Deputy Prime Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari's Daughter Speaks Out

Sudeep Acharya is a high school classmate and friend of mine. I met up with him in person a few days back in St. Paul, MN, at his brother Sandeep's house. Sudeep was in Nepal until recently. He happened to come over to the US on a family visit right before 2/1.

We have been in touch on and off. When we met, we talked about many things, had a lot of catching up to do. The guy sleeps 6 hours a day, and spends about 4 hours a day thinking up new business ideas, I am telling you!

His wife was with him, obviously. We chatted when he was in China (his wife did her college there) where he was cultivating a business idea, what else.

She is Deputy Prime Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari's daughter. Their testimonies and appeals I hope become a major part of Dinesh Prasain's presentations in Washington DC. I mean, imagine Dick Cheney under house arrest cum solitary confinement.

Here I present Sudeep and Lima.

Latest: In a defience against democracy, the Nepalese government has again denied US Ambassador James Moriarty to visit another leader, this time the ousted Deputy Prime Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari. When relatives are not allowd to visit him, how can a US Ambassador visit the house-arrested leader, one does not need to ponder.

Sudeep.


Paramendra,

We have written this letter, which needs to be edited and simplified. Please suggest and let me know.

On aother note, Subash Gautam (148B) wrote to my wife and was also interested in joining against the repressive move by King Gyanendra.

If a group of individuals are to be formed for voicing against the Royal takeover, include our names in it as well.

Sudeep and Lima


My grandfather, Ramchandra Adhikari was against the Rana regime. He fought with other Nepalese against the oligarchy regime and was ousted by them. His land and property in Kathmandu was taken by the Ranas in the “sarboswa haran”. Its interesting that where Radisson Hotel resides today was the place of birth of Manmohan Adhikari, my uncle, my father's older brother. The land and property in Kathmandu, my grandfather had to leave, was never recovered. Instead he fled to India and then settled down in Biratnagar. He was in good contact with cousin BP Koirala, the then democracy leader who became Prime Minister of Nepal in 2017 BS. BP Koirala was ousted in the coup by then King Mahendra, the current King’s Father. He also fled to India and fought for democracy from there.

Manmohan Adhikari, my father’s older brother was a founding member of Communist Party of Nepal. He started his political career in India in the fight for independence. He was also forming his political movement by joining the Communist Party of Nepal. Even at the time, he accepted the King’s role in Nepal and agreed to work with the King to bring about democracy in Nepal. Although from a communist background, he had always insisted on working together with the Congress party, to reintroduce democracy in Nepal. His moderate views helped his party to win the largest vote in the election of 2051; he then became the Prime Minister of Nepal.

My father, Bharat Mohan Adhikari, started his political life in the footsteps of his brother. A lawyer by profession, he lived a double life, during the day he would be at court defending his clients, and at night attending secret meetings to organize protests against the Panchayat government. He was also jailed for his belief and political convictions on different occasions, for more than 18 months. My mother was a school teacher and also shared the same political belief, she fought for her rights while at college and was jailed for brief periods of time.

My grandfather later worked in the government office in Biratnagar and did make a decent living. He left some wealth and real estate for his family when he died. My father also working as a lawyer and sometimes teaching as well as mother working all the time, our family made a decent living. Like his older brother Manmohan Adhikari, my father always thought things could be resolved through conversation and negotiation. He played an integral part in the 1990 movement by bringing most of the communists together to fight for democracy. The brothers were also adamant about democracy and were able to pull the younger Marxist Leninist Party together to form UML. After the movement, my father was one of the committee members to write the constitution of Nepal of 1990. He then ran for election and won in all 3 elections. He served in the popular UML government lead by his brother. He held the position of Finance Minister then, it was he who came with the popular scheme of “Afno Gau Afai Banau” (Build your own village). The nine-month government is sometimes regarded as the best government in Nepal. Later he held different portfolios on three different coalition governments. He was the Deputy Prime Minister on the last coalition government, which was thrown out in a “coup” by King Gyanendra Shah. Since then he has been under house arrest, to this date they have not given him any charge sheet and no reason for his arrest has been given. My mother was also put under house arrest at the same time.

