Yes, they are watching: We know that pro-democracy people (including civil society) are organizing countrywide mass meeting to warn the political parties that are running the government not to deceive people by compromising the spirit of the Jana Andolan. Hum..not only the unarmed civil society but armed Maoist guerillas are also organizing similar mass meetings to warn the leaders not to deceive people on questions like constituent assembly. This photo is from such a Maoist mass meeting organized Sunday in Nijgad of Bara district. Pic by Upendra Lamichhane
Students in Beni, district headquarter of Myagdi, burnt the photos of Nepals royal family protesting what crown prince Paras did on Saturday. Here is what journalist Kedar Ojha of the Kathmandu Post (and Kantipur) wrote about the incident: “A vehicle driven by Paras hit a wedding party vehicle near Chahabil in the capital around 6 pm, Saturday evening (April 29). While the crown prince’s vehicle sped towards Maharajgunj immediately after the incident, the wedding party’s vehicle was held at Gaushala police station under directives of the military police escorting the royal vehicle.”
Students protested the hit-and-run case and the detention that followed. They chanted anti-monarchy slogans. There were about 60 people including the bride and groom in the vehicle, all of whom were detained for 45 minutes. They also protested the publication of the photos of royal family, including such a brat crown price, in the school text books. They decided to take the campaign to schools that will seek the removal of the photos form the books. Pic by Ghanashyam Khadka
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50 responses to “Maoist Vigil and Protest Against Monarchy”
Power of the Purse
It is clear from the helicopter attacks by the Royal Nepal Army on peaceful demonstrations by the CPN (Maoist) in Nawalparasi and Rupandehi that the king has by no means given up on his desire to hold on to, and if possible, regain power. This is a deliberate attempt to force the Maoists to break their ceasefire and to drive a wedge between the seven parties and the Maobadi. This can not be tolerated.
The Nepal House of Representatives holds the power of the purse and must withhold funds from both the palace and the Royal Nepal Army until both have been brought firmly and finally under the control of the House of Representatives. It should be remembered from history that it was the “Power of the Purse,” the control of the treasury by which the British parliament reduced the power of British monarchs and forced upon them the constitutional restricts that reduced them to ceremonial monarchs. If King Gyanendra wants to be Commander in Chief of his own Royal Nepal Army, let him withdraw the money to pay his army from his own Swiss bank accounts.
The Tyranny of Tigers
A new generation in Nepal has taken up arms in the countryside and marched in peaceful demonstrations in the cities and towns of Nepal and they have done what no generation before them could do—they have severely wounded the tiger. He and his cubs have retreated into the cage he reluctantly helped create in 1990. He still holds the keys, he will lick his wounds, regain his strength, wait his time, and attack again!
The leaders of the seven parties have intervened to prevent the people from finishing him off. The leaders have decided to once again get into the cage with him. They must immediately declaw and defang the tiger. If they are indecisive, if they quarrel with each other, if even one of them breaks rank, the tiger will pounce. If the party leaders fail to swiftly do their duty, they will be either torn apart by the tiger in the cage or by the people waiting and watching outside.
Having sacrificed their lives and spilled their blood for freedom, the people of Nepal will not accept a return to the status-quo. A new generation will have a new and truly democratic society, they will accept nothing less. If the older generation of leaders do not deliver, and deliver quickly, on the promises they have made, the people of Nepal will call upon a new generation of leaders of their own choosing and swiftly dispose of both the tiger and those who would enter the cage with him.
Jai Nepal!
(UWB received this text in email and posted it on Oscar’s behalf.)
Maoist Vigil and Protest Against Monarchy? Fine they are doing good job.
What about their action? Read Nepal News Special:
Maoists grill photo journalist Shrestha in the capital (Nepalnews special)
The grilling of photo journalist, Kumar Shrestha, a contributor to Nepalnews.com, by Maoist cadres in Kathmandu has been condemned by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), senior media personnel and free expression groups.
