The Dinesh Prasain US Speaking Tour

INSN International Nepal Solidarity Network

Human Rights Crisis in Nepal: A speaking tour featuring Dinesh Prasain

April 18 – May 6, 2005 (PDF File)

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Co-sponsored by Amnesty International USA and The Advocacy Project

In Memory of Co-Organizer Marla Ruzicka (1976-2005)

OFFICIAL PROJECT DOCUMENT DRAFT OF 15 APRIL 2005

International Nepal Solidarity Network is a network of concerned global citizens working to support Nepali civil society in the struggle for democracy and human rights. More information is available online at www.insn.org.

INTERNATIONAL NEPAL SOLIDARITY NETWORK INSN
DINESH PRASAIN – BIO

Dinesh Prasain, a postgraduate in sociology from Tribhuvan University, has been active in
the human and democratic rights and peace movements since 1996. He is the coordinator of
the Nepali national human rights and peace network Collective Campaign for Peace
(COCAP). He has traveled extensively to more than 65 of the 75 districts of Nepal, as a part
of his work on human rights, conflict transformation, peace campaigning, networking and
research. Professionally, he has conducted sociological research on development and conflict,
worked as a peace adviser to international organizations including UN agencies, set up and
directed large conflict resolution projects in Nepal, published articles in edited volumes and
journals. He was the Winston Peace Fellow at the Summer Peacebuilding Institute at Eastern
Mennonite University for 2002. He has visited several European and South Asian countries
and the United States, and activated networks to support Nepali peace and human rights
movement. After the royal-military coup of February 1, Dinesh has been continuing his
democracy and human rights activism from New Delhi, India.

TOUR CONCEPT

Most US citizens lack an in-depth understanding of the nature of the conflict and the depth of
the human rights crisis in Nepal. The current crisis is occurring against a backdrop of a nineyear-old civil war between the Government of Nepal and the Communist Party of Nepal
(Maoist). In 1996 the CPN (Maoist) declared a "people's war" with the aim of doing away
with the constitutional monarchy and establishing a people's republic. Over 10,000 people
have been killed since then. Numerous grave human rights abuses have been committed with
impunity by both parties to the conflict, including thousands of cases of unlawful killings,
"disappearances", abductions, torture, and arbitrary arrest and detention. Victims are often
civilians who are trapped between the two warring sides, and include farmers, teachers,
lawyers, students, and businessmen.

Now is a critical time in the development of the conflict. After King Gyanendra’s royal coup
of February 1, the human rights situation has deteriorated and access to rural areas and places of detention by journalists and independent monitors has been effectively shut off. The press has been muzzled, telephone and internet communications have been shut off at whim, and basic rights like freedom of assembly and freedom of speech have been effectively
eliminated. The US is a key provider of military and development aid to Nepal, and the US
position holds considerable weight vis a vis the King’s policy. It is thus critical that the US
public and US policy makers are well informed regarding the critical human rights situation
and deteriorating political situation in the country.

The International Nepal Solidarity Network, Amnesty International USA, The Advocacy
Project, and concerned individuals have co-sponsored this speaking tour to enable an eminent
Nepali human rights advocate to inform and dialogue with general public, students, policy
makers, and the media about the crisis in Nepal from a firsthand viewpoint.

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING

Amnesty International USA is providing accounting services for the portion of expenses
covered by the Amnesty International Special Initiatives Fund grant.

The Advocacy Project has generously agreed to handle financial accountability for the
remainder of the project income and expenses, to accept payments and disburse expenses.
Donations should be made payable to “The Advocacy Project”. Please make a note on the
payment that it is for the “Nepal Human Rights Speaking Tour”, and have payments sent to:

The Advocacy Project
1326 14th street, NW
Washington DC 20005
(Telephone: +1-202.332.3900)

The Advocacy Project is registered as “The Advocacy Project, Inc.” in the District of
Columbia and also with the IRS as a 501(c)3 charity. It is a tax exempt organization and
donations are tax deductible. (Donors can check the IRS website http://apps.irs.gov/app/pub78 if they need confirmation on this status.) More information on The Advocacy Project is available at: http://www.advocacynet.org/.

Funds that are not used in the speaking tour will be paid to the speaker as speaker’s fees,
which he has committed to donate to support the work of Nepal Democracy Alliance in Delhi,
a group that is allied with INSN in working to promote democracy and human rights in Nepal.

TOUR SCHEDULE

17 (April) Dinesh arrives in Washington

18 Washington
11:00 –planning mtg atAdvocacy Proj.
3:00 Rep Capps office
4:30 Tim Rieser

19 Washington
10:00 meeting with Dpty Dir of Asian Dev Bank
1:00 meeting :with Human Rights First
3:00 Sen Feinstein’s off.
5:30 World Bank S Asia coordinator

20 Washington
2:00 – NGO /roundtable at AI
4:00 – Nat’l Security C Council ouncil
6:30 Dinner w/Advocacy Project

21 Washington
9:00 Breakfast w/ Amb Fritsche
12:00 Lu Lunch nch with Amb. McDonald
4:00 G’town town: Iain Iain’s ’s HR class
8:00 G G’town speaking event

22 Washington

23 10:00a flight Ithaca 12:45p
Cornell / Ithaca/Syracuse events

24 Ithaca
Cornell / Ithaca/Syracuse events

25 10:00a flight NYC 11:15a
2:30 30-4:00 -Open Society Institute

26 NYC
10:00 Forefront
1:00 Joint NGO meeting

27 NYC
12:00 Fordham
6-8p Columbia

28 NYC
11:00 Tamrat Samuel at UN

29 train Bard College
6:30 30- Bard College (with Ashmina)

30 train NYC
4:00 00- New School (with Ashmina)

1 May travel Boston

2 Boston
6:00 00-8:00 Tufts

3 Boston
Chalphal event

4 Boston or DC ?

5 fly Washington

6 Washington

7 Dinesh departs Washington, DC --> Delhi

De t a i l ed S c h ed u l e

17 April 2005 – Sunday  Washington, DC
Dinesh arrives at Washington Dulles (IAD) airport at 2:10p. Kiran Sitoula will pick him up from the airport. (Thanks, Kiran!)
Accommodations: Kiran Sitoula

18 April 2005 – Monday Washington, DC
11:00 – Planning meeting at The Advocacy Project office with Washington DC group
1326 14th street, NW

3:00 – Meeting with Jeremy Sharp in Rep Capps’ office
Arranged by Andrew Miller
4:30 – Meeting with Tim Riser at the Senate
Arranged by Advocacy Project
Action point: Contact Peter Eisner, editor covering Asia at Washington Post to arrange a meeting in coming week.
Accommodations: Kiran Sitoula

19 April 2005 – Tuesday Washington, DC
10:00 – Meeting with Brent Dark, Deputy Director of Asian Development Bank
Meeting set up by Evelina of The Advocacy Project
1:00 – Meeting with Human Rights First
Dinesh meets with Raj Purohit of Human Rights First
Meeting set up by Mendi Njonjo of Advocacy Project
3:00 – Meeting with Rich Harper in Sen Feinstein’s office
Arranged by _____
5:30 – Meeting with country coordinator for the World Bank’s South Asia region,
Deborah Bateman
Arranged by Mendi Njonjo.
Accommodations: Kiran Sitoula

