Democracy For Nepal

Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2006 10:51:38 +0545
From: "Salokya"
To: "Paramendra Kumar Bhagat"
Subject: THREAT TO MURDER
Any idea is this genuine ? what should i do ?

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: salokya@gmail.com salokya@gmail.com

Author : Surya Gurung (IP: 209.23.172.62 ,
cp-apx-mpls1-209-23-172-62.cpinternet.com)
E-mail : hookncrook007@hotmail.com
URI :
Whois : http://ws.arin.net/cgi-bin/whois.pl?queryinput=209.23.172.62
Comment:
Aye Maobadi Bahun Yo Website Banda Gar Natra Vane Tero Yo Sanibar Vitra Hatya Hunechha. Yo Kura Satya Ho Ta Ko Ho, Ta Ke Garchhas, Kaha Janchas, Hamiley Heri Raha Ko Chhau. Ma Jaso Rastrabadi Lai Yo Website Thagi Khane Vada Ra Halla Phijaune Madhyam Ho Vanne Sojhai Lag Chha

Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2006 00:17:20 +0545
From: "blogger nepal"
To: salokya@gmail.com, info@hknepal.com, chij_stha@yahoo.com, ratnapark@gmail.com, ujjwal@ujjwal.com.np, sayapatri@gmail.com, dinesh.wagle@gmail.com, paudel1@hotmail.com, laliguras.blogsome@gmail.com, "Paramendra Kumar Bhagat"
Subject: Proposal for Bloggers Association
Dear all,

Please have an attachment if you are unable to read following:

नेपाली भाषामा ब्लगिङ गरिरहेका साथीहरुलाई एकीकृत गर्न र ब्लगरहरुको हकहितको पक्षमा आवाज उठाउन एक संगठित संस्थाको आवश्यकता महसूस गरिएकोले तपाईँहरुमाझ ऐक्यवध्दताका लागि हामीले यो ईमेल पठाइरहेका छौं । आशा छ, तपाईँले यो प्रस्ताव सहर्ष स्वीकार गर्नुहुनेछ।

प्रस्तावित संस्थाको नाम (उचित नाम प्रस्ताव गर्नुहोला)
नेपाली ब्लगर्स एसोसिएसन (NBA)
एसोसिएसन अफ नेपाली ब्लगर्स (ABN)
ब्लगर्स एसोसिएसन अफ नेपाल (BLOGAN)

प्रस्तावित नेतृत्व संरचना
संयोजक-१
सदस्य- सबै
हरेक ६ महिनामा संयोजकको नेतृत्व परिवर्तन हुनेछ (तपाईँ राजी हुनुहुन्छ/हुनुहुन्न)

फेब्रुअरी १ तारिखमा यो संस्थाको अ‍ौपचारिक घोषणा गरिनेछ। त्यसैले सो मिति अगावै आफ्ना सल्लाह, सुझाव, सहमति-विमति निम्न ठेगानामा पठाउनु होला।

blogger.nepal@gmail.com
salokya@gmail.com

Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2006 14:15:04 +0000
From: "Mary Joyce"
To: paramendra@yahoo.com
Subject: blogger threatened in Nepal
CC: "Curt Hopkins"

Dear Paramendra.

Greetings. My name is Mary Joyce and I am a volunteer with the Committee to Protect Bloggers , an organization dedicated to protecting the freedom of _expression of bloggers around the world. I read on your blog that a Nepalese blogger has been threatened and also that a Nepalese bloggers association has been created. I would like to contact these people on behalf of the CPB. I believe the e-mail of the threatened blogger is salokya@gmail.com and the contact person for the Nepalese blogger association is blogger.nepal@gmail.com. Is this correct? Could I have their names as well (unless they blog anonymously, of course)?