On Friday, Maoist cadres grilled, threatened and harassed Kumar Shrestha as he was covering a mass meeting organized under the banner of ‘United Democratic Front’ at Shahid Mancha, Tundikhel. President of Maoist-affiliated student body, ANNFSU (Revolutionary) Lekhnath Neupane, and chairman of Maoist-affiliated trade union, Shalik Ram Jamarkattel, appeared for the first time in more than three years in the Nepali capital to take part in the public function.
As the Maoist-affiliated leaders were delivering fiery speeches at the Open Air Theatre, which is juxtaposed to the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) pavilion, Maoist ‘volunteers’ pushed Kumar and two of his friends aside and started questioning them regarding their affiliation. They later singled out Kumar and alleged that he was a ‘spy’ who would later give the photos of the Maoist leaders to the RNA. Kumar showed his photo I-D and introduced himself as a professional photo-journalist but to no avail.
The ‘revolutionaries’ then forced him to a close alley at the backside of the Open Air Theatre, which was under their control, and grilled him for over two hours. They took all his footage, searched his mobile entires and warned him of dire consequences. “It was a nightmare,” Kumar later told us. “I have visited Maoist strongholds including Rolpa in the past. But nowhere I was treated so badly,” he added.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) said Kumar Shrestha from Himalayan Films, Amit Sthapit of Yuva Hunkaar and Bimal Raj Gautam, a colleague of Kumar were interrogated by the members of the Maoist-affiliated students’ union, ANFSU (Revolutionary) at the Open Air Theatre on Friday. “When FNJ talked to the President of the Union (Lekhnath Neupane), he said that they were interrogated because the Union members couldn’t recognize them,” the statement added. FNJ office-bearers have condemned the manhandling of all three journalists.
Commenting on the incident, editor of Himal Southasian magazine Kanak Mani Dixit said, “The Maoists have to learn very quickly to operate in an open society where media is free and professional.”
Dixit further said Kumar Shrestha represents the finest of photo journalists who have professionally covered the movement for return to peace and democracy in Nepal. “Let the rebel leadership educate its cadres as to the requirements of free society where ideas rather than the threat of violence will open up the path to above-ground politics,” he added.
Condemning the incident, editor of Nepalnews.com Bhagirath Yogi said, “Such an act is simply unacceptable. At a time when the media, civil society and the entire population of Nepal are lending helping hands for the safe-landing of the decade-old insurgency, the Maoists must prove that they are worthy to operate in a free and civilized society.” He further said mistreatment and intimidation of a photo-journalist at a public function right in the heart of the capital shows the extent of threat Nepali journalists are facing both at the hands of the state as well as the rebels.
While he was covering the infamous Gongabu incident in the capital on the fifth day of the pro-democracy movement (April 11)—when security personnel crossed all limits to suppress the pro-democracy activists—Kumar was hit with a rubber bullet on his arm. He was left unconscious, was later taken to a hospital and was discharged the next day (See: Pic). He is back in action in the streets of Kathmandu with the bullet still in his arm.
Shrestha being carried to a hospital early this month after he was hit with a rubber bullet at Gongabu, Kathmandu (Photo courtesy: Bibi Funyal)
In a statement issued Monday, the Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies (CEHURDES)—a Kathmandu-based freedom of expression monitoring group—condemned the misbehaviour against Shrestha and called upon the Maoist leadership to probe into the incident and punish the guilty. “As Maoists are coming out in the open thanks to the people’s movement 2006, they must not repeat past mistakes of harassing, abducting and even killing the journalists. Freedom of expression is the corner stone of an open society which the Maoists must respect,” the organization added.
Even after four days, there has been no clarification from the side of the Maoists regarding the incident. nepalnews.com by May 01 06
Regardless of the Maoist’s aims, ideals or apirations a Maoist takeover will insure, at a minimum, isolation from the international community, and ultimately annexation by Bharat. It would be an absolute disaster for the nation. Please open your eyes!
Bideshi:
Well I don’t think the Maoists are intending on “taking over”. But if they come to power through legit means than I think it will be fine.
