The Ball Might Finally Be Rolling

(from the Google group Nepal Democracy, 107 members)

General Secretary of CPN UML Madhab Kumar Nepal, Standing Committee Member KP Oli, US Ambassador James F.Moriarty & Indian Ambassador Shiba Shankar Mukharji had made a surprising trip to New Delhi this evening . Top most Maoist Leaders have reached there already including Unity Center's Deputy GS Narayankaji Shrestha, Goodwill Party's Hridayesh Tripathi, Left Front's Chandradev Joshi, NC Chairman GP Koirala. Signing on code of conduct & understanding between the rebel side & agitating parties before Friday is likely.

Moriarty arrives in Delhi for consultations NepalNews
Top UML leader leaves for New Delhi
Indian envoy meets UML gen secy
Nepal abruptly leaves for New Delhi Kantipur Online, Nepal
Madhav Nepal Leaves for New Delhi Himalayan Times
Indian Envoy Meets Madhav Kumar Nepal Himalayan Times
Moriarty calls on Nepal Gorkhapatra


Nepal's RJP announces poll boycott Webindia123, India
RJP to boycott polls Nepalnews.com

And to a question at the Google Group if the Nepali Congress will survive, I posted this:

Girija is the reason why it might not.

(1) The genius dissolved a House where his party had a clear majority.
(2) He institutionalized corruption.
(3) He tried to run the government by remote control even when Krishna Bhattarai and Deuba were Prime Minister.
(4) He is the original author of the military solution to the insurgency.
(5) There was a vertical split into a Koirala Congress and the Deuba Congress. Girija is the reason why.
(6) His idiotic House revival stance is what killed the 1990 constitution and made 2/1 possible.
(7) If he continues to stick to it, the movement will not take off. And there will be another split in the party. Prakash Koirala, Shailaja Acharya and all will break away and contest the municipal polls.

The Koirala Congress is on its way to attaining the size of the RPP.

The Ball Might Finally Be Rolling

It is time for the big powers to make up their mind. If they think there is only a military solution to the insurgency they should go ahead and resume their military aid to the king. If they think there is a political solution, they should organize an open summit of the three forces, only two if the king will not come along. Bring the Maoists out into the open. If the king will not come along, there inevitably will be a bipolarization in the country. A Democrat-Maoist alliance is but the natural outcome. Enough is enough. Enough waiting.

Enter The Dragon

An Indian newspaper copied my phrase: Enter the dragon Daily News & Analysis, India

Enter The Dragon

Closed Circuit Television

The Google group Nepal Democracy is totally closed circuit. And then once in a while I find myself on some kind of an elite mailig list of a bunch of armchair intellectuals whose first condition is that the discussions stay closed door.

These smart folks could use a healthy dose of perestroika and glasnost, openness.

Like this group that has been cooking the idea of a think tank. I got brought onto the table a little late, but as soon I got there, I let the cat out among the pigeons. I already have the framework of a think tank: 21st Century Nepal. But the idea is too much sunshine for these Pahadis.

Some of these people, every time they get their Masters in Computer Science, they also end up getting a Masters in Pahadi Chauvinism. When they get a Ph.D. in moon archeology, they also end up getting an honorary Ph.D. in Pahadi Chauvinism.

The two sides of their brains are not in tune.

In The News

NEPAL: NT to introduce internet, e-mail and MMS service to cell ... Asia Pacific Media Network, CA
NEPAL: Nepal Bar withdraws its protest programme Asia Pacific Media Network, CA
Digital world sets urban Kenyan students blogging, despite meagre ... TODAYonline, Singapore
India pushes for revival of democracy in Nepal NewKerala.com, India
Is economic union a distant dream? Financial Express.bd, Bangladesh
Jamie McGuinness live from the heart of Maoist country: "They're ... Mounteverest, NY
Report: In 'Dark Year' For Press Freedom, Asia is the Worst Editor & Publisher
Enter the dragon Daily News & Analysis, India
Nepal: Legal Veneer for Repressing Civil Society YubaNet, CA
Terrorism Unleashed by the Maoists and Children's Plight in Nepal NewsBlaze, CA
The rise of the Maoists in our neighbourhood The New Nation, Bangladesh
Nepal abruptly leaves for New Delhi Kantipur Online, Nepal
US sets more conditions for military aid to Nepal Webindia123, India
Nepal Bar Association withdraws boycott of the courts Webindia123, India
Top UML leader leaves for New Delhi Nepali Times, Nepal
Indian envoy meets UML gen secy Nepali Times, Nepal

China, Japan, Afghanistan In

That is good news.

Afghanistan has been granted membership, whereas China and Japan have been granted observer status. Somewhere down the line Burma should be invited in.

SAARC sure is moving.

Federalism: Litmus Test For Pahadi Chauvinism

I doubt the political credentials of all Madhesis who are not strongly for federalism at this juncture of history. There has to come a point in life when you finally ditch your mental slavery. This is as good a time as any.

All Pahadis against federalism are exhibiting Pahadi chauvinism.

There is no democracy without federalism, period.

My Role In The Democracy Movement

I am the one with the best ideas, from the US to Nepal. Period. I have a proven track of leadership. I have a plan. I am plugged into a large network. I am right there at the center of it all.

But there are Pahadi pretenders to whom I am invisible. At a personal level I don't really care. They are largely irrelevant to my idea of who I am. But I do make a point to take offense on behalf of 13 million Madhesis.

Pyramid Of 10

Pyramid Of 10 In Kathmandu
Fundraising Among Nepalis In The US: Pyramid Of 10

I have finally made it simple as possible. If the seven party coalition will not come around to it now, they should prepare to take part in the municipal polls.

