An Adoptive Mother’s Appeal For Peace in Nepal
* Author’s Identity Withheld on Request
Nepal adoption journey has been long and emotionally tough, especially with great amount of uncertainties due to political situation. As an adoptive parent, I can do nothing but meditate and pray at home… Everyday, I pray for the child I am going to adopt, for Nepali people and for peace.
I hope you all understand that we chose Nepal not because it is a “RELATIVELY EASY and FAST” program as we were informed before sending in the application (Certainly, I have to admit that we became more confident after being told about this). Our choice was a call from our heart.
The reality turned out to be not so “RELATIVELY EASY and FAST”, our emotion has been on the roller coaster with each political climate change in Nepal, and our heart is in our throat again because of the tension between Maoist and Non-Maoist. Some of the adoption paper works we completed will expire soon, we will have to spend money and efforts to get them done again… But aren’t these the excitements of adoption process?
You wait, you pray, you guess, you doubt, you believe, you imagine, you dream… One moment you are nervous and ill tempered, and the next minute you might be as exuberant as a child who just received a new toy, all because of a piece of news or even rumour. We have no complaints, we chose Nepal because we love this country and her children, and we will wait!
I have faith in Nepali government, I truly appreciate the wonderful opportunity this country and its people have provided to us. Everyday, I came up with thoughts to encourage myself and keep my attitude positive.
While there are numerous public blogs on Nepal Adoption, I would like to get the communication down to a somewhat private level. If you have anything to share with me – good news or bad news or your thoughts or anything else you think I should know about, e-mail me at nepaladoption2009@gmail.com. I believe this is the most appropriate way to approach people who are more comfortable getting a communication started in a more private way… I will be expecting your message like a teenage girl expecting her first date.
I THANK YOU THANK YOU and THANK YOU for reading a not-so-pleasant statement from an adoptive mother. I promise to give you a cheerful statement when the GOOD NEWS comes! Again, wish you the best of the best. NAMASTE NEPAL!”
* Author’s Identity Withheld on Request
Corruption in Nepal Child Adoption Business
We are the adoptive parents expecting a baby from Nepal. Nepal adoption process has been much delayed due to what happened recently. Several parents already withdrew from the process and switched to Ethiopia adoption program because they are tired of waiting (They had waited 3 years). We are still hanging in there, and we hope things will move forward in Nepal, and we really adore Nepali children. We are just wondering what is really going on with “Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare”. Are you familiar with this organization (www.mowscsw.gov.np)?
They are responsible to process all international adoptions from Nepal, and we are under the impression that one of the key positions in the department remains vacant, and nobody is really doing anything right now. If you know anything about current situation of this organization, We’d appreciate your help if you share your knowledge with us.
The parents adopting from Nepal are getting very desperate, rumors are circling around… We really don’t know who to believe. We are not supposed to get too much insider information during adoption process, but our fear is building up due to increased uncertainties. We hope all the children in orphanage are being properly cared, and the situation in Nepal will get better.
We are better off than many other parents adopting from Nepal. Lots of them have waited for over 2 years. We stay busy at work just to keep our mind off the adoption, because there is nothing we can do now to accelerate the Nepal adoption process. One of the other adoptive parents is flying to Nepal soon to personally find out what is really going on, I am afraid he is going to waste his effort, because situation will not change just because he is there.
We know Nepal government has a lot of other more important projects rather than taking care of international adoption. Whatever happens, we hope it will be the best for your people.
(Parents’ Name Withheld)
Regulate Border With India to Curb Crimes in Nepal Terai
By Divas
*”Some of these groups that are making life difficult in Terai may have some kind of links in north India. It would be enormously helpful if Indian authorities are able to keep these people under control.” – Matthew Kahane, UN resident & humanitarian coordinator in Nepal
Just a couple of days after I wished India a ‘Happy Republic Day’, some incidents have drawn my attention to India’s relationship with its neighbors, especially the ’smaller’ ones.
Some news items:
*Nepal has informally alleged India of encroaching Nepali territory in Susta.
India has been accusing of Pakistani intelligence ISI using the Nepali territory.
*There were exchange of firings with the killing of at least one civillian between the two sides of Indo-Bangladesh border over a minor scuffle.
*US envoy to Nepal, Nancy Powell is in New Delhi to discuss Nepal issues with Indian officials.
*China has ‘unofficially’ expressed its concern on the activities going on in the Southern Terai bordering India.
*”Some of these groups that are making life difficult in Terai may have some kind of links in north India. It would be enormously helpful if Indian authorities are able to keep these people under control.” – Matthew Kahane, UN resident & humanitarian coordinator in Nepal
The Indo-Nepal relationship is the most ambivalent of all. The people & leaders of both countries vassilate between suspicion & trust now & then.
The issues of culture, economy, & border has never been defined clear-cut as with other countries.
But it’s high time that the traditional international border between the two nations is regulated in accordance with international parameters.
Allowing unwanted political & criminal groups to rule their own agenda on both sides of in the name of cultural similarity has been harmful to both countries.
Almost all nations share similar cultures on both sides of the political borders, but that is not a criterion/excuse to keep them open when more harm than good is inflicted on both sides.
In fact, Indo-Nepal border may be the most unregulated porous border in the world – even EU countries have not been able to adopt such openness.
And India has already increased its vigilance with the deployment of its Border Security Force along more than 1000 kms Indo-Nepal stretch. But no such effort has been dared from the Nepali side.
Either Nepali government & people should accept the Indian security umbrella like Bhutan, or deal with the issues with a firm backbone.
For, in most conflicting nations, especially those with high cross – border criminal activities, the old adage still holds true – that good fences make good neighbors.
Is Nepal a Sovereign Country?
Where is Nepal?
No sooner had China asked Nepal to ban the Everest expeditions in the wake of Tibet uprising, Nepal obliged to the call like a good feeble neighbor.
When China denied of sending its police on Nepal side of the Himalayan border, Nepal, too, vehemently denied the reports as baseless.
On the other hand, some Nepal Govt security officials confirmed the report – but, on the condition of anonymity.
And they do the same when Indian police enter Nepal to ‘nab the culprits’ and piously claim that they were on their visit the Lord Pashupati Nath.
Nepal Govt has two versions of the same incident.
Officially, they can not confirm that Nepal offers an excellent playground for the outer forces – both overground & underground.
More than the Nepalis who have nothing to lose, both the neighbors are getting bouts of dyspepsia at the sudden sprouting of massive & heavily-armed American Embassy buildings in Kathmandu.
Unofficially, they can not refrain from ‘tipping off’of the foreign manipulations of Nepal’s geo-political vulnerability.
Nepal’s visionary romantic L P Devkota in his essay ” Is Nepal Small?” ridicules that comparing Nepal with China or India is like claiming a human to be smaller than an elephant.
Nepalis never forget to proudly remind the foreingners that theirs is the only country in the world which was never colonized.
The mystic poet who could see ‘the whole universe in a grain of sand’ may be right in his own accord.
But the facts prove otherwise – that Nepal has never been a free country in its entire history.
Instead, there seems to be more truth in P N Shah’s cliched ‘238-yrs-old’ dictum: “Nepal is like a yam sandwiched between two giant rocks.”
Is Nepal Free?
How Irresitible is Nepal Maoist Chairman Prachanda?
A meeting between the Election Commission and the leaders of the big three parties — Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist) — at the Election Commission office, Monday. They discussed ending hostilities among electioneering party workers. Seen in the picture (from left) are Madhav Nepal, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist chief Prachanda. Chief Election Commissioner Bhoj Raj Pokharel is in the foreground. (Online Photo )
By Divas
Prachanda’s pitiable from-frying-pan-to-fire-itself gestures show it all.
Prachanda – one of the masterminds behind brainwashing their cadres to believe in the violent nature of the state.
Many, including the anti-communists, would hardly disagree up to that point.
Then they gave a fallacious mantra to the confused lot of romantics: that violence cuts violence.
They took a lot of time, thousands of killings, & millions of sufferings to recognize that their version of truth leads a society into a myriad of deadly confrontations.
And that countering the violent mindsets with even more violence created yet more violence.
Thanks to the quick realization of the vicious-circle, millions of lives were saved & innumerable sufferings were averted.
Prachanda, once again, is believed to have played a very positive role in persuading his own comrade colleagues & cadres who were hell bent on their ‘Kill or Die’ strategy that the time was ripe for yet another jump: a peaceful landing.
No one denied that despite their brutality which is better not to mention at present, the Maoists played an important positive agents for the Great Jump that the feudal Nepali society took by absorbing the social consciousness of the 21st century standards.
And the people were prepared not only to forgive but also reward the Maoists in the 1st deferred CA polls.
Prachanda enjoyed a lot of public & worldwide media attention as a truly revolutionary figure for his transformation from an underground Jungle Lord to the Lion of pragmatic communist ideology who could persistently mention Gunman Mao’s & the Lotusman Buddha’s preaching in the same breath.
Prachanda acknowledged & promised to free his party from all pollutions, which in his own words “infiltrated the party during the process of becoming the Ganges of Nepali politics.”
However, even Prachanda appeared naïve in comprehending that the 19th C rules of the Jungles do not hold true in cities & marketplaces of the 21st C – which proved a boon for the cunning national, regional, & international demagogues.
While their agenda prevailed in most of the government decisions, the Maoists themselves incurred a heavy loss, especially in the Terai, owing to their junglee attitude which was manipulated by other forces in their own favor.
The Outcome: A thrice deferred CA election, a country in shambles, a chaotic political football ground where everyone is a foul-mouthed-foul-player & there’re no convincing referees except the friends from all over the world.
Still, Nepalis love football, & they too have refereed in other countries, & they believe that foul players gonna play fair one day; the sufferings that people have gone through have made them even wiser, & they’re all set to provide everyone a space through the upcoming CA election.
Constituent Assembly Election Day in Nepal: Nepal’s Hope Day
Hope Rikindles on Constituent Assembly Election Day
Remebering April Revoltion
Taking part in the social movements is not only for those who hold up great ideals: even common people get a great value for living. In fact, you are the primary beneficiary – what the society gets is just a by-product.
You can ask any of the millions of simple men & women, some of whom came more than 20 kms afar on foot, who, according to a foreign reporter – changed the Curfew into a Carnival. Everyone was to the full extent of their creativity.
The most satisfying and unexpected thing was that this was truly a social movement – spontaneous & without breaks – the political leaders were far behind the masses. This super-mail of human consciousness would stop only after spending its momentum.
For the 1st time in the history of the under-developed nations, a velvet revolution is happening, which is not centered upon the charismatic personality of a particular leader.
A truly mass-based revolution.
There are no specific heroes and heroines – anyone who takes part is a leader.
Personally you learn how futile most of your personal worries & concerns are, a Dionysian Phenomenon, and you learn to face any situation with boldness.
You rise above your petty, meager, doggish day-to-day life, and suddenly you find that you’re a freedom-fighter.
You rightly compare yourself with all the great people – known or unknown – whose unrelenting persistence to improve social conditions have made our lives better than our parents’.
Those who make excuses by saying they’ve other social or familial responsibilities are advised not to fool themselves & others. Everyone is the master of their own destiny.
If one fears that there are more risks and uncertainties in an adventurous life, then please do not travel or even walk on the roads at all. Road accidents are the leading cause of unnatural death & disabilities.
Conclusions
· You’re the only master of your destiny; you alone are responsible for whatever happens to you.
· Your small effort toward the betterment of society brings about a sea change in the happiness of millions of people; than spending millions in dragging the rotten systems.
· Animals adapt themselves through the evolutionary process, but only humans can bring about REVOLUTIONS.
· No matter who you’re, where you live, what you do, you can still throw a small stone in the still waters of the stagnant society, and start a new wave of ripples.
One more thing for those who missed an opportunity – the people on the street caution that the movement is not over yet, it’s merely taken a new dimension.
As the singer goes on singing:
” imagine all the people…
…cheering all the way…
yu… u.. u.. u.. a…a …ah “
Saturday, May 13, 2006
*First published on cjnepal.org on May 12, 2006
Nepal: Where Mao Wins Election
NEPAL - U.S. Terror Watch enlist Maoist Party Loses War, but Wins Election
Dream Merchants in Troublesome Victory
“We ask all, including the international community, not to suspect on our commitment regarding multi-party democracy.” – Prachanda, Chief of Nepal Communist Party(Maoist) & C-in-C of People’s Liberation Army(PLA)
“…we are also somewhat uneased by the sudden & unprecedented responsibility that comes with victory.” – Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, Chief of Parallel Maoist Government during Insurgency
The landslide victory of the Maoists in the Constituent Assembly polls exhibit the immense desire of the people for a complete overhaul of the state structures.
The verdict for change applies not only to all the organs of the state, but also to the Maoists themselves.
The greatest casualty in the election has been the Maoist & other ethnic hardline theory itself that fallaciously relied solely on arms as the means for social revolution.
A great blow to the corrupts demagouges as well by proving the adage: you may fool a person for some time, but you can not fool a people forever.
The Maoists’ victory also indicates the resistance against present & emerging superpowers, suggesting for a reassessment of the current political, military, economic, & cultural interventionist foreign policy.