20 April 2005 – Wednesday Washington, DC
Action point: Confirm following day’s meeting with Ambassador John McDonald at IMTD
2:00 – NGO / civil society roundtable & briefing at Amnesty International office
T. Kumar has generously allowed us to use the AI conference room for the meeting with the
NGO / Nepal civil society supporters. Arranged by Mendi.
Amnesty International USA, 600 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, 5th Floor
The Closest Metro stop is the Eastern Market Stop (Orange and Blue Line)
4:00 – Meeting with Mike Green at the National Security Council (to be confirmed)
Arranged by _____
6:30 – Dinner with The Advocacy Project
This event is flexible, and may be changed if necessary for another meeting.
Contact: Iain Guest of The Advocacy Project.
Accommodations: Iain Guest

21 April 2005 – Thursday Washington, DC
9:00 - Breakfast with Her Excellency Claudia Fritsche, Ambassador of Lichtenstein
Arranged by Advocacy Project.
12:00 – Lunch meeting with Ambassador John W McDonald, Chairman of the Institute
for Multi-Track Diplomacy (IMTD):
1901 N. Fort Myer Drive, Suite 405
Arlington, VA 22209
Directions: Take Metro Orange line to Rosslyn station. Out of the station go left and then across Fort Myer Drive you will see Marco Polau Restaurant. The office is in this building. Meeting arranged by Sage on 8 March 2005.)
4:00-6:00p – Georgetown University: Speaking in class on Human Rights
Contact person: Iain Guest
8:00-10:00p – Georgetown University, ICC auditorium (capacity 300)
Contact person, Evelina Gueorguieva of The Advocacy Project
Should include showing of the two films – about Devi, and Andolaan Jari Chaa (The movement continues)
Accommodations: Iain Guest

22 April 2005 – Friday Washington, DC
Morning
Nothing scheduled for morning yet. Perhaps Friday morning can be scheduled for Washington
Post (see earlier ‘action post’ for calling Peter Eisner to arrange meeting times.
Afternoon
Friday afternoon and evening are booked with Kiran - meetings at USA Today and then with
the Nepalese community.
Accommodations: Kiran Sitoula

23 April 2005 – Saturday  Ithaca
Dinesh flies from Ronald Reagan/DCA airport departing at 10:00a on US Airways flight ___,
switches in LaGuardia, and arrives at Ithaca airport at 12:45p on US Airways flight ____.
Accommodations: Laurie Vasily or Ashis Bajracharya

24 April 2005 – Sunday Ithaca / Syracuse
2:30 and 4:00 – Cornell: Film and Talk
Location: 165 McGraw Hall
2:30 Film: Schools in the Crossfire
This important documentary by Nepali filmmaker Dhruba Basnet depicts the real life, grassroots level effects of violence inflicted by both Maoist and Royal Nepal Army forces on the educational sector. Formal educational systems in Nepal have been contested since public education began in the 1950s. The Nepali state has been criticized for its role in perpetuating high-caste Hindu hegemonies through the apparatuses of formal education. In opposition, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has explicitly used the educational sector to problematize
state hegemony, to promote alternative ideologies and to recruit for their People's War. The film is powerful, providing background and context for Nepal's 9-year conflict, and a close look at individual perspectives about the conflict.
4:00 Presentation and Discussion
Disappearances, Detentions and Silencing: Nepal's Human Rights Crisis and Retreat from Democracy Dinesh Prasain, a prominent Nepali human rights advocate and coordinator of Nepal's Collective Campaign for Peace, will paint a picture of the deepening human rights crisis in Nepal. He will pay particular attention to human rights implications of the 1 February royal coup that dismantled democracy in Nepal. Time will be reserved post-presentation for engaged discussion.
Co-sponsored by the following at Cornell:
Anthropology Department - Cornell Education Society - Cornell Law School Berger International Speakers
Series - Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies - Nepal Association at Cornell - Peace Studies Program –
South Asia Program – Student Assembly Finance Commission
And by: Amnesty International (Ithaca, NY Chapter) – Educate the Children
Open to the Cornell community and to the public
Accommodations: Laurie Vasily or Ashis Bajracharya

25 April 2005 – Monday  New York City
Dinesh arrives at LaGuardia airport at 11:15a on US Airways flight ____.
Open Society Institute – in-house meeting
Time: arrive 2:30, formal meeting 3:00-4:00
Contact: Jonathan Hulland, Burma Project / Southeast Asia Initiative jhulland@sorosny.org
Location: 400 West 59th Street, New York, NY 10019, U.S.A.
More info: http://www.burmaproject.org/ and http://www.soros.org/initiatives/burma
Meeting arranged by Sage, finalized 28 March 2005.
Accommodations: Sanjaya Parajuli

26 April 2005 – Tuesday New York City
Action point! – Confirm meeting with Kul Gautam on the 28th at 3pm, with May, his secretary
10:00a – Meeting with Forefront
Contact: Maryum Saifee, Forefront, saifeem@forefrontleaders.org
Location: Forefront, 333 Seventh Ave. 13th Floor, New York, NY 1000
1:00 – Joint meeting with NGOs
Location ? Arranged by LY
Accommodations: Sanjaya Parajuli or _________

27 April 2005 – Wednesday New York City
12:00 noon - Fordham University
Hosted by Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs (IIHA) www.fordham.edu/iiha/
Room capacity: more than 100
Location: 12th Floor Lounge of the Lowenstein Building at Lincoln Center campus. The address is 113 West 60th Street.Lincoln Center campus, 8th Avenue between 60th and 62nd Streets. Local organizer: Anne Finnan, intern with The Advocacy Project
Others involved: Colin Rowley, a returned Peace Corps volunteer and intern with the IIHA
Publicity plan: Advertise to student body by flyering, draw people by email lists and organizational lists.
6:00-8:00p – Columbia University
The human rights department will be co-sponsoring the event with the Southern Asian Institute.
Room capacity:
Location: Room 1134 in the SIPA building: 420 West 118th Street, New York, NY 10027.
Persons involved: Dipta Shah, Chandani Thapa, Gabrielle Galanek, Sarahana Shrestha, Anne Finnan
Publicity plan:
Accommodations: Sanjaya Parajuli

28 April 2005 – Thursday New York City
11:00 – Tamrat Samuel, UN Dept of Political Affairs
Tamrat has been the UN Resident Representative’s link to the Secretary-General.
3:00 – Kul Gautam, UNESCO and Asst Sec-General of UN
Meeting arranged by Iain and our other friend doing UN meetings. Must call to confirm.
Accommodations: Sanjaya Parajuli or _________

29 April 2005 – Friday  Annandale on Hudson, NY
Dinesh takes the train (Metro North) to Poughkeepsie, NY and then someone comes to pick
him up and bring him to Bard College in Annandale on Hudson, NY.
6:30 - Event at Bard College with Ashmina Ranjit
Location: Language center room 115
Local organizer: Hannah Goldstein
Accommodations: Hannah Goldstein or Laura Kunreuther (anthropology professor)
Event description text:
Dinesh Prasain, a prominent Nepali human rights advocate and coordinator of Collective Campaign for Peace (COCAP), articulates the deepening human rights crisis in Nepal.
More about COCAP: www.cocap.org.np Internationally acclaimed Nepali artist Ashmina Ranjit deeply connects human rights discourse with the human spirit and emotions inherent in notion of freedom.
More about Ashmina: www.ashmina.com
Joint event with Ashmina providing visuals and performance piece about restriction of freedom of expression, and Dinesh speaking on the manifestation of the same in Nepal.
Accommodations: arranged by Hannah Goldstein

