Trial by Fire
Blogdai finds it ironic that the 7-party alliance will be pushing for "absolute democracy" tomorrow at their big showdown in Basantapur; while at the same time, their new democratic buddies, the Maoists, are threatening to "teach Manisha Koirala a lesson" for speaking on behalf of the King. they'll chase her down to the streets of Mumbai, they say.
The SPAM alliance is an absolute nut-house of clashing disjointed egos. The parties can't seem to control, regulate or even prevent Maoists from making violent threats against Manisha's right to free speech. Ol' autocratic meany King g. would have no opposition at all if he adopted this policy. Just kill everyone with an opposing viewpoint, right Prachanda?
From this alliance we've seen NO:
1. Hint of compromise or willingness to talk.
2. Concrete policy statements or even a remote idea on how they will run the country.
3. Elections
4. Acknowledment of any past Party wrongdoings or atrocities committed by Maoists.
5. Indication or remote clue that they can comprehend even ONE democratic concept.
IT IS TIME FOR THIS PATHETIC SHAM TO COME TO AN END.
Blogdai is no fan of violence, but there comes a time when rational debate and civil behaviour are no longer adequate tools to address and unbending and stubborn foe. We can no longer stand by while the forces of greed and self-interest continue to bring normal life and business in Nepal to a stand-still. If we are to have any chance for democracy in Nepal, we must now defend it's foundations: rule of law, public safety, equal representation and the committment to the peaceful resolution of disputes, to name a few. We cannot allow ourselves to be hijacked by a proven narrow and self-aggrandizing few who ally with terrorists in an attempt to gain power. Democracy is a beautiful flower borne out of many ugly labors. Now is the time for such labor.
Tomorrow will be bloody and will either resolve this mess or plunge Nepal into a factional (not civil) conflict.
Blogdai fears that this is a trial that Nepal must pass if it is to survive as a nation.
Reason is dead, only violence remains....
-=blogdai
posted by blogdai @ 4/07/2006 08:36:00 PM
28 comments
28 Comments:
Thanks Dev, for the comment.
We are now getting reports of "tens of thousands" of demonstrators throughout the country.
Numbers like this are not only deceiving, but difficult to prove. These are SPAM protests so even if we allow for the typical inflation of numbers by Party cadres and those forced to attend by Maoists, this still is not a large number when you consider it on a nationwide scale.
Unfortunately, there will be some voluntary attendees due to RNA violence, but for the most part, everyone we've heard of is demonstrating against the King only, and waving Party banners.
Not much talk of national unity or and end to violence so far.
-=blogdai
I am a Indian Nepali - indian origin born in Nepal
I support HM King Gyanendra (many of you don't).
But the main thing is all of hate the terrorists, the seven party terrorists, the Indian government and the Western India, nepalnews.com, etc., which have been supporting this horrendous act that has been taking place in Nepal today. I am literally crying to see this happening.
Can we all join hands and do something against this? We must all Unite. Let us do something, anything. Please. I can't see Nepal bleed anymore.
Please make a taskforce and I all to join it. I just wnat to see these terrorists been crushed and I want to see a peace and propserous Nepal once again.
I did not mean, western India, I meant Western media.
Please edit the above comment of mine or add this one.
Okay. Many of you may have questions as to why I support HM King Gyanendra. He is the only active Hindu King. The Indians might have kicked their Kings but we have our rightful duty to preserve ours. HM King Gynanendra can only bring peace to Nepal. Today (when he seems alone), if we don't support him, who else will?
Pricisely, everyone is talking about the King's "Time being up." And that he's about to fall.
What a bunch of uninformed crap!
First off, why have none of these chaos lovers ever predicted the end of Maoism? Why do we continue to see fault in everyone but the murdering Maoists and the corrupt, ineffective former politicians? When are they supposed to be held accountable? The Maoists started this whole mess and the SPA perpetuated it with its unyeilding protests and demands.
Was I dreaming or did G. explicitly ask for everyone to sit down for talks last month? I also remember that the only response he got was a shrill, childlike rebuke from the SPA/M.
Get your heads out of the sand, people. G. is nowhere near a fall. In fact, he's about to go on the offensive according to minister Thapa (that crook).
