Model 1: Girija Is To Be Blamed

The NC was in power more than most during the 90s, and Girija was Prime Minister more than most. But instead of consolidating the democracy, the Girijas of the world became the new establishment. Massive corruption was institutionalized. The aspiratinos of the Madhesis, the Janajatis, the Dalits, the women, the poor were not given proper channels. Things fall apart when the center can not hold.

Girija's inflexibility that served so well in his quest for democracy became his bane post-democracy. A party with a clear majority going for mid-term elections is ridiculous. Girija does not know how to save face: he only knows how to corner his opponents into desperation. He does not understand compromise and coalition building is the name of the game in a democratic framework.

Because the moderate center did not perform, the left and the right came in to fill the vacuum.

Model 2: King G Is To Be Blamed

The king gets neither democracy nor constitutional monarchy, or he would not talk of being a "constructive monarch." He has acted a mirror image of the Maoists in trying to fill the vacuum left by the political parties. That might be cunning, and possible in the murky waters of today, but it is not magananimous. The king patronizingly refers to the country as his family. That shows a lack of gut-feel for basic premises in democracy.

King G got Chand to almost double the royal budget. That is NC style brahmaloot many times over.

Model 3: Deuba Is To Be Blamed

Why get rid of the parliament, bro! In the first place....

Model 4: The Maoists Are To Be Blamed

Not even the Chinese are Maoists anymore. The haat bazar in a remote village in Nepal is the market economy in action. The ancient Buddhist republics were democracies in action. Those twins are the necessary engines for growth. Gorbachev knows more about communist theory than Prachanda or Baburam, and he has said the market is it.

The LTTE have been far more lethal than the Maoists can ever hope to be, militarily. And the LTTE were not able to take over Colombo even after 20 vicious years. So the military option is out.

It is laughable of the Maoists to think the king will willingly give over power. Not this king. If anything King G will want to expand his role.

The dictatorship of the proletariat is not about to happen. Instead it is a game of who will blink first, and the two extreme sides do not care if the commoners suffer in the interim.

Supermodel 1: Panchayat II

There is a very real possibility the king decides he has had enough of it, and he plain takes over. Which will be the final blow of the right to the rest of the political spectrum. But such a move will, by definition, engineer a massive backlash. And more than Maoists will rally behind an all-out call for a republic.

Supermodel 2: "Jana Sarkar"

That does not exist in the rural areas either. It is more statelessness, lawlessness. And the urban centers hold strong. It can not be imagined Kathmandu can be taken over by the Maoists.

Not going to happen.

Supermodel 3: Constituent Assembly

This is the only option for quickie peace. But one suspects those now in power will not go for it. Instead they will wait and wait and wait. For the Maoists to possibly tire out. In the mean time, the people be damned.

Iraq will soon have elections for such a thing. And they will do fine for it.

Let the people decide.

But such a move will have to be simultaneous a total disarming of the Maoists.

Supermodel 4: Inflexibility

That Giriaj disease pervades the entire political spectrum. Mero goru ko barhai takka. This more than anything else is holding progress back.

Maoist statements:

- http://cpnm.org/new/English/statements/2005/statements_1feb2005.htm#st1

I guess New Delhi is a major base of operations for them, according to the release.


"....palace coup .... women, dalits, and janjatis ......military dictator king Gyanendra.....dictators like military dictator Pervez Musarraf and feudal monarch Gyanendra.......full democracy i.e. republican system.....Gyanendra Shahi....most infamous feudal clique in corruption, smuggling, killings and terror.....historic task of establishing republic..... a minimum common slogan of people?s democratic republic and constituent assembly.......royal proclamation, which is trying to push the Nepalese society of 21st century back to the 15th...."

"..The flame of the People?s War will go on blazing till the so-called Royal Army that has been defeated in all the fronts with the great People?s Liberation Army, under the leadership of our Party, is dissolved and the arms are surrendered to the People?s Liberation Army..."

