefit from people’s sentiment that they hated
corruption.
(This article is just an attempt to see the
patterns of political corruption in the country. The persons in the list
may not exactly fall on the same serial or more corrupt people might
have been missed. )
This article originally appeared on Everest Uncensored Blog on November 29, 2006.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Citizen Journalism in Nepal
Rise of Citizen Journalism
Citizen journalism, also called "participatory journalism," is booming in the 21st century with the active participation of citizens in the collection, analysis, and dissemination of news. With the rapid growth in information technology (IT), the number of Internet users has skyrocketed, as has the number of Internet-based news media.
In recent years, IT has developed to such an extent that, like the mailbox, some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have begun to provide separate Web sites for subscribers. In the beginning, such Web sites were used just as personal Web diaries and were accordingly called Weblogs. Weblog became "blog" and has turned into a vibrant medium of information exchange. People are using blogs to exchange information, subsequently challenging the mainstream media, in which a much more limited number of professional journalists try to cover the whole spectrum of news and opinions.
Citizen journalism, also called "participatory journalism," is booming in the 21st century with the active participation of citizens in the collection, analysis, and dissemination of news. With the rapid growth in information technology (IT), the number of Internet users has skyrocketed, as has the number of Internet-based news media.
In recent years, IT has developed to such an extent that, like the mailbox, some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have begun to provide separate Web sites for subscribers. In the beginning, such Web sites were used just as personal Web diaries and were accordingly called Weblogs. Weblog became "blog" and has turned into a vibrant medium of information exchange. People are using blogs to exchange information, subsequently challenging the mainstream media, in which a much more limited number of professional journalists try to cover the whole spectrum of news and opinions.
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