Pitiful and outrageous act of Maoists

In the beginning when Maoist took up arms, the regime then decided that they could be crushed so did not negotaite and treated them like a joke. Tides has turned now and the Maoists are poised to share power with the seven parties. What do they do when they come to power? They have adapted the same pitiful and disgusting attitude that the previous regime took. Here is the news from THT today.

Maoist Cadres Thrash MJF Activists in Bhairahawa
THT Online

Bhairahawa, January 26
Maoist cadres disrupted a protest programme organised by the Madheshi Janaadhikar Forum (MJF), Rupandehi, in Bhairahawa on Thursday. They beat up MJF cadres Chandrika Yadav and Mahendra Yadav, took them around the city and chased other MJF cadres. Chadrika and Mahendra sustained critical injuries on their heads. "The Maoists exhibited their real character by beating us," Chandrika Yadav said. "Though we had called MJF cadres not to organise programmes that upset communal harmony and peace, they went ahead with such a programme. That is why the programme was disrupted," a district member of the CPN (Maoist), Ghanashyam Yadav, said.

It seems that the Maoists think that they are the only group who have the right to dissent and take up arms. And they seem to believe that Nepal can function without the Terai's participation as an integral part of Nepal. Here is my message to these misguided people:

Dissent cannot stopped by violence. It did not work against you, and it will not work againt others if you err like your predecessor.

The plight of Nepal due to its corrupt leaders

I was reading the cover story on GPK in "Nepal" magazine yesterday. In discussing various aspects of his life, two points were made that shows why the likes of GPK is the reason Nepal as a nation rots in the depth of misery. First point, he took totally undemocratic decision trying to promote his daughter Sailaja into Congress leadership. That meant family over the interest of the party. Second point, he is promoting "constitutional monarchy" as a possible measure to counter what he perceives as a growing strength of leftist parties, and waning credibility of Nepali Congress. This validates his prioritizing party interest over national interest. The reason for Nepal's pathetic situation is formost a manifestation and combined effect of incompetent leaders not placing national priority at the foremost thought in their deliberation and action. Shame on you corrupt leaders!

Political parties not necessarily for all people

We have setn it happen before during the 12 years of "democracy." The political parties are first and foremost for themselves, not for the Nepali people. That is why we get to see constant deterioration and cynicism in Nepali society. These two snipplets of news from THT illustrate this point. The first one is from the noted civil society leader Mr Daman Nath Dhungana:

Addressing mediapersons in Birendranagar on Thursday, Damannath Dhungana said, "Though the political parties allotted 48 seats for civil society in the Legislative Parliament, the parties did not induct them in the interim House," Dhungana said, adding, "There is no representation of civil society in the Legislative Parliament.""Do Bam Dev Gautam, Jhalanath Khanal, Bimendra Nidhi and Sujata Koirala represent the civil society?" Dhungana questioned.Dhungana said, "No change has been observed in the functioning of political parties, which are tasked with building the nation.""The civil society would present itself as the ninth party to solve the nation's problems if the eight parties failed," Dhungana said.He accused the Maoists of giving the berths meant for the civil society to the leaders of their parties.

The second bit of news is a response from indigenous people, the real "Hill" people on the promulgation of the interim constitution and to be formed interim legislature.

Indigenous leaders on Thursday expressed dissatisfaction over the representation of indigenous nationalities in Legislative Parliament.Speaking at a programme, Tek Bahadur Sunuwar, vice president of the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities, said the issues of indigenous nationalities raised by the NEFIN had been sidelined by taking some handpicked individuals into the legislature. "The interim constitution is completely silent about the issues of regional and ethnic autonomy, which NEFIN has been advocating for years," he said.

He said the interim constitution was also silent on the federalism issue. He said an agitation to protest the interim statute would be announced on Friday.

Dr Om Gurung, former general secretary of the NEFIN, said the interim legislature was formed without taking into account the rights of the indigenous people.

Academician Bairagi Kaila said Jana Andolan II had given hope to the indigenous people but the political parties had belied those hopes. "We had sought proportional ethnic representation and autonomy, but there is no mention of it in the interim constitution," he said.

The struggle for autonomous fedralism should continur for equality of opportunity for all Nepalese. Leader of the CPN-Maoist Parliamentary Party Krishna Bahadur Mahara was reported as saying, "Nobody can stop us from making a New Nepal. We will use the interim legislature for our purpose. Those who stand for the status-quo will be defeated," he said, adding that the restructuring will do justice to all the ethnic, religious and regional groups, women and the Terai residents."

