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The Human Rights and Peace Society (HURPES) staged a protest in front of the President’s Office on Monday, in a bid to prevent the abuse of presidential powers to grant reprieve to criminals under Article 276 of the Constitution. The demonstrators demanded a serious investigation to check if financial manipulations influenced the process of granting presidential pardons.

Article 276 of the Constitution states that the President may, in accordance with law, grant pardons, suspend, commute or remit any sentence passed by any Court, judicial or quasi-judicial body or administrative authority or body.

President Ramchandra Paudel, acting on a recommendation from the Council of Ministers, had remitted the term of Yograj Dhakal ‘Regal’, a murder convict doing a 20-year term, on the occasion of the Constitution Day. 

Recent presidential moves, including this particular pardon, have raised concerns among the public, including human rights campaigners. 

The protesters displayed placards pointing out that the recent pardon was an act of injustice against the victim and the family. They also wanted to know if the high office wants to boost public faith in the democratic republic or spread hatred through such moves. 

The placards also displayed messages calling one and all not to glorify murder and violence and to expose crimes that the state has committed in the name of granting amnesty. Through their placards, the protesters also sought to drive the point home that there can be no amnesty for heinous crimes, including murder.

From among the protesters, police arrested 11 people—founder president of HURPES Krishna Pahadi, president Ramkrishna Baral, advisor Uttam Pudasaini, general secretary Renuka Paudel, treasurer Kiran Dhakal, secretary Chandramani Banjara, central member Diwakar Pudasaini, Kathmandu Branch president Bhagwan Pudasaini, rights activists Rita Adhikari, Madhu Pudasaini and Lakshman Pudaisaini.

An alleged gangster and the then president of Tarun Dal Banke-3, Regal used to ‘extort transporters’ operating buses between Nepal and India. Regal had killed Chetan Manandhar at a hotel in Surkhet Road area on 13 July 2015, per court verdicts. On 24 April 2018, a bench of Banke district court judge Bishnu Subedi had convicted Regal as the mastermind behind the crime and sentenced him to 20 years behind bars.

Regal, at large after the murder, had surrendered before the court after police launched a series of encounters against gangsters.

Manandhar’s family had objected to the presidential move and his wife, Bharati Sherpa, had moved the apex court stating that convict Regal’s release against the Constitution.

The Supreme Court then had ordered the government to furnish written clarifications within seven days regarding the case.

The Office of the President, Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, Ministry of Home Affairs and District Administration Office, Banke have been made the defendants in the case.

Responding to a writ from Bharati Sherpa, the victim’s wife, a bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma had ordered the government to provide security to the victim’s family and the authorities to submit to it copies of all relevant decisions related to the case and ordered the Attorney-General to appear in the court in person on the day of the hearing.

Lochan Rijal, the head of Kathmandu University’s Music Department, holds a pioneering doctorate in Ethnomusicology from Kathmandu University, Nepal, and the University of Massachusetts, USA. He initially started his career as a pop/rock singer-songwriter but later delved into ethnomusicology to become a music scholar. 

A multi-award-winning multi-instrumentalist, Rijal has enriched the world of music with his unique contributions. Some of his well-received songs, such as ‘Chandrama,’ ‘Samaj,’ ‘Paurakhi,’ and ‘Chetana,’ can be found on his critically acclaimed albums like ‘Coma’ and ‘Kancho Awaz’ (Raw Sounds). In addition to his musical achievements, he has collaborated closely with local Nepali musicians from various communities, including Gandharvas, Santhals, Rautes, Chaudhary, Rajbanshi, Limbus, and more.

Internationally recognized, Rijal has received honors from institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Particle Physics Laboratory (CERN), where he was celebrated as a guest artist and lecturer. For the past decade, he has dedicated his efforts to preserve Nepal’s tangible and intangible musical heritage. Ken Subedi engages in a conversation with him, exploring his deep passion for music, culture, tradition, and heritage preservation.

You do not seem to follow the popular music trend. Rather, you like experimentation and try to set a new trend. Is that due to your focus on ethnic music?

Yes, I prefer experimenting with music and setting new trends rather than following popular trends. This preference is indeed related to my focus on our own musical heritage and world music. Our musical traditions and instruments provide a rich source of inspiration with its unique sounds and traditions, allowing me to create something distinct and innovative. 

