Monsoon Predictions
I don't know how this little tradition started, but it seems blogdai issues predictions about the coming year during the monsoon season. This year is no exception. If you see last year's predictions, you'll know that we here at blogdai have an average to good accuracy with anticipating events of the coming year. So, here we go... -=BD
Blogdai predicts the following for Nepal over the next 12 months: 1. No Constituent Assembly elections will be held. Period.
2. Prachanda and the Maoists will be banned from government.
3. Girija Prassad Koirala will finally die.
4. The 7-party alliance will dissolve and government will fail.
5. Ian Martin will leave Nepal in disgrace, having accomplished nothing.
6. The Nepal Army will assert itself as a powerful third political force.
7. Paras will come out of hiding and do something stupid.
That's it. Can't think of anything else. Most of these are no-brainers, however. Oh, forgot, I usually have a wild off the chart prediction as a finale'. Try this.
8. King G. will abdicated and name his grandson King.
-=blogdai
posted by blogdai @ 7/28/2007 09:09:00 AM
95 comments
95 Comments:
All dead on, b'dai. Speaking of dead, didn't you predict old fart Koirala's death last time around?
Practice, practice until you get it right, eh, blogdai?
Not only did Blogdai predict Koirala's death but once I remember Blogdai even going so far as to claim he was dead already.
Bhudai Pundit
PS. No offence Blogdai but this post of yours just seems to come off as being very snooty and arrogant.
Yep, ol girija keeps blogdai on the old toes. In, fact, he's ill as we speak. So much so that he's had to cancel a cabinet meeting (as if those had any relevance
Better to do nothing with a legitimate excuse, says I.
-=blogdai
Better yet- 1990 constitution will be resurrected and we can spend winter vacation in plains, say Tiger top without any fear. Pride in being Nepali for Nepali by Nepali will hold sway over lap dog tendencies towards foreign countries and emissaries. All the deadwoods will flow down yonder once the India opens (brought down) its illegally built floodgates and we will see the growth rate topping off at around 5.5% with bumper crop and incentives for entrepreneur to invest and trade without extortion, threat and wildcat strikes.
Why should Prince Paras do something stupid? He is the most back-laid person around and hasn't spoken a word. He might be doing something behind for the betterment of this dangerous situation our country is facing but in the fore-front he has done nothing (nothing stupid at all). I look forward to seeing him as the King. I am sure he has as great visions for Nepal as Prince Dipendra did. He just needs smart people around him and that's where some of us will be useful.
No, HM Gyanendra should not and will not abdicate. There is no rhyme or reason to support this case.
SPAM should die. RNA should take over. 3 years of rigorous rule under RNA. Then King for 1 year. Then a civilian government...with 1990 constitution.
Your paragraphs drift from the wildly insane to the surprisingly pragmatic.
focus, anyone?
-=bd
1. yes ...definitely no chance of elections in the next two years
2. I think they will walk out of the charade of trying to act democratic . point 4 means that in reality no one will be around to ban them. I see them however unleashing violence in the valley on an unprecedented scale after a botched 'staged' assasination attempt on the leadership
3. grija well he's dead as far as Nepal is concerned brain dead that is.
4. that could happen real soon
5. ian martin will start making his report back to UN headquater trips but i think he will hang on to see th efruits of his labour and his 'arms containers'
6 & 8 well that would be a smart move by G to abdicate publicly and go for power thru the army as a proxy regent
7, Paras will stay in China after the olympics and set up his 'free Nepal" party in exile there.
bottom line..the quagmire is just going to get deeper and the army as a 3rd force will not be able to solve the problem [tho we all pray that someone would
Nice comments. I do hope Paras stays in China. FAR deep into China, perhaps in Amdo or Kham where he can see first-hand what his anti-tibetan stand looks like.
Maoists might eliminate themselves, as you say, but it's hard to throw yourself out of government when you've never really joined it in the first place.
Staged assassination? Good imagination and is well within the realm of possibility. They gotta be going against the old man, blogdai would think. Makune is in their pocket already and is worthless. Hmm. Maybe they'd go after G. Very botchable that's for sure. The mind wanders....
-=blogdazed
N1: To early to predict. Period.
N2: Improbable. SPA need M more than M need SPA.
N3: Ramifications = NC & NC-D unification. Unsure. Distinct possibility given his age + frailty.
N4: Government has already failed. EPA will become SPA and SPA will remain. No choice. Its a big bad world out there.
N5: Wishful thinking on your part. IM is v. popular here.
N6: NA need Maoists to declare war again to assert themselves. Remains to be seen in what capacity.
N7: Paras =hated but not stupid.
N8: G needs to be pushed. He never jumps.
I have N9: Maoists v. / & high probability of the party splitting in 2.
Ian
I agree with the first and second prediction. The Maoists are really screwing themselves over now by publicly condoning the act of it's YCL cadres. They are facing severe criticism from all lawmakers from all the parties! I think by now most people have realized the true essence of the YCL. But despite the public pressure the Maoists are continuing to support their shameful behavior. Furthermore, the latest news is that 1000 PLA men have escaped from the cantonments. Hence, Blogdai’s prediction that Ian Martin will leave in disgrace might very well come true. I for one have absolutely no idea what ‘game’ the Maoists are trying to play. It could be that they have just lost control over their lower level cadres.
So in conclusion there won’t be a CA election in November and the Maoists may very well be banned from the government. I don’t think the NA will assert itself as a third force. The NA is a demoralized force that simply does not have the political will or the expertise to do anything of this sort. As much as I hate the man, I hope Girija continues to live on because if he passes away there is going to be a major political vacuum. If this occurs than Blogdai is right, the SPA will dissolve and Nepal is going to be even more chaotic.
By the way Ian, I disagree with your statement N2. It might have been like that in the past but right now I don’t think the SPA needs the Maoists more than the Maoists need the SPA. The Maoists have successfully fcuked themselves over to many times since becoming mainstream. They have squandered the biggest constituency in Nepal – Terai. Really all they have now are the YCL and a handful of cadres. They are becoming more unpopular by the day. Finally what makes you think Paras isn’t stupid? It certainly can’t be his genes.
the above comment was from me (Bhudai Pundit)
Bhudai Pundit- Cannot keep on hanging on fig leaf that your Mahan Girja the Stupid dangles from his crotch not his head. We need to hit the bottom to come out of this quagmire that the SPAM brought on us. His death is quite imperative.
As for Paras being stupid- you are like stray dog that follows stink without knowing the source. You got similar traits as Girja- you speak on hearsay rather than solid proof. YOU AIN'T any Different, bud.
well well look who has come a full circle. took them some time to see the light but they slowly seem to be getting the story right. better sorry than safe for the beeb.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6915564.stm
thats http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6915564.stm
Off the topic- gotta get it out of the system
I came to know from a very reliable source that Dr. Arjun Karki- the one who heads federation of NGOs in Nepal is a MAJOR share holder in Sagarmatha TV- now, from what I know- he is not loaded to invest in TV channels but after April movement this guy is in stratosphere and rich overnight to establish Sargarmatha TV. This goes to prove- things changes but something always remains the same in Nepal.
As for Riyamaji fiasco- people were killed due to violating Curfew- now we can argue on this but when a regime or government does impose curfew- you obey it or pay the price- simple as that. If start questioning legality of any regime by violating the rules and rule of law then we will have systematic failure of social norms and complete breakdown- which is staring in our face right now. When powers-that-be wontonly uses wrongended approach to get their means- it will come back to haunt them. Madheshi uprising and death galore is case in point, does spam have any answer or course of action that can convince Madhesi people otherwise- no way. When you play with fire, fire burns.
Now- my perception is that forces at present who are keen to wipe out our civilization by attacking religion, Monarchy and social customs and practices. Each and every social or religion have certain aspects which are inherently outdated or put in place by governing sect or bodies to maintain their supermacy but these things are done with as education and social awareness increases but what we have is direct and well coordinated attack that is bent on wiping out our identity not by gradual or natural process (education and awareness) but by demeaning and disparaging our very existence. This has got to stop-lets continue to be land of Buddha rather than land of Might is right through violence and mayhem.
summarize the above in a few sentences, please and re-submit.
