Monthly Archives: June 2007

Moriarty Musing: Bye Bye Nepal But I couldn't Shake Prachanda's Hand…

Posted on June 13, 2007 by | 50 Comments

…because of Pushpa Dahal’s failure- and his party’s failure- to renounce violence.

Speech by U.S. Ambassador James F. Moriarty To Friends and Supporters of the Community Information Center, Pokhara on June 12, 2007Shangri-La Hotel, Pokhara

Thank you all very much for coming today. It is a pleasure to be back in Pokhara again. Soon I will depart Nepal, after completing my three-year assignment as Ambassador here. I love Nepal and its people. My wife and I have thoroughly enjoyed the privilege of living among you, enjoying your culture, and making many new friends.

Concerns for the future

It is because of my own personal admiration for Nepal, and my country’s interest in your successful democratic transition, that I came to speak with you today. I am concerned about the future of Nepal.

This year can be a turning point for Nepal. A successful Constituent Assembly election, carried out in a free and fair manner, should prove a giant step forward in the establishment of a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic Nepal. That is the hope of the Nepali people. That is the goal of American foreign policy in Nepal. Indeed, my Embassy has been working hard over the past year to support your election. We will continue to do this, especially now that the Government of Nepal has decided to hold the election in Mangsir [mid-November to mid-December]. Nepal has many friends and admirers in the United States, all of whom want to see Nepalis decide their own future through a free and unfettered democratic election. Former President Jimmy Carter is one of these friends, and, as some of you know, he is visiting Nepal for three days beginning tomorrow.

The promise of a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic Nepal is, however, in danger. These threats are growing; we read about them every day in the newspapers. Maoist Young Communist League cadre kidnap businessmen and attack political leaders from other parties during their meetings. JTMM cadres confiscate private property in the Terai and kill locals. The list of these crimes is long and growing. Continue reading →

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Posted in Guest Column 2

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Nepal Comment: Catch Phrases and Road to Nowhere

Posted on June 8, 2007 by | 63 Comments

By Chattra Bahadur

The catch phrases in Nepal change frequently. Usually, metamorphosis is almost invisible; however, it spreads uncontrollably like a wildfire. The media, knowingly and/or unknowingly, creates frenzy. We are instantly consumed by the season’s catch phrase and our reactions are often extreme, defying any logic and reaching a point of insanity. Then, we see, hear and read in the media from a new breed of self-professed experts, who seemingly have knowledge of everything. They often propagate radical, intense and idealistic conceptions that make one suspect whether these experts suffer from some delusional syndrome. Perhaps, the experts understand that radicalism does sell very well, given the Nepalese social milieu; at the same time, it is hardly a feasible proposition. Despite their shortcomings, they must be appreciated for pointing out that Nepal is in dire need of transformation in all spheres. Unfortunately, we are also witnessing a trend wherein the experts present a variety of piecemeal packages aimed at transforming one sphere (usually political environment) only at the cost of and/or neglecting other spheres. The rationale for this practice is that ‘correction of the political environment precedes correction of all the other environments’. It is myopic approach because the political environment influences, for instance say, the economic environment and, in turn, is influenced by it. In other words, one particular environment acts as the both cause and effect concurrently, and unidirectional relationship does not exist in the context of societal influences. Thus, only a comprehensive package of transformation, inclusive of all spheres, will be successful. Continue reading →

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Posted in Democracy Wall, Guest Column, Nepali Society

YCL, Sita Ram Prasain and Anger of Girija Koirala

Posted on June 5, 2007 by | 154 Comments

The government of Girja Prasad Koirala is responsible to the YCL action against currupt and bank defaulter Sita Ram Prasain

sitaram_prasain.jpg
Sitaram Prasain in Tundikhel on Monday (4 June). Pic by Shaligram Tiwari via Kantipur

Many of us have been asking this question since the day before yesterday when we knew that the YCL “arrested” Sita Ram Prasain, corrupt and bank defaulter from his office in a dramatic manner: How do you react? Many people have been reacting in two ways:

1. That’s wrong but this guy should have been arrested by the state long time ago.
2. That’s right because this state is not representing the rule of law (which means arresting Sita Ram) and, in that case, anyone can take laws in their own hands.