Madisey, Nigger

The word madisey is the same as the word nigger. And everyone who uses it knows that. Say it and face the consequences.

Teraiwasi

When I go to Kathmandu, I do not become a Newar or a Pahadi, I am still a Madhesi. Similarly Pahadi Bahuns living in the Terai are still Bahuns. I guess they could call themselves Teraiwasi Bahuns.

But what they call themselves is a decision they have to make. I don't have time for such pleasantries.

An Anti Madhesi King

There is only a token Madhesi and a token Muslim in his cabinet. He has been shifting administrative headquarters from the Terai towns up into the hills. He has plans to seal the Nepal India border, he is already doing it. An open border is the Madhesi lifestyle. The border can not be sealed. 4 million Madhesis have been denied citizenship certificates. The limited democracy for which many Madhesis died has been hijacked by this king.

Where Does A Madhesi Belong

When you are in Nepal, they make you feel fundamentally unwelcome. You leave the country.

There is a democracy movement. You participate. They do their best to ignore and marginalize.

You take steps to get involved in US politics. Then they preach you go to Nepal.

Pahadis have an attitude problem.

In The News

British envoy meets UML gen secy NepalNews
Afghanistan becomes new SAARC member, China and Japan to get observer status
Keshab Sthapit to file candidacy for KMC mayor
Maoists Eager To Work Together Deshantar
Laloo For The King
Working Together With The Maoists
Prachanda's Orders Disobeyed Budhabar
UML To Stage Major Protests
The King Might Get Sidelined
New Twist After Koirala's Delhi Visit Dishanirdesh
Son In Law In Royal Rule Janastha
More Than 7500 Abducted After Ceasefire Janadharana
Narahari Says Not To Get Distracted By House Revival Idea
Citizen Meeting In Chitwan
Why Did America React Thus? Nispakchhya
House Revival Is A Ploy For Salaries

Pyramid Of 10 In Kathmandu

10*10*10*10*10 = 100,000

Quietly build a pyramid of 10 in Kathmandu, and also in all other towns. Perhaps in other towns it will be only 4 deep, and not 5 deep. The fundraising effort in the US needs to be only 3 deep.

5-4-3.

Do not come out into the streets unless you already have 100,000 people at the ready.

Come out in support of the 3 point program.

1. Seven party interim government.
2. Peace talks with the Maoists.
3. Constituent Assembly.
   

The committee of 10 at the top of the pyramid will decide when and where to show up. It could be Tundikhel, or New Road or some place else. Decide at around 8 PM if you are going to come out at 8 AM the following morning. See if you can make it the same time, same day nationwide.

After you come out in full force, you are not going to leave unless the country has an interim government. It could be a week, it could be 4 weeks. If it is more than a week, increase the mass size. Keep increasing it week after week. Let it snowball. After about 4 weeks will be the time to unilaterally declare an interim government.

It would be a good idea for people to have replacements, and have shifts. So you do your 12 hours shift, your replacement does the other 12 hours shift.

This is war with communications technology. As many leaders as possible on the team should be carrying mobile phones. Have as many digital cameras and camcorders as possible. Arrange for the cameras to not leave the grounds. There should be "porters" who secretly carry the memory disks from the protest site to undisclosed home locations with broadband internet access where all the uploading takes place and make sure all camerapeople in the field always have plenty of memory disks and batteries. Maximum coverage is the goal. We are trying to sway global opinion.

Upload hundreds of hours of video on Google Video.

Avoid confrontations with the police as much as possible. Stay away from the restricted areas. Do not attempt to cross the police lines. Have a large team of smooth talkers at the front lines. Engage the police officers in small talk. Get to know their names. Become friends with them. Make sure they understand you are not interested in crossing the police line or going over to the restricted areas.

Despite that if there are physical attacks from the police - in the form of tear gas shells, baton charges, unlawful arrests - document each such incident. People giving orders for all such acts will be tracked down and punished by the interim government.

Right to peaceful assembly is a fundamental human right. This or any regime may not take it away. Ordinances can not be passed to counter the human rights charter.

Get creative. There should be mini cultural performances all over the protest site. Come up with a theme song for the movement that the entire crowd sings about every three hours.

Arrange to have maximal media exposure. Have a special team to take care of just that one detail.

This is winter. Have plenty of blankets around.

You can not be singing or sloganeering all the time. Let the leaders organize ice-breaking and team building games inside the groups, and across groups. Hold mini seminars in small groups on different aspects of democracy. Hold corner meetings at the site. Let there be mini speeches.

The original idea is for a 24/7 protest. That is still my preference. But it can be modified to make it a 12 hour thing. As in 8 AM to 8 PM every day. That way we could still have all the protest soldiers in bed each night, and they could have meals at home before and after, and we would only be concerned about one snack during the day, and water all through the day. And we would not have to worry about shifts and replacements. And we need daylight hours for the cameras anyway.

Fundraising Among Nepalis In The US: Pyramid Of 10

Enter The Dragon

Delhi did not see it coming.

I have been on record suggesting King Gyanendra is perhaps the Michael Corleone of his family, not the eldest brother, but perhaps the smartest. This was one of those moments when I relived that comment.

I disagree with him fundamentally. I see him as an ideological opponent. But that does not make him dumb. Krishna admired Karna, though he still edged Arjun to fight him.

This was a big rabbit that came out of the hat.

Now that the rabbit is out, how do I feel?

I am also on record suggesting the 19th century was Britain's, the 20th was America's, the 21st is to be Asia's. I am very much for China. I have a very healthy perception of Chinese possibilities. And in US politics the Chinese and the Indians truly are comrades in arms, part of the same racial rainbow coalition. I make it a point to take offense on behalf of the Chinese Americans.

