By Deepak Adhikari
Last Saturday evening, as I was scanning through Huntington’s Who Are We, I heard sloganeering near my residence at Ghattekulo. Some twenty teenagers, most of them from the neighborhood, were chanting pro-democracy slogans. That made the denizens living in the cozy rooms of Ghattekulo, come out of their slumber and watch what’s happening, if not identify with that spectacular event. I accompanied them for a while, not chanting slogans but trying to decipher who they could be in the darkness of engulfing night.
To my pleasant surprise, I found my 22-year old brother in the crowd. He aptly represents these young people most of whom were either in their infancy or not yet born in 1990’s popular movement that brought democracy only to be snatched away a decade later. The mass headed towards Maitidevi; its goal was as confused as SPA’s leaders and as vague as the thickening night. They seemed gathered less in the hope of restoring democracy and more for fun. Nevertheless, they were not only defying the curfew, but also challenging the state.
The ongoing movement is devoid of leadership is an established fact now. Though, this time the echoes of 1990s are heard (a kind of deja vu), the leaders like Ganesh Man Singh are dearly missed. SPA leadership thinks that issuing statements from some corners of Kathmandu fulfills their responsibilities. I am told that 23 out of 68 central members of UML are arrested. But, neither Girija Prasad Koirala nor Sher Bahadur Deuba has made it to any protest yet. I was utterly disappointed while police successfully foiled Wednesday’s mass condolence slated at Sahid Manch. There were only a handful of protesters who tried in vain to break the police barriers at Bir Hospital. Reportedly, police barred the protesters from coming to the venue.
That said, the movement has spread nationwide; you can feel it more outside the capital. But, the king, towards whose direct rule the agitation is directed, is turning a deaf ear; he’s still hell bent on reciting his rhetorical ramblings of dialogue. Ironically, he has used the word ‘democracy’ five times in his New Year speech.
A despotic monarch can not rule for long. Gyanendra’s days are, obviously, numbered. “The question is not whether”, as an Indian writer puts it in The Hindu, “but when.” Nepal is in the throes of political transformation. But…ah that ‘but’ stuff! But, we should not repeat the mistakes of 1990s by trading trivial achievement for grand success. All out change in beauracracy, punishing the political wrongdoers and establishing and adhering to democratic norms is the need of time.
UWB Note: Blogger Adhikari maintains his personal blog Deepak’s Diary
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33 responses to “Nepal in the Throes of Transformation”
Blogging for democracy in Nepal
Nepalese journalist Dinesh Wagle speaks about how his blog defied government regulations and spread news about Nepal around the world
By Vincent Lim
AsiaMedia Staff Writer
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Los Angeles — Dinesh Wagle refuses to live his life in fear.
He will talk about the dangers and difficulties of working as reporter in his Himalayan homeland, where journalists continue to face threats from Maoist rebels as well as their own government, but he will never talk about quitting his job.
He didn’t think about quitting when Nepalese ruler King Gyanendra issued a Royal Proclamation that placed restrictions on the media and warned journalists about challenging the government. He didn’t think about quitting when authorities summoned his editor at Kantipur Daily, Nepal’s largest daily newspaper, for questioning. He did not even think about quitting when military personnel summoned him for questioning about his blog, United We Blog!, which was one of the few Nepalese news sources that was defying the proclamation.
Wearing a t-shirt that said “United We Blog! for a democratic Nepal,” Wagle spoke about how his blog provided him with a new medium in which to tell Nepal’s stories to the world at an event called “Blogging from Nepal” held at UCLA on Wednesday.
“Blogging was a medium of expression that I could use to express myself [in a way] that I couldn’t in my job,” Wagle said.
On Feb. 1, 2005, Nepal’s ruler dismissed the country’s standing government, assumed absolute power over the country and declared a state of emergency. The government eventually lifted the state of emergency on Apr. 30, 2005, but the independent media in Nepal continues to live in fear of government action against press organizations that challenge the monarch. Kantipur Daily, the newspaper that Wagle works for, had to be careful not to publish reports or editorials that directly questioned the legitimacy of the King’s government.