The Maoist youth wing Young Communist League (YCL) Monday handed over “wanted” former chairman of Nepal Cottage and Small Industries Development Bank (NCSIDB) Sita Ram Prasain to Kathmandu Police during a press meeting yesterday afternoon. The YCL had taken Prasain – against whom the government had issued arrest warrant for involvement in financial irregularities — under its custody Sunday alleging the police of “showing no interest in making his arrest.”

“We handed Prasain, who has been involved in corruption and irregularities to the police to take action against him. We took this step to begin the process of building a corruption free new Nepal. Although Prasain admitted of committing financial irregularities, he maintained that no arrest warrant had been issued against him.”- Sagar, Valley Incharge of YCL.

“I did not do any wrong and I am ready to face any punishment if the court finds me guilty. I did not get any summon and I am not involved in activities to destroy the bank.”- Sita Ram Prasain

Continue reading →

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Posted in Nepal in Transition, Nepali Society

Wassup Gyanendra? Latest on Activities of “King”

Posted on June 5, 2007 by | 38 Comments

So what is the king doing at a phase when constitutionally speaking, the monarchy is practically in a state of suspension?

By Tilak Pathak

Fate handed Gyanendra a windfall opportunity of becoming king of Nepal twice: In 1950 and yet again in 2001. The first time, he was enthroned for three months, a child-king without any grasp of royal ways.

Opportunity presented itself once again 51 years later in the wake of the palace massacre.
And yet, he could not hold on to his position. The six years following the palace massacre witnessed such massive upheavals that King Gyanendra’s lust for power ended up paving the way for a republic.

So what is the king doing at a phase when constitutionally speaking, the monarchy is practically in a state of suspension?

Is he waiting quietly for the axe to drop on monarchy?

“When the events in the nation disquiets even the likes of us, how can the king stay quiet?” The king’s ADC Bharat Kesar Singh says. “His highness is also concerned. That’s why he meets people.”

Like Singh says, the king’s major activity at present is meeting people- from pro-monarch leaders to intellectuals, journalists and civilians. But not openly, mostly such meetings are underground affairs. The most recent and significant one being the well publicised meeting with Rastriya Janashakti Party chairman Surya Bahdur Thapa in mid-June.

On his return to Nepal after a weeklong visit to India, Thapa “briefed” the king on what India has to say about the political situation in Nepal.

And it is not just Thapa among the former Prime Ministers. Dr Tulsi Giri, Kirtinidhi ista, Marich Man Singh, Lokendra Bahadur Chand, among others have been paying courtesy calls to the king.

Rabindra Nath Sharma, Bishwa Bandhu Thapa, Pashupati Shamshere Rana, among others, have also held talks with the king. Sources state that especially Giri, Surya Bahdur Thapa and Sharma have met the king on numerous occasions.

Aside from those with palace backgrounds, persons form Madhesi and indigenous communities maintaining a “low profile” at present have also been holding meetings with the king.

Nirnajan Thapa, Krishna Lal Thakali, Roop Jyoti and other royal ministers had also met the king in one group once.

A majority of royal ministers had reached the palace to receive tika during Dashain and on the king’s birthday last year. Continue reading →

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Posted in Nepal in Transition, Nepali Society, Reader's Vision

Wassup Gyanendra? Latest on Activities of "King"

Posted on June 5, 2007 by | 37 Comments

So what is the king doing at a phase when constitutionally speaking, the monarchy is practically in a state of suspension?

By Tilak Pathak

Fate handed Gyanendra a windfall opportunity of becoming king of Nepal twice: In 1950 and yet again in 2001. The first time, he was enthroned for three months, a child-king without any grasp of royal ways.

Opportunity presented itself once again 51 years later in the wake of the palace massacre.
And yet, he could not hold on to his position. The six years following the palace massacre witnessed such massive upheavals that King Gyanendra’s lust for power ended up paving the way for a republic.

So what is the king doing at a phase when constitutionally speaking, the monarchy is practically in a state of suspension?

Is he waiting quietly for the axe to drop on monarchy?

“When the events in the nation disquiets even the likes of us, how can the king stay quiet?” The king’s ADC Bharat Kesar Singh says. “His highness is also concerned. That’s why he meets people.”