30 April 2005 – Saturday  New York City
4:00 - Event at New School with Ashmina Ranjit
Joint event with Ashmina providing visuals and performance piece about restriction of freedom of expression, and Dinesh speaking on the manifestation of the same in Nepal.
Local organizer: Dr Ashok Gurung gurunga@newschool.edu
Location: Lang Hall, located in 55 West 13th Street (between 6th and 5th Avenue)
Please note: room is reserved from 3:00 to allow setting up time.
Event description text:
Dinesh Prasain, a prominent Nepali human rights advocate and coordinator of Collective Campaign for Peace (COCAP), articulates the deepening human rights crisis in Nepal.
More about COCAP: www.cocap.org.np Internationally acclaimed Nepali artist Ashmina Ranjit deeply connects human rights discourse with the human spirit and emotions inherent in notion of freedom.
More about Ashmina: www.ashmina.com
Accommodations: Sanjaya Parajuli or _________

1 May 2005 – Sunday Boston, Hartford or Providence ?
Dinesh flies or more likely takes bus to Boston, or else stays in Hartford or goes to Providence.
Accommodations if in Boston: Diwas Adhikari or Pramod Rana

2 May 2005 – Monday Boston
6:00 – 8:00 : Event at Tufts
Local organizer: Julia Todd facilitated contact with Tufts
Accommodations if in Boston: Diwas Adhikari or Pramod Rana


3 May 2005 – Tuesday Boston
7:00–9:00 - Evening: Chalphal discussion series
Location: Dudley House (Harvard U), right across from Au Bon Pain in Harvard Square
Organizer: Diwas Adhikari, with assistance from others in Chhalphal series group.
Accommodations: Diwas Adhikari or Pramod Rana

4 May 2005 – Wednesday Atlanta
Dinesh must be at the Boston airport by 7:00, and he flies from Boston at 8:05AM and lands
in Atlanta at 10:57AM, on AirTran flight ___(electronic ticket issued at check-in).
(Travelocity trip ID _______)
5:00 – Event at Emory University
Location: Rita Ann Rollins Room, 8th floor of the Rollins School of Public Health at 1518 Clifton Road, Atlanta
Event organized by Dr Pramod Aryal.
Event contact: Dabney Evans, Executive Director of the Institute of Human Rights at Emory, dabney.evans@emory.edu
Accommodations: Pramod Aryal

5 May 2005 – Thursday Washington, DC
Dinesh must be at the Atlanta airport by 8:30, and he flies from Atlanta at 9:41 AM and lands
in Washington at DC-Reagan airport at 11:25 AM, on AirTran flight ___(electronic ticket
issued at check-in). (Travelocity trip ID ______)
Accommodations: Kiran Sitoula or Iain Guest

6 May 2005 – Friday Washington, DC
Accommodations: Kiran Sitoula or Iain Guest

7 May 2005 – Saturday Washington, DC 
Dinesh departs from Washington Dulles (IAD) airport at 4:50p on flight Alitalia AZ ____.
(Must be to airport by 2:30pm.)

The Twins Gyanendra And Prachanda Are Watching Closed-Circuit Television

At one end you have Gyanendra, the ringleader of the Monarchists. At another you have Prachanda, the top dog of the Maoists. Both talk of democracy: one of a "constructive democracy," of a redefined "free press." The other has gone on record for a "Democratic Republic" but has now put his second in command Baburam Bhattarai under arrest and possible disciplinary action - "shuddhikaran" - for disagreeing with him. I have no idea what the disagreement exactly was. But if Prachanda is not going to be able to talk things out with his own colleagues, he gives evidence he does not get the idea of "free speech" either, kind of like his twin at the other end of the political spectrum.

When Gyanendra talks of democracy, he means the Musharraf democracy, when Prachanda talks of a democratic republic, he means Kim Jong Il's democratic republic.

Both these honchos, the biggest impediments to peace and progress in the country, are watching closed-circuit television. No matter which direction they look, they hear echoes of their own majestic voices whispering to them. They seem to be singularly incapable of discerning viewpoints different from their own. They both live in worlds where they see their own projections cast far and wide. It is the nature of the groups they lead that dissent does not come within close perimeters to either of them. What they demand and get is obedience.

Both thrive on tension. As soon as peace arrives, both stand to disapper, like mosquitoes after the swamp has been drained out.

As someone has said, if you go far enough to the left, you meet the same idiots that you meet at the far end of the right. Case in point: they say there is this no-man's-land somewhere in Latin America where the Al Qaeda types and the American white supremacists get together and trade secrets like bomb-making techniques. Gyanendra and Prachanda might have much in common after all: neither "get" democracy.

The cute thing though is the democrats do not have to wait for these two extremists to undergo change of heart and mind. All the democrats need to do is to get their house in order. Hold wide-ranging debate and discussions to lead to a common minimum program. Keep jabbing at it. Cast the net wider. Let there be a broad participation in the discussion. As soon as an enlightened, broad democratic unity takes shape, these twins stand to get sidelined.

Gyanendra's claim that he will hold municipal elections within a year is his admission that a year from now the ground realities will not have changed: the Maoists will still be controlling the countryside, and he will still be Mayor of Kathmandu. If that be the case a year from now, who is to say that will not be the case three years from now? The guy simply has no gameplan. He is driven by a guttural instinct to aggrandize his personal power base in the only way he knows. That is all.

Sharad Chandra Shah: "He has risked his crown." Damn right he has. If the king's right hand man, Da Mandale, sees a 50-50 chance that the country might go republic, and because the king never sold his Nirmal Niwas to the government, one is to believe the king himself shares that feeling, well then, why not plain come out with it!