Georgia Crisis: Views From Mount Everest to Mount Khalatsta: Implications for Nepal
South Ossetia Flag and Map of the Region
By Divas
Hardly anyone with the slightest sense of justice would disagree with the view that Russia as the “disproportionately” powerful participant in the South Ossetian conflict must observe maximum restraint in its “peace-keeping” attacks on Georgia. Russian leaders must understand that their country is not only a regional “Big Brother” but a major superpower that counters aggressive American policies in every world conflict and especially in the United Nations’ Security Council. However, in the name of safeguarding Russian citizens, aren’t President Medvedev and PM Putin following President Bush’s domestically as well as globally much sneered upon adventures in the Muslim world?
The Caucausious mountainous region of Ossetia shows the troubled history of political experimentations at the humanitarian cost. Ossetia used to be a part of Russia until the region was divided into South and North Ossetia by the central Soviet government in 1922. South Ossetia was then designated as the autonomous region of Georgia, while North Ossetia later known as Alania became one of the republics within Russia. South Ossetia presently a Georgian territory comprises of 70 per cent of population from Russian ethnicity while 30 per cent belong to Georgian origin. Perhaps, the ethnic and linguistic mixture of the South Ossetia’s population is similar to the Terai or Madhes of Nepal in the sense that a large percentage of Nepal’s Terai population has close cultural links with the people of Northern India. Georgia, with around 100 ethnic groups making up its population, is a diverse and muti-ethnic country like Nepal.
The Soviet troops were dispatched in the region as a peace-keeping force when fresh conflicts began between the Ossetians and the Georgians during the late 80s.The South Ossetian legislature had even declared South Ossetia a sovereign state within the USSR in 1990. After the collapse of Soviet Union South Ossetians began a struggle to free themselves from Georgia and align with Alania as a Russian republic. The conflict seemed to subside during the late 90s with the Russian troops as the peace-keeping force in the region. After the Georgian independence with the collapse of the USSR, the country has been a close ally of the USA complicating the situation furthermore. Russia sympathizes with the Ossetians citing its cultural, ethnic and geographical proximity. The Ossetians argue, if Kosovo can declare independence from Serbia why can’t the South Ossetia? Sounds quite logical. What about Chechnya then?
Doesn’t the Ossetian Conflict shade some light upon the future of Nepal which is embarking on the path to federalism based on ethnicity?
This blogger feels that whatever the issue including secession must be dealt through negotiations instead of allowing them escalate into communal conflicts. Making a taboo of an issue, be it nationalism or sex, only promotes human suffering even further.
Indo-Nepal Relations: Love Thy Neighbor
By Alok Bhatnagar*
An assessment of Anti-Indian propoganda in Nepal
India Central Board of Secondary Education has incorporated Nepal’s Political transition in the Class 8 curricula. Ostensibly, the aim is to teach students the value of constitution during political change at the highest level. Latest events in the Himalayan nation, however, underscore the urgency of explaining to Indians in general why our country has remained such a politically explosive factor next door.
Kathmandu and other Nepalese cities were gripped by noisy protests after Parmananda Jha, the newly elected vice-president, took his oath of office in Hindi. The Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist has explicitly criticized the move as unconstitutional. A Nepali lawyer has filed a case at the Supreme Court demanding that Jha’s oath be declared null and void. While other parties have been less scathing in their response, student groups allied to them have condemned Jha’s act as part of an expansionary (read Indian) conspiracy. Parties and politicians trying to defend Jha’s act find themselves on the defensive.
Anyone familiar with the Nepalese plains, which Jha’s Madhesi Janadhikar Forum represents, knows how Hindi binds peoples speaking local languages and dialects of the region. Over 1,600 kilometers of open and largely unregulated border with India has facilitated diverse links. Many hills-people settled in the south, too, tend to use Hindi interchangeably with Nepali. The controversy is merely the latest manifestation of the antipathy Indians have long incurred in Nepal.
Indians, however, deem it unnecessary to respond to each outburst. Some of us see silence as an act of altruism we can easily afford as the larger neighbor.Others find the triggers of the periodic flare-ups too outlandish to merit any response.Regardless of our motives, India’s silence has helped to entrench Nepali attitudes. The growing influence of external players in the affairs of the world’s newest republic, many of them overtly inimical to Indian interests, requires us to gain a better understanding of the Nepali psyche.
A new book,The Raj Lives: India in Nepal, has come as a useful resource. The author, Sanjay Upadhya, a Nepalese journalist, explains how India has been a central feature in Nepali affairs since British colonial times. Kings and courtiers actively sought support from the British rulers for their machinations and then struck an anti-British posture to burnish their nationalist credentials. The practice continues to this day.
In the first half of his book, Upadhya echoes the general thrust ofcontemporary Nepali scholarship, which more often than not runs counter to Indians understanding of events. Thus, Jawaharlal Nehru mediated a compromise between the Rana shogunate, the onarchy and political parties in 1950 only to perpetuate Indian primacy by pitting each against the others. Indians know very well how, between 1960 and 1990, the monarchy and the political parties saw India as siding with their rival.
Upadhya brings the post-1990 period in interesting light. Relying on published material, mostly media accounts in Nepal, India and the West, the author creates a larger-than-life visage of India towering over every Nepali nook and cranny. Admittedly, New Delhi lacked coherence in its approach to Nepal and other South Asian neighbors since the mid-1990s, partly resulting from our own transition from Congress party dominance to coalition governance.
From Upadhya’s vantage point, Indian policy often emerges as a rudderless enterprise, with various agencies working at cross-purposes. Mostly, though, New Delhi comes out as a macabre agent of destabilization.The Nepali political class’s own history of squabbling and ineptitude, resulting in the frequent shuffling of prime ministers, is attributed to some diabolic plot originating in the Indian Embassy.
The Maoists, who launched a bloody decade-long insurgency on a charter top-heavy with anti-Indian demands, appear as India’s creation. The Kandahar hijacking, which marked one of the low points of modern Indian diplomacy, is presented as an Indian design to expose the weakness of the Nepali security system.(This based on one Nepali newspaper report suggesting that an Indian intelligence operative was among the passengers!)
Indian intelligence agencies allegedly masterminded the June 2001 palace massacre, which wiped out the entire line of King Birendra’s family, to check the monarchy’s growing proximity to China. Yet Gyanendra, the most anti-Indian of royals, happens to survive and ascend to the throne. New Delhi then somehow instigated Gyanendra to seize power in February 2005 only to instantly condemn him, in order to further destabilize the country. Ordinarily, such bizarre parallel history need not be dignified with a response. The important fact here is that Upadhya has not created it; he has merely echoed what is considered serious inquiry in Nepal.
India’s calm endurance of calumny erodes our initiative. During the 1990s, for example, Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence actively strengthened its base in Nepal by infiltrating anti-Indian constituencies in all the major parties. India repeatedly sought Nepali cooperation in dismantling this network, but Kathmandu, even during the supposedly India-friendly Nepali Congress governments, dragged its feet.
After the overthrow of the royal regime in 2006, China has stepped up its ties with the Maoists as well as the mainstream parties. Today the Chinese demand action against protesting Tibetan exiles and the Nepali coalition government is ready to brave widespread international condemnation to appease Beijing. India has high national-security stakes involved in Nepal.
Apart from the Chinese angle, the precise nature of the Maoists’ ties with our own Naxalite insurgents and Northeastern militant groups remains unclear. The Gorkhaland agitation has opened up another vulnerable front. It is not difficult to foresee a multiplicity of other threats hostile Nepali public opinion amid the country’s general political fluidity would pose.
The Raj Lives lays bare the basic malady in the bilateral relationship. In the final chapter, Upadhya even attempts to scribble a prescription. New Delhi, however, must commence its own investigation.
*Alok Bhatnagar is a bank employee currently working in the United Arab Emirates with an avid interest in Nepalese politics, sparked by a two-year residence in the country in the 1980s.Sanjay Upadhya’s The Raj Lives: India In Nepal has been published by: Vitasta Publishing Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi. 350 Pages. Hardbound Edition 2008.
Water Water Everywhere: Kosi Floods & Indo-Nepal Politics
The Koshi Barrage
By Divas
Indian and Nepali authorities instead of accusing their counterparts better concentrated on the humanitarian work for more than 50,000 displaced victims of the Kosi River flooding. Entire villages including the thatched huts and livestock have been swept away. Thousands are still missing. Those who had taken refuge in the government schools or on the sidewalks of the nearby towns after their villages were inundated with the flood water are facing food, shelter, clothing, and healthcare shortages. There are reports of people suffering from typhoid, pneumonia, and gastroenteritis.
Nicknamed as the ‘Sorrow of Bihar’ in the GK books, the Kosi(or Koshi) is the largest river of Nepal that flows from Nepal to India. The river is also known as the ‘Saptakosi’ in Nepal owing to its seven major tributaries which themselves are ferocious streams most of them originating in the Tibet. The Kosi itself converges with the Ganges along the planes of India.
The Kosi Barrage was constructed in 1954 under Indian assistance and inaugurated by the then PM Jawaharlal Nehru. The Barrage which lies on the Indo-Nepal border is a contorversial issue in Nepali politics, for a treaty allows India to control and maintain the Barrage made on Nepali land. Nepali communists have been accusing that the Koirala Brothers Trio – Matrika Prasad, Bishweshwor Prasad, and Girija Prasad – sold the rights on the major rivers of Nepal namely Kosi, Gandaki, and Mahakali to India. Even Prachanda, while visiting the affected area called the perennial Koshi River flooding as Nepal’s National Crisis and termed the Barrage as a ‘historic blunder’ hinting at the ‘unequal’ treaty with India.
India’s interest for controlling the rivers is twofold – safeguarding its people from the floods in the rivers that flow to India and make use of water for irrigation and generate hydroelectricity. Still, even the leaders of India’s Bihar State accuse their central government as well as the Nepal Government of being insensitive to the sufferings of the people residing in the area. Incidentally, former Chief Minister of Bihar Lalu Prasad Yadav is presently the Railway Minister of the central government. Most Nepalis believe that Nepal loses a significant part of its hydropower share generated by India on Nepali rivers.
Ironically, while Bhutan even as India’s security protectorate makes a sustained development through hydropower projects on Indian investment, Nepal still suffers from its what Dr. Jagadish Sharma calls “Struggle for Existence” squeezed between the two nuclear giants India and China.
On Indo-Nepal Relations from an Unknown Nepali’s Perspective: Review Nepal’s Foreign Policy
On Indo-Nepal Relations from an Unknown Nepali’s Perspective
By Divas
The world’s fastest growing economy India has put a high barrier on Nepali garments import as a souvenir to the world’s newest republic neighbor. It was, however, not unanticipated. Indian Embassy in Nepal had already expressed its annoyance at Prachanda’s first official visit to China. India had insisted to adhere to the “convention” of making Delhi as the first official visit, but Maoist Party Chairman Prachanda, citing to invitation for the historic Beijing Olympics, made his pilgrimage to Prophet Mao’s land. Immediately after landing on Kathmandu Airport back from Beijing, Prachanda declared that the New Nepal would stick to its conventional “Panchashil” (Five Principles of the defunct Non-aligned Movement) policy of the Cold War era and his another pilgrimage would be to New Delhi.
New Delhi bosses were further inflamed by the responsibility of the massive human catastrophe incurred by Bihar people due to Kosi floods that was supposed to drown only the Nepalis. What seemed to be around 50,000 Nepali victims of the flood turned out to be “a cumin seed in an elephant’s mouth” compared with the millions of sufferers in Bihar. The Kosi, infamous as it is, breached not only the embankment in Nepal, but did not respect the Indian border either. The result: a man made tragedy of global proportion in Bihar.
Interestingly, the Koshi Project controversy has brought the contradicting “anti-Indian” Pahadi and “Pro-Indian” Madhesi public opinion in Nepal at their unanimous conclusion: the Koshi Project has been what both Pahadi PM Prachanda and Madhesi FM Upendra Yadav commented, a “historic blunder” for Nepal. The technical and bureaucratic aspects of the Koshi Project can be fairly assessed from Nepali hydro-expert Dipak Gyawali and Indian journalist R Krishnakumar’s views. One just needs to peek into any of thousands of magazines from India to realize how the Indian intelligentsia has tolerated political and bureaucratic corruption as just another unavoidable game of the scoundrels.
There are some very descent politicians in India from I. P. Gujral to Sitaram Yechuri who believe in making good neighbors through good conduct. Indo-Nepal relationship has always been cordial at the business and public level. However, the sorts of those who shut down Hajmola factory in Nepal or those who slap a ridiculous levy on Nepali goods in India and impose an embargo on Nepal prevail time and again. The Indian regime has undoubtedly inherited colonial mindset from the British Raj. But, do the foreign policy strategists in Delhi believe that Nepalis would surrender to Indian political hegemony? Culturally, Nepalis are very much influenced by India, but at the same time, Nepali nationalism has also grown stronger than ever before. Even the Madhesi community that India had been banking upon owing to their similarity with Northern Bihar people is increasingly getting suspicious of Delhi’s intentions.