Many Thanks,
Mary

Mary Joyce
The Committee to Protect Bloggers
http://committeetoprotectbloggers.civiblog.org/blog

Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2006 16:47:32 +0000
From: "Mary Joyce"
To: salokya@gmail.com
Subject: Committee to Protect Bloggers Inquiry: Umesh Shrestha
CC: paramendra@yahoo.com, "Curt Hopkins"

Dear Umesh,

Greetings, my name is Mary Joyce and I am a volunteer with the Committee to Protect Bloggers , an organization dedicated to protecting the freedom of _expression of bloggers around the world. I am writing to inquiry into your security situation. Please inform me if you have in any way been threatened or censored for your blogging activities. Also, please respond to this e-mail even if you are in no danger, to confirm that we have successfully contacted you. We are also interested in information you have about other bloggers whose freedom of _expression is endangered,

Many Thanks,
Mary

Mary Joyce
The Committee to Protest Bloggers
http://committeetoprotectbloggers.civiblog.org/blog

Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2006 16:51:38 +0000
From: "Mary Joyce"
To: blogger.nepal@gmail.com
Subject: Committee to Protect Bloggers Inquiry: Nepalese blogger's association
CC: "Curt Hopkins" , paramendra@yahoo.com

Dear Krishna,

My name is Mary Joyce and I am a volunteer with the Committee to Protect Bloggers , an organization dedicated to protecting the freedom of _expression of bloggers around the world. I heard that you had created a network of Nepalese bloggers. This is great! I hope that one of the jobs of this network will be to collect information about threats or censorship aimed at Nepalese bloggers. If you do find any such cases, please e-mail me about them and I will inform the CPB.

Very Best,
Mary

Mary Joyce
The Committee to Protect Bloggers
http://committeetoprotectbloggers.civiblog.org/blog

Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2006 15:00:04 +0000
From: "Mary Joyce"
To: "Paramendra Kumar Bhagat"
Subject: Re: blogger threatened in Nepal
CC: "Curt Hopkins"

Dear Paramendra,

I wrote e-mails to Umesh and Krishna. Umesh told me about another threatened Nepali blogger, KP Dhungana. Do you have this bloggers e-mail address and name? If this blogger doesn't speak English, would you be willing to write to the blogger and enquire about his/her personal safety situation?

I also, as I mentioned, e-mailed Krishna. However, his respose to my e-mail was very short. I am concerned that because I wrote in English, my message was not clear to him. Because you are a well-respected bilingual activist in the Nepalese blogger community, would you be willing to act as a liaison between the Nepalese bloggers and the CPB? This would involve informing us when Nepalese bloggers are threatened. How does this sound to you?

Very Best,
Mary

Mary Joyce
The Committee to Protect Bloggers
http://committeetoprotectbloggers.civiblog.org/blog

On 1/30/06, Paramendra Kumar Bhagat wrote:

Hi Mary.

Thanks for the email. The Committee extended solidarity when the same blogger was actually beat up not long back.

Umesh Shrestha. (Mero Sansar)
Krishna Prasad Dhungana (Blogger Nepal)

They will be delighted to get in touch with you.

The best we can do for them is visibility. So please help. This "death threat" is more like an email harassment, but I personally take it dead seriously, given the current conditions in Nepal (largest number of disappearances in the world), especially when Umesh has actually been beat out in an open street.

Let's give these bloggers all assistance we can.

Look at it this way. Nepal is one of the top hot spots on the planet right now, some will say number one. And Umesh' video blog has been the only window for the Nepali diaspora and the world into the street demonstrations in Kathmandu. The work he is doing is powerful. Another reason to take the threat seriously.

I have urged Umesh to take all possible caution. I have said safety comes first, it is okay for him to let the work suffer. Or to plain stop. He should use his best judgment. My first reaction to the death threat was to write to him and ask him to go "underground."

So thanks again, and the two pioneers will be delighted to hear from you. They are literally blogging a revolution.

Paramendra Bhagat
Brooklyn, NY

Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2006 08:41:32 -0800 (PST)
From: "Paramendra Kumar Bhagat"
Subject: Re: blogger threatened in Nepal
To: "Mary Joyce"
CC: "Curt Hopkins" , "KP Dhungana" , "Umesh Shrestha"

Mary, this sounds great. I am at your and their service.

By the way, KP and Krishna are the same person. And Umesh and KP are close friends. So they are all in the loop.

It is true KP and his family have been threatened by the state army.

It has been my experience giving them maximum global exposure is often times the best we can do for them. It really helps. Gives them some kind of a protective cover from a regime that is undemocratic but tries to project an image of democracy.