My father sent snooped e-mail to me repeating the same thing that he has been put into Solitary Confinement, no relatives are allowed to visit, no radio, no TV. A portion of conveyed message via e-mail reads like this:

“Sudeep can contact with emimunent Nepali in Washingtan, Newwork, Haward Univercity and tell that duputy priminister in Nepal solitary confinement, No radio no t.v no news paper, no meting with relatives and friends. There is no chargesheet.”

My father has always lived a simple life. Simple in the sense that although we have land and home in Biratnagar, we have always lived in a rented flat in Katmandu. My father does not own a car, he did not buy a car when Deuba government gave incentives for members of parliament to buy cars without customs duty. Our rented flat is close by the Party Office, so that my father can walk to Party Office and does not need a vehicle. He has asthma, like his older brother, so he has to watch out for cold weather and what he eats. He attends lots of parties, rarely eats or drinks at these parties, he comes home to eat. He listens to people, he has this enormous power to listen to other people, but he makes his own decision. He is real fond of us all three sisters, when we are at home, it would never be about politics. He would rather talk about us, our lives. During the ups and downs in his political life, he never brought home the stress. Sometimes we would know things on TV or Radio first and he would confirm what had happened.

My father probably was attached to few things in his life. One of the “things” was us, the three daughters. I feel sad; I can’t talk to my father right now. He has this habbit of putting down the phone before the conversation ends, so we always remind him first before we start talking to him. When we got angry at him, he always smiled back and would say things to make us smile. When my sister wouldn’t call my parents often, my mother would get worried, but my father would say “River always flows downward; if you were the daughter then she would have called you, so you better give her a call”. I miss his voice very much. I had to listen to a previously recorded interview on BBC to hear his voice. I feel enraged at the King and his cronies. I ask myself, my father has always given to the country, always fought for democracy. Why should he suffer this solitary confinement at this age? I wish they could replace me with him.

One of the other things he loved to do was watch news, read newspaper, and listen to the news on FM radio stations. We always got tons of newspaper and news magazine at home. One time there was a photo of my father in a weekly paper, a very good photo in fact, but the caption commented on his habit of looking at his palm, which we disliked. While we were discussing, phone rang and it was from the same weekly paper, he thanked the guy for the good photo, and jokingly said that his family disapproved the comment. All of us laughed at his remarks. But now they have taken away his rights to read news or watch TV or even listen to the radio.

One of the other things he liked to do was discuss, have conversation, he listens to others but he often comments when asked. His views on the Maoist issue and resolving was clear, he wanted the King’s representative, the representative of the political parties and the representative of the Maoist to start a pre-talk without any prejudice, without any obligation. First they would discuss on the issues that everyone agreed on and start from there. He believed that once Maoist and the representative of the King were on the table, pressure from the civil society, international community and general mass would put pressure to come to a conclusion. But alas, now under house arrest, he can’t talk to anyone.

Well, people might say, there are lots of worst cases than my family’s, I totally agree with them. But in this day and age, how can a government which claims to provide “Democracy” to the people of Nepal do this to my family? If this takeover by the King is for the people, then what scares them about my father, or my mother (she was also under house arrest until recently). Why did the King need the help of the Army to arrest my parents? Which clause of the constitution of Nepal applies to put someone under house-arrest without any charge sheet? The King continues to rote that he will return to democracy, if you act like a duck and quack like a duck, you are a duck. How can he be trusted?

If a former Deputy Prime Minister with an abundant history has to face this hardship, I wonder how other people who believe and have voiced their opinion on democracy facing. With no media able to go against the “marma” of King’s infamous February 1st speech, how are we to know what goes on in Nepal?


In The News Today

• New Delhi denies role in crackdown on Nepal Maoists: New Kerala, India ..... allegations by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) CPN (M) regarding New Delhi's involvement were baseless..... the Maoists, who are estimated to control more than two-thirds of the impoverished Himalayan nation
• Nepal stockpiles supplies and braces for more blockades Daily Times .....the rebels warned last weekend they would launch a nationwide general strike in mid-March unless King Gyanendra gave up absolute power which he seized February 1 ..... would store enough food and fuel to last at least two months in the Kathmandu valley, home to 1.5 million people ..... the government published a notice urging citizens to carry identity cards at all times
  