Hence, no one in Nepal is shocked by Delhi’s indirect ban on Nepali products. The only thing Nepalis find it strange that it’s happening under the leadership of a highly respected academic premier of India Dr. Manmohan Singh. Everyone knows that once Prachanda compromises some of his “revolutionary” and “nationalist” fervor seen as “anti-Indian” by New Delhi, there would certainly be some relaxes as a token of supremacy. The same policy always works for New Delhi babus – monarchies have been toppled and regimes have been changed through the economic asphyxiation policy. However, such forced compromises would only fan India resentment in Nepal that Delhi so much abhors, helping the proponents of “Tunnel War” with India. How long would the politicians play their petty squabbles at the cost of common people?
Perhaps, better if Nepal reviews its foreign policy of “equidistance” to both its neighbors. Nepal has to choose one between its neighbors. Choose any one – but equidistance doesn’t work. The New Nepal optimism of double digit growth by making Nepal a corridor between Sino-Indian trade would soon prove a farce. Just imagine, how could Delhi allow Nepalis to have a double digit growth when its own “boom” costs millions of people starving to death in Bihar, Bengal, and UP? Therefore, Mr. Prachanda, either you openly side with Beijing people if they really allow you, or accept Delhi’s blackmail of “Security Umbrella”.
Did anyone hear how elated Nepal’s Supply Minister sounded when he was reporting that Indian ambassador had given assurances of smooth fuel supply to Nepal?
Abrogate 1950 Treaty
SILIGURI, May 22: A number of eminent intellectuals from Siliguri have demanded the abrogation of the 1950 Indo-Nepal Friendship Treaty as a means of restricting border movement from neighbouring Nepal into Darjeeling and Siliguri. “Passport-visa system should be introduced and the citizenship rights should be bestowed upon the genuine Indian Nepalis who had come into India prior to the signing of the treaty in 1950,” they demanded. They also expressed apprehension that if the movement along the border was not regularised through passport-visa system, the settlers might outnumber the original inhabitants posing a serious law and order threat in near future for the hills and the plains in Darjeeling district.
Mr Ashru Kumar Sikdar, an academician and writer, said today that it was queer that the border between two countries remained open for years. “It is being used by people from the neighbouring country to settle in several areas of Darjeeling district, particularly Siliguri,” he observed.
“The only way to control this problem is to abrogate the Indo-Nepal Friendship Treaty immediately. The Maoist leader has already demanded of revising the treaty in the changed political context. We cannot understand why the Government of India is not yet serious about the issue,” Mr Sikdar wondered.
Incidentally, the external affairs minister Mr Pranab Mukherjee, who was in Kalimpong to inaugurate a water project recently, had said in response to Prachanda’s demand that India was open to talks with Nepal.
Another academician from Siliguri Mr Haren Ghosh today said that if the Centre was not serious about restraining trans-border movement, law and order problem in the Darjeeling hills as well as in Siliguri would get aggravated. “The genuine Indian Nepalis and the settlers after 1950 should be differentiated and passport-visa system should be introduced along the Nepal border to check the trans-border movement continuing unabated for years,” Mr Ghosh stated.
Mr Asoke Hore, the secretary of the newly formed apolitical platform, Jana Jagaran Mancha, said that Siliguri was fast becoming a den for the ‘Bhupalis,’ (Bhutanis of Nepal origin) who had been deported from Bhutan.
“There is evidence that a section of the ‘Bhupalis’ is involved in subversive activities recently unearthed in Siliguri. We are apprehensive that if the Indo-Nepal Treaty is not abrogated and human movement across the border is not subjected to a passport-visa system a much graver law and order problem may engulf the region,” Mr Hore warned.
Terrorist From Nepal Shakes Hands With Another Terrorist From New York
Prachanda – a Terrorist turned Prime Minister
By Divas
“Like America itself, I didn’t find anything exceptional about Mr. Bush either” said Nepal’s Prime Minister Prachanda about his short tête-à-tête with President George Bush. Within a month of his election as the world’s newest republic’s first prime minister, Comrade Pranchanda had already made official visits to China and India before he embarked for the United Nations’ Assembly in New York.
“Naturally, everyone there were curious to learn about me as a former revolutionary turned elected prime minister” beamed a buoyant Prachanda talking to the media persons in Kathmandu back from New York. Chairman Prachanda seemed narcissistically proud over his image as the U.S. State Department’s Terrorist enlisted Maoist Party Chief attending a reception hosted by the proponent of War Against Terror Prez Bush himself.
Within a month of accessing to the power through the ballot by putting aside his bullets under UN supervision, Prachanda has paid tributes to the three giants who influenced much of the political upheavals in the 20th century – Mao Zedong in Beijing, Mahatma Gandhi in Delhi, and Karl Marx in Germany. “No one like Marx has been born in the last 1,000 years” claimed Prachanda during his stop-over in Germany.
However, Prachanda’s dialogue delivery according the audience he faces has earned him an image of the “chameleon” politician. While he was desperately seeking for terror tag removal and international support for his party and repeatedly vowed his party’s commitment to peace, competitive democracy and market economy in New York meetings, even quipping that Lenin himself would have adopted a market economy had he lived a few more years, Prachanda and his party member’s have been repeatedly toying with their agenda of “New Democracy” back home.
“Be assured that the Nepali people will not allow you to completely sidestep the issues of freedoms, liberties, democracy and political process in the name of developmentalism” a Nepali professor Dr. Alok Bohara from New Mexico University warns Prachanda suspecting the latter’s recent coinage of “new model of democracy” to replace the present Westminster model of Nepal’s legislature.
Proposed Kosi High Dam: Silting No Problem?
Kosi Barrage at Bhantabari, Bhimnagar
By Ravinder Singh, Inventor & Consultant, India
Nepal should make a target of producing 40,000 MW of hydroelectricity by 2025. For six decades, India did not propose Nepal to develop its hydropower potential of 40,000 MW capacity worth $2000b with about 60 to 100 BCM storage. 200 billion units of green power generated every year at the rate of 5 cents a unit would mean annual revenue of $10b to Nepal, ten times its current budget and more than its current GDP.
Twenty percent of the power generated would be enough for Nepal, and the remaining 80 percent or more may be sold to India. India, Nepal and Bangladesh would get 200 BCM or more of regulated water releases with fool proof flood control protection.
Entire foothills of Nepal would get massive amount of water, power, irrigation and flood control benefits with an investment of below $100b.
More than 20 big dams have already been built from Bhakra to Tehri in India in the last five decades. Himanchal Pradesh alone is developing 20,000 MW of Hydro Power.
Although the regions from Kashmir to Tehri in Uttarkashi are prone to earthquakes, proven technology like concrete gravity dam (Bhakra) can withstand any earthquake. Mismanagement in civil structures is partly due to the shortage of capital resources.
3500 kilometers of embankments in Bihar didn’t generate any revenue BUT promoted corruption instead. Most of the money went in to the pockets of contractors and politicians.
Silting is not a problem as made out by dubious engineers. Bhakra siltation rate is 25 million cubic meters which means it shall fill up to 9 BCM in 360 years – more 500 years since there are plans of building dams close to 8000 MW in the Sutlej basin.
*Visit: Kosi Discussion Forum
Integrating Maoist & Madhesi Guerilla Army: Post-Conflict or In-Conflict Nepal?
By Divas
The debate on the fate of Maoist Army has intensified with Prachanda’s declaration of “integrating” the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) guerillas into the National Army within three months. The Nepali Congress Chief G P Koirala warned of strong protests against the idea of integrating a “politically indoctrinated guerillas” into the National Army. The Terai parties like MJF & TMDP also have strongly objected to the “wholesale” integration of the Maoist guerillas into the Army. Similarly, Nepal Army Chief Rukmangad Katwal has reiterated the Army’s policy of accepting only those “deemed fit through free competition.” The Maoist hardliners insist on bulk integration of PLA into the Nepal Army to form a new National Army.
Amidst conflicting opinions, United Nations’ Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) Chief Ian Martin , without mentioning the word “integration” has expressed his doubt over Prachanda’s three-month time frame. Martin hinted at the complexity of the issue saying that it’d be “extraordinarily fast for everything to be completed within a period of three months”.
Tackling the issue of “integration” or “rehabilitation” of around 20,000 UNMIN certified Maoist combatants would be the most daunting task for the political leaders after the peaceful abolition of monarchy and promulgation of republic in Nepal early this year. However, some Nepal Army officers claim that “integration” of the guerillas would not be of much concern provided the politicians refrained from attaching their personal egotism with the issue and begin vigorous but informal track-three consultations among the stakeholders.
Meanwhile, PM Prachanda has clarified that he too was not in favor of bulk integration of PLA into the Nepal Army. The Maoists hardliners better take into account of the Terai groups who demand bulk introduction of the Madhesis in distinct units within the National Army. The bulk integration of Maoist guerillas into the Nepal Army would automatically justify the Madhesi demand of similar nature.
Educational Reforms in Nepal: “Mother, Can I Go to School With Brother From Tomorrow?”
By Divas
The Maoist-led Government of Nepal has vowed to eradicate illiteracy from the country within two years. Article 17(2) of the Interim Constitution of Nepal (2007) holds the State responsible for educating its people, “Every citizen shall have the right to free education from the State up to secondary level as provided for in the law.” The 2005 estimate of literacy rate stands at an average of 47.5 percent. Not only the total literacy rate remains one of the lowest in the world, but also, like in all other South Asian countries, gender remains one of the major factors in determining one’s access to education. The female literacy rate remains at 29 percent, less than half compared with that of male being more than 64 percent.
The school systems in Nepal represent its class, caste, and gender anomalies. Government Schools are meant for people from lower strata of society and the girl children. Some daughters often make their poor parents dumb-founded by asking, “Why don’t you provide us with a quality education like our brothers get in the boarding schools?”
One of the reasons why Maoists proudly identify their bloody war as “home-grown revolution” is their focus on educational discrepancy among the population. The Maoists have been vociferous as well as violent against the dual mode of education – the government vs. private education. Thousands of “English Boarding School” run by private sector were forcibly shut down and the “bourgeois education” promoting class difference was replaced with “revolutionary education” by the Maoists in their strongholds during the “People’s War”. Time and often the Maoists issued circulars warning all non-public educational institutions to either voluntarily shut down or face “dire consequences” including the “purge”.
A large section of the Nepali population still believes that the Maoists were not wrong in identifying the root problems in the education sector of Nepal, among others. However, being the largest party leading the country after the Constitutional Assembly elections, the Maoists have realized that they can not shut down the “boarding schools” which claim to provide an alternative to thousands of students who’d otherwise surely head for India and other foreign countries. Some dreamy ones even wonder what if the Maoists make it mandatory for all government staffers to enroll their children in government schools only.
Understandably, the “mastermind” Maoist Finance Minister Dr. Bhattarai had no other option except for proposing a heavy investment by the government in the education sector. Ironically, the success of all Maoist initiated programs depends on smooth cooperation from other parties in the country and a hefty contribution from abroad.
Anyway, hardly anyone would disappoint the “nth-times marginalized” girl student from a government school who believes with hope in her eyes, “We’ve suffered a lot due to our ignorance. Let’s give the Maoists a chance to prove themselves, at least in eradicating illiteracy and improving the standard of community schools”.
Madhesi People’s Armed Rebellion in Nepal
Armed Madhesi Outfits Operating in Nepal along Indo-Nepal Border
By Divas
More than eight people have been reported to be severely injured in a powerful bomb explosion inside the Nepal Government office in a southern town of Janakpur. The incident, however, was not unanticipated. Human Rights activists and reporters working in the area had already expressed their concern over increasing violence and the delay in talks. Although the government has formed a commission asking scores of Madhesi armed outfits for unconditional dialogue regarding their “political” demands, some Madhesi outfits accuse that the government is not sincere for a meaningful dialogue and the call was just a ploy to fool the international community.
The explosion that rocked the hometown of Nepal’s president Dr. Rambaran Yadav took place just a day after the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Bamdev Gautam warned the armed outfits of stern actions in case the latter refuse government’s call for the dialogue. This shows, once again, that those in power need to focus on diplomatic & informal discussions with the outfits instead of provoking the “terrorist outfits” that operate along the cultural fault lines. DPM Gautam who has always advocated for engaging the Maoists to persuade them adopt the mainstream politics must understand that the state & the mainstream political parties have to adopt similar strategy while tackling the Madhesi armed outfits.
The role of some Madhesi leaders & intellectuals seems even more dubious who threaten of launching “another revolution” while bargaining with the government for key positions in the state machinery. India’s as well as China’s in the recent years, unnecessary involvement for a political mileage from Nepal’s conflict has also compounded the problem.
Why don’t the mainstream political parties mobilize their youth forces to conduct cultural programs that would be the most effective way to positively influence people’s mindset? Massive cultural awareness programs should begin from the capital Kathmandu where common Madhesis are humiliated with terms like madisey or marsya by Pahadi chauvinists.
The Madhesi armed outfits, too, better learn lessons from the swift rise to power by the Madhesi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF) largely through peaceful means of campaigning. Those outfits who have openly declared to have been inspired by Sri-Lanka’s Tamil Tigers, and have also incorporated names like LTTE, Madhesi Mukti Tigers, etc must understand how the Tamil people themselves are suffering in Sri-Lanka due to the insurgency, and the whole world including India finds itself helpless to condemn Sri-Lanka Govt’s offensive against the Tigers.