Do I want China to gain some kind of a status within SAARC? I want to go beyond that. I want China to become a full member. I want SAARC to fundamentally revise its charter. I want SAARC to grow to become something called an AU, Asian Union, with its headquarters in Nepal's capital.

China and India are not enemies. There has to be a healthy sibling rivalry between them for economic growth.

The Chinese have no evil designs upon India either. India has nothing to fear but its own poverty and illiteracy and weak infrastructure.

So I say, welcome China.

The Himalayas are the most beautiful mountains in the world. But so far they have been thought of as the Great Wall of economic bifurcation. That can change. That has to change. Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet: all of them could be bathed in wireless broadband, the modern day highway. There is the economy of the body, and then there is the economy of the mind.

High speed railroads could be crisscrossing all over the Himalayas.

The future is now. That future has to be imagined.

The race is not to increase your sphere of influence at the cost of your neighbor. The race is to expand the per capita income of the people in all countries in the region. The rules of geopolitics have changed: they are not military, they are economic. You don't fight for territory, you fight for market share, you fight to expand the market. If done right, everybody wins. The pie can grow, the pie can be made to grow.

China could learn democracy from India. India could learn economic stewardship from China. Both could learn plenty from history.

This SAARC stunt also proves another point that I have made at this very blog before: the Chinese are pragmatic to a fault. While Delhi was engaged in vague ideological debates on Nepal over months, the Chinese had quietly been working to pull this stunt.

If the Chinese were in power in Delhi, they would have provided concrete logistical support to the seven party coalition to wage a decisive democracy movement and be done with in a month or two. The Chinese would have openly facilitated dialogue between the top Maoists and the top Nepali Democrats. They would have organized an open summit. They would not have been interested in hide and seek.

Indians could learn. And it is not too late still. At this blog I have offered the details of the kind of logistical support that could be extended. Get into the act.

Fundraising Among Nepalis In The US: Pyramid Of 10

I first brought this up here: Gameplan. The idea there is that it is not enough to extend moral support, and it is not enough to lobby. Logistical support has to be extended. And we should be very involved in the movement, in the planning, in suggesting ideas, we should be participating in the details. We can't be out there in the streets in Kathmandu, but other than that we can do pretty much everything else. We can participate at all other levels, and we should.

Fundraising is key to what I am suggesting. But in that gameplan the fundraising starts only after the seven party coalition comes around to the three point program. And the fundraising is done primarily by the Nepali organizations in the US, by their officers.

Today I would like to take the idea to a whole different level.

The money is to be given to the seven party coalition if it comes around to the three point program (Maoist, Moriarty, Madhav, Manmohan: Get Behind The 3 Point Program) or part or all of it can be given to a whole new party if the youth associated with all the parties were to get around to that idea. (Janata Dal Constitution) A new cutting edge party would be launched that would skip the constituent assembly idea and go straight for this: Proposed Democratic Republican Constitution. I came up with this idea right after Gagan Thapa came under attack from Girija Koirala after the Pokhara incident.

But here I have to be careful. I am not there, I am here. It is for the people at the other end to decide what exactly it is that they want to do, they can do. They are the ones facing ground realities. Gagan's last stand was that he wished to work from inside the Nepali Congress. And if that be his stand, I will respect that. But I want him and others like him to know there also are other options. We do not have forever. We should be thinking months not years.

As for fundraising, my idea is this.

Forget the existing Nepali organizations. Instead construct a pyramid of 10.

If you can get 10 people including yourself to donate $100 each, you are a Leader. 10 of those are lead by a Senior Leader. There is a Commander at the top.

10 Donors * 10 Leaders * 10 Senior Leaders = 1000 Contributors = $100,000.

This might be the more efficient, faster route to raising money and keeping it all transparent. The 10 Senior Leaders and the Commander decide on the details of dealing with the money. The broad framework is as suggested above. And there has to be an agility to our ways. We have to be constantly studying the developments. We should make strategic investments. We should be fast on our feet.

And we give more than money. We are very involved with the planning of the details of the movement.

The great thing about this idea is those in Kathmandu could use the same idea to get 100,000 people out in the streets: Take Over Tundikhel. This way you know exactly how many people you have at any one point in time. You can decide to show up only after you have the numbers. You can stay organized. You can get creative with the movement.

It can feel like I am giving Gagan a lot of homework. But I am not pushing. I am only suggesting. I mean, is your patience not being tried by all three forces in the country?

I suggest those of us in the US start building our pyramid right away. Right now we are not collecting money. We are only preparing a pyramid of people who are pledging to contribute. We will push the button down the line when we decide the time is right.

3 Scenarios
Gameplan
House Revival Stance Preventing Progress

Indian Support For Democrat-Maoist Alliance A Must

There are unofficially corroborated claims of India having facilitated talks between the Maoist leaders and those of the seven parties. I believe them and I fully support India in its efforts.

India for its own sake can not imagine the worst case scenario. India can not afford to see a Rwanda or a Cambodia next door. The worst case scenario would ask for direct Indian military intervention and that would destabilize the regional geopolitics. India wisely would not want that.

India took the lead in helping the Nepali establishment seek a military solution to the insurgency. That did not work. All sane analysts believe there is no military solution to the insurgency.

That leaves room only for a political solution. And dialogue is how political solutions come about.

You can not come to the conclusion that the political solution is the best solution, and then act to prevent dialogue. You facilitate dialogue. That is what the Indian political parties are making possible. CPI (M) is taking a lead on this. And I commend Karat and Surjeet for that. These Indian politicians have a feel for the nuances of the politics in Nepal like peacemakers from Norway might not, for example.

The Maoists on their own have made some things very clear. One, they will disarm. Two, they want to go for a constituent assembly, and they will accept its verdict. They are the reason the seven parties finally came for the constituent assembly idea. Personally I totally believe they are honest about their roadmap. This is no tactical move. They are not trying to pull a Lenin. They do not have the option to try and pull a Lenin.