Apparently he must assume that Maoists are the only ones capable of bearing arms and that the struggle was only against the monarchy. Now that the first feudal lord has been defeated, the political parties probably feel they have a free reign on power. Unfortunately, even minor dissatisfaction in the nation can lead to major disruption in a small nation like Nepal. The grievances can take violent form easily. With the arms of the Maoist and the NA locked up, a thrid party can easily take to arms for their cause. Maoist success has laid a good foundation for such a possibility.

Who are the "Hill" people?

In the current movement of the Terai people, it's important to note who the Hill peoples are since the Terai separatist movement has created a difference between the "Hill" and "Terai" population. It is easy to forget thatthe real "Hill" people are the indegenous people. The so called "Hill" people are actually the descendents of the "Terai" people from the Muslim invasion of the 10th century. Those people in power-mostly the upper echelon in Hindu caste system-are not "Hill" people at all. Now, if we only consider Nepal's history from the time of unification, then the present conflect makes sense, but history did not start with the unification. Therefore, it is better to seek reconciliation and power-sharing through a federal system than what the movement is aiming for, a separate nation of 20 Terai districts.

The smothering fire in the South

While the political parties, leaders and power centers in Kathmandu are celebrating their promulgation of interim statute, the smothering fire in the South threatens to rip apart Nepal's nascent republic dream. The leaders and the so called "rebels" of yore are more interested in allocating for themselves the post of Speaker and Deputy PM, while the Terai region threatens to separate from the "Hill" centric approach to divvying up power.

Bandh cripples life in Terai
Himalayan News Service
Biratnagar, January 16

Normal life in the districts of Terai region was affected today due to the daylong general strike called by Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (MJF) putting forth a number of demands, including marking election constituencies on the basis of population density. The Forum had called for Madhesh Bandh stating that the interim constitution did not guarantee the basic rights of Madhesi people.

I don't know how seriously the politicians are taking the threat, but it is significant. I received an email from the someone called Rohit Adhikari (out of the blue) that had links to madhest related issues. Let me show the links and how serious the issue is. The grievance are very relevant on determining how to move Nepal forward. Unless these leaders wake up, they are in for a rude shock again, and Nepali people will continue to suffer. It may be inevitable that this should happen because I have observed deep-seated hatred in the people of non-madhes areas against those in Terai. There is suspicion and assumption to lump them with Indians. The fact of the matter is that they are as Nepali as anyone else. The color, or the language, or the accent should not create rifts that are going to tear Nepal into million pieces. You can just check discussion related to this issue in sajha.com and you will see the ascerbic comments and name-calling people resort to instead of sane discussion.

The truth is that India is changing and its attitude has been molified as its stature in the world has increased, and it has shown a willinness to assist Nepal, unlike its condescending treatment before the April movement. Only with partnership with India and brotherly relationship can Nepal and India both move together in a progressive path. Unrest and distabilit in Nepal is not in the best interest of India, and its leaders understand it very well. So it is time to move ahead in the 21st new century based on new realization of mutual dependence and symbiotic existence.

I urge all Nepalese to check these links to gauge for themselves the gravity of the situation.

http://madhesh.com/blog/index.php
MADHESH.COM site receives very large number of hits everyday and has turned out to be extremely popular for holding discussions, checking news about Madhesh and and providing other relevant materials pertaining to Madhesh. Despite approx. 14 million population of Madhesh, there are virtually no media providing news and other information about Madhesh and letting people of Madhesh voice their opinions. And therefore people of Madhesh found MADHESH.COM as a breeze after centuries of asphyxiation under government's censorship, neglect, oppression, bias and propaganda. This also provided the chance to people outside the country to know realities about Nepal and Nepalese government and its cruel, inhumane and racist policy and oppression of Madheshi.

