Trent Lott And Gyanendra Shaha

CNN.com - Lott apologizes for Thurmond comment - Dec. 10, 2002 "I want to say this about my state: When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years, either," Lott said at last week's party...... Thurmond ran as the presidential nominee of the breakaway Dixiecrat Party in the 1948 presidential race against Democrat Harry Truman and Republican Thomas Dewey. He carried Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and his home state of South Carolina, of which he was governor at the time...... During the campaign, he said, "All the laws of Washington and all the bayonets of the Army cannot force the Negro into our homes, our schools, our churches." ..... Earlier Monday, Lott issued a statement, saying, "My comments were not an endorsement of his positions of over 50 years ago, but of the man and his life."......
CNN.com - Bush calls Lott comments 'offensive' - Dec. 13, 2002 ..... Lott, a Mississippi Republican, said he would not give up his leadership post, despite the furor over his remarks..... Lott's explanations about what he meant when he praised segregationist candidate Strom Thurmond's 1948 presidential campaign have been inadequate..... The comment in question was delivered one week ago during a 100th birthday party for the retiring Thurmond...... Lott noted that in Thurmond's 1948 presidential campaign, whose centerpiece was opposition to integration, Mississippi was one of four Thurmond carried..... "We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years either," Lott said....... a report of a similar comment he made at a 1980 campaign rally for Ronald Reagan in Mississippi....... "You know, if we had elected this man 30 years ago, we wouldn't be in the mess we are today," Lott was quoted as saying of Thurmond in a November 3, 1980 ...... Lott vigorously opposed desegregating his fraternity when he was a student at the University of Mississippi in the 1960s...... Lott insisted, did he mean to endorse Thurmond's since-discarded segregationist views. Instead, Lott said, he meant to praise Thurmond's stance on defense, law enforcement and economic development......
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Rush Limbaugh's Trent Lott Spin Zone

In December 2002, Trent Lott had been Senate Majority Leader for years. He showed up at a party for Thurmond, the racist who ran for president half a century or so ago. And Lott made an overtly racist comment. For the longest time he did not apologize. Finally he apologized but he never understood that he had made a racist commet. He lost his job on the issue.

"What should have I told Thurmond, that I am glad he lost in 1948!" Lott said at one point. The guy just did not get it.

The reason I am telling this story is because this reminds me of where the Nepal king stands on democracy. The guy just does not get it.

He is someone out to get for himself either an executive monarchy or an activist monarchy. Both are wrong on democratic grounds.

February 8 Will Speed Up Bipolarization

The king's international isoliation is near complete. But only internal factors will bring democracy to the country.

February 8 is to come as a blessing in disguise. It is making a rapid bipolarization possible. It is also sending the party cadres into homes across the country to spread the message of democracy.

The king's obstinacy makes room only for a confrontation, a showdown. Looks like that is what he will get.

Gagan Thapa

62 of the 75 district chairs of the Nepal Students Union have threatened to resign if Girija Koirala does not take back his arbitrarily formed central committee of the organization.

What a waste!

A duly elected Gagan Thapa leading the NSU would have been at the forefront of the movement. Instead he and his colleagues are having to fight Girija.

It is not good for his party, it is not good for the country.

Broadband Down

My broadband connection has been down. So I have been coming online wireless, through my cellphone. It works just fine for the most part. But I have been missing on some of Umesh Shrestha's video clips.

Second Sunday In January

The local group here in New York City that I meet with meets next then. There is something to be said about meeting in person. I am really hoping to put in some work. There are more Nepalis in NYC than any other place in the States. This is a good place to be for the democracy movement.

Diaspora Dynamics

Moral Support: For the longest time, that is all there was the consensus for, that we will extend moral support. The expectations from the folks on the ground in Nepal were not much more. Democracy is such a basic, unifying theme that moral support is not hard coming by. But still there was and is much dissonance. The various organizations could work in a much greater harmony than they are used to. If you want to sample the dysfunction of the seven party alliance in Kathmandu, all you have to do is deal with the Nepali organizations in America: they fare worse, actually.

Logistical Support: In November a major leap was taken. It was decided moral support is to be continued, but logistical support is also to be provided. I think this was a major decision. I actually compare it to the Maoists moving from the goal of a communist republic to a democratic republic.

