Protest in Balaju
Photo by Chandra Shekhar Karki
Updates by Tilak Pathak and Deepak Adhikari
Thapa at NHRC
Home Minister Kamal Thapa reached National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) at around 12:30 pm. His arrival was greeted with surprise even by the employees of NHRC. He remarked that he was there to maintain the relations.
Karan’s Visit
Indian prime minister’s special envoy Dr. Karan Singh arrived at Kathmandu at 12. At the TIA, only foreign media were allowed. Singh said that he has brought the message of Indian government to His Majesty and political parties, not for the media. He met NC leader Girija Prasad Koirala at 4pm. He said: “I am here with positive attitude. I’m neither magician nor an astrologer. I am just a politician. I can’t say anything before meeting the king. But, we are pretty worried about the problems here.”
At 5 pm, he talked to Sher Bahadur Deuba. Deuba, quoting Singh, said the latter has a package program that will address the Maoist issue as well. In the evening, he was scheduled to meet UML general secretary Madhav Nepal who was released today.
Leaders released
Nepal said after his release: “Nepali people have come to streets to end the monarchy and establish total democracy (loktantra). Unless people’s sovereignty is established, the movement goes on. This release could be a ploy to weaken the movement.” He further remarked: “Only the election of Constituent Assembly (CA) would finalize the political outcome of the protest. All should respect the verdict of the people.”
NC leader Ramchandra Poudel, after he was set free, said: “The movement continues until people become sovereign.” He warned that only people can decide who stays in power and who doesn’t. This would be decided by CA.” Along with these two leaders, youth leaders of NC and UML were also released.
Protests Update
In Kalanki, around two thousand protesters attened a peaceful protest. Today Balaju set another example of peaceful protest. More than 5 thousand people gathered. They marched from Basundhara to Balaju chowk. In Gongabu, there was a protest going on as we left the venue. Peaceful protests took place in Chabahil, Kirtipur and many other areas around Ring Road.
What Next?
On Thursday, Seven Party Alliance (SPA) have announced a program of massive protests. People will gather in many parts of Ring Road. They will defy the prohibatory orders of the authority. As we prepare this blog, slogans are heard from our office. Shutters are closed in fear and the milieu around Kantipur Complex is a bit tense.
United We Blog 
Comments
60 responses to “General Strike Day XIV”
according to the news agencies, policed fired into the crowd in chandragadi, killing four. any word on that?
When an Indian says, he has package programme, every Nepali should be affraid. Because in 2046 also, they had a packahe programme which wanted to make Nepal a Bhutan.That’s why be careful.
Just heard 4 shot dead in jhapa,
“long live Republic of Nepal”
“Our movement will not come to an end unless democratic republic is established in the country.”
Madhab Kumar Nepal
April 19, 2006
i dont know what the hell will these indian leaders will do,they’ve always been sniffing this northern land. what we know is these arsehole thapas who must and will be taken to international court of justice
yes, police has been terribly brutal,anyway every dog has its day!
we’ll see them when people get their power back;
i haven’t still forgotten myself being pulled out of bathroom at 11 pm and taken to police station for no reason at all last week here in our hostel,maharajgunj campus.
wishing people’s republic of nepal
Yes, 4 PEOPLE HAVE DIED HERE IN JHAPA.
iREALLY HOPE ALL NEPALI BROTHERS AND SISTERS WILL BE WITH US JHAPALI.
WE WANT NOTHING LESS THAN REPUBLIC
THANK YOU apildev
FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE REPUBLIC OF NEPAL
So much sacrifice merits Not Less than CA leading to People’s Republic. Pls do not blame foreigners, let us be capable, confident and visilant to protect our Nation and National identity. If the Old Thugs can not handle it let the Young Turks move forward.
Chairman Gyanendra, Tulsi Giri, Kamal Thapa, Niranjan Thapa, Shirish Samser Rana, PJ Thapa, other security Thapas and Tanka Dhakal and others involved must pay the price of suppression and killing.
I know lots of Nepalese living in New York area stongly support for current movement and “THE REPUBLIC OF NEPAL”. Our salute to the Guys on the ground….. keep up the good fight..
18 hour curfew in capital
Can any body from SPA tell us what is going to be cooked by Indian envoys and KG? What will happen the SPA’s big show in Ring Road in April 20? Is SPA helpless?