Plus, the U.S and China will not allow G. to fall. He is more internationally capable and reliable than placing Girija back at the helm, and everyone knows it.
Anyone think the Yanks will open themselves up for world criticism for supporting terrorism? That's the argument if the Maoists are allowed to take over.
Nope. Sit back and watch the next few days. A whole bunch of single-minded, uncompromising, bought-and-paid-for, self-interest-motivated cadres are going to get a major spanking.
-=blogdai
its about time G kicked some butt...was about to accuse him of just waiting and doing nothing.
Just to make things clear, the demonstrations going on in Nepal, as rightly stated by Dev prasad is being overstated by the sold out media who run in this country to make money. Media in Nepal has never developed to report unbiased news.
Second, in the neighborhood that I live in, last night, a group of people came as soon as the curfew ended at 9:00 pm and started burning tires and chanting slogans. A group that came by were Maoists as far as I can assess. My assumption is based on the systematic way in which they came down the street. First, one guy came and he gave out a distinct whistle. After him, in distances of about 50 m. another came and gave out the same whistle, and then another and another, in total abbout 5-10 of them. Then there was a guy on a motorbike who was driving up and down the street "organizing" or enticing the group. The way in which these people came was completely in an organized manner. In total about 100 people gathered around and they burnt tires and cahnted slogans against King Gyanendra.
This has confirmed government claims that Maoists have infiltrated the "peaceful" protests launched by the SPA.
And it is not at all peaceful as they claim it to be, and it is a great shame that the media in Nepal are backing up terrorists.
The curfews imposed by the government, as much as I hate them, are therefore, a necessity to protect public property and human lives.
Of course the media and the Human Rights Organizations operating in Nepal are all writing shit against the government, but it was either curfew or hundreds of deaths.
Dead on Shiva and Dev!
Dev's comment on the steam-roller effect of civic unrest rings true. People, ordinary citizens will bristle and rebel against any immediate act of violence or repression. Let's not mistake this for a ground swell of support for the SPA/M.
Shiva, your report was chilling. Yes, those were familiar Maoist tactics you've described. Alliance cadres do not operate with such precision or intimidation.
-=blogdai
blogdai,
yes IT IS TIME FOR THIS PATHETIC SHAM TO COME TO AN END. People are dying not knowing which side they are on. SPAM believes either we are with them or we are a bunch of royalists. Over enthusiastic SPA believes that it is the time for the final blow. And Maoists, I am sure they just can't believe their sheer luck for having a bunch of jokers as Nepali political leaders.
How can one trust a Maoists commitment ? Granted everyone should be given a benefiet of doubt but hey they're Maoists. And yes that is the bottom line. No statements were issued on behalf of SPAM about their alliance. No assurance was given about the clear policy regarding running the country minus Gyanendra. So must likely we should be prepared to fight another war , and this time against armed Maoists in the power vaccum Nepal...... we are in a mess and there certainly is no peace in our time.
The real censorship is within all of us, all are terrified by maoism and pretend it is an anti king thing.
?Democracy does it mean some guys say I am your people and you sit on your rooftop for 5 days. Get off it and let people breathe. KG will stay on, but people need to eat too, go for dialogue, or some civilized protests.
Difficult to understand what seems to be different, or is it just clearly more violence, I do not for a second believe violence is a sign of democracy. All are heading towards military dictatorship on a long and short term. King could move to Bhutan, you will still have your army. The culture of corruption is not going to get less at all, but the lack of freedom is immense.
Sweet_nepal,
Your account of army infiltration in protests, I believe. But they did not throw the grenades and entice the uniformed security forces to shoot into the crowd did they? They were probably there to make sure that the security forces could bring the situation under control should things have gotten out of hand.
The whole world saw how the SPA mobilized the homeless street children in their protests. Where is the OHCHR and the rest of the human rights activists' reporting on this? I don't know where you live, but I live in Nepal and I know for a fact that these poor innocent children have time and again been used by the parties to take part in their "protests" paying them Rs. 200 per day ($2.70) and dinner with a dish of meat! I know because I have talked to such kids in my neighborhood. They have also been used by the Maoists to palnt bombs in the city. They used to be called "tul bombs" (banner bombs) which were hung from banners. Where is the media, and the OHCHR and the fucking Nepali human rights activists????