Visitors

26 January

12:14

University of Texas, Dallas, United States

26 January

12:52

The World Bank Group, Washington, D.C., United States

26 January

13:51

Skynet Belgacom, Belgium

26 January

14:22

San Francisco State University, San Francisco, United States

26 January

15:40

The World Bank Group, Washington, D.C., United States

26 January

16:12

The World Bank Group, Washington, D.C., United States

26 January

16:50

Sprintlink, Reston, United States

26 January

16:53

HiNet, Taiwan

26 January

17:45

ClinTrials Research, United States

26 January

18:27

Columbia University, United States

26 January

19:11

Loyola University Chicago, Forest Park, United States

26 January

20:56

United States Army, United States

26 January

21:10

Alabama A&M University, United States

26 January

21:53

Dataco IT&T, Australia

26 January

23:29

Bates College, Lewiston, United States

26 January

23:36

Comcast Communications, Alexandria, United States

26 January

23:57

Arrowhead, Sweden

27 January

00:08

National Internet Backbone, India

27 January

03:36

Saudi Arabia Backbone, Saudi Arabia

27 January

04:30

Hanaro Telecom Co., Korea

27 January

04:31

Deutsche Telekom AG, Germany

27 January

08:37

France Telecom, France

27 January

08:44

RIMA Telefonica, Spain

27 January

09:03

Bluewin AG, Switzerland

27 January

09:15

Microsoft Corporation, United States

27 January

09:37

Bharti British Telecom Internet Limited, India

27 January

09:59

Sympatico HSE, Canada

27 January

11:27

Nodalis Telecomunicatini SPA, Italy

Mary Joyce, Demologue

In The News

Alliance unveils new protest programmes to disrupt municipal polls
Poll candidates in Janakpur kept in one place for safety
EU condemns use of force against pro-democracy activists; demands a civilian, democratic government
Maoists attack in Bhojpur; explosions in Nepalgunj
Religious leaders urge Norway to help restore peace in the country
Over a dozen leaders freed
Municipal polls 2006: Election Blues
Poor show worries the govt., nominations filed for one-third municipal seats only NepalNews
Police open fire at demonstrators in Pokhara, over 150 arrested across the country
Police arrest dozens of protesters in Kathmandu and Banepa
HRW urges govt, Maoists to stop rights abuses
EC to provide life insurance to municipal poll candidates

Blogger Nepal

Poetry Banned

(Please visit Mero Sansar and Blogger Nepal and donate.)