Thank you
-=blogdai
Predictions:
1. No elections
2. Violence will escalate
3. International troops in Nepal by beginning of the year (2008). Nepal will be a UN administered for most of 2008
blogdai would actually like to see some sort of non-Indian force in Nepal. The trouble is, china won't do it for fear of world and Indian reprisal; and the Yanks won't do it because they don't have a compelling economic interest in the region.
Maybe if we all start an Al Quaeda rumor...
-=blogdai
Sikkim Chief Minister Mr. Pawan Chamling says that Nepali should learn from Sikkim. He goes on to say, We the Sikkimese have "Democracy but we do not have the right to self rule", we have "rights but not the sovereign rights", we have all our religion, language, and culture(that make up a nation) but not a country.
The spam will collapsed after November as useless coalition government in our history. The regional parties will takeover them.
Interesting: democracy without self-rule. that's kind of the whole point of democracy, isn't it?
This goes to show how far and wide the concept of democracy has been twisted and mis-interpereted.
If Sikkim is fine with this little arrangement, then so be it and blogdai wishes them well. But, democracy is nothing without self-determination and equal representation under the rule of law. True freedom and independence requires constant monitoring, revision and a politically engaged populace in order to take root as a functioning democracy. Seen any of that in Sikkim lately, much less Nepal?
Being a satellite of India might be nice and safe and cozy, but it is no democracy. A true democracy, by its very nature, is an uncomfortable compromise at best, and political stagnation at worst. Perhaps this level of involvement is too much for the Sikkimese.
Sadly, the Sikkim model is probably the most suitable type of govenmental arrangement for our lazy and politically apathetic Nepali populace.
Real democracy means hard work and sacrifice; Nepalis have yet to prove they are up to it...
-=blogdai
What hard work we expect from the Nepali people? More than 2 million people are working in arabian and east asian countries. Aren't they working hard there? They are working in 50 degree celcius and almost 16 hours a day. If they can do hard work abroad then why not here ? The only thing we need a good political environment. But these filthy leaders are just staying in power not only without work but dividing the nation in the name of politics. They should be abolished first to bring working environments....
Our predecessor granted the nation to us with their blood and sacrifices. It is our obligation to save it and sustain it by progress but not to disintegrate it in the name of syndicate rule and the politics.
Working hard in another country to increase one's personal prosperity is an individual choice. those who do it are basically giving up on Nepal and abandoning it for the riches to be found elsewhere.
Hard work, commitment and sacrifice for one's country: taking the individual and group initiatives needed to bring Nepal out of poverty and into prosperity. that means using your individual choice to stay put and find the means to survive in Nepal. That means pressuring your goverment to increase economic opportunity so that you don't have to travel.
It would be another thing if some of that foreign "hard work" money were set aside to improve the lot of ALL Nepalis. But no. Blogdai has yet to see all that Arab money being used to shore up nepal's democracy or government. It'll all get blown on Rakshi this Dasain, is my guess.
-=blogdai
It is called motivation blogdai. Wehter you are working in a foreign land or in your own..in my religion work is a form of god. However, i agree with anonymous above. The leaders they needed to play a motivational role but instead they are pardoned for all their wrong doings, corruptions and murders. I guess you have heard about the lauda case where everyone involved was cleared. I think i once told you that, democracy means equal, consistant and fair justice for all living within the boundary. This is what i meant. I guess you can draw your own conclusion and call all Nepalis stupid, but we lost very vital years during the rana regime. Panchayat was a stabalizing strategy more than anything else from the indian government. I think this time they went a little too far but they willl retract they steps. We just need to realize that nothing can substitute competence. Not even honesty.
Blogdai's predictions are quite realistic and also amusing. I have forwarded them to many who have re-forwarded them to others.
Regarding the first prediction, everyone seems to think that there is no chance for the CA elections to be held - definitely not in November. I happen to agree. My concern though is that without these elections, the current un-representative government will further continue their basically illegal rule. Some call for a mass resignation of the Interim Government to be replaced by a 'neutral' government; but how does this neutral government come into power? Others call for the Nepal Army to step in; but is the NA capable of running the country when it could hardly make a dent against the Maoists post-February 2005? Questions, questions...
Blogdai,
Good to see you back in the prediction business. I think you are better suited for the prediction business than the letter campaign business.
horatio,
Yes, spaM has to be kicked out from the government at the earlist. The parliament should be dissolved as considering them useless.
The new government should be formed by the back-up of NA with monarchy only as the symbol or ceremonial role. The new government should be formed on the basis of ethnicity, where genuined distribution to each ethnic groups needs to be establshed. The decision to send their representation should be given to them so that biasness by anyother factors will not exist. This will help to unite the different ethnic groups internally and externally. Other disturbing factors like maoist and hardcore activists of spa will not able to make guts to raise their heads infront of different ethnic and regional groups.
sorry
"spam needs to be kickout"
Anon 1:06, don't rush to advocate an army-backed government without analysing the practicalities of such an adventure.
Looks like there may be a bandh in Kathmandu today, 16 August. Looks like the other parties' youth unions have had enough of these darn YCL hooligans. A very promising development!
Now Indian embassy also lobbying to open different Madheshi party to contest the CA election. Where madhesi leaders of spaM are also planning to join the new Madhesi party which was decided in the meetings at Yak & Yeti Hotel. Mahanta Thakur might be the president of that madhesi party. If they don't go and continue contest under the spaM flag, it is almost definate that they are going to loose in their areas. Also Limbuwan and Khumbuwan are coming up in the politics which definately going to influence the other ethnics as well. It clearly potrays that spaM can hardly get only 40% of the total vote in CA election even if they include the different ethnics. It has been heard that China is also closely monitoring Nepal and might start to interfer the Nepali politics to dilute the more Indian and American influence. The future days are going to be more chaos in the political aspect. In the whole political game, not only king but spaM is also going to loose and at the end and the general people will be the innocent victims.
And when their political calamity starts, they will understand the importance of monarchy and BP's saying.
Excerpts from "What Is To Be Done?", an article by Roop Joshi in Kathmandu Post, August 16, 2007: "...There is no “New Nepal” yet. April 2006 was not a “political watershed” as termed by many. It was merely a consequence of the unholy alliance between the seven political parties and the Maoists, endorsed by a gullible international community and forced by the high-handed approach of the Government then...Once fair and transparent CA elections are held, the CA sets out to prepare the new Constitution. Concurrently, a national referendum needs to be held on the question of monarchy versus republic. This issue is far too important to leave to the CA alone. The recent “constitutional amendment” allowing the current Interim Government to abolish the monarchy with a two-thirds majority in parliament is a politically naïve gesture, even presuming that an un-elected Interim Government has this authority which it does not. If political parties of every hue and colour - even those who have reached the national stage merely by the power of their guns - can have a say in this vital issue concerning national sovereignty and unity, certainly every Nepali must have the opportunity to speak up too. Let the cards fall where they may, but there must be a national referendum on this issue. The infrastructure already established for the CA elections can also be used for the referendum. The referendum is on the institution of monarchy. Issues such as possible abdication to younger generations can be dealt with post-referendum...if election campaigns and awareness creation is left exclusively up to the much talked about “eight-party mechanism”, it would be folly. The SPA and Maoists do not have exclusive rights on Nepali democracy. After all, 62 parties have registered for the elections. Every party must be included in the “mechanism” leading up to the elections..."
Now 62 parties including new parties should come out to the street to demand their rights against the syndicate rule to participate in political power if CA election will not occured.
Yes, blogdai could sue Mr. Joshi for plagarism. "Unholy alllance" was first termed here and has been used Six times since 2005. The latest being January of this year (Blogdai: "A glimmer of hope: Dashed"). The phrase "gullible international community" was first used here On January of 2006.
I knew this reference sounded familiar. All it really proves is that Mr. Joshi reads blogdai and that we should never discount any words or phrases (or letter campaigns) uttered with sound logic. They can be picked up and used by anyone.
That is the key to this site. We float ideas and develop the vocabulary so that people like Mr. Joshi can bounce our words around in their heads and use them in different and innovative ways.