• Nepal orders opposition leaders to stay under house arrest for two ... Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates .....Nepal’s government has extended by two months the house arrest of five top political leaders ..... Girija Prasad Koirala, president of Nepali Congress, Madhav Nepal, of United Marxist Leninist Communist Party of Nepal and Sher Bahadur Deuba of Nepali Congress (Democratic) party......Gyanendra, a constitutional monarch, said he was forced to take power because of the former government’s failure to control an anti-monarchy communist insurgency, or halt corruption among politicians.
• Seven Nepal Cong workers arrested for challenging takeover: New Kerala .....Those arrested from Ason included Nepali Congress Ramechhap district president Ramchandra Khadka, district secretary Jhapatraj Bhandari, party activist and Amnesty International Nepal founder member Lokesh Dhakal, party workers Rajendra Wagley, Bedraj Lama and Keshav Chalise...... Nepali Congress central committee member Baldev Sharma was arrested from his house at Kapan ..... some ten plain clothes policemen came to his house and took him away
  
• Nepal brings India, US closer Indian Express ..... not a day passes without a meeting between senior Indian and US officials either at Kathmandu, New Delhi or Washington to exchange notes on the situation .....no US military supplies have reached Nepal since the emergency.
  
• Police Crush Protest in Nepal, Arrest Activists ABC News ...... Large public protests against Gyanendra's move to arrest political leaders, curb press freedom and impose a state of emergency have not been possible because of a heavy security presence. Small protests have been quickly crushed.
  
• Nepal,India agree to control terrorism along Indo-Nepal border: New Kerala, India
• India denies involvement of its security forces in Nepal Press Trust of India
• Maoist activities a threat to India: Govt Sify ..... the Minister said Nepalese political leaders are allowed to carry out activities in India in accordance with country’s laws.
  