It looks to me it is our show shadowed by Singhas and Sarans.
Everybody be careful of the Indian envoy !!!
What the heck! 18 houts of cerfew! its like we are in prison isnt it? only the difference is We are locked in our homes with no freedom to move!! What is going on! actually what does the king think he is doing by imposing such a long cerfew! i thought he is doing the right thing, but i think he is upto no good! no good as the politicians!! And i dont think sending karna singh is going to help, i heard he is related to the KG. Who will he be in favor i suppose the Citizens of Nepal or the Loyality towards the King. Only time can tell now!
what is kamal thapa trying to prove? he beats the hell out of people, human right people,journalists and then he visits National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to inspect!! Bull! there are already wounds in our hearts and body to prove what you did was wrong! people was beaten on the head where the blows was no supposed to be! according to the human right one cannot beat a person with the police lathis above the knee, and certainly not the head!
Tomorrow is going to be the litmus test for whether we are going to have a republic or a constitutional monarchy.
Those who clamour for a republic please remember those banana republics they used to have in South America where more than one military coup per year was not uncommon. I hate the King but logic tells me that even a ceremonial monarch with no powers can guard against the instability of frequent coups that seem to take place in those poor African countries.
The more extreme the change the more unstable it is. I would prefer a gradual shift to a republic. Evolution, though slower, is always a less stressful change thant a revolution.
By the way I am shocked at the incidents in Jhapa. My condolences to all those affected especially those near and dear ones of the four dead. Those responsible for this dastard crime must be brought to justice. Anyone know who was in charge of the army platoon/batallion who fired on the protesters?
kirat,
you fear military coup thats why you want to give this king a chance again. but are you sure that king itself will not repeat the coup if the ceremonial monarch without power is accepted. i dont know anything about future..but our past and present confirms that if we have to fear anything like coup, it will be king which we have to get rid of….I dont think king will be powerless anyway until and unless there is a major reform in RNA
Hi Bravo,
I understand your fear of the King repeating a coup. He has already done it before. That is why I am stressing that a new democracy with a constitutional monarch must ensure that the King has absolutely no powers. That definitely means a major reform of the RNA. The RNA must be made a professional army like that of the US, UK and even India who do not get tempted in coups like in Pakistan, Bangladesh etc. Perhaps this reform of the RNA can be done under the aegis of the UN.
I just don’t want my country to jump from the frying pan and into the fire. We have suffered too much already to make more mistakes. I know a lot of people hate me for saying this but a slow and steady progress to a republic set up would be much easier on our people than a sudden jump to a republic. One always has to look at the pros and cons. If a sudden shift to a republic works out that would be great. But if it leads to anarchy, which is definitely possible, then what?
hello citizen on nepal,
your statement ” actually what does the king think he is doing by imposing such a long cerfew!” i think , doesn’t make any sense just because gyanendra “can’t think”, and one thing, you please never mind over such pointless things… anyway we are moving out tomorrow!!! no curfew for us! you too please come to join us if you are nearby maharajgunj, we’ll come out from TUTH! these days i never plan the schedule during curfew hours… i just come out to streets but not alone… together with hundreds of friends.. yes , commom pile up your spirits and come upto the streets anyway its ours… if you can then please try your best to convince policemen like i did last week here in TUTH gate, really they were speechless.i asked them the reason for their coming to our gate …they were shocked by my approach.. completely speechless!! anyway it was wonderful… tomorrow too i will repeat the same. and if you too can do that it would be highly appreciated….
I REQUEST EVERYONE WHO GOES THROUGH THESE LINES TO BREAK THE CURFEW IN A VERY VERY PEACEFUL WAY….. JUST COME TO THE STREET AND READ KANTIPUR PAGES FOR THOSE PPL WHO ARE IN 24 HOUR DUTY.. they too will be happy….tomorrow kantipur may not come.. you canread the old ones…
you know once injury occurs, those scars remain forever and in many instances can make us impaired throughout… so peaceful practice is only the most efficacious way….i was so sad that i couldn’t stop tears running through my cheeks when i saw hundreds of injured cases brought at once last week here in TUTH emergency!
so,
NO STONES,NO BURNING TYRES, NO EFFIGIES,NO SHOUTINGS,…
peaceful aggregation and giving lectures to the police will be the most effective i think, and i am testing this tomorrow if situation favours…
WE ARE ALREADY CITIZENS OF REPUBLIC OF NEPAL…..
