By D. Michael Van De Veer
Overnight the sky above Kathmandu and much of the Kingdom was filled with beautiful displays of lighting and earth shaking thunder. The cold winds falling from the Himalayas clashed with the warm steamy air rushing up from the Indian sub-continent and bathed the country for 15 hours in cool rain.
The rain greeted the sunrise and despite being the 13th day of the bandha (strike) called by the 7-Party Alliance (SPA) and supported by the Maoist insurgents CPN (M), and civil-society from; journalists and medical professionals to government workers, bank employees, hotel and restaurant employees, students and their professors, human rights activists, party supporters, disabled and elderly associations, and even families of Security Force officials who have carried out attacks on the general population, there was finally some traffic as people rushed to buy what they could before shops and vegetable stalls ran completely out of stock.
Salt, medicine, every vegetable, kerosene, LP-gas, petrol and almost every item necessary for daily life is in short supply. What is available has, in some cases, more that trebled in price, leaving thousands to move nearer to starvation.
In desperation the Royal government has offered $48 for drivers and $21 to their assistants to join RNA (Royal Nepal Army) convoys and break the SPA strike and the Maoist blockade of the city to deliver desperately needed supplies. No goods have been reported delivered.
Most of the streets and endless alleyways of the ancient Silk-Road Capital have, for 12 days, been filled with the sounds of Nepal’s “Orange Revolution”.
Like Ukraine’s Orange Revolution of 2004 the Pro-Democracy demonstrations, estimated to be 1-million or more strong, have not responded to the brutal killings, disappearances, tear-gassing, baton beatings, firing of water cannon and rubber and live bullets with like violence. Young demonstrators have burned tires and hurled rocks but there have been no retaliatory shootings, knife attacks, or reported grave injury to any Security Forces.
The international community including India, UK and the US who armed and trained the Nepalese Security Forces have condemned the brutal and inhuman attacks on unarmed civilians participating in peaceful demonstrations.
Major news agencies report three Human Rights organizations; Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the International Commission of Jurists have called for “targeted sanctions” against those responsible for human rights violations today in Geneva, Switzerland at an international meeting called by the Swiss government to investigate the human rights conditions in Nepal and singled out those Nepalese Officials responsible for gross-human rights violations.
Those named in the call to be refused entry into any other country and have their personal assets outside Nepal seized, included:
The Chairman
Vice Chair of the Council of Ministers, Tulsi Giri
Justice Minister, Niranjan Tapha
Home Minister, Kamal Thapa
Information Minister, Shrish Shamsher Rana
Army Chief, General Pyar Jung Thapa
Inspector General of Police, Shayam Bhakta Tapa, and
Inspector General of Armed Police Force, Shahbir Thapa
Rumors, ahead of the mass rally called by the SPA for Thursday, have the King naming a former PM to head a “fantasy government” as put by a food employee.
“The next PM will not be named by a failed King, but by the people.”
Nepal’s Orange Revolution, if successful, will possibly be the largest non-violent democratic revolution in recorded history. The whole world watches as the rain stops and Kathmandu braces for another day.
>> Contact Michael:
P.O.Box 21218
Thamel, Kathmandu,
Nepal
Tel: 4700632
United We Blog 
Comments
108 responses to “Nepal’s ‘Orange Revolution’ Has Rain Break”
michael, you should be banned from making any comments about Nepal’s issues, who the fck allows you to post your nonsence here. UWB do not infiltrate this website with foreign morons
“…the largest non-violent democratic revolution in recorded history…”
Well. “Political power grows out of the barrel of the gun” – Mao Zedong
The people, the maoists, have struggled 10 years for this.
Long live The April Revolution!
I fear that orange will change a shade or two to red or deep red very soon at the directionless way things are going.
The message from the SPA leaders is simple – They want the King to beg them on his knees to come for talks.
Thanks Micheal for supporting our revolution. Lal Salaam to you.
no way king is going to beg.
Indins are feeling the heat as the maoists in the dhoti land are tightening things.
Indian Army is presurring the govt. to help the royal army to tackale the maoists in Nepal, that is directly or indirectly reviving the dead naxal revolution. Headache!Oops!
Unknown101,
1. You can make yourself known, why not?
2. By stating Michael and foreign morons should not allowed to bring their opinion, does show that your thinking is far from a democatic mind?
3. Does the limitation of freedom you propose bring the same limitation which causes the autocratic problem?
4. I agree that Michael has rather an attempt to manipulate public opinion. There are more here, trying to do so, till a certain extend, including yourself, by making your anti moron statement.