Who Observes the United Nations’ Day in Nepal?
Hey Kid, Is Your Pa with the UN? 
By Divas
Media persons in Nepal celebrated the United Nations’ Day on Oct 24 by holding the Peace Photo Award 2008 for the photojournalists. For others, despite amidst the news of UN General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon’s visit to Nepal in late October, the UN Day was just another official Day that was observed a week after the Condom Day(Oct 17?). This is not to mean that Nepalis don’t care for the world body, on the contrary, like the proud soldiers of Nepal Army, every Nepali (as well as people from the developed world) would feel proud to introduce themselves as a UN staffer. Like Ian Martin said, Nepalis are also looking forward to UN General Secrectary Ban Ki Moon’s visit as “the highest symbol of the United Nations’ interest in Nepal peace process and commitment to see it fully realized”. Nonetheless, like in all other countries, the UN role in Nepal also remains under severe public scrutiny.
Prof Jayaraj Acharya, former Nepali ambassador to UN, questions the UN’s excuse of lack of budget on the one hand, and the “staffers enjoying their salary without doing any work” and the utility of “smooth UN limousines proudly cruising on the narrow Kathmandu streets” (Kantipur daily, Oct 25). Prof Aachaya also criticizes the UN’s “failure” in responding to the needs of the victims of Kosi floods in Eastern Nepal and that of flood & famine in Western Nepal. Just a day ago, UN’s resident & humanitarian coordinator for Nepal Richard Piper had claimed on UN’s “response” to such situations with food, shelter, water, and health care. Who knows, Prof Aacharya’s sharing of public cynicism toward all “high-profile institutions” might be the result of a long wait since his last tenure for a UN job for himself!
Howerver, no one, including Prof Aacharya, doubts the need for UN presence in Nepal. From Maoists to Madhesis, all the armed groups in Nepal have demanded for the UN mediation during their talks with the Nepal Govt. Despite the occasional accusations of inefficiency & impartiality from different sides, the United Nations’ Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) is still monitoring the Maoist Guerillas in various cantonments and their arms stored in special containers. UNMIN played a crucial role in certifying about 20,000 as valid combatants from an army of about 32,000 guerillas. Another UN body, the UNHCR, is also active in Nepal looking after the Bhutanese refugees for more than 15 years who were otherwise forsaken by all concerning countries – Bhutan, India, & Nepal.
Who Cares If Obama Wins the US Presidential Race?
Where is Obama? … Oh, there !
By Divas
Congrats to American people on the historic presidential election day that the whole world watches with wonder. Even people of the South Asia are more interested in US elections today ignoring a similar democratic exercise in the neighborhood – the Bangladesh polls. Nepali Maoists are especially hopeful that the new US government – hopelfully under President Obama – would work toward removing the terror tag on the Maoists. Whether you vote for Obama or McCain, do ensure that you have adequate control not only on who gets elected, but also over the president in office as well.
The Bush experience proves the sad “democratic” fact that the president of United States of America can enforce policies against the interest & willingness of its own peoples. However, blaming Mr. George Bush alone for all the pitfalls in American form of governance would only be another illusion that American people need to get rid of. The need for systematic & constitutional reforms in American institutions also demands serious attention from American people & their representatives, so that the incumbent president would not ignore the directives of the House of the Representatives.
The primary concern for the American voters always remains the financial one. While Obama may be inspiring a wave of changes in the US, analyst in other parts of the world are less optimistic of any sweeping change in Washington policies regardless of who wins the race for the White House. Not only American invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, but persistent efforts by the US governments to limit the influence of the United Nations are also seen with concern in most parts of the developing world.
Not only the former allies of the US criticize the “War on Terror” & other US policies after the 9/11 attack, many American senators, House of Representatives (H0R) & policy advisers themselves have expressed their concern over the ineffectiveness of the HoR in voicing the public opinion. The recent defection by prominent republican senators & “disillusioned” supporters in favor of Obama against their own party nominations proves that Americans voters in fact have been electing a democratic autocrat who denies listening to the voices of his own people.
The Americans better realize that they can positively influence the whole world by showing a simple example that democracy begins at home.
Prez Ram Baran & Chutiya Politicians of Nepal
Dr. Ram BaranYadav: who is sick in my country?
By Divas
Nepal’s Physician President Dr. Rambaran Yadav took everyone at the Kathamandu Bir Hospital by surprise when he visited the hospital as a commoner patient, reports Dharmendra Jha in The Himalayan Times daily. As far as I know, no “national dailies” bothered making any report on the president’s visit, except a brief news by Dharmendra in the inside page of THT – & I was never a great nationalist to go through the “government media”. President Yadav dropped by Nepal’s cheapest hospital for a thorough check-up of his dental problem. “President, you have a decay in the root and need to undergo root canal treatment” advised the president’s dentist Dr. Prabin Mishra. After his own check-up, President Yadav inspected the government hospital and directed the personnel to serve people efficiently.
During a time when the experts are stressing on the need for making a clear provision in the constitution regarding ceremonial & executive roles of the president & the prime-minister to avoid a possible power tussle, President Yadav seems to be increasing his sphere of influence positively. The president, despite himself being a Madhesi, has persistently stood against the idea of making the whole Terai a single state as demanded by the Madhesi parties. A Rai from the hills writing to a Nepali daily the Kantipur confessed that the president’s firm insistence on national integrity regardless of one’s ethnicity has addressed the concerns among some Pahadis when both the President & the VP were elected from the Madhesi community. On the other hand, regardless of their political belief, the president certainly is no less popular among the Madhesis than he was, when an underdog Rambaran from the Nepali Congress party replaced the invincible Nepali Monarch as the first president of republic Nepal.
Nepalis are increasingly expressing their frustrations at the power & benefit-mongering attitude of the politicians & bureaucrats in a country which ranks among the world’s least developed countries. PM Prachanda’s refusal of observing such nonsense & truly bourgeoisie traditions like ritual sacrifice of goats, or accepting garlands from the Panchakanyas (five virgin girls) were certainly in line with what he likes to call “discontinuity from the past”. But many charged Comrade Prachanda of nepotism for taking both his wife & son during the recent U.S. tour. Similarly, some Nepalis in Japan began raising funds, and one from Kathmandu even promised to donate a free bicycle to each Assembly member when India government donated vehicles for the transportation of newly elected CA members.
A prominent conservationist requested President Yadav to reduce the latter’s carbon footprint by adopting eco-friendly modes of transport & lifestyle, thus becoming a role model for all. A veteran doctor recalling his recent visit to Sweden & Netherlands expressed his admiration in yesterday’s article for the widespread use of bicycles by politicians, government officials, & commoners alike. Others wryly question the republic agenda when stuck in the traffic jams due to the Sawari (an eulogy or what Dor Bahadur calls a “chakri” word used for former royals & aristocrats’ visit to & from somewhere now used for President, PM & other “high-profile” officials of republic Nepal J).
Hence, President Yadav’s small sawari to a dilapidated government hospital(that too donated by India government) for his dental check-up certainly deserves commendations for giving a message to, in the words of another medico Dr. Ajaya Yadav, “the high-ranking officials, who go abroad even for the treatment of minor diseases and drain out the state coffers”. Ironically, one day after the president directed all hospital personnel to serve people efficiently, the staffers began their politically motivated indefinite strike disrupting all indoor/outdoor services. On the other hand, some “freedom fighters” put up an alliance on the other side of the Indo-Nepal border to intensify slaughtering their own brethren on this side of the border. And our revolutionaries & democrats are still busy in their dogfight over the bone of army integration.
If you really ask me how I’m feeling toward all politicians from right to left and from Pahadiya to Madhise, you’re putting me in real danger, for to be honest I must call them, “ Chor Bhate Chutiya. . . mamamu. . .Byancho. . . ”
Update on April 03, 09: I’ve to admit i could not aprreciate President Dr. Rambaran for suggesting his son Dr. Chandra Mohan as a candidate for the by-election to be held in Janakpur area. It appears that Dr. Ram Baran visited Bir Hospital not to show an example but because his son was also working there as a physician.
Nepal: Sorry Mr. Human Rights Officer, You Were Too Late to Respond
YCL-MYF Clash in Terai Nepal
By Divas
Nepal’s former Chief Justice & incumbent Human Rights Commission Chief Kedar Prasad Upadhyaya blamed the youth groups of political parties for creating lawlessness & terror in the society, and asked for an immediate dissolution of the party youth wings. Mr. Upadhyaya was responding to the public outcry over the violent activities of the Maoists’ youth group the Young Communist League (YCL) & the United Marxists & Leninists (UML’s) Youth Force (YF). The nation’s human rights watchdog Chief also accused PM Prachanda of “obsessed with political issues rather than the humanitarian one”. Mr. Upadhyaya certainly said the right thing, but it was too late for someone in his position.
The opposition Nepali Congress has already made it clear that the issue of Maoist Army integration can not be smoothly implemented unless the Maoists dissolved the YCL. The UML created the YF to “counter the YCL attacks”. Even the incumbent DPM Bamdev Gautam accused his boss PM Prachanda for encouraging lawlessness, & asked for the dissolution of both youth wings – YCL & YF. On the other hand, more than 15 parties have formed their guerilla youth outfit modeling on the Maoists’ YCL. People from all walks of life have been expressing their frustrations at the atrocities & violent behavior of the political parties’ youth wings. Mr.Upadhyaya’s constitutional body the National Human Rights Commission has certainly received several complaints against the extortions, abductions, & parallel policing by the political parties. But, what kept Mr. Upadhyaya from cautioning the government for ignoring human rights violations until the United Nations’ Human Rights Committee condemned the Nepal Government for HR abuses, & the Danish Foreign Minister had to visit Nepal & express his concerns over the undemocratic activities by the political party affiliated youth wings (read youth gangs)?
One expects a rights body to be the first in calling government as well as other rebel & religious forces’ attention for decent & humane conduct toward the dissenting lots. There must have been some valid reason behind the Chief Justice turned Chief HR officer’s delayed justice. Tell me Your Honor, what kept you from making a prompt response to Human Rights abuses – reward or punishment?
Virus killers in Madhesi Politics of Nepal
By Divas
Nepal Government & one of the scores of armed groups in Nepal Terai, the Madhesi Virus Killers(MVK) began their formal dialogue from yesterday. While the MVK agreed to hold a cease fire during the talks, the government conceded for treating the armed outfit as a political organization. The MVK forwarded its demands for an autonomous Terai region under the federal structure expected to be designed & implemented by the Constitution Assembly.
India: Psychosocial Background of Madhesi Pahadi conflict
A strong pride inhabits among all Nepalis that they were the only people in the world history who were never colonized by any foreign force. The great pride reduced into “a yam between two giant boulders” has created strong concern among the “nationalist” forces that Indian “expansionist” forces are intent upon Sikkimization of Nepal. The threat of Indian expansionism seems to be rooted deep in the minds of the mountain or hill people. The national paranoia is generally expressed with a phrase in Nepali – India le Nepal Khancha - which can be literally translated as India will gobble up Nepal.
Besides, hundreds of thousands of Nepali hill people work as security guards & other menial workforce in India towns & cities. The plight of Nepalis as “Bahadurs” at the hands of their Indian employers & derogation of their family name has further fueled anti-India feelings. “Bahadur” literally means a brave person, which Nepalis traditionally use as a middle name to denote their self-respect. These workers after coming back home to Nepal harbor & encourage strong anti-India feelings in their society.
Poor Bihari Bhaiyas
The brunt of anti-India feelings among the hill people falls upon the Indian migrant workers in Nepal – mostly from Bihar who work as cycle vegetable vendors in Kathmandu streets – and their look alike Nepali Madhesi commoners. The Nepali Madhesis owing to their cultural similarity with Bihar & UP people are still looked upon with suspicion by the hill people regarding the formers’ nationality & patriotism. The plight of Nepali Madhesis in their own homeland in turn has fueled anti-Pahadi feelings in the Terai. Incidentally, the poor Bihari people seem to fare the discrimination most – be it in Bombay, Assam, or Kathmandu. “Bhaiya” which literally means “brother” is a ‘nigger’ word used to call the Bihari & Madhesi commoners in all these places.
Madhesi Movement: Armed Vs Peaceful
The Madhesis initially raised arms against the state to counter the Pahadi hegemony in the state structures. The early armed groups were the splinters from the Maoists who targeted the Pahadi people in Terai to bargain with the state. Later, especially after the Madhesi Movement of 2007, the political issues were mostly represented by the mainstream Madhesi parties like MJF, TMDP, & NSP. Even the Maoist Party itself has a strong base among the Madhesi people.
Since the Madhesi people did not allow the armed rebellion to flare into a Nepali version of “Tamil Vs Sinhalese” full scale war, the lawlessness of the neighboring Bihar & UP crept into the armed groups reducing most of them into a bunch of criminal gangs. These groups resort to extortion, kidnapping, & ransom killings. In fact, more Madhesis than Pahadis have been killed & tortured by these armed outfits in the recent days. Hence, at the current situation, it’s difficult for an ideologically motivated armed Madhesi political outfit to differentiate itself from the opportunist extortionists & criminals.