But the point is you do not have to trust the Maoists. You just make sure they stick to the roadmap. You measure progress as it gets made. You establish benchmarks.

A strong Democrat-Maoist alliance is the best way to neutralize the king, and the only way to bring the civil war to an end. This is the best way to bring the Maoists into the mainstream, and I have been espousing the idea for months now.

Keep doing what you have been doing. And do more of it.

Sarahana Shrestha, Anil Shahi, Sanjaya Parajuli

I had a long momo lunch with the three in Chinatown earlier. The meeting was Sarahana's idea. It was a most productive meeting.

Sarahana is going to produce some kind of a flash presentation to sum up the talk. The idea was to think of all possible scenarios to the point of democracy getting back on track. It was an hours long brainstorming session.

I look forward to the online presentation.

If I had to draw a brief outline, it would be as follows. We started at the finish line and worked our way backwards.

Constituent Assembly is the goal. The country could end up a republic or with a limited role for the monarchy. It could end up federal or not. Let the people decide. Another option was to write up a constitution and then take it to a referendum. To that I said I already have a document for that: Proposed Constitution. If it is going to be those same parties, with those same leaders, with similar electoral strengths, why can't they use my document as a framework for discussions. You first decide things you agree on. Things you can not agree on, you decide through a constituent assembly. That will fast forward things. If we go the South African route, that might take years.

Before that there has to be an interim government. The interim government has to hold peace talks with the Maoists and bring them into the government. UN mediation can be sought. There can be partial integration of the Maoist armed cadres into the state army. It was said the RNA is not as large as they say it is. The numbers have been inflated for propaganda purposes. It is more like 60,000, but they say it is 90,000.

What if the Maoists rearm after they don't do well at the constituent assembly elections. Personally I don't believe that will happen. They are not going to squander the safe landing they finally might get. But that's a thought.

How to get to an all party government? That is the trickiest part. And the group decided to tackle that at some future date.

In The News

Hearing on constitutionality of RCCC resumes NepalNews
Nepal King assures he would return to democracy: Indian PM
NGO Federation calls emergency national meet
42 Maoists surrender in Birganj
Lawyers organize sit-in at SC premises
Nepal’s move surprises India: Reports
Govt. warns not to defy Media Ordinance
UML General Secy returns home; rules out talks with Maoists
Bush to sign strict laws on Nepal this week Kantipur
"Civic movement" being organized
Rolpa Agreement Nepal
Krishna Pahadi In Boston, Video INSN

Teen Sutriya Agenda

Maobadi haroo sambidhan sabha ka lagi haat hatiyar bisaune adan ma chhan. Unee haroo le communist ganatantra bata tala orlera afoo lai loktantrik ganatantra ko pakchha ma ubhyayeka chhan.

Saat party ko char sutriya agenda chha. Ek, pratinidhi sabha ko punarsthapana, dui, sarbadaliya sarkar, teen, Maobadi sanga shanti barta, chaar, sambidhan sabha.

October 2002 ma Deuba lai barkhasta gare pachhi rajale sarbadaliya sarkar mangeka hun. February 2005 ma pheri Deuba lai barkhasta gare pachhi Maobadi barta ma aun, sambidhan sabha ma pani jana sakinchha bhaneka hun.

Maile bhanna khojeko ke bhanda sarbadaliya sarkar ra sambidhan sabha ko pakchha ma teen watai shakti ubhi sakeka chhan. Ra yadi raja ko imandarita ma bishwas na garne ho bhane pani Maobadi ra loktantrabadi haroo tyo dui boonda ma ek bhai sakeka chhan. Grihakarya dherai matra ma bhai sakekai chha.

Malai lagchha pratinidhi sabha ko punarsthapana ko mag nai desh ko rajniti lai mukhya roop le badhna na diee raheko karak tatwa ho. Pratinidhi sabha ko punarsthapana garna milchha ki mildaina? Milchha bhane kasle garchha? Rajale? Sarbochcha adalat le? Kasari? Mero bichar ma garna mildaina. Chand lai pradhan mantri banaiyeko deen 1990 ko sambidhan ko mrityu bhayo. February 1, 2005 ka deen tyo mareko sambidhan ko dosro mrityu bhayo ki daha sanskar bhayo bhanne, tyo bhayo. 1999 ko pratinidhi sabha 1990 to sambidhan antargat ko kura ho. Sambidhan nai chhaina bhane sansad rahirahane kura aundaina. Desh ma na ta loktantra chha, na ta sambidhan nai. Yadi 1990 ko sambidhan jiundo hundo ho bhane pani pratinidhi sabha ko punarsthapana garna mildaina. Loktantra ma pratinidhi sabha bhanga garne adhikar pradhan mantri lai hunchha. Tyo adhikar lai raja athwa sarbochcha adalat le khosna mildaina. Deuba ko nirnay rajnitik roop le galat huna sakchha, ra thiyo pani, tara kanooni roop le tyas lai ultauna mildaina.

Kanooni roop le na milla, tara raja le rajnitik nirnay garera pratinidhi sabha punarsthapana garnu parchha bhanne haroo chhan. Tyo ta jhanai khatarnak sonchai bhayo. Raja lai tyasto bidhi shakti kina dina khojeko kunai pani loktantrabadi le? Raja lai Bishnu avatar manne haroo ajhai pani banki chhan? Achamma ko kura ho. Jesus Christ mare pachhi pheri byunte jastai mareko sambidhan ra pratinidhi sabha pheri byuntai dine raja ko kalpana garne haroo loktantrabadi huna sakdainan.