Pakistan News

• Pakistan detains opposition leader CNN International ...... security forces stormed his plane as it arrived in the country ...... Authorities virtually shut down Lahore in advance of Zardari's arrival, with thousands of police on the streets and more than 50 roadblocks set up...... took cameras from journalists ...... shut down cell towers to cut off cell phone service ..... beaten ...... government blocked train service into Lahore and worked to prevent opposition activists elsewhere from boarding trains to Lahore ..... "They arrested me from within the plane and took me on the tarmac in the car, and took me to my house and blocked everybody coming in," Zardari told CNN by telephone from his home. "They say if you come out we're going to arrest you." Pakistani authorities gave a different story, saying Zardari was in "protective custody." Government officials said Zardari requested such custody, but he denied that....... the government was "trying to keep space open for fundamentalist parties. They don't want to deal with the liberal parties......planned rallies did not take place ..... "there's a lot happening. Democracy is today's world order. Everybody's talking democracy in the region and the world. And they will have to give us free, fair elections and democracy." ..... government deployed about 12,000 police in advance ..... 4,000 of the officers were stationed around the airport ..... At least two journalists were listed in critical condition from injuries suffered ...... Benazir Bhutto, who has been living in self-imposed exile, fearing arrest on corruption charges if she returns to Pakistan...... hundreds of PPP members managed to reach the Lahore airport. More than 100, including some members of parliament, were arrested when they started chanting slogans ..... More than 5,000 PPP workers, leaders and members of parliament have been arrested since Friday ..... The government of President Pervez Musharraf has been adamant about quashing political demonstrations in Lahore. Pakistan's Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told CNN on Friday the government would not allow the PPP to hold any rally or public gathering in the city. Opposition parties in the National Assembly walked out in protest ..... sealed the borders of Sindh and Punjab provinces ...... Transportation routes into Lahore from other cities was suspended ...... all PPP offices were sealed ..... warned the government of serious consequences if it tried to scuttle Saturday's reception.
• Pakistan activists head for showdown Financial Times, UK ..... The government can use any strong-arm methods but that would not break our resolve...... "There is a campaign of terror which has been unleashed. The government has gone berserk" ..... have banned gatherings of more than three people ...... Zardari was released on bail in November after eight years in prison on charges ranging from corruption to murder ...... "Their policy of confrontation means the PPP will be clean bowled," said Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, the minister of information, using a cricketing term for clear defeat...... fear that a spectacular return for Mr Zardari would encourage Ms Bhutto, who has lived in exile for almost eight years, to consider returning to Pakistan and lead an anti-government movement...... PPP has also been strengthened by the recent admission by a leading politician from another key opposition party - the Pakistan Muslim League led by Nawaz Sharif, an exiled former prime minister - that it had been a mistake to have filed charges against Mr Zardari....... "Right now, there's increasing convergence of views between the main opposition parties ..... General Musharraf doesn't know how to deal with this situation in a political sense. His only objective is to consolidate his own rule."
• Zardari lands in ‘protective custody’ Calcutta Telegraph, India .....interior minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao ..... said in Peshawar that the government was only trying to protect Zardari ...... Zardari threatened to move a higher court against his detention ...... Zardari said he was not allowed to leave the house, which was guarded by hundreds of officers...... Punjab chief minister, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, nobody was detained at the airport and Zardari had “himself asked for security”. Elahi accused the PPP of creating media hype over Zardari’s detention...... 70,000 PPP supporters had been detained ...... would not be deterred from staging rallies. “If I can’t do it today, I will do tomorrow” ...... government yesterday issued a red alert on all airports ......
• Pakistani Opposition Figure Taken Into Custody on Return New York Times arrest on Saturday threatened to further complicate relations between the opposition and the Pakistani president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf..... Ms. Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party, the largest opposition party, is widely seen as the most serious threat to General Musharraf.
• PPP to move LHC against ‘house arrest’ Daily Times, Pakistan Dr Babar Awan, counsel for Asif Ali Zardari, will challenge the “house arrest” of the PPP leader in the Lahore High Court ......Awan could not file his petition, as according to him the police did not allow him to meet Zardari to get a power of attorney signed ..... Lawyers have warned the government of countrywide protests if all political workers arrested in connection with PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari’s return are not released within 24 hours..... The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA), Punjab Bar Council (PbBC) and People’s Lawyers Forum (PLF) gave the ultimatum ...... termed the arrests of political workers and leaders and manhandling of journalists ‘state terrorism’ ..... pledged assistance to those who would file cases against the administration ...... political parties and citizens had fundamental rights, which the ruling class could not deny ..... Restoration of the constitution, democracy and early elections are the aims of the democratic parties..... anyone shaking hand with General Pervez Musharraf would die politically...... will file cases for the release of the arrested workers.
• ‘We crossed 10 barricades to greet Asif Ali Zardari’ Daily Times, Pakistan two women members of the National Assembly and a senator from the PPP managed to reach the airport along with a few hundred workers to welcome Asif Ali Zardari...... “We were stopped at the first picket in front of Rahat Bakery where a heavy police contingent was deployed. The police arrested the parliamentarians, but I managed to escape since I had a valid ticket for New Delhi. Besides, mine is not a well-known face in central Punjab,” said the senator from Sindh...... a few hundreds who had also managed to reach the airport in the guise of passengers and drivers ...... as soon as Asif Zardari’s plane landed at the airport and he disembarked, the ‘reception committee’ unfurled party flags and started shouting slogans ......After achieving our objective and making our presence felt at the airport in spite of the heavy contingency plan by the Punjab government, we went our separate ways as we had planned...... He said that as he was getting into his car to leave the airport, some security personnel stopped him and took him to a police van. “They let me go after I told them I was a passenger and had just come to see what the commotion was about”
• on the record: Daily Times, Pakistan Whenever the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) returns to power, it will punish police officials who have carried out injustices against PPP activists, Benazir Bhutto, PPP chairperson, said via telephone from Dubai..... The era of the government is about to end, I salute your courage and patience you have shown that the PPP will never kneel before a tyrant
• People indifferent to Asif Zardari’s return: Shujaat Daily Times, Pakistan There was no zeal or fervour on the return of Asif Zardari, the media just exaggerated it, said Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Pakistan Muslim League (PML) president and former prime minister ..... “To reach Islamabad, he should wait till the 2007 general elections.” The PPPP leaders seek the West’s help for power in Pakistan, the former prime minister said...... Dialogue with the PPPP is possible if it supports President Pervez Musharraf’s policies, he added. He denied that his views on President Musharraf’s concept of ‘enlightened moderation’ matched that of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal’s.
• Zardari free to move, says CM Daily Times, Pakistan Elahi said the government did not arrest Zardari but gave him protocol at his party’s request.
• Zardari taken into custody on arrival Daily Times, Pakistan
• PML-N unhappy for not being part of ‘welcome show’ Daily Times, Pakistan The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is unhappy with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) for not letting it be a part of the reception of Asif Ali Zardari...... conflicting opinions within ...... said Zardari was not a popular leader and that their party’s previous government had pressed charges against Zardari and welcoming him would show these charges to be fabricated.
• Zardari expects general elections this year Daily Times, Pakistan dialogue would continue with the government for the restoration of “real democracy” ...... democratic forces would continue trying to bring about a positive change in the country through dialogue but they would be compelled to launch agitation if the government continued victimising the opposition ...... I will break the police cordon along with the workers to free them from state terrorism ..... would register cases against workers’ arrest and police torture ..... he would sit start his political activities from Lahore’s Bilawal House and his programme of touring Punjab’s cities would be finalised ..... praised the Muttahida Majlis-e-Aamal for cancelling its rally in Lahore......the government was trying to forcibly send MNAs Sherry Rehman and Naheed Khan and Senator Safdar Abbasi abroad...... believed general elections in Pakistan would be held this year and power brokers other than General Pervez Musharraf would guarantee fair, free and transparent elections
• EDITORIAL: Punjab government’s act of denial Daily Times, Pakistan the provincial government psyched up its entire administrative machinery, arresting PPP workers and leaders, blocking trains coming in from Sindh, setting up checkpoints and roadblocks at all entry and exit points in Lahore and restricting movement towards the airport. The legal umbrella to this activity was provided by the always-handy Section 144 which the government had slapped on days earlier ..... The Punjab government’s panic was linked really to the perception that a sizeable gathering by the PPP could result in a revival of the party’s political fortunes in the province and hurt the prospects of the ruling PMLQ, especially in the forthcoming local elections..... the Chaudhrys have not been able to do much about it given the broader contours of the talks going on between the Musharraf regime and the PPP....... Chaudhrys and the establishment appear to be in sync on the issue of how much rope can be given to the PPP ...... claiming that only the workers trying to take the law into their own hands had been arrested ..... he (Mr Zardari) was resting there and having his breakfast contentedly
• * Says has come to India with message of peace and love Daily Times, Pakistan “I look forward to substantive dialogue that will address all issues and disputes. The period of conflict management is over and we have entered an era of conflict resolution,” President Musharraf said ......Referring to the Agra summit in 2001, President Musharraf said: “The environment at that time was diametrically opposite to today’s. It has turned 180 degrees.” ....... the India-Pakistan composite dialogue as well as people-to-people contact in the past 15 months had created a large constituency of goodwill in both countries and had led to an improved political environment. He said, “We need to seize this opportunity to resolve all bilateral issues including Kashmir.” ..... said he prayed for peace and for the betterment of both countries.
• Bhutto's husband returns to Pakistan, supporters clash with police ... San Diego Union Tribune
• Police intercept Bhutto's husband on return to Pakistan Sydney Morning Herald (subscription), Australia
• Pakistan Police Detain Zardari, Say Not Arrested Boston Globe dimming hopes for political reconciliation in the country..... Bhutto has lived in self-imposed exile since 1999 for fear of arrest on corruption charges and Musharraf has in the past said she would not be allowed to return to politics...... Apparently seeking to bolster his power base and respond to Western critics pushing him to lift curbs on democracy, Musharraf had appeared to soften his position toward her in recent months...... In a similar incident in December, police boarded an airliner that had brought Zardari to Islamabad, detained him and flew him back to Karachi to prevent him addressing rallies.
• No grand return for Zardari BBC News, UK "Here, the mentors of people like [Taleban head] Mullah Omar are free to hold rallies and take out processions, but those espousing a liberal agenda similar to that of President Musharraf are barred from doing so." ...... widely being billed as the party's new operational chief ...... Bookies in Lahore are already taking bets on whether Mr Zardari will be Pakistan's next prime minister........ For those who had witnessed Benazir Bhutto's historic return to Lahore 19 years ago - when she was greeted by a million-strong crowd from all over Pakistan - the loudest noise in the city on Saturday was its silence...... Thousands of idle young men who would sit up late at night discussing the merits of democracy until only a few years ago now return dog-tired from a hectic day at work....... If he needs a grand reception, Mr Zardari perhaps needs to explain what he has to offer that the Lahoris do not already have.
• Pakistan Detains Opposition Leader, Arrests Hundreds Before Pro ... Voice of America
• Pakistan police detain aides as Zardari plane lands Hindustan Times, India
• Bhutto's husband returns to Pak Times of India, India The activists, including women, were baton-charged and then bundled away in police vans........ Top PPP leaders including secretary-general Jehangir Bader and Punjab province president Qasim Zia, were arrested on Friday as they held a meeting at a house in Lahore ...... dropped at his home in Lahore - which is also the PPP headquarters in the city
• Ex-Pakistan PM Bhutto's husband arrested Japan Today, Japan
• Police Arrest Senior Opposition Leaders Los Angeles Times (subscription), CA
• Pak police detain Benazir Bhutto's husband at airport Sify, India
• Bhutto's husband detained in Lahore ABC Online, Australia "He has not been arrested. We have just shifted him to his house," Superintendent of Police Mohammad Usman said. "He will be free there." .... police have erected barricades around Mr Zardari's house to prevent supporters or journalists from reaching it ...... among those detained are Makhdoom Amin Fahim, who is the leader of the parliamentary wing of Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and its former Foreign Minister Sardar Asseff Ahmed Ali ...... The Government of military ruler President Pervez Musharraf refused to give permission for PPP supporters to rally in Lahore to greet him...... The party says thousands of its activists have been detained in the past week.