5. Morons and also foreign morons have their place in democracy, how awfull it might be in times.
What is this King doing,
Too soft just like his brother. This country is not ready for all this people democracy. Mostly made of uneducated fatalistic people. He should grit his teeth and use the army and call for marshall law if this anarchy does not stop. If he is too afraid of what these people think of him, he should not be as they will not change their minds no matter how hard he tries. You can’t have everyone like you. Nepal is at war, we need a warlord not politicians.
Finally someone with balls. Where have all the men gone? It’s time to end this natak propogated by the 35 crore rupees given to the SPA and probably the Maoists by the Indian government. That’s 35 crores budget just for these protests. Crunch time Gyane, put away your Indian and brahmin genes, and bring out the gukhali in you.
It is better to have morons than having family killers ruling the country.
D. Michael Van De Veer
Keep it up. Good going.
gt,
I think we have seen enough violence and force. If the monarch wants Nepal to progress, marshall law will be a very temporary solution. People are fed up with all the political unrest from all factions, we need for all concerened to put their heads together and not their brawn.
Hye Michael,
I want to thank you for your support,but dont you dare tocompare our fight for freedom with the so called Orange Revolution in Ukraine.
The so called orange revolution in Ukraine was just a hoax and a attempted overthrow of the democratically elected president of UKRAINE. Had it been a true revolution people wouldnt have reversed it within a year. The movement which you are refering as Orange revolution was just a American Dollar Driven Movement of Opportunists. Please refrain from comparing our movement with those misdeeds of your country.
Had americans been successful in the attempted coup of the Democratically Elected President of Venezuela, i am sure you would also have referred that as a Great Revolution.
Please remember that The present American Regime has been the most reluctant on supporting the SPA.Your country is the one who just a few months ago was trying to tear the 12 point agreement.
May BinLaden Crush you All!!!
D. Michael Van De Veer go back home. If you dont like things in Nepal, no one is asking you to be here. Beggers cannot be choosers. You are not wanted here , get the hell out. F U and your Orange Revolution.
Backoff Michael!!
You american piece of crap!!
RSS,
I agree with you about your comments regarding the orange revolution. but your wish of crushing america by Bin laden is evil and despicable..if you dont have any human feelings for the americans..please think a second for the thousands of nepaleese living there before posting such comment.
NePaLi,
the article by van de veer is posted here provocating the bloggers like us to come up with the arguments for or against of his opinion….if you dont like his opinion..simply say..why you dont like it and why the author is wrong. ..asking author to leave nepal does not make any sense to me..it is just the waste of your time and mine reading your comment.
van de veer,
are you american as others pointed out or you are dutch..your name sounds me a typical dutch name..just a curosity..
micheal, come on..this sanctions are just to show world that they care. But in reality its not. They do not care at all what happens in Nepal. they care for their benefit. The call has come from geneva,switzerland to seize the assests of mentioned officials. Ain’t the swiss bank where all these people have accounts with hefty money? why they not make a move and show to world that they mean what they say?
its all hoax after all. Noone cares, everyone is selfish.
I am also against so many policies of America and the way it wants to secure and extend it’s influence at any cost.
when i look at’Vietnam war’ and their policy to wipe away maoists when there are better and more secure ways of dialoge still left…i also am filled with rage …but again i imagine if some muslim fundamentalists like iraq, afganistaan government was super power…
nepal is still a poor , helpless and underdeveloped nation. rage, violence and isolation can only harm us more than good.
we have to be diplomatic and use our relationship with india, EU, USA to optimize for our maximum benefit.
“Violence is not strength;
Compassion is not weakness.”
Wat Van de veer said might not be applicable but he said truth at some point. May this not be ORANGE REVOLUTION but indeed its PEOPLE’S REVOLUTION. Wat we need is transparency, responsiblity and answerabel government. Present government is neither any. 50 Billion Rs. has been taken from our DHUKUTI as if this is king’s own money. We have to work hard to pay and they spend is like blowing air??? WAT WE NEED IS THIS? SPA may be corrupt and repeat same…..but they would have to answer to people but to whom should king answer? YOU can’t even question about him and his deeds in court. We don’t need king who doesn’t understand our pain but only focus on his own benifits. Before it’s too late, he should learn to remain in his own position. KING SHOULD BE RESPECTABLE NOT CURSABLE. Lets pray our next generation won’t have to read history sayin….”Once upon a time there was king in Nepal……..When people were crying with pain, he was havin fun in his world tour……When his capital was burning, he was playing his flute just like Nero, the king of Rome…”
There is no alternative to DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC!!!
Remember Vand,
This kid Coke?
Mandale Coke pops up suddenly to defend his godfather KG,
And then, the same tactic of playing upon the Nepali sentiment of anti-India,
honestly people would rather let India rule us than the monster KG, but that day would never come because Nepali people are a lot smarter than the crooked leaders, India, KG, or anyone,
you will see that people will overthrow anyone who tries to trick them
This editorial was published in The Pioneer, New Delhi on 14th April 2006.