You have just seen, in Mr. Joshi's article, the exact reason why blogs are essential to the furthering of intelligent debate.
-=blogdaddy
Not plagiarism at all, Blog Dai. "Unholy alliance" is a term in common use; and I don't recall having read "gullible international community" in your blog site. However, I am a regular reader/contributor of your blog site and the latter term might have remained in my sub-conscious. In any case, I do admire your site and thanks for saying that I use it in innovative ways.
"Unholy alliance" was first used here in November of 2005. (See blogdai: "Kathmandu news and nothings" Second comment) PRIOR to the jana andolan farce. blogdai had seen the alliance forming long before it became official and there are no published records of the term being used prior.
"Gullible international community" was first used in january of 2006 (see blogdai: "Backed into a Corner" main article)when all of you were stumbling around starry-eyed and fooled by your ideas of a "people's revolution."
No matter how you slice it, Joop dai, blogdai called it first.
Would never think of calling you a plagerist; that was a figure of speech. The fact that you are continuing to get the word out on the streets makes me feel like a proud papa. Feel free to use blogdai phrases at will from now on. Call them your own if you'd like. I just appreciate your hard work. Keep it up!
-=blogdai
Not content with the business of astrology, now you go around claming the patent for the ‘phrases’, which have been in English lexicon since some pale ass Anglo-Saxon complied first something called Dictionary. Now, what gives you the proprietary ownership to words like “unholy alliances” and “gullible international community?” Totally beats me.
Oooh! Self aggrandizing gullible blogdai, I guess, I just coined the new phrase: ‘self- aggrandizing-gullible.’ Hence forth it belongs to me, not just these three words but any combination and permutation possible of these three words. So, people, pay tithe to me before using them, or you shall be crucified for plagiarism.
So, what does your tarot cards say, Ms. Clio?
Muneer you Moron, god please get a clue will you?
The phrases used to describe Nepali events IN THE CONTEXT describing spam and the international community were first used here. No one else was even looking at events in those terms prior. It's not the PHrases them selves, you flaming sub-intellect, it is the fact that Mr. Joshi chose to use them do describe the exact same things as we here at blogdai did a few years ago.
And again, copying the phrases or plagerization or proprietary ownership of phraseology was never the thrust of my comments. It was about the POWER of any phrase in a mass media and the ability of blogs to penetrate and influence discourse on any topic.
Feel free to fly off the handle at the next hint of perceived offense. Really, just go for it. It's obvious you can't think beyond you primary emotional trigger mechanisms anyway, so who cares? It'll give some of the real thinkers on this blog a chance to vent their frustration at yet another English speaking expatriot who JUST DOESN'T GET IT.
-=BLOGDAI
ooooh! your melt down is even more omnious than the glaciers in the artic, now stop it, will you? ocean level is rising, putting everyone in danger in the coastline of island called-blogdai.
whenever there is a criticism of your off-hand remarks, suddenly ther appear to be layers of sublte meanings to them, which we completly failed to see in the first peruse, then papa bear has to come around reprimanding us for lack of analytical comprehension.
aare! wa re wa hanuman, kas ko puchhar thulo?
there is a problem when those like yourself who "fail to see" do not consider their lack of comprehension a barrier to spouting off terse vindictives.
For god sakes, man, if you don't understand something, ask a question. blogdai, as our more astute readers know and favor, is chocked full of nuance, references and idiosyncracies. that's half the fun of blogdai! If you don't get it, don't get in the way.
You get flamed and/or the honor of an official blogdai "meltdown" take it as a clue to move forward.
The worse my tone, the more rattling blogdai thinks is necessary to jog your mind. and you DO have a good mind, Muneer, when you elect to employ its virtues.
-=blogdai
Blogdai,
All the King's palaces were nationalized today. I was stressing that you to send the letter to media and govt. a long time ago.
See what happened because of your laziness? You should send out the letters asap. Otherwise we will be a Maoland.
Anon 2:55, what's with the naive comment? What makes you think that "the Letter" would stop the EPA from nationalizing the King's palaces? Look at the big picture, man! "Maoland" can only be avoided if the democratic forces can unify against the Maoists - a tall order given what's going on at present.
Who cares?
This blog is now irrelevant as you can see from the lack of readership and comments.
Indeed, we have a meaningless post that has been kept for a month. There is almost nothing on this blog about what is actually going on in Nepal.
Blogdai has become an arrogant, nasty piece of work and you have people like Horatio, Bhudai and co with their ignorant comments from Tampa Bay (wherever you are from)
Blogdai is not even living in Nepal and not even writing about events IN Nepal from Nepal but from the news he receives from cyber space.
I for one can't be f*cked to read this crap any more. Bye.
thank you for leaving and yes, you are almost right, blogdai has always been a bit arrogant, not just recently.
The "nationalization" or whatever of the King's palaces has no meaning. Perhaps it scares a few of our posters into thinking Girija actually has power, but this is the same old ineffectual crap from our "leaders."
Just about the only thing they are excited about and can show a minimum of emotion towards, is punishing the king. How petty and factional. The King has no relevance on day to day life anymore so why not just leave him alone? this shows where priorities lay. Nepal burns: floods kill dozens, bandhs cripple the capital----- and the only thing our government can agree on is some cheap mechanism for giving themselves yet more power under their flimsy constitution.
Listen people, NOTHING done to punish the King will save Nepal or give you effective governance. All this is, is Girija getting even for the King's takeover. Nothing more. The stupid old man can't even bring himself to the affairs of State before settling his old grudges.
Hey, Girija: WILL YOU PLEASE GIVE US ALL A BREAK AND DIE SOON?
This is a perfect example of why waiting to delivere the "lette" is a good idea. Such idiocy (has there been anything else?) from Girija shows an obsession with Royalty at the expense of the Nepali people. We are building our case here, people and Girija is falling headlong into our plans.
So, to those who lack insight, intellect and political acumen: have patience on the letter.
-=blogdai
The country is definately going to be "Maoland" or "Indian land". The choice is ours.
Anon 8:22, if you want to villify people, at least have the guts not to hide behind anonymity. You call the contents of this blog site "crap" because you are mentally disadvantaged and unable to understand it. Where the f*ck do you live? I certainly don't live in Tampa Bay or anywhere in that continent.
On a different note, now Pushpa Dahal wants the elections postponed to mid-April 2008. F*ck him too!
How about a new post, Blogdai? The monsoon predictions were fine but have now been overtaken by events.
A new post would be a good idea but i think Blogdai is running out of ideas:-
Pro King, anti-Koirala, anti-Moriarty (no longer in Nepal), anti-Ian Martin, anti-Maoist, anti-CA elections, anti....
Any one see a pattern?
A failed letter campaign that i can find no evidence of from my media contacts in Nepal. Perhaps he used it as toilet paper.
I enjoy Blogdai bashing. He doesn't like criticism or being corrected, does he?
I hope he rolls up his sleeves and writes something useful but one can only hope.
A new post? Perhaps you don't realise that this is not a news blog but a place for Blog Doh! to air his propaganda.
Blog Doh! barely mentions events in Nepal outside his anti- (see above) bashing. You have been found out, dear boy.
Still it is always entertaining to read his sh*t. Much better than the other self appointed political analysts of Nepal on the internet. Well done Blog Doh! you are the best of the worst.
Better get back to my interviews...
PS. What is the probability that Blog Doh! deletes this message to save face? What's the point when you can only get 48 comments in 4 weeks? Hardly like any one is reading, right?
Dear Anon (9:07 PM, August 25, 2007),
Readership has nothing to do with the number of comments made. If you are in the number game, please move down to the scum called 'Divided we blog' which is two lanes down in a slum called Naya Nepal. Enjoy commenting and counting the comments there.
It is pathetic to read such comments as above. This person loves to take aim at Blogdai from an anonymous perch. How utterly sad to note that there are many Nepalese who would rather count the number of comments Blogdai receives in a 4 week period than actually work to save their faltering nation. How sad!
Such a fantasy. Anonymous leave two clues so that we will all think and be impressed that he is some kind of journalist. Press freedom must not be that big of a problem in Kathmandu if this person can take so much time to "bash" Blogdai. It is a lie and a fraud. Perhaps it is Blogdai's fault for not demanding that Anonymous people identify themselves. All kinds of wacky insanity is the result.