"....In this great struggle against medieval feudal monarchy propped up by the U.S imperialism and Indian expansionism ....we call upon all the friends of Nepal in India and Nepalese people in India to join the massive rally on Feb 13, 2005 in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Chandigarh...The CC (P) calls upon all the revolutionary and democratic people of the Indian subcontinent to rise in united struggle against the expansionist Indian ruling classes and their mercenary army...The CC (P) calls upon the Jawans of the Indian army, who hail from the toiling classes, not to involve themselves in killing their class brethren by participating in the unjust military campaign of the Indian Government......."



(1) The minimum common program talk: Constituent Assembly. That could be a compromise position.

(2) The anti-India, anti-US rant. Off-putting. They are not understanding the complexity of both India and US. These large countries are not monoliths. They are diverse pieces on the map. Curiously they set up their rallies in that same India! It is like Nepalis in America going on and on against the ideal of democracy. These Maoists rant against India in India.

(3) These guys go on and on with their classic Maoist talk. That is scary. I mean, if Pol Pot is your hero, who exactly are you?

Going by their statements, the Maoists and the Monarchists are going for a head-on military conflict. Not a good development at all.

We all are worried about where Nepal is heading, but we have to be cautious about how the media feeding us. Remember Zee TV trying to manipulate the situation in Nepal and showing clip of old video shots to present the situation of rioting which was not happening. Let?s not believe the outside media they never depict the true situation of people. Finally someone with courage has taken a responsibility to settle the matter, we need to support him. I am not a King supporter but I consider myself a nationalist and I believe he is the kind of person we need today. I have seen enough in Nepal and was partly a victim of these netas while working in government office purely as a technical person, they are never serious about the future of our country, all they cared was about their position in the party. They do not deserve to lead our country. Let?s give this king a chance, at least he has shown some courage, he is putting everything at stake, for what? isn?t this something? Let?s not get carried away by false media and off shoots of these netas. We need to support him, we might never get another chance. We gave opportunity to those netas our 15 yr?s of life so why are we so reluctant about giving 1/5-th of this time to King? Nepal is not yet ready for so called democracy, especially if it is triggered by neighboring bully.

Three forces: (1) King (2) Maobadis (3) Parties.

KING

Good Points:
(1) Represents the most deeply rooted institution in the country.
(2) Effective, clever.
(3) Will settle for Constitutional Monarchy and Multi-Party Democracy if forced to do so.

Bad Points:
(1) Does not "get" democracy. Talks all Mahendra talk when talking about political parties and the democratic experiment.
(2) Inflexible on many counts, especially in opposing any possibility of a Constituent Assembly.
(3) Cunning, not magnanimous.
(4) Doubled royal budget after sacking Deuba first time around. That is brahmaloot, much larger what the Congressias did in the 1990s.
(5) Surrounded by lackeys and yes-men, a small clique, holdovers from the Panchayat.

MAOBADIS

Good Points:
(1) Have given voice to marginalized groups like women, dalits, janajatis, the poor.
(2) Willing to find common ground with a Constituent Assembly.

Bad Points:
(1) Violence. Human rights abuses. Child soldiers. Abductions. Extortions.
(2) Continued propagation of defunct Maoist and Old School Communist thinking. Ill-informed rants against India and the US.
(3) Might not stop at Constituent Assembly. Might then set up a new goal of a "dictatorship of the proletariat."

PARTIES

Good Points:
(1) The only long term hope for the people, for democracy, for rapid economic growth and large scale poverty alleviation, and rapid modernization of the country.
(2) Non-violent.
(3) Patient with the monarchy to an unusual degree.

Bad Points:
(1) Did not make the best use of democracy in the 1990s. Did not get together against corruption instead the Congress pretty much institutionalized it. Did not try to address the ethnic grievances of inequality. For socio-economic rifts in general.
(2) Replaced one ruling class with another.
(3) Not pragmatic in terms of uniting for the common cause of democracy.
(4) Not flexible enough on the Constituent Assembly option so as to possibly get the Maoists to come into the mainstream.




POSSIBLE COMMON GROUND: Constituent Assembly

But only if the Maoists disarm prior to the elections.

Possible way to getting there: UN mediation with the pre-conditinon that the Maoists must disarm.

ALTERNATIVE: Maobadi-Monarchist bloodbath. Major human rights abuses by both sides. Political paralysis. Economic hell.

Wheels, haha... yaah, Zee TV ko Wednesday ko News...