Thus, the decision by the MVK for holding a truce, and fight their battle at the talks table certainly brings a new wave of hope for the peaceful resolution of the Terai issues. The MVK’s gesture toward peace would not only put a moral pressure on other armed forces, its cadres might face security threats from the rivals. Hence, the government & media must highlight & praise the MVK’s positive stance, and look after the security of the MVK cadres.
Sixteen Hour Load Shedding in Nepal: How the Hell Can One Run the Government?
By Divas
Nepal enters a sixteen hours daily load shedding schedule from today. The Government has already declared a nationwide power crisis. PM Prachanda & FM Baburam certainly realize the gravity of the situation – both have identified the electricity shortage as the single most threatening issue against their government, and even against the ongoing so called peace process. PM Prachanda in a “talk program” on the challenges faced by his government almost exasperated: Bijuli nai chaina, bhutro desh chalaune? (No electricity – how the hell can I run the government?) Therefore, while the ruling Maoists are busy on blaming past governments’ policies for the present power crisis, the main opposition NC & UML blame the Maoists for opposing such mega-hydroelectric projects like the Arun III, Seti, Mahakali, & Melamchi.
The country has some interesting experience to share from its existing 12 hours power cuts. Nepal Police says that incidences of robbery & petty crimes go up during the dark hours. Hospitals refuse accepting emergency & injury cases due to their inability to operate such vital machines like MRI & CT. Nepali doctors are adding laurels to their professionalism and ask for extra privilege & protection for their success in “Candlelight Operations”. Nepal’s radio & TV networks have officially announced a five hours’ closure of “informing the public”. The dailies publish students’ complaint letters lamenting how their exam & career are affected by continual load-shedding.
Personally, i pity at Prachanda & Baburam’s helplessness and my all sympathies goes to our comrades at the shattering of their New Nepal dream, but still find myself increasingly cynic & snobbish of Nepalese behavior. The Maoists can not just shrug off from their share of responsibility to their bourgeois counterparts in accepting past mistakes. While the past Panchayat, Kangressi, & “hijda” UML governments were certainly corrupt to their bone-marrows, the Maoists should not forget that they were also running a parallel government for the past 15 years. During their People’s War, the Maoists claimed to control all Nepal’s territory except Kathmandu and not only obstructed new development projects but also destroyed the existing infrastructures – a revolutionary method of weakening the “feudal governments” by forcing people into the Dark Ages. The Maoists even used to warn people not to expect any construction projects, as they were uprooting the remnants of feudalism.
And what to say of these Deshmara Rastrasewak government staffers? Have you ever visited a Nepal Government office? I once told my father that I’m ready to forego all claims on land & property that involves dealing with government officials. As a child of a government employee I was born & raised in various government offices across the length & breadth of this country, and I myself have worked for a government corporation for some time. Go & have a look, while the commoners in the countryside are dying of cold-waves and the nation is under a sixteen hour load shedding, i’m sure you’ll find the heaters in all government offices always on. When it’s not cold, you’ll find that all the fans are always on. And, often you’ll find that all the electric gadgets are always on – a staff may be drying out his washed clothes under a fan, enjoying himself by the heater.
There’s a saying among the masses that Nepalis will eat even alkatra (coal-tar) – the saying comes from an everyday observation of how the construction & repair works are hastily begun & completed during and only in the monsoon rains so that they could write in papers that bridges and roads were swept away by monsoon floods. From project directors to fuel stealing drivers, from ministers to halkara peons, all government employees are drenched to their neck in the guhu (feces) of corruption. Where else do you think the fifty years of foreign grants in Nepal has gone? How can a kharidar (clerk) build an enormous building in Kathmandu? Do you think these armed groups in Terai are fools that they target government employees for extortion?
Hence, to all Nepalis including Prachanda & Girija, to male, masaley, & mandaley, I’d like to do a Khuchching, ees kha. As for me, I’m excited with the thought of what would happen when the country goes for a 24-hour load shedding. But that seems unlikely – for Prachanda, finally surrendering to his Delhi Bosses, has asked for an immediate power supply. Why so much fuss anyway? More than 80 per cent of Nepal population never faces any load-shedding – access to electricity is still a luxury among the 20 per cent bhuifutta & basi basi khane (sit, sit & eat) Nepalis.
Boorchodikey! 
CLICK FOR LATEST/ NEWEST LOAD SHEDDING SCHEDULE Load Shedding Schedule (23 Jan 2009) Magh 10 Gate
| CLICK Here: Load Shedding Schedule (23 Jan 2009) |
Or, you can find the latest schedule (when it changes again) on Nepal Electricity Authority Website. Here:
PRACHANDA RESIGNS: Maoist Prachanda Gen Katawal & Nepal Army Controversy:Call Beijing & Delhi for Military Intervention
General Katwal Adressing a Program by Maoist Insurgency Victims
By Divas
PRACHANDA RESIGNS: UPDATE ON MAY 04, 16: 10 Nepal Time: Accusing the foreign forces for interfering in Nepal’s internal matters and making the President a parallel power center unconstitutionally, PM Prachanda resigned from his post in his address to the nation today.
Nepal Army and Defense Ministry still seem to be at loggerheads over their status in the state hierarchy. As if making a national issue out of their personal grudges was not enough, Defense Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal and NA Chief Rookmangud Katwal are now inviting their respective foreign bosses for intervention. Apparently, Badal and Katwal are at loggerheads over whether the NA should continue with fresh inductions to fulfill the vacant posts in the army. While Badal accuses the Army of trying to control a democratically elected government by refusing its directives, Katwal sounds defiance against the Maoists tactic of keeping the National Army under the Party’s control.
However, if you’d listened to Prachanda’s yelling, ‘Ko Ho Tyo Katwal, Ko Ho Tyo?’(How dare Katwal say that?), you know that the issue revolves more around the person Katwal than the organization of Army itself. Katwal finds the Maoists ungrateful toward the NA in general and Katwal in particular for the Army’s positive role in the peaceful promulgation of republican agenda. On the other hand, the Maoists find Katwal a major impediment against their application of ‘discontinuity from the tradition’ agenda in the Nepal Army.
Katwal is certainly making speeches and gestures that may be called politically motivated. He seems to be preparing a political space for himself after he gets a natural retirement from his present profession within a year. Katwal’s democratic principles of working under a civilian control contradicts his refusal to obey the Defense Ministry’s directive to stop fresh recruitments. The Maoist led government may have made a mistake by initially giving a go ahead nod for the recruitment, and later ordering for a Stop under the pressure from the Maoist Army. However, the NA high command should not forget that the UNMIN, which is the only valid referee at present and may be in future conflicts in Nepal, also opposes fresh inductions.
Hence, if Katwal makes his organization to go against civilian directives, then the UN should also reconsider its preference for Nepal Army personnel in UN’s peace keeping missions.
The Maoists too must stop pretending that they have won a war against the Nepal Army. Whether the Maoist high command or their cadres like it or not, the Nepal Army is the only legitimate army of this country. Not only the mighty Maoists, but even a few individuals can create a havoc of 9/11 proportions – but you can not establish a one party rule in the modern multicultural world. And given the kaleidoscopic heterogeneity resulting from the diverse ethnic and linguistic variation of the country, establishing a communist or any other one party rule in Nepal is impossible.
Since, not only the opposition Nepali Congress, but even coalition partners like UML and MJF support Gen. Katwal, the Maoists alone can not make any what Prachanda prefers calling “logical conclusion” out of present impasse.
Personally, after learning of Badal making secret requests to Chinese officials, and watching Katwal laughing with India Ambassador Sood inside India Embassy, several questions crop into my mind:
Who is that Katwal?
Who is that Badal?
Who is that Prachanda?
Who is that Girija?
Who is that Makune?
UPDATE: The Supreme Court (SC) of Nepal on Sunday Feb 22, 09 issued an interim order to the Defense Ministry and the Nepal Army to halt the process of inducting new personnel in the army.
In a response to the writ petition filed by INHURED International against the process of new recruitment drive unleashed by the NA, a single bench of the SC headed by Justice Anup Raj Sharma ordered immediate halt to the new induction till Feb 28.
UPDATE on March 5: While the two judges bang their heads over Nepal Army recruitment, the Maoist Army PLA also starts recruitment procedures. The United Nations’ Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) says the fresh recruitment drive of the Maoist affiliated People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is against the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
UPDATE on March 13:
The Supreme Court in its final verdict ordered both the NA and PLA not to conduct new recruitment. It however, upheld the recruitment of some 3000 personnel in NA, stating that the recruitment procedure, which completed before the writ against recruitment was registered, could not be invalidated.
Upadate on April 23, 2009
Prachanda supported a decision by the defence ministry two days ago to seek clarification from General Katawal over allegations that he ignored government orders on recruitment and the sacking of eight senior army generals.
Katawal provided an explanation within the 24-hour deadline given to him by the government. The controversy has split political parties, including those in government, and is threatening to derail the peace process.Nepal president Dr. Ram Baran Yadav formally wrote to Prime Minister Prachanda not to seek the army chief ’s resignation as it would create further trouble. Katawal is to retire in a few months.
Former Army officers and security experts in an interaction program warned of unexpected catastrophe if Katwal were sacked. Security Expert Karna Bahadur Thapa Thapa said “It is the time to work for national interest rather than creating problems.”
UPDATE On April 24:
Contrary to Maoists’ claim of “civilian control” over the Army, the motive behind their plan of sacking General Katawal appears entirely of party interersts. The Maoist also seemed to be working on the plan of Deputy General of Nepal Army Kul Bahadur Khadka. Kadka had submitted a plan to the Maoists months in advance and they liked it. According to the plan, all 19,000 Maoist combatants would be integrated in the Army; PLA commander Nanda Kishor Pun “Pasang” would be made Major General and many others would get brigadier positions.
Click here to read a detailed scoop on how General Katwal had also planned for a “soft coup” and a Bangladesh-inspired President’s Rule backed by India Government.
UPDATE on April 30:
The Katawal Case took another dramatic turn yesterday. While the ruling Maoists, UML and the opposition NC have begun consultations to forge a consensus, Top three Nepal Army Generals on Wednesday refuted the media reports that there is a rift in the army top brass.
The Chief Rookmangud Katawal appeared with his deputies Lt. General Kul Bahadur Khadka who is second-in-line and Lt. General Chhatraman Gurung who is third-in-line and all of them collectively expressed their commitment to the democratic process and the Chain-of-Command in the Army affairs.
UPDATE on May 03: PM Prachanda’s side of the cabinet today sacked Rookmangad Katawal from the post of Chief of Army Staff and appointed second-in-command Kul Bahadur Khadka as the acting CoAS. However, the ministers from CPN (UML), CPN(Samykta) and Sadbhawana have boycotted the meeting after Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal tabled a proposal to sack CoAS Katawal. The decision would only come into effect after the President accepts the government decision, which is unlikely given the political developments that have taken place in the recent days. The most likely scenario would be that the Maoists would leave the government and opt for the opposition role as the UML and the NC have begun consultation on forming a new government.
UPDATE on May 4: Amidst the controversy over the constitutional rights of the president, Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, in the capacity of commander-in-chief of the Nepali Army has annulled PM Prachanda’s sacking of CoAS Kathuwal, and has written to the army headquarters instructing Katawal to stay in position. PM Prachanda and his party have termed the President’s interference as “unconstitutional”. Prachanda is to address the nation on the issue at 3 pm today.
PRACHANDA RESIGNS: UPDATE ON MAY 04, 16: 10 Nepal Time: Accusing the foreign forces for interfering in Nepal’s internal matters and making the President a parallel power center unconstitutionally, PM Prachanda resigned from his post in his address to the nation today.
Message to Prabhakaran: Learn From Prachanda
Prabhakaran(L) — Prachanda(R)
By Chitrangi, Sri-Lanaka
The following is a post from Chitrangi’s Weblog who’s a blogger from Sri-Lanka.
The future of the Maoist leader and the future of Nepal has solved in a peaceful manner. We all must congratulate this rebel leader and former teacher. Prachanda remembers the LTTE leadership. Both have vast difference and can’t compare them. But we have to learn from Nepalese. If we will not learn, the lives of the innocent civilians not Prabakaran not Mahinda (our president) in danger and facing unbearable difficulties for years. Every one knew in history any party to the war not won but achieved destruction.
The BBC has reported it is only two years since Prachanda emerged from more than two decades underground as a militant communist leader
I am very happy and very emotional,” he said as he left the constituent assembly after the vote, reported AFP news agency.
What the Maoists called their “people’s war” had left 13,000 people dead, tens of thousands displaced and much of the country’s infrastructure destroyed.
The BBC’s Charles Haviland in Kathmandu says that now the former guerrilla will be the most powerful politician in the Himalayan country, after 464 lawmakers gave him their vote and only 113 rejected him.
The Maoists’ deputy leader, Baburam Bhattarai, said: “Today is a day of pride and it will be written with golden letters in the history of the nation.” He predicted earlier that Prachanda would be a leader “for a new era”, comparable to Lenin or Napoleon.