I agree with Anon 9:07,
The failed letter campaign was the beginning of the demise of Blogdai. I think Blogdai was demoralized after the lackluster Nepali response to the letter campaign. Blogdai had a lot of ego and he overestimated his influence and his support such as getting 10,000 supporting signatures.
When he got a few hundred Nepali signatures, he was demoralized. Blogdai has not been the same after the failed letter writing campaign.
His preferred response to criticisms are deleting the criticisms instead of interacting. So I would not be surprised if he deletes this comment.
Yes, it is a bit demoralizing when one feels like the lone voice crying in the wilderness.
blogdai was disturbed to see just how few of you really give a shit about your country. Rather, sit in your little expatriot tree and throw stones. You don't deserve a country, and you need to be ruled by something other than you own narrow self-interests. Blogdai subscribes to Paul Collier's theories in his new book: "The bottom two billion." Let a strong third party step in and babysit you all until you can do things for yourselves.
Nevertheless, blogdai HAS collected some 3200 signatures and will be submitting them sometime after the monsoon or when girija finally shoots himself in the foot once and for all. I have quipped that our list of submitees will be larger that the signature pool itself and this may turn out to be the case.
For all you short-attentioned media-addled babies: take a hike. blogdai does things in a manner and time frame that suits blogdai, no one else. Anon, you have neither the patience, the political insight, nor the mental capacity to dictate the terms of any campaign or attempt to "analyze" blogdai.
Our goal is the greater knowledge of Nepal's events for all; not the appeasement of your video-game sensibilities.
To others: expect a new column soon. The repetition of the same govenmental blunders over and over leaves blogdai with a dearth of new material. Likewise the repetition of the same series of innane comments over and over from posters tires and bores blogdai immensely.
Hmm, perhaps the concept of repeated idiocy can be a foundation for national unity! At least its something.
-=blogdai
just read b'dai's comment.
All I can say is, where has your biting wit been all this time. I've been waiting for you to properly put down these do nothing critics and set the record straight. Now I am relieved at least, but perhaps it is a little too late. Nepal is done and these cretins who criticize from nowhere could not care less.
SPOT ON 11:31
If one wishes to pick sides, one has a tremendously easy method of choice: Think to yourself which comments purely attack and which comments attempt to answer questions and solve an over all bigger problem. Basically, who sounds like someone from the Nepal Congress and who sounds like someone who actually loves Nepal. My bet's on Blog dai.
Blogdoh! I find no particular prescription on Collier’s book ‘The bottom billion’ to salvage even the bottom 100 million - of which Nepal’s 25 million evidently languish.
His major thrust seems to be on reform, transparency, stability and all that jazz which even a novice blogdoh! visitor knows is an end goal rather than a means to an end. The freaking conundrum is not WHAT needs to be done but HOW do we achieve the usual eurocentric regurgitation of demofarcy and transparency amidst continual civil wars, famine, rebellion, governmental corruption etc. Collier’s broken record repeats: stop giving aid and they’ll figure shit out themselves.
Yes, yes it is all about resources and mismanagement of resources. Only if poorer countries could manage their resources well…
IF Collier had even the amount slightest brain, he would have figured shit out himself – that the reason behind mismanagement of resources in those countries is exactly the greedy macro-capitalist pigs snorkeling around to exploit the instability – heck CAUSING political and social instability in the first place.
What old white men on high towers need to do is stop IMPOSING their brand of governance, economic and social structure on rest of the bottom billion; stop supporting tyrannical regimes to further their own economic interests.
-blog ka dhol bajane wala
what in god's name are you talking about?
Collier's main thrust is that the idea of sovereignty uber alles is an outdated concept when one looks at the damage done to the world by failed states who hide behind the term.
Sorry, but "eurocentric" ideas on reform and development trump third world absolutisms. Failed ideologies and behind-the-curve strategies only serve to increase the world's burden from those countries who can't play along.
And what of dear Nepal then? Almost 60% of our GDP is tied to foreign aid. In essence, the world props up a corrupt and unmotivated populace in order to avoid the chaos and anarchy incumbent with failed statehood.
And that's just what we'd be if it were not for some rational, albeit stagnant, thinking from donor nations.
We pull all foreign aid from Nepal and leave Girija Baboon to figure out what to do next, guess what? Nepal becomes India, that's what.
Stupid fool, reform et. al. was never Collier's motivation. You obviously did not read the goddam book, but typical of your brood, it doesn't keep you from rendering an opinion. Resource management? Give me a Collier quote that even puts that idea on his map. You think Nepal can "manage" its own resources? Where's the big push for efficient hydro power then. Was Melamchi "managed" to your satisfaction? It's foreign controlled because Nepal LET it be foreign controlled because no one could do it themselves. Show me the big hydro engineer, Nepali born and educated or the governmental agency that was unfairly usurpted by foreing hydro developers and you may have a case. No, Girija saw big money and jumped at the chance to cash in. In fact he's been drooling for a chance to cash in on ANY hydro project funded by another country.
So stop your sanctimonious, protectionist crap and admit that Nepal needs foreigners--all the foreigners they can get, if the want to remain an independent and "sovereign" entity.
Everything else is just wishful thinking from those afraid to actually think.
-=blogdai
And another thing, shit head, Collier never outright says to stop giving aid. Incrementalism is his modus. Make them justify every penny and account for every dollar.
Gone are the days of omnibus foreign aid packages that slosh into some "general fund." Hooray for the new accountability that Collier espouses.
Now, to your credit no one should "impose" anything on another, but Collier rightly argues for and balances the need to maintain a nation's sovereignty vs. the damage such maintenance would cause the world by the emergence of another failed state. He argues for decisive third party intervention as a method of stabilization. Face it, a lot of these countries just can't control themselve and send spewing radicals and economic woes on the world economy by their failed concepts. Why then, is it so wrong to intervene once such a pattern of decline is recognized?
Forget your knee-jerk, hate-the-white-man's philosophy drivel; this is not the Crusades. White men and their ideas are in these countries because someone asked them for help in the first place; so don't ask blogdai to buy into your "helpless against the tyrant" crap. Bid bad white man may be a shameless opportunist, sure, but not the Alexander you portray him to be.
All of this has two sides of course, and blogdai realizes the incendiary damage inherent in allowing a foreign power to asserti itself; yet blogdai asks: shouldn't there be a point where the world does in fact intervene? How many lives must be lost and/or futures shattered in the name of maintaining sovereignty?
Spouting off protectionist mis-interperetations of Collier does nothing to answer this question.
-=blogdai
and finally, here's the kicker, the stir that Collier's book is causing centers around its anti-western development themes.
You, childishly, think Collier demands foreign ideas be mandated on other cultures, when in fact Collier only wants intervention to stop the bleeding and the burden on the rest of the world.
What you interperet as a cut off of aid is in fact a return to cultural self-determination. He says, essentially, that aid doesn't work because of our insistence that it work according to our Western concepts.
He further implies the need to have aid reflect the needs of a Nation by that nation's own determination and sensibilities. Aid works when it is relevent to its direct recipients, and their input as consultants and stake-holders is mandated.
-=BD
Blogdoh! should thank yours truly for stimulating his once dead blog. Instead of deleting comments (which he did on Collier’s topic), blogdoh! should leave em as is, only to show the critics that people still drop by, read, and remark on blogdoh!’s gross misapprehension of all things political concerning Nepal and rest of the world.
But blogdoh! is too arrogant for his own good. Blogdoh! fears he will lose his edge over his loyal minions if criticisms pour in.
So here’s my reason for prediction of Blogdoh!’s demise in the near future:
1. Blogdoh! will become absolutely redundant, if he is not already, once CA elections are held in November. The judgment day of November 22 hovers over blogdoh! just like he wants death to hover over Girija.
2. Blogdoh! continually gets shit WRONG. Thus, instead of Prachanda and Maoists getting banned from government, Blogdoh! will be shown a safe exit out of Nepal, and those useless farts he blabbers on blogdoh! from thereon will get as much credibility as a raving mad man’s prophesy of doomsday.