Mero Sansar

Police open fire at demonstrators in Pokhara, Over 100 arrested across the country NepalNews.... police opened fire at a group of demonstrators in the western town of Pokhara on Thursday....... police started beating them indiscriminately near Prithvi Chowk. ...... In a separate incident, police opened fire in the air to disperse the rally of at opposition activists at Dolakha of Dolakha district....... Bhairahawa .... Biratnagar, Chitwan, Palpa and Nuwakot districts also, among others.... Mid-western town of Nepalgunj also looks totally deserted..... activists entered into the local office of the Election Commission and tore down election-related papers..... Dhankuta, activists burnt ballot box and chanted slogans against the municipal elections
Nepal police fire at protesters BBC News, UK
Witnesses say police open fire on protesters in Nepal, one injured CBC News
Protester shot as strike shuts down Nepal Reuters.uk
Opposition strike cripples Nepal BBC News
Police arrest dozens of protesters in Kathmandu and Banepa
EC to provide life insurance to municipal poll candidates
Crown Prince visits Janakpur Crown Prince Paras visited Janakpur on Wednesday and offered puja at Ram Janaki temple...... also inaugurated the covered hall in Mahottari on Wednesday..... Crown Prince also observed the local 'fold dance' of Mithila area with keen interest on the occasion.....
India will always stand by the people of Nepal: Indian envoy Saying that a republican democracy has taken strong, deep and immutable roots in the country, the Indian ambassador said....... India is the largest investor and trade partner of Nepal. In the past ten years, Nepal’s exports to India have grown by 1,100 percent while its imports from India have grown 350 percent. At present, over two-third of Nepal’s total exports are to India while 63 percent of Nepal’s imports from India....... over 1,00 projects worth about NRs 1,400 crore are under implementation or consideration in 61 out of 75 districts in Nepal at present. The prominent projects completed or under construction with the Indian assistance include the East-West highway optical fibre project, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, a number of highways, feeder roads, bridges, airports, schools, irrigation and hydropower, sanitation and drinking water, among others....... More than 1.2 lakh Gurkha soldiers are serving in or have retired from the Indian Army and total pension disbursement to ex-Indian Gurkha soldiers stood at more than NRs 700 crore last year........
25 Maoists killed Palpa clash: RNA
UTL resumes service
Security forces using 'excessive force' in demonstrations: NHRC
Will Maoists keep their promise?
BJP leader Advani to visit Nepal: Report ..... for a one-on-one meeting with King Gyanendra ..... the foreign affairs cell of the Hindu nationalist party put forth a proposal to use Advani for a backchannel diplomatic exercise with Kathmandu considering his ‘good relations’ with King Gyanendra....... former Indian Ambassador to Nepal, NN Jha developed such an idea after his meeting with King Gyanendra and several Nepali politicians during his short visit to Kathmandu last week....... to break the existing deadlock between Kathmandu and New Delhi..... on his part, the former Deputy Prime Minister is believed to be extremely wary of any backchannel diplomatic initiative ...... Sources in the Ministry of External Affairs, meanwhile, said the government of India was not aware of any such backchannel initiative by the veteran BJP leader in Kathmandu.... the government has no plans to use the services of Advani for any backchannel diplomatic effort anywhere in the world, least of all in the neighbourhood......
Deuba calls for boycott of municipal polls
Manisha Koirala urges political parties to participate in polls Coming down heavily on the international community for their call for the restoration of democracy in Nepal, she said, “They are selfish, and they look at things with biased perspective. They did not say a word when Bhutan’s King evicted 100,000 of his citizens of Nepalese origin who have been suffering ever since.” ...... Ms. Koirala also claimed that the world’s analysis of human rights situation in Nepal was not impartial. “The USA itself is violating human rights. Haven’t rights of people been violated in Iraq and Afghanistan? Should we keep mum on the human rights violations by America?”
Manisha begins campaigning, but appears ill at ease NewKerala.com
Nepal polls: Manisha canvases, granduncle Koirala opposes NewKerala.com
RPP establishment to boycott municipal polls
Editor Bhandari released
Indian envoy meets Koirala
Maoists attack Dhangadhi
Citizens’ Groups urge the king to call off municipal polls, free opposition activists
Both factions of RPP blast the Election Commission
Fighting stops in Dhangadhi, No reports of casualties
EC to provide life insurance to municipal poll candidates
India donates 17 ambulances to Red Cross societies
Two big guns falter again
Poor Turn Out for Candidacy in Nepal, as Deadline Ends Thursday NewsLine Nepal, Nepal No recognised political figure has filed nominations so far for the upcoming municipal elections
Hundreds arrested as Nepal shutdown starts NewKerala.com, India

The King's Options

(1) A revolution sometimes can reach such a tipping point that the dictator ends up meeting a violent end. That is loss of crown, property, liberty, life, family. My personal full stop is at liberty. I believe in non-violent politics, I believe in rule of law. But here I am drawing the worst case scenario. I am not on the ground. I am far away. Right before that final step gets taken, everyone abandons you. The police, the army, all gone. Bodyguards? All gone.

(2) The second worst case scenario is loss of property and liberty. A revolution could install a parliament that could take steps to deprive the king of his property and liberty. During the French revolution, the revolutionary parliament took such steps. The parliament could also cleanse the army top brass of all the royalists. The parliament could punish all the henchmen.

(3) Or if there is a peaceful exit by the king, he loses his crown, but he keep the rest. His life, liberty, property. He keeps it all. But the parliament might not have this option if the king engineers the most violent possible crackdown upon the demonstrators. The public will not stomach such a peaceful exit.