The King is right: The Pioneer
The Pioneer Edit Desk
The seven-party ‘Opposition alliance’, representing the thoroughly discredited and hugely corrupt political elite of Nepal masquerading as champions of democracy, and its ally, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), are celebrating what they perceive as the unravelling of King Gyanendra’s palace coup of February 1, 2005, when he sacked the incompetent and unconstitutional coalition Government headed by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. Between then and now, by stepping up their campaign against Narayanhitty Palace and with more than a little help from disingenuous officials in New Delhi, the political parties and the Maoists have successfully blurred facts that merit reiteration.
Mr Deuba was sacked primarily because he failed to deliver on peace talks with the Maoists and was in no position to hold an overdue general election in April 2005. They have also been able to divert attention from the serious threat to Nepal’s internal security – indeed, the Himalayan Hindu kingdom’s very identity – posed by the Maoists who have been waging a relentless and bloody war against the monarchy for the past decade.
Given India’s amazing response to the crisis in Nepal – instead of standing by Naraynhitty Palace, New Delhi has chosen to do business with politicians like Mr GP Koirala of the Nepali Congress, Mr Madhav Kumar Nepal of Communist Party of Nepal (UML) and wanted terrorists like Pushpa Kamal Dahal, better known as ‘Chairman Prachanda’ among his Maoist comrades – it is not surprising that the US and the EU have refused to back King Gyanendra unequivocally. Of course, the EU’s response is largely influenced by that of myriad NGOs who would go out of business if King Gyanendra were to succeed in ushering in peace, stability and prosperity in Nepal.
It would also be in order to underscore the fact that while the EU has struck a moral posture by refusing to deal with Hamas in the Palestinian Territory, branding the Islamists as terrorists, it has shown little hesitation in surreptitiously reaching out to the Red terrorists of Nepal. Energised by such duplicitous response, the UN, through its officials like the High Commissioner for Human Rights posted in Kathmandu, has begun issuing not-so-subtle threats of punitive action.
What is particularly upsetting and inexplicable is the UPA Government’s post-February 1, 2005, Nepal policy that hinges on propping up those very politicians who, while in power, have tried their best to work against our interests as well as wreck India-Nepal relations. It is equally shocking that unmindful of the linkages between India’s Maoist terrorists and those on the rampage in Nepal, the UPA Government has chosen to involve criminals like Prachanda in its “restore democracy” campaign.
It would appear that the grudge which certain officials of the UPA regime nurse against King Gyanendra is so intense that they are willing to go to any extent, including striking questionable deals with individuals whose anti-India credentials are no secret, to weaken the King. That personal interests are being allowed to subjugate national interest does not appear to bother either the Prime Minister or his Cabinet colleagues; perhaps they are yet to realise the enormity of the consequences of alienating King Gyanendra and befriending those who have brought Nepal to the brink of disaster.
Even at this late stage the UPA Government can make amends by declaring support for King Gyanendra’s policy of ‘zero tolerance’ towards Maoists and help him crush those very forces which are also engaged in undermining the Indian state. If that means dumping Mr Koirala and Mr Nepal, so be it; any deal with them is not worth the candle.
Guys y u shouting on him huh?? i am not goona argue if he is write or wrong,,, but if u want nepal to be democratic country. then it also means every one have right to put their views, its up to us to agree or not to agree with others views if u dont agree simply come with ur openion no need to abuse anyone out here and even if u/we abuse anyone out here no one give shit abt it do they,,, they will just think u r bhedas who go after a leader without having clue if its right or wrong…
just post with some openions rather then onli swaring…… jai NEPAL
CIAA chief fires a fusillade at donors
Donor agencies working here put their own interests first, Chief of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority Surya Nath Upadhayay charged today.
“They have been working here with their interests uppermost and they have been imposing conditions while providing grants,” Upadhayay said. He added that due to their vested interests they are not making their expenses transparent.
Upadhayay was speaking at an interaction on Role of Agencies Working for Good Governance and Need for Effective Coordination organised by the Research and Media Centre Against Corruption, Nepal, here today.
He also accused the donors of launching unnecessary training programmes for high-level government officials.
Upadhayay urged the government not to accept conditions while welcoming donors. “If we accept their conditions we would only be carrying out their instructions,” he added.
He also said that it is a bad idea to work on others’ money. “We have to work with our own money as the country is ours”.
“Why the donors have been organising such training programmes, we do not have knowledge?,” he asked. Upadhayay also asked “since the officials are BA and MA degree holders why should they be sent abroad for training, and why are the donors organising training programmes for them”?
