Daily Archives: March 10, 2007

Nepal in Transition, Story of the Day

Prime Minister Defends Sitaula (America vs Maoists and Nepalgunj Curfew)

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Sitaula’s resignation won’t resolve nation’s problems: PM

Finally, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has publicly defended his Home Minister. This comes a day after the Parliament decided with two thirds majority to amend the constitutions as per the demands of Madhesi people. Madheis Janadhikar Forum, a group that claims to fight for the interests of Madheis has been demanding the resignation of Krishna Prasad Sitaula. The group is currently holding its meeting in the wake up yesterday’s parliamentary decision. Here is what Koirala said in Biratnagar today:

BIRATNAGAR- Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on Saturday said that Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula’s resignation would not resolve the nation’s problems, adding that he himself would tender his resignation if it helped solve the issues. The PM, who had made a surprise visit to his home town Biratnagar Saturday morning, told reporters, “If it can resolve the problems, I will ask for the Home Minister’s resignation this instant … but the Home Minister’s resignation is not the answer.” Informing that he himself was holding talks with the agitating sides in the Terai, PM Koirala expressed hope for a peaceful resolution to all the grievances through talks. Koirala urges Maoists to ‘behave’ before joining government. (more)

Prime Minister Koirala also said the Maoists would be brought into an interim government only when they correct their behavior. Koirala said the Maoists must start behaving according to the agreements signed with the SPA government and return the properties seized by them during the insurgency. He, however, did not give any tentative timeframe for the formation of a Maoist-included cabinet. Koirala’s statement came three days after an ‘understanding’ between the Nepali Congress (NC) and the Maoists to form interim government before March 15. (more)

Other Headlines:

Royalist plot to kill US officials will be clarified soon: Prachanda

POKHARA- Maoist Chairman Prachanda Saturday morning said that the evidence about the “plot to kill US officials by the royal palace” was being collected and that it would be revealed soon.The former rebel chief also said instead of being grateful to him for warning them to remain cautious, the US officials were raising an outcry over his statement to disrupt the ongoing peace process. (more)

>>Before this, the US Embassy in Kathmandu showed it’s concern over Prachanda’s remarks in Pokhara the other day.
>>> Maoists don’t deserve membership in govt if they continue violence: US

12-hour curfew clamped in Nepalgunj; MPRF strike on fifth day

NEPALGUNJ- Following yesterday’s clash between locals and Madhesi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF) cadres in Nepalgunj, the Banke District Administration Office today extended its curfew orders from 7 am to 7 pm. The local administration had imposed a 13-hour curfew yesterday following the killing of Tula Ram Tripathi, a local from Khajura in the district. At least a dozen people were seriously injured in the clash. (more)

Comment of the Moment

Bahunists and Bahunism: Caretakers of Nepal’s Feudal Tradition

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Comment of the Moment: Originally Posted Here by Dinesh Koirala (Courtesy: Sano Baje)

[UWB: We do not necessarily agree with the following piece but decided re-publish it here mainly for two reasons: One, we respect voices from all sides. Two, the article cites two of UWB posts as “excellent examples of Bahunists in action” though the word “excellent” doesn’t come for us as something to be proud of. We are strongly against any discriminations based caste and ethnicity. We support the empowerment of all communities in Nepal.]

For those of us who have lived with this phenomenon all our lives, what is described below is no big revelation. However, for the benefit of those who think Nepali politics boils down to a struggle between Royalists and Maoists, or democrats and autocrats, or centrists and extremists, they are only partially correct. There is one other critical grouping that serves as chief sponsor of the political turmoil in Nepal – the Bahunists.

Who are the Bahunists?

So who (what) exactly are the Bahunists? Well, those who believe in Maoism are Maoists; those who believe in the Royal tradition are Royalists. Similarly, those who believe in the “Bahun-baad” tradition, are the Bahunists.

What is the “Bahun-baad” tradition and who precisely are the Bahunists? Ask any Janajati, Dalit, Newar, Madhesi (or non-Brahmin individual) – he or she will provide you a dissertation on what “Bahun-baad” is and exactly how much damage the Bahunists have done to the idea of liberal democracy in Nepal.

Ask the Chhetris, the Thakuris, the Ranas, the Thapas, the Mallas, the Shresthas, the Tamrakars, the Kayasthas (etc.) the same question, and it is likely they will give you a different answer. Members of these groups are sure to know who the Bahunists are, but they probably don’t understand the phenomenon that well.

Why? Because for centuries, Bahunists have successfully performed as the mechanism that enables (and amplifies) Nepal’s feudal traditions; at the same time, the Bahunists have been successful in portraying the non-Bahunists as either the face, or the victims of feudalism.

Why are the Bahunists so Angry and Dangerous?

It is important to note that not all Brahmins are Bahunists. Just like not all Chhetris are Royalists and not all Janajatis are Maoists. This being said, all Bahunists (like other minority extremists), are bad news. Just like the hard-core Royalists give the Chhetris a bad name, the hard-core Bahunists give the Brahmins a bad name.

At least when Royalists have disagreements with other Royalists, all they do is publish trashy articles about each other in the media. When Maoists argue with other Maoists, the one with the bigger balls puts the other one in detention and then India steps in and sorts things out. Continue reading Bahunists and Bahunism: Caretakers of Nepal’s Feudal Tradition →