1990 to sambidhan euta ati nai galat ra apurna sambidhan thiyo bhanera na manne haroo ra ajhai pani man manai rajtantra guarantee rakhna chahane haroo diwa swapna dekhi raheka chhan.

Yadi desh ma rajtantra kunai pani roop ma rahanchha nai bhane pani tyo nirnaya aba sambidhan sabha le matra garna sakchha. Sambidhan sabha ek matra milan bindu ho. Tyo bahek arko milan bindu chhaina, ra chahinna pani.

Ahile saat party le afno chaar sutriya agenda lai punarlekhan garera tyas lai teen sutriya banaunu sabai bhanda mahatwapurna kura ho. Pahilo boonda na phale samma janata sadak ma orlane maile dekheko chhaina. Kinabhane ahile spashtata chhaina. Tyo spashtata na aye samma janata sadak ma aundainan. Yo Gyanendra Shah ra Tulsi Giri le rokna nasakne andolan Girija Koirala le rokirakheka chhan. Koirala ko yo anautho rajprem le desh lai dherai befaida bhai rakheko chha. Tyo ta rajprem pani hoina. Raja lai pani man napariraheko ra manjoor na bhairaheko rajprem kasto rajprem?

Samay dherai banki chhaina. Char sutriya agenda lai teen sutriya na banaye andolan hundaina, andolan na bhai kanai nagarpalika ko nirbachan ko tithi aune ho bhane hamee loktantrabadi haroo lai garho hunchha. February bhanda agadi yo gair sambaidhanik sarkar dhali saknu parchha.

Tyasaile ma bhanchhu saat party le turunta agenda punarlekhan garoon. Koirala le garho mane bhane Nepali Congress lai phalera naya chha party ko coalition banaunu parchha. Congress ka karyakarta bhane aunchhan. Tara tyo mero pahilo chah hoina. Pahila chah ta saat party nai teen boonde agenda ma aun bhanne ho. Tyaso bhayema Girija Koirala antarim sarkar ko pradhan mantri, ra Madhav Nepal upa pradhan mantri banne chhan.

Pratinidhi sabha ko punarsthapana ko mang raja lai veto power dine mang ho. Loktantrik andolan ko mukhya ashay nai raja lai veto dine bhaye pachhi janata sadak ma kina aune?

Teen sutriya agenda agadi badhaune, ani lakhaun manchhe sadak ma utarne. New Road athwa tyastai kunai public thaun deen ko 24 ghanta, hapta ko 7 deen ka hisab le kabja garne, police sanga jhagada sake samma na garne, ra sabai kura video recording gardai internet ma rakhdai jane, ra yasari 2-4 hapta samma ek dekhi panch lakh manchhe sadak ma utari sake pachhi pani raja sarbadaliya sarkar ka lagi tayar bhayenan bhane afai le tyo sarkar ko ghosana garne ra bishwa ka pramukh shakti haroo ko samarthan magne. Samarthan aunchha. Bishwa Gyanendra ko chartikala bata dherai nai thaki sakeko chha. Bhakabhak raja ka rajdoot haroo lai galhatyaune samay aunchha. Tyas ka lagi raja ko anumati chahinna. Hamee afai le ghosana gareko sarbadaliya sarkar le bishwa samarthan pauna saath sabai thaun ma hamrai rajdoot haroo ko niyukti hunchha. Tyo huna saath sena, prahari ra prashashan lai adesh dina thale hunchha. Raja le tyati bela badmasi garne prayas garema sena lai raja lai kabja gara bhanera adesh dine. Adesh usle palana garnai parchha. Sena desh ko ho, raja ko hoina. Sena bhitra pani mathi ko euta sano clique bahek ka adhikansha officer haroo raja ka lagi sena ma jageer khane haroo hoinan. Tyo maile sena bhitra byaktigat contact bhayeka thuprai manchhe haroo bata suneko kura ho, ra ma patyanchhu pani. Shantipurna andolankari mathi daman garne jamana yo hoina pani. Bishwa le pachaundaina.

Saat party le teen sutriya agenda agadi badhauna saath America ma raheka prabasi Nepali haroo beech tyas andolan ka lagi byapak roop le paisa uthaune maile aswasan diyeko chhu. 1,000 Nepali pratyek le $100 dine ho bhane tyo nai Nepali rupaiya 70 lakh jati bhayo. Tyati le pugchha. Badhi nai hunchha. 2-4 hapta samma 1-4 lakh manchhe Kathmandu ma sadak ma datera base pachhi hamee yata byapak lobbying garna patti pani lagna milchha. Sarbadaliya sarkar ko agenda ma raja aye thikai, na aye hamee afai le garna milchha. Ho, tyasto po andolan, jasma raja ko sanlagnata abasyak nai chhaina.

2004 ko Ukraine ko kranti ma ek jana pani shahid bhayenan. Nepal ma pani ek jana pani shahid na hune andolan garne hamro prayas huna parchha. Prahari bata yadi jyadati hunchha bhane tyo sabai ko record rakhnu parchha. Daman ko adesh dine pratyek byakti lai kada karbahi antarim sarkar le garne chha. Yo 1990 hoina. Tyati bela aparadhi haroo lai umkane mauka deeiyo.

Maoist, Moriarty, Madhav, Manmohan: Get Behind The 3 Point Program

The Maoists started out with the goal of a communist republic in 1996. This year they did some major homework, and Baburam Bhattarai formally stated that their goal is a democratic republic through a constituent assembly, and that they are willing to disarm if they are offered UN mediation.

Please note some of the things they are saying on their own:

1. They are willing to disarm.
2. They want a democratic republic, not a communist republic.
3. They want to go there through a constituent assembly, not an armed revolution.
   

