ABC

                                                                         Author: Ram Manohar

The first recorded official relations with China and Tibet occurred
near the middle of the seventh century. By the eighteenth century,
Nepalese adventurism in Tibet led to Chinese intervention in favor of
Tibet. The resultant Sino-Nepalese Treaty of 1792 provided for tribute-
bearing missions from Nepal to China every five years as a symbol of
Chinese political and cultural supremacy in the region.

It is to be remarked as singular, that Tibet is never once referred to
by the Chinese officers. The affair is treated as one concerning China
and its tributary Nepal and none other.

In the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814-16, China refused Nepal’s requests
for military assistance and, by default, surrendered its dominant
position in Nepal to the growing British influence. However, it
appeared to be expedient for Nepal to retain the fiction of a
tributary relationship with China in order to balance China against
Britain.

Nepal invaded Tibet in 1854. Hostilities were quickly terminated when
China intervened, and the Treaty of Thapathali was concluded in March
1856. The treaty recognized the special status of China, and Nepal
agreed to assist Tibet in the event of foreign aggression.

Relations between Nepal and China and Tibet continued without critical
incident until 1904, when British India sent an armed expedition to
Tibet and Nepal rejected Tibet’s request for aid to avoid risking its
good relations with Britain. Beginning in 1908, Nepal stopped paying
tribute to China.

By 1910, apprehensive of British activity in Tibet, China had
reasserted its claim to sovereign rights in Tibet and feudatory
missions from Nepal. In 1912 Nepal warned the Chinese representative
at Lhasa that Nepal would help Tibet attain independent status as long
as it was consistent with British interests. Nepal broke relations
with China when the Tibetans, taking advantage of the Chinese
revolution of 1911, drove the Chinese out.

When the Chinese communists invaded Tibet in 1950, Nepal’s relations
with China began to undergo drastic changes. Although annual Tibetan
tribute missions appeared regularly in Nepal as late as 1953, Beijing
had started to ignore the provisions of the 1856 treaty by curtailing
the privileges and rights it accorded to Nepalese traders, by imposing
restrictions on Nepalese pilgrims, and by stopping the Tibetan
tributary missions.

The break between Kathmandu and Beijing continued until 1955, when
relations were reestablished with China. The two countries established
resident ambassadors in their respective capitals in July 1960.

In 1956 the Treaty of Thapathali was replaced by a new treaty under
which Nepal recognized China’s sovereignty over Tibet and agreed to
surrender all privileges and rights granted by the old treaty. In 1962
Nepal withdrew its ambassador from Tibet and substituted a consul
general. An agreement on locating and demarcating the Nepal-Tibet
boundary was signed in March 1960. Within a month, another Treaty of
Peace and Friendship was signed in Kathmandu.

—————

At the end of this Write-up, some of the questions opens-up
- Is Gorkha’s Nepal main culprit behind Tibet current misery?
- What determine the sovereignty of a place; War (army) superiority or
compulsive tributary or Foreign will or common people wish?
- As some kathmandu based “Purest self-professed Nationalist” dreams
of Great-Gurkha Empire, will that encompass current land from Tibet
too?
- Is Gorkha’s Nepal going to be next on China’s map similar to Tibet
faith?

ABC comment:

Nepalis do not need a great country with the world’s largest super power status to coach them on how to behave with the Tibetan protesters.

For hardly any other people share as much real sympathy as the Nepalis toward their fellow Tibetans.

For Nepal shares not only the geological tectonic plateau with Tibet, but also the cultural & ethnic bond between the two people.

That’s precisely the reason why Tibetan refugees have been living in Nepal despite China’s tremendous objections. The Tibetans are hardly discernible in Nepal unless they themselves reveal the identity.

And that’s precisely the reason why even the supposedly-China-friendly-Maoist-led- upcoming-government too would not be able to go beyond certain precautionary measures against the Tibetan protesters.

If the world’s self-proclaiming humanitarian messiah America is really so concerned for Tibetan people’s cause, why doesn’t Mr. Bush put a trade embargo on China? After all, that’s precisely how the Americans have been teaching ‘democratic’ lessons to all ‘rouge’ countries from Cuba to Burma.

