| I vow to lose six inches from my waist. |
 KATHMANDU: Nepal's new government vowed yesterday to crack down on corruption and ensure good governance but said multi-party democracy would only be restored and elections held once it had defeated Maoist rebels.
| No, democracy and elections help you to defeat Marxism. |
A cabinet meeting chaired by King Gyanendra adopted a 21-point socio-economic programme focused on "good governance and economic growth", state-run radio announced. "Property amassed through abuse of authority, smuggling, tax evasion, illegal contract and commission will be seized and nationalised," it said, announcing the decisions of the cabinet.
| Especially if it's owned by people out of favor with the king. |
"Strong action against the guilty will also be taken." He also named a loyalist cabinet under his "chairmanship", declared a state of emergency and pledged to restore multi-party democracy in three years. The government would also accelerate the process of decentralisation by gradually according villages political, economic, social, administrative and semi-judicial powers, a newspaper report said. The government would set up a land bank and make "judicious distribution of land" to squatters, the landless, peasants and freed bonded labourers. A long-term programme would be instituted to modernise farming, implement irrigation schemes and boost the production of horticulture, cash crops and livestock. The government also had plans to develop tourism and provide free education to a percentage of needy students.
"Oh Clive, where shall we take the children for spring holiday?"
"I thought of Nepal, ducks, the Maoists are especially colorful in the spring."
"Oh Clive, really! Such a treat!" |
It would launch housing schemes "to narrow the existing gap between the rich and the poor in Kathmandu and other big and small cities." Jobs would be created for those "who have suffered from terrorism and also those who had gone astray by following the path of violence but have shunned violence or are willing to return to normal lives", the report said.
"A chicken in every pot and two cars in every garage!"
"But, yer majesty! I ain't got no garage!" |
After seizing power, King Gyanendra called on the Maoist rebels to engage in peace talks to end the insurgency. There has been no rebel response to the king's call for talks but after he seized power, Maoist leader Prachanda denounced him as a "national betrayer" and called for a broad political front with those opposing "feudal autocracy." Nepalese soldiers arrested two leaders of a media rights group, after authorities suspended Press freedoms and warned it would take action against those who criticise it. Taranath Dahal, president of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, was detained yesterday and Bishnu Nisthuri, the group's general secretary, on Friday, the organisation said. The two men had been critical of the suspension of Nepal's Press freedom. |