With due respect to Shiva, dev, blogdai and others...
This is not about SPA or Maoists. The protests are for FREEDOM. The protests are for DEMOCRACY.
Each and everyone who supported the King earlier in the Feb takeover are disillusioned by what happened after. He is just not capable. He is just full of SHITT.
How long does he think he can suppress the right of the people to choose their leaders? Brute force. Brutal tactics. Look at the pictures. Oh my GOD!
Democracy is not a dogs bone that can be thrown at people when the King wants.
Democracy is Freedom. Its freedom of choice, expression and freedom to be governed by collective judgement.
This forum, Blogdai, everyone says they Love Nepal. Why are you guys encouraging this medieval system? Why are you guys even bothering to distort the truth? to stop people from having what they want? How long can anyone fool Nepalese and fill with hatred towards the greatest political system that survived through test of time and inept leaders, just because of some corrupt politicians? What right have we got to give wrong information and a tunnel visioned picture of the demonstrations. The demonstrations are genuine, as anyone can see, for gods sake don’t say western media is over blowing now! If they were paid for by the SPA they wouldn’t have lasted like this for days on end. lives being torn apart, sacrificed for freedom. Look at the pictures yourselves, people sacrificing their lives for the sake of freedom. NO, they are not WESTERN MEDIA or CONSPIRACY AT WORK AGAINST NEPAL...they are from Nepali people. I got some pictures from Nepal yesterday that made my stomach sick with disgust. Not even Maoists or even Islamic Jihadists can stoop so low. King- who is he protecting and from whom? Himself, probably, protecting himself from awakened people! He couldn’t protect the people from Maoists or politicians now he is after their basic rights, with a bunch of sycophants in his coterie. I hear even half of those old weasels are split and are actually waking up to reality!
Everybody is vexed up with empty promises, its time for them to take action and fight for their rights, and yes they are fighting. No blogs or no intellectual crap can solve their problems. No amount of propaganda for or against anything will help solve their problem. The day people realize what they can get through collective choice, they will not care for anything anyone has to say, may it be politicians or tyrants or retarded king and his silly rapist junior tyrant.
NEPAL is not ready for democracy? How retarded statement. Freedom is not time based. Democracy is not readiness based. It’s a process. I lived in one live in another. I am sure most of you do too. It filters itself. It’s a path to be taken for human dignity. It’s an evolution. Each one of you who oppose these fights is belittling the lives of ordinary Nepalese who are fighting in the streets for a better day, a day of hope when this tyranny ends. Nepal’s King has lost every conceivable friend he ever had. Which world is he living in? His days are numbered. You people, instead of mocking the SPA why don’t you mock the Royal takeover and see the truth of the day and help gain democracy first and then educate the people about participation and the ills of having corrupt leaders? Too difficult, huh? It’s easier to say SPA and Maoist are responsible for the mess. Wake Up. If the king/monarchy was as capable, the situation wouldn’t have come this far. And the political junkies failing are no excuse to curb people’s freedom like this and shoot innocents in the streets of their own homeland. For asking and standing up for their basic human right. I am tired of listening to this over beaten crap about Nepal not being ready for anything but the king. Wake up Nepalese, the true Nepalese are those who are living in Nepal and are living in those situations and they are the better judges of their fate. Not just ordinary Nepalese, or illiterate Nepalese, every one, each and everyone including educated Nepalese, Doctors, Engineers, Students, Professors, Journalists, Expatriate UK Doctors Associations. each and everyone is supporting the democracy movement, and yes history is being made in Nepal.
Look for the words the South Africans said FOR apartheid or the British said Against granting freedom to half the world, or what the queen said before Boston Tea Party….or the French revolution…
The all said the respective countries are not ready for DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM. History has shown us time and again, whoever is trying to benefit from democracy is a temporary problem, BUT democracy and freedom is a permanent solution.
I know what I am opening myself to here. But mark my words. The king will have to step down, no matter what you and I and you say here. Its inevitable. He will use some kind of face saving tactic, but step down, he will.
And the day is not far when he will run away to Bhutan or Some place, that’s the reality and it has already started showing itself in the streets.
After seeing what’s going on for so long, I have nothing but disgust left for the King. He showed his true color, which is worse than all the 7 retarded parties put together by his tyranny against children, women and innocent citizens of Nepal.
