Photos By Rajaram Gautam
A boy looks on as a protester adds fire
RNA were heavily deployed in today’s curfew
Clashes took place in Banasthali at 1:30 pm today
Protesters ready to burn king’s effigy
Onlookers and Bonfire
Around ten thousand people participated in today’s mass meet in Kirtipur
Professor Krishna Khanal has emerged as a prominent civil society leader
Lasses and Glasses: People listening to speech in Kirtipur today
United We Blog 
Comments
181 responses to “Eve of Final Protests Through Lens”
Dear All,
Saw this movie ”Rang de Basanti”. It may sound funny but sincerely, after childhood days, for the first time I really got inspired by a movie. I really started to think about Nepal and the political crisis continuing. Lack of interest in country’s system and adequate patriotism prevails in Nepal too, I felt that. That doesn’t imply that the solution is to kill someone as shown in the movie. I tried to see within myself, what is my contribution? Found its ok, I am studying and becoming a manpower for the nation. But went through the news from Nepal and this time I could not satisfy myself. Going regular is not enough; felt that. It’s high time for each of us to try to do something more than the regular! On the process, what can I do at most now, I found I can share my understanding of the crisis to my friends and then forward it to maximum Nepalese as far as possible. There might be various view points on that between us. This is one amongst them. PLZ READ IT ONCE. GIVE A SECOND THOUGHT ON THAT. AND IF YOU DONT AGREE, IT’S YOUR RIGHT NOT TO . BUT I BELEIVE MANY OF YOU WHO’LL READ THIS MAIL WILL CERTAINLY GET CLEAR ABOUT MANY THINGS. And in due course, I’d be grateful to get your opinions as well. This way we can interact and start to think about the country more seriously. UNTIL AND UNLESS WE START A STEP, NO THING BIG WOULD BE ACHIEVABLE. Believing on this, I am sharing my opinion.
“As we see the situation in Nepal, anyone would think that the problem lies between the King, seven Political parties, and Maoists. And why? What each of them wants? We’d find answers for that also. One may say political parties want full-fledged democracy. Similarly Maoists want the communism, and King wants to reestablish Panchayat or something like that in other form. It may sound weird to you at first, but I see this crisis in completely other way. This is not any kind of conflict between Nepalese themselves. This is something between India and Nepal. It’s a grand and interesting game. At the same time, highly challenging
for both the states.
Every one of us knows the Indian approach of trying to dominate others, especially the neighboring countries. Defense and foreign affairs related decisions of Bhutan are directly handled by India. Nothing new about it, right? Which country in the SAARC except Bhutan is happy with India? Forget SAARC, what about other neighbors? China? Burma? Mentioning these issues just to rethink on India’s foreign policies!
Now let us go to what’s there between India and Nepal? Care to see it thru big brother’s side.
India’s average economic growth rate has reached around 7.5% which is one of the best in world today. India is second largest market in the world in terms of population. Foreigners are seeing China and India as the new markets of this age and investing here rapidly. Bottom line is- India is developing. But how long people will invest in India if basic infrastructure is not there? How much investments would be there in Agricultural industry if outsiders don’t see basic irrigation facilities in the field? In other way, when other area is developing,
what about large Indian farmer population? When they’ll prosper if irrigation is not there? And most importantly, energy is vital for all development- industries, technology and everything. India is not capable of producing the required amount. India has successfully taken control over Bhutan’s energy resources and already started to have the benefit. Bhutan is also getting something out of it but in cost of sovereignty.
Now comes Nepal’s part. Nepal is second richest in water resource having potential of large amount of energy. Enough energy to cater India’s energy need for industrialization and irrigation and clean drinking water for eastern India (perhaps more than that). For that, India can have straight business deals with Nepal. Take it if u want, but please pay. But no! India wants all those in the way they got from Bhutan. They want to have total control in any hydro projects that’ll be build in Nepal. They want to give us something out of it- lot less
value than what we deserve. Since history India has been trying for this and as it was obvious for them to get refusal. In the mean time, foreigners wanted to invest in Hydro projects in Nepal. But India always fumed and fretted for any manipulation in rivers will lead to flood in India. So, all the big projects were cancelled.