According to the BBC News web site today, Baburam Bhattarai has said that the Maoists are happy with the constituent assembly as long as it is ‘unconditional’ NOT in the sense that there are no conditions about laying down arms but ONLY in the sense that it has unconditional powers to abolish the King if it so decides. And he says the Maoists will accept any verdict of the constituent assembly, although they do not expect the assembly to accept a monarchy. Then it says this represents a step toward a ‘compromise’ on the part of the Maoists.
But this is exactly what the Maoists have been consistently saying for at least the last several years. It was labelled a ‘compromise’ when they made the 12 point agreement and said they wanted a constituent assembly, but that was their primary demand since the peace talks of 2003 at least. Now it is labelled a ‘compromise’ when they simply reiterate their commitment to the constituent assembly and that they will accept its verdict. When Prachanda was interviewed by the BBC a couple of months back, and he said they would accept any verdict of the constituent assembly, but that he thought there will be a republic, they took that as some kind of contradiction. But there is no contradiction, only slightly vague wording (and only then if you are determined to not give the Maoists the benefit of the doubt). He clearly meant then that they will accept the verdict of the assembly, but they do not expect the assembly to go for monarchy. Same as what Baburam Bhattarai has just reiterated.
In other words, the Maoists have been very consistent in their demands for at least the last 3 years. That is, they want a free, democratic constituent assembly election, which takes place under international supervision with at least temporary disarmament of both sides, and they will respect the outcome of that assembly, although within the assembly they will push for a republic and they believe they will win. Why is it no one can just take them at their word? They have been saying exactly the same thing for at least 3 years!
What do the Maoists say about the atrocities they have committed? Should we not judge the RNA/APF with the same standards as the Maoists/PLA? Or are we to use double standards?
Kirat,
Of course we should not use double standards. There is no question that both sides have committed abuses. The question is who is responsible and what to do about it. On both sides there is the problem that most abuses have occurred in remote areas and are undocumented and most are probably never going to get resolved. In both cases the chain of command has to be examined in order to determine who is responsible for the abuses in question.
The difference between the two, in my opinion, is that it is very likely that for the RNA/APF, abuses (torture, disappearances, massacres of civilians and then claiming they were ‘Maoists’) were sanctioned at high levels, starting with Operation Romeo and running up to the present day. Whereas I suspect that within the PLA, abuses took place at a much more localised level, and were discouraged rather than encouraged by the higher levels. To the extent that the Maoists attempted to discourage abuses and the RNA attempted to encourage them, I think there is an important difference.
That is not to say we should employ double standards. That is to say that it is important to assign responsibility to the right people (as well as to determine what has actually happened). If, for example, it was discovered that Baburam Bhattarai personally ordered torture, or a massacre, then there is no question that he would have to be punished and excluded from politics; the same goes for Tulsi Giri. But as I say I suspect any investigation would find that responsibility for abuses within the PLA lies at the level of low-level cadre, while for the RNA it lies at the level of an overal counterinsurgency strategy.
It is important also to realise that vindictiveness is not going to provide resolution to the conflict; it is not possible to put everyone in jail. Furthermore, considering the RNA consists of something like 100,000 soldiers, and the PLA consists of something like 30,000, I rather suspect that the large majority on both sides actually have not committed abuses at all. You cannot hold everyone in both forces responsible for what was done by others who happened to be on the same side.
m, why assume anything? Let there be a Truth and Reconciliation committee (like in S. Africa) and let the PLA and RNA/APF forces that committed the atrocities speak for themselves. I am sure the families that suffered at the hands of either the Maoist forces or the government forces deserve an explanation.
Also your assumtion that the Maoist command is not in control of the cadres just shows how big the problem actually is. Who is leading whom? The Maoist’s to weaken the government have created all sorts of very dangerous organisations-the Madeshi Liberation Front, the Tharu Liberation Front, the Tamang National Liberation Front, etc. Are they going to toe the official line? Do you know what sort of monsters Prachanda and Baburam have created? What happens when they do not get the promises that Prachanda and Baburam have committed to them. Remember they have got used to the gun and power. Prachanda and Baburam are looking for a soft landing-are the rest of the Maoists with them?