Wagle saw his blog as a way to avoid censorship because the government could not determine whether United We Blog! was an actual media publication. He said he told government officials that United We Blog! was simply another form of web publishing and told them that it did not need to be registered as an official media publication. Registered media publications and organizations are subject to government restrictions in Nepal.
He nevertheless sees the importance of maintaining the same professional standards in his blog as he does when writes articles for Kantipur Daily. He believes that alternative forms of media must gain people’s trust and noted that very few people in Nepal use the Internet to read news stories.
“The mainstream media thinks the alternative media is insignificant and without influence,” Wagle said.
Wagle and contributors to his blog have tried to expand their readership and gain credibility by featuring reports from the field and offering breaking news. They report from where the stories about protests and brutality take place, often putting themselves in danger to do so.
But Wagle said that they are not worried about government authorities assaulting or arresting them. He downplayed violence against journalists in Nepal and added that threats from authorities only encouraged him and his colleagues to write more often; they felt it was important to get the stories about protests and the press in Nepal out to the public and to the world.
Threats from Maoist insurgents, who are in a battle with the government to gain control of the country, do not worry Nepalese journalists either: “We’re not facing the kind of danger that journalists in Iraq are facing,” he said.
Wagle first learned about blogs while working as a technology reporter and started posting entries in a blog about his personal life in 2003, two years before the coup. He now blogs about political developments in the country and gives depth to the harrowing stories that characterize news about Nepal in the Western press.
Wagle fielded several questions from the audience during the event, including one about his own fears of being confronted by government authorities. His response to the question testified to his unwillingness to back down from anyone who wants to stop him from practicing journalism.
“I don’t feel like I’m being harassed, and I don’t think they ever will [harass me],” Wagle said. “And if they do, it won’t be anything new.”
Source: http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=43000
Very Impressive Dinesh Jee!!
I have posted this on another blog. But I think it is more appropriate here. This comment was made to show all Nepalis and outsiders that the Nepali spirit is essentially still for peace:
We are really a weak country, this is no suprise to us all here.
Look at what foreigners like Vandeveer cooly writes:
“There will soon be UN Trials concerning CRIMES-AGAINST-HUMANITY for those who:
#1)turned their backs and let the POLICE-RIOTS happen,Ie the Monarchy
#2)those who ordered the Police & Army to abuse and kill.Ie the rogue Palace Mafia and the RNA & Police Officersin charge…
#3)as well as those who carried out the attacks..”
Now turn on your Indian TV channels. Have you seen the news on Bangalore and the footage. The police have lathi charged, used smoke guns and fired bullets, the citizens are attacking cops, businesses and burning buses. In one day there were eight to ten people dead and hundreds injured. Why dont these foreigners make a huge hue and cry about human rights and the UN, and the police etc. etc. over in India.
Why? Because India will just bulldoze their propoganda, and twist the arms of their partners abroad then everything will be hushed up.
Imagine riots in a city like Bangalore – silicon city, 7% economic growth. And all because a film actor called Raj Kumar died of old age. Here, we are having a national crisis of immense proportions, if you compare the two countries and follow the examples set in Bangalore we should be having a full fledged civil war and genocide going on in here. These are moments to shun foreign interference and think as Nepalis and thank god that we are Nepalis all and not from Bangalore.
cs,
read the quote below posted by People rise. Try to understand what it means.
“You can’t separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.”
– Malcolm X (1925 – 1965),
Kirat,
Nice quote. But it is just a quote. To achieve any one of these let alone both is a massive task in hand by itself.
cs, true, true but the ‘massive task’ starts with understanding the quote first.