7:00 or something ko news ma they showed everything good good about the situation of Nepal despite the sudden political change. They even showed an interview of some Indians who got back to India after the KTM-Delhi flight was resumed. 2 hours later, the tone of the news was suddenly changed. hehe... Old footage, and "oh we are really pissed" coverage...

Freedom of press, to tell whatever they want to tell, or to tell whatever they are told.

PARAMENDRA: Whoever told you ITALIC is cool to read, lied to you. Can you believe I actually had to cut and paste it to wordpad to read that? (Only to find out they were just parts of the actual news posted in the links... aaaaaaaah!!! February ma April FooL?)

PARTIES - "Non-violent" ????

Ooops, you are actually right - Parties can be considered to be the least violent. Maoists probably are the most violent and the Monarchy(army) has in some way challenged them.

haha, parties non voilent re? yah exactly NepaliCNN, i think he meant Less Voilent then Army and Maobadi.

Some movements from King G.



- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4238823.stm
Nepal's new government, led by King Gyanendra, has vowed to crack down on corruption and speed up land reform....A royal commission would be set up to investigate corruption, and to seize and nationalise property amassed through abuse of authority and smuggling....bring in positive discrimination for the lowest castes, women and indigenous people.

- http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/Nepals-army-targets-rebels/2005/02/05/1107476853484.html
There is speculation mobile phones may be switched off for the next six months and the internet may be out even longer. Because the Maoist Peoples Army is constantly on the move it would seriously disrupt its ability to plan attacks.

- http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=68736
Arrested leaders may be released
.....the number of politicians jailed in a countrywide crackdown against political dissent stands at "hundreds".

- http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/feb/05nepal.htm
..decided to form a Royal Commission within 15 days to probe corruption cases against politicians....government made public its 21-point programme and promised to form a land bank within 15 days to distribute land to the landless. ... agitators burnt eight vehicles outside Kathmandu the day emergency was imposed.

- http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/130991/1/.html
...ordinary Nepalis interviewed in the capital Kathmandu said that if they had to choose between peace and democracy, for which many have been pressing, they would choose peace. .... the king will no longer be able to hide behind successive governments for the failure to find peace with the Maoists, as he has until now......The task facing King Gyanendra is tough: find peace, organise elections and reestablish democracy in three years as he has promised, all the while developing the economy of the country, one of the poorest in the world.

- http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/130606/1/.html
....the rhythm of life in the city does not seem to have been disrupted.....Shops are open and schools are in class. Taxi drivers are stuck in traffic jams, women shop in markets and tourists browse the boutiques. ...At the Shankardeb campus, students have symbolically stopped the holding of exams while waiting to be called to action. ...Asked their opinion of the week's dramatic developments, most voice as much suspicion of politicians they consider corrupt opportunists, as any anger towards the King Gyanendra.

- http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=68691
What contributed to the dismissal of the Sher Bahadur Deuba government? The stars, say Nepal's astrologers......Though King Gyanendra ascended the throne in 2001, he has still not been coronated according to full traditional rites due to the absence of an auspicious date since then.



He has inducted some janajatis into the cabinet. But names like Harka Gurung, not reassuring.

The anti-corruption drive. Will it be all talk and no action? Or rather a way for the king to get even with the political leaders? Will the drive also include taking the royal budget to what it was before 2002?

No madhesi presence in the cabinet. At least the Congressias used to have token representation of a community that just so happens to be 50% of the country's population.

The guy basically wants to rule as an executive, like a Prime Minister. I guess he has been polishing his managements skills in the private sector, the world of business, before ascending to the throne.

I am personally angry at King G's clampdown on internet and international phone calls. That brings my online business to a total hault. And if it is going to stay that way for months, the business totally comes to an end!

:-)

Pramendra, I think you should thank King G really. I think your business was going nowhere, and this might be a good excuse to get out of it.

Personally I have faith in you, but in business I am real doubtful about you. Sorry!

CHINA Vs INDIA (is media trust worthy?)
Nepalese gov't to show new face before nation

www.chinaview.cn 2005-02-05 21:40:30


KATHMANDU, Feb. 5 (Xinhuanet) -- The newly formed Council of Ministers, or cabinet, chaired by Nepal's King Gyanendra, is showing a new face to the public by assuring good governance and determination of hitting hard on corruption.