And I have proposed a three point program that thankfully Madhav Nepalji has been circulating among his colleagues in the seven party coalition. It is nothing but their own four point program minus the House revival stance.

1. Seven party interim government.
2. Peace talks with the Maoists.
3. Constituent Assembly.

Unlike Moriarty I am for a Democrat-Maoist alliance. That is the best way to tip the balance against the king. That is also the best political solution to the insurgency. Moriarty is on record saying there is no military solution to the insurgency. So I believe he agrees with me. This is not to be an alliance for a communist republic. I am for an alliance of steel for a constituent assembly.

Moriarty's role has not been all too helpful as far as the democrats are concerned. He has not come down heavily upon the king despite the relentless attacks on the media, the NGOs, the civil society and the democrats. You can not preach a king-democrat reconciliation, as Moriarty does, and not see it is the king who is preventing any such possibility. Moriarty also needs to adopt the three point program as the only way out for the country. There is no other way out. Moriarty needs to unequivocally come out in support of the idea of a constituent assembly. Only that clarity will be like applying some pressure upon an autocrat. Otherwise he is aiding and abetting.

The Maoists also need to come out in support of the three point program. The first implication of that is that they inevitably will have to extend their ceasefire by another three months. If the Maoists were to launch another round of civil war, and I do not doubt their ability to do so, they will make it hard to impossible for us democrats to wage a decisive mass movement to unseat this illegitimate regime.

The Maoists need to not limit the democratic space, and need to come out with their own peaceful protests. The second part of the three point program leaves plenty of room for a UN mediation, if that is what the Maoists want.

The three point program of the democrats is the best way for the Maoists to achieve their primary goal, which is a constituent assembly.

Prachanda, Baburam, extend the ceasefire, and join the peaceful protests. Don't mess things up just when the goal looks achievable. Your party has lost too many of its cadres over 10 years for you to now mess things up. If you do not extend the ceasefire, you mess things up. You don't even have to participate in the movement, you just have to stay out of the way.

India also needs to come clearly in support of the three point program. Looks like Gyanendra locked horns with Manmohan on the issue of Afghanistan and China recently. Gyanendra thinks so highly of the Chinese Communist Party, that guy is a closet Maoist, or that is what I think. India needs to understand from its own personal experience this man can not be nudged towards democracy. He knows exactly what he is doing, and he has made it very clear democracy is not his cup of tea. Face reality. See him for what he is: he is an autocrat. The Chinese non-interference the king tries to paint as a sponsorship and support of his regime. The truth is the Chinese are just trying their best to stay neutral. They will be equally friendly to the interim government.

At various times the king also has said he is for an all party government and a constituent assembly. He too has the option to endorse the three point program. He can take the sane option, or invite the wrath of a movement that might become a revolution.

In The News

Maoist threaten CPN-UML leaders Kantipur
NGOs, INGOs code of conduct enforced

A Plant Looking At An Animal

I have thoroughly studied Gyanendra's interviews and speeches given over a period of years and I have come to the firm conclusion this man is an autocrat by upbringing and character. This is someone with a zamindari mentality. He has an ideology, it is called Monarchism. Like Baburam is a Maoist, I am a Democrat, a Progressive, Gyanendra is a Monarchist.

In that ideology there is a king who is above the law, and he has his subjects. Those subjects may not speak against the king. The subjects have no rights other than what the king might have given them in limited forms and might take away at any time. The subjects have no birth rights. The king rules by decree. He has his sycophants and underlings. He treats the state treasury like it were his personal wealth. He probably has an army clique loyal to him. But it is more monetary incentives than loyalty at work.

He is a plant. To him democratic parties and their leaders are animals, a whole different species.
The plant looks at an animal and complains, look, I told you, it moves, it has eyes, it speaks, it eats with the mouth open, it has no roots. No roots!

He criticizes 12 years of democracy. He forgets that Nepal is two years older than America. If Nepal had been born as a democracy like America, it too would have been to the moon by now. This monarch is shameless when he criticizes 12 years of democracy.

He says the democrats were not able to solve the Maoist problem. Deuba got six months, Chand got six. Gyan has had his turn. He needs to resign on grounds of failure. The state is absent in 80% of the national territory.

He talks of corruption. Measured in absolute dollar terms, he is the most corrupt person in Nepal's history. (Somnath Ghimire: King G Is Pinochet)

He accuses the democrats of having competed for power. That is like accusing Bill Gates of wanting to make money. Businessmen work to make money, they compete for market share. Politicians vie to get into power. You compete for the people's votes to acquire the tools of power so you can do good. Look, the animal has eyes. It has legs, it moves.

What he calls bickering among the politicians would be called political dialogue by any sane person.

He accuses the politicians of not loving Nepal like he loves Nepal. It is like someone once said of a butterfly collector, "He loves butterflies so much, he kills them, and then puts them up for display." This king has subjected the country to a slow death.

No roots!

The politicians did not have the option to look at a military solution to the insurgency because the army was still controlled by the king even when the politicians were in power. The politicians did not have the option to look at a political solution because the palace never came forth saying it was okay with the idea of a constituent assembly.

The palace has to take total blame for the insurgency.

A graph has to be drawn showing how many Nepalis lost their lives before and after Gyanendra. Nepalis killed by both sides to the conflict are the responsibility of this king, because he has been in power. He has had the executive authority.

The mayor of New York City takes responsibility for the crime rate in town. He does not get to blame the criminals.

This king is not interested in seeking dialogue with the democrats. Or he would take initiative.

He is not interested in peace, or he would have given a sane response to the Maoist ceasefire.

He is not interested in Nepal's prosperity, or he would hurry up and help end the civil war.

He sure is not interested in democracy. To be interested, he would first have to know what democracy is. He does not. He is a plant looking at an animal. Democracy to him is a foreign concept.