(4) What puzzles me is as to why the king did not reciprocate the Maoist ceasefire, as to why he did not respond at all to the 12 point agreement. His reciprocation did not have to be unconditional. He could have laid down conditions. And as for the 12 point agreement, he could have bargained for a constitutional monarchy. How you do that is, you let go the army. You retain the monarchy. Your condition is that except for the monarchy, the constituent assembly may decide on all other issues. That guarantee would rest with the Supreme Court. If the king were to do that, even if the Maoists were to not come along, the Maoist-Democrat alliance would split, and the seven parties would probably take the offer. Even the Maoists might. But this step requires that the king genuinely believes in a constitutional monarchy. That he genuinely believes in peace and democracy. That he genuinely wants the best for the country. Precisely because he did not respond at all to the ceasefire and the 12 point agreement, I reached the conclusion he is not for a constitutional monarchy. Why would he not be for it? One, habits of mind. Maybe he has a fundamentally flawed character. He is an autocrat by mindset. Or he itches to be actively involved in politics. Maybe he is a republican after all, because in a republic everyone gets to pariticipate in politics regardless of the circumstances of birth. So if I am for a democratic republic, I am reading his mind.

The king should make up his mind. Either he is for a constitutional monarchy, or he is for a democratic republic. Some would say his options have already narrowed down beyond repair, and if that be true, a peaceful exit is his best option. That way he at least gets to stick around.

When you arrest leaders, open fire on demonstrators, you are really pushing the democratic camp to change gears. The democratic camp is slow to boil, but once it does, it really boils over.

I forage widely within the democratic camp, in the US, in Nepal. I also forage some in the monarchist camp, to the extent possible. But I do accept the leadership of the seven party alliance. I am respectful of the fact that I am not on the ground, they are. I just have to support the best I can. That is how I feel, that is where I stand.

The diaspora support to the movement has been managed chaos at best. There are individuals and groups pulling in all different directions. There is much internal tension, a lot of petty politics.

Visitors

25 January

18:55

University of Hawaii, United States

25 January

20:15

Microsoft Corporation, United States

26 January

00:30

Infogrames Melbourne House, Melbourne, Australia

26 January

04:48

Ajou University Computingcenter, Korea

26 January

07:08

BBeyond, Netherlands, The

26 January

07:10

Bluewin AG, Switzerland

PROTEST RALLY AGAINST King GYANENDRA's Feb 1 coup d'état
SUNDAY, January 29th, 2006
Lafayette Park, Washington DC

CAMPAIGN FOR THE RESTORATION OF
DEMOCRACY, CIVIL LIBERTIES AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN NEPAL

King Gyanendra staged a coup d'état on Feb 1, 2005. Within a year this small Himalayan Kingdom has witnessed an ever downward spiraling of political, economical and social conditions. Extra judicial killings, daily disappearances of innocent Nepalese, harassment to media and journalists and ban on peaceful protests have become the daily norms. People's democratic rights have been completely replaced by Gyanedra's military might. His handpicked cronies in the government continue to enhance his campaign of terror and destruction of Nepal. King Gyanendra continues along his dictatorial path and has turned deaf ears to the pleas of International Community including UN, USA, UK, EU, India and others democratic countries.

As you may be aware, the May 15, 2005 Washington, DC Rally and September 16, 2006 New York Rally for Democracy in Nepal unquestionably and unequivocally sent a strong message to King G and his government that we are for a lasting positive impact on our struggle for democracy, civil liberties, and human rights in Nepal. DC Rally Coordination Committee once again requests the Nepali Diaspora of North America to stand in SOLIDARITY with our fellow citizens of Nepal who continue to oppose the dictatorial rule of King Gyanendra. Let's participate in this massive protest rally to send a clear message to King Gyanendra that ignoring the mainstream political parties is NOT in his best interest. We call upon all freedom and democracy loving people to come and join our protest rally. Our Struggle for Democracy continues in Nepal.

