| Username |
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| noname |
Posted
on 25-Mar-03 04:45 PM
The King is unpredictable
Among the Shaha King of modern Nepal, only Prithvi Narayan Shah and King Mahendra had strong leadership capability, vision and control over the 'palace'. Rest of the time, either the palace was divided in many fronts or regents ran the country. King himself as the role of 'statesman' had been absent except at the time of these two kings. What about King Gyanendra? His vision to run country has yet to be seen, but one thing is for sure: The King is calculative and unpredictable.
The king's moves are calculative. When everybody was mourning and in a state of confusion, the King had managed to talk with many leaders and take in confidence even MK NEPAL to work as member in high-level probe commission of Royal Massacre. Though Nepal stepped down after a lot of hue and cry from inside the party, the King was not disturbed. He had already achieved what he had to.
At a position where he was the one who needed confidence from each and every quarter, he took political parties by horn and proceeded outrightly to dissolve the Parliament. The day before he was drinking with Deuba and the other day he sacked him as 'inept' PM. At that time many were expecting him to take into confidence other political parties; but his action was at 180 degree from the common belief. Citing Palace norms (If true, wrongly. There are many instances of joint audience), he did not agree for joint audience with leaders of political parties. When parties were expecting him to grant a group audience, he chose to visit Gorkha as if there is no need to hurry. Instead of including political parties in the government, he chose offshoots of the political parties as his close lieutenants. He faced a grave opposition from political parties on his 'civic felicitation' in eastern region, and most were expecting him not to accept any such offer thereafter. No, he accepted for one more 'civic felicitation' in far western region. The list goes on. The King's moves are unpredictable.
And, to the chagrin of many including India, US, political parties and Maoists, the King has acted against their intuition. Flouting the tradition to take into confidence Indian and US authorities in any big power transition, they were kept in dark to achieve the ceasefire. At the time when Maoists are threatening to pull away from the ceasefire, the state has filed new cases against them instead of releasing their comrades. When eyes were fixed on veterans like RN Pandey, Deepak Gyawali and Upendra Devkota for possible peace talks, he startled everyone by confiding Col. Pun as his close aide.
The King so far has been unpredictable, and surprisingly he has been successful so far.
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| MainBatti |
Posted
on 25-Mar-03 09:48 PM
I agree with you most of the time, noname.
------
Btw,
Is Isolated Freak sick today or something? Why isn't he replying to THIS thread?
Bhawadiye
"Will bask in the Sun eating badaam until IF sees my posts and bashes me"
MainBatti.
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| isolated freak |
Posted
on 26-Mar-03 05:24 AM
hmm just a question before I carry on with this one: Is the author of the above piece being critical of the King or being supportive?
Because, the first two lines seems to be critical of the King in comparison to PNS and King Mahendra, where as the last line of the same paragraph seems "supportive" by praising the King for his deliberate swift actions, which the author attributes to the King's abililty to caluclate correctly (or avoid miscalulations, either way means the same thing, hoina?)
I must have misread the whole post and my comments may seem way ill-informed and not at par with that of the other brilliant sajha posters, a fact that I don't deny given the level of my angreji, so acept my apologies beforehand.
This is what I could infer from the above post:
Deliberate and swift actions are leadership traits.
Consistency is yet another factor.
Power consolidation is another important factor.
Making people feel your importance is yet another important factor.
Opting for unpopularity in the short run to be popular in the long run is yet another leadership trait.
and most importantly,
Taking responsibilty for what goes on in teh country.
And, in the last 12 years, we didn't see a single leader with these traits. Then Gyannendra Sarkar entered the scene and he seems to posses all those above mentioned leadership skills. This is why, I believe that Nepal is now in good hands.
mainbatti, how was your badam? Did you enjoy being in the sun? How was your day? How is everyone in the family? :-)
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| isolated freak |
Posted
on 26-Mar-03 05:29 AM
hmm just a question before I carry on with this one: Is the author of the above piece being critical of the King or being supportive?
Because, the first two lines seems to be critical of the King in comparison to PNS and King Mahendra, where as the last line of the same paragraph seems "supportive" by prasing the King for his deliberate swift actions, which the author attributes to the King's abililty caluclate correctly (or avoid miscalulations, either way means the same thing, hona?)
I must have misread the whole post and my comments may seem way ill-informed and not at par with that of the other brilliant sajha posters, an accusation I don't deny given the level of my angreji, so acept my apologies beforehand.
But on the Post:
Deliberate and swift actions are leadership traits.
Consistency is yet another factor.
Power consolidation is another important factor.
Making people feel your importance is yet another important factor.
Opting for unpopularity in teh short run to be popular in the long run is yet another leadership trait.
and most importantly,
Taking responsibilty for what goes on in teh country.