Listen Leaders !
In the name of reconcilation with king you have betrayed Nepali people in 2007, 2036, 2046. We cannot afford further betrayal. Therefore, loktrantric Republic can only make people sovereign. Leaders of so called seven political parties please respect the verdict of the street people!!! This ( Loktrantric Republic)is the only single agenda of the people who are in the street. If anything less than this hatched in the dark room they should pay price!! This is today’s janaawaj!!!
Hey Sandesh,
Are your red leaders ready to contest elections like the other ordinary politicians have to(or are supposed to)in a democratic republic or will they still demand that power flow from the barrel of the gun instead of the ballot box?
Kirat
When there is a major reform in RNA, I dont think that we have to apprehend any coup at least from RNA’s side.
I am personnally against giving a ceremonial position to this royal instution which have repeatedly betrayed us for centuries. I am in favor of republic system where there will be elected president to guard the nation against poticial instabilities. If kingship is imperative to our country, then let people choose their own king. I dont want my sovergenity to be vested upon one institution which is not populary elected by the wish of people.
I am strrongly against the republicanism to be achieved in episodes or installment process. nepal cannot fight anymore for the same cause. we should ensure that it should be the final battle whatever the outcome is
Well with a successor like Paras I can understand your reluctance on a ceremonial monarch. I don’t dismiss the chances of a republic working for us. It could. If the Maoists weren’t around I definitely think it would have a great chance of working. Remember how Prachanda made the freudian slip during his interview? He said that they would accept a ceremonial monarch if the people wished it so in a proper referendum-then he promptly predicted that the King would be hanged. Just like the King is having great difficulty in letting go of power I fear the Maoists too would find it difficult to accept a democracy where they might be voted out of power. What then another revolution against the Maoists?
I have stated before that a democratic republic only works when there are strong pillars to safeguard it- an impartial judiciary whose authority in it’s jurisdiction is accepted by all, a professional army who has no interest in seizing power but defending the ideals of the republic, an alert public who will oppose all power grabs and abuses of power, a free press and an executive branch that respects the laws under which it must operate. Out of these pre-requisites we can really only boast of a free press.
It is a very difficult situation that we face.
Hye Kirat,
By the way is your reall name,
Paras [icd]
Bravo,
My reply is in moderation land. A republic could work out for us provided the Maoists disband. And also if the UN agrees to manage our army for a sufficiently long enough time to rid them of the old Royalist rogues and to make it a thoroughly professional institution. Theses are a must. Since we don’t yet have a developed culture of democracy in Nepal we should not mind foreign i.e. UN assistance.
I was one of those who thought a constitutional monarch would be good for Nepal. No more. This bloody KG has to go. Republic of Nepal nothing less once and for all.
Republic of Nepal Jindabaad!
Republic of Nepal(but with all the safeguards in place)Jindabad!
Hi Hari,
I don’t think Paras can write (or read).
Kirat my brother, i agree.
Hi Gurung dai
Paras knows how to smoke pot and fire shots at people, singers in particular.
He can write your fate with a bullet if you mess with him.
He was there in Chandraghadi, wasted and high,
looking for some Kirati singers, again
Jai Ganja, Jai Bhang, Jai coke,
His favorite place to be exiled is Columbia or Jamica, where he would be singing Jamming With You, and shoot Jigey Marley
Unfortunately, we will hang’m here, but we will give him a little pot and let him sing a line or two before letting the rope go.
Why are you all so stupid ? What will a republic bring ? 15 years of so called democracy brought this country to this stage. It was mostly these corrupt bauns from east to west who presided over almost every office – legislative, executive and judiciary that ruined this country. Now again after being stripped off from their power, they are even joining hands with the Maoists who kill without the slikghtest hesitation if you differ from their way of thinking. Guys, get real and don’t let your selves fooled.
I may stand Gyanendra as a ceremonial king for the moment but i will never accept Paras as anymonial king. These people are more dangerous than Maoist. You do not see what are they doing. We must get rid of them sooner than later. Maoists are sons of poor Nepalese, I am confident we can bring them to peaceful mainstream. They must be addressed with alround, inclusive development. Comprehensive approach like Education, equal opportunities, no discrimination to solve Maoist problem.