Uttar Ram Tamata

..... posted at this SEBS thread ......

When I read the name in the news, I did not for one moment doubt. Of course, this is Uttar.

First, let me get the politics out. My thoughts I have published publicly and are here: http://demrepubnepal.blogspot.com/

The political system/arrangement is wrong, et al. But that aside.

(1)My first reaction was, I did not know Uttar was a "Dalit." I guess I am not very knowledgeable with Pahadi last names. He is a high school classmate. He was House Captain in Pumori, a few years after Dipendra was. He was "loud" and articulate. He acted in a play I authored and directed and also acted in towards the end of Class 10: Euta Euta Bhabishya Ko Khoj. I once saved him from drowning. Literally. What he might not have exhibited in terms of stellar academic records (a lot of "famous" people fall in that category), he more than showed in his post-BNKS social service career. It is almost like two Uttars. The guy at BNKS, and the post-BNKS person.

(2)He has proven leadership skills. And I think he has done great work in the social service sector. It is entrepreneurial to be able to raise funds from the global arena to put to service to the downtrodden in the Nepali context. His work is commendable. Not many from his school background have done what he has. A lot of us who are abroad and have not been able to directly contribute speak well of those who are on the ground where the tire meets the road. Commendable.

(3)I also learned in the news item that he leads a Dalit organization that has branches in 68 districts. I think that is just awesome.

(4)I strongly disagree with the 2/1 move. Obviously he agrees with it, or he would not have become part of it. He has the qualifications and the background. A Dalit with leadership skills, he could have become Minister and beyond (and still can down the line) in a democratic set-up. I hope he does.

(5)It is also possible for him to treat his job as purely an administrative challenge. I hope he does not end up soiling his "resume." People in his post in the past are known to have lead gross human rights violations. If he does that, he hurts himself politically down the line. Which will be a tragedy.

(6) If he can emerge as a person who took a challenge that was offered at a difficult time for the country, he could very well have a bright future once the democratic setup resumes. I can see Paras' fingerprints all over the place in Uttar's nomination, but then social networking is something practiced among all circles, among democrats, among Maoists, as well among the Monarchists. Just that there is not enough cross-pollination.

(7)He has abilities. He is not going to be a token Dalit. He is an able person who happens to be a Dalit. That combination can turbo-charge a career.

(8)It can't be a batch thing, really. Dinesh Prasain from the same batch. The guy got beat up by the army in early 2004. Paras from the same batch is Gyanendra's heir apparent. Some SEBSers are Maoists. SEBS is a Rainbow Coalition of its own.

I wish him all the best personally, but I hope this regime collapses a.s.a.p. But I have said plenty on that at the blog.

In The News

• Rescuing Nepal International Herald Tribune
• Top News ; Maoists drive away Indian survey team from Nepal: Keralanext
• Happiness is a habit in Nepal Malaysia Star, Malaysia
• Worldwide: Nepal celebrates its New Year with a foot in the past Telegraph.co.uk, UK
• In search of Eden Guardian, UK
• Complex Task Awaits New UN Rights Envoy Index
  
