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India-Pakistan
Maoist chief rebel elected new Nepal PM
2011-08-29
China just about has Nepal swallowed. Just needs a formal invitation...
KATMANDU: NepalÂ’s parliament elected the deputy leader of the former Maoist rebels as the new prime minister on Sunday, halting the Himalayan nationÂ’s latest political crisis.

Baburam Bhattarai of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) received 340 votes in the 601-seat parliament with the backing of several smaller parties. That was more than the simple majority needed to be elected. BhattaraiÂ’s only opponent, Ram Chandra Poudel of the Nepali Congress party, received 235 votes.

The political crisis was triggered by former Prime Minister Jhalnath KhanalÂ’s resignation on Aug. 14 after he failed to make process in drafting a long-delayed constitution. It had taken Khanal 17 rounds of votes in parliament over seven months to be elected in February, while Bhattarai was selected in the first attempt.

Bhattarai, 57, is the second-highest leader of the Maoist group which fought government troops until 2006 demanding political reforms and an end to the centuries-old monarchy. Bhattarai remained in hiding during the 10 years of fighting.
Can't get elected PM if you previously died for the cause...
Bhattarai, who has a doctorate from Jawaharlal Nehru University in India, is believed to be the chief planner of the MaoistsÂ’ strategy, both during the years of fighting and in peacetime.

The Maoists were able to win the largest number of the seats in 2008 parliamentary elections and now are the largest political party in the country.

Bhattarai must now form a coalition government including members of the smaller parties that supported him in SundayÂ’s vote. The two other major parties, Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist), have opted to stay out of the Maoist-led government.

BhattaraiÂ’s major challenge will be to complete the peace process that began with the Maoists giving up their armed revolt. Thousands of former Maoist fighters are still confined to camps and are waiting for their future to be decided. There is disagreement among the major political parties on whether they should be integrated into the national army.
Ask Beijing...
The countryÂ’s constitution also needs to be written. The Constituent Assembly elected in 2008 had two years to finish the job. That has been extended twice, and the latest deadline is Aug. 31, which is likely to be extended again.
Posted by:Steve White

#2  Which border ally, 746? India is spending a lot of money building roads and schools and digging wells, heading outward from their border...which has Pakistan very, very upset.
Posted by: trailing wife   2011-08-29 17:29  

#1  where is India, sitting on their hands?

Nice of them to get rich while their most loyal border ally falls to their number one enemy, and it aint Pakiwakistan.

Blinded by greed
Posted by: 746   2011-08-29 11:22  

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