May be you have to go bit slow as KIRAT suggested but it must lead to the democratic repulic.
Just get rid of these buggers, first Cut their wings:
1.Have a parliament and all party goverment
Take away military from king,
Make the royal palace transparent,
2. Negotiate with Maoist for CA and go for democratic republic.
All you guys, already asleep, getting ready to go out and defy the curfew or what ? Come on lets have some one on one!!
KG’S EARNING
You might be wondering why Nepal is still poor when other countries of equal economic status have reached the sky with booming economic development.
Nepal is one of the poorest countries of the world but Nepal’s king is the highest paid king of the world. The income of Nepali king Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev is :
· 2,426 times higher than that of Chinese president
· 318 times higher than that of Indian president
· 301 times higher than that of Pakistani president
· 173 times higher than that of Russian president
· 57 times higher than that of French president
· 15 times higher than that of British prime minister
· 10 times higher than that of American president
· Netherlands queen’s income : Rs. 22,32,00,000 (per capita income Rs 17,25,120 )
· American president earns Rs. 3,24,00,000 (1,15,20,000 returns in tax), (per capita income Rs 25,24,320)
· Japanese king earns Rs. 22,23,52,000 (per capita income Rs.24,15,600)
· Chinese president earns Rs. 1,35,000 (per capita income Rs 67,680)
· Indian president earns Rs. 10,11,000 (per capita income Rs 34,560)
· French president earns Rs 57,96,000 (per capita income Rs 15,84,000)
· Pakistani president earns (after the coup) Rs 10,94,000 (per capita income 29,520)
· British Queen does not get any salary from the state. She has a property of Rs 30,24,00,00,000 (the profit of investment, after paying the tax, is hers) but even her neck less is the property of the country.
· British president earns Rs 2,19,58,000 (per capita income is Rs 18,16,200)
· Russian president earns Rs 19,03,000 (per capita income is Rs 1,54,000)
· Belgian king receives salary as a civil servant (per capita income is Rs 16,74,000)
And,
Nepali king earns Rs 61,91,00,000 (per capita income is Rs 16,560=US$ 230) [This means the Nepali king earns Rs. 19,878 times higher than a citizen. Last year it was 37,385 times higher. Thus a citizen can earn as much as the king earns in a year only after working for 19,000 years or in 316 lives.]
Appendix
Nepali royal family is involved in various businesses. A king does not have to pay tax according to Nepal’s constitution. The present king has inherited the property of earlier king’s family and nobody knows how much it is. This king has taken Rs 1,06,45,00,000 in past three years for his small family.
So you must have to think about this and do something contribution to the country.
—A True Republican
ALL THE PARTIES NEED TO DO IS TO GIVE 5 DAYS ULTIMATUM FOR CONSTITUTION ASSEMBLY IF NO RESPONCE THEN HEAD TOWARDS REPUBLIC. WE SHOULD EFFECTIVELTY CALL SECURITY PERSONS TO JOIN HANDS. PEACE, PROSPERITY AND REPUBLIC IS INEVITABLE. SO LETS ALL JOIN HANDS
Kirat:
I have been saying the same thing over and over. That a sudden jump to a republic could backfire and there would be too many unpreditable variables especially with the RNA.
However, I feel that the Monarchy can no longer exist in Nepal in whatever capacity.
The institution of Monarchy is suppose to be a stabilizing,non contorversial and revered institution. People have lost all respect for this insitution in Nepal.
Hi Pundit,
Yeah. One of the draws backs for the ceremonial monarchy argument is the successor to the present King. Imagine how much worse he would be.
The spell seems to have been broken now. I think the only option is a Republic now.
But for the sake of the country I would dearly like the national army to be under UN control for at least a full decade or more-and the Maoists to be disarmed, by force if necessary.
The UN has played such roles before in other countries.
Kirat and others: Why are you all so bent upon the idea of a republic ? Do you know what happened in Cambodia when the Khmer Rouge stormed into Phnom Phen and ousted Kin Shihanook? They killed 3 million people over a perios of three years. Seems like you all like to jump from the frying pan to the fire!!
Why Prakash NO-3 has given slogan of Madhav Kumar Nepal.
He is just one another F***ing culprit whose blood is filled with corruption.
We People just cannot trust these Fu**ing leaders
As they might SELL our country to bloody Indians. They will name NEPAL another SIKKIM.