Friday’s ballot ends months of political deadlock that had followed the sacking of the unpopular King Gyanendra and the abolition of the 240-year-old monarchy. Our correspondent says that Prachanda’s elevation had long seemed inevitable after his party scored its convincing win in April.
The Maoists’ Congress Party rivals accused them before the vote of plotting to set up a totalitarian communist regime, a suggestion they strongly denied.
A former agricultural science teacher-turned-revolutionary, Prachanda was originally named Pushpa Kamal Dahal, but he still uses his guerrilla nom de guerre.
Members of Nepal’s parliament have overwhelmingly elected the Maoist leader Prachanda as the country’s new prime minister. The 53-year-old won 80% of votes to defeat his only rival, the Congress Party candidate, Sher Bahadur Deuba. Maoists won a surprise victory in April elections, and two other key parties supported Prachanda in the vote.
We as Sri Lankans must congratulate Prachanda and learn from Nepalee people and put them into practice.
Indo-Nepal Border Disputes: Nepal reclaims Lands from India
Greater Nepal: Land Lost to British India in the Sugauli Treaty of 1816
By Dr. Abdul Ruff
Already badly shaken by crucial Kashmir holocaust and Pakistan destabilization issues, all of its own making, India has got another issue to be settled quickly in its northern neighbourhood, Nepal. With the rise of nationalist sentiments and emotional outbursts in Nepal about Indian pressure-cum-sideline tactics, Nepalese are putting up a joint front to redeem the lands last long ago and now under Indian custody.
Already badly shaken by strong resolve by Kashmir both freedom groups and the pro-India outfits to regain their sovereignty lost to Indian in 1947 owing to dirty tricks played by their Hindu rulers who made secret dealings with India to let Indian forces occupy Jammu Kashmir and Sri Lankan firm dealing with Indian settlers there fighting for a separate nations, now the demand of Nepalese could cause further embarrassments in New Delhi and strategists would lose sleep for yet another reason. But India has to resolve all disputes one by one and become real secular democracy. The decades long attitude “you fellows make any kind of noise, but we will maintain a criminal since to make the demands cool down and evaporate in due course with historical Indian tactics and modern machinations.
In stead of considering the Nepalese claim as another serious threat to Indian hegemonic ambitions in the reigon, India should strivie for reliable resolution of all its problems with neigbors including Kashmir thereby making the region secure and stable.. And the notorious terrorism plank would not help India but even ruin it in the long run. Hopefully India will revise its policies abroad including Pakistan, Kashmir and Nepal by initially softening its petrified mindset skillfully hoisted in the region and settle the disputes amicably. Indian strategists might not need any reminder of the celebrated phrase: where there is a will, there is a way too”.
Nose Based Leadership Change in Nepal: Replace all Brahmin Leaders
Nose Size Matters in Nepal Politics: They’re Bahun & That Corrupt is also Bahun
By Divas
If you’d go through Nepal’s popular dailies including those I scrutinize everyday – the Kantipur, The Himalayan Times & The Kathmandu Post, and make a racist evaluation of the contributors, you’ll find that more than 80 percent of the authors there belong to Brahmin caste. Not only the authors and editors, most of the letter to editor writers are also Bahun. Scan the profiles of all high level government officials, the same statistics holds true there too. Bahuns consider the field of academics and scholarship as their innate profession. The same is true in politics – even the tirades against Bahunbad (Brahmanism) in politics have now become clichés. Many point at the irony that Bahuns hold the key posts even in the Maoist party which led the movement against Bahunbad in Nepal.
The Bahun halimuhali (hegemony) in Nepali life is sickening. I’m increasingly getting intolerant of Bahun leadership in everything in Nepal. To tell you the truth, I hardly read any article written by Nakchuchche (pointed nose) Bahun or Chetri caste – except if it’s by a Bahun physician writing on some health related issue. I do not even watch television these days fearing I might have to see the Bahun or Chetri faces of political leaders. So much so that, I even judge a roadside restaurant by its owner – I don’t want to eat anything from an arrogant Bahun or Chetri with pathetic culinary sense.
Some concrete reasons behind my Bahunallergy (Bahun Allergy). The election fever is getting its hold on the students of Nepal’s largest public university, the Tribuvan University (TU). Lekhanath Neupane who is a Bahun and also the leader of Maoist affiliate student union issued a warning a few days ago that they’d break the backbones of anyone opposing them like they did before. Bahun Lekhnath was countered by another Bahun Pradip Poudel of Congress affiliated student union who said that they’d also break the bones of anyone attacking them.
Instead of showing some examples of good governance by controlling corruption in politics & bureaucracy, the Bahun Prime Minister of Nepal Prachanda, Bahun Finance Minister Baburam, and Bahun leaders of Maoist Party CP Gajurel, and Dinanath have been warning of revolt unless they’re not allowed to govern. On the other hand, the Bahun Kangessi opposition leaders of the like of Shushil Koirala and Govinda Raj have begun counting the days for the downfall of the government. And please, don’t even mention the Bahun names like Jhalanath Khanal and KP Oli. Power seems to corrupt the Bahun more than others. The chics & bellies of Bahun swell very fast once they begin enjoying state coffers.
My argument is that the Bahuns & Chetris should voluntarily hand over the leadership to the people of other castes & races – that’s what Gyanedra’s retirement from monarchy symbolizes. The air is simply not in favor of Nakchuchche in Nepal these days. Go abroad, do some business, become professionals but please don’t show your names and faces on televisions and newspapers.
And if you’re choosing your leaders, whether in the upcoming student election, or in the Nepali Congress & UML Conventions, or in the local bodies, don’t believe in their official policies, for no one makes bad policies, look at their nose, and vote for a non-Nakchuche, or a Madisey.
Incidentally, I myself happen to be a Nakchuche…but do read this crap anyway … Boorchodikey
What Nepalese Dream to Achieve in Ten Years By 2020
Kathmandu in 2020: No Load Shedding!
Nepalese too can dream of manufacturing airplanes
East West Nepal Railways: Taplejung to Darchula Underground Rail Service
Sea Port in Nepal: Mulghat Port at Dhankuta
Mechi Mahakali Terai Super Express Electric Train Service
Tourist Town of Pokhara in 2020: Annapurna Himalayas in Background
A 2020 Remake of Nepali Film Sindoor at a Kathmandu Cinema Hall
i received a pdf file in the mail and enjoyed reading it. Would Nepalese be able to develop their country this fast? Or is this mere another Maoist propaganda? Anyway, a really creative job I must say.
Click on the link below, download the pdf file, and read…then comment if you feel like it.
new-nepal-development-dream-2020.pdf
WARNING: All the Images are PROJECTIONS in Future Tense, they do not represent Present Tense REALITY.
Nepal in Damn Statistics!
Basic Facts
Official name Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( Since 2008)
Capital Kathmandu
Area 147,181 sq km
Population 28,901,790 (2007 estimate)
Form of government
Recent Transition from Hindu Kingdom to Secular Republic/Interim Constitution/ Constitution Assembly 2008
Head of the State: President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav
Head of the Government: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal
Type of the Government: Coalition Govt of 22 parties, Maoists in Opposition
Population Composition:
Hindu 85 percent
Buddhist 8 percent
Muslim 4 percent
Christian 1.5 percent
Other 1 percent
Ethnic groups: Newar, Bihari, Tibetan, Gurung, Magar, Tamang, Thakali, Bhutia, Rai, Limbu, Sherpa
Languages: Nepali (official), Maithili, Newari, Tamang, Bhojpuri, Rai, Gurung, almost 20 other languages divided into numerous dialects
English fairly understood in urban places
Religious affiliations: Secular Republic (Abolition of Hindu Monarchy in 2008)
Largest cities, with population
Kathmandu 671,846 (2001 estimate)
Birātnagar 166,674 (2001 estimate)
Lalitpur 162,991 (2001 estimate)
Pokhara 156,312 (2001 estimate)
Bīrganj 112,484 (2001 estimate)
Other Stats:
Population growth rate 2.13 percent (2007 estimate)
Population density 202 persons per sq km (2007 estimate)
Urban/rural distribution Share urban 16 percent, rural 84 percent (2005 estimate)
Health and Education
Life expectancy
Total 60.6 years Female 60.3 years Male 60.8 years (2007 estimate)
Literacy rate
Total 47.5 percent Female 29.9 percent Male 64.7 percent (2005 estimate)
India Votes 2009: Billionaires’ Polls: Hindutva, Islam, & Democracy
By Dr. Abdul Ruff
I
Essentially the billionaire’ poll going on in India to make way officially for the rich people among others to enter Parliament as people’s representatives is indeed a mockery of democracy. On the one hand the poll is being imposed on unwilling Kashmiris as the freedom leaders have announced a boycott of the Indian poll in an alien Jammu Kashmir now under hegemonic and brutal Indian occupation.. One other, the crucial issues of Babri Mosque reconstruction and surredering of Kashmir soverignty have not been raised in the campign, but the nation has to resolve the issues at the earliest.
Biggest joke is Indian polls being “free & fair”, while the opposite is true. Power of money and muscle as well as blackmail politics is the hall mark of Indian poll and politics and Muslims are the sufferes. India is being literally ruled by the billionaires and other varieties of multinational industrialists by keeping a regime of its liking. They finance national and regional politics, polls, cricketism, nuclearism, terrorism and many other activities both openly and hidden. Earlier these “special” category of “democrats” used to employ politicians as candidates for polls both for the Parliaments and state legislatures, but now many of them have popped up themselves as the prospective Parliamentarians for the next Parliament. Many of the today’s candidates for Parliament to make law for the Indian nation have criminal records, some of them alarmingly serious ones.
Indian billionaires and multi-nationals and other big industrialists are holding a poll to reelect a regime to pursue their global interests with the help of political outfits in the country through a properly constituted election commission to support their cause. Major issues like Kashmir and reconstruction of grand Babri Mosque destroyed during the Congress regime in 1992 are not at all raised in the poll in consensus efforts by all politicians-bureaucrats-intelligence with a view not to appeasing the Muslims in any way but only use them just as the usual vote banks. It means, the Hindus consider Muslims as fools of the worst category and Muslims also seem to admit that.
II
Both Hindu Congress and Hindutva BJP have same or similar agenda in India and one uses the other to stay in politics while the Hindutva elements control both these national parties. Destruction of Grand Babri Mosque was indeed a joint agenda of both and the operation was meticulously engineered by entrusting the Congress premier Narasimha Rao to “do the job” and he did by using the Hindu terrorists, military and polices forces to pull down the historic Mosque in Uttar Pradesh. No party, right, centre or Left, now talks about the Hindu agenda of Babri Mosque and Indian Hindus think the matter is closed for now. Indian premier pledged before Indian nation that the Mosque would be reconstructed at the very site where it stood, but till date Indian government has not done it. Congress is using BJP & co to save its skin. They only threat to pull down some more Mosques.
Israel is used by the USA and Europe as a regional weapons depot to transfer arms to the needy customers in the Third world. India has emerged as one of heaviest purchasers of Israeli arms. In order to track Muslims in India and Kashmir Indian leaders, both Congress and BJP, entered into military contract with Zionist Israel for weapons worth thousands of crores of rupees in which many party bigwigs get lucrative commissions. The BJP regime went for a 5,000 crores for “Barak missiles” and when the Congress came to power a CBI enquiry was instituted on the contract and bribery, but the congress recently signed a contract with Israel for 10,000 crores of weapons, obviously to kill Muslims in the region, and asked the CBI to get out of sight. That is Congress and BJP and their Hindutva links against Muslims and Islam.
As it was expected when offered the premiership to him, Manmohan and the likes have been serving the multinationals in the country and west. A recent report highlights the fact that now many of the aspiring Parliamentarians are billionaires themselves, but the political outfits who float them now rather boldly as the best stuff for the Parliament also claim they want people to elect them to serve the ordinary people. An old Joke? Can mafias, criminals, terrorism financiers, frauds and the likes offer any better governance? Indian Muslims are least bothered about all this, they just want their “favorite party” to win by all “means” and they are satisfied with a few coins offered by the Hindu leaders for their “services”. They don’t mind if the Congress-BJP combines pulls down some mosques and keep the Muslims fully terrorized.
III
A vote for Congress party by a Muslim in India is a vote against Mosque and, hence, against their religion Islam and fellow Muslims. Both Congress (and BJP), the Hindu parties, are using some Muslim agents to use internet to mischievously make them vote for Congress automatically just by opening their dirty emails. If one opens the dubious email your vote is automatically cast for UPA- Congress. Though it is only a joke and does not mean anything in reality, still such dubious means being employed by Congress and BJP and other Hindu parties without even raising the issue of Babri Mosque and Kashmir problem is illegal and immoral. It is shameful that Muslims, unable to make Congress recommit itself for the reconstruction of Grand Babri Mosque still, shamelessly canvas for the Hindu forces that destroyed the Babri Mosque on false notions and annexed Jammu Kashmir and killed thousands of innocent Muslims in Kashmir as well as in India.