And, in the last 12 years, we didn't see a single leader with these traits. Then Gyannendra Sarkar entered the scene and he seems to posses all those above mentioned leadership skills. This is why, I believe that Nepal is now in good hands.
mainbatti, how was your badam? Did you enjoy being in the sun? How was your day? How is everyone in the family? :-)
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| hehe |
Posted
on 26-Mar-03 06:31 AM
noname jee, very true observation!!! Though King G is unpredictable, he is able to cope up with the extremme challenges as evident from his direct diplomatic skills and sometimes his backdoor diplomacy such as in Maoist talks through his negotiators. Overall, he seems to be successful to read the growing frustration of the general public that the party politics of 12 years didn't give anything substantial. He is therefore sidelining these major parties running and ruining the country after 1990, however is giving chance to smaller parties to rise. But he is trying to maintain a normal relationship with those parties by inviting them for their views on current political problems. Even Madhav Nepal who was so vociferous against King G has now softened his stance as he is given a secret 'Aswashan' that he would be the next PM in interim government if he (MKN) is able to convince other parties. Who knows what happens next? I hope that an interim govt with Makune as the premier and with other political parites, including Maoists is in the offing as another unpredicted move from King G after he return from pilgrimage tour of India.
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| noname |
Posted
on 26-Mar-03 03:26 PM
MainBatti, IF, HeHe...thanks for reading (and 'choosing' to post)!!
IF, I am not being critical to the King, and not supportive either. I am just passing my obervation, and that too poorly articulated.
Before, I leave this thread one more comment:
If King appoints UML as head of the government, then he is predictble. Time of India proposed that idea long back (don't know exact date, may be 2 months back?). Let's wait his return, as UML is doing now.
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| isolated freak |
Posted
on 26-Mar-03 06:29 PM
Let confusion be cleared:
I said, I could have misread the entire post given the level of my ability to read, understand and express in English, so the piece is very articulate, just I had a hard time understanding it.
****
aaba ramro ramro post ta padhe pachi bujhe ni nabujhe ni finger itch huncha k.. type garna hheh.. so you don't have to at least thank me.
*****
Now, going to the original content: Yes, I too think that the KIng is very unpredictable and its probably a leadership trait inherited from his late majesty Mahnedra.
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| rajunpl |
Posted
on 27-Mar-03 02:26 AM
TIMES OF INDIA is equally unpredictable.
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| Deep |
Posted
on 27-Mar-03 06:09 AM
Everything or everyone is predictible as long as the prediction comes true.
About the King favoring UML leader to the top post is very reasonable. Reasonable in the sense of probablity. In other words, there is a high probability of UML chief being chosen for the top position by the King.
Lately, Makune is listening to the King more favorably than GPK, it seems. Also, I have not heard Makune talk about "Grand design" the way GPK does once in a while. Maoists, who are trying to merge in political mainstream, too are closer with UML than NC. So, I won't be surprised (won't be delighted either) to see the UML boss doing "pranam" to the King more regularly [Does the govt. chief go to Narayanhiti every Thursday?]
I don't understand why don't the new and young generation leader rise against these corrupt and snail paced "closeds" so called leaders?
These current leaders can't prove their leadership and blame the king whenever things go wrong. They keep screaming "the king is active the king is active". Prove your leadership "neta bhanaudaharu ho" then you will see the King will have no other choice but to retreat.
As we know if we want to make a line shorter without touching it then we should draw a longer line against the line we would like to see shorter.
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| rajunpl |
Posted
on 27-Mar-03 06:46 AM
BBC NEPALI NEWS here
Q&A: Nepal ceasefire
Government forces and Maoist rebels in Nepal have announced a ceasefire and a commitment to peace talks to end nearly seven years of war. What are the main issues?
Why has a ceasefire been called now?
Correspondents say the security situation is likely to have added to the Maoist decision to come to the table.
Neither side looked likely to win outright any time soon.
Reports also say that the recent murder, allegedly by the rebels, of the chief of armed police in Nepal and his wife may have played a part. Krishna Mohan Shrestha was the highest-ranking police official to be killed in the insurgency.
The killings were reported to have greatly perturbed King Gyanendra, who ordered Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand to take steps towards a ceasefire and peace talks.
These steps included a government agreement to stop calling the rebels terrorists, cancelling the bounty on the heads of rebel leaders and cancelling a notice to Interpol seeking their arrests.
What do the rebels want?
The rebels, who claim to be inspired by Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong, began a violent campaign in 1996 to abolish Nepal's constitutional monarchy and establish a communist state.
A new rebel statement announcing the latest ceasefire said the group wanted dialogue, but was still in favour of constitutional change - without giving specifics.
What happens next?
No date has been set for peace talks but there are reports that they could be convened in the next few days.
The government has appointed a cabinet minister and respected political leader from a troubled Maoist area to work with rebel negotiators.
Reports say the leader of the rebels, Prachanda, has ordered his guerrillas to stop fighting and said the Maoists would push peacefully for an interim administration to oversee elections for a constituent assembly, which would draft a new constitution.
How far off is peace?
Analysts say the talks will take time. The sides are no closer to resolving the main sticking point - the fate of the constitutional monarchy.
They say it is not clear whether the Maoist agenda has changed - and, if not, it is unlikely that the palace or political parties will accept those demands.