• GP Koirala A True Legend INSN
• Who Will Lead Us? Sarahana Shrestha, Samudaya
• King Of Fools Sarahana Shrestha, Samudaya
• Out With The Boring Old Men Sarahana Shrestha, Samudaya
• Nepal And Nepal Samudaya ..... Not much has changed since Feb 1st in the workings of both the army and the rebels. .... the Maoists’ ambushes and attacks have continued with occasional civilian deaths, their propaganda in abundance and their arms building still unfettered ...... the People’s Liberation Army here boasts of three well-armed battalions: 18th, 19th, and 35th ........ *In the People’s Liberation Army, 150 soldiers make a company, 3 companies make a battalion and 3 battalions make up a brigade. In the 18th Battalion, there is an STF [Special Task Force] or 150 soldiers....... On Feb. 13th this year, they ambushed an army patrol in which the only soldiers who escaped death were those who threw their weapons down to surrender. With the restrictions and threats that have been imposed on the media, this and other similar news from across the country have not made it to the mainstream media........ a recent survey conducted amongst over 1000 urban adolescents in 6 cities across Nepal revealed that 50.3% of them believe there are no good career opportunities available in the country right now .........a press release signed by Baburam later explained that there were a few ideological differences but that the state media had blown things out of proportions ....... “We saw RNA soldiers painting anti-Prachanda slogans on walls,” a journalist based in Eastern Nepal says under anonymity. “Then the next morning we were called for a press conference in the army barrack and told that there had been a split in the party. They cited those very slogans and other high level sources within the party as proof.” ....... the Maoists themselves claim to answer to one central command, visibly unclear about what the government had claimed and what the central command had disputed over. ....... an RNA soldier in Illam also abandoned his post and defected to the Maoists along with arms and ammunitions – and it has been said that this is not an isolated incident...... an impending violence that is yet to erupt across the country in the years to come ....... Nepal will remain two different countries within the geographical borders of one ....... a strong Maoist country where the party practises its government systems, enforces laws, conducts weddings, collects taxes and issues visas amongst other things. They continue to build an increasingly strong army and an even stronger ideological blindness.
• Nepal leaders face call for change Calcutta Telegraph, India ....Democracy became an emotional issue with us but remained institutionally weak.
• Nepal-Parties /WRD/ Islamic Republic News Agency
• Foes join hands against monarch Calcutta Telegraph
• Nepalese political leader seeks India's help for restoration of ... Newz.in
• Nepal Maoists 'kill 10 villagers' BBC News, UK
• Nepal Maoists derail Rites study The Statesman, India
• Seven Indians detained in Nepal for poaching Press Trust of India, India
• Personal Perspectives On Nepal Maoism INSN ......A crude distortion of the historical thought like Marxism is being invoked as a magic wand by an uneducated leaders of the Maoist party to bolster their cause. They see the world in black and white. Such a simplistic thinking is indication of the intellectual barrenness of the Nepali Maoists; they are totally bereft of critical thinking to discover the truth. The Maoist leadership is full of uncultured and uneducated philistines who believe, by foisting forcibly the communist tyranny, Nepal would enter into the golden age of the communist paradise.......... Much is made about Baburam’s success in the school leaving certificate (SLC) and other exams but he is particularly stupid, devoid of any genuine intellectual accomplishment. At best his ability is confined to writing trashy articles full of clichés and cryptic rigmaroles.......

I Don't Feel Sorry For The King

If Nepal were to become a republic, the king will end up one of the richest private citizens. The guy has several up and running businesses. If he has superior management skills compared to, say, the hapless Congressias, then he should exhibit those with his businesses. Heck, he could even launch his own political party.

Hosting executive powers in an institution like the monarchy makes no statistical sense. What are the chances that the son of a son of a son of a son will be good, do good? It is the "marketplace" of democracy that produces the best the country might have to offer. As long as the democratic process is in place is all it takes.

The democratic leaders have been a letdown in the aftermath of 2/1. The new generation needs to seek options, including perhaps launching a separate political party of its own. At this juncture, democracy needs to start from within the parties. Intra-party democracy needs to come out in full force. Not that I am blaming the democrats. After all, it does not take a genius and a general convention to come to the conclusion what needs to be done is a restoration of all fundamental rights, and it is for the king to do it. All democrats foreign and domestic have been saying that in one voice. The democratic process allows for differences in opinion, but that does not mean the democrats need to get lethargic on organization.

In The News

• Nepal walks in Pakistan’s steps Calcutta Telegraph, India ..... to understand the Nepali state, India must first understand Pakistan...... The ruling cliques in both countries are given to abusing or blaming India to legitimise themselves....... problems arising from the exclusion of large communities and regions from power and the armed forces are a constant factor in their political life ..... Particular communities and ethnicities monopolise the top jobs in the armed forces in both countries. They constitute a small feudal elite whose writ runs in virtually all spheres of public life ...... “King Gyanendra’s blueprint for Nepal is the same as Musharraf’s for Pakistan.” ...... “Both seized power forcibly claiming that the political class was incompetent and corrupt. Both asked for three years to restore democracy. Musharraf set up his National Accountability Bureau to fix the politicians, King Gyanendra set up the Royal Commission for Corruption Control. Musharraf promulgated the Legal Framework Order to govern, Gyanendra rules by ordinances. Musharraf manipulated the Supreme Court, in Kathmandu, too, the Supreme Court is being manipulated. Musharraf talked of his fighting a war on terrorism and the king is also making similar claims.” ....... “Musharraf talked of ‘enlightened moderation’, King Gyanendra is talking of ‘twenty-first century society and idealism’, Musharraf promised democracy with the adjective ‘real’; the king talks of ‘sarthak prajatantra’ or ‘constructive democracy’. In short, Pakistan seems to have the manual for the authoritarian take-overs and Nepal consults it.” ...... Gyanendra’s father King Mahendra copied Ayub Khan ..... using Ayub Khan’s notion of ‘grassroots democracy’, King Mahendra brought in the panchayat system after subverting democracy ......Musharraf created a parallel structure of administration through district nazims elected on a non-party basis who reported directly to Islamabad. King Gyanendra has decided that he, too, does not trust the existing bureaucratic and administrative institutions. He has decided to nominate zonal and district commissioners and members of the village development committees....... Unlike Musharraf, however, Gyanendra has not as yet announced pre-qualification norms for these elections, for example, that the elections would be without party affiliations or that only those with some minimum qualification can contest........ a “Hindu” king and a “Muslim” dictator ...... The Pakistanis say that their dictatorships have always had a tragic ending with the incumbent leaving office horizontally. King Gyanendra may need to do some original thinking to avoid the denouement of Pakistan’s authoritarian regimes.
• Buta concerned about influx of extremists from Nepal Deepika, India ..... rise in exremism affecting nearly 30 of the 38 districts in the state, Bihar ...... Nepalese extremists were finding refuge in Bihar ....... constituting special task force, specially trained for guerrilla warfare and equipped with modern weaponry, the state had undertaken several measures for the development of the affected areas ...... a scheme to encourage the surrender and rehabilitation of the extremists
• Buta concerned over rise in Left wing extremism in Bihar Press Trust of India .....recent merger of MCC and the People's War outfits in the state..... welcomed the multi-purpose identity card scheme
  
• The crackdown and after Nepali Times Not even armed soldiers can stop an FM signal..... Isolation is not an option...... Journalists from the regional and global press filled in the blanks within days. ...... Stolen two-way radios crackled in jungle glades and along terraced hillsides, clandestine and illegal FM transmitters spread the words of the leadership, unfettered by the military and civil administration crackdown in Kathmandu and other places..... Some day, the mobiles may be switched back on, now that the innocent have been fingerprinted..... let’s be honest, who among us could realistically fault the press or the broadcasters for any of the woes of the past 14 years? ...... Kantipur Television, Space Time and Image Channel were acquiring talent and technology with the joint aim of earning a profit and informing the public...... Most strikingly, the FM radio dial was growing ever more crowded. Community stations in the tiniest of towns and in the capital linked people of all castes and ethnic groups. They kept politicians and traders honest. They provided information on health, education and, yes, the insurgency. In Kathmandu, commercial radio helped Nepali rock, folk and classical music flourish and pushed Bollywood and western pop into niches of limited popularity....... The independent media was world class and getting better and more confident with time. It was also responsible and by no means interested in encouraging totalitarianism or violence of any sort....... Voices for peace, reconciliation and development are silenced or forced into cat-and-mouse games with capricious authority. ..... In the tarai and midhills, the only voice that speaks without government censorship comes clandestinely and illegally over an FM band where informative, independent thought has been banished. The Maoists are free to speak their minds. No one else is.
  