Look at these news..are all of them Wetern Media or China or Indian Conspiracy reports?
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HD13Df04.html
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=worldNews&storyid=2006-04-12T145001Z_01_DEL301986_RTRUKOC_0_US-NEPAL.xml
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/69063E48-B820-4B4E-B438-5B1C968E0529.htm
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1487006.cms
http://www.hindu.com/2006/04/12/stories/2006041208541300.htm
http://news.google.com/nwshp?tab=wn&ned=us&ncl=http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,20281,18803544-5001028,00.html&hl=en
Don’t you think that you guys are no less INTELLIGENT than the Islamic Fascists who blame even earthquakes volcanoes and even the climate on Jews? Don’t amuse and kid yourself people, its time for us to help the people realize what they haven’t been able to get even in the 21st century. Freedom and Democracy. Then, and only then is peace possible. If you still think US or India or China is behind this and not ordinary people, I don’t blame you. After all we are just human, and we all are witnessing the stubbornness of human beings in this bloodshed.
C.K
Thank you C.K. for your well-conceived and impassioned response:
First off, let’s not confuse Freedom with what the parties are calling “democracy.” Nepal and Nepali’s still enjoy the ability to conduct their business, holiday and pleasures as always. There is no iron fist of Royal repression. As Shiva and all non-aligned Nepalis know, bandhs, Maoist brutality and incessant party protests are the only real barrier to freedom we see in Nepal today.
What we are dealing with here is a well organized few who are demanding a self-indulgent agenda be adhered to without consent or input of the populace. Koirala was asked point blank yesterday if the King were to open up and invite the parties for unrestricted talks, would he go? Without so much as a thought, the old man said “no.” He wants pre-concessions and completed acknowledgement and acquiescence to his demands before he will do anything. Now, I ask you, is that in the spirit of “democracy?” Who, other than themselves, can the Alliance claim to represent when they’ve not bothered to tap public opinion through elections in 8 years? I ask you again, if these men say they are restoring democracy, then why have they not even offered up a whiff of an idea as to what they will do if they succeed? Don’t you feel democratic leaders should have a plan based on the input of citizens?
Citizens are involving themselves in these demonstrations, not because of a passion for democracy, but from a combination of Maoist coercion and the sheer momentum of tit-for-tat retribution borne from street violence. Riots and rioters pool and regroup around rallying acts such as a police shooting or a beating, or a child getting injured. Kathmandu is in riot mentality and it will only accelerate towards complete anarchy if it is not stopped. That is what history shows us to be true of such demonstrations.
C.K. listen to Shiva’s accounts. There is a ground reality to this conflict that is not apparent to those of us who are forced to rely on Western media renditions and photos. The Maoists are running this thing, and they are bent on anarchy and takeover. They have never showed so much as a pause in their campaign of brutality; virtually laughing in the face of any peaceful attempts at talks and compromise. How best would you deal with a foe that knows only violence and uses the democratic process as a tactic to further its violent methods?
I’ve said it many times here. We can’t have all the wonderful things you mentioned in your post like freedom of choice and government by collective judgement unless EVERYONE agrees that theses things should govern life in Nepal. Have you heard of any Maoist bowing to the ideals of free choice and collective judgement? No, we have to deal with Maoism today, through this conflict, if we are to ever hope for a functioning democracy for Nepal in the future. They will not stop and they will not negotiate.
You are relying on and reacting to the horrible pictures you have been seeing; any human with compassion would do the same. But don’t let pictures inflame your judgement here. Journalists make pictures. It’s a pity there are no photos available of Maoists drilling holes in pregnant women, or cutting off the hands of children; a common Maoist practice. Perhaps it would serve to balance you perspective a bit.