If the US worries for hurting the communist Hangs so much, why does it misuse its disproportionately outsized buildings in Nepali soil against the Nepali nation’s interests? 

                                                                          Author: DR.ABDUL RUFF Colachal
                                                                          Analyst, Researcher & Commentator
                                                                          Delhi

On 17 February 2008, the Serbian Southern province of Kosovo in South-eastern Europe declared independence from Republic of Serbia and proclaimed itself new Republic of Kosovo. New Republic of Kosovo was later recognized by few sovereign states, mainly the USA. Kosovo now has to become a member of the EU, the UN, OSCE, IOC, IMF, and many other vital world bodies. Kosovo will remain a sovereign nation and a part of UN very soon. This should show to the world that seeking legitimate independence or “secessionism” or separatism”, to use the expression in vogue from colonial and imperialist powers, is a noble cause and has to be respected by the world. And Republic of Kosovo is certainly not a mistake, a reality a fact and necessity. Kosovo will never be a part of Serbia again.
 
Ideally, each nation/people demanding independence could be granted if that serves the legitimate interests of the new nation concerned, if created. Sensing disquiet across the world, the USA has said Kosovo is an exclusive issue and no parallels could be drawn on the basis of Kosovo example. World wide, there are  several types of freedom fighting groups and depending on the nature of their demand and struggle USA would support or oppose their claim. This is a clear indication that the United States would not aid, abet or support any armed group, movement or non-state player to forcibly, for fun sake, breakaway to declare independent territory in any recognized nation. But US support for freedom and independence is permanent by nature. And one of the most genuine cases of freedom movement remains Kashmir.
 
 
True, the 2008 declaration of independence by Kosovo, has added another feather in the cap of nations demanding freedom nations that face serious problem of freedom fighting people/nations. Nine years ago, the international community, led by NATO, acted to end brutal attacks by Serbs on the Kosovo Albanian population. This timely international intervention ended the violence, leading to a United Nations Security Council decision to suspend Belgrade’s governance and place Kosovo under interim UN administration. Since that time Kosovo has built its own democratic institutions separate from Belgrade’s control. Kosovo population got back its right to offer prayers. Many nations across the globe have already recognized Kosovo. And Kosovo will reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights and International Law, as well as in the United Nations.
 
Last year, UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari developed a plan to build a democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo and recommended Kosovo be independent, subject to a period of international supervision. In light of the conflicts of the 1990s, independence was the only viable option to promote stability in the region. The USA and many European nations support the Ahtisaari Plan and will work with its international partners to help implement it and help Kosovo join the UN and other international bodies of political and economic importance.
 
In its promotion of independent Kosovo, USA is clear about its policy: it all depends on the merits of the nations seeking independence. The United States has formally recognized Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state. “We congratulate the people of Kosovo on this historic occasion” President Bush said.
 
President Bush has responded affirmatively to a request from Kosovo to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries to reaffirm the special ties of friendship that have linked together the people of the USA and Kosovo. USA welcomed the commitments Kosovo made in its declaration of independence to implement the Ahtisaari Plan, to embrace multi-ethnicity as a fundamental principle of good governance, and to welcome a period of international supervision. “The United States takes this opportunity to reaffirm our friendship with Serbia, an ally during two world wars. We invite Serbia’s leaders to work together with the United States and our partners to accomplish shared goals, such as the protection of the rights, security, culture and livelihood of the Serb community in Kosovo”, a US spokesperson said.
 
INDIAN WORRY
 
However, a few countries, fearing similar backlashes on their own turfs have criticized the Kosovo independence. India, occupying Kashmir since 1947, is one of those that is very much disturbed by Kosovo action. Also those demanding sovereignty or re-independence have been equally joyous and worried at the event. Worried, because, they feared that the colonial powers determined to retain the colonies at any cost might resort to further aggressive or deadly tactical measures to pressurize the colonized to remain within the holds, calm and obedient.
 
India belongs to the category of nations, that annexed alien small nations and kept them under their custody, refuse to grant re-independence. India and many other third world nations that got freedom form UK belong to this category. Kashmir is striving for independence on this basis. These peoples have lost their sovereignty to their neighbors who annexed the land and keep on expanding o or terrorizing the inhabitants. Kashmiris and Chechens are waging along struggle for re-independence. This type of movements should occupy the top priority of world bodies for quick resolution, though every nation seeking self-determination has to be meritoriously considered in their favor.
 