Kirat,
I said ‘suspicion’ not ‘assumption’. I did not say there should not be a full investigation.
I also do not think it can be fruitfully described as the Maoist command not being in control of their cadres, for the simple reason that in a war of any nature, and particularly a diffuse guerrilla war, no side is in complete control of its cadres. Soldiers in any war commit abuses even if their leaders tell them not to.
The difference is that some leaders at high or middle levels will make a policy out of abuses, by for example instructing their men to use torture to extract information, or to kill civilians in order to fill a quota of supposedly enemy soldiers killed.
In one case it is the normal situation in war, which is that no commander is fully in control of his troops. In the other case it is institutionalised abuse. What I am saying is that I suspect that there is much more institutionalised abuse on the RNA side than the PLA side, but as I said, this is a suspicion not an assumption–clearly it has to be investigated.
As for the organisations created by the Maoists at a local level, I am not convinced that these various organisations are actually ‘used to the gun’. The Maoists have armed the PLA and they have armed village militias. As far as I know the militias have not been involved in combat. If anyone has become ‘used to the gun’ it is the PLA, not the various mass organisations, local governments, co-operatives etc created by the Maoists. I am not at all convinced that these organisations represent a danger of any kind.
m, we can alway live in a fantasy world can’t we, where we are always right. Do you even realize what has been promised to these cadres and Maoist supporters by Prachanda and co? I am sure that someone said that same thing about the Hutus too-“I don’t think they represent a danger of any kind.”
Kirat,
I’m not sure what you are referring to. The Maoists have had no reason to promise their supporters anything other than what they are demanding. Yes, they believe they will win in constituent assembly elections, and they probably believe this will lead to an eventual transition to a socialist economy. But they have said all along they want it to be democratic with multiple parties, so why should they have promised their supporters anything else? And given that they have been saying for years they will accept the verdict of a constituent assembly, why would they have promised their supporters anything else?
Granted, they have created some structures which will have to be integrated into the new framework of government; obviously there are two parallel governments running and these will somehow have to be integrated just as the army will somehow have to be integrated. But there is no reason to think this cannot happen through a process of compromise on the basis of a democratically written constitution. And there is no reason to think the Maoists have promised their supporters anything else.
I do not see the analogy with Hutus at all. And your accusation that I am living in a fantasy world adds nothing to your argument.
Maoists have also promised many things in past but they havent’ fulfilled like other leaders. Lower level maoists would like to continue to fight because they have forgetten to work to earn money.
BetterNepal,
In many situations where there has been a civil war and soldiers have been demobilised, a grave mistake has been committed because they have not been given other jobs but they have somehow held onto their weapons. A example of this is the paramilitaries in El Salvador who turned to organised crime on a mass scale after the war. Clearly the same mistakes must be avoided; demobilised soldiers from both sides must be given jobs and disarmament must be done thoroughly.
But I do not think there is evidence to support the claim that the average PLA member would rather be a criminal on the run than have a job. On the contrary I think from any interview with a PLA member and from the way in which they act during ceasefires etc, you can see that they are generally ideologically motivated, not motivated by the desire for free food (if they wanted that, they could become criminals and accumulate a lot more than they do as soldiers).
The analogy to the Hutus is for your dismissing the Madeshi Liberation Front, Tharu Liberation Front et al at not being a danger.
The fantasy land analogy is for your assumption that the Maoists leadership are such honourable gentleman that they have not promised anything more than what they are demanding for our public (international and national) consumption. Remember what they said when they declared Magaryat?
Some of you guys look at the Maoists with such rose tinted spectacles that it needs to be yanked from your faces with force. Hope the facts won’t blind you though!
Kirat,
The promises they have made that I have evidence for come from two sources: what they have written in their literature, and what they have said in interviews and speeches. What are these other promises you are referring to, and where is your evidence? Please tell me where I can find this, as I would be very interested to educate myself about it.