Cs,
not clear, why human right people are not making it loud about the banglore incident….may be they missed it..on the other hand i can cite you hundred of incidents in more powerful countries than india where human right is given due repect..and any minor voilation of right is always condemmned and made goverment to apologize and take proper action. Case in point: police shot dead a suspecteed terrioist after london bomb attack..who later found to be an innocent brazilian guy..human right people seriously condemend the killing..that incident made a huge news for so many days..it was a serious mistake by london police..but it was not intentional…though the prime minister was forced to apologize…Now back to Nepal..4 people were shot dead even though police knew in prior that those people were not suspected terriorist..leave them..they might be hurling stones to the police and they might have defended thmselves as goverment is saying..yesterday there was baton and bullet charging in the peaceful demonstration of professionnals ..as expected goverment did not feel sorry about that ..and kamal thapa is saying in BBC that everything is coming back to normal… and people are fed up with this andolan which is led by maoist..so u even expect human right people not to make any remarks and hue and cry as you said about those incidents…i am very happy that human right people are getting very foccussed here in Nepal…we nepalese people need them very dearly at the time of this crisis…
Just saw Girija’s interview in Kantipur. I think this guy is going senile because of his age…not joking. I don’t think this guy will be around for long. He is pretty old. Anyone know who will replace him in the NC when he is gone?
Whoever it is …. their surname will be KOIRALA … that much I can assure you.
If a seed does not rise above the ground, it will never be a tree. If it becomes a tree, it stays a long time. If a politician does not rise above the crowd to lead them, he will hardly be a leader. Shailaja, when 17 years old, raised a flag againsts king Mahendra in the mass and stayed alive in politics for another 43 years and has gone senile now. Girija rose above the ground 6 decades back and at 85, still active. He will be replaced in time but, of course, not by Deuba. Till then, follow Girija. People has no choice.
Hey raj,
Girija has some good points about him. I’ll give you that. It’s just that power corrupted him so easily. There is an African proverb that says if you want to find the true character of a man give him power. When Girija had power he showed is true character, just like ol’ Gyane bro is doing right now. It’s not good to wish someone to die, but I hope that for the sake of democracy someone good from the NC rises out of all this because Girija had his chance and he screwed it up pretty bad.
Hey raj,
I just got moderated… but I just wanted you to know that Girija had his chance and he messed up major!
Kirat:
Couldn’t agree more.
But I think right now there is no other leader other than Girija. Deuba is just too spineless and an IDIOT. Madav Nepal is so so .. I don’t know more about him but he is very unimpressive. Other other parties don’t have the kind of backing like the congress.
So as much as I hate it Girija is really the best bet right now.
Sorry I didn’t finish….
Gagan Thapa is a good upcoming leader. But can he just become the next prime minister/president of Nepal right away? You think he is ready?
Maybe I just don’t know other leaders but I cannot think of anyone …
What a sad day it is! I actually have had to pose a comment supporting Girija Prasad Koirala.
Hi Punditji,
I get you, but like I said watching that interview it seemed he’s losing it a bit (not joking). It’s age, it’s a natural process. Again I know it’s crazy but I’m worried because of that.
By the way anyone know how old Girija is?
Kirat:
I believe he is 84
Pundit dai, Thanks!
What do you thinks going to happen? I know you were quite optimistic earlier about the king’s speech. Do you still feel that way? My lawyer friend is still in detention with around 70 other lawyers and aid workers.
Personally I think this guy will drag our country through hell before he gets kicked out of the country. Like it or not I think it will be a transition from monarchy to republic. Painful and unneccessary I know but that’s how it’s set. I hope I am wrong.
Kiratji:
Dai?? How did you reach the conclusion that I was a dai as opposed to a bhai?
Anway I think the King’s speech was the biggest load of crap I have read! When I was optimistic I just read the headline on nepalnews news whcih said King calls for dialogue with Parties. But obviously I should have known that it was too good to be true.
Yes this King is very arrogant, narrow-minded and an all round idiot. You see he is not very educated or smart. People are under this impression that he he a smart businessman. He is not! The brains behind all his business ventures is Prabhakar Shamssher Rana. Even then if you think about all his businesses did relatively well under a very protectionist enviroment.
