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Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Nepal after its Maoist revolution
The writer is an academic and researcher. He is also the author of Development, Poverty, and Power in Pakistan, available from Routledge Listen to article The mountainous, land-locked, never colonised nation of Nepal is getting increased international attention due to the unfolding great power competition in South Asia. Whether Nepal will be able to leverage this newfound external interest to its advantage depends on the ability of its current leftist leaders to transcend personal ambitions and demonstrate greater statesmanship. Communist ideologies have not had much luck in Bangladesh and Pakistan. While Sri Lanka has seen the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) form a government after the ouster of the Rajapaksa brothers in 2022, the JVP's historic communist leanings have been significantly compromised. Communist parties yield significant influence in Indian states like Kerala, Tripura and West Bengal, and Maoist rebels are locked in a lingering insurgency against the hegemonic national government as well. Yet, Nepal is the only South Asian country where Maoists managed to take over the reins of power. Nepal's recent political history has experienced rapid changes. The Shah dynasty unified Nepal during the 18th century, but real power soon shifted to hereditary chief ministers known as the Ranas. The Nepali Congress Liberation Army operating from newly independent India then formed an alliance with the monarchy to undermine the Ranas in 1951. After sovereignty of the crown was restored, the Nepali Congress Party worked with the monarchy to form a new government, until King Mahendra decided to suspend parliament, and turn the country into an absolute monarchy again in 1960. Increasing disgruntlement with the Hindu monarchy eventually led communist influences to gain influence. An outright Maoist revolt soon plunged Nepal into a civil war in 1996, which lasted for almost a decade. A Comprehensive Peace Accord was finally signed between the government and Maoists in 2006, which abolished the monarchy. Yet, despite the creation of a multi-party system, the political landscape of the country has remained instable. There has been significant fragmentation amongst the Maoists, and formation and dissolution of varied coalitions has led to repeated changes in governments, even within a single electoral cycle. During the last general elections, held in 2022, the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre (CPN-Maoist) formed a coalition with the Nepali Congress Party to secure power. But this partnership lasted for just over a year, before major differences emerged. A new leftist coalition was formed between the CPN (M) and the United Community Party (Marxist-Leninist), but the political situation remained tenuous. The CPN (M) has recently formed a new coalition with the Nepali Congress Party. How long this new coalition will survive before tensions erupt between these traditionally competing parties remains to be seen. There is also a relatively small but active group demanding restoration of Nepal's monarchy, which has also been resorting to violent protests to draw attention to their cause. Amidst all the in-fighting and jostling for power, there is scant attention paid to catering to the basic needs of the citizenry, to creating responsive state institutions, achieving sustainable economic growth and improving the lives of ordinary Nepalis. Nepal has the chance to leverage its geopolitical location to funnel more Chinese investments into the country to push back against traditional Indian hegemony. The US is also keener to invest in Nepal, primarily to keep the Chinese at bay. However, Nepali politicians will need to demonstrate much greater maturity and astuteness to balance these contending external influences in a manner which maximise national interests rather than serving their personal ambitions. Thus far, neither the Maoists factions nor the Nepali Congress Party have demonstrated such foresight.
Khaleej Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Sri Lanka ex-ministers jailed up to 25 years for corruption
A Sri Lankan court sentenced on Thursday two former ministers from the government of deposed president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to decades in prison in a landmark corruption case. Ex-sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and former trade minister Anil Fernando were found guilty by the Colombo High Court of misappropriating 53 million rupees ($177,000) of state funds. The pair were also fined $2,000 for using government money to donate board games -- including 14,000 carrom boards and 11,000 draughts sets -- in an attempt to boost the failed 2015 re-election bid of Gotabaya's elder brother, Mahinda Rajapaksa. Aluthgamage was sentenced to 20 years in jail. Fernando was sentenced to 25 years. Aluthgamage is now the most senior member of a Rajapaksa-led cabinet to be successfully prosecuted for corruption. The cases against both men were initiated six years ago, when the Rajapaksa brothers were out of power, but the case had been making slow headway until a new government took office last year. Aluthgamage also faces a separate investigation into allegations that he authorised in 2022 a payment of $6.09 million to a Chinese supplier for a fertilizer shipment that was never delivered. He caused a stir in 2020 when he accused Sri Lanka's national cricket team of rigging the 2011 World Cup final in favour of India, triggering an investigation that ultimately failed to substantiate his claims. Aluthgamage, who served as sports minister from 2010 to 2015, said in June 2020 that he had "not wanted to disclose" the alleged match-fixing plot at the time. "In 2011, we were supposed to win, but we sold the match. I feel I can talk about it now. I am not implicating players, but certain sections were involved," he said. Sri Lanka lost the final at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium by six wickets. Both Indian and Sri Lankan players have strongly denied any wrongdoing.
