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The over-a-decade-long transi­tional politics saw an enormous increase in outside interest in Nepal. True, help from outside was invaluable in the mainstream­ing of the warring Maoists, even though the work was largely done by Nepalis themselves, as the foreign actors involved therein would be the first to acknowledge. As Nepal was making the transition from a constitutional monarchy to a fed­eral republic, there was also a wide range of inputs, many of them pos­itive, in the process of writing the new constitution. But as the Nepali state progres­sively weakened, with the transi­tion dragging on and on, foreign actors sought to actively influence the political course here, instead of playing the supportive role expected of them. Some European countries got into controversy for support­ing an ethnic agenda, ‘wrecking’ Nepali politics in the process, as some alleged. India in this period became more high-handed; and the Chinese more assertive.

PM KP Oli seems eager to reassert the primacy of Nepali actors. His quick and unambiguous rebuttal of the European Union’s recent elec­tion report is a case in point. Wheth­er the new constitution is flawed or not, and if and when it should be amended, is up to Nepali actors to decide. The EU itself is far from an ideal and inclusive entity, and has a checkered record in Nepal.

The bottom line: In the new Nepal, only Nepalis get to shape the national polity.

.........Full story https://theannapurnaexpress.com/news/the-hypocrisy-of-eus-inclusion-pitch-209

King Gyanendra Shah appears concerned about the status of monarchy in the country, as he summoned the second tier leaders of the three parties that the Ras­triya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has split into for a discussion on the topic. The discussion took place at the Himalaya Tea Gar­den in the southeastern town of Damak. (All the three RPPs have as their majority the leaders who were backers of the monarch’s direct rule before the 1990 democratic change.) Taking part in the discussion on March 18 were Buddhiman Tamang, Bhaskar Bhadra and Prahlad Shah from the Kamal Thapa-led RPP; Rajaram Shrestha, Sagun Lawati and Suresh Acharya from the Pashupa­ti Shumsher Rana-led RPP (Democratic); and Taranath Luitel, Dr Sharada Acharya and Keshab Shrestha from the Prakash Chandra Lohani-led United RPP (Nationalist).

A participant informed that the ex-king expressed concern about how the par­ty’s split had undermined the issue of monarchy and repeatedly stressed unifica­tion. According to the partici­pant, the former king argued that the split not only under­mined the issues of monarchy and Hindu nation but also jeopardized the very exis­tence of RPP.

The discussion began with the former king inquiring about contemporary politics and election results. He asked why the party, which had performed relatively well in the second Constituent Assembly elections, had fared badly in last year’s polls. All the participants attributed the party’s poor performance to the split. They also blamed lack of resources and deviation among top leaders from core party principles—and they unanimously argued for party unification.

“Don’t delay unification,” the source quoted Shah as say­ing. “I will help find resources.” The former king remarked that citizens were disillusioned with the current state of politics in the country and that addressing the disillusion­ment would require leaders to go to the public with the twin agenda of monarchy and Hindu nation.

KATHMANDU: For the very first time in its cricket history, Nepal has won the one-day international (ODI) status for the next four years. 

Nepal has been assured of the ODI status after it beat Papua New Guinea by six wickets and the Netherlands defeated Hong Kong by 44 runs in the ICC World Cup Qualifier held in Zimbabwe last Thursday. 

With this, Nepal would get to participate in different tournaments organized by ICC while ICC's support to Nepal's cricket would be further increased. 

RSS

A Bangladeshi plane with 67 passengers on board crashed near Kathmandu airport Monday as it was coming in to land, officials said, as firefighters battled to extinguish the burning wreckage and rescue passengers.

Plumes of black smoke could be seen rising from the football pitch where the plane crashed, to the east of the runway at Nepal's only international airport, in the capital Kathmandu.

"There were 67 passengers and 4 crew members" aboard the plane, said airport spokesman Prem Nath Thakur.

"So far 20 injured have been taken to the hospital. Police and army are trying to cut apart the plane to rescue others," he added.

AFP

Update: 

There were 33 Nepalis on board the aircraft, according to TIA officials. Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa has visited the airport following the crash and took stock of the situation.

The real reason for the crash is yet to be ascertained. Eyewitness accounts suggest the crash may have been caused in the course of an aborted landing. The airport has been indefinitely closed.

Update: 

46 people are now confirmed dead. Of them, at least 13 are Nepali nationals.

The TIA that had been shut down earlier has been opened, according to Rastriya Samachar Samiti.  

For the names of all those on board the aircraft go to:

http://annapurnapost.com/news-details/93119