Congress is a party with hidden agendas against Muslims in India and around and the BJP which s a byproduct of Congress, just support them. Destruction of Babri Mosque and other historic mosques in India has been the target of Congress party but it uses BJP to achieve that object. Muslims cannot deceive themselves and their religion or insult their beliefs by voting the Congress or BJP. It is not to suggest that others parties are better, they all are one and same rotten stuff but they are not directly involved in the ghastly destruction of Babri Mosque and invasion of Jammu Kashmir, however, they also don’t demand the reconstruction of Babri Mosque and vacating the Jammu Kashmir converted by terrorist India as a terror zone.
In projecting BJP as the big threat to Islam and Muslims, Congress has taken Muslim support for granted. Similarly, the Communists and other Third front parties have ensured the bulk of votes of the Muslims sandwiched between Congress and BJP extremist dramas. Congress, a covert Hindutva party, is using, by usual secret arrangement, the Hindutva BJP as a threat to woo the Muslims to vote for Congress which in fact is also a terrific threat to Islam. By just ignoring the calls for vote to these anti-Islamic political outfits, Muslims would in fact honor their religion, their God ALLAH and dignity of Muslims, without fear of backlash form these Hindu outfits, because worst has already been done to Indian Muslims all spheres.
IV
Most Muslims feel they have no proper choices and India has created all possibilities to elect only those the Indian regime offer to them. Muslims have, thus, have a choice among those who destroyed the Grand Babri Mosque, those who created the opportunity for the ghastly demolition by the Hindu terrorists and those who indirectly support tit and never opposed it or asked Indian regime to rebuild the Mosque as promised. The power-cum-benefits sharing tactics of Muslim League and other similar outfits have indeed harmed the Muslims genuine interests and emboldened the Indian state to honor the commit to the nation and world on Babri Mosque.
Grand Babri Mosque was pulled down in 1992 (on the false information supplied by the former Indian rulers from UK) by Indian Hindu terrorists with the backup of state and security forces. Politicians, essentially anti-Muslim, rule India on behalf of industrialists who finance their campaigns. After this poll, many industrialists would become ministers and occupy important positions. Can a poll meant to retain the billionaires in power through a government help the common people, especially the hapless Muslims in a basically Hindu India? Hindu parties and their governments have been fooling the Muslims for decades now. Muslims have to get away from their pressure tactics and ponder over their pathetic existence as well as threat plight in India at least while voting, if at all they choose to vote. Once Muslims begin to think one can expect a basic shift in Indian politics, for, Grand Babri Mosque would be back at its original site; Kashmiris will obtain their sovereignty back from an arrogant and hegemonic India. Muslims will get their legitimate dues in national development, hitherto denied by “secular & democratic” India.
V
As a strategic partner, India is like Israel and USA with hidden agendas to reduce the population of global Muslims and defame Islam by projecting it as a religion of terrorists and killing Muslims by branding them as terrorists, including suspected ones. India, basically ruled by Congress party and its allies, is employing all tricks to marginalize and terrorize the hapless Muslim population in the country. Indian industrialists once elected, don’t require the political MPs for advancing their interests around the world and now even get their own representatives as ambassadors and high-commissioners and other high officials abroad and indoors. Now elections are due shortly and many billionaires, private terrorists, criminals, national pick-pockets, liquor & other mafias and international frauds would reach the Parliament to make laws for “secular & democratic” India. They would use terrorism plank to loot the nation.
In fact, it does not matter who will be the next premier in India which has not so far produced any normal premier- let alone good or great with a vision- who is fare-minded and would take decisions independent of Hindu pressure groups and other capitalist lobbies, and capable of tracking Hindu terrorists and other trouble-shooters for minorities firmly.
The moot issue, therefore, is not which party or alliance would secure more seats and who would be the next premier. In fact, it does not actually matter whether a soft Hindutva regime led by Congress or an extremist Hindutva alliance led by BJP or even a third or fourth front without any program would form the government. But the real issue would be whether the Indian leadership would at all shed its anti-Islamic and anti-Muslim mindset first and then think about the genuine interest of Muslims including the Babri Mosque! Indian façade of democracy and secularism is fake is used to fool the world, but the leaders keep confusing the world with these concepts.
(PS. This is not my personal issue, but an issue concerning Islam and the Muslims across the globe)
European Scene: Poll & Crisis in Moldova
Moldova or Moldavia, a former Republic of the Soviet Union and now a part of “democratic” Europe, however, remains, like the Central Asian states that also once formed the parts of the USSR, one of the pro-communist dispensations. Moldavians went to the polls on April 05 to vote for a new parliament that will in course choose a replacement for President Vladimir Voronin, the only Communist leader in Europe and the former Soviet Union. Voronin, in office since 2001, cannot stand for a third consecutive term but has made it plain that he wants to remain close to power by taking another senior post in the manner of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Russia.
The final election results released on April 08 showed the Communist Party with 49.5% of the vote, winning 60 parliamentary seats. That is one seat less than the number required for the party to control the presidential election. Three other parties are more amenable to working with the Communists, and they may pass the 6 percent of support needed to gain a seat in the parliament. The Communists need 61 seats if they want to vote through their candidate for the presidency. No candidate has been named so far. The Communists gain much of their support from the older generations and civil servants.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has already congratulated Voronin on his party’s election win, and the Foreign Ministry said Russia was deeply concerned by the events in Moldova. The Moldova parliament elects the president, and the Communists appeared very close to securing the 61 seats they need in the 101-seat assembly to secure victory for their chosen candidate. Voronin’s Communists, who held 56 of the 101 seats in the outgoing parliament, are far ahead in a field of 15 parties, with support of 36 percent. Three opposition parties, broadly favoring closer ties with Romania and the European Union, lie far behind. Voronin did not rule out forming a coalition in the parliament, saying, “It would be good for as many parties to get in … then there’ll be someone with whom to create a coalition.”
Opposition leaders said the election result was fraudulent. Moldova’s president has since called for a full recount of disputed elections won by the ruling Communist Party, bowing to a key demand of protesters who stormed the parliament. Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin said in an official statement: “I am convinced that a complete recount of votes will become a major argument for maintaining political stability, peace and mutual trust in Moldova“.
Meanwhile, about 10,000 demonstrators massed for a second day in the capital of Europe’s poorest country to denounce the vote as rigged. The opposition called for ballots to be recounted or the vote to be re-held. Most of the protesters are students who see no future if Communists keep their hold on the former Soviet republic of 4 million people — located on the European Union’s border but within what Russia sees as its sphere of influence. They hurled computers into the street while police took cover behind riot shields. Moldovan protesters ransacked the president’s offices and the parliament on April 07in violent protests over parliamentary elections that President Vladimir Voronin said amounted to a “coup d’etat, referring to opposition leaders.” RIA-Novosti reported that the authorities and opposition leaders agreed to a recount of votes cast in Sunday’s parliamentary election, which was easily won by Voronin’s Communist Party. Voronin said in a television address that opposition leaders had embarked on a “path to the violent seizure of power.” He said the authorities “would resolutely defend the state against the leaders of the pogrom.”
Some of the protesters had carried Romanian flags and called for the unification of Moldova with Romania, its bigger neighbour and even shouted “We are Romanians”. Protesters overwhelmed riot police protecting both the president’s office and the parliament — located opposite each other on the capital Chisinau’s main boulevard — and poured into both buildings through smashed windows. They heaped tables, chairs and papers onto a bonfire outside parliament, and fires could also be seen in some of the building’s windows. Some people gathered to demand the release of the 193 people reportedly arrested. Vlad Filat, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, called the demonstrations “a spontaneous action by protesting young people”. He said the opposition had tried to prevent excesses.
II
Protestors indirectly sought to end communist regime and also seek better ties with neighboring Rumania. They however did not demand the resignation of Voronin. The leaders of three opposition parties that won seats in parliament spoke to reporters after emerging from talks with Moldova’s president and prime minister in the aftermath of protests that caused serious damage to government buildings. They sought to stop violence. “We must stop this violence, secure the right to a recount of all the votes. And we demanded the right to stage peaceful protests “Dorin Chirtoaca, leader of the Liberal Party and mayor of Chisinau, said. Vlad Filat of the Liberal Democrats said the opposition, which stands broadly for closer ties with neighboring Romania, was demanding the right to check all electoral lists.. “As a result of this, I can assure you that the elections were rigged and we will organize a new election.”
Opposition leaders called for a halt to the protests and said they were pressing for a recount of all votes cast. Moldovan state television said one young woman choked to death from carbon monoxide poisoning in the parliament building. It cited a senior doctor at Chisinau emergency hospital as saying 34 other protesters had been injured, including two in a serious condition in hospital. Some 80 police officers also received treatment for injuries, it said. Some demonstrators were seen chasing police away after seizing truncheons and riot shields
Officials in Moldova and Russia accused Romania of fomenting the riots, but witnesses said they were spontaneous. Moldova’s president has accused neighboring Romania of stoking the protests that erupted into violence in the capital Chisinau. Romania has rejected the accusation as a “provocation”. Vladimir Voronin, a communist, was quoted by Russian agency Interfax saying: “We know that certain political forces in Romania are behind this unrest. The Romanian flags fixed on the government buildings in Chisinau attest to this.” He ordered that Romania’s ambassador be expelled, recalled the Moldovan envoy from Bucharest, and said Romanians would in future need visas to cross into Moldova. But Romania’s foreign ministry said: “This accusation is a provocation aimed at the Romanian state.” It is “unacceptable that the Communists in power in Chisinau shift the blame for internal problems in Moldova onto Romania and the Romanian people”, the statement added.
III
International observers said the vote appeared to have been fair. The EU sent an envoy to Moldova to mediate in the dispute between President Voronin’s Communist Party and the three centre-right opposition parties. Observers from the European security body, the OSCE, concluded that the vote had been generally fair, but opposition parties and many students accused the authorities of fraud. A report by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s vote gave a mostly positive assessment of the poll. But the BBC in Moscow says that any Romanian connection with the uprising is to do with economics, rather than politics. EU foreign policy Chief Javier Solana called on all sides to show restraint and to refrain from violence and provocation..
Moldova is one of six former Soviet states with which the EU is due to launch a new program of enhanced ties at a summit in Prague next month. Moldova, sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine, is the poorest country in Europe, where the average wage is just under $250 (£168) a month. The people speak Romanian and the country shares many cultural links with Romania. However it was annexed by the Soviet Union in World War II and gained independence in 1991. There remains an unresolved conflict with the breakaway region of Trans-Dniester, which has run its own affairs, with Moscow’s support, since the end of hostilities in a brief war in 1992.
President Voronin, in power since 2001, is governing a country where poverty has pushed a quarter of adults to work abroad. Voronin has overseen stability and economic growth since 2001 but has been unable to solve the rebellion in its Russian-speaking breakaway region of Transdnestr, where Russia has had troops since Soviet times. The region, like in previous elections, boycotted Sunday’s vote. With little mineral resources, Moldova’s economy depends on agriculture, including wine production, and remittances from the hundreds of thousands who left the country to work in EU states. The global economic crisis threatens to aggravate Moldova’s poverty as workers’ remittances dry up.
As it stands now, Moldova’s liberal, pro-Western opposition on April 14 dismissed as a “trick” a planned recount of the recent disputed election won by the ruling Communist Party and said it would take no part in the process. Opposition parties demand a new election and say they expect no new results. They say their concern is fraud with voters’ lists, which they allege contain the names of dead voters and Moldovans working abroad.
Word of the demonstrations was spread by text message, via the internet, and on social networking tools. Moldovans can see the success that Romania has enjoyed since throwing off communism and joining the EU. On average, Romanians earn five times as much as their Moldovan neighbours. The conclusion that many young Moldovans have come to is that a return to communist government and close friendship with Moscow has brought them nothing. Needless to state that the Western powers are instrumental in the post-poll troubles in Moldova but their merits or otherwise cannot be diagnosed here. Voronin is due to step down, having served the maximum of two consecutive terms.
Student Elections in Nepal University: How Free Are Free Stduents’ Unions
Past Practices Breaking Hand Bones New Aim Breaking Backbones
By Divas
Nepal’s elected body of Free Students’ Union was established in 1979 after a nationwide students’ protests against the then royal regime called Panchayat System. I don’t know how the student bodies in other countries work, but from what i learn from the news i think Nepal’s as well as Bangladesh & Pakistan’s student unions function the same way. Well, my guess is based on the violence reports that come during the campus elections in Nepal, Bangladesh, & Pakistan. The Bahun student chiefs of Nepal have already warned their rivals of not only beating in the polls, but also of breaking each other’s backbones.
The phrase ‘Free Students Union’ itself is a misnomer, since although they call themselves the Students’ Union, all contesting groups in fact are student wings of the major political parties – hence they work more in the interest of their mother parties than for the academic needs of students. The two major political streams of students unions, the Nepal Stduents’ Union (NSU) affiliated to the Nepali Congress party and the various factions of left wings All Nepal National Free Stduents’ Union(ANNFSU) worked against the King’s Rule until a Multi-Party democracy was established in 1990. Since then the NSU & the United Marxist-Leninist (UML) affiliated ANNFSU have been contending against each other bitterly until the last election held in 2006.