India didn’t stop. They wanted to get the resources according to their desire. When Nepal refused, they came into games with long vision. What I interpret the game could possibly be as such-
Change the non cooperative government of Nepal. Keep people in power that will be ready to sell the resources of the country fro some money. And if required, will be ready to sell the whole country. India knew that until and unless royal family is in power, it’s not possible. This is because for the royals, Nepal is the only place in the world where they will get highest degree of respects and they’d never sell the country. For that, India played the key role to instill democracy in 2046 and implant corrupted people in the government. According to the plan, some leaders of ours sold out rivers and lands during the 15 years. That we all
know.
Now India could not depend only on those dogs. For that, how to make Nepal completely helpless in shortest period? So that Nepal will come down on the ground with knees. There won’t be any other option remaining for Nepal and finally turn towards India and beg them to utilize our own resources, and give some riots two feed Nepalese twice a day. Attack on the source of economy was the simplest route towards Nepal’s bring down. And then something happened out of blues. Maoists were born in western Nepal which is the hub of ayurvedic medicine and one of Nepal’s major exports. The area is still under Maoists control
and no one knows how much of yarshagumba is smuggled from there every
year. Country’s revenue is going in vain. And let us recall, it was Girija’s tenure and whole Nepal knows how Maoists flourished in no time. Besides that, major objective of giving birth to Maoistswas to attack the spinal of Nepal’s economy- tourism. And things happened accordingly. Nepal broke and got trapped into the crisis we r seeing today.
Now please don’t doubt on who gave birth to Maoists. India was the first to call Maoists as terrorists when Nepal government was still calling it as insurgents. After that, US hit listed Maoists of Nepal in top ten among the world terrorists. Nepal government never called them terrorists those days. And in many cases, we have seen Maoists leader making rounds to Delhi in the same fashion as Girija and his daughter. The recent meeting between the parties and Maoists leaders occurred in Delhi. How could India arrange the facility when Maoists are terrorists? Do they want to send a message that Lashkar-e-taiba should be entertained by governments of various nations? And surprisingly, nowadays Indian media do not right the word “terrorists” for Nepalese Maoists. The respected word given by them these days is ” Nepal rebel”. This is all happening because of the slavish mentality India possesses due to 200 years of British rule.
Anyway, now let us come to the major issue. After knowing all these, I m not in a condition to agree that the dispute in Nepal is for democracy. What I believe is it is for nationality. It is for saving the nation. It is for raising the nation with what we have. It is for replying back to all those who try to play with us. Now, it’s up to your intellect to identify who is working for what. What King is doing, parties are doing, and Maoists are doing.
It’ll be a very appreciable opinion if you say what those pancheys are doing again here? We should not forget that democracy is nature’s law. When you are born, you come along with your freedom. No force can stop u for that.
Let’s see the cause and what’s happening around. Democracy within the boundary is so important? Or democracy in a country will be there when a country will b there? Let all Nepalese get together and stop the external force for some time when Nepal will try to lift up in a position from where no force would be able to bring it down. Democracy is always there. When Nepalese can change the government in 2046, same Nepalese can change the government again in 2066. And if required,
forever free Nepalese could change the system around the world. We don’t have to doubt in our capability. But the current need is not “restore democracy” as India is saying. Current need for each and every Nepali is to “save and raise the nation”. When US envoy to India made one statement related to India’s internal politics last week, whole India shouted back to the ambassador. This is something good we need to learn from Indians. When India, and other far away nations are
repeatedly trying to interfere our internal matter, our corrupted media (do I have to name the media which have bosses of Non Nepalese origins?
Or u find it yourself) is not tired of singing their songs everyday.These Medias are responsible for creating a pessimistic environment in the nation. People are not protesting those external interferences which are vital in present. Restoring democracy is not the issue as far as I understand. What if democracy is restored tomorrow immediately? Same old faces who tried to help the neighbor more than own country itself will be back to power. And the process of losing the nation’s
independency which has been stopped temporarily through king’s move will get momentum again.But if Nepal and Nepalese succeeds to pause that external force for some more time, its strength will be minimized. Many things can happen within few years. Zest is- country first! Now, If you don’t agree on this, I m open to have your opinion. If you feel that there is some logic in what I have said, please forward it to as many Nepalese as possible. There is nothing good happening to you within 24 hours or 3 days or 1 week or so forth. But only God knows, long term benefits could be there.