Back to my you in a fantasy land theory…as if the foot soldiers of all those organizations that I previously mentioned can read. I don’t know where you can find it now…but remember how they addressed the crowd when they declared an Autonomous Magaryat Republic? They said it was going to be an area for the Magars to run it as they saw fit (ofcourse within the boundaries of the communist one party republic theme). What was that about? Do you realise the implications of such a policy? And in the first case why a National Liberation Front based on each ethnic community? Does this not mean anything thing to you?
Great Kirat Great. You are a true Nepali
Kirat,
Yes, they have declared regional autonomy for certain areas, and they have formed organisations to fight for the rights of (as they see it) marginalised ethnic groups. They have also, if I recall correctly, said they will advocate for a constitution with special provisions for these ethnic minorities. But regional autonomy is not the same as independence, and autonomy comes in many different forms and degrees.
There is a big difference between somehow splintering the country and devolving power to internal autonomous areas. What they have promised, as far as I can tell, is roughly similar to the kind of autonomy that Basques or Catalans enjoy in Spain today.
Undoubtedly if this cannot be preserved in the new constitutional framework people will be disappointed. But if that happens because the Maoists have lost a democratic constituent assembly election, then each of those ethnic groups would be suicidal to try to start a war to gain regional autonomy. I also don’t think it’s likely there will be a new constitution that does not take these groups into account.
As for your theory about me living in a fantasy land, your arguments have conclusively proved one thing: That you are incapable of opening your mouth without insulting the person you are talking to. Your mastery of ad hominem attacks is so great that it defies belief–in fact quite literally, because the fact that you argue like a 12 year old gives you the credibility of a 3 year old.
m, Well thanks for replying to a three year old! As if you are above a few insults yourself! Don’t be a hypocrite…that’s a terrible thing to be.
Well you said it yourself! I rest my case. Have you heard Baburam or Prachanda talking about any of those issues to do with the janjatis right now?
Kirat,
There are two separate issues: the demand for a constituent assembly, and what the Maoist delegates will push for inside a constituent assembly. There is no doubt that if elected, Maoist delegates to the assembly will push for regional autonomy for those ethnic groups. But the point is that they have subsumed their desires for the constitution to the constituent assembly process. Everyone is aware of this. The ethnic minorities are aware of this. The Maoists have simply said that they will take the fight for their ideas, such as regional autonomy, off of the battlefield and into the constituent assembly. It is quite simple.
I will not claim to have never insulted anyone, Kirat, but I think if you were to go back over our little exchanges you would find that I have very much avoided ever dignifying your insulting comments with a response. This time I have made an exception, with the hope that one day you will grow up and see that you do not help your case at all by insulting people. If anyone reading your comments agrees with them more strongly because of your insults, then they themselves have very poor judgement.
m, I will give you the benefit of the doubt there. Yes perhaps the Maoists will when they are elected to the CA implement or fight for what they have promised to the indigenous people. Perhaps you are right, let’s hope so.
But please drop that holier than thou attitude, ok? It only makes you seem…for a better word pompous.
maoists vigil for what? and against what? you guys want maoists terrorist to keep vigil for democracy–total wacko. i dont know how UWB team fond of such weird topics? its seems like they want COMMIES issues on their blog more often than not. are you guys prepering the bloggers for something?
i am sure that there is high probabilty that maoists will see combined assult from India, USA and Nepali army if they dont give up arms and voilence. i think maoists came out the biggest loser after the king’s second proclamation. may be that make UWB team worry.
as someone else termed long time ago ‘UNITED WE SING, A MAOBADI SONG’ that is what the UWB team is good for.
One thing that the Maoists have certainly shown, through their actions, in the territories that they control is that they have no respect or time for the fundamentals and ideals of democracy. This is an indisputable fact. Can a leopard change it’s spots? Some people like to think so.
Maoists have always demonstrated double standard on what they say and what they actually do. When their leaders brag about their commitment to democracy, their cadres kill people just because they have differnt way of thining. I have seen this ground reality myself. Even if we have constitutional assembly and new constitution with well defined people’s right and democratic system, I think maoists will have hard time coming into mainstream politics.