His relentless attacks on the political parties, the civil society, the student leaders, the media, and the NGOs, and the people in general, because all direct attacks on the leaders are an indirect attack on the Nepali people, show this king can only show the face he has, and he has the face of an autocrat.

There is no alternative to a mass movement.

Plants do not understand animals. Animals do not have the option to reason with plants.

In The News

Full Text Of His Majesty King Gyanendra's address to the 13th SAARC Summit NepalNews
Activists call for reducing discrimination to resolve conflicts
Media groups knock the doors of the UN
Nepal-India border sealed ahead of Bihar polls
Court verdict opens door to permanent censorship: CPJ
Kantipur F.M. drops news broadcasts
UML General Secretary meets Koirala in New Delhi
SAARC foreign Ministers propose Economic Union
Bar to boycott bench, FNJ to take to streets
Nepal's King Defends Takeover at Regional Summit and Promises ... Voice of America
Gyanendra justifies Februrary royal coup in Nepal Webindia123
FNJ urges Nepal’s FMs not to stop news broadcasts Asian Tribune, Thailand
'Nepal stalling Afghanistan's entry into SAARC' Webindia123, India
EU criticizes repressive media restrictions in Nepal Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
Nepal heading towards permanent censorship: CPJ Webindia123
Nepal SC refuses to stop govt from imposing media restrictions Daily Times
Nepal heading towards permanent censorship: CPJ Webindia123
Nepal lawyers to boycott court after media crackdown Webindia123
Nepal Back Home with Maoist Messages NewsLine Nepal, Nepal
India should re-think its arms embargo on Nepal: Gen. Mehta Nepali Times
SAFMA lashes out at media curbs in Nepal, condemns Delhi blasts Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
Nepal scribes approach UN body to protect press freedom Press Trust of India, India
Journos Call for Pro-active Role of OHCHR to Protect Nepali Media Himalayan Times
Gyanendra imposes curbs on NGOs The Statesman
Nepal, India exchange vetoes PeaceJournalism.com, Nepal
Unsafe abortion continues to rise in Nepal People's Daily Online, China
Nationwide protests erupt in Nepal against code of conduct Asian Tribune, Thailand
Fresh protests in Nepal as king gags NGOs NewKerala.com
UN ‘deeply concerned’ by NGO codes Kathmandu Post
NGOs protest nationwide Kathmandu Post

3 Scenarios

Three Scenarios

1. Scenario 1. Seven party coalition sticks to its four point program to which the House revival idea is key. House does not get revived either by the Supreme Court or the king, because neither have the option to do it. People refuse to come out into the streets in large numbers.
   • Worst case scenario: Maoists end their ceasefire a week before December 3 so as to add an element of surprise to it, and launch a vicious attack against a RNA installatin they deem the weakest. The RNA is at the ready. There is a fierce battle. Neither side wins. A new round of civil war has been launched. It lasts to the middle of 2007. The Maoists carry out massive murder campaigns of candidates to disrupt the municipal and the national polls and succeed. The king digs heels claiming the Maoists can not be allowed to win. The parties end up more marginalized than ever before. Nepal ends up a failed state some time in 2007. Nepal becomes Rwanda, Cambodia.
   • Best case scenario: The parties request an extension of the ceasefire promising to launch a decisive movement. The Maoists comply. But people still refuse to show up in the streets. There is fear, there is apathy. But most of all there is frustration that the parties will not get rid of the House revival idea. Polls are held. There is a low voter turnout. And a few candidates lose life. But the king claims victory and says he is now on to the national polls. The parties look weakened. The Maoists break their ceasefire in March 2006.
2. Scenario 2. Seven party coalition breaks. The Nepali Congress is kicked out of the coalition. The six party coalition revises its agenda and adopts a 3 point program, the 4 point program minus the idiotic House revival idea. The Congress leadership is isolated. The movement takes off. Congress cadres participate in large numbers.
   • Worst case scenario: Looks like there is no unity amond the democrats. Girija makes detrimental statements. The king refuses to budge. The movement has to be toned up. From 100,000 people in the streets, it is 500,000 people in the streets. The parties have to unilaterally declare an interim government. It is two more weeks after that before the major world powers recognize that government. The ambassadors get kicked out. The bureaucracy comes along. The police come along. There is a threat of a coup from the army, but it does not get carried out. The army reluctantly comes along. Maoists try to fish in the murky waters. They switch back from the goal of a democratic republic to a communist republic. Peace talks are stalled. But then UN mediation is sought. The Maoists reluctantly come along. The king makes an attempt at another coup. The country heads straight for a democratic republic.
   • Best case scenario: Hundreds of thousands of people come out into the streets. The king strikes a deal and an all party government is formed. Peace talks are held with the Maoists. The country heads into a constituent assembly.
3. Scenario 3. The seven party coalition immediately adops the 3 point program. People come out into the streets in large numbers. Before December 3, the country has an all party government. The Maoists get invited to unconditional peace talks. Talks succeed. The country heads towards a constituent assembly.
   • Worst case scenario: The king refuses to budge. The coalition unilaterally declares a government.
   • Best case scenario: The country has a new progressive constitution before the Dashain of 2006. That ends up being the happiest festival season in a decade. Diwali was never brighter.

Around The World In 21 Days

The king flies to Bangladesh, then he is off to Africa, then he is off to the Middle East. The cost for the plane: $11,000 per flight hour. From Bangladesh, he is off to Tunisia. Then Burundi, Nigeria, Egypt. Then Saudi Arabia, then United Arab Emirates. The Royal Nepal Airlines has two planes. The carrier will have only one for itself in the mean time.