Business Recorder
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Business Recorder
Shakib, Rajapaksa join Lahore Qalandars for remainder of PSL 10
Lahore Qalandars have bolstered their squad for the remainder of the Pakistan Super League season 10 with the inclusion of Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and Sri Lankan batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa. Shakib, who joins on May 17 in Islamabad, will replace New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell, ruled out due to a hand injury sustained on May 4. With over 7,400 T20 runs and 492 wickets, Shakib brings vast experience and all-round strength as Qalandars eye the knockout stage. Meanwhile, Rajapaksa will replace England's Tom Curran, who has returned home following an ankle injury. Foreign players likely to rejoin remaining matches of HBL-PSL-X Known for his power-hitting and a T20 strike rate above 140, Rajapaksa is expected to add middle-order firepower. His wicketkeeping skills offer added depth to the squad. Team Director Sameen Rana welcomed both additions, calling them 'impact players' with the potential to lift Qalandars' performance in the crucial phase of the tournament. Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza also rejoined the team last night. Further updates to the squad will be shared in due course.
The Print
06-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Sri Lanka local polls: President Dissanayake's party wins first official result
According to the latest details, the NPP secured 46 per cent of the votes, winning 9 seats in the Tangalle Urban Council in the Deep South district of Hambantota, the stronghold of the Rajapaksa family. A total of 339 local councils on Tuesday went to the polls, which were postponed in 2023 following the island's economic crisis. The counting of votes commenced soon after voting ended at 4 pm. The voter turnout was 70.23 per cent. Colombo, May 6 (PTI) The National People's Power (NPP) led by Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake won the first official result declared by the Elections Commission in the local council election held on Tuesday. The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), the main opposition party, secured 28 per cent of votes and won 5 seats while Rajapaksas' Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) received 16 per cent of votes and won 3 seats. Two other parties gained one seat each in the 19-member council. Tangalle was one of the councils which went to the polls to elect members for a four-year term. The ruling NPP won the presidential and parliamentary elections held last year. 'The local government election is being seen as an opinion poll on the performance of the new government so far. The ruling National People's Power (NPP) is confident of winning the polls,' Colombo Gazette said. Earlier in the day, Dissanayake cast his vote at a booth at Panchikawatta in Colombo soon after returning from Vietnam. 'Proud that under our NPP govt, Sri Lanka is seeing peaceful, democratic elections. Let's make this the new political culture — free, fair, and dignified,' he said in a post on X. Voting was held without any incidents of violence, election monitoring groups said. 'The voting has finished, and the counting has commenced. The votes cast at each division will be counted at the division centres,' the head of the independent election commission, RMAL Ratnayake, told reporters earlier. Over 17 million voters cast their votes at over 13,000 polling centres in the election under a mixed proportional representation system. PTI CORR ZH ZH This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Sri Lanka local polls: President Dissanayake's party wins first official result
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The National People's Power (NPP) led by Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake won the first official result declared by the Elections Commission in the local council election held on Tuesday. A total of 339 local councils on Tuesday went to the polls, which were postponed in 2023 following the island's economic crisis. The counting of votes commenced soon after voting ended at 4 pm. The voter turnout was 70.23 per to the latest details, the NPP secured 46 per cent of the votes, winning 9 seats in the Tangalle Urban Council in the Deep South district of Hambantota, the stronghold of the Rajapaksa Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), the main opposition party, secured 28 per cent of votes and won 5 seats while Rajapaksas' Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) received 16 per cent of votes and won 3 seats. Two other parties gained one seat each in the 19-member was one of the councils which went to the polls to elect members for a four-year ruling NPP won the presidential and parliamentary elections held last year."The local government election is being seen as an opinion poll on the performance of the new government so far. The ruling National People's Power (NPP) is confident of winning the polls," Colombo Gazette in the day, Dissanayake cast his vote at a booth at Panchikawatta in Colombo soon after returning from Vietnam. "Proud that under our NPP govt, Sri Lanka is seeing peaceful, democratic elections. Let's make this the new political culture - free, fair, and dignified," he said in a post on was held without any incidents of violence, election monitoring groups said."The voting has finished, and the counting has commenced. The votes cast at each division will be counted at the division centres," the head of the independent election commission, RMAL Ratnayake, told reporters 17 million voters cast their votes at over 13,000 polling centres in the election under a mixed proportional representation system.