So the first misconception of Gyenandra being smart and calculating is wrong. The other problem is the kind of people he has surrounded himself with. The Nepali Times published a list of his 10 closest advisors last year. 9 of them were old school Rana/Shah palace hardliners including Bharat Simba who is the president of the World Hindu Federation and insists the the King has a divine autrotity to rule. You see once a King is surrounded by such people he becomes even more narrow minded and arrogant. Then there is Tulsi Giri and Kamal Thapa.
Also remember Gyanendra was very critical of his brother for giving into the people’s demands in 1990… according to him the security forces should opened fire and been more aggressive. “Junta haru lai bhoot dhinu partheyo” were his words according to one palace insider.
So you see this King is too arrogant to call for dialogue and step down. He is not one to take humiliation well and he will drag the country into years of violence and unrest before/if he back down.
I think the ball is in the political parties hands … they have to find a way to initially get the Kings guards down and call for a reinstatement of the dissolved parliment which will call for elections … the problem is that we don’t have the smart political leadership ( eg. BP Koirala, Ganesh Man Singh, Tanka Acharya etc.) to nagivate through his delicate situation. Gagan is good but he is too crude and too young to deal with all this. He needs a good 8-10 years before he will be ripe enough to actually become a prime minister/president… until then we don’t have anyone and this is Nepal great misfortune/curse. So I don’t see an imediate end to the strif … but I hope all my analysis is wrong and someone will emerge and change things.
News said; “Dinesh Wagle refuses to live his life in fear.”
I suggest to you buddy,better apply for refugee in the US, it will convey you a better life and bright future. cheers
Again my comments are being moderated.
I am warning you UWB that eventually people will get SICK of this and go to other Nepali politics blogs like Samudaya.org or insa.org … or actually i am just thinking about opening my own blog and inviting the contributing readers … this is just ridiculous! I hope you (UWB) can grow up and remove this silly ridiculous fliter!
Kiratji:
Dai?? How did you reach the conclusion that I was a dai as opposed to a bhai?
Anway I think the King’s speech was the biggest load of crap I have read! When I was optimistic I just read the headline on nepalnews news whcih said King calls for dialogue with Parties. But obviously I should have known that it was too good to be true.
Yes this King is very arrogant, narrow-minded and an all round idiot. You see he is not very educated or smart. People are under this impression that he he a smart businessman. He is not! The brains behind all his business ventures is Prabhakar Shamssher Rana. Even then if you think about all his businesses did relatively well under a very protectionist enviroment.
So the first misconception of Gyenandra being smart and calculating is wrong. The other problem is the kind of people he has surrounded himself with. The Nepali Times published a list of his 10 closest advisors last year. 9 of them were old school Rana/Shah palace hardliners including Bharat Simba who is the president of the World Hindu Federation and insists the the King has a divine autrotity to rule. You see once a King is surrounded by such people he becomes even more narrow minded and arrogant. Then there is Tulsi Giri and Kamal Thapa.
Also remember Gyanendra was very critical of his brother for giving into the people’s demands in 1990… according to him the security forces should opened fire and been more aggressive. “Junta haru lai bhoot dhinu partheyo” were his words according to one palace insider.
So you see this King is too arrogant to call for dialogue and step down. He is not one to take humiliation well and he will drag the country into years of violence and unrest before/if he back down.
I think the ball is in the political parties hands … they have to find a way to initially get the Kings guards down and call for a reinstatement of the dissolved parliment which will call for elections … the problem is that we don’t have the smart political leadership ( eg. BP Koirala, Ganesh Man Singh, Tanka Acharya etc.) to nagivate through his delicate situation. Gagan is good but he is too crude and too young to deal with all this. He needs a good 8-10 years before he will be ripe enough to actually become a prime minister/president… until then we don’t have anyone and this is Nepal great misfortune/curse. So I don’t see an imediate end to the strif … but I hope all my analysis is wrong and someone will emerge and change things.