http://freemadhesh.atspace.com/
Top reasons to make The Republic of Madhesh
1. Our land has been and is being taken by these hill migrants. The conspiracy has been and is underway to expel native Madheshi from own land (in the name of land reforms, resettlement and other things). They have almost taken Chitwan and Jhapa from native Madhesi people, and they are targeting the rest. By making The Republic of Madhesh, we'll get back our lands.2. All high-ranking officers and CDOs are Pahadi, and they have been ruling us for 2 centuries. By making The Republic of Madhesh, we won't be slave of these Pahadis.3. Most of the jobs have been given to Pahadi, whereas Madheshi are jobless and unemployed. By making The Republic of Madhesh, we'll create a VERY VERY LARGE number of jobs, so that all Madheshi can be employed.4. They live in our land, they eat our food, yet they despise us and our children by calling Madheshi, Phohori, Marsiya, Dhoti and so on. By making The Republic of Madhesh, we don't have to be victim of their despise.5. By making The Republic of Madhesh, we people, our wifes and sister, won't have to live in the terror of these Pahari police and army.6. We will not have to earn for them and pay them, to make roads, bridges, canal and new cities in the mountains, and leave Madhesh without any development. We can utilize our money and make Madhesh far developed with our money.7. We won't have the identity crisis. We can claim to have our own country, The Republic of Madhesh, and we'll be simply know as its people. We won't have to try hard to fit in Pahadi stereotypes, convincing people "oh, I'm Nepali", and people replying "You don't look like Nepali, do you have citizenship? Did you come from India?".

http://madhesh.com/blog/pivot/entry.php?id=25
Not division, but return from Nepalese colonization
Aazaad on 10 January 2007 - 12:07
For centuries, the ruling classes in Nepal have been using their cleverly selected words to manipulate history, segregate Madheshi and other ethnics from mainstream, and to send wrong messages to the world. For example, they chose 'kamaiya' rather than using word 'slave'. They would defend themselves and evade world's attention, by saying those enslaved people are 'kamaiyas' not 'slaves'. The truth is if we look at the essence, not merely at the word's spelling or phonetics, 'kamaiyas' were in the worse form of slavery. They were not only robbed of their land, and forced to be slaves; but generations after generations they had to be slaves. Even owners could sell or exchange them. And with their clever tactics, the ruling classes were able to keep them as slaves even in the 21st century, while the world remained unaware of it.

Let good sense prevail.

The right way forward

I took an opportunity to read the "Nepal" journal today. I read an interesting humor piece by Manoj Gajurel about the caste-based classification of Communists, which made a pertinent observation about their state of disfunctional affairs. The second piece was an opinion by Gagan Thapa, where he makes an excellent point, "A new house cannot be built on an old foundation."

In the present context, his historical analysis of Nepalese politics aptly shows the need for breaking away from the past and laying a new foundation, which this current change provides a golden opportunity for. But if it fails to meet the true aaspiration of Nepali people, then more changes might be necessary, which the Nepali people are capable and ready to embark on.

This is going to be a challenge as in the same magazine, there was news on how people in Khotang had the first opportunity to see a motor vehicle in their village, which is still not linked to any other place. So the way to move forward will remain full of challenges, but as Gagan Thapa argues, that foundation cannot be the same old same old. Bold visions and new generation of Nepale leaders are an integral prerequisite for Nepal's future for a democratic repulic.

Terai struggles: A threat overlooked as history repeats

Back in 1996 when the Maoist first started their armed struggle, it was treated casually, even a nuisance that would go away. That lead to a decade of violence and a regime change. It will be another serious folly of the present so called democratic transitional authorities if they relagate the JTMM struglles for the Terai people. Just half-defeating autocratic power on the back of Nepalese people, who genuinely want a new direction for the country, is not going establish a democratic system. The attitude needs to change too and grievances have to addressed and accomodated.

I am from in between area, where the hill and the terai meet. I have traveled quite a bit in the hilly region and spent quite some time in my education, treks, travels in the hills. I was surprosed when I had an opportunity to stay in terai region for few months. I feel the terai grievances are legitimate. It could see that there were no real representation of the terai people in their own area where I lived (Malangawa). This was my first lperception of how the administrative system was set up--they were dominated by the people from the hills. Granted this was from the Panchayat era about 20 or so ago, but I do not perrceive much has changed.

The government does not seem to have clue on the gravity of the situation. It was asked the Maoists to bring them to table. That is fine, but that alone will not be enough if the central government does not take the matters seriously and listen and address their grievances. Hence this exerpt of news today makes me wonder and worry how far Nepalese politics has come if the division between Nepalese continues. Dismissal, neglect and disconcern does not bode well for the new democratic Nepal.