5 Projects: A lot of ideas started flying around. It was amazing how quickly specific project ideas materialized. Many people contributed to polish up the ideas. So far so good.

Numerous Mini Projects: I think we are now at this next phase. There is no central organizing authority. There is no one central leader. All who wish to contribute have the option to come forward, pick a mini project of choice, and start working. The idea is really of a rather loose constellation. The project I have been most involved with has shown some progress: Mero Sansar Video Clips.

But there also have been problems, which can always be expected when large groups are involved.

Time For Madhesi Militancy Is Now
NDF Owner, Stop This Nonsense, Reinstate Immediately
NAC Goes Proactive
In The Quest For Social Justice Feelings Are Going To Get Hurt
ND Dynamics
The Cloud Model, Not The Pyramid Model
ND Glasnost
Umesh, Turn It Into A Business
Diaspora Logistical Help To The Movement
Logistics To Bring Down The Regime
To: ND Group, c/o Puru Subedi
Madhesi
Nepal Democracy Google Group Does Not Believe In Free Speech

What have been some of the major problems?

Territoriality: The model is designed for it. Any interested person can participate at any stage, at any level, with an intensity of choice, publicly or anonymously. Say you are a new person, and you go to the very beginning and start arguing only moral support should be extended. Anything wrong with that? No. Because we organize and discuss online, none of the debates ever really closed. That is healthy. No decision is final. Or say you come up with a sixth project, and that is not even listed, should you refrain from carrying out? No. Or you take a look at the five projects, and you come up with mini projects within that are not specified. Can you take those ideas and run with them? Sure. Do you need anyone's permission? Heck no. I personally think small groups of 3-4 individuals working on many small projects might be the most efficient way. It will be nice if all groups kind of keep each other informed, or at least the outlines of what they might be up to. But even that is optional.

Anonymity: My idea is to act openly. If people can face the police in the streets in Kathmandu, why can't we even put up our names from the safety of the US? But that's just me. If there are people who would like to donate money, or work on the projects, but not divulge names, that would be a legitimate personal choice.

Ethnic Issues: This keeps coming up, again and again. On the Madhesi issue, for me it is a policy level thing. It is not about, oh, let's just get along. If you want me to tell you where I think you stand on the social justice issues, I have made it easy for you. Go ahead and critique this: Proposed Constitution. Other than that let's all work together on the 5 Projects in the most efficient manner possible.

Outmoded Group Dynamics: This has been the number one problem. Technology has made the cloud model possible. But people are stuck with the pyramid model in their minds.

Inertia: People who will whine endlessly, but not do anything. We have plenty of those.

I have yet to come across a person or a group who intended to donate or work on the projects who found no room to work. That is the beauty of the cloud model as opposed to the pyramid model. You have the power to decide your involvement level. You yourself are in charge.

I think if we all can think in terms of the freedom fighters in Nepal, and it is for them that we are doing the work, it should become easier for us to get along, and do our work.

In The News

SC summons Tanka Dhakal in contempt of court case NepalNews
18 students injured in clash at Balmiki Bidhyapeeth
Opposition parties call for boycott of civic polls
Central Committee meeting of RPP kicks off
Families of disappeared people lock up NHRC
EC sets up election offices
UML activists arrested
Maoist killed in clash
RPP in Crisis
NHRC seeks king’s audience for peace process

OHCHR receives assurance from Maoist leadership
Four judges appointed at Supreme Court
Nepal rebels assure UN over poll threat Indian Express, India
Rebels in Nepal pledge non-violence Scotsman
Communist rebels say they won’t kill during Nepal’s municipal ... Khaleej Times
Nepal rebels assure UN over poll threat Reuters AlertNet
Nepal Maoist nabbed in Darjeeling Times of India, India
Leahy’s Prescription: More Chaos For Nepal Gorkhapatra, Nepal
After Threats from Rebels, Nepal Govt Mulls Insurance for Polling ... NewsLine Nepal
Nepal Army Launches Massive Operation to Foil Maoist Plan NewsLine Nepal, Nepal
Nepal Army Keeps 25 Soliders Under Custody NewsLine Nepal
Chand appointed RNA spokesperson Nepali Times
Nepal's King Firm in His Roadmap for Democracy NewsBlaze, CA
A ceaseless ceasefire Nepali Times
Nepal to hold elections despite rebel threat Reuters AlertNet
Senator Leahy's Lateral Strike On Nepal NewsBlaze, CA

To Talk Or Not To Talk To Giri

I am for talking. What do we have to lose?