3. Blogdoh! will finally shut up and give up. He will visit the exiled buddy of his, Paras, at a golf resort in Hawaii and shoot some breeze.
4. Blogdoh!, after running out of ideas, has started threatening to sue legit columnists like Roop Joshi over plagiarism, claiming that words and phrases used by the are his. That should reflect blodoh!’s ingenuity. Thus blogdoh! urgently needs a long vacation to clear his mind before he completely loses it.
Chances are high that blogdoh! will delete this comment just like he has done with many that have painted him a moron, yes a moron! But blogdoh! should and must practice restraint and control his juvenile urges.
-no fan of blogdoh!
Blogdoh is making good fun of himself. Losers bark too much seeing the work of others. Fucking SPAMmers and their bastard Indian friends.
Blogdoh 7:53 AM, August 27, 2007 and all his earlier comment needs to be deleted for his idiocracy. No need to read his comment, his name says it all. Block his fucking IP.
Roll up...roll up...
Methinks, it's time for some light entertainment:
http://www.nepalbandh.com/
It's the essential tool for the rabble rouser in all of us. Make sure your chosen day for a bandh has not been double booked.
Anon blogdoh seems to be another incarantion of Mork 'n Mindy, the bipolar-disorder suffering, Sri Lankan, wannabe hack. These guys have a permanent hard on for Blogdai.
Disclaimer: I don't necessarily agree with everything BD blogs but credit to him for his efforts and his opinions and to actually have persevered with this blog for so long when other *collective* blogs have faltered by the wayside. It's always nice to have an alternative. Take it or leave it, as you will...
And here's a question. With regard to Nepal - what happens if the BJP or Communists win the next elections in India? Maybe after a global recession, which could be on the horizon..
El Guapo
You GOT deleted because you did nothing but regurgitate my quotes, ape my intensity, and try to change the subject while ranting.
You WILL get deleted after everyone sees your profane blabbering for a while. enjoy your time and try to make sense later if you can.
Basically, you tried to be a typical sub-continent self-absorbed by your own sense of erudition fool, and blogdai called you on the carpet for it.
You had to blow a fuse because blogdai actually READ Collier; in fact, I have a copy in front of me waiting for you to answer my challenge and prove your assertions. but "forget Collier" you said. How convenient.
How very sad when one's own manufactured perceptions of one's abilities comes crashing down in the face of those who actually research a topic before they speak and are prepared to back it up.
go back and text message your way to popularity again, you little phony. Save this site for those who desire genuine expression.
-=blogdai
Incredible, is this anon retarded?
Blogdai does a damn fine job of interpereting the book. Well presented thoughts, although I do not agree entirely.
Who is this idiot who in one breath emplores Blogdai to leave comments alone, and in the next breath demands Blogdai's IP be banned? I do not know if this person is capable of seeing the irony in this, but I laughed my ass off!
Delete him, Blogdai. One doesn't allow a disease to fester in the body as an example of fairness.
I will, but just look at his comments for a while.
We deal with this all the time here at blogdai.
English practice..english practice for spoiled brats. Where is the intellect? Where are the thinkers and problem solvers for Nepal?
-=BD
I really don't understand Blogdoh's! obsession with Collier’s book. Its a nice read but he is not really saying anything particularly new. I remember reading something very similar in the 1980s when people were criticizing SAP. Perhaps you could explain why you think Collier's book is useful?
As for Blogdoh! it is obvious that he is feeling the frustation that accompanies a man who is no longer listened too. In a way it is understandable:
1. His views are based upon a pro-royal, pro army position and anti everything else. It clouds his judgement to the point that as the political enviroment has sidellined the monarchy -his views are now irrelevant.
2.) He is not writing from Nepal and so his views tend to be distorted by not being on the ground and seeing what is happening over here.
3.) He is temperamental to the point that he has to retort to comments with words like "shit head" etc. He does a lot to lower the tone of his own blog.
Overall, i think Blogdoh! suffers from myopia and a delusional sense of self importance.
He has collected 3,000 signatures. Of which, the great majority of names published in his blogs are not from Nepali's but from Tom's and Jim's. The number of signatures is unremarkable which is why it will not even appear as a full stop in the pages of any newspaper in Nepal.
He uses the excuse that the timing is not right. Sound similar? Sounds a lot like Koirala to me!
PS. Are you going to delete this post Blogdoh! because you can not emotionally handle criticism?
No, I'm going to delete your post bercause I can't intellectually handle your ignorance.
Love it. I ask for a reference from a book, which you obviously have not read, and you claim I have an "obsession." Well, yes if the search for sanity and accuracy can be classified as such then yes, I do, thank you very much.
I just think we have something amazing here. It's as if a populace goes logically beserk when challenged. It's like you are a blabbing laboratory or all things wrong with Nepali politics. The total lack of a sense of irony and the Prachana/Koirala like instantaneous self contradiction.
I posit, to wit:
My use of the word shit head is objectionable? Is this because your repeated use of the "F" word is much more elegant? Ha!
And please, this is not obsessive, cite your references claiming that I'm not on the ground in Nepal, no one will pay attention to our list, my signatures are not Nepali, and no one reads this column. I find all of these claims to require an extraordinary amount of insight. I salute such sage-like sight. Teach us!
Why is Collier important? Well, gee, didn't I just SAY that? No matter, you are in full throat now, unbound from rational thought and verifiable information and enthralled with your own voice. On a larger scale, this is a good example of, what blogdai calls "subcontinent overload." It's a phenomenon where facts, rational arguement and civil discourse takes a backseat to one's own personal intellectual survival. Ignore it all if it makes you look bad, basically.
It's a game for little boys. Try to agitate the teacher. The more information you get the more you'll ask for the same--over and over. It's an all out free for all to try and establish relevance and keep from being ignored. M.K. Nepal does this all the time.
It is amusing as blogdai finds this to be a microcosm of Nepali political theatre. I think, on your next post, I'll take your thoughts (?) and correlate them directly to something said in the Nepali political arena. I'll have to edit out all your other tripe, but over all, it'll be a hoot!
-=BD
Yeah, work it blogdoh! Get them puritanical work ethic going to serve the interest of Nepalis - poor Nepalis who actually need to be taught by a self-proclaimed Nepal expert on how to do shit, by the one who actually blogs from everywhere BUT Nepal. Talk about a double-tongued hypocrite.
Blogdoh! does have strong emissary quality, but representing whom? Just his little trumpeting visitors who agree with him on every step without and any rhyme or reason, me thinks. The trumpeter blows his horn and his little elves gather to suck on His Majesty of Blogdoh!
Blogdoh!’s primary focus is on making HIMSELF relevant in prevailing condition where forces he identified with in the past have slipped into oblivion. Blogdoh!’s charade has NOTHING to do with Nepal or concerned citizens of Nepal. Blogdoh! is driven by self-promotion, mired by self-interest, just like all the different Nepali groups pushing for their own agenda.
The hangover of grand monarchy-party still lingers on blogdoh! Neither has blogdoh! been able to shake em off nor will he be able to because that is his niche. Without it blogdoh! is as irrelevant as the 1990 constitution. Thus blogdoh! NEEDS Girija, MK, Prachanda and all the rest so that he has a wall to bounce his ball. Play your little bouncing game blogdoh!, while people who are ACTUALLY working on the ground work to put together whatever idea of Nepal they may have.
What is really preposterous of blogdoh! are his CLAIMS on facts. These are facts which he provides that get verbal assurance from blogdoh! but without ANY external sources to match/compare them with. ‘Trust me’ he says. And at times his obsession jumps way overboard when rumors are perpetuated to insane heights, as it happened with Girija’s death few months ago, or a more recent farce of letter writing campaign which blogdoh! continually defends is on its final stage – of going into a paper shredder!
These are predictions. These are educated postulates on events. They are designed to stimulate conversation while highlighting blogdai deprecating sense of humor. Blogdai never claimed to be an astrologer. Look, I'm sorry you didn't get a new pony from your daddy or whatever, but spewing out frothing anger because I didn't predict Girija's demise to the day smacks of a bit of a psychological disorder, don't you think?
