The Maoist-led government presented its Policy and Programme document last week, setting out a whole gamut of tasks facing Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' . The key points of the document are: to draft new constitution within given timeframe of two years,
Nepal
< class="maroontitle">Prachanda’s Nepal Agenda
The Maoist-led government presented its Policy and Programme document last week, setting out a whole gamut of tasks facing Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ . The key points of the document are: to draft new constitution within given timeframe of two years, to integrate and rehabilitate Maoist People’s Liberation Army within six months, to make all Nepalese literate within two years, to produce 10,000 megawatt electricity and provide it to all houses within ten years, and connect all districts of Karnali with road network in two years. The document also envisages setting up of several high-level commissions to speed up political, social and economic transformations. One of such most important commissions is the State Restructuring Commission. The document, as expected, has its distractors. Major political parties like Nepali Congress and the ruling partner CPN-UML, for instance, are critical of the idea of integrating the ‘ideologically indoctrinated’ People’s Liberation Army (Maoist armed cadre) into the Nepal Army.
Sri Lanka
< class="maroontitle">LTTE attacks radars
LTTE, its back against the wall, is making desperate attempts to strike back at the Sri Lankan military assets. Last week, it undertook a combined land-air attack on a Vavuniya Security Forces headquarters and an adjoining Sri Lanka Air Force Base. While the group claimed `success`, the government officials called it a failure as the counter-attack had killed 10 `Black Tigers`. About a dozen Sri Lankan soldiers were also killed. Two Indians manning the Indra-2 radar system escaped with minor injuries. As the Sri Lankan forces are closing in on LTTE’s stronghold Kilinochhi, the possible objective behind targeting radars was to destroy or damage the air detection capabilities of Sri Lanka so that the rebels can escape undetected during the military offensive.
Bangladesh
< class="maroontitle">Former PM Khaleda released
The influential leader of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia was released on September 11. With her release, the uncertainty about the future of the BNP leader and her party’s participation in the forthcoming elections have ended. Soon after the release, BNP declared that it will participate in the December elections. Begun Zia was arrested on September 3, 2007 on charges of corruption. Although the government was ready to release her, the BNP leader was adamant that her two sons, Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Coco, under detention on charges of corruption, must be freed prior to her release. This condition had delayed her release. The release of her sons--Coco in July and Tarique in early September—cleared the way for the former Prime Minister’s release.
Maldives
< class="maroontitle">Election date Postponed
Efforts to hold the presidential elections on time have been in vain as Maldivian Majlis failed to pass two crucial bills on Election Rules and Presidential Elections. Added to this is the two-week recess of Majlis on the occasion of Ramadan. Though the recess is permissible under the standing Parliamentary Orders, critics of the decision said ‘special circumstances’ called for ‘special measures’. Maldivian Information Minister Mohammed Nasheed criticized the Speaker for his laid-back attitude in conducting the proceedings of the Parliament. Whatever be the actual reasons, it is now certain that the elections would not be held on October 4 as earlier stipulated. Fresh dates are yet to be announced.
Pakistan
< class="maroontitle">US attack angers people
Reports that the recent US Special Operations raid into Waziristan that left 17 dead was authorized by President George Bush evoked angry response across the country. Besides the ground attack in South Waziristan, six missiles were fired at madrasa run by Taliban military leader Jalaluddin Haqqani. The attack killed Abu Haris, the leader of Al Qaeda Pakistan along with two other leaders, but missed its intended target. Drone attacks in Pakistan have tripled in 2008 with as many as 11 strikes taking place. This has put the newly-appointed President Asif Zardari, who took oath on Tuesday (September 9), in a tricky situation; he badly needs the US aid to revive a depressed economy but can do without the US landing inside Pakistan. The US action has in fact put the President and the Army Chief, General Ashfaq Kayani, on the defensive.
< class="maroontitle">Contributors:
The views expressed above belong to the author(s). ORF research and analyses now available on Telegram! Click here to access our curated content — blogs, longforms and interviews.
PREV