What I don’t understand about all of you guys is – Whosoever bashing the Maoists or the Parties, do they still want the king to lead the army. I think we should take care of Maoistic Monarch before we deal with the Maoist. Please guys, don’t for a minute think that constitutional assembly is simply for the Maoists. It is for us, we loosers who will be sold out by the political parties soon to the king for 3 rupees each, so that Paras won’t be able to bomb your house and on top of that put you in prison.
Why such a hypocracy? When the maoists spoke free on the Khula Munch in Kathmandu, thanks due to the mass movement of the people’s power of 2006, the photographer/journalist, Shrestha and his other fellow journalists were manhandled, mistreated and harrassed by some of the maoists’ members. We should all condemn such acts and call upon the concerned maoists’ cadres to investigate without further delay and show them that they have to run thier busines of spreading messages openly and freely. And, those responsible for such an inexusable acts must be reprimanded as soon as possible.
I am sure we all believe that Maoists will push for their agendas more aggressively than any other party since they still believe that they are in a great position (which they are). But guys, we all are still debating too much on the nitty gritty of the power struggle here (which is important) but I have raised this before and I raise it again – are we doing enough to neutralise a potentially dangerous Maoists like we have been doing KG or like we have been warning politicians ??
We need to recognise this threat and squarely face Maoists and question them. Right now they are in a great position and have not felt that they need to answer to anyone. We need to ensure that no one and no one is above people power.
Patriot,
I don’t know if maobaadis are really “in a great position”…
There is a good article about that in Himal Southasian :
Good night to all
Pascal Dai
M, I happen to agree with you. But I disagree with your point that people do not somehow trust the maoists at all. That’s not true.
A lot of people are taking maoists at their words. If history is of any indication, they have been consistent throughout. Let there be free and fair CA elections and let the people of Nepal decide whether they want to keep his royal highness crownprince paras or not.
Houston, Texas
look guys maobadi are not more than a replica of the UML with a few makeups. that’s it.
i feel sorry for thier poor cadres who beleive thier leaders but they do not deserve that respect. they are an indian puppet.
Yechuri jindabad becoz maobadi are near to power thro his terror diplomacy.
IF NOT Man Mohan Jindabad becoz Maobadi leaders are allowed to live in Delhi.
that’s all!
first of all . i totally agree with Mr Xu at the top of this comment page.
yes, if the so called spa leaders donot deliver immediately and in full, we are sure going to hump them and dump them in the dust bin ., where they belong.
look , what is happening today, girija couldnot name the cabinet asap. what the heck is to do with the portfolio of home and defence….. they are allowed to convene the parliament and form a cabinet …..not due to their lacklustre andolan……but only due to the courage and determination of all common Nepalis including professional………
so it is high time, they stop this intra or inter party bickering ……and form the govt by today ( tuesday ) if not ……… let us again collectively hump these leeches…….
ouf too much…..of this ( offensive/ smelly ) politicians….
hey youths ,,,,,,let us again unite , this time to what mr xu has said at the top of this forum .
thanks for u r time.
HEY UWB!!!
You need to update your articles more often. I open this time almost 10 times a day with the hope of reading a new article but I am dissapointed everytime. Wagle ji is back in town isn’t he? So, what’s causing this drought??
Kirat I suggest u to listen to m, he is such a wise man(u can learn politeness too).
I donot doubt that u r a knowledgeble and logical man yourself. but u still have lot to learn about Nepal and it’s ground reality.(your suspicion that gyanendra is the head of maoists (too funny)and the way u suggested for reconciliation in the very first announcement of king has already proved your incompetence)
your demand of’same treatment to RNA and PLA ‘
made me feel that u r inaware of what ‘rebellion’ is (u already displayed your ignorance on ‘revolution’ earlier).
‘rajya’ and ‘bidrohi’ are different things.
RNA is run by the government on the tax paid by people.
So, it should be naturally more responsible towards people and peace.
but what we saw ,
the maoist rebels in cease fire but the king’s government still continuing war backed by US’s military aid…
Maoists are so bad and barbaric but please donot compare with monarchy, which even lack idealogy .