You hold a doctorate in ethnomusicology. Can you please share the title of your dissertation and findings in brief?

My dissertation was titled “Transmission of Music in Nepal: The Gandharva Tradition”. In this study, I aimed to revitalize and contemporize traditional Nepali instruments like Arbajo and Sarangi, create a music education database for Nepal, and develop a model for preserving the endangered musical heritage and local musicians of Nepal. The findings emphasized the importance of preserving and contemporizing our musical heritage.

How do you evaluate the current Nepali music scene? 

The current Nepali music scene has a mixture of quantity and quality. While there is a diverse range of musical expressions and talents rooted in the traditional settings, there is room for improvement in both quality and diversity. Many contemporary artists are experimenting and pushing boundaries, but it’s essential to balance commercial trends while preserving cultural authenticity.

There are a lot of discussions among government bodies regarding the preservation of tradition and culture of different tribes. I hope you agree that language alone is not enough for such preservation? Where does music stand for that mission?

No, language alone is not sufficient for preserving traditions and culture. Music plays a vital role in this mission. It encapsulates the emotions, stories, and values of a community, making it a powerful medium for cultural preservation. Through music, traditions are passed down through generations, fostering a sense of identity and belonging. The Government of Nepal should focus on creating job opportunities for the local musicians as music teachers in all the public schools and universities.

Preparations, conferences and background studies are ongoing for developing Nepal Studies as a discipline in Nepal. As a scholar and expert in music, what are your messages and recommendations to the concerned authorities?

I would suggest recognizing the interdisciplinary nature of music and its role in understanding culture and society. Including the study of music in Nepal Studies can provide valuable insights into Nepal's diverse heritage. Additionally, investing in Intangible heritage, music education and research can help preserve Nepal's rich musical traditions for future generations.

You have been a singer, musician, lyricist and arranger. What area do you find the most joy in?

Being a scholar-musician brings me the most joy. This role allows me to bridge academia and artistic expression and encourages me to sing, write texts, arrange and perform music for the future. Through research, I am in the process of gaining a deeper understanding of musical traditions and other related fields like music and heritage, instrument making etc. Which enhances my compositions, performances and amplifies my craving to build a better Nepal. This synergy between scholarship and creativity brings me immense satisfaction.

These years, from Smule to StarMaker, there are lots of Karaoke Apps where people can record songs in their voice. This has led to loss of originality and increased copy versions. How does that impact the original artist and the music industry?

The explosion of Karaoke Apps can impact original artists and the music industry. It may lead to a flood of copy versions, diluting the uniqueness of original creations. This can affect artists financially. However, it also offers a platform for aspiring talents. To mitigate the impact on original artists, it's important to protect their intellectual property rights and ensure fair compensation for their work. 

Ethnic music is connected to ethnic tradition and language of ethnic communities. Picking up select rhythms from such ethnicity can be a daunting task. That’s where you utilize your research skills. Can you please share an incident regarding how you add their musicality in your songs?

One notable incident is when I worked closely with the Santhals, Damai and Limbu community of our country. In our recording session, they shared their traditional instruments with me. I incorporated these elements into a song composition, creating a collaborative effort that honored their musical heritage while creating something new and meaningful. This song is called “Nepali”.

The world we are living in is turning more and more homogenous. From language to culture and tradition, capitalist mode of production, consumerism and the current world order are threatening the diversity of populations. To what extent can they dismantle the age-old music and tradition of ethnic people? How can we save their legacy for future generations?

Globalization and modernization can indeed threaten the music and traditions of ethnic communities in no time. To preserve their legacy, we should urgently but systematically document and utilize their music and traditions, support cultural education, and advocate for the preservation of music of all the Nepalese of all the times. Creating job opportunities in Universities and Schools across Nepal, promoting Nepal based curriculum, cultural exchange and celebrating diversity can also raise awareness about the importance of preserving these invaluable aspects of our global heritage. The smart thing to do is invest in scholarly research because Nepal itself is a vast laboratory consisting 125 ethnic groups and 123 different spoken languages. 

The government has decided to provide Rs 1m in relief to the families of Nepali students who lost their lives in Israel.

Government Spokesperson Rekha Sharma informed that an emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers on Monday decided to allocate the amount to the families of 10 Nepalis who were killed in Saturday’s Hamas attack on Israel. The meeting also resolved to find ways to relocate trapped Nepali citizens to safe areas.