But one of the worst hit by Kosovo has been India for another reason: India had annexed tactfully its neighbouring Kashmir in 1947 and even since then the Kashmiris have been demanding re-independence. Now India says by supporting Kosovo US has probably seeded another poison-tree that might lead to the Third World War. Unofficial data put 6 lakh deaths in Kashmir caused by Indian state terrorist forces.
 
 
INDIAN DOUBLE-STANDARDS
 
Even after the collapse of many colonialist and imperialist powers world wide last century, India that became free in 1947 began entertaining colonial empire ambitions by annexing Kashmir. During the last two decades alone India has killed over 90,00 Kashmiri patriots in after militarizing Kashmir. It dreams of acquiring the areas from Afghanistan and Myanmar. Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim are now considered safe and by using Indian living in Sri Lanka, New Delhi aims to split Sri Lanka and add one part into its future territory. On the one hand, New Delhi doesn’t take a final decision to let Kashmiris have their sovereign back, and on the other, it also encourages a separate country by splitting Sri Lanka.
 
India, as one of the contemporary imperialist nations having alien nations, like Kashmir, under its custody, has developed cold feet a Kosovo declaration mainly because the Western powers spearhead the Kosovo cause and Kosovo is predominantly of Albanian Muslims. That also signals follow-up action in India as well. In the habit of linking Islam and Muslim with so-called fundamentalism, terrorism and cross-border terrorism, India aims at US support and guidance. India always thought it has USA in its pocket along with the nuclear deal thanks to its grand auspicious of “terrorism” plank. It is under this illusion that New Delhi let its intelligence agencies work under the dictates of USA, ostensibly to coordinate efforts to track the so-called “terrorists”. Indian hopes for coming closer to USA and the West on the pretext of combating terrorism, have been proved short-lived.
 
Indian hegemonic strategists want to keep Kashmir under its military boots. Kosovo has written new international laws for all the simmering separatist movements. The government of India has so far remained silent about the Kosovo developments basically out of fear that any opposing statement would erode its ‘secular’ image, annoy its targeted vote banks and displease its supposed friends in the comity of Muslim nations. The very threat tone in its statement that Kosovo would lead to World War II betrays the its democratic and Non-Aligned credentials the real format of its foreign policy of using war threats.
 
Many Indians ho make fortunes by churning out anti-Islamic and anti-Pakistani and anti-Kashmiri stuff regularly that Indian media wholeheartedly promote and uphold, ask India to stridently oppose unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo, while under UN administration. India is worried that Kosovo is free now and want to  openly support Russia and China in the UN and ask Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to explain to the world body as to how the US and allies could bury the UN mandate and agree to the creation of another nation on ethno-religious considerations.
 
India, a close ally of USSR developed bad breathing because not only the Kashmiris were already demanding re-independence, some states within India also glamor for independence. But India does not want to grant re-independence to Kashmiris to self-determination and independent rule. Hence Kosovo created a jerk in New Delhi.
 
 
Countries like India exist as nations as all ethno-religious and linguistic sub-nationalities, but not have mutually agreed to make it a nation-state, rising above narrow considerations. Every state within India has a right to cede. Kashmir was an independent country until 1947. Wanting to keep Kashmir in its Union, India says that Pakistan continues to incite and abate sections of “misdirected Kashmiri” and mainland Muslims for seceding from India. The Kashmir Media Service (February 20, 2008), a pro-independence website, quoted the pro-liberation leaders like Syed Ali Geelani and Shabbir Ahmad Shah of the All Party Hurriyat Conference and chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Muhammad Yasin Malik as saying that the sacrifices of the Kashmiris would not be allowed to go waste. They cited Kosovo as a ray of hope and urged the international community to resolve the Kashmir dispute.
 
When the earlier secular democrat, Nehru could hurriedly bring almost every singly Hindus from Pakistan in 1947 and resettle them in India, mainly in Delhi state , thereby creating a strong anti-Muslim political outfit in the capital, he refused to  show the same concern and affection to Indians living in Sri Lanka and other nations. India continues to use various yardsticks to measure welfare of Diaspora abroad, immigration policies and democracy.
 