A few days back I criticized Girija Koirala for wanting to talk to the regime. (Koirala's Request To The Regime To Postpone Elections) Now I think I was wrong, Girija was right. We got to talk.

Tulsi Giri Interview
Tulsi Giri Is Beyond Redemption
Response To The Panchayati Ghost Tulsi Giri

This guy Tulsi Giri is quite a character. There is not one major world power he has not criticized. He criticized India for inviting the Bhutan king to its Republic Day, and that was way back in February. He has taken the US and UK to task. There is another doctor-politician I know of who is known for his bluntness, Governor Howard Dean. Do they teach these people something at medical school? I wonder.

Some of the things Giri has said are outlandish, like his threat of jail time to the politicians. We threaten him with jail time right back, and then we still talk. Giri is not exactly a democrat.

What do I read into his words? He came out claiming the 12 point agreement between the Maoists and the democrats does not bother him. Only a few days later, he sounds like he does care. He is worried. Girija provided Giri with a slight opening, and he took it with gusto. That shows Giri is worried about the agreement.

But I am against pushing his nose in the dust. You help your opponent save face if you intend to do business.

I disapprove of the king but I also try to understand him. If we were to give him the benefit of doubt, what do we see? He did not invent Article 127. He overstretched it, true. If a near takeover of the country by an armed rebel group is not an emergency situation, what is? I am not justifying him, I am just trying to put myself into his shoes. And until the country gets another constitution, the 1990 constitution is the law of the land. The king has disfigured that constitution beyond recognition and repair, but that is a whole different topic.

My point is this. Either the seven party alliance should seek an overthrow of the monarchy like in France and Russia, or it should negotiate its way to a constituent assembly. Those are the only options I see.

My preference is a constituent assembly. Even if the monarchy is to be overthrown, I want it to be done through the ballot box. That decision is for the Nepali people to make. But if the seven party alliance were to opt for the France, Russia option, I will fully support it. They are the ones on the ground, I am not. I follow their lead. (The King Is Intent On Visiting France And Russia)

But decisions have to be made. The seven party alliance needs to be banging heads more. Tulsi Giri is right in his criticism. Seven parties are talking seven different ways. Leaders within the same party - the Nepali Congress - are not talking with one voice. That might be freedom of speech, but that is not unity of purpose.

Considering I don't see the seven party alliance anywhere near the France, Russia option, I am assuming we are still set on the constituent assembly idea. As long as we get there, does it matter how we get there? I think not.

And that is why we should be as flexible as possible.

We should not abandon the constituent assembly. As soon as we do that, we lose the Maoists, and we are back to square one. Personally I am for a constituent assembly with or without the Maoists.

Our commitment has to be to a constituent assembly. And that commitment has to be strong. Only then will we be flexible on every other issue.

First, clean the house. Bang heads and clear up heads. Giri is right. What do we want? Do we want to go back to before October 2002? Do we want to revive the House? What?

I think the last mile marker the seven party alliance has is the 12 point agreement. (10 Point Agreement To Succeed 12 Point Agreement, Prachanda Statement) I am not surprised Giri rejects that outright. Bijukchhe was also offended he was not consulted before it got signed. Giri was not part of the deal making, so he does not recognize the end product.

You make peace with enemies, not with friends. Giri is an enemy, that is why we need to talk to him.

We win if he talks reasonable. We win if he talks unreasonable: we expose him. But talks, by definition, will involve give and take. We can not show up at his door with a finished copy of an agreement and expect him to come around to it.

What could Giri ask for?

First, he will ask for clarity. Fair enough. Then he will say House revival is not an option. Then he will say, come take part in the February 8 polls. We say, no thanks.