Please stop Girija!!!!
he is trying to bring problems to doom again.
Taaya,
You seem like a nice, naive little girl.
You say that it is too funny that Gyanendra is the head of the maoists.
You in fact ask Kirat to get in touch with ground realities in Nepal.
Well without sounding too sensatonalist and going beyond what I should say let me give you two pointers:
1. You may know or may not that the UML was founded and funded by King Mahendra, to counter the Congress. This is not news to many people who know the politics of the early Panchayat.
2. This you may not know,although there is the general rumour. I have got it from a friend of mine who was a maoist cadre (surprised?) but defected, because without going in to details he and his “group” came to know that the palace was funding the maoists via Dhirendra. Gyanendra? Who knows, but there was definite links to the palace.
The lack of articles is the confusion as to how to tackle the current situation, and whether democracy is worth sticking one’s neck out for, as far as writing about the maoists are concerned. Anyway the maoists are all over this site and are watching the blog masters every step. I don’t blame them.
Might as well call this site “UWB! Wants Maoism and a one party state to be established in Nepal!”
I think people like m jump the gun way too easily when he/she makes statements like “Yes, they believe they (maoists) will win the CA elections”. I doubt they have a good understanding of what a CA election is. It should not just be an election amongst the parties, who at this point in time obviously have unfair advantage (money, guns, power) over other groups and individuals who may want and need to take part.
First of all, we are not holding a simple election here, if that were the case why not just go for general elections and then try and amend the constitution.
These elections have to as far as possible represent the vast majority of the people. Therefore a ceratin percentage of the CA has to be represented by different groups and not the parties. I had mentioned in another comment about my dislike for quota systems when it came to “the end results”, but agreed that there has to be a fair chance “at the beginning” (eg. education), and no where is this more true then the CA elections. This CA represents the absolute rebeginning, therefore here is where many of the CA seats have to be given through elections among themselves to women, janjatis, and other minority and supressed groups. I don’t think the majority of Nepalis will agree to allow the maoists with their past record and threat of guns, or the parties with their failed governments and corruption to go head to head with each other to decide our fate.
I’m sorry but a CA is much much much more then a clash of ideologies between a couple of parties. I think that the parties should have no more than 50% of the seats in the CA, the rest should go to the groups I have mentioned and intellectuals. Imagine leaving the fate of our nation in the hands of the likes of the maoists, Congress and UML. I think we need wise people to decide the CA constitution for us. Would we rather have a politician write it for us or someone who truly understands where we come from and who we are? Someone who does not have vested interest but love for our people and the country?
I agree chankhe.
We cannot just rush into a CA just because the maoists wish it so. Let’s face the facts, we have too many uneducated and corrupt leaders in all the political parties.That too mostly representative of the so called upper classes (Brahmins etc.). They have the power, the money and the arms as you say, and it will turn out to be nothing more then an election of personal whims and fancies. They have too much dirty laundry. We need people from the general public with moral authority and the intellect to represent us in this historic and critical time.
Already I see people making comments such as “do you think people will vote to keep Paras”. This sort of line is exactly what politicans will follow. The institution of monarchy is one of the contentions for the CA but it will be sad to see it as the only cause for this CA. There are so many more important issues at stake.
I can see that Baburam Bhattarai is a master at changing his words. What the hell does unconditional as in “‘unconditional’ NOT in the sense that there are no conditions about laying down arms but ONLY in the sense that it has unconditional powers to abolish the King if it so decides.” If who decides – the CA or them.
If the CA decides why all this mumbo jumbo with words, the CA is there to decide many things. I think Bhattarai is playing with words just to get out of the fix he put himself into. I tell you if these guys are so unclear about what they say and have to explain things they may or may not have said, who can trust them on their deeds?!?!?!
Example:
If someone other than the maoists kills a joiurnalist they are murderers.
If they kill journalists, then they are heroes for getting rid of an enemy of the people.
I think these guys need to be put into mental asylums.
