Nepal Budget : Finance Minister in Catch-22 Situation

Finance Minister needs divine intervention to activate the slackened economy and find requisite resources to finance his ‘rural-centric’ and path-breaking’ budget.
By Chattra Bahadur
An Analysis. UWB received this article in email.
Whereas the rest of the SPA (Seven Party Alliance) are jubilant of the victory over the ‘autocratic’ and ‘repressive’ royal regime, Finance Minister Ram Sharan [...]

Royal Officials in Probe Commission: King Gyanendra Should Explain

King Gyanendra should use the forum of High Level Probe Commission to explain Nepali people why he did what he did in 2002 and 2005 and how he failed to do what he wanted to do.
We don’t know what exactly Dr. Tulsi Giri told the High Level Probe Commission (HLPC) Tuesday (June 27) but anyone [...]

While My Village Gently Weeps: Story of an Internally Displaced Citizen of Nepal

By Dinesh Wagle in Duragaun (Ramechhap)
Wagle Street Journal
[This is the extended version of Wagle's reporting that was originally published on the front page of Kantipur daily on Sunday June 25. Kantipur wrote editorial on the same topic the next day.]

Toyanath Poudel inspects the lock put up by the Maoists on his house All pics by [...]

Batsyayana and His Cartoons: Now in a Book

The book Batsyayana and His Barbs: A Cartoonist’s Take on Post-1990 Nepal will be available online on UWB for sale. (read more about the book below)

Prachanda: O Buddha! I take refuge in thee
Guerillas: O Buddha
Cartoon by Batsyayana via (the front page of) Kantipur (Monday, June 26, 2006).
Batsyayana is Nepal’s foremost cartoonist both in terms of [...]

Misadventure of Bharat Keshar and Heroic Policing of Timilsina

For the record: For latest on this case, see inside

Isn’t this a historical photo? YES. This is what is called democracy perhaps. Police Inspector Abhushan Timilsina drags a brat royal honorary ADC (on June 20) who thought he could do anything he wished on the streets of Kathmandu. This was very much needed to tame [...]

Comparing Notes: Nepal One Year Later

An American writes his experience of having close encounter with the Nepali Maoist comrades in a remote village

Maoist graffiti in a village in Myagdi district Left: “Up with Republic of Nepal: CPN Maoist.” Right: “Down with Killer Gyanendra.: CPN Maoist”/ “Whoever deletes this slogan will die.”
By Neil Horning in Pokhara (West Nepal)
There is a psychological [...]

Understanding Nepalese Politics: Playing the Game of Peace

The Maoists have adopted a simple strategy and are exploiting the current situation to the hilt.
By Chattra Bahadur
UWB received this article in email
The great ‘peace-ball’ has finally started rolling with the declaration of the 8-point understanding between the SPA and the Maoist leadership before the Prime Minister flew to Bangkok for medical check-up and treatment. [...]

No Farewell to Arms?

By Deepak Adhikari
Wednesday saw contradictory statements (aired by BBC Nepali Service) by top-notch negotiating leaders of ongoing dialogue (or is it over?). Though, the committees headed by Maoist leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Home Minister Krishna Sitaula looks irrelevant after summit level talks between Prachanda and the Prime Minister, they made two different statements that [...]

Eight Point Something

Maoist Maneuver of June 16
UWB received this article by Jabarjast who has not revealed his identity but beautifully pointed out few shortcomings of eight-point agreement between SPA government and Maoists on June 16.

(Pic via Kantipur)
Last week, the Maoist strongmen, Pushpa Dahal and Baburam Bhattarai, emerged triumphantly from daylong negotiations with SPA leaders. An 8-point agreement [...]

Prachanda In Baluwataar, Parleys Peace With Prime Minister

Finally, Prachanda, the Maoist supreme leader, is in Kathmandu is holding talks with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala in the latter’s official residence in Baluwataar. A large group of journalists is curiously waiting outisde the residence. Dr Baburam Bhattarai, second to Prachanda in the party hirerarchy, is also present in the meeting. Since both sides [...]