• Nepal's student wings to hold nationwide protests: New Kerala, India .....Ten youth wings associated with political parties met and decided to coordinate their protests .....The first protest will take place on March 17 ..... Nepal government has restricted use of black glass on vehicles without prior permission ......asked people in Kathmandu valley to carry identity cards while travelling
• Nepal urges intl community to reassess security situation: New Kerala, India ......Apparently disturbed at suspension of military aid to it by India and Britain, Nepal today urged the international community to reassess the security situation in the kingdom...... "Unfortunately, friends have not understood the King's motive and created fear psychosis for the Nepalese people by talking in terms of suspension of aid" ......the royal government was dealing with the Maoist militarily and therefore has no new proposals for peace negotiations for the time being......"A military solution to the problem is achievable, and we can do it by ourselves" .....About the political leaders who were under house arrest, Giri said they would be released soon but added that whether or not they would face corruption charges in the future would be an altogether different matter.
• Nepal may become Khmer Rouge-type risk: Official Taipei Times, Taiwan .....The US warned on Wednesday that a Maoist takeover in Nepal could lead to a human rights nightmare comparable to the Khmer Rouge reign in Cambodia during the 1970s......Nepalese authorities can confront the Maoists only if there is unity among the country's political forces. Camp said Nepalese unity was shattered by King Gyanendra's dismissal of the government and other restrictions he decreed on Feb. 1......the Maoists have made clear their intention to impose a one-party "people's republic," collectivize agriculture and "reeducate" class enemies......part of the rebel agenda is export of revolution to neighboring countries......"The key to accomplishing this is for the legitimate political parties and Nepal's King to unite in a multi-party, democratic framework in order to confront the Maoists and address the country's serious developmental problems," he said. Camp reaffirmed that the US is considering suspending its US$2 billion security assistance program.
• United States Urges Nepal's King To Open Democratic Dialogue All American Patriots .....Gyanendra should release the detainees, re-establish basic civil liberties, and open a dialogue with the country’s political parties......the Maoists have preyed upon the despair of the Nepalese people over the paralysis of their political institutions..... Nepal is plagued by poverty, illiteracy, infant and maternal mortality, trafficking in persons, corruption, torture and disappearances...... sandwiched between China and India and home to the soaring Himalayan Mountains, Nepal has long been known as one of the world’s most beautiful countries on the planet...... potentially jeopardize the viability of the state itself...... the King attempted to justify the current crackdown on the tenuous assertion that the former government had failed to move forward toward national elections and dialogue with the rebels, as well as, even more doubtfully, the need to “defend multiparty democracy.” ..... the United States cannot afford to remain indifferent when geographically remote areas, whether in Afghanistan or Cambodia, come to be dominated by extremist elements with a brutal and hostile agenda...... urge in no uncertain terms that the King move quickly to restore constitutional rule and multiparty democracy....... India, the U.S., the UK, EU and UN – must work together to forge a commonsense agenda designed to bring the King back from an authoritarian precipice which could too easily accelerate a violent Maoist takeover ...... should donors contemplate targeted economic and diplomatic measures ..... If Nepal is less secure because of the Royal takeover, what are the prospects for a collapse of central authority and a takeover by the Maoists? ..... Over years Congress has uniquely identified with the Tibetan people and the preservation of their unique cultural heritage. In this regard, I understand that on January 21 several Tibetan welfare offices that tend to the needs of a substantial refugee community in Nepal were closed by the authorities in Kathmandu. ..... have we aired the issues of Nepal with our Chinese interlocutors? It has been contended that the Chinese authorities may be as offended by the Maoist insurgents as Indian authorities are ..... Statement of Deputy Assistant Secretary Donald Camp, Before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on International Relations, March 2, 2005 ...... the developmental problems from which much of their current political crisis derives ..... Nepal confronts the real possibility that a brutal Maoist insurgency might seize power ..... The longstanding political impasse between the King and the political parties, and infighting between and within the parties themselves, has seriously hampered resistance to the Maoists, in spite of the army’s growing capability to militarily confront the insurgents. This squabbling and inability to come to an agreement on how to move forward with democratic governance has understandably frustrated the Nepalese caught between government inaction on their grievances and human rights abuses by the security forces on one hand and Maoist violence and brutality on the other....... the Maoist insurgency must be resisted and addressed. The Maoists have risen to prominence through a combination of propaganda, terror, and the real despair that so many Nepalese feel ..... their methods of torture, extortion, and harsh retributions ..... Initial reaction from many Nepalese to his February 1 actions was positive, reflecting their widespread frustration and despair over the years of political impasse as the Maoists gained strength...... Nepal's security forces continue to have a critical role in denying the Maoists a military victory. ..... taking back areas hitherto controlled by the Maoists. ..... the trade-off between the military risk resulting from cutting aid with the political risk should there be no resolution of the current crisis between the King and the parties ..... We have made it clear to the Government of Nepal that we expect to see appropriate, timely and transparent investigations of any credible allegations of abuse and that failure to do so could jeopardize our ability to continue assistance...... urge swift investigation and punishment ...... critical for us and for the international community to highlight and criticize atrocities and abuses committed -- systematically, and as a matter of strategy -- by the Maoists...... stress the protection of the rights of marginalized and victimized groups (e.g., trafficked persons, forced and child laborers, including child soldiers)...... The recent Government order to close of the Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office and the Dalai Lama’s office are also concerns...... we are working with the Government to register the Office as a fully functioning NGO ...... the Maoist insurgency whose early progress reflected to some degree the legitimate grievances of Nepal's marginalized citizens....... strengthening key rule of law and anti-corruption institutions ..... Nepal has some of the world's lowest social indicators, and more than half our development assistance has been earmarked for health and family planning. ..... the vast majority of Nepal's under-five children receive critical Vitamin-A supplements, thereby significantly increasing their ability to fight off otherwise deadly diseases such as pneumonia ...... President Bush’s declaration of the United States’ support for freedom around the world very much extends to Nepal.most importantly, encouraging the Nepalese themselves to come together to meet these very serious challenges .....
  
• ‘Gyanendra’s power grab likely ‘emboldened’ Maoists’ Daily Times .....the rebels now have a “stronger position” than before Gyanendra’s action
  
• NEPAL: Donors remain committed Reuters AlertNet, UK .....will not put pressure on an impoverished and excluded population who are in desperate need of help – particularly in rural areas where they rely entirely on external support......Since the king took over, donor agencies have met on a regular basis.....The Swiss development agency, SDC, and the Danish aid agency, Danida, were the first to announce that they would suspend their bilateral aid but their support for the Nepali people would remain intact...... The World Bank was reported to have suspended $70 million after the king's move on 1 February...... "In view of the recent political and security developments in Nepal, the ADB is reviewing the implications for its operation in Nepal. ...... explaining to the rebels that aid personnel cannot make donations or sign agreements with Maoists. The rebels have demanded that all donor agencies and international NGOs register with the Maoists and pay donations to work in the rural areas..... some who believe that donors are not making enough efforts to influence the new government to take positive steps. "In a fragile state like Nepal, the bilateral donors have enormous influence.....
  