Attempts at peace talks in August 2001 stalled after three rounds of negotiations over the question of the monarchy. The rebels accused the government of failing to listen to them and being rigid during negotiations
The Maoists walked out of the negotiations and in November, broke the ceasefire and resumed attacks on government troops. A state of emergency, which lasted for 10 months, was imposed and the army was ordered to fight the rebels for the first time.
How long has the conflict been going on?
The Maoist leaders took their communist faction underground in 1996 after winning only nine of the 205 seats in parliament in earlier elections.
Within months, leaders had created a highly organised insurgency.
More than 7,200 have died since 1996, the authorities say - over half of them since the army joined the fight more than a year ago.
What do we know about the rebels?
Very little is reliably known about the Maoists, nearly seven years into what they call their "people's war".
Their shadowy leader's name, Prachanda, is translated as "the fierce one".
The group is modelled after Peru's Maoist Shining Path guerrillas.
Senior military officers say there are between 2,000 and 4,000 well-trained Maoist fighters, known as the movement's "hard core".
Another 12,000-14,000 so called "militia" fight alongside them.
After years of containment, they now control roughly 40% of the country.
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| rajunpl |
Posted
on 27-Mar-03 06:54 AM
What do we believe ................?
1768 - Gurkha ruler Prithvi Narayan Shah conquers Kathmandu and lays foundations for unified kingdom.
1792 - Nepalese expansion halted by defeat at hands of Chinese in Tibet.
In the grip of poverty: children in Nepal
1816 - Nepal becomes quasi-British protectorate after Anglo-Nepali war.
1846 - Nepal falls under sway of hereditary chief ministers known as Ranas, who dominate the monarchy and cut off country from outside world.
1923 - Britain formally recognises Nepal's independence - though foreign relations remain under British control.
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| rajunpl |
Posted
on 27-Mar-03 06:55 AM
1960 - King Mahendra seizes control and suspends parliament and party politics after Nepali Congress Party (NCP) wins elections.
1962 - New constitution provides for non-party system of councils known as "panchayat" under which king exercises sole power.
1972 - King Mahendra dies, succeeded by Birendra.
Multi-party politics
1980 - Constitutional referendum follows agitation for reform. Small majority favours keeping existing panchayat system. King agrees to allow direct elections to national assembly - but on a non-party basis.
1985 - NCP begins civil disobedience campaign for restoration of multi-party system.
Ancient heritage: Bhaktapur
1986 - New elections boycotted by NCP.
1989 - Trade and transit dispute with India leads to border blockade by Delhi resulting in worsening economic situation.
1990 - Pro-democracy agitation co-ordinated by NCP and leftist groups. Street protests suppressed by security forces resulting in deaths and mass arrests. King Birendra eventually bows to pressure and agrees to new democratic constitution.
1991 - Nepali Congress Party wins first democratic elections. Girija Prasad Koirala becomes prime minister.
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| rajunpl |
Posted
on 27-Mar-03 06:56 AM
Date set for Nepal talks
The army says the ceasefire has been largely trouble-free
The Nepalese Government says it will begin peace talks with Maoist rebels soon.
"The first formal meeting will be held by the second week of March," government negotiator Narayan Singh Pun told journalists in Kathmandu.
On Tuesday, the rebels' leader renewed a warning that they could take up arms again if the government did not show sincerity in moves towards talks.
Nearly 7,000 people have been killed in the Maoists' seven-year fight for a people's republic.
'Delayed'
Mr Pun emphasised the importance of the talks producing concrete results.
"It's been delayed, but we want to make sure it's result-oriented in order to solve the country's political crisis," he said.
Thousands of people have died in the insurgency
"Maoist leaders also realise the situation."
Both sides declared a ceasefire on 29 January.
Before the ceasefire the rebels had been campaigning for the abolition of the monarchy.
That has not been an explicit demand since the peace process began.
Since the truce was announced, the rebels have been demanding the withdrawal of troops.
They are also calling for an anti-terrorist law to be abolished to help foster conditions conducive for peace talks.
Rebel leader Prachanda has accused the security forces of ceasefire violations, something which the government and army deny.
An army spokesman said on Tuesday that the ceasefire period had been largely peaceful so far.
'Emerging peace'
Meanwhile, the UK Government has appointed a representative to contribute to the peace effort.
Diplomat Sir Jeffrey James will work to "co-ordinate UK and international efforts in support of the recent ceasefire and the emerging peace", the British embassy in Kathmandu said.
An embassy statement said the UK was "committed to assisting Nepal and identifying ways to help resolve its problems".
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| rajunpl |
Posted
on 27-Mar-03 07:05 AM
Noname jyu .There wasn't a single problem when nepal closed the door forthe foreigner for more than 100 years.The relation with indian and the US is no need tobe afraid of.When CHETTRI KO CHORO "JUNGE" seize the power there was the same.
The sieze of power from people,there is no need to be afraid for the GYANENDRA.We should be feel free that the international communities will not care about us.Like they never used to.INDIA is exception.
The rise and fall of the CPN UML and the NEP. CONGRESS is nothing more than the historic illusion.
Maoist are unpredictable here because we never saw them.
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