In its first meeting after being formed on Wednesday, the 10-member cabinet decided to implement a 21-point reform plan, which will focus on anti-corruption, good governance, economic growth and poverty alleviation.

The cabinet meeting decided to set up a Royal Commission within15 days to probe and take strong action against those who amassed huge property by evading tax and smuggling, state-run Radio Nepal on Saturday quoted a statement of the cabinet office as saying.

The government will empower the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, an anti-graft body, both technically and infrastructure-wise, to facilitate its actions against corruption rampant in the country.

The government will set up a land bank and make judicious distribution of land to squatters, landless peasants and freed bond laborers.

With a view to alleviate poverty, the government will initiate a long-term program to modernize farming, implement small and big irrigation schemes.

The disabled, underprivileged and lowest casted students will be provided with free education up to secondary level along with free textbooks and provision of scholarships.

As the tourism industry has huge prospects in Nepal, the government has formulated a master plan to provide necessary cooperation and facilities to hotels, resorts, tourism destinations and tourist industries.

Addressing unemployment issues, the government decided to generate employment opportunities in the country, besides seeking opportunities abroad.

Nepal's King Gyanendra dissolved the coalition government led by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Tuesday and imposed an indefinite state of emergency throughout the country.

The state of emergency in Nepal, instead of affecting normal lift in the country, has brought about a rare peaceful situation in the capital Kathmandu.

Street demonstrations, various strikes and vandalism on government vehicles, which were quite common in Nepal for the past several years, have disappeared since Tuesday.

Shops, schools and gas stations are running as usual and no long queue is seen. And all kinds of foods are available on the market.

The only inconvenience to the people living in Nepal, including foreigners, is all kinds of communications - telephone, mobile phone and internet connections -- have been cut off since Tuesday.

On Wednesday, King Gyanendra formed a 10-member new Council of Ministers, or cabinet, under his chairmanship. The main task of the cabinet is achieving peace in the country and holding general elections within three years.

Home Minister Dan Bahadur Shahi said on Wednesday, since the guerrillas has insisted they would only talk with the king, and the executive power has been revested to the monarchy, he new expected the guerrillas to start the dialogue with the new government.

More than 11,000 Nepalese people have lost their lives since the anti-government insurgency broke out in early 1990.

Many Nepalese people welcome the king's move, starting it as "timely and a positive step."

King Gyanendra's "historic and inevitable step will open up new avenues for the development of the nation by maintaining law and order, restoring peace, protecting democracy and consolidating real multi-party system as per the will of Nepalese people," said Manju Ratna Shakya, president of Nepal Journalists Association.

"Most of Nepalese people expressed firm belief that peace will be restored in the country," Shakya said. Enditem

The response of the Indian political parties is quite spring. I guess this is not 1960.


- http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=64149
The CPI(M) today brought almost all secular parties except the Congress under a platform to protest against the ??abrogation?? of democracy in Nepal. ..... All these parties will hold a national convention for the restoration of democracy in Nepal on February 24 in the Capital.....

- http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050206/asp/nation/story_4343896.asp
..the Left today made it clear that it is willing to express solidarity even with the armed rebels if they fight for restoration of democracy in their country....The Congress was left out of today?s meeting, which was attended by the CPI, Forward Bloc, RSP, Nationalist Congress Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Janata Dal (Secular), Samajwadi Party and the CPI (ML).....with some saying a tough stand should be taken against Gyanendra to keep India?s credentials with Nepal?s political parties intact.

- http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-02-05-voa13.cfm
Since the government takeover, several of Himal Media publications and some other independent newspapers have published editorials on archery, ballet dancing, and the importance of wearing clean socks. .....He and other Nepalese journalists want the international community to cut off aid to the government and impose sanctions on Nepal. That, they believe, is the only way freedom of expression will return.

- http://www.ndtv.com
A survey conducted just three months before the February 1 coup shows people preferred the democratic government to absolute monarchy, even though they were fed up with the unstable political situation....."People want the government to include all sections of society, including the Maoists, under a new constitution,".....