kirant and Pundit,
Whatdo you make you think that Girija is the greatest contemoporary leader…May be he is very popular among nepal congress workers…but Nepali congress is only the second largest party if we have to belive the numbers of the dissolved parliament..he has not shown anytime that he is cabale of mobilizing the people..remember this time people are coming out the streets because of 12 point understanding not because of Girija..yes he is the commander of SPA not because he is popular among people..but because he belongs to a family which has a long tradition history of fighting againast king and has a close intimacy to India..to me one of the main reasons people were reluctant to come to the street is because SPA is being led by girija…if girija retires and let other overcome…I think this anodolan will gain more momentum…remember how the upcoming leaders like gagan thapa and narahari acarya were sidelined in congress…i am sure Girija will not let anyone from UML or other party to command the SPA not because there are not more capable leaders but because of his personnel ego..he has been prime minister four times..he has never been popular..now he wants to die the way Ganesh man died…but poor Girija..even if the loktantra is established…he wont be able to go to the mass and address them..i am sure he will be hit by tomatoes and rotten eggs as he was hit in the past…to me girija is a popuklar leader among his karyekartas but the most unpopular leader among nepali people..and until you are not popular among the people , you can no way be labelled as a great leader of nation….remember prachada is more popular among maobadis than Girija is popular in his party…popularity in his or her party does not justify that he or she is a good leader of the nation…
Bravo,well said
Bravo
I would say something but the comments keep getting moderated so I don’t want to waste my time …
Hey Bravo, we are with you! Don’t get us wrong we hate Girija too! We are just being pragmatic. We wish somebody would come up instead of Girija but no one seems to. Gagan Thapa is for the future not now. Yeah maybe Narhari Acharya, you think it’s possible. Is he any good?
kirat
sad but true..we dont have any option to accept Girija as SPA leader because democracy is our priority rather than quest of any good leaders at the moment..I dont disagree that girija is leading SPA..but that doesnot imply he is a good leader..he is the accepted leader just beacuse of the compulsion..maoist and all SPA leaders are all aware of this…it is established notion that girija is not leading the current movement to bring back the right to the people…but whatever the reason he is here..it is good for the movement..because of him, at least cogress party is taking part in the agaitation..if SPA doesnt recognize him as commander..i am sure he wont let his party to participate.
Mannnnnnnn..narahri acarya is thousand times better than girija..unfortunately..people like him can never be the supremo of any party…that is the the most unfortunate part of nepali politics. hope people like pradeep giri, narahari acharya..and gagan thapa will have a prominent place in the changing nepali politics
Yeah, we just got to have faith in democracy. Democracy will deliver the goods in the end, it just take time for everyone to realise what democracy really means. Even Girija doesn’t know what democracy really means and if he does he does not know how to practice it.
yes..and i forget to add that though he regreted his favoritism and nepotism in past..he is still practicing it..he has shown that he is very poor when it comes to take action against thhose very close to him..otherwise why dont he expell sailaj acharya and taranath ranabhat from his party, who have done nothing than weakening the current movement.. anyway, i dont worry too much about girija, he is not going to be here too long..i fear what happens if he is replaced by sujata orsushil korala
I just watched the movie V for Vendetta and i found the movie parallel to the situation of country in so many ways.
“But for those who have any interest in politics, V for Vendetta is an allegory for our times, a call to arms for all those who, like Evey and V, would see the world change to become a place where the people are no longer herded like cattle along the paths the government sets forth; a world where people tell the government how things are going to be.”
No I don’t think Sujata Koirala will replace Girija … that seems unlikely to me. But if that were to become that would suck
Sujata replacing Girija is like Paras replacing Gyanendra. There’ll be riots.
At least you guys accept even the most asinine comments from the right-wing nutcases. Over at blogdai, even the most reasoned comments against the monarchy are deleted.
What an idiot! That blogdai is living in his own world, immune to any developments.
Sorry all, Manan is an occasional contributor to blogdai and likes to play this side of the fence from time to time.
I’ll be posting an article that is hightly critical of G. very shortly. Stay tuned…
-=blogdai