Similarly, the government has declared a national mourning day on Tuesday. National flags will be hoisted at half-mast in all government offices and diplomatic missions of Nepal to mourn the victims. 

A rapid action team has been formed under the leadership of Foreign Minister NP Saud to rescue the Nepalis trapped in Israel. The team has decided to have an airplane on standby and establish coordination with the Israeli side to repatriate the bodies of Nepali students. 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal spoke with a Nepali student hiding in a bunker following the attack. Dahal held a video call with Bipin Subedi, and assured that the government was doing its best to rescue all Nepali citizens from Israel at the earliest. 

Dahal’s personal secretary Ramesh Malla said that the prime minister told Subedi that the government has been making efforts to rescue Nepalis based in Israel for the past three days. 

“Conversations are happening at the foreign ministerial level, and regular talks are taking place with the Embassy of Israel,” Prime Minister Dahal told Subedi.

Prime Minister Dahal has instructed authorities concerned to understand the situation in Israel and to identify the deceased and bring their bodies to Nepal at the earliest. 

Malla said that there was a delay in evacuating the students hiding in bunkers, because the Israeli side considered it a security risk.

Social media posts and videos suggest that around 32 students from the war zone were taken to a safe place on Monday. The Israeli army has initiated the movement of students in Israel’s Sedot Negev to safe locations.

Meanwhile, the Sudurpaschim provincial government has also announced to provide Rs 200,000 each to the families of those students killed in Israel. In a statement issued on Monday, Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah announced that the provincial government would provide support to the families of the deceased. He also requested the federal governments of both countries to conduct search and rescue efforts and assist in bringing back the bodies of Nepali students.

The opposition parties, CPN-UML and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), have asked Speaker Devraj Ghimire to pass a special resolution from Parliament to rescue Nepalis stuck in Israel. In a meeting held at Singha Durbar, the two parties emphasized that they would raise the Israel issue intensively in the Parliament through adjournment motions, motions of public importance, or resolution motions.

UML Chief Whip Padam Giri urged the government to take a serious interest in the situation of the 10 Nepalis who were killed in the Hamas attack, emphasizing that the condition of other Nepalis there is critical.

Nepali Congress MP Arjun Narsingha KC also strongly demanded that the government immediately bring home the bodies of the students who died in Israel. 

Addressing the Parliament session on Monday, KC urged the government to promptly repatriate the bodies of the 10 Nepali students. He also asked the government to ascertain the number of Nepalis in Israel and inform Parliament. 

“We have received news that about 123,000 people have been displaced in Israel. The details of how many Nepalis are among them should be presented to the Parliament,” he said.

Several other parliamentarians, including Gokul Prasad Baskota, Ishwar Bahadur Rijal, Chitra Bahadur KC, Anjani Shrestha, Anisha Nepali, Abdul Khan, Amanlal Modi, Amar Bahadur Raymajhi, Amrit Lal Rajbanshi, Ishwari Gharti, Urmila Majhi, Kiran Kumar Shah and Geeta Basnet, also demanded for a prompt rescue of the Nepali citizens from Israel. 

Late on Monday, Prime Minister Dahal called an all-party meeting where he requested parties stand united on the Israel incident. One of the leaders in the meeting said all  parties share a unified stance on the issue of Israel. “The cross-party leaders suggested that the government provide  accurate and timely information about the state of Nepali there,” he told ApEx.

Janakpur youth killed after leaving for Israel just 26 days ago

Family members of Anand Sah have been devastated after he was killed along with nine other Nepalis in Saturday’s Hamas attack on Israel. 

The 25-year-old from Laxminiya Rural Municipality, Dhanusha, had left for Israel just 26 days ago. Eldest among four siblings, Anand was his family’s only support.  

His parents Soman and Shuvakala, and sisters, Sunita, Saraswati and Aarati are inconsolable. Neighbors and relatives have gathered at their house to comfort them, but to no avail.

Soman and Shuvakala have been drifting in and out of consciousness. When they come to their senses, they cry out for their deceased son. “Where did you go? Why don’t you come back? Who is going to look after us?” 

Neighbor Mithilesh Sah says Anand’s death has dealt an immeasurable blow to his family.

“Anand was the eldest of the four children and the only son to his parents. So his father and mother had high hopes for him,” says Mithilesh, recalling how Soman had worked in the Persian Gulf for 10 years so that Anand could go to school. 