• Foreigners visiting Nepal after royal takeover are not tourists United We Blog, Nepal Sadly, we have not been able to welcome foreign heads of state or heads of government because we have no vibrant bilateral relations with major nations. What we have is a bloody conflict that attracts only international right observers.
• A State on the Verge of Failure New York Times The last thing the world needs is another failed state in south Asia, but that is what threatens to emerge in Nepal, where a spiraling conflict between the army and insurgents has taken a turn for the worse....... by attacking the moderate political center, the king made peace more remote ......At the root of Nepal's anguish is some of the world's deepest poverty and a monarchy that seemed happy to allow the misery to endure...... It has long been obvious that there is no military solution to the insurgency. In any case, Nepal's army is too busy rounding up demonstrators and censoring the news media. The rebels will have to be brought to the negotiating table by a legitimate representative government, which could then tackle the hardship that feeds the insurgency.
• Nepal schools shut after threat BBC News, UK
• Nepal's king to let elections `activate democratic process' Taipei Times
• Nepal king finally meets Indian envoy Hindustan Times, India
• Nepal Urged to Leave Schoolchildren Out of Fighting Scotsman, UK
• Nepal King to visit Indonesia Business Standard, India
• Nepal pol parties reject royal declaration on civic polls Press Trust of India, India
• King announces civic polls, creates new controversy Hindustan Times
• Photos provide rare look into caste system in rural Nepal Hingham Journal, MA
• NEPAL UPS DEMOCRACY SPREAD MichNews.com, MI
• Death Toll Mounts In Nepal Civil Conflict World Forum The king is corrupt, and a dictator, he has taken over in an illegal coup, He has no right to rule as he is from a serial killer's family ..... India is richer than Nepal, and Bhutan, because India is a democratic republic ..... Monarchy has killed more people than communism in the 20th century if you include the flu epidemic of 1919, and World War I .... Some claim politicians are corrupt, but in what way, they are not as corrupt as king ..... under him, the economy slowed down for the first time in decades ..... there was also a Maoist revolt in the 1970s, which saw deaths, and riot ..... Nepal has more child labourers and serfs per head than any ...... king claim all credit, and blame advisors for all failings .....if you compared one on one the king with any politician the king would be worst, as he killed so many, and saw so many deaths in his 3 year stint in power, and has lost so many allies ......
• Letter From The US Congress To The King INSN We do not want the future of Nepali democracy undermined permanently by this centralization of authority.
  
• Mystery Of The Missing Baburam Bhattarai INSN “He was such a good architect that the Americans offered him 1 lakh dollars to work for them but he refused,” the taxi driver went on........ “Woh Maobadi ka raja hai (he is the king of the Maoists),” he explained...... March 24 ..... “We are glad to be under the glorious protection of the people’s red army” and that this was preferable to being in the king’s jail....... enough indication of major ideological and personal differences between Bhattarai and Prachanda ...... The decision of the politburo against Bhattarai and Hisila Yami was not unanimous, according to Sharma, with seven out of 14 full members present (three are imprisoned in India) writing a note of dissent. Ten alternate members do not have voting rights...... he has been suspended for six months from the central committee and the politburo on the issue of inner-party democracy ...... major differences surfaced among the Maoists during the last plenum of the central committee held in August 2004...... Bhattarai’s view, Sharma claims, was that the main enemy was the monarchy. He apparently argued that to establish a democratic republic, as opposed to a communist republic, even India’s help was needed...... “Bhattarai warned against looking hopefully towards the king for a compromise and argued against peace talks with him.” ....... Bhattarai also wrote in the Kantipur daily against lack of inner-party democracy and the “raja-rajouta pravratti (feudal tendency)” of the Maoist leadership........ His explanation was sought and he replied with a 13-point reply that challenged the leadership further. He questioned the elevation of the revolutionary path called “Prachandapath” to “Thoughts of Prachanda”, the centralisation of party, army and state posts in one person and adding Prachanda’s photograph to the pantheon of Marx, Engles, Lenin, Stalin and Mao........ It is Prachanda who has gone against the party line and not Bhattarai...... “There will be no split. Prachanda does not want to expel Bhattarai. He only wants to control him. Bhattarai is also not in favour of launching a new party” ...... A party body larger than the politburo will have to settle the issue .... there will be no revolt in the Maoist rank
• King Baiters Grow Bolder The Telegraph A 70-year-old retired Gorkha soldier of the British army has voluntarily gone to jail thrice protesting against the king’s actions since October 4, 2002. Each time he offers his arrest, police officials urge him not to do so at his age. He replies: “But I like it here. All my friends are here in jail, what will I do outside?” ..... When an octogenarian communist leader, suffering from high blood pressure offered his arrest, the deputy superintendent of police apologised to him ....... Nepalese newspapers are also getting bolder...... Intellectuals, academics and politicians are challenging government orders restricting their movement. People sitting in restaurants and coffee shops criticise the king’s actions without fear of being overheard. The Bar Association of Nepal is filing habeas corpus petitions free for those believed to be in illegal custody..... The struggle between the old feudal elite, reasserting itself through Gyanendra’s regressive actions, and the emerging elite whose interests lie in free competition in public life is clearly intensifying...... Rarely are the leaders of the student unions in Kathmandu, for example, from the valley itself....... this war — whose indications are in the wind in Nepal — is not going in favour of the monarchy...... “The king’s actions are already helping open up the space for dissidence because of inherent structural contradictions” ...... The bureaucracy is not only afraid, it is also offended...... The Supreme Court also feels miffed because the newly-appointed Royal Commission on Corruption Control is outside the judicial system. The commission itself has thrown up a case of corruption involving a member of royal family ...... the army tried to monitor banking transactions after February 1 but the privatisation of banking and the confidentiality requirements of modern banking meant that the banks refused any such direct intervention .... “Everyday, the Supreme Court judges are issuing notices to the government to explain its actions ranging from banning mobile phone services, prohibiting intellectuals from travelling abroad to unlawfully restricting the movement of prominent people outside the Kathmandu Valley, etc.” ....... junior officers in the army, entry-level officers in the bureaucracy who have got in through open competition, independent and new entrepreneurs, newer professionals who have not yet found accommodation in the power structure and the grassroots-based community organisations ...... “They want careers open to talent which is only possible in a democracy or else elite domination will never end. So, they are personally committed to democracy,” claims Lal...... the political parties are meeting together to decide on a united struggle; the press is creating national and international pressure on the monarchy despite censorship; and the civil society is uniting against the king
• Koirala Spits Fire And Spews Smoke The Telegraph For someone who took up smoking only at the age of 58 and went on to become a chain smoker, he is fit as a fiddle...... “I will not compromise on democracy with anyone — forget about this king.” .... “We will offer talks to the king after the democratic political parties come to a consensus among themselves on how to restore the constitutional process. If he agrees with our demand, fine. Otherwise, he will be isolated and we will start an agitation against him.” ...... In the 1960s, he took up arms to fight Gyanendra’s father King Mahendra ....... it is around Koirala that the political opposition to the executive monarchy is crystallising ....... “All the experiments of the king with nominated Prime Ministers since October 2002 have failed. Even when he has assumed charge himself, his failure is apparent.” ...... “Today the international community says that the olitical parties should be united in their movement for democracy. But when our movement was at its peak in 2003, the international community did not help us.” ....... “The US and British ambassadors in fact told us categorically to pull back. We stopped two lakh people from coming to Kathmandu to encircle Narayanhitti Palace (the king’s residence and office) because of their assurances” ...... the US and the British had assured the agitating political parties that they would be able to persuade the king to briefly revive Parliament for the sole purpose of forming an all-party government authorised to talk to the Maoists. The Parliament itself was to be adjourned after government formation...... “But that is history now. Had the international community supported us then, democracy would have been restored. Now they realise what this king is all about and so they are asking us to unite,” says Koirala........ spent nine years during the Rana and Shah regimes in jail .....one-room flat he occupies on the top floor of his nephew’s house ...... His telephone lines are still disconnected and his visitors monitored. ...... his house in Maharajganj is where politicians of all hues are coming to discuss strategies to restore democracy over endless cups of tea. Those who are evading arrest and cannot come to his house, the octogenarian goes and meets in the city’s hotels or at other convenient meeting points ...... “My release from house arrest should not be seen as the king relaxing the emergency or restoring human rights. He wants to discredit me —because other political leaders are in jail. I cannot even visit them or evolve a common strategy with them. The king wants to tell the world — see, I released him and he can do nothing to challenge me.” ...... He is trying to unite the democratic political parties on a common agreed programme..... Koirala’s solution to get out of the present crisis is to revive the Constitution by reinstating Parliament and form an all-party government, which would offer talks to the Maoists. This constitutional government could then either go for a referendum on whether or not Nepal needs a new Constituent Assembly or it could even decide to directly organise elections for a Constituent Assembly....... In a remarkable change from the past, showing flexibility, Koirala says this is not a formula written in stone. “Once the political parties start discussions, some new and better formulations may emerge. I am completely open to that. Only on the basis of the consensus that emerges would we go and talk to the king” ....... “The longer the king resists the demands of the people for democracy, the more he will lose. His support is declining.” Although he admits to the growing Republican sentiment among the youth, he feels: “In the current situation merely talking about republicanism will not make us a republic. But if the people want it, it will happen even without my saying so.”