In fact, I get ridiculed for this in the very first posting on this thread. Yet, there it stands. a glowing example of how blogdai cannot handle criticism. No, the fact is, we love good arguements here. "blogdai stands corrected" is one of my favorite things to say when I can.
So what do you do? Right out of the gate you post a treatise on "why I hate blogdai" and I'm supposed to give you deferrential treatment? Go to hell you knuckle-dragger.
In the spirit of journalism and mostly because I'm getting emails from our readers who love the way I'm blasting you to bits, I'll try again: Here we go, this is actual documentation that refutes a claim of yours. It is irrefutable but you won't care. google the site search and look for references where I say "trust me." With variations, it turns out to be about 3. Now, google this site again only this time look for the times I say blogdai "stands corrected." About 5. So yes, I never back off an inch right?
here you are again, after a year or so making the same argumentst like a broken record. blogdai never backs up the facts. Bullshit. Everrything that is presented as opinion is stated as such and every event or happening has a factual context.
I remember you. You are that retarded little stone thrower from last year who just couldn't understand why life wasn't perfect after jana andolan. Got news for you, life and especially democratic life, is designed to be flawed. You must constantly listen and revise. I'm giving you a little space here because I feel sorry for you. But remember, this is a blog, run by blogdai. 99% of our posters know that, in order to get published here, you've got to artfully play the game, make sense and don't trick me too bad. What side you take on an issue is immaterial, but I can smell it a mile away if your agenda is one of personal ridicule.
Realize the big bad world will not have much room for you if you are a babbling brat who forms poor ideas and makes wild accusations.
Anyway, blogdai has been more than generous in giving you your little rant space. It helps that I have time to do this since there's not much worth writing about in Nepal right now.
Your posts are not improving; in fact you ar spiralling off into oblivion, a bit, so it's best that we close out our little scuffle now; it's for the benefit of our readers.
-=blogdai
Amen to that BD
It amazes my how much time you devote to these attention seekers.
Just cut em' loose. I am confident you would have the approval of your readers. -S. Lawson
I’ve followed your blog for a while; I’ve to admit that you’re sharp on your analysis, you’ve incisive observation on Nepali politics, and your write ups are fun to read (pardon my patronizing tone). Nonetheless, they are just your opinion.
Of all your entries here in this blog; I do not recollect any with comprehensive/objective study/research, mostly they are the run down commentary of the events. Please, bring to my attention, if I’ve erred. By comprehensive, I mean conducting interviews/questionnaires even with the smallest sample of subject, collecting data, and at least running the crudest possible analysis on them, AND THEN drawing some conclusion.
Had you done that, anyone with a little common sense would think twice to question your motive (I admit that there is no lack of idiots, who would sling mud regardless). But more importantly, we as an intelligent reader (as you always demand of us) would be questioning your METHOD to reach your conclusion, rather than taking a cheap shot. Respect needs to be reciprocated.
But if you think your entries are scholarly, you are faaaaaaaaaar from it.
But, in the absence of such comprehensive take on any issue on your part, yours just an OPINION not a CANONICAL fact. And everyone is entitled to their opinion, and you shouldn’t be all worked up with any differing opinion than your own. Then your discourse turns into speculation, more often emotional. Believe me, it’s easier to club to death your opponent with facts and figure than invective.
On the ‘letter campaign,’ you claim that you’ve already collected 3200 signatures, that means 3200 individuals have entrusted you with their mandate. Now, that’s a grave responsibility, at least in my opinion. When someone asks you on the progress of the campaign, you just can’t shut the person(s) with ‘impatient, childish etc. etc.’ name calling.
Have you ever even attempted to explain, what do you mean by THE RIGHT moment that you are waiting for the submission of the letter? I guess those 3200 people are entitled to know this.
Lest you take this as personal attack, this is my OPINION on you. But, hey as I said earlier, everyone is entitled to one.
Cheers.
Once again, English Practicing Muneer Yadav
P.S: My English has become better since I started dropping my comments here, what My English Reader couldn’t do, your blog has done, my thanks to you.
Muneer, what are you talking about?
If this is a concerted attempt to drive blogdai insane then it's working.
We comment and speculate on the news of the day. News that has been reported by actual individuals interviewing people who make the actual quotes. If someone SAYS something isn't it a FACT that they SAID IT? Isn't it also a FACT when we dispute it with verified things that other peopls said and did? For example, Did not the Maoists walk out on peacetalks in 2003? And, don't they always violate a ceasefire? Did this just not happen, in your opinion because there was no U.N. study published that addressed the issue? We use these events to document a pattern in Maoist behaviour, For example, this behaviour should have informed the parties as to the future behaviour of the Maoists. when we here at blogdai make such correlations, is that a failure to give facts? No, it is an extrapolation of events to form a good analysis, nothing more. That is what we do here.
If you'd like some hydrology numbers on Melamchi, I can provide those. They appear to be the type of facts you are looking for, but make for boring reading.
Here's another pattern blogdai has established over the last two years here: First, blogdai criticizes some poster for making assertions with no backbround data or reportage like the type mentioned above; second, the poster gets flustered and says that blogdai doesn't provide facts; third blogdai either provided the facts or quotes (like our collier example in the threads above)or asks the poster to clarify which facts they would like to see; fourth, poster continues to get flustered and calls blogdai an ass hole or the equivalent. All through this, the poster ridigly stands by their unfounded and unsubstantiated comments while decrying blogdai for nailing them for it. Jeez, just read the above threads for a classic example? How hard is that?
So, I'll start the same pattern again with you, and darn if you won't repeat the sequence: watch: Ok, Muneer, what has blogdai said that you would like backed up by facts? Go ahead, pick something and I'll do my darndest to give you some background facts. I've only done this for people about a hundred times, but since you're an old pal, here's a golden opportunity to catch me. Go ahead!
By the way, I'm so glad you are worried about blogdai taking offense too easily when it appears you are still smarting from my "english practice" remark that was made WEEKS AGO. Like others, you fail to see the irony, i'm sure.
-=blogdai
And listen about that letter campaign and stop shuffling events into some obscure corner of opinion.
IF YOU REMEMBER, during the last article or so, blogdai was asked to provide information. That was done because it was a request for information. When a poster uses the letter campaign as a veil for nothing more than a personal attack--go ahead, READ it above--they get the honor of an official blogdai drubbing. This is not a legitimate request. Did you read any kind of language from the above thread that sounds like a "how's the campaign going" question? No, just that blogdai is this, or blogdai is that and because no letters are sent yet, it MUST be a failure.
C'mon Muneer, I would expect that at least YOU would get it right and read more carefully.
Looks like my new term "subcontinent overload" is evolving into "subcontinent defensive swarm" where everyone just throws the first thing off the top of their heads at the argument and calls it a rational thought.
-=blogdai
AYEE! blogdai has no obligation to post your mean-spirited, counterproductive crap.
AYEE! you are deleted, try again. Make some sense, tell you what rationally present your argument, any arguement without lapsing into you emotional attacks and you get to stay.
-=blogdelete
Blogdai,
I do not think you can use the letter and signatures you collected any more. You distributed the letters and collected signatures four months ago. Scenarios have changed since then.
It is fraud to use the stale letter campaign and signatures at your opportune time. That is fraud to me. For example, during the beginning of the Iraq war, Bush's approval rate was approx. 80-90%. Now his approval rating is hovering around 30%. We cannot use the data about people's support for Bush from 2004 just to make a case for Bush. Same applies here. It is unethical and wrong.
You should have used the letter campaign a long time ago. If you are to use it, you need to get a confirmation from every single e-mail. Otherwise, this will come and bite you even harder.
I agree. As you probably remember by your reading of this blog throughout tha past months, blogdai has taken time to try and verify each signature. Not that hard to do if you send out a mass mailing with all respondents. blogdai did this due to the fact that some people were writing in saying that they did not want to participate. So, we've been busy cleaning up the lists. I'd rather have 300 Spartans than 10,000 fat corrupt senators, so to speak.