AN OBSERVATION
 
UN, founded by replacing the then less effective League of Nations soon after the devastating World War II, is supposed to play a proactive role in such crucial issues like independence and immigration, but it has over years become a forum for nations to finalize trades, especially in weapons and technology and is busy with determining the commissions package in the deals. As a legitimate world body to oversee peaceful resolution of freedom movements UN has totally failed to do any thing positive and let the explosive freedom struggles explode by themselves resulting in constant genocides and destruction. Veto power assigned to select nations has been proved detrimental to the cause of genuine freedom seekers. UN and other related forums have refused to mediate honestly for peaceful settlements, by involving the stake-holders in every conflict. As a result, many regions remain highly volatile and explosive.
 
Under these mischievous circumstances, decision of Kosovo patriots, encouraged by USA and a few European nations, to declare independence voluntarily is indeed remarkable. More broadly, every nation that seeks freedom could be allowed to be free, if they are capable of independent existence. But those who seek independence and freedom should also ask themselves if they really require independence and for what.
 
Gaining and enjoying freedom and independence from the oppressive rulers is accepted as the rightful action and the oppressed people need to be encouraged to set independence without precipitating matters further. However, the colonial and imperialist powers would continue to resist even though they know they would lose eventually in stopping the freedom loving peoples form gaining independence. That has been the message from human history for countries, including India and Russia. India is now cash rich and can support its Diaspora living abroad in many positive ways, instead of fueling crises.
 
Practice of Islam in real faith and spirit demands the Muslims in Kosovo to regain and imbibe the Islamic values. Independence could offer the Kosovo enough strength to practice their religion freely. Similarly, with full freedom and independence to pursue their own destiny and legitimate goals, including religous, Kashmris will be able to progress and grow in a peacerful atmosphere.
 
UN cannot sit idle but has to guide and support similar freedom seeking nations to achieve their legitimate goals with lesser difficulties. Meanwhile there should be a global debate on the scenario of freedom movement to decide about the relevance of each freedom fighting nation. Colonialism has undergone changes over decades but still its vestiges are visible in many corners of globe. From a colony India has beomce acolonizwe and oppress and terrorise the kahsmiris by militarizinf their land since 1947.

It is time every country gives up its colonial ambitions, if any, and hang-overs. Countries like India that have annexed alien nations and continue to be engaged in genocide and destruction of the occupied nations must return sovereignty to them and should never to interfere in their internal affairs. World must rise to the civilized path of freeing nations from continued subjugation and oppression. Obviousdsly Kalshmir will be free, but India, as the leader of Commonwealth now, should see that happens sooner than later.

                                                                  Author: Tashi Pemba

IN HIS EDITORIAL S.DASGUPTA IN TIMES OF INDIA DATED 19/04/2008
CASTIGATES THE MANDARINS OF SOUTH BLOCK FOR MISSING THE PROVERBIAL WOODS IN THEIR ANALYSIS OF THE NEPALESE POLITICAL SCENE PRE -THE RECENT ELECTIONS IN NEPAL.

Unfortunately the worthies of both south and north block have
historically  and are even today missing not only the proverbial woods
but  much much more in their analysis of the entire gamut of
consequences that are going to result from the new neo-Nepalese
movement..

The Indian trader is the van guard of our culture and ethos in any
country. .He is the bravest of us  risking his all in distant foreign
cultures and always succeeding against the odds in guarding Indian
values and thoughts in very difficult surroundings often critical and
inimical to his success..

When will we learn that when we turn a blind eye to—- nay even
encourage and allow—- basic anti Indian feelings, thoughts and
behaviour to be articulated in every day life against our Indian
traders, be they ever so lowly and vile in the eyes of the “educated”
Babus of the embassies, we thereby establish the failure of Indian
diplomacy right there and then and lay the foundation stone of all
future Hate India campaigns that are  bound to be  engineered —
because all  people realize all to soon that a government which does
not value and protect its best citizenry is up for sale and open to
insults without repercussions..

