| Username |
Post |
| ashu |
Posted
on 15-Sep-02 08:54 PM
Today -- Monday, the 16th of September-- is "Nepal bandh".
A Nepal Bandh called by the Maoists, against whom, lest we forgot, the state of Nepal has been fighting for the last nine months at the expense of our collective civil liberties.
So, no cars, no taxis, no motorcycles and no other vehicles, except for a few cycles,
are on the streets. Schools and colleges are closed. Shops and stores are closed. Buses and trucks carryig passengers and supplies will not ply on the hihways. Porters,
thel-gada-wallahs and other daily-wage laborers will go hungry tonight.
All my and my colleagues' appointments for the day have been cancelled. We have to
go to the office -- by walking -- but quietly fear that it will be an unproductive day.
A friend who has to catch a flight to Tokyo this afternoon has hired a rikshaw to
get to the airport.
To make an exaggerated analogy, today's Bandh is like Al Kaida calling for
a "New York Bandh" -- and apparently succeeeding -- after months of being
bombed in and out of Afganistan.
Meantime, I, as a mere citizen, am just tired of the same old bullshit doled out day after day by the government and the security forces, and wish I knew more about just what the hell is going on this war against the Maoists. For once, as a citizen, I want the government stop treating us like five-yeard-olds, level with the citizens and be
honest about the war efforts.
If The Maoists are being crushed left, right and center, then, how come they even
have this audacity to shut down the whole country of 24 million people today?
If they are far from being crushed after almost nine months, what is the real story?
oohi
"tired of making excuses for the Nepali state"
ashu
ktm,nepal
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| well-wisher |
Posted
on 15-Sep-02 09:00 PM
aba emergency continue garna nadiye pachhi ke expect garchhau ta army bata, ashu babu ?
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| ashu |
Posted
on 15-Sep-02 09:18 PM
Since we the people funded the Emergency by agreeing to divert money from education, health and so on to security, we have a right to know just what has happened in the last nine months BEFORE allowing any further sweeping/broad concessions to the state.
Besides, nine months is a helluva long time to - at the very least -- do enough so that today's Nepal bandh could not even have been announced.
By shutting down shops, colleges, and by not using the roads and highways and so on, people are saying to the state: We live in nothing but fear and fear.
I, for one, am tired of living in fear and fear in my own country. There are others who feel the same.
oohi
ashu
ktm,nepal
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| SMR |
Posted
on 16-Sep-02 12:13 AM
Ashu,
Finally, my suggestion to Deuba: join hands with the opposition parties and let the chips fall where they may. Make everyone accountable for the ultimate outcome, whatever that may be. It is after all a national crisis and there is no shame in creating a united front. He was hoping for a sound victory in a timely fashion with or without Girija, but it did not turn out that way. With a once growing international support, an united NC could have made a difference, as some argue, but there is nothing wrong cutting the losses now.
The army is doing all it can, but the range of hardship is quite deep and wide: horrendous terrains, scarce resources, outdated technology, no air power, poor logistics, Indian non-support, and above all a rapidly deteriorating public support and patience.
I feel sorry for the Army and I commend them for their effort. There is also a danger that a prolonged war can slowly weaken democracy and its ideals. I don’t know Girija’s intention for raising these concerns in light of the fact that he himself wanted to crush them one time, but I feel that an unresolved violent domestic crisis may not be too healthy for democracy, not to mention economic growth and prosperity.
That is what exactly happened in Indonesia in the Sixties. In the name of the national security and fighting undesirable elements, the country began to become very ultra conservative, and it still has not been able to shake off that grip completely. You never know where the dynamics takes you.
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| Sujan |
Posted
on 16-Sep-02 01:06 AM
This is absolutely horrendous. It is sickening to see the state of Nepal at this moment. The insurgency of these unfettered critters is actually beginning to open up the eyes of those politicians who thought they had control of the situation, but boy were they out of it. I think this is the time for those young folks both in and out of Nepal, whose sole ambitions are to get hold of Nepal's public policy issues, to make some much-needed connections very quick. This is a desperate time for all of us, at least for those who still call Nepal a home.
Can someone please shed some light to these queries: (1) what options do we have as citizens (or expats) at this instant?, (2) what is the status-quo that of the government officials in respect to their strategy and possible resolution, (3) why isn't the government not letting other nations partake in effort to subdue the aggressors?, (4) what exactly is in the constitution, which gives certain rights to the government and citizens alike in times of social unrest?, and (5) if you believe the reason for uncontrollability lies with the governments' inability to fund the proper army/police/military units then can you share with us any financial numbers that you are aware of (i.e. fiscal balance sheets, budgets).
Although politics isn't my realm of requiem I find it quite important for the overall health of the country, which in turn has aftershocks that bestows the local businesses both private and public and international investors a sign of 'political prudence'. At this time, such signs are not only ridiculously negative, but out of favor with the international community. Plenty of proofs here: travel warnings to Nepal, some multinationals threatening to pull out, local businesses suffering losses due to high cost of doing business, etc.
Folks, I, as many of you, are very fed up with this government. It is time for them to take some decisive action, and very quickly. If the government has to outspend in military gear and equipment then let it be; it is better to shake off some losses now and stack away the red ink than suffer the ultimate human casualty: deaths by the thousands.
When will this government ever learn that they are mere social servants, who are elected to protect the interests of ordinary citizens against the catastrophic and chaos environment such as now? I am beginning to lose hope with these incompetent bureaucrats...
-Sujan
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| tropical |
Posted
on 16-Sep-02 10:57 AM
People in power in NEpal have always treated the janata as "Bheda- Bakhra". From the time of janga BR to Koirala to Deuba to whatever have thought that nepali people can be deceived easily. This is not only true of Nepal, but also for all over the world.
In Nepal, specially, because of the still significant lack of education and general awareness on the part of janata, the ppl in power have succeded in deceiving the janata time and again.
This deceiving tacticsare not good for the country- for the people and ultimately for the people in power in the long term. Unfortunately, the so-called leaders till now have all proved short-sighted. Looking for only short-term gains and against the long term benefit of the present and future generations.
The janata were not and are still not being provided the full account of what happened on June 1st 2001. This time again, the activities of army have been shrouded in darkness.
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| SIWALIK |
Posted
on 16-Sep-02 03:02 PM
Add to it the inescapable fact that our "great" neighbor India has been harboring the Maiost leadership all this time. India is making a mockery of Nepalese leadership by handing in minor Maoists while protecting the real heads. Obviously it is playing both sides and destabalizing Nepal in hopes of furthering itw own agenda of controlling Nepal. In this situation, any response based only on the Nepal perspective is not going to bear much fruit. We are in for a long haul. As long as Maoist leadership finds safe haven in India, the insurgency will smolder Nepal like "bhus ko ago." Not a pretty picture!!! The solution is to hold India responsible for the terrorist activities it is promoting from its soil.
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