Then he might say, both the Maoists and the seven party alliance are for House revival as long as that House takes the country to a constituent assembly. That is true. Then he might say, how about this? Forget the House revival and forget municipal polls. Instead let's hold elections to a new House, and let all the parties take part. Like now. Within a month or two. And then let that House deal with the Maoists.

I think that would be a valid compromise. The Maoists will also have to agree to it, because it goes along with the 12 point agreement. That House will give birth to an all party government. That government will hold peace talks with the Maoists, and head on towards a constituent assembly.

Am I for this idea? No. I am for the formation of an all party interim government through political decision. But considering the seven parties will not let go the House revival idea, I think this would be a valid compromise. We end up with a House, but there is no House revival. The king is out of the picture. Both the legislative and the executive come back to the political parties. The parties might even amend the constitution to bring the army under the parliament before holding talks with the Maoists.

I am not really proposing a roadmap here. What I am saying is once you engage in dialogue, all sorts of options open up.

Political dialogue is how you make political progress. Endless mass meetings will not do what political dialogue will. So go talk.

10:43 PM Update: I just talked to Madhav Nepal. I ran this idea with him. He disagreed. He said to hold elections to a House would be to lose the Maoists. Besides elections will be costly. If elections are to be held anyways, why not elections for a constituent assembly? Valid point.

Nepal sounded excited about all the massive rallies his party has been holding all over the country. He gave a long list of towns where they have been and were going to be.

I opened up a private e-channel of communication with him yesterday. It is direct, it is cheap. It works even when I can not reach him over the phone. It is efficient. It will basically be a series of memos. In private you open up more.

In The News

Government can consider parties’ proposal: VC Giri NepalNews ..... the government could consider the demand of political parties to postpone the municipal polls if the political parties come with a positive attitude...... first and foremost, the parties should make their stance clear and only then the government may agree to postpone the municipal polls...... political parties must be clear in their motive whether they want dialogue to postpone the municipal polls or postponement of municipal polls for dialogue ...... Girija Prasad Koirala called on the government to postpone the municipal elections so as to create an environment conducive for dialogue with the parties....... “However, the government can sentence the political leaders to jail if they try to disrupt the municipal polls. We can term them fanatics and send them to jail if they start talking too much” ...... had ruled out any consensus with the agitating seven-party alliance on the basis of the 12-point understanding ....... “The Feb 1 royal proclamation will not be withdrawn and the dissolved parliament will not be revived.” ...... Giri also said that the top leaders’ statements are inconsistent.....
Government can consider parties’ proposal: VC Giri Nepali Times, Nepal .....
Political Parties Won't Come to Power Now: Dr Giri NewsLine Nepal Giri, said Wednesday that political parties would never come to power. ..... Addressing a joint mass meeting of Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Nepaal Sadbhabana Party and Janamukti Party at Birtamod, Jhapa ...... “First and foremost, the parties should make their stance clear and only then the government may agree to postpone the municipal polls.” ..... Claiming that nobody can provide even a single evidence that there is no democracy in Nepal ...... “NC president Koirala sometimes demands reinstatement of parliament, at other times says the situation must remain as that prior to October 4, 2002 and now he demands postponement of polls to hold dialogue with the King. What do we make of all this?’ “Also, other leaders who are supposed to be agitating jointly, such as Madhav Kumar Nepal, say there won’t be dialogue with the King at any cost and NC leader Ram Chandra Poudel issues statements saying there would be no agreement with the King. These political parties are inconsistent,” Dr Giri said.
Govt can postpone polls if parties come for talks: Giri Kantipur Online the parties, as the latter “lack unity and stability in their words as promised.” .... “We can consider Girijababu’s statement,” said Giri, adding, “If he really means what he says, first talks should be held and then only can thoughts turn to whether or not to cancel the elections.” ..... “Who has helped put together the mass-meet of the parties, who have reached the so-called the 12-point understanding with the terrorists? The government is seriously looking into it.” .....
12 Held for Waving Black Flags at Giri Himalayan Times, Nepal
MR Josse: Straight shooting by Dr Giri Scoop.co.nz (press release), New Zealand
Dr. Tulsi Giri, Nepal’s royal deputy, organized a news ... United We Blog, Nepal