I don’t know about the rest of the population, but I think the intimidation of MP’s with these people who the media refer to as anarchists but fear to say are actually maoists, has to stop. For heaven’s sake how can we let these guy’s hold the country hostage. Let the parliament get on with their job.
If by “get on with their job” you mean unifying the nation against anarchy and chaos and striving selflessly for peace and stability I’m with you. If you mean business as usual,i.e. bribe taking, influence peddling, siphoning money from donor nations and organizations into private bank accounts, misuse of public funds and resources etc. I say let the King and RNA do he best they can to muddle through this criis. The pols are hopelessly corrupt. The Maoists are no option at all. A Maoist victory will force India to intervene.
Taaya,
I quote you “Maoists are so bad and barbaric but please donot compare with monarchy, which even lack idealogy.”
But yet you seem to sympathise with them (the maoists). You seem neither here nor there. I know monarchy is the easy target, but it is just the tip of the iceberg. We should be focussing more on economic development and institution building, and less on outdated systems like monarchy and the maoists. Both are given too much importance. This is the chance through CA to have a fresh mandate, and I agree with the bloggers above that political parties should not be given more than 50% of the seats if not less. I would futher add that the people elected to the CA other than the parties should stay away from active politics after the new constitution has been formed, this will ensure sound judgement and the greater good over personal interests during the formation of the new constitution.
Also after these individuals are elected, they should form groups representing their ideas that advise him/her as the course to follow.
The CA elections should not be viewed in simplistic ways like the parties (including the maoists) have done, it is not something we can just rush into. They better begin their homework and begin the information distribution to all.
Pratibha,
u said “You seem neither here nor there”
I would like to assure that I am 100% against Monarchy and 100% for democratic multi party system.
For Maoists , I still have lot of confusions, and suspicions.
I too doubt the motives of the leaders but for the followers one I have deep compassion.
People under great, poverty, discrimination and suppression are more succeptible to violence.(UML and NC too have their history of violence)
For me they are the unfortunate angry siblings who have taken arms as their expression of utter dissatisfaction, opposition and dreams for better life and system.(dream of communist utopia is really a vain one)
Their war is in a way counter-violence to the age old violence of this nation and government towards the poor, minorities and marginalized ones.
They have raised such genuine issues and demands for the reform of this nation(Constitutional assembly is their demand) which have been overlooked and neglected by our so called democratic political parties.
So when the king’s army fly in the helicopters donated by USA, my heart aches to see the innocent lives lost.
They have of course performed badly and savagely but our government was the one who always dismissed the chances of agreement.
If maoists leaders still take violence to establish one party communism, the world and history will never ever forgive them.
But if they utilise the chance to get into the mainstream multiparty democracy ,they still have chance to define all their evil as ‘necessary evil’.
The point I’m trying to drive home is that somebody has to take charge to confront the Maoist insurrection. The parties are anything but united and will not be able to take charge effectively. The King and RNA is a centralized command that can more effectively deal with the crisis. After the insurrection is quelled, then constitutional issues, control of the military and the role of parliament and monarchy in modern Nepal can be addressed. When the ship is sinking is not the time for a mutiny and to argue over who should be in command.
Bideshi:”The King and RNA is a centralized command that can more effectively deal with the crisis.”
Don’t u know king and RNA are the cause of this crisis.
how much crisis do u want still????
Let’s think of the worst thing that can happen and avoid that first. A Maoist takeover will force Indian intervention and Nepal will no longerb be a sovereign nation. Priority #1: stop the Maoist insurrection. I am not a monarchist by any means and want Nepal to have a representative government, but we have to save the nation first or all our concerns about kings and political parties will be meaningless.
Lucky to find you, keep on the good workk guys! Best of luck.
Hi Sam! Photos i send on e-mail.
Green
Dear abc
Himal media and kantipur ma gareko attack ekadam sahi cha. I a=m happy.
maobadi ko government lai kam garna congress le diyekai chaina. and mao- leader pani khsai pratibha (work-skill) dekhau na sakenn. aba people ma nirasabad aaisakyo hai