The Supreme Court Is Under Duress

Its verdict on the draconian media ordinance shows the Supreme Court of Nepal is no longer a party to the universal declaration of human rights, to the basic premises of the 1990 constitution. Chances are it is being both bullied and bribed by the mafia in power. This Supreme Court no longer believes in the rule of law. This has become a kangaroo court.

That is recipe for a revolution, not a movement.

In The News

NGOs burn copies of code of conduct across the nation, five arrested NepalNews
SC refuses to issue interim order on Media Ordinance
Maoists warn pro democracy activists
Parties working to expand democratic center: Leaders
The phase of reconciliation is over: Acharya
Government takes action against teachers
Nepal reporters lose court fight BBC News, UK
Royal Nepal Airlines to face cancellations for King's trip Asian Tribune, Thailand
King Gyanendra ready for reconciliation with parties Asian Tribune
System collapse in Nepal imminent: US ambassador Asian Tribune
Fresh protests in Nepal as king gags NGOs NewKerala.com, India
UN Concerned Over Code for NGOs NewsLine Nepal
India, Pak jointly “can restore” stability in Nepal The Tribune, India
Nepal court refuses to block media law Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates
MEDIA-NEPAL: Court Refuses to Restrain King's Gov't Inter Press Service (subscription), World
Royal Nepal Airlines has just two Boeing jets, monarch's foreign ... OhmyNews International, South Korea
Nepal Government introduces draconian code of conduct for I/NGOs Asian Tribune, Thailand
Thinking the unthinkable Nepali Times, Nepal
King Gyanendra now Dr Gyanendra, courtesy Russia NewKerala.com, India

Rajeev Goyal Talks Up Caste

15 photos.

Smita Narula, video clip.
Rajeev Goyal, video clip.
Chinnaiah Jangan, video clip.
Sanjaya Parajuli, video clip.

I went to an amazing New York University event today for one primary reason: to tell the authors that their report, Caste Discrimination Leads To War, is the most powerful of all reports on Nepal I have read this year, and I have read virtually every report on the country that I have bumped into online by many reputed national and international groups. I think that is a lot coming from a guy for whom it has been all Nepal all the time for months now. Most domestic actors refuse to even touch the topic. Most visiting actors miss the details and the gravity of the situation. I think Rajiv Goyal's having been born in America, but having been an ethnic Indian gives him both a detachment and a natural sense of empathy that truly carries the day. I expect this report to get widely quoted in Nepal for years.

Rajeev Goyal and Smita Narula are the co-authors. There also was a third speaker, Mahabir Chaudhari. He is a Dalit who runs a NGO in Nepal that has a membership of something like 36,000 people. That is huge. That could practically be a political party.

The most powerful presence in the audience was a Dalit Indian who was currently engaged in some kind of post-doctoral work at NYU now, or something equally high floating. He made the point that democracy was not enough, that affirmative action was needed if the plight of the Dalits is to be truly addressed.

I can totally relate to his story. When V.P. Singh became prime minister of India in 1989 on the affirmative action platform, a lot of high caste Indians actually left the country. Their claim was the country was now going down the drain. The caste system is way more complex than racism and sexism. It is weird. Not to say it is evil.

I got to meet Rajeev only two days back at the Krishna Pahadi event. I am so glad I did. And today I also had the honor of walking with him to the train station. He was born in Long Island. He is a cheerful person. I also got to meet two of his friends.

Krishna Pahadi At New York University

Smita seemed to really keep up with the news on Nepal. She kept making casual references to many details of what is going on in Nepal.

Smita drew the broad framework during her talk, and Rajeev came in and filled the details with his acutely told stories that really brought the caste issue to life. He said most everyone he met in Nepal wanted to know what caste "Goyal" was. Go figure. Then he talked about the one Dalit teacher at the school he taught at. And how the Bahun students would all sit on the front benches, and the Dalits would huddle among themselves in the back.

This reminds me of some work I did and am doing for the Dalits in my homevillage in southeast Nepal. Here are 126 photos that show my brother Santosh distributing school supplies to Dalit children. The village has had a primary school for the longest time. But the Dalit children did not attend. There was this social barrier. The non-Dalits feel if the Dalits start going to school who will work in the fields. And the Dalits internalized that sentiment. I used my bulley pulpit. Because you are in America, you are a big shot in the village. So word was spread that Paramendra wants all the Dalit children to start going to school. That did it. That was the carrot, my "good" name. The stick was if locals create hurdles, Paramendra will not fund the building of that wall that needs to be added to the school building. But being realistic I also hired three private Dalit tutors who help the same students during off school hours. And all this cost very little money in dollar terms. By Dalits in the village in this case, I mean the Musahars, Chamars, Doms, Dusads, and even the Muslims. The Muslims in the village get treated like Dalits. I hope to expand on this whole experiment.

The Musahars in my homevillage are the most cheerful people I ever met. They are my favorite people. To me it is not even a caste crusade. It is just my personal memory of them that keeps me going on this mini project.

Curiously my father and my uncle have been two people who have not received any extortion letters from the Maoists. Some people in the village think I am a Maoist! If that is what it takes for them to "behave," fine by me.

Rajeev told several stories. One was about the Dalit teacher at school going to the teashop but not sitting with everyone else to drink tea, washing his own cup after he was done. These are scenes I am very aware of, but it takes a Rajeev Goyal to retell the story with a freshness I could not. Another is of the same teacher getting "disappeared" by the Chief District Officer. He got apparently falsely accused of being a Maoist. The state has come down heavily against the Dalits as a community. If this were Yugoslavia and not Nepal, you would be calling it ethnic cleansing.

Rajeev's presentation was poignant.

A lively question and answer session followed. And it continued on for long after the program was officially declared over. There were free-flowing conversations. And Rajiv offered me a free coke at the end.