-=blogdai
Blogdai,
Once upon a time wether I agreed with you or not I read analysis thinking it was insightful. But reading your responses here more and more all I can say is you are as accurate as FOX News. I don't blame you though I am sure you will be the last one shouting the King gave up too quick when the inevitable will happen. Your responses and spins on news coming out of Nepal are entertaining and funny like FOX News. How do you justify what has happened at Gongabu? Wait I know Maoist infiltration right. The maoist were shooting from inside the AGP's house. I guess in that case that should have been the first house that should have been raided by the army. I guess the protestors did the country a favor by beating up the maoist, the guard, firing from inside. I am sure your spin on this will be more entertaining than mine. So I await your response. I guess the only hope King G and all your spin has left is that King will pull of a hell mary and save his ass and get out of Nepal alive.
hey blogdai,
Please get some on the ground info on the demonstrators? How many are there? Get us good acurate numbers that do not reflect the the governments view or that of the SPA.
Just cold hard facts. Are the demonstrations growing in number and intensity? Are they leveling off? What are chances of this movement being able to force the king to make compromises?
Is it possible that the king would give up control of the royal nepal army?
I support the king and hope this will not do him political harm. If he goes I fear the maoists will eat the political parties alive and Nepal will fall apart.
Good news is that Americans for the first time in recent history have taken side of the people under a dictator. Probably they remembered Iran's Shah King and "hostage crisis" in 1979. Now they have decidedly dissociated with Gyane Shah in Nepal.
Protestors should be aware not to kill Gyane; he should be tried in a criminal court. Let's put Saddam and Gyane in Slobodan Milosevic's cell in Hague.
So much for claims of a shift in US-Nepal relations:
Moriarty hopeful of ongoing movement's success
KATHMANDU, April 12 - US Ambassador to Nepal, James F Moriarty on Wednesday expressed hope that the ongoing mass movement launched by the seven-party alliance would be successful in restoring democracy in the country.
The US envoy's remarks come at a time when the SPA-launched movement gains momentum across the country.
The Ambassador after meeting with Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala and acting general secretary of the CPN-UML, Amrit Kumar Bohora separately today, also reiterated the US's support to the ongoing movement.
"I hope that the peaceful movement launched by the SPA will remain successful to restore democracy," Bohora quoted the US envoy Moriarty as saying.
Bohora also said that US has fully supported the movement.
The US ambassador also condemned the government crackdown on recent protest demonstrations.
"We are supporting you, your mass movement has gained new heights," Moriarty said.
Shiva said of the infiltration of protests by armymen, "They were probably there to make sure that the security forces could bring the situation under control should things have gotten out of hand."
A question for Shiva: what possible use could they have for grenades and explosives, when it comes to crowd control? What would be their intentions for using such devices?
blogdai said...
Shiva seems to be on the ground in Nepal now, perhaps he can give us some logistics.
Moriarity has obiously been dressed down by the U.s. state department. He's echoing Scott McClellan's condemnation. It's a case where the boss has an agenda and Moriarty has to shut up and be a good soldier. His flip-flops further solidify his status as a diplomatic lightweight, however.
The King will Never give up the RNA. He knows that Nepal would be finished if he did. Plus, the RNA would never subject itself to the whims and petty bikering of the Alliance. They would form their own military/political faction and then we would see some large-scale bloodshed.
I wouldn't attempt to justify the shootings at gongabu. they are tragic. But again, if you read what I've said before, Nepal is in a riot mentality and tensions are high. I said on april 5th that this thing is going to get bloody. If you want me to bite on the idea that the King is a depot because of this, sorry. If the RNA had opened up on a group of people during, say, a nice sunny day in Dashain when there were no protests, then, yes, I'd say hang the bastard.
Nepal is teetering on the brink of anarchy. Control must be restored before we can even address the issues of democracy. Spin? Sounds like reason to me.
-=blogdai
Article by Dr Thomas A. Marks
Explaining Maoist strategy: It's all in the script
I agree with this 100% completely and have come to the same conclusions through my own reasoning and analysis.
I've mentioned several times on this blog that the Maoist way is to win at all costs, by employing deception and dirty tricks, especially against a bigger enemy. They are not sincere and never will be. Mao Tse Tung On Guerilla Warfare promotes all this and the little book is no doubt an essential read for all our comrades.
My view is the general strike is nothing but a smokescreen for them and a large number of my naive Nepali brothers and sisters have fallen for it.
Everyone has a responsibility for what is going on. Read the article and think about it! Do not get swayed by the mob mentality. People seem to easily forget that our biggest obstacle to peace is the Maobadi and what they represent.
If you think I'm being paranoid then I'd rather be that then be forced into becoming a comrade down the line. Caution is all I am urging.