And your comment on timeliness is duly noted. However, blogdai's experience says that just after the monsoon and prior to dashain is a time of heightened, yet abbreviated political interest in Nepal. We will submit the letters then. I cannot see the correlation between decision making and fraud however. We are still trying to collect signatures. How is this fraud? Should blogdai have cut off such gathering at, say, 1500 signatures just to go faster? Fraud, geez, I have no idea where that came from. However, I too agree that the political situation has changes since our campaign's inception.
Maoists now openly harass political campaigns.
Girija doesn't lift a finger to help those suffering from flooding in the Terai.
There are new calls to postpone the polls yet again; this time until April of next year.
Parties cannot agree to even hold meetings, much less legislate.
Press freedoms are stifled at an exponentially greater level than they ever were under G's stupid attempt.
Now, international and national media are writing stories and commentaries that more directly question the government's ability to do anything and the Maoists committment to adhering to the government they profess to now be a part of.
So, yes, changes are afoot. Changes that do nothing but enhance our letter campaign's effectiveness when we finally submit. As I have said before (sigh) we are building a critical mass here for a big fall push.
Since many or you would rather criticise than act, Your price of criticism being published is 10 new verifyable names for the list. For that, you can call blogdai whatever name you want without fear of censorship. Can you do it?
-=blogdai
Blogdai, perhaps you could re-post a copy of that letter to refresh everyone's memory? Personally, I don't think it has lost its relevance entirely, but it may need some updating. Thanks.
A suggestion to all these "anonymous" comments: why not choose a pseudonym instead (if you don't wish to use your real name), so that we can all follow who is saying what?
Taking advantage of a rare opportunity provided, I might ask some questions, here they are.
From: Party at Blogdai's: Everyone's Invited!
“BUT, OOPS! Blogdai's State Department contacts tell me that your career path is at its end. No more cushy postings and do-nothing ambassadorships for you, little Jimmy. You've screwed up one country and now it looks like even the Bush administration won't give you a chance to screw up anything more significant than Banghladesh. Nothing left for you but the cocktail party circuit. See you at the Haznar's?”
State Department contact: now, I don’t expect you to disclose your source here, but you do enjoy the benefits of doubt, in fact a huge one. Since you blog anonymously, we the reader know nothing about you, but reading your claim like this make us think of you as one of those ‘meticulously-dressed-in-suit’ special interest group scuttling around in Washington D.C. Are you?
I might as well go a length to make my point that MY ‘contact’ in the INS tells me that Blogdai is in the US illegally. As ridiculous as it may sound, but its truthfulness or lack of, it all depends on the readers, how they would consume it, in the absence of your credible connection to the State Department or its any employees, or mine at the INS.
So, it (your claim of having a course at the St. Dpt.) falls somewhere between a fact and a vivid imagination, unless you prove otherwise.
From: Taking Back Our Voice
Your major beef with the Nepali politics/people is the lack of ‘accountability/responsibility.’ The same axe you brandish to conduct a crusade, sadly, rather amusingly often falls on your own foot.
For instance, your petition reads:
“Aside from giving your e-mail address as a sign of support, send a copy of the letter to all those on your e-mail contacts list. Have them reply with a "yes" for agreement and have them send the letter out to everyone on their contact list and so on. Compile all the names from this personal "network" and send them to blogdai@nepalimail.com or have your contacts do this themselves.”
As contentious as it might be, the ‘signature campaign’ has become your own signature, like it or not, signature of your character. We will judge you by it. Harsh might be, but who says everything is fair.
Call was answered with over zeal, a large number of email addresses were posted here, and good part of that happened to be without the consent. Out of all, you Blogdai with a better sense of politicking should’ve cared to back check them. And meantime something happened, there came a spoiler by the name ‘Kapil Rana,’ from Delhi, who Blogdai claims to have tried to derail the whole process of the ‘letter campaign,’ as a result you decided to take all email addresses off the site.
Now, who is this Kapil Rana? Or is it just your excuse to pull off all those posted emails addresses from your site? How do you even know where does he reside? You just can’t throw around names, and expect to get away from it. Or do you?
You keep switching your boat between some form of autocratic rule and democracy. So, I believe, right now you are paddling in a boat name ‘democracy’. Well, one of the gems democracy has to offer is ‘transparency’ among many other things. Why not publish those 3000 email addresses here; it shouldn’t be a problem since you have their consent. You should do it not just because; I say so, because it’s sort of take-that-shit-you-bastards for your blind critics and the doubters. Don’t you think so?
The last paragraph of the ‘LETTER’ read:
”We demand that the National Army (NA), or any legitimate security force requested, begin operations that will directly lead to the restoration of law and order and peace in Nepal. These operations include establishing the active presence of NA forces wherever possible, a committment to fair adjudication of disputes and the active suppression and confiscation of all firearms displayed publicly by those not directly employed in Nepal's army or police or authorized security services.”
I do understand the reason for this over laden sentimental/emotional plea, but I do not understand the rationale behind it. Haven’t you been regurgitating all this time “HOPE IS NOT A METHOD.” Isn’t in the method itself (wrong or right, regardless), where possibility of solution lies? Question, such as WHY to the above plea is obvious, but one that constantly rub on your face are ‘HOW and WHO’?
WHO: as suggested—NA or some legitimate security force. Can that legitimate force be U.N, Indian Army or even Chinese Army. If it’s the end (peace) that we are worried about, means shouldn’t be the problem to achieve it. Or is it? If the establishment of peace is only possible (as suggested) by some form of security forces, then what does it matter who does it? Let’s assume that we agreed upon calling the Bangladeshi Army to restore PEACE in Nepal, staggering question still persists—HOW?
It’s amusing rather sad, not many out of those 3000 people cared even to ask such questions. That’s why it’s a darn good reason to post their emails back again, so that we can post the same question to them. Of the country, whose literacy rate is just about 50%, and this ‘3000’ bunch who not just could read and write, but understand the nuances of governance/politics, I believe have some semblance of intelligence/capacity to churn out some form of ‘method on how’ if given a chance to public discourse. Let’s call them back.
Understand one thing, if you fail to do so, anyone can take a stand, but the time demands you take a stand with some rationale/responsibility doesn’t matter of what opinion/ideology. Until then I don’t see any difference between all those ‘tire-burners/stone-thowers’ in the streets of KTM and ‘3000’ bunch, driven by ‘sentiments and emotion,’ only with better education than those scum[sic]—tire burners/stone throwers. As you aptly put it you are building your Spartans. Hope there is a king Leonidas among them to shine out. Someone, anyone? If they are not still fumbling with their togas—inside out, upside down.
Ah! All this meaningless platitude display of wit is going nowhere, and since I am not out for a Witch hunt, there is not much motivation/reward for investing my few hours going over all your past postings other than this juvenile urge to win the argument. So I stop here, pardon my laziness , my patience could only take me as far as your last two posts. Fickle that I am, but, it doesn’t mean that there are no unturned stones in your other posts, let some else do it, who has more time at hand.
But, I have to concede; I ENJOY your writings, which balance delicately between opinion and rant—something of rantopion (now there is a new word, which I can make a claim to). It’s important I keep my taste buds active with differing views, to keep my life colorful, mine is as colorful as Teletubbies discoursing with you lately.
Much thanks.
Muneer Yadav
Now THAT is how to present a contrary opinion. Any of you "teletubbies" paying attention?
Dead on and to the point. Nicely done and blogdai will now have to scramble to answer your well-thought answers.
Names were and are being checked for reasons mentioned in my post above. Names were pulled down because a letter with an Indian IP address was forwarded to me from one of those names not wishing to participate. Rather than open a flood gate of people copying our lists and using them for other purposes--which is tantamount to Maoists disrupting a political campaign--I've taken them off.
It is a good question though. blogdai has been mulling around the idea of having recipients submit their qualifications via email before I release a list to them for verification. Sadly, our "3000" are all probably educated, bilingual city dwellers throughout the world and not the village voices I prefer, but blogdai has a plan to call old Anil Adhikari, remember him? the cricked player who bravely ran for mayor of his town. I'll contact him for his take on the campaign and see if he can provide a "representative" number of rural supporters to the campaign.
The letter is posted in the main column under "Taking Back Our Voice," May 14, 2007. It is highlighted in blue and half way down the column. Yes, the last paragraph needs revision and yes blogdai will do so. Any suggestions?