Looks like it will be very hard for King G to carry on his stunt for three years as he has said he will. That is too long a time. There is intense international pressure. As well as domestic discontent.

Possibility of economic sanctions loom.

YO PARAMENDRA

GET YOUR NUMBER STRAIGHT DAG! MADHESIE PEOPLE DO NOT MAKE 50 PERCENT OF
NEPAL'S TOTAL POPULATION.

In response to this thread:

- http://www.sajha.com/sajha/html/openthread.cfm?forum=2&threadID=19507

To: MeriNepalAma (what a username!)

(1) Dipendra also brought Nepal onto front pages all over the world. Getting into news is not necessarily a good thing. This also is one of those cases.

(2) The Maoists in their purity would do what the king has done. Take away all your rights. So don't put the Maoists and the parties together. Instead put the Maoists and the Monarchists together. They are quite alike.

(3) 21 point agenda. That is how every lame administration also starts. The point is not that the agenda looks good. The point is the person putting that on the scene has not been elected by the people. Who elected Gyanendra?

(4) You bring up corruption as an issue and then show some numbers. 5)To prove that royal palace is not corrupt, please make the account of royal earnings transparent. Please let us know why you increased royal budget from 60 millions to 600 millions as soon as you came in power. 6) Do check corruption in Army too, they are also one of the corrupt organization and now 70% of country?s budget is going on army?s hand. Do not let them misuse it. Royal budget goes from 60 million to 600 million. Army budget becomes 70% of total national budget. Look at all that taxpayers' money the king and the army are taking. Is that not corruption? Which Govinda Raj Joshis of the world induldged in corruption at such a massive scale?

(5) China. Pakistan. North Kora. King G has company!

You guys do not "get" democracy and yet live in America. Look around!




Keith Bloomfield, the British ambassador, believes that Nepal has breached its commitments under the Vienna Convention in severing the domestic telephone links of foreign missions, including the British embassy.......rebels relied on pre-paid mobile telephones to communicate and they would be hampered

:)Param+Indra, Param+Indra.. Hi.
I am here , I guess. Just so that you know I have replied to your reply in that thread. herna nabisa hai?

Most of the Sajha oldies are gone. So it is nice to see you!

I hope you have not become one of those who read/scan through threads, but do not write.

I used to believe that Madhesi?s are Nepalese in heart, anyway we cannot generalize a whole community based on one character, can we? Anyway we Nepalese do not need Hindustan times or Times of India to tell us what is happening in our country. Be a Nepali and think for Nepal. Not for any person or party.

Peace!!

That was below the belt, wheels. People are posting in Sajha because they love their country no matter what their view points are on the Royal take over. The reason we have to rely on the Times of India or Hindustan Times, is because our great leader stopped our very own papers from printing anything except stories about smelly socks and filthy air.

पश्चिमी नेपाल के प्रमुख औद्योगिक शहर नेपालगंज में आज सुबह हुए विस्फोट और फायरिंग में एक व्यक्ति की मौत हो गई है जबकि 17 लोग घायल हुए हैं.
घायलों को पास के एक अस्पताल में भर्ती कराया गया है जिनमें से दो लोगों की हालत गंभीर है.

मरने वाला दूध बेचने वाला भारतीय व्यक्ति बताया गया है.

एक स्थानीय पत्रकार राजेश सिंह ने बताया कि विस्फोट शनिवार सुबह आठ बजे त्रिभुवन चौक बाज़ार में हुआ.

बताया गया है कि संदिग्ध माओवादी विद्रोहियों ने पुलिस की टुकड़ी पर बम फेंका था लेकिन बाज़ार में चलने वाले आम लोग इसकी चपेट में आ गए.

Yes brother, READ you can but RELY on Times of India or Hindustan Times, can we?

Point taken, wheels. Unfortunatley, in this absense of any reliable news source out of Nepal, many people are in a conundrum as to who to believe. As of today, I am more likley to believe what comes out of the Hundustan times than the Nepali Times because as much as I like the latter, I know there is an Amry colonel lording over them and telling them what to write and what not to. That's the reason I want press freedom - I would like to trust my home press more than any other press in the world.

My two cents :)