The constant giving in by India to outrageous demands often targetted
against India’s basic security interests has encouraged a new sense of
Nepalese chauvinism as evident not only in the Gorkha community of
Nepal but more alarmingly in the Nepalese of Darjeeling and Sikkim
hills .

Thus blatantly Nepal under Maoist control is demanding a revision of
the Indo- Nepal treaty with Nepal insisting that all the benefits of
the open border for Nepal continue while whittling down the protection
given to Non-Nepalese ( read Indians) given by the treaty and south
bloc ( to cover a potentially  explosive situation resulting from the
miss- reading of the Nepalese scene ) is now preparing to placate
Prachanda by again conceding basic Indian interests as protected by
the treaty of 1950.

India basely compromised on basic principals when it gave in to Bhutan
by allowing eviction of Nepalese from Bhutan and as a hidden
consequence it also gave up equal treatment protections for Indian
required from Bhutan by treaty.. Today the government of India turns a
blind eye to blatant discrimination of Indians in Bhutan and lauds
itself for successful diplomacy!!

As a result the Nepalese have learned that Government of India will
sacrifice basic values and policies without any thought just to buy
peace for any petty problem they can engineer as they are aware that
Delhi has no time for peripheral India.

As a direct consequence Nepalese chauvinism is taking directly Anti-
Indian tones in its intellectual  thrust and  on the ground in Nepal
and more importantly at home in Darjeeling ,Jalpaiguri and Sikkim the
consequences are all to evident..

1. In Nepal as soon as Prachanda gets rid of the King his first
political target will be to crush and destroy the very recent Madhese
power base which has developed.(Madhesies are of-course hated and
reviled as Indians)
However without absolute control of this populous and productive
region no Government in Nepal can survive and Prachanda rightly
calculates that India ever willing to buy peace when threatened will
succumb when threatened by Nepalese backing the growing Moaist threat
in India.. India will quickly agree to sacrifice the Madhesi cause for
political and economic freedom in return for a temporary peace but
India will once again gain nothing as Prachanda’s  threat will remain
as blackmail chip against India for ever..
(Note China who would never countenance any such threats will be
encouraging these activities from the sidelines.)

2. In Darjeeling Bimal Gurung has the Bengal Government by the hip and
will soon have his Mini-Nepal as the Bengali Communists are ready to
through in the trowel and will now  allow the new state minus Siliguri
which they are ridiculously protecting from even peaceful Nepalese
processions  by posting armed cadre at the entry points of the city.
Here to the interests of the minority Bengali, Bihari and other plains
people known locally as Madhesies or “Indians” will be sacrificed to
buy peace (and all important Siliguri town) from the proposed
Gorkhaland State  now a foregone conclusion.

3. In Sikkim the proof of all the above is already evident in black
and white as

A. the government flouting all constitutional norms, requirement and
safeguards has reserved 95% jobs in even the private sector  for a
specially created category under which the beneficiaries are  the 75 %
Nepalese Majority of the state . The deprived people are again the
Madhesies.

B. Similarly the Government has also built up a plethora of Municipal
rules specifically to prevent the Madhesi community from getting even
petty trade licenses in this state. Thus even surpassing Kashmir this
state is barred for Indians (Madhesies) unless they are rich Indians
and have million of dollars to invest in lotteries and hydel projects
which fund the political parties who work against India’s interests.

C. Recently under the continuous secret haranguing of the state
government the central finance bill is set to make into law provisions
that will deny
a.      Any Sikkimese women married to an “Indian” not only the political
rights of her offspring but also her constitutional rights of
inheritance  and all this to prevent any “Indian” from gaining
political rights in the projected racially pure Nepalese state.
b.      Stopping benefits under the Income tax act to Madhesies of a
hundred years history while allowing the same benefits to similarly
placed Tibetans of 50 years and less ancestry and Nepalese with only
20 years ancestry.

D. I n the recent delimitation exercise in Sikkim Bureaucrats from
Delhi worked at the behest of local political masters to break up
three important constituencies Gangtok, Singtam  and  Jorethang all
having  substantial Madhesi (Indian) voting blocs. Each constituency
was divided into two constituencies so that Madhesi political power
could be whittled down to become ineffective. Ironically the Madhesies
who are considered forward were in each case put into reserved
scheduled caste / tribe constituencies.