He said there is an urgent need to tackle corruption in the private sector. He wanted the UN convention against corruption, which Nepal has already signed, to be implemented.
He accused the other anti-corruption agencies of the government of not enforcing laws to control corruption. “Why the Revenue Investigation Department, the Rastra Bank and Tahasil Office are not properly implementing the law”?, he asked.
He said that it is a wrong expectation of the people that the CIAA is the sole institution to control corruption and others do not have any responsibility. “If every institution is ready that would make it easier to control corruption.”
The joint secretary of the Parliamentary Secretariat, Som Bahadur Thapa, said that the Ministry of Finance is responsible for accepting conditions while accepting grants
I think following are the points or food for thought for tommorrow’s Nepal:
1. KG wanted to control whole of Nepal by Mandales. Most of all, he was capturing the treasury of the country and spending like his father’s money. He is paid 64 crore per year about 600 percent more than King Birendra and many royal memebers before the massacre.I heard that when he is visiting the districts, he gets 200,000 per day TA/DA and 100,000 per day for his wife. What a loot of the treasury of a poor people and the country ?
2. I THINK THAT SPA OR THE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT ACCEPT LESS THAN CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY AT THIS STAGE.
3. The Constituent Assembly can decide to keep or do away with the Monarchy. Or what sort of Monarchy to keep.Never give the post of Supreme Commande in Chief to the King even if it is ceremonial too. Give this to the elected PM.
4. Be careful with the Maoists move as well because they are not also the friend of the people.If they were, they would not have killed the poor people.
UWB bloggers poll:
Who wants what (with some sub categories)?
1. Multiparty democracy with constitutional monarchy
a. carry on with present govt. until elections in 2007
b. King immediately gives up power to SPA then we carry on
2. Multiparty democracy with ceremonial monarchy
a. King immediately gives up all power and he has no say at all in Nepalese politics and government
b. King has very limited say in politics and government
3. Multiparty democracy with republic system
4. Maoist communist one party republic
5. Absolute monarchy
a. until elections in 2007
b. until further notice
6. Military rule
a. until Nepal is ready for elections
b. until further notice
7. Indian peacekeeping
a. until Nepal is ready for elections
8. UN peacekeeping
a. until Nepal is ready for elections
9.Anarchy
a. dont care a damn what happens
b. forget talks-salks, we’ll go with the flow
scoop,
1 b) for me.
scoop
I go for 3
I like the poll:
I’m tempted to say 3. but knowing how things are here I will go with 2.a)
For me 9. b)
1. a)
To Mr. Scoop,
The said program itself was funded by donors, the Americans in specific. So what is the point in having CIAA Chief’s ire on donors?
I think 2 b), but the limited must be decided by parliament and not the monarch.
Some of the comments here are truly political propagandas. But the protest shouldn’t be stop until REPUBLIC NEPAL. We don’t need king and we are not negotiating with him.
xyz,
You stumped me there. Hey check out the polls.
I am for 2. b.
Sorry, 2 a.
scoop or scout,
I want 6 a)
my vote for 3
1. a)
Some people are for Military rule also.Enuff is enuff guys, ya basta, the miltary.
braking news
3 killed and 150 protestors died in Jhapa.
soory
3 killed and 150 injured accroding to himalkhabar
Bravo,
He is an American from Alabama, USA. Though he spent few years in early 70s in Liberia as a peace corp volunteer, we have no idea what he is doing here in Nepal. But we assume that he runs a business here. He was very much interested in Gurkhaland and tried very much to provoke Nepalis and Nepali speaking Indians through newsgroups. I don’t remember much, but I remember him talking about Janakpur and Darjeeling. But then suddenly he started denouncing the political revolution of 1990 and started talking about Revolution. This is still a mystery though. But again we can assume that it is something to do with his company which he calls Blue Pacific Traders.
And by the way , just yesterday he also discovered that Kathmandu was on the Silk road.
Proud
thanks for the info
I would not trust this D. Michael Vanderveer. I am an American who attended a meeting at the american ambassador’s residence, which this same so called “journalist”
Scoop: I am for 3
Yeah, sounds like a RIM member to me.
seems the last part of my comment did not make it! What i wanted to say is, this so called “freelance journalist” apparently attended also, then wrote an article about it, which was full of blatant LIES. Anyone who attended that meeting (more than a hundred)s knows that what he claimed was said was not said at all. for him to then go and write an article about it stating these lies (which the embassy later wrote and denounced him for) is inexcusable. I was shocked that this man could call himself a journalist!! Michael, if you want to express your views, start your own blog. Then people can come to you, if they want to (I won’t be on that list).
Just another american bullshit artist I guess.