• Indian envoy meets Nepal King's deputies Money Plans, India
• Politicians detained for their security: Nepal minister: New Kerala

Some Basic Acts Of Co-Ordination

These are some of the emails from my Inbox over the past few days.

"_______. It’s good to hear from you. If you are planning to come to the west coast, please let me know. We will do whatever we can to help. You are doing a commendable job in these hard times. Keep up the spirit and keep working hard. We are behind you."

"Hi _______, _______, ______, and _______,

Pleased to make acquaintaince with you all (except ______) by email.

In order to start planning, I have the idea of a rough itinerary of DC to NYC to Ithaca, to
Boston, and back to DC. If we start on April 20 in DC, then we can have several days in each
city, except one night in Ithaca, and reach back to DC by about May 4.

We will also need to continue looking for funds - or at least raise some amount of funds at
some events. So far we have $500 from Cornell and potential $3500 grant to cover only
internal travel (not international airfar). I have to confirm the $3500 grant, which is from
Amnesty International. Need more to cover the Delhi-DC ticket.

As ________ suggested meeting Senator Kerry, I had also been thinking that this tour could
help galvanize a Nepal constituency among the Masachusetts Senators and Reps. We could
meet with their DC as well as Boston offices.

I think we will have no lack of events in any of the cities. We will have to choose which ones
could be most effective.

My mobile is _____________ for reference. I think I am acting as the lead coordinator on
this tour for the month of March at least, to line up the funding and the specific events.

We have an organization, Advocacy Project, based in DC, who have agreed to be the
501(c)(3) umbrella for this, and to accept donations and reimburse expenses. Also, since the
$3500 potential grant is from Amnesty International's Special Initiatives Fund, they may do
some accounting and reimbursing as well.

I am just trying to get a handle on everything - money and dates - and then will communicate
more in the next few days.

_______, I gather you're in DC. ______, I gather you're in Boston. __________, if you
have read this far, thank you and would you please tell me where you are located? I am in
Boston myself."

"Also, we (3 of us)  have sent an official request to meet with John Kerry. I will try to add
your name as well."

"_______,

Will be glad to welcome you to DC (make sure you wear that classic outfit of Daura/Suruwal). Also I found out that RNA has issued a red corner notice for me too as well over my speech on democracy day. I think they picked it from the nepalipost or some of their civilian outfitted military personnel present during the speech. Whatever the reason but time has come for us to kick monarchy's ass for good. I will try to set up sth at George Mason University or Mt. Everest Restaurant. Make sure you bring and excellent presentation material. I will also need them at some point here.

____, I heard that were headed to Singapore for a while from ___. When are you coming back?"

"______,

At present, I am outside mainland US for a conference.  I will be backm on Friday.  We can
work things out. I will respond in detail after I get back.

Best,
_______"

"______ and all,

lets come up with the schedule -  I will work on organizing a talk/documentary programme
here in Boston. Lets finalize this asap - so that we have time for publicity and all that. The
more people we can reach out to, the better it is going to be.

I am currently in Singapore but I will be back in the US end of next week.

My # is _________ if anyone needs to get hold of me for any reason...

- ______."

"__________, 

Thanks for the quick reply. Would like to use that time to discuss the formation of a new democrcatic alliance in Nepal - if the situation does not improve by then, and if the parties do not come up with a clear demorcatic republic agenda by then. We're seriously thinking about that right now. ........ .......

How you're getting the democracy allinace updates we've been sending.

By the way, where are you staying these days?

Will keep you posted if any further dvelopment.

_______"

"Hi ____, ______, ____ and _____,

____- There is no specific date that need to return to Delhi. I said two weeks as a rough estimate. Adding some more days for the trip does not really matter. I wrote to some of my friends in theast coast and they are replying. It appears that I will have no problem finding free accommodation for most of the trip. Could you please be in touch with _______ _______ (_______) and ____ ______(______). I have written to ___ ___ as well, and waiting for his reply.

I have no problem with World Vision. I do not know them very much in fact. Must be doing good, lets hope.

______ and _____ - Thanks for your quick reply! Could you be in tocuh with ____ (_______) . He's a long time friend of _______ and a well wisher of Nepal. He's with _________, and now in the US. ____, could you help organnize some meeting in Boston with our Nepali friends? I would also like to show a rough cut video documentary on the police brutalties against pro-democrcay demonstators recently as well as last year.