I prefer your application of "teletubbies" to your creation of rantopinion. You will be duly foot-noted here next time either term is used.
-=blogdai
Blogdai,
Better start work together with Maoists to defer the polls. It increasingly looks like CA election is going to take place and Maoists will be wiped. UML has already started the campaign. Madhesi and Janajatis have already signed agreement with the Govt. for the CA election.
Sending the letter right around Dashain when the election is in full swing will make no sense. It will only make sense if Maoists, who are trying back out of the polls will create enough disruptions to delay the poll. So it looks like Blogdai will agree with Maoists for the first time.
I was telling you again and again that you send out the letters. I think it is now too late to send the letter. Your time has passed.
As I am quite sure you remember from nepal's recent history, One of the maoist's cheif demands is the CA election and assembly. Why? As I said 2 years ago, maoists want such elections so that they can control the outcome in remote precincts with intimidation.
Now since there is an increasing outcry for fair elections and impartial third party monitoring, Prachanda no longer has his cloak of remoteness to do his bidding.
he wants elections, but only on HIS terms. So, there will be NO CA elections this fall. In fact, there will be no credible elections of any kind as long as Maoists roam the countryside. Period.
No elections because there is an incompetent government who has neither the will nor the capacity to insure the safety of its citizens during elections. Why you feel this does not create a perfect scenario for our letter is beyond me. blogdai suggests you read the letter again.
-=BD
Blogdai,
Your letter will make sense if the polls are deferred again.
If the polls are not deferred and all the parties start the poll campaign, your letter will make no sense. Your letter asking for transferring power to NA when a poll is being held for more stable and legitimate govt will make no sense for any person with any brain capacity.
In that case, you have done a great injustice to all the people who made all the efforts to sign and collect the petition. I'm sorry but I think it is already too late to send the letters out unless if the govt defers the polls. You should just apolgize for your delay tactics in sending the letters and call it quits for now. Maybe you could learn something from this experience and do a better job for a letter campaign next time.
In view of (a) the interesting dialogue between Blogdai and Muneer Yadav above, (b) the 'Monsoon Predictions' post now being over a month old, and (c) the almost 200 comments attracted by this post: I take the liberty of posting a slightly revised version of "The Letter" first posted in this site on May 14, 2007. Proposed deletions from the original letter are highlighted in brackets. I suggest that it is time now for this letter to be circulated with all verified e-mail addresses.
To the Seven-Party Alliance and Maoist leadership:
We, the concerned citizens and supporters of Nepal placed our trust in the (Seven) Eight Party Alliance - EPA (just over a year) 18 months ago. It was our hope that the leadership entrusted with bringing Nepal into a new era of democracy and freedom through the Jana Andolan movement would continue in the spirit of last year’s demonstrations and re-introduce effective and competent governance to Nepal. Since that time we have been saddened to observe a return to the same style of ineptitude, corruption and political bickering that marked the previous 15 years under this same leadership. Under your tenure of the past (year) 18 months, Nepal has begun to spiral downwards towards anarchy and the complete disregard for the rule of law; threatening not only Nepal’s sovereignty, but the very safety of its citizens. It is because of this current untenable situation that we now must withdraw our support for your leadership and express our opinion of “no confidence” towards this Prime Minister and this un-elected “interim” Parliament.
We also hereby refuse to cooperate or give legitimacy to any force that uses brutality and coercion as a mean of furthering their agenda under the guise of restructuring Nepal, be it Maoism or any other movement. We strongly object to welcoming such groups into government with their violent adherence to their own sense of ideological supremacy undeterred and unchanged by our constitutionally established rules of governance.
Your failed leadership has contributed greatly to the present dire security situation in Nepal. It is (to) because of this fact that we must demand that the Prime Minister and Parliament suspend its operation and immediately refrain from further deliberations or acts of governance. We urge that an interim Government, composed of members from all major political parties - not just the EPA - lead the country until the CA Elections.
We demand that the Security Forces, i.e. Police Force, Armed Police Force and the Nepal (National) Army, or any legitimate security force (requested), begin operations that will directly lead to the restoration of law and order and peace in Nepal. These operations include establishing the active presence of NA forces wherever possible, a commitment to fair adjudication of disputes and the active suppression and confiscation of all firearms displayed publicly by those not directly employed in Nepal's army or police or authorized security services.
Concerned Citizens and Supporters of Nepal
Yes, I like the revision to the letter. I'll use it and change very little of what you've written. Thanks.
Submitting a letter does not mean it will have the power to miraculously give the NA immediate authority. This letter will show a groundswell of concern. Frankly, had we been the first to do this, it would have been ineffective. Now we have journalists asking the kind of questions that would precipitate our letter. Let this think unfold. I think our timing will be just about perfect.
With that in mind, how would an earlier release of our letter have jeopardized a CA election. Showing mass no-confidence would be a tremendous wake-up call to our do-nothing politician. Yes, but Prachanda would not be moved from his disruptive stance and Ian Martin would still not have the capacity to insure fairness. All I can see is that our politicians might feel the heat of world scrutiny more.
IF WE wait a little longer--and this is a blogdai rantopinion (copywright Muneer Yadav 2007)--Girija and Prachanda will continue to foul up the works and mass displeasure would be seen as timely and effective. If, as you fear, our letter jeopardized the CA elections, it is easy to claim incompetance. As much as people like Deuba can't wait for an excuse to cancel any election, having a simple letter campaign be the source of a cancellation would reek as an excessive reach to cover corrupt ineffectiveness.
Look, we don't necessarily WANT these guys conducting an election, based on their past performance. They can do nothing right. It is sad to ask this but name one governmental initiative that was implemented in the last two years that actually worked. For that matter, name one initiative, period!
-=blogdai
Ok, idea:
thanks to anon above.
VERY timely and effective revision might be something like:
"...we feel the upcoming planned constituent assembly elections must be taken as a stop mark for the ineffective practices of this government. Should they fail to be held, we demand government cease operations immediately..." something like that. Using our new revisions and such
Point is: there is absolutely NO reason for government to not hold elections this November. If it is because of Maoists then the original peace compromise was ill conceived in the first place and shows no willingness on the part of the Maoists to compromise, and no ability from GIrija to adjust and revise for the benefit of saving government.
Thanks again anon
NO GOVERNMENT IF NO ELECTIONS
-=BLOGDAI sorry, -=blogdai
The maoist have no intention for CA although it made benefical propoganda to grab the power at central level. But these foolish leaders of SPA followed the part of the prachand path and try to show the people that they more liberal and democratic than others. Their democracy depends on the election not on speech and wrong actions.
suddeny I feel Blogdai 's changed!!It's like hearing Simone praise a mediocre american idoler. Muneer got serious issues, if he wants to see 3000 e-mail addresses posted on the web.
now paras if he had copped with that heart attack instead of surviving....then maybe..we could have had a fresh angle to the knot
Blogdai, I say the time to circulate the Letter is now. The country is reeling from the 9/2 bombings. The incompetent Police have yet to catch anyone. Everyone is denying responsibility for the bombings, except some obscure - I think, fictious - groups. 'Lack of security' has taken a new meaning now with these bombings. Those of us who live here are wary of going to any public places (restaurants, cinemas, supermarkets, etc.). Let us ignite the fire under the SILENT MAJORITY to come out and say "Enough is enough!", and take to the streets. Protest is not a monopoly of the YCL and Maoists alone!!
Anon 8:15- voodoo on you. Just be careful when you cross the street next time. Sometimes wishes have bad habit of coming back right at you.
You seem quite a fellow of a gutter, never see the day of light for you belong in the dark.
Blogdai, over a week ago, you said you'd use the amended letter. I don't see how you've used the letter. Time is flying by. Today the newspapers here have headlined the unification efforts of the parties supporting the monarchy as well as a multi-party democracy. Events are overtaking the Letter.
Your ammendments will be a part of the final submitted letter, obviously.
Unification efforts will fail.
However, my dear Horatio, blogdai agrees that the time for the letter is quickly ripening.
Stand by...
-=blogdai
Different ethnic groups (who believe in peace and democracy) should come to the street to remove the failed spaM leaders.
Post a Comment
<< Home