It is quite evident that the bureaucrats in Delhi and their political
masters are either not doing their job or are  incapable of doing
their job and are selling the interests of India and creating states
which will ultimately prove anti-national with tendencies to blackmail
the centre into further concessions ad infinitum and this is the
charitable viewpoint.

The other viewpoint of the Indian Bureaucrat ready to pass any law or
scheme in return for his cut is widely prevalent in the North Eastern
states. Thus no N.E. state bothers with Accountant Generals or
accounts which are in general  woefully missing. Each State is aware
that each secretary is for sale as he always wants his favourite
businessman to be sanctioned each big scheme that he releases for the
state and the planning commission will take its cut for the plan funds
and the well paid officers of the central government are only to happy
to cover up accounting deficiencies by blaming it on the backward
tribal who cannot keep accounts or as necessary payment for preventing
potential insurgency.

In Sikkim China is known as “Mama” and the Nepalese traditionally turn
for help to their mother’s brother when they find going becomes tough
in their fathers house.

                                                                      Author: DR.ABDUL RUFF Colachal
                                                                    Analyst, Research, & Commetator, Delhi

Nepal’s Maoist party has taken a commanding lead in a landmark election in thus far known as a Himalayan Kingdom held on April 10 to begin the process of electing a total of 601 representatives to the constituent assembly that is expected to revise Nepal’s constitution and abolish its 240-year-old monarchy. Results for the 240 constituencies chosen by the first-past-the-post system are expected over the next 10 days, although another 335 seats to be elected by proportional representation are not expected to be decided for several weeks. The interim government is to appoint the remaining 26 seats. Around 17.6 million people are eligible to vote and there was a turnout of 60%, with polling cancelled due to malpractice in just 33 polling stations out of 21,000.
 
 
As a surprise, the Maoists have won more seats than other parties already declared. The next largest party, the Nepali Congress, is trailing far behind with just 21 seats. The final result of the polls, Nepal’s first in nine years, could take around 10 days. Outcome of the poll in Southern Nepal, yet to be declared, would finally decide the fate of the parliament. Nepal held its first polls since 1999 following the Maoists’ decision to quit their armed struggle in 2006 after a ceasefire agreed between the government and Maoist rebels.
 
Initially, many analysts doubted if the polls postponed twice, would be held at all. Though 74 parties have been registered with the election commission, of which more than 13 owe their allegiance to some shade of Marxism-Leninism, the main contestants remain Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist, Nepali Congress Party, Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist Leninist, Rashtriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Rashtriya Janshakti Party (RJP), Nepal Sadbhavna Party-Anandi Devi (NSP-A), People’s Front Nepal, United Left Front, and Madheshi Janadhikar Forum.
 
It was hoped the election would consolidate the end of the Maoist insurgency, which stopped two years ago. The run-up to the polls has been marred by violence that has claimed eight lives and prompted international calls for calm. Explosions in “separatist” strongholds in the country’s south and clashes between rival gangs have fueled tensions. EU electoral observers and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon have been among those expressing concern. The verdict of the people of Nepal should be supreme and needs to be supported.
 
Despite reports of minor incidents, observers say voting so far appears to have been orderly, and there are indications of a high turnout. Some of those killed in the run-up to the polls were Maoist workers shot by the security forces. At least six Maoist activists in Nepal have been shot dead by the security forces in the west of the country. In separate violence, police killed a protester during riots in the south-east. The unrest was triggered by the fatal shooting of a Communist election candidate, Rishi Raj Sharma, by unknown gunmen near the town of Nepalgunj.
 
In a bit complicated electoral procedure this time for Nepalese people (literacy rate-male 45%, female 35 %), the voters were asked to use two ballot papers to mark their choice, one for the direct election of their representative and the other for the party, so that the proportional representation of 335 seats can be made by the party out of the ‘closed lists’ submitted of their probable candidates.
 
NEPAL
 
The Himalayan entity to “democratic” domain, Nepal has a population of 26.4 million and it contains eight of the world’s 14 highest mountains. Hindus make up 80% of the population. Nearly one third of Nepalese lives on less than $1 a day. Nepal has witnessed a revolutionary change in its electoral system with special quotas for women (one-third) and oppressed classes, with a provision for Muslims too under the head of ‘others’.
 