...if I was Prachanda, I would have a contingent of infiltrators in the city by now. From a Peoples' War perspective, it makes total sense.
naagboy
Dr. Mark's article is powerful. In fact, very powerful. I'm going to reproduce it in a column by itself.
Spoke with Dr. Marks today and he accepted kudos for the article.
thanks Naag. Send me an e-mail if you'd like a copy of Dr. mark's response.
-=blogdai
Love Nepal said...
All the news source you (C.K.) have provided are written by some low paid Nepali journalist who knows nothing about journalism.
Next time you write something against the King or Nepal, think first. Have you done anything for your own country rather than chanting and writing against it ? If not you have no rights to say anything against the country.
The same goes to all the protestors and demonstrators. Want to make Nepal a better place to live? Cry for it, don't destroy the property someone else worked so hard to build.
C.K. ko kura Kashi Nath ko Gula, we are sick for SPA/M Go to Hell. If I could kill someone, then the Nepali politicans will be first one.
Be realistic C.K. making is a people is not one man's job. Why would you blame the king when it is you guys who destroyed the country. You selfish mongrels who don't want to pay the tax and still wants the country to be rich. May be that is 'DEMOCRACY" for you. But believes me, for me DEMOCRACY is just a word that politicans use these days as a weapon to destroy their own country.
SO LONG C.K. If you love your mother Nepal, don't encourage others to destroy it.
As long as the part where you said King will fail. Yeah maybe if all people were like you "SELFISH".
11:06 PM, April 12, 2006
Dammit, anon 2:31, you almost slipped one past ol' blogdai.
Your posting smelled fishy. Especially the very un-Moriarty sounding quote: "We are supporting you, your mass movement has gained new heights."
A little research shed some light. The only publication to use such language and extrapolation when quoting the U.S. ambassador was Kantipur. Once blogdai's hero, kantipur and denigrated into a biased pro-Alliance tabloid.
All, repeat all other publications who reported on the meeting between Moriarty and UML's Bohara quote the Ambassador as saying: "We support the peaceful movement of political parties for democracy."
Nothing more. blogdai apologizes to our readers for not checking 2:31's source before commenting.
-=blogdai
If we were to apply the rules of "diplo-speak" to Moriarty's words, they would actually sound more pro-Palace.
"We support the peaceful movement of political parties for democracy."
Note Moriarty uses "peaceful" which the demonstrations are not. Note also the phrasing of "political parties for democracy." This is a generalized statement supporting democracy, not and endorsement of the SPA.
-=blogdai
"diplo-speak"? Sounds more like your patented "spin"
Spin sends the meaning of a statement in a different direction.
Diplo-speak forces one to read between the lines to discern a statements meaning.
-=blogdai
Shiva wrote of homeless kids used in protests
Street Kids Lukewarm to Idea of Taking to Streets
Mudita Bajracharya
Lalitpur, April 16:
Although some children are being seen during protest programmes in the capital, the involvement of street children in the ongoing demonstrations and clashes is minimal.
"We are monitoring the activities of street children, particularly in localities like Thamel, Durbar Marg and Ratna Park to make sure that they don't get involved in riots and demonstrations," said Kabir Pradhan, sub-Inspector at the Women and Children Service Centre (WCSC) of the Valley Police Office.
He said various non-governmental organisations along with WCSC are observing the children for their security and safety and giving them orientation about the risks.
Pradhan said the demonstrations in Gonganbu area saw high participation of children, who were mostly teenagers and grown up boys involved in rag picking and some of them were street children and porters.
The street children make their livelihood from rag picking, so they are seen in the localities mostly after the protest scenes are over to collect scarps, said Suchita Shah, programme manager of Sath Sath. Amrit Pariyar and his friends have been moving to the places after the riots are over to collect wires from the remains of burnt tyres and aluminum of used tear gas shells.
The alliance of nine governmental and non-governmental organisations working for children has begun to monitor the presence of children in the demonstrations and to keep them away from riots.
"As part of the monitoring of children's involvement, the alliance members have visited hospitals and found that the children admitted in the hospitals were not seriously injured. Bharat Adhikary, programme officer at CWIN, said: "We have found that very few street children are involved in the demonstrations."
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