If you’d ask me why the left wing student union ANNFSU dominated its rival NSU in all past elections, I’d ask you to compare the NSU and the ANNFSU Websites. When the NSU website unfolded before my eyes, the first thing l noticed was the jolly picture of their grandfather Girija Prasad Koirala. Suddenly I was happy that I did not vote for any NSU candidate in the last election. And if you’d compare the photo galleries of NSU and ANNFSU websites, you’ll suddenly realize why most students chose the ANNFSU in past elections. However, there’s a dilemma this time – there are new kids in the Campuses – the Maoist Party affiliated Revolutionary Union.
However, it seems that ethnic issues would be most influential in determining the outcome of this year’s student elections which is slated for 20th of March. The student bodies of an ethnic group Limbu in the eastern mountains, the Limbuwan Students’ Council (LSC) have vandalized the Panchthar Multiple Campus and forced to put off the election until next notice. The Limbu students demand for a proportional election system in their stronghold areas covering nine districts. Even if the elections are held in other campuses, I’m sure that the only basis for choosing the representatives this time would be the cultural & ethnic one. The Madhesi students in Terai would choose Madhesi candidates, Newars in Kathmandu would choose Newar candidates, and so on.
As for me, i hate breaking any bone, and i’d boycott the NSU, Brahmin & Chhetri, & the bone-breakers and choose among the rest.
UPDATE on March 19: I’m boycotting this year’s student election to protest the continued violence and even more politicization in the campuses. However, I’m aware that someone from the contesting student groups would vote for me – hey losers, if you suspect poll-rigging and are demanding for re-polling, check the voters’ list to make sure if a voter with my name has voted or not – if you find that I’ve cast my vote then be sure that your rivals were more clever this time. For, i’ll be absent in this year’s campus election.
Know Nepal: Caste, Ethnicity, Religion and Languages
Hinduism specifies four clean castes: Brahman (priests), Kshatriya (rulers and warriors), Vaisya (merchants) and Shudra (Dalits or peasants). Chhetri comprise 15.8 per cent and the Bahun 12.7 per cent of the total population. These four varnas are found in the Terai but in the Hills there are Bahun, Chhetri and Dalits, but not the Vaisya. Social hierarchy, and purity and pollution of castes and foods characterize varna and caste systems. These Hindu castes had migrated to Nepal after 11th century due to Muslim invasion of northern India.
Dalits
Some peoples argue that the use of the term Dalit will never ever help to abolish caste-based untouchability. (Literally, ‘Dalit’ translates to ’suppressed’ in Nepali.) They have defined the term ‘Dalit” to refer to those Hindu castes who have been placed at the bottom of the social hierarchy as Sudra and treated as untouchables by “upper castes.” There are suggestions that the Dalit term should not be used because it not only breeds inferiority but also it is insulting.
Indigenous Peoples
A total of 61 Adibasi Janajatis have been recognised by the Nepal Government, 5 are from the mountain regions, 20 from the Hills, 7 from inner Terai and 11 from the Terai region. A Janajati is a community who has its own mother tongue and traditional culture and yet does not fall under the conventional fourfold Varna of the Hindu system or the Hindu hierarchical caste structure[3]. Many of these ethnic groups are Hinduized to some degree, although Hindu practices supplement rather than replace more ancient beliefs and practices. Unlike Hindu’s many indigenous nationalities of Nepal have a culture of eating beef,
Different indigenous nationalities are in different stages of development. Some indigenous nationalities are nomads, e.g. Raute, and some are forest dwellers, e.g. Chepang and Bankaria. Most of the indigenous nationalities rely on agriculture and pastoralism and very few are cosmopolitan, e.g. Newar.
Outer Terai
Politically part of Nepal is essentially an extension of India in other respects. In Nepal, Madesh refers to India, so Outer Terai inhabitants are collectively known as “Madesi”. The majority of the population engaged in subsistence agriculture is indeed of the Shudra caste. Brahmans and Kshatriya are present, but only as a small percentage of the population. A wide range of untouchable service castes are found, including Chamar (sweepers) who are supposed to remove filth and dead animals.
As in India, there is a multiplicity of ethnic groups that have given rise to sub-castes within the main four that are usually endogamous (marrying within) and retaining distinct cultural features. India’s mild climate, agricultural abundance and technological sophistication have always made the country an attractive target for invasion. Newcomers eventually negotiate or are assigned their own sub-caste that retains much of their original culture as well as conforming to rules that go with being one of the four clean castes or untouchable. Non-Hindus are outside the caste system. Muslims make up about 10% of India’s population and there is a significant Muslim population in the western third of the country.
Even high-caste individuals from the Terai are largely excluded from the power structure of Kathmandu, which is dominated by hill peoples and Newars instead. This has given rise to a “Madesi” protest movement seeking greater participation or greater regional autonomy.
Northern India’s lingua franca Hindi is widely spoken and understood throughout the Outer Terai. Much of the formal grammar and vocabulary of modern Nepali as it is taught in school seems to be borrowed from Hindi, so it is an easy language for Nepali speakers to pick up. Hill people often slip into it for communication with Madesis and even with europeans. More local Terai dialects are Awadhi in the west which is also widespread in India’s Uttar Pradesh state, Bhojpuri in the center which is also widespread in Bihar state, and Maithili further east, which derives from the ancient Mithla kingdom that was centered on the vast alluvial fan of the Kosi between its exit from the hills and the Ganges River.
Siwaliks and Inner Terai
Because of seasonal drought due to permeable upland soils and endemic malaria where finer sediments force groundwater to the surface, the Siwalik ranges are lightly populated by indigenous tribes following pastoral or hunting-and-gathering ways of life.
The Siwaliks enclose Inner Terai valleys that were also malarial before suppression with DDT, but with considerably more agricultural potential. Then they were mainly populated by Tharu who practiced a mix of shifting agriculture and hunting-gathering, since malaria limited population densities. Tharus are an enigma because their slender build, dark pigmentation and facial features are unlike both the mongoloid peoples of the hills, the indo-european Khas moving eastward through the hills, and invaders from the plains who generally originated in Central Asia. If they are aboriginal inhabitants, it would explain their ability to survive in a malarial zone. Yet their language Tharuhati is indo-european with no recognized traces of anything preceeding the indo-european incursions. Tharu are considered a janajati group somewhat outside the caste system. Traditional foods include pork and chicken as well as fish from rivers flowing through their native valleys. They live communally in large houses which are decorated with traditional motifs. Religious practices include recitals of the Ramayan epic called Badha Nach (‘great dance’).
Religion
The census of 2001 has listed 8 religions—Hindu, Buddhist, Islam, Kiranti, Christian, Jain, Sikh and Bahai. In addition, are animism or Bon are still practiced. Hindu comprises 80.6% and other religions are 19.4%.
Excerpted from http://wikitravel.org/en/Nepal
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KATHMANDU TIME & WEATHER
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Nepal News
- Thousands of communist protesters block Nepala s government headquarters for a 2nd day November 14, 2009Tens of thousands of communist demonstrators blocked the government's headquarters in Nepal's capital for a second straight day Friday, crippling the central administration.
- Indian's sex empire in Nepal busted November 14, 2009Within a week of uncovering a Chinese sex workers' network here, Nepal police have now busted a budding sex empire run by an Indian with tentacles in major Indian metros and with audacious plans to expand internationally.
- Nepal withdraws extended prohibited area order November 13, 2009Nepalese authorities on Wednesday withdrew its decision to extend the prohibited area around the government secretariat citing inconvenience to employees, after the Maoists warned to defy the prohibitory orders.
- PM Nepal for political consensus November 13, 2009KATHMANDU: The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers has denied the charge by the UCPN that the government was not serious toward resolving the ongoing political deadlock.
- Protest at Nepal minister's slaps November 13, 2009Mr Bhandari is waiting for an apology Local government offices in a southern district of Nepal have shut down in protest after a visiting minister beat up the most senior local official.
- Nepal to do a Maldives on climate November 12, 2009KATHMANDU: It seems to be a season of records in South Asia. After the Maldives cabinet made one in October by holding a meeting under sea, the Nepal cabinet is planning one at a Mount Everest base camp this month.
- Police clash with Maoist protesters in Nepal November 12, 2009Riot police used tear gas and batons to disperse Maoist activists holding a huge protest rally outside the main government compound in Nepal's capital on Thursday.
- Nepali PM cancels Italy trip due to illness November 12, 2009KATHMANDU: Nepali Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has canceled his trip to Rome, capital of Italy, due to his illness, the local news website Nepalnews reported on Wednesday quoting M.K. Nepal's press advisor.
- GP Koirala's health improving November 11, 2009South East Asia News.Net Wednesday 11th November, 2009 Kathmandu, Nov 11 : The health of former Nepal Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala who has been kept under medical observation, is gradually improving, doctors said today.
World News
- ASIA: Breastfeeding more crucial in emergenciesA recent spate of natural disasters in Asia has further underscored the importance of breastfeeding during emergencies, with a need for additional policies to support this.
- SOUTH AFRICA: How many undocumented migrants? Pick a numberGuesstimating the number of undocumented migrants living in South Africa is like asking, "How long is a piece of string?" and the answer is - no one knows.
- GLOBAL: Global Fund approves $2.4 billion in new grants The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has approved US$2.4 billion in its ninth round of grants, bringing the total amount of approved funding since its inception in 2001 to $18.4 billion.
- SUDAN: Kala azar "epidemic" in southReported cases of kala azar infection, a deadly disease also known as visceral leishmaniasis, have continued to rise in Southern Sudan, according to medical workers.
- NEPAL: Government must act on extrajudicial killingsThe government's continued failure to investigate and prosecute extrajudicial killings during Nepal's civil war (1996-2006) is ruining lives and devastating victims' families, while creating a culture of impunity, the UN and rights activists say.
- KENYA: Khadijah Ibrahim, "My husband has been sending me less money"Khadijah Ibrahim is a mother of six in the northeastern Kenyan district of Wajir East. The area has suffered recurrent droughts and is now facing the risk of flooding from El-Nino rains. For now, however, the effects of the drought continue to be felt, as Khadijah told IRIN:
- In Brief: Stunting not as bad as expected in Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesAn estimated 200 million children aged under five in the developing world suffer from stunted growth due to maternal and childhood undernutrition, according to a new UNICEF report.
- BURUNDI: Odette Nzokirantevye, "Now I don't wait for my husband to give me money for soap"A CARE empowerment project in Burundi is training women in dispute resolution, savings and credit schemes, and putting a stop to sexual violence.
- SOMALIA: IRIN Radio - Friday 13 November 2009
- GLOBAL: IRIN/PlusNews Weekly Issue 462, 13 November 2009IRIN/PlusNews Weekly Issue 462, 13 November 2009
World Press News Review
- Cashpoints 'hit by power failure'Daily Express, Conservative tabloid, London, England
- Hundreds of unheard Iraqi abuse claims, says lawyerThe Guardian, Liberal daily, London, England
- 10th Seoul International Financial Forum Kicks OffChosun Ilbo, Conservative daily, Seoul, South Korea
- Law to be amended to curb renting, leasing of licensesMalaysian Star, Online news portal, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
- Breaking the silence of forced marriagesToronto Star, Liberal daily, Toronto, Canada
- Mazembe to play Asian champsCongoPlanet.com, Independent online news aggregator
- Expect rise in kidnapping, assassination - Detective OlumideVanguard, Independent daily, Lagos, Nigeria
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News That Make Sense
- Police: Fla. man calls 911 for sex, says only number he could call without cell phone minutes November 14, 2009This Nov. 11, 2009 booking photo made available by the Hillsborough County, Fla.
- Real-life buck loses fight to fake elk November 14, 2009A buck tangles with a 640-pound elk, and loses. A homeowner in Wisconsin gets deer meet out of the incident, but has to repair the statue of his elk.
- Happy California Cows Actually From New Zealand November 14, 2009You've probably seen those "Happy California Cows" ads from the California Milk Advisory Board. They advertise that better milk and cheese comes from happy cows, and happy cows come from California.
- Man drives million-dollar Bugatti into pond November 13, 2009Police say a low-flying pelican distracted a driver in Texas, causing him to veer off a road and drive his million-dollar sports car into a salt marsh.
- Flasher causes bus to hit police station November 13, 2009A FLASHER on board a Hamilton bus in New Zealand has led the driver to crash into a police station.
Arts & Letters News
- Arts & Letters Daily (12 Nov 2009) November 12, 2009
- Arts & Letters Daily (11 Nov 2009) November 11, 2009Jane Austen was such a subtle reader of her characters' manners, flaws, and virtues, yet was herself a mysterious presence, hard to imagine in the flesh... more The Peloponnesian War can be used to guide thinking about our own problems of peace and war, argues Donald Kagan. He might be right... more After events like Fort Hood, why do public officials h […]
- Arts & Letters Daily (10 Nov 2009) November 10, 2009Should Martin Heidegger's books be pulled from the philosophy shelves of the library and placed in history of Nazism? For Emmanuel Faye, it's a good idea... more Maybe it’s great, post-Eve Ensler, that we’re now so garrulous on the topic of vaginas. Kathleen Parker doesn't think so, and she is America's most-read woman col […]
- Arts & Letters Daily (09 Nov 2009) November 9, 2009
- Arts & Letters Daily (08 Nov 2009) November 8, 2009
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