Nepal has been hotbed of rivalry politics, killing many. The change was imminent since the royal massacre took place June 1, 2001, killing mysteriously the entire family of King Birendra, the citizen king Nepal has ever witnessed after the legendary Prithvi Narayan Shah, King of Gorkha, unified the territory in 1766 after winning the Kathmandu Valley. Birendra was a beloved ruler of the masses. He was quite unassuming in his talks and would offer to make tea for his guests. His brother Gyanendra rose to the throne but fell in public esteem as many believed he had a hand in the royal killings. Next seven years saw a turbulent period with more than 12,000 innocent Nepalese losing their lives at the hands of blood-thirsty Maoists who wanted to bring in an era of ‘red revolution’.
 
Weak economically and having a poor leadership, Nepal became a hotbed of various international players and strategic craftsmen from European proselytizers active under the garb of NGOs and various peace missions to the Chinese influences reflected in Maoists routed often through the Indian Communist parties who were more than willing to see a ‘red revolution’ fructifying in the neighborhood. After King Gyanendra failed to gauge the nation’s mood and became a stumbling block in the way of change, a seven-party coalition shook hands with the terrorist Maoist group and brought them into political mainstream by inviting them to be their eighth partner in governance.
 
From Undergound to Cabinet
 
From a outlawed  group of so-called “terrorists” the Maoists have become makers of  law for their country. Maoists have had a long journey. They have faced severe domestic and international pressure to give up arms and were labeled as terrorists rather than a political party by many, including the United States. A decade of insurgency left them dominating much of rural Nepal. After 10 years of fighting, the loss of 13,000 lives and massive damage to the country’s infrastructure and economy, they are making a strong bid to capture power in the centre.
 
In their days as a guerrilla force, their fundamental strategy was to gain influence in the countryside before surrounding and entering the capital, Kathmandu, for a final strike. Anti-Maoists view that it was the failure of the democratic parties, the king, the army and other security agencies which made the Maoists’ journey to the capital possible in the first place. But when the Maoists realized intimidation and violence were less effective in Kathmandu, they changed their strategy. In late 2004, they decided to work with mainstream political parties to further their goals. The strategy received a boost when King Gyanendra sacked the democratic government and took over power in February 2005. Enraged by the king’s action, the mainstream political parties decided to accept the Maoists into their fold. Together, the Maoists and the seven mainstream parties took on the king in a series of street protests in April 2006 that resulted in the king handing back power. In subsequent months, the Maoists became part of the interim parliament and the government. They have also shown an ability to outwit their opponents in a way that erodes the authority of much of the state.
 
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala told the parliament a new chapter had begun in the history of Nepal. “They have surprised themselves,” an Asian diplomat said of the Maoists, whose victories so far have come from areas not known to be their stronghold. “Even they had not expected this and every one thought that Maoists will be third. Maoists say people had voted for a change and for a “new vision.” Yet, it is still too early to say if the Maoists will clinch a majority. The complex election method is — 240 members of the assembly are to be elected on a first-past-the-post basis, 335 on proportional elections and the rest named by the cabinet.
 
FUTURE OF MONARCHY
 
The poll outcome will also decide the future direction of the country. King Gyanendra seized absolute power in 2005 but was forced to give up his authoritarian rule the following year after weeks of pro-democracy protests. The main reason for the decline is the royal massacre. He has since lost all his powers and his command of the army. The king meanwhile has urged everyone to vote in the poll. “It has always been our desire to ensure that under no circumstances are the nation’s existence, independence and integrity compromised, and to build a prosperous and peaceful nation through a democratic polity in keeping with the verdict of the sovereign people,” the king said.
 
After presiding over a worsening security situation and a civil rights clampdown, Gyanendra was forced by street protests to abandon his direct rule two years ago. United against him, other parties formed a new government. The government has tried to wipe out signs of the king. His face has been removed from new coins and currency notes. And the king is now due to be taxed, and his palaces likely to be nationalized. With the institution of Nepal’s monarchy now due to be abolished, few venture to voice support for the generally unpopular King Gyanendra. He values the tradition - but, he adds, an elected president would be just as good. But he has his supporters. “Without the monarchy in Nepal, this country will not remain. It will break into many pieces or it will be a part of India.” That is one of the major goals of India in the region after bringing Kashmir and Sikkim into its fold by all possible means.
 