____- I am waiting for your response, man. Could you organize some meeting with Nepalis in DC? Where's ____? I would also like to contribute somethings to Nepali Post. Read your speech of Fagun saat. Good.

Keeo in touch,

_____"

"_____,

We are back in Boston now - have been for a year now. I will have no problem supporting in
any ways when you are in the Boston area or anywhere else for that matter. My place is
your place.

We are looking forward to your visit.

- ______."

"Dear _____, ______, ______, ______, _____, _____, ______ and ____,

I will most probably be coming to the US for a couple of weeks (20 April onwards) for a Nepal Human Rights Speaking Tour. Individual US citizens, long-time friends of Nepal, including ____ _____, ____, Advocacy Project people, Amnesty International US chapter etc., are trying to raise donations and organize the tour. They’ll cover the round-trip ticket, and some internal transport etc. The funding will be very basic. To reduce the costs, I told them that I will talk to my friends to see if they can organize free accommodation in different places using our SEBS and other networks. Also, if there are the possibilities of a few hundred dollars raised as donations to cover parts of the inter-city bus / train fair, etc.

I have said that I will finalize the details of the tour after I receive the response from you guys. Apart from meeting with Congressmen / Senators / State department officials and human rights groups, which other friends will organize, I am also interested to have meetings with Nepali groups and individuals who are willing to contribute to the democracy movement in Nepal. I would also be really interested to make presentations in universities. I guess, I will have to mostly organize the tour in the East coast, as I will first come to DC, travel to NY, Boston, etc. This I will need to finalize after your suggestions and the suggestions from the others involved. So, my questions are (a) can some of you coordinate among our friends and with a person called ____ in the US (I will pass on his e-mail and contact details next time) to see what our SEBS guys can help in terms of accommodations when the schedules are finalized, (b) can you coordinate with _____ to work out the schedules, organize some meetings / presentations, (c) can you also look at the possibility of raising some money for inter-city transport costs, etc.

The objectives of the tour as I have suggested to the organizers are a) to sensitize US policy makers (congressmen as well as state department officials at the Nepal / South Asia desk about the human rights situation and how it is likely to degenerate into a catastrophe, (b) to explain why we need to work at the political context to prevent further deterioration of human rights situation – e.g., bringing the army under civilian control, not strengthening the ambitious and autocrat king further, focusing only on democracy without complicating its future course by making it compulsory to co-exist with an unwilling "constitutional monarchy", the prospects of ad hoc tribunals for the (c) to request media persons to focus more on Nepal, (d) update friends of Nepal on the situation on the ground in Nepal and in India, and (e) discuss mechanisms with the Nepalis in the USA whereby they can contribute more systematically to the movement for democracy in Nepal.

As some of you may know and others may not, I am now in Delhi – fled from Kathmandu on the 10^th Feb. The army and the police were on the lookout for me desperately. I, along with two lawyers, who worked as Nepal researchers for Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, were reportedly on the hit list of the RNA since December. And we fled to Delhi in mid-December, stayed for about a month, and went back after Kofi Annan issued statement expressing grave concern over threats to human rights defenders, almost all the ambassadors got together and complained to the RNA, etc. We thought the situation had improved when we went back. But then came the coup. And you know what is happening after that.

Between 1-10 Feb, we worked hard to issue joint statements denouncing the coup, established underground information network and started e-bulletin when everything was blacked out, using the satellite phones and embassy / UN facilities in Kathmandu. I also gave out public interviews to BBC world, AFP etc after they declared speaking against the coup a crime. So, they were pissed off with me, apparently. Understandable. They came to _______ for at least 5 times asking my whereabouts, and then we stopped counting. Fled to Delhi.

Here, we’re pretty active. Holding meetings with the political party leaders, the good ones among the crowd who made it to Delhi. We are pushing for them to work on detailed future agenda rather than just engaging on the politics of criticism. Have got a lot of support from the younger generations, including student leaders. Most of them will be going back to Nepal soon to coordinate and take part in the movement. Support from political parties for democracy is almost total. Their mood informally is very republican. Even BJP took a different stand from VHP – reportedly Advani told Sarad Chandra Shah a couple of days ago that they support the king but only if he is willing to remain constitutional, and told that VHP support is not BJP support, the VHP being more radical. The media here is in total support of democracy. We are in very close coordination with columnists and journalists.