Like Singh says, the king’s major activity at present is meeting people- from pro-monarch leaders to intellectuals, journalists and civilians. But not openly, mostly such meetings are underground affairs. The most recent and significant one being the well publicised meeting with Rastriya Janashakti Party chairman Surya Bahdur Thapa in mid-June.

On his return to Nepal after a weeklong visit to India, Thapa “briefed” the king on what India has to say about the political situation in Nepal.

And it is not just Thapa among the former Prime Ministers. Dr Tulsi Giri, Kirtinidhi ista, Marich Man Singh, Lokendra Bahadur Chand, among others have been paying courtesy calls to the king.

Rabindra Nath Sharma, Bishwa Bandhu Thapa, Pashupati Shamshere Rana, among others, have also held talks with the king. Sources state that especially Giri, Surya Bahdur Thapa and Sharma have met the king on numerous occasions.

Aside from those with palace backgrounds, persons form Madhesi and indigenous communities maintaining a “low profile” at present have also been holding meetings with the king.

Nirnajan Thapa, Krishna Lal Thakali, Roop Jyoti and other royal ministers had also met the king in one group once.

A majority of royal ministers had reached the palace to receive tika during Dashain and on the king’s birthday last year. Continue reading →

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Posted in Reader's Vision

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Again A Freaking Nepal Banda By Janajatis

Posted on June 1, 2007 by | 82 Comments

A freaking Nepal Banda (general strike) yet again today. Last one (Kathmandu Valley Banda) was four days ago. This one is called by (again) Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NFIN). [Their previous Banda was in February.] The group (of Janajati) is currently engaged in freaking talks with the government on various issues including the voting method in the Constituent Assembly elections but at the same time continuing street protests. Today’s protest, they say, is to mark the black day (18 Jestha or 1 June). Nine years ago the Supreme Court has ruled to ban the use of local mother tongues as formal language in local development bodies like Kathmandu metropolitan city and Rajbiraj municipality. Pasang Sherpa, president of NFIN, said they had announced bandh to observe the Black Day and to press for ethnicity-based proportional representation system in Constituent Assembly and to demand annulment of provisions in interim constitution that violate rights and interests of ethnic communities.

nepal banda 1 june

A mob didn’t let go a van with green license plate (tourist carrier) in Koteshwor this morning. There was no tourist in the vehicle and it was apparently heading for its office- a travel agency- to ferry foreigners to and from airport in the afternoon.

nepal banda 1 june

This man’s reason for not letting the vehcile go towards its destination: “Yo dollar kamaune gadi ho, jana nadeu.” [This is a vehicle that earns dollars. Don't let it go.]

nepal banda 1 june

Though the crowd didn’t let go the vehicle, this kid was quick enough to let go the air from the tire. “Don’t do that,” someone screamed. And the kid stopped. But the damage was already done.

Angry mobs are disrupting traffic throughout the city. Because this is a transitional phase (from autocracy to full fledged participatory democracy) every-freaking-one in Nepal these days is agitating for his/her rights or for no specific reason. And the most used form of protest has become the Banda. Just go on the street, stop the vehicles and your agitation has taken the height. We have written so many times about this freaking tradition of ours in this web site but who the freaking really cares about?

Every-freaking-one agrees that calling a Nepal Banda is too bad for everything but when he or she is agitating, the same will be the inevitable form of protest. Do you think these freaking Nepal Bandas will have any sort of impact on this freaking government of ours? Can’t say that immediately but it’s definitely the case that the ultimate sufferers of Bandas are the general public. They can’t run their business, they can’t open up their factories, they can’t go to office easily, and they can’t send their kids to school. Freaking CAN’T. We can’t hold the election of Constituent Assembly on time. We can’t the revise the price of petroleum products, and because of that, we can’t pay the due on time to Indians and, because of that, we suffer from the freaking fuel shortage. We can’t remove the freaking king from the Narayanhitti palace and put our prime minister over there and, because of that, we are on constant fear of another strike from monarchy. We can’t tame the Maoist monster called Young Communist League that’s creating havoc in Nepali society. We freaking can’t. When will the time come when we can say we CAN?

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Posted in Nepal in Transition 2

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