Despite a poor family background, Anand was able to attend a boarding school and study science at Mithila College. Neighbors and friends remember Anand as a diligent student

“His parents had sacrificed a lot to educate him,” says Mithilesh. “One can only imagine what they must be going through after their son’s tragic death.” 

Anand had last talked with his sisters over the phone on Friday. He could not speak with his parents that day. Soman and Shuvakala tried contacting Anand on Saturday, but they could not get hold of him. There was a ringing tone, but no answer. 

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s visits to the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and China were a remarkable success despite considerable skepticism in the public domain.

This success came in the midst of a discourse in the media on how PM Dahal will deal with the issue of Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), a continuous pressure from the ‘elite communities’ busy creating a buzz through their social media posts, petitions on issues under the jurisdiction of TRC and Dahal’s own political statements.

By the way, these petitions will attain nothing beyond “show cause orders” from the judiciary. The petitioners, it appears, intend to create confusion amongst the general public and unintentionally clog the already clogged justice system. These opponents would have expected that PM Dahal won’t be able to cash in on the opportunity to engage the United Nations and its platforms.

Unsurprisingly, Dahal, known for his penchant and proclivity for unexpected political maneuvers, went ahead and not only attended the UNGA in New York, but also engaged in bilateral relations with several world leaders and high-level UN delegates. The message from the UN visit was clear: Dahal, the only signatory alive of the Comprehensive Peace Accord signed between the government of Nepal and the then Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) on 22 Nov 2006, remains committed to taking the peace process to a lawful and peaceful conclusion. Reiteration of his commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948, and international humanitarian laws and fundamental principles and values related to human rights should be read in this context. 

As the PM of Nepal, currently the chair of the Group of Least Developed Countries, Dahal used his address to the UNGA to not only raise issues facing LDCs like climate change, Sustainable Development Goals and development cooperation but also to touch upon Nepal’s peace process and TRC. His address, summarized on the UN homepage, clearly shows how tactfully he started it. In particular, his opening statement gave a powerful message to the international community. 

Furthermore, Dahal demonstrated humility and sought help from the international community, which reiterates his commitment to the international community and his readiness to work together.

He also called upon the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the United Nations headquarters. His message was clear again: Commitment to ensuring that Nepal’s peace process abides by the “peace accord”.

Dahal also met with the UN High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, Rabab Fatima. 

There’s a phrase from the Greek story “Daedalus and Icarus”—Kill two birds with one stone—this is exactly what Dahal did. He not only won the trust of international communities in Nepal’s peace process, but also raised pressing issues facing the LDCs as its chairperson. 

Mission accomplished. 

A warm welcome

The American diplomat and political scientist, Madeleine Albright, once famously said, “Diplomacy is not just about negotiations; it’s about understanding cultures and building bridges.” 

After all the rush, hustle and bustle of such a hectic schedule in New York, Dahal knew the importance of his Sept 23-30 visit to China—the roaring neighbor, which has always been supportive of him. Notably, during his visit, Dahal also held a one-on-one meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, apart from talks with Premier Li Quant and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Zhao Leji. These engagements were crucial in strengthening mutual trust and signing of several memorandums of understanding (MOUs). The relationship building anchored on mutual social and economic development of peoples of the two nations was crucial in the context of delayed or postponed engagement on account of Covid-19.

Let’s focus on the outcome of the China visit. Some politicians, self-proclaimed elites and several media outlets have called it a ‘refreshment visit’. But all in all, PM Dahal’s China visit was a success.

To understand the importance of this visit, we need to get rid of this mindset--that success entails getting something instantly. 

It’s true that the visit did not yield anything right away; it also fell short of people’s expectations.

But the Chinese side accorded Dahal a warm welcome and gave due importance to the visit. This is something to take note of against the backdrop of Dahal’s recent visit to India, in which the host country came under our criticism for a “low-level welcome” accorded to our PM. Our core objective should be to build on relationships and work for tangible results gradually. In diplomacy, the most important tool is “relationship,” and clearly Dahal has outdone all his predecessors on this front. His body language throughout the China trip made it clear that he came out as a “reliable leader and a trusted neighbor”.   

The author is an expert on diplomacy and international relations with a background in law. He has worked with the UN for 15 years in Asia, Africa and Europe