I personally have no plans to get back to Nepal right now. Work whatever I can from Delhi and other Indian towns. We are trying to establish information points and mechanisms in the border towns, all around Nepal, trying to set up a Nepali weekly and monthly which we hope can be smuggled to Nepal and are mobilizing international opinion against dictatorship, in whatever little ways we can.

I hope you will get back to me soon. And also please suggest who else can be of help.

Cheers. We’ll get through!

_______"

Human Rights ----> Political Platform ----> Full-Fledged Movement

I believe those are the three phases through which we democrats will have to take our campaign to counter 2/1. External help will be sought as much as possible, but we will have to prepare for the fact that ultimately democracy will have to be earned, it will not be a gift from the foreign powers.

Human Rights

Even if we are to take the king on his word, that he has the best interests of the Nepalis in mind, he has no excuse whatsoever not to restore all fundamental rights. The first step is to do with human rights. Human rights activists need to be released immediately, the regime should pledge its support to the universal standards of where the line has to be drawn as to the use of force by the army against the civilians, and mechanisms ought be established to monitor progress or lack thereof. Human rights abuses up to and including crimes against humanity can not be allowed to be offered as "perks" to the foot soldiers of the Royal Nepali Army for their allegiance to the regime, as has been the case thus far. This is the most basic Common Minimum Program around which we can hope to rally absolutely any human being on earth.

The Human Rights Accord between the army and the Maoists that was in the works has to be revived, for that could be the best first step to a possible negotiated settlement.

Political Platform

Democracy is cacophony. That is what it is when it is working. Unlike the monotone of the Maoists and the Monarchists, we democrats will see plenty of divergent views along the way as we tread this difficult path. It is that cacophony that the Monarchists have labelled as disunity among the democratic ranks or, worse, instability.

We need to cast our net far and wide and engage in a broad discussion. The castigations that have been launched against the democratic experiment of the 1990s have to be answered. When you do not throw back rebuttals, people tend to believe the lies. We have got to hit back.

There has to be a lot of reflection. The more people that we involve in the debate the better. For, ultimately, democracy has to be understood at the grassroots.

But at this critical hour, the goal has to be to create a Political Platform. We need to come up with a Common Minimum Program that can bring all democrats together. We will not do away with all our internal differences, and neither should we, but we have got to realize a strong unity has to be forged.

Democracy is a simple concept: it is one person one vote.

Full-Fledged Movement

As they say, expect the best, prepare for the worst. Let's assume King G and his brats will stay the course. They will not restore the fundamental rights. They will take the country into a deeper and deeper civil war. Let's assume the king means it when he says three years. Let's assume he means to stay on longer.

I stand on the side of making full use of the fact that we live in the era of globalization and the internet.

• Organize the Nepali democrats all over the world under the Common Minimum Program. But primarily so in the US and in India. The US will be a great place to do things like fund-raising, and lobby the US Congress and the UN. India is where the penultimate action can be. I propose we form a "ring" around Nepal along the Nepal-India border.
  
• Co-ordinate massive, peaceful protests within the country.
  

And we need to galvanize global support as much as possible, to escalate in stages.

• An end to military aid. India and UK have already obliged. Pressure the US to do the same.
• An end to all aid of all kinds from all sources.
  
• Economic sanctions on the country, imposed primarily by India, but also by others.
• Give about a month or two each to steps 1, 2 and 3. And if the regime still does not budge, consider requesting Indian military intervention, like US in Haiti. You offer a no-return ticket out of the country to the king and the army top brass. If they do not oblige, you go in, depose the king and the top brass, and install a democratic government that offers unconditional peace talks and a Constituent Assembly. If the Maoists do not oblige, the army, under control of the democratic government, functioning within a democratic framework where all citizens enjoy all basic rights, is led to conduct surgical operations to decapitate the Maoist organization by hunting down the Maoist leadership, be they in India or Nepal, with active help from India.
  
• Hopefully that leads to peace, a Constituent Assembly, a new constitution, new parliamentary elections, and a new democratic government.
  

You can not kill democracy in the name of wanting to save it, you can not design a human rights disaster and claim to be for democracy. This regime has to be seen for what it is.