A Victory For The Democrats, Monarchists, Maoists

Now there is going to be UN monitoring of human rights in Nepal. This is a big step in the right direction. The Maoists asked for it. The democrats asked for it. The Monarchists resisted it for as long as they could, but now they have caved in.

All parties should co-operate to make the UN operation a success. This could lead to the two warring parties signing the Human Rights Accord. Possibly to a ceasefire. And possibly to UN-mediated peace talks.

The democrats need to realize democracy begins at "home." The style where one leader decides for all democrats is simply not democratic. Where is the debate and the discussion among the parties? The journey to a Common Minimum Program has to be made in a public, participatory way.

On another note, I read the Maoist press statement signed by Prachanda, and it does look like some sort of disciplinary action was taken against one of its top leaders, possibly Baburam. The best hope the Maoists have is to cooperate with the UN, for now.

As for the democrats, the next big push ought be for the restoration of all fundamental rights. Once that materializes, the debate and discussion can begin in earnest. Let the people speak freely.

April 14

• Nepal army says kills 64 Maoists in gunbattles San Diego Union Tribune
• Nepal's King says Security Improved Under Emergency Rule Voice of America
• Nepal king announces municipal polls ABC Online
• Bill Gates to invest in Nepal Xinhua, China
• Nepal reopens after general strike Ireland Online
• Date for Delhi envoy Calcutta Telegraph
• Nepal feelers: King wants to meet PM in Jakarta Indian Express, India
• Nepal king finally to meet Indian envoy New Kerala
• Kofi Annan welcomes monitoring of rights in Nepal:- Webindia123, India
• MEDIA-NEPAL: Living Dangerously With the Censors Inter Press Service (subscription), World
• Statement By HR Organizations on OHCHR INSN
• Living Dangerously With The Sensors INSN
• Baburam Bhattarai's Article Economic And Political Weekly
• Don't Be Late To Fight Against All Culprits Of People's Democracy INSN
• UN Human Rights Field Operation A Step Forward INSN
• Dalit Representation And King's Appointment INSN .....Among 14 zonal administrators appointed, one is Mr. Uttar Tamta, a young Dalit leader from Darchula. Mr. Tamta currently heads a national Dalit organization called Nepal Rastriya Dalit Samaj Kalyan Sangh, which has its branches in 68 districts of Nepal. By his appointment as Zonal Administrator for Karnali Zone, he is faced with the challenges of extremely arduous conditions for his administrative tasks in one of the hot beds of the current conflict.
• Two Views On UN Monitoring INSN
• Mathura Shrestha's Open Letter To All Party Leaders INSN
• CPN (M) Statement INSN
• Report On 50 Days Of Emergency By HURON INSN
• Images From A Nepali Battleground United We Blog
• Kul Chandra Gautam: UN Mediation Could Help
• What The King Is Teaching The World About The Constitution INSN
• Vote For Or Against Monarchy INSN
• Devastation In Khara: What I Saw United We Blog
• Clash In Khara United We Blog
• Several Articles @ FreeNepal.org

April 13

• Nepal reopens after general strike Ireland Online, Ireland
• Maoists kill top Nepal official Times of India
• In teetering Nepal, brutality reigns Globe and Mail
• NEPAL: UN human rights monitoring brings new hope Reuters AlertNet
• Opposition in Nepal Accuses King of Consolidating Power Voice of America
• Nepal banks on Tibet to develop remote north New Kerala, India
• Nepal parties condemn King's appointment of administrators Zee News, India
• King’s men stage a show in Delhi Statesman

April 11

• Vigilantes May Be Nepal's Secret Weapon Against Rebels New York Times
• Russia advises its citizens to avoid Nepal Interfax, Russia
• Nepal, Bangladesh to hold trade talks next week EastDay.com, China
• Russia deplores Maoist attack in Nepal Hindu, India
• Nepal Allows UN to Monitor Human Rights Abuses in Insurgency Bloomberg
• Nepal agrees to allow UN rights monitors Times of India
• UN sets up rights monitor in Nepal Calcutta Telegraph
• Swiss pressure forces Nepal to make concession Swissinfo
• Nepal’s king extends anti-terror law for another six months Daily Times
• Indian businessmen in Nepal face constant threats from Maoists Zee News
• India ; Fired Nepal premier urges more international pressure to ... Keralanext
• NEPAL: Focus on donor reaction to growing insecurity
• US Embassy to Nepal denies recall of ambassador Xinhua, China
• US recalls ambassador from Kathmandu Xinhua
• Indian among five killed in Maoist attack: report New Kerala
• Nepal Blast update: "The hospital feels like a war zone" Mounteverest, NY
• Meeting Nepal's Maoists BBC News, UK

April 10

• Nepal's uncivil war -- silencer of the people San Francisco Chronicle
• Nepal Rebels Kill Policemen in Jail Raid Swissinfo
• Nepal 'downgrades' diplomats to tourists New Kerala, India
• Blast hurts Russian mountaineers in Nepal Kansas City Star, MO
• 42 anti-govt guerillas surrender in western Nepal Xinhua, China

April 9

• Two Killed, 15 Wounded in Nepal BlastsSwissinfo, Switzerland
• Nepal clash deaths 'rise to 100' BBC News
• Nepal Army Says Maoist Toll After Clash Rises to 97 Swissinfo
• Pakistani businessmen interested in Nepal's tea industryNew Kerala, India
• Nepal begins probe against 40 officialsNew Kerala, India
• Nepal's top leaders appeal to UN Hindu
• Top leaders urge UN to appoint Spl Rapporteur in Nepal New Kerala
• Protests rock Nepal, hundreds arrested in govt clampdown New Kerala