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UCPN-M has said that their demonstrations will be peaceful. The Government has said that no unnecessary force will be used. But the fear is high.

The Representative of the UN Secretary General and UNMIN Chief, Karin Landgren, has said that- “Nepal’s unique national peace process has arrived at a difficult phase”. She added -“There are grave concerns about the direction that it may take in the coming days”. 

United CPN (Maoists) is organizing May Day rallies and celebrations in major cities across the country on May 1. But after 1 May, the situation is unpredictable, and may seriously endanger the peace process.

Speaking at the press conference today Landgren strong urged “the parties to come to an agreement rapidly, before this situation escalates. The major parties have indicated publicly, and also emphasized to me, their willingness to reach an agreement”.

She expressed deep concerns that “despite these peaceful intentions, potential spoilers of the peace process could provoke a clash”. She added-“ I appeal to all parties and groups to exercise maximum restraint, and underline that unity amongst the parties has been the driving force of the peace process, and remains the best prospect for permanent peace in Nepal”.

By Matthew Bruce

This decision to keep the Euro was very influential indeed as the UK wanted to keep sovereignty in the country, but also it would only be a step closer to handing over more power to the EU.

Since 1973, the UK’s membership to the EU has been an awkward one since. The UK had joined the EU at a very euro sceptical time, with many political parties unwelcome to the idea of an almost federalist state that was the European Union. In this, since 1973, major parties have always had precise views on the EU and in this the UK has been almost an outsider party in the EU to this day. Evidence to support this would the UK’s decision not to join the Eurozone, thus not adopting the Euro and keeping the Great British Pound Sterling.

This decision to keep the Euro was very influential indeed as the UK wanted to keep sovereignty in the country, but also it would only be a step closer to handing over more power to the EU. One major plan that the UK have is to keep this sovereignty in the UK, in Parliament and not hand power over to Brussels in the process. In this, many citizens wonder why the UK even joined the European Union in the first place, and there are good reasons behind this. The UK joined the EU first and foremost so that we were allowed to trade anywhere within the EU, any citizen was allowed to live and work abroad and people from other countries were allowed to come work and live in the UK. This brought to the UK more money and more profession, but in some ways it may not work as well as some people have become increasingly frustrated with migrant workers taking jobs and leaving British workers unemployed and without a job, but it is hard for the government to do anything around this subject as the EU citizens are entitled to work here, with migrant workers working sometimes for less than the national minimum wage.

Also people abroad come to live in the UK because of our welfare state, as the UK is one of the few countries in the whole world that offers a free national health service (NHS), all the other countries within the EU do not offer a free national health service and in this, people are coming to live in the UK for the use of the NHS as a priority.

What makes the UK awkward in these situations is the fact that UK citizens don’t pay attention to the EU and feel that the European Union doesn’t really affect them, this could be because of the attitudes that politicians have towards the EU, when Politicians show a lack of enthusiasm towards the EU, the citizen’s opinion isn’t really to pay attention towards the EU. In this, the UK is increasingly becoming an outside member state in the EU, really the UK is only in the EU as they get a matter of opinion and say into the formation of EU law, as EU law does affect UK law today and the UK need the beneficiaries of the EU in order to maintain a healthy society, even though most political observers and citizens today are confused about the EU’s strategy and its actual democratic legitimacy in today’s world.

An LTTE bicycle infantry platoon north of Kilinochchi in 2004

Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora groups should move away, once and for all, from the failed agenda of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and instead put their energies into the quest for a sustainable and just peace in a united Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora after the LTTE,* the latest report from the International Crisis Group, examines political dynamics within the Tamil diaspora since May 2009, as Tamils abroad adapt to the LTTE’s defeat. It also looks at the potential for new forms of militancy within the diaspora, especially among the younger generations, radicalised by the deaths of thousands of Tamil civilians in the final months of the war. While there is little chance of the Tamil Tigers regrouping in the diaspora, most Tamils abroad remain profoundly committed to a separate state of Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka.