That’s why we need King in Nepal for more time until and unless we get some good leaders to whom we can TRUST. But definitely not the active king just ceremonial king.
I don’t there are any seats left in the helicopter bro.
I agree with Kirat.
As seen from abroad, UN seems a reasonable way for a smoother transition towards Nepali Republic.
Look at Lebanon, where a lot of Nepalese soldiers had been sent for keeping peace in the 80’s under UNIFIL : it is now a rather quiet place.
And the nepalese situation is far from being unsolvable : after all, nothing was worst than Lebanon, and if *they* dit it, Nepal will easily make its way.
For KG & his gang, he has gone too far. He reached his point of no return. Exile.
Long live Nepalese Republic !
Kirat and Cyp:
Ideally UN mediation would be a good idea.
But we all know that’s not going to happen because the Indians will not allow it. India has long been opposed to any UN mediation in Nepal. It fears that this will put ideas in the UN’s head about getting involved in Kashmir.
Basically India does not want to set a precedence.
The transition to a Republic is going to be really tricky… its going to require strong leadership and careful political manuvering. I really don’t know how to incorporate the RNA and the Maoist into a Republic and who will oversee all that. Yes the UN would be great but I doubt they will be invited to intervene for the reasons mentioned above.
I suppose the first step right now would be for the King to reinstate the dissolved constituent assembly… if he has the sense to do that we can take things from there.
Do you think this ‘King’ will care for a ceremonial role? I doubt it.
Well if he doesn’t have a ceremonial role he will have to leave Nepal… otherwise I think it would be too awakard to just stay in Nepal and become an ordinary citizen.
Hey guys!!
Why are you so obssesive of having ceremonial monarchy or active monarchy ? Why are you still for the monarchy who has betrayed Nepalease so many times and more seriously murdered the Nepalease? Do you guys still give your opinion for being betrayed? Do you still want to waste our effort? Why you people have no trust upon the people? People who still want to save feaudal system even in the 21st century should revisit their opinion in cool mind. We need to eliminate monarchy and feaudal system from Nepali soil for every.
Long live the democratic republic!!
for Nepal, ceremonial monarchy will b a way to pay tribute to King Prithvi N. Shah by having his descendants as a figure in addition to our age-old connection with religion. but at this point we can’t trust our KG enough to even allow him any space to grow any further. So if we can come up with a way to completely stop his access to power, then i will one of those ppl who support ceremonial monarchy. For a couple of shah generation down the line we see, we know we don’t trust them!
UWB
I donot understand how you are managing your censorship sceme here…I see very genuine comments being censored whereas the disgusting and offendable comments like that of replytoall (see coments by him or her in crackdown of nepali journalism :comment no 10) are easily finding the place here. I am not complaining merely because it is offendable to me but because of those kind of comments will make you loose your credibility. …and also be aware..here are so many female bloggers and this a nepali blog i guess.
Well, now with Moriarity saying things like ‘he doesn’t want to see the ‘King’ grab on to a helicopter, we never know where things may go, do we?
Bravo:
UWB does not have any concrete way of blocking comments. I think if you ever copy and paste on the form then it makes you comments await moderation. I have written to Wagle and Acharya and told them repeatedly that they should jusr remove this censorship crap. Occasionally they can come in remove the comments (eg. replytoall) that are irrelevant and offensive. But they have paid no attention to my suggestion. I don’t think they really care…
Anyone have the inside story NP-Songs has been leaking about GP meeting the indian envoy?..whoever posted sounded pretty downbeat, i’m hoping its not true, keeping my fingers crossed its not true…
Hi BetterNepal,
If you had seen what we saw in Jhapa Yesterday, Iam very sure you would even egree to a maoist dictatorship.
The barbaric act of RNA and the police were unimmaginable.
I know that Makune is just a moron, i also hate that [icd]. But there is no other option now.
Going to ring road? In Thamel not a soul is moving. However we can see a black smoke near Banasthali in Ring road.
There are 4 stake holders in Nepal: People, KG, SPA, & MBs. We were hoping we will take care off KG and later MBs. But we always forget our neighbour who is always the largest stake holder. Now Indian envoys are here as Massiah. Very funny we are not allowed to come out of our home. We do not know what is being cooked by KG and Envoys?