JTMM bandh cripples life in Terai
Himalayan News Service

Siraha, January 12:The first day of the three-day Terai bandh called by the Jay Krishna Goit-led Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) demanding an independent Terai state saw a near-total disruption of life in the region. The other demands of the JTMM include rule of the native people over Terai, use of revenue collected from Terai for development work only in Terai and appointing only native Terai people in the army, police and administration in the region.Factories, business houses, shops and academic institutions in all districts of the region shut down today. All shops except a few medical stores were closed. In Siraha, Siraha bazaar and Lahan bazaar were completed closed. Only a few rickshaws, cycles and motorcycles plied.

An exciting news on IT

This news made me really happy. It shows that we are doing our best to keep up with the information technology, which is going to be absolutely essentially from not falling behind the rest of the world. In the same vein, the fibre optic network along the East West Highway also spells good for future of connecting Nepal to the world. Every district in Nepal should have access to the Internet and every city should have wireless connection. More power to the people can only mean better for the future of Nepal's democratic aspirations.

Laptops can now go online anywhere
BY RUPAK D SHARMA
KATHMANDU, Jan 10 - Laptop users can now browse the net without connecting their notebooks to the phone or broadband lines, as Nepal Telecom (NT) is commercially launching PCMCIA cards in the local market from Wednesday.
Desktop computer users, however, will have to wait for some more time to avail the service as NT is still in the process of acquiring similar cards for PCs.
"The wireless cards, which will cost Rs 8,888 per unit, will be introduced at CAN Info-Tech being held at BICC of New Baneshwor from tomorrow," Pratima Pradhan, deputy manager of Wireless Division of NT said.
Introduction of this kind of wireless internet service is expected to create a revolution in the IT sector, as laptop users can now go online, browse the Internet, and send and receive facsimile messages even from places that lack access to telephone lines.
"Using the cards, clients can download data at a speed of up to 163.4kbps and the cost of downloading data has been fixed at 25 paisa per 100KB," Pradhan said.
According to her, the service is currently available in pre-paid form and clients can recharge the accounts using pre-paid recharge cards available in various outlets of NT.
"The cards are available in denominations of Rs 200, Rs 500 and Rs 1,000, which will expire in 60 days, 180 days and 720 days, respectively," she said.
The state-owned telecom plans to introduce 300 units of such cards in the first phase, and the 'number of which will be increased on the basis of demand'.
Posted on: 2007-01-09 21:36:48 (Server Time)

About royal expenses

This is just to note what the royals get. May come handy if I get to make my documentary for SFU.

Royalty’s salaries remain untouched
BY PREM KHANAL
KATHMANDU, Jan 5 - 2007
King Gyanendra and his family have so far, not drawn the annual perks and allowances earmarked in the budget, possibly to show their displeasure over the decision of the House to slap tax on the income of royal family members.
According to a high-level government source, the Royal Palace has not approached the Kaushitoshkhana Office, the office that transfers state allocations to the Royal Palace, to take the first tranche of Rs 23.7 million allocated solely for the Royal Family's salary and allowances.
This has surprised government officials as the Royal Palace used to collect its annual budget within 48 hours after the budget announcement. "It's really surprising that the palace has not drawn the money even after six months into the fiscal year," said an official at Kaushitoshkhana.
Palace Officials did not provide reasons for the royal family's "disinterest" in the money provided by the state.
The historic proclamation of the House of Representative on May 18 declared that private property and income of royal family members would be taxed as per law. Based on the present rate, the Royal Palace will have to pay around Rs 7.5 million as income tax, which is deducted while releasing the amount.
Similarly, the cabinet on July 31 had amended the law on Royal Household Expenditure, limiting state facilities and allowances to the king, queen, crown prince, crown princess, yubarani (in the case of the eldest daughter ascending the throne) and the queen mother.
As per the new law, though the yubarani will subsequently ascend the throne, her husband will, however, not be entitled to any facilities. The government had allocated Rs 210 million for the Royal Palace in its budget for the current fiscal year. In previous years, the government used to release the yearly amount through a single payment. However, the budget for the current year has put the Royal Palace allocation under normal release procedures, which means the amount is released in three equal installments.
The Royal Palace has, however, already collected the first tranche of the budget allocated for administrative expenses, security, repair and maintenance. Of the total Rs 177.4 million allocated for current fiscal year for administrative expenses and security, repair and maintenance, the Royal Palace has received Rs 79.8 million by the end of first five months of the current fiscal year.
Posted on: 2007-01-04 20:48:10 (Server Time)