“New diaspora initiatives attempt to carry forward the struggle for an independent state in more transparent and democratic ways, but they must repudiate the LTTE’s violent methods”, says Robert Templer, Crisis Group’s Asia Program Director. “And they must also recognise that the LTTE’s separatist agenda is out of step with the wishes and needs of Tamils in Sri Lanka”.

The gap between the diaspora and Tamils in Sri Lanka has widened. Most in the country are exhausted by decades of war and are more concerned with rebuilding their lives under difficult circumstances than in continuing the fight for an independent state. Without the LTTE to enforce a common political line, Tamil leaders in Sri Lanka are proposing substantial reforms within a united Sri Lanka. While Tamils have the democratic right to espouse separatism non-violently, Tamil Eelam has virtually no domestic or international backing. With the Sri Lankan government assuming Tamils abroad remain committed to violent means, the diaspora’s continued calls for a separate state feed the fears of the Rajapaksa administration and provid e excuses for maintaining destructive anti-terrorism and emergency laws.

“The Sri Lankan government must address the legitimate grievances at the root of the conflict: the political marginalisation and physical insecurity of most Tamils in Sri Lanka. The international community needs to press Colombo much more strongly for political and constitutional reforms. Donors should insist that money given to redevelop the north and east is tied closely to the demilitarisation and democratisation of the region. This should include giving Tamils and Muslims a meaningful role in determining the future of the areas where they have long been the majority. Donor governments and the United Nations must also insist on an independent investigation into the thousands of Tamil civilians killed in the final months of 20fighting in 2009”.

“Tamils in Sri Lanka currently have little appetite for a return to armed struggle”, says Robert Templer. “But should the Sri Lankan state continue to fail to respond to their collective aspirations, some may eventually seek a solution through violence and could find willing partners in the diaspora”.

Nepal's Constituent Assembly (CA) Members inside CA hall in Kathmandu

Dear Constituent Assembly Members,

Today Nepal is in a cross road with 100 days left until (May 28) the deadline to declare new constitution from the constitution Assembly. Significant work underway but many promised and processes yet to be fulfilled. There are lots of constraints, difficulties to go ahead.

In past 2-3 years we achieved remarkable political changes in our history. CA election is over; country is the newest republic in the world. We said goodbye to the king. A new hope, a dream came true. We changed the course of history and opened the door of freedom and future.

We are eagerly waiting for May 28th’s historic moment when constituent assembly announces a new constitution which will be prepared by you (members of an elected constituent assembly) first time ever in Nepal’s history. But it is still in limbo. You are divided significantly and clearly seen lack of cooperation between political parties, discussion and debate is not going smoothly in Constituent Assembly.

Nepal is passing through the transitional phase. What type of constitution should we have and when – it’s a big question and concern for every citizen of this great country.

We, over 28 Million people of Nepal nominated you for the historical responsibility to draft a new constitution. Today, we are deeply sad, worried and disappointed seeing that the very slow progress. Time is running out!

Nepal’s future depends on what you will make the decisions in next one hundred days, we really want constitution on time; please make clear decisions with moral responsibility on time. You have time, mandate and historical responsibility. You must do that, believe on yourself. Please not let down our dream, expectation and hope.

You have no time to waste. We do not accept any delay on this which will be historic injustice towards us – Nepalese people.

Hansha Sanjyal

File Photo:US President Barack Obama taking his Oath of Office - 2009 January 20

Just one year ago- today, Barack Obama was inaugurated as the President of the United States. Today is the first anniversary of the inauguration of President Obama. The night Obama was elected; relief was felt around the world. He inaugurated presidency not only as a new face on the same government’s body but also the victory of hope over fear. He is the most charismatic politician on earth and very famous in making speeches. Hopes were high but the things are going to get a lot harder. So what went wrong? I believe his biggest failure is not addressing the biggest issue everyone cares and hoped about- Climate Change. What do you think? Share your perspectives on Obama’s one year in the White House.

(Background: The inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44^th President of the United States took place on Tuesday, January 20, 2009. The inauguration, which set a record attendance for any event held in Washington, D.C.,  marked the commencement of the four-year term of Barack Obama as President and Joseph Biden as Vice President. Based on combined attendance numbers, television viewership and Internet traffic, it was among the most observed events ever by the global audience).