Date Sunday, January 29, 2006, at 11:30 AM

Place Lafayette Park, Washington DC (In front of the White House. See map below)

. For more information, visit www.dcrally.org or e-mail : webmaster@dcrally.org

Or Call us toll Free: 1-877- 666-0008

See the Green button marked 1 for Rally Venue

Program Details

10:00 am – 11: 15 am AV Equipment Set-Up
11:30 am – 12 noon Assembly
12 noon - 12:30 pm Display of Protest Materials (Banners/Pamphlet/Posters)
12:30 pm - 1 pm PROTEST RALLY
1:00 pm - 1:30 pm Awareness Moments
1:30 pm - 2:15 pm Poetry Recitation
2:15 pm - 2:30 pm Park Clean Up

(We encourage individuals and organizations to bring their banner and other display materials. Organizing committee will provide you with BLACK protest bands. Water will be provided in the venue. Those coming from out of state and needs a place to stay are welcome to e-mail the above contact info. Please wear appropriate clothing depending on the weather to keep yourself warm. )

Show your SOLIDARITY with the people of NEPAL

---

Rally to mark February 1,2005 as a "Black Day"
New York City

Nepalese Democratic Youth Council in USA (NDYCUSA) invites you to join us at a rally to mark February 1, 2005 as a "Black Day" in Nepal's democratic history. The main purpose of this rally is to condemn King Gyanendra's autocratic rule and show our support and solidarity with the Nepali people's movement to establish full democracy in Nepal. As the situation is getting progressively worse, we want to draw International Community's attention to it and urge them to extend their full support for democratic movement in Nepal.

The event will take place.

Date: Wednesday, February 1st 2006 from 3PM to 5PM.

Place: Ralph Bounch Park, 42nd street and First Avenue, in front of United Nations Headquarter.

We urge you to make a special priority to attend this rally and extend your full support to the Democratic Movement in Nepal. Please also share this information with people in your network and urge them for their participation.

I thank you for your continuing support for democratic movement in Nepal.

Sincerely,
Anand Bist
President

For more information contact.

Anand Bist 917-442-7405 anand_bist@yahoo.com
Mridula Koirala 917-604-6260 mridula@hotmail
Shailesh Shrestha 646-334-2158 shyless97@hotmail.com
Dr.Tara Niraula 212-491-0378 drniraula@yahoo.com
Pramod Sitaula 917-690-4465 prasitaula@hotmail.com
Bishwa Shah 917-774-7198 god77biraj@hotmail.com
Sanjaya Parajuli 917-902-2667 parajulis@hotmail.com
Mohan Gyawali 646-299-0447 mohan_gyawali@yahoo.com
Bansha Lal Tamang 917-519-5223 moktanbl03@hotmail.com
Minmar Sherpa 917-254-9252 mingmarsherpany@yahoo.com

Rally Co-sponsored by- Alliance for Democracy and Human Rights in Nepal

---

The autocrat, Gyanendra Shah has imposed yet another emergency decree to suppress the freedom and fundamental human rights in Nepal. The Hundreds of political, student, and civic leaders have been either put in Jail or confined to a house arrest. This comes immediate after the government of Gyanendra completely ignoring the Maoist's unilateral ceasefire. Instead of taking advantage of the Maoist's ceasefire and reciprocating with their own for a genuine peace, the illegitimate regime has decided take a confrontational path, which everyone believes is going to bring more misery to Nepalis for a longer time to come. Gyanendra's one year direct rule and three years rule from behind the scene has clearly shown that this man has no intension of restoring peace and democracy and improving the lives of the Nepalis.

Therefore, hundreds of thousands of people have been risking their lives in Nepal and telling him enough us enough. In recent months, more than one hundred thousand people have come to the street of Mahendra Nagar, Butwal, Janak Pur and Kathmandu, to oppose his direct rule.

Had he not imposed the curfew and put hundreds of leaders in Jail, by some estimate, a half million people would have participated in the street protest on Jan 20th, against his unlawful cease of the government. Our brothers and sisters from a small village to the big cities and capital have been risking their lives to restore human dignity, which we Diasporas in the Northern California and elsewhere take for granted. Although, our options to help the cause for peace and democracy in Nepal is limited, we can show our solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Nepal with the available means; protesting against Gyanendra and supporting democracy and peace is one of the few options we can exercise here in America. Therefore, on February 1st 2006 , on the first anniversary (The black day) of the coup, we will be protesting in front of the U.N. plaza building in San Francisco (the birth city of the U.N.) . Please Come join us and let the freedom fighters in Nepal know that we are with them in their struggle for peace and democracy.