Thank you.
Hami Nepali, Hamro Nepal, Jai hos Nepal !
(we are Nepalese, its our Nepal, Hail to Nepal)
Breaking News:
King to revive parliament
huh…revive the parliament! Who’s gonna revive HIM after people tear the bas…..d to bits .
The first thing our lawmakers will do after the parliament reinstated is going to be gathering their wages accumulated since last three years or so.
What do you guys think?
i do not think like u coke.
Believe in yourself, believe in Nepalese people. Leadership will emerge. Please, do not blame all the leaders and all the political parties. We also have got to play our role to educate and transform society based on our capability.
What people don’t understand is that if they don’t like the people in the parties now, they can always form new parties with new people and vote for them.
What’s with the Nepalese mentality that only the people who are currently involved in political parties will be elected for ever and ever ??!!
People on BBC are saying that it’s time for the king to step down (the BBC I’m getting at least, I don’t know what kind of censored TV ya’ll get in Nepal). Honestly, I think it’s time the king went into exile.
About the shortages and whatnot, you’re right, it’s easier for people like me to say that you should push for a republic when I’m not living there. But you know what, I’m sure people living there, those who want a republic, realize that demanding a republic won’t be nice, like going to a tea party.
What did you think? The king would say ‘oh sure, I’ll leave right now’ ? Of course not. Turning the country into a republic will take hard work and sacrifice on the people’s part. If the people aren’t ready to make that sacrifice, then there’s not going to be a republic.
So what’s it going to be? People are going to whine and whine about curfew conditions, or they’re going to stand up for their rights?
thanks for such a blog site.
I am an Indian, love democracy and trust in people’s power. I am proud that our Nepali breathren is fighting for the right and justified cause. Its true that politicians do have a role and they have played (although still they might have differences), but the people have the last word. They can even teach the leaders some lessons.
Another thing, brother, do not follow the Indian leaders also. they have also betrayed the people. People are reeling under heavy pressure of the state power. The History says, people resists and revolts when their back is on the wall. Lets wait for the day. Hopel poeple of Nepal will be beside them in those days.
Also, BBC says there’s going to be a mass protest on Tuesday. Good luck to those who participate on this protest. 🙂
By the way, talking of king…
Does anyone have any news of him and the palace gangsters ?
No way, i dont see the king will go into the exile as long as he sees the RNA behind him.
IOELIVE.com coverage of “Jana Andalon 2062-63” available at:
http://www.ioelive.com/andalon2/
The photos shown there are from the daily protests in Chabil and nearby area.
coke,
The senior leaders of the RNA will be behind the king, but I doubt the lower personel will continue to shoot people if this goes on and on.
Watch V for Vendetta, toward the end, when all those people march into the streets. The Police/Army doesn’t shoot without orders from the higher personel.
I’d get a sniper or someone highly skilled to take out the senior RNA leaders if I were them.
melissa, people like you who watch movies like V for Vendetta and get a sudden rush to revolt at any authority figure make me sick.
i was thinking of using a sniper rifle to shoot down the leaders of the SPA instead..
I would rather take top SPA leaders first if i had sniper.
I’m sorry, but no where have I said that ‘I thought nepali people should revolt after watching V…’
Honestly Kirat, supposedly educated people who jump to false conclusions, really make me laugh. Makes me sick that these people try everything to make themselves seem educated when, in reality, they seem rather supercilious.
Let us all come to the ring road tomorrow for the final decisive blow to monarchial rule. Hope to see u there.
good night and sweet dreams!
King will go to the exile. Until last month he was living in a denial and was in an impression that the Nepali people were behind him. He ofcourse is counting heavily on RNA for the final showdown. One point worth noted is that RNA has shown a degree of patietnce in comparision to Nepal police. Maybe it is a durbar’s ploy. Involving army in a predemocracy rallies is a very bad PR . So he is saving RNA for the final show, and when RNA will show the true color, it will be the final blow, either to King or to this SPA movement. We can’t say anything about it.