Nepal Enterprise Forum
Oakland, CA

For further information please call:

Bhakta Thapa - (510) 734 - 1499
Biswo Poudel - (225) 937 - 5677
Roger Adhikari - (209) 640 - 1284

Date: Wednesday, Feb 1st, 2006
Time: 5:30 PM
In front of the U.N. Plaza building
Place: Corner of 7th and Market Street
San Francisco, CA

Note: Please bring your friends and family and own placard with a good slogan reflecting support for peace and democracy in Nepal and opposing Gyanendra's tyranny. Finally, please do not criticize the US government in your placard because we are asking them to support the democratic cause and such criticism may only defeat our purpose.

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*****PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO EVERYONE YOU HAD FORWARDED THE ORIGINAL INVITATION TO!!!*****

We regret to inform you that since Kanak Mani Dixit had to cancel his trip to the US given the recent political developments in Nepal, we have been compelled to postpone the event with him and Rhoderick Chalmers scheduled for Wednesday, February 1st. We will inform you of the new date and time when they become concrete. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by this unexpected turn of events, and hope to see you at a later date for this particular event, and at future events of the Alliance for Democracy & Human Rights in Nepal, USA.

To mark the "black day" (the "Royal coup" of February 2005) in Nepali political history, please join us for a rally in front of the UN Headquarters in NYC if you can.

Venue: Ralph Bounce Park, E. 42nd Street and 1st Avenue, 3pm-5pm.

Again, the following event has been postponed!

Alliance for Democracy & Human Rights in Nepal, USA and The South Asia Forum (The New School) cordially invite you to a discussion:

Nepal at the Crossroads: A Year of Worsening Political Quagmire

Speakers and sub-topics

Kanak Mani Dixit

"Chairman Gyanendra vs. The People of Nepal"

Mr. Dixit is a prominent Kathmandu-based journalist who is the editor of the Himal Southasiaa and publisher of the newsmagazine Himal Khabarpatrika . He is also a children's author and a cultural activist.

Rhoderick Chalmers

"Prospects for Peace: International Perspectives"

Dr. Chalmers is the Deputy South Asia Project Director at the International Crisis Group.

The program will start with a 10-minute performance art by Ashmina Ranjit , a prominent Nepali artist and activist, who is currently a Fulbright Scholar at Columbia University.

Moderator: Professor Carol Breckenridge , Founder, South Asia Forum

Wednesday, February 1st, 2006

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Lang Cafeteria (ground floor), The New School

Entrance on 66 West 12th Street, (between 5th and 6th Avenues)

Nearest Subways : F (6th Avenue Line) train to 14th Street Station; 1, 2, 3, 9 (7th avenue line) trains to 14th Street Station.

Free Admission!

February 1st marks the completion of the first year of King Gyanendra's direct rule in Nepal. To many, this day is seen as a black day since, in the name of the "war on terror," the government of King Gyanendra has resorted to curbing civil liberties and heavy-handed crackdowns on the democratic forces in the country. The speakers will highlight some of the key aspects of the political and human rights situation in Nepal over the past year and discuss possible ways out of the morass. Questions and answers will follow the presentations from the speakers.

Questions?

Sanjay: parajulis@ hotmail.com, Ph. 917-602-2667
Anil: anil_shahi_et@ hotmail.com, Ph. 917-670-1057

Visitors

25 January

08:20

Department of State, United States

25 January

08:23

Department of State, United States

25 January

10:35

Wipro NET Ltd., India

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Eight killed in Nepalgunj attack NepalNews ...... the Maoist attack at key security installations in the mid-western town of Nepalgunj late Tuesday...... the Maoist raid that started at around 8:15 p.m. and lasted for more than two hours ....... security personnel are searching the whole city and there is heavy security presence in the town....... Hundreds of armed Maoists attacked the district police office, the regional police training centre, Nepal Rastra Bank, the municipal police office, the RNA’s No 4 Company at Ranjha, district prison, zonal police office and the district administration office at the same time...... The Maoists attacked the municipal police office, the zonal police office, the district police office and the district prison for an hour after engaging the army in the RNA’s company barrack......... rebels retreated after 10 p.m. in various directions ....... Security personnel have recovered a tractor believed to have used by the rebels to ferry their guerrillas....... Nepalgunj is the second most fortified town in the country after the capital, Kathmandu....... Last Friday, at least six policemen were killed when Maoist rebels had attacked two police check posts in Nepalgunj. Three policemen were killed in the raid at a police post at BP Chowk at around 6:00 p.m. while three policemen were killed at Jamunaha police post near the Nepal-India border around the same time.
Two security men killed; 8 injured in Nepalgunj attack Nepalnews.com, Nepal
Two securitymen killed in Maoists attack in Nepalgunj Webindia123
Maoists attack Nepalgunj, Fighting going on (News Update) Nepali Times
Maoists attack Nepalgunj, Fighting going on Nepalnews.com
Massive Maoists attack in Nepal Times of India, India Maoist guerrillas launched a series of massive attacks in a key city in Nepal, a day after the Home Minister said security has been beefed up across the country ..... a simultaneous attack on more than five targets ...... The state media, devoted to election propaganda, ignored the raid. ..... less than a week after twin attacks by the rebels in the same city .....
Guerrillas massive attacks in mid-western Nepal kill 2 security ... China Daily, China anti-government forces launched massive attacks at almost all the security posts in Nepalgunj...... with bombs and modern weapons ..... A state of terror has gripped the locale after the Nepalgunj market, some 600 km west of Kathmandu was rocked with explosions and unabated firing from early evening...... Series of explosions occurred around the town till late in the evening.
Massive Maoist attack in midwest Nepal NewKerala.com, India
Nepal rebels attack town as pressure mounts on king Reuters AlertNet, UK setting off a string of explosions at government buildings and police posts .... The assault came hours after riot police clashed with pro-democracy protesters across the country on Tuesday, firing tear gas, using water cannons and employing baton charges to break up anti-king demonstrations........ Coordinated attacks ...... Nepalgunj is the biggest town close to the Maoist heartland in west Nepal ...... First there were big explosions and then continuous gunshots ...... The Maoists have carried out a series of attacks across Nepal since ending their four-month unilateral ceasefire on Jan. 2 ...... They said they would expand their decade-old anti-monarchy revolt to city centres and stop the Feb. 8 municipal elections.....
Guerrillas massive attacks in mid-western Nepal kill 2 security ... Xinhua, China

I am no military analyst, but some observations I make:

1. The Maoists had attacked the town less than a week before. So this second attack can not have been a surprise.
   
2. Nepalgunj is the most fortified town in Nepal after Kathmandu. This might have been the Maoist dress rehearsal for Kathmandu itself.
   
3. The Home Minister had announced only a day before that security had been beefed across the country.
   
4. The security forces in town did not see the Maoists coming. That shows poor or non-existent intelligence operations. The state security forces seem to be guarding only the immediate premises of wherever they are stationed. They don't really seem to venture out. The morale seems to be low.
   
5. When the Maoists retreated, they were not followed by the state security forces. Instead they blanketed the town the following day. They felt the need to show off to the civilians instead.
   
6. The Maoists retreated in all directions. That shows the Maoists have strategically encircled Nepalgunj. That is still true also after the attack. Nepalgunj is in the flatlands. The security forces had the option to follow the Maoists in vans. They did not take that option. The state is very much on the defensive.
   
7. The Maoists did not focus on killing many security personnel. Instead they exhibited their ability to penetrate. They focused instead on causing damange to physical structures with bombs.
   
8. They perhaps wish to claim victory by saying they came, they hit, and they left at will. They are not trying to count their victory with the body count.
   
9. Obviously the king and his men are not doing much or anything. They are just sitting back, waiting. They assume the Maoists will not penetrate all the way to them.
   
10. This attack is a big reason for the state to not seek a military solution to the insurgency. For both sides. The state helplessly watched. The Maoists did not take over the town. The military stalemate continues. It is as if the king seeks just another round of confrontation. If he could think a few moves ahead like a chess player, he would opt for the politial solution quick.
    

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