RNA is in war. Like it or not, Maoists have declared their movement as the war between their army and the army of the state which is RNA. RNA has suffered casulaities by the hands of Maoists . And right now RNA has been told that this democratic movement is the joint venture of SPA and maoists, which ironically is true too. So I don’t expect that they are going to lay down their arms and join the protest. I hope I am wrong though. Nothing will make things easier for SPA if even a small number of RNA soldiers will support the current movement.
If there were not any association of the SPA with maoists, then RNA could have been persuaded , but at the current alliance , I am not going to bet any money on the support of RNA to this historic people’s revolt : )
After yesterday what happened in Chautara.
Maoists attacked (1-RNA & 7or 8_Mao died) chautara,they even destroyed the hospital.
RNA will be with King because they also don’t trust SPA coz SPA never trusted RNA when they were in power.
That’s why there is a balance of power i think.
But be careful guys tomorrow there will be Maoists in the protest.
Melissa I said people like you! I didn’t say the Nepali people. I thought you understood English.
Once again Kirat, can you actually argue without resorting to immature, petty insults? 🙂
I did reply to your post relevantly, but if you don’t understand it then there’s nothing else I can do.
KING IS GOING TO MAKE A ROYAL PROCLAMATION IN 5 MINUTES IN NTV !!!!
hey guys watch TV, king is giving another proclamation.
KEEP ON WATCHING..
LETS HOPE FOR THE PEACE..MAN AM PRAYING FOR PEACE … NEVER FELT LIKE THIS..THIS IS THE LAST CHANCE FOR EVERYBODY
glade, I am from the Rai community so it is my tradition to hate the Shahs who tricked us inorder to defeat us. And deep down inside the hate passed on from my ancestors still burns. But I have now also come to call all Nepalis my brothers and sisters. There is nothing more I would like to see than the end of the Shah dynasty and the thakuri dominated RNA. But in the process of defeating them I do not want my Nepali people to suffer unless there is no other option but them to suffer. With Gyane cowed down by the protests in the streets and from the pressure from the international community here is a great opportunity to reduce Gyane and his family to ridicule and for democracy to be given a chance without suffering for the masses. But so many people in this website want to take the shortcut. Guess who is going to pay the price for this shortcut? Not you or me or any of the bloggers on this site, but the poor people whose blood they don’t mind being shed. Is that right?
yes PEACE GUYS.
I hope he gives some positive to end this blood-shed. Its too much no. He also has some responsibility to the Nation.
LA AYOOOOO ….
Royal proclamation at 11:3o p.m.!
Sorry guys its at 11.30 pm re..
please please please keep ur finger crossed hai..someone burn a candle for peace !!!
Melissa, apologies for losing my cool. My other reply to you has been moderated.
so what do you guys think?
man nothing is coming out of the palace…
i got few friends whom i tried to contact..but everything is hush hush.
yeah whatever happens from now till tomorrow I hope it brings peace and stability to this land. Democracy would be great too!
Few developement in past 24 hours are bit confusing. Few lawyers gathered up in ‘reporter’s club’ and claimed that it is possible for king to initiate the parliament again, with exactly the same structure which was there when King managed to sack Deuba. And after that they claimed that the parliament can go for Constituent Assembly elction.
So Raja might go for it. Will announce the restoration of parliament and will announce the CA election when things calm down.
Second thing is this American notice about the evacuation of Nepal. So they might know something which we don’t. King might go for Marshal rule with the 100% backing of RNA. He can chose to be a puppet of Ranas once again , than being bossing around by the likes of Girija or makune or Prachanda.
ha , so nothing new : )
Glade: your second insight sounds bleak and true of the two.
Emergency/Marshall rule? Sheesh! These Americans are too sensitive. But who knows? I will never forive the SPA if Emergency/Marshall rule is declared.
As soon as you can, be nice and give us a quick overview of his speech.
Thanks. Merci.
Girija is PM by hte Royal declaration.
Cyp, will try best.
It is already declared Layman ? or just your 2+2 = 5 😉
Nepal will be equal to HELL if Marshall rule is decleared.
But still lets hope for PEACE.
layman, what makes you say that?
layman stop bullshiting
Layman’s guessing. A minute left still.
PARLIAMENT IS RE-INSTALLED !!!!
he restotred the parliament
cheer up guys, house of representative is rivived.
Friday is the first meeting of the parliament