This issue keeps ringing in the ears of every citizen of Nepal whether one like it or not. The monarchy is still valued by some - but it is also associated with autocracy. Many feel like Monarchy is no longer a symbol of national unity, but of national division. Most Nepalis think the massacre was all plotted by the successor king, Gyanendra, and his unpopular son, Crown Prince Paras. His unpopularity grew when he took direct power in the name of fighting the Maoist rebels. Maybe some in the older generation, who did worship the king as a reincarnation of God, might look back with some affection. He has been stripped of even his ceremonial roles, though in recent months his unofficial appearances at religious festivals have brought out crowds - sometimes cheering. But the ruling coalition has decreed that after the polls the monarchy will go. Royalist election rallies have been broken up by the Maoist party.
 
INDIAN DILEMMA
 
Indian media – especially the core ones in New Delhi– loudly cry over the “spoiled” relationships between the two Hindu neighbors. Indian journalists lament that Hinduism is not spreading beyond India. India is already burdened with too many worries now, all of them are self-earned. Kashmiris are determined to regain independence, while Pakistan and Sri Lanka, Bangladesh are not playing to New Delhi music and now Nepal is also getting out of Indian shadow. India which believes any thing Hinduism is “great” calls Nepal as its “civilisational” ally, meaning a Hindu ally. Nepal, India’s best friend and so far her closest civilisational ally, is set to reborn as a different nation. India used to train people for Nepal Hindutva militants to deal with “rise of Islam and Christianity”, but now more of young Nepalese go to the West for education.
 
India has used Nepal to sell its military and other goods there profitably. Now India blames both USA and China for spoiling India’s fortunes in Nepal. India proudly calls Nepal as Himalayan Hindu land. India says the Chinese obviously do not like the growing US presence and Nepal is fast becoming a playground of the two powers in their war of influence in south Asia. Some “patriots” advise the new leadership to be closer to India. They also reason, with China, Church and Islamists gaining ground in Kathmandu, it’s a challenge for India’s “nationalists” and Nepal’s genuine well wishers to rethink their Nepal policy. Ever-growing Nepal-Pakistan tries are hated by India.
 
Indian strategists had hoped Nepalese Congress and Communist Party of Nepal -United Marxist Leninist under the suave and India friendly leadership of Madhav may emerge as the final engines to the Nepalese “democracy”. But victory of Maoists has upset the Indian calculations very badly. They say India’s interests lie in ensuring that Nepal remains in the hands of Nepalese pro-India “patriotic” people and doesn’t fall prey to the western powers or the Chinese influences that would de-Nepalise the Himalayan nation to serve their strategic goals.
 
For whatever reasons, India has lost both Nepal and also the esteem and trust of her people. Nepalese politicos and media of the secular variety love to hate India and it pay politically to bash India in election speeches. Though till now, the relations with Nepal have remained more than the ‘most favored nation’ status with no passport and visa required to travel into each other’s territory, (just an official I-card would suffice, such closeness marks are fast changing), but in reality India dictates terms to Kathmandu.
 
Evan while killing and torturing Muslims in India, Kashmir and Bangladesh, Indian media still malign Muslims and say: “with Pakistan and Bangladesh bleeding India on both sides and a threatening China on the North, we can ill afford to have a new pain in the form of a Nepal turned ‘red’ under a Maoist dispensation”. However, with a view to keeping Nepal under its full control, Delhi would be prepared to give military help to the government in Kathmandu rather than see the Maoists seizing power.
 
SOME OBSERVATIONS
 
The Maoists’ 10-year journey from the jungle to the government was partly a result of compulsion and partly political wisdom. The polls, for an assembly to re-write the constitution, are the first to test the Maoists at the ballot box. It is now certain that the Maoists would have the main say in Nepal government very soon. The polls, for an assembly to re-write the constitution, are the first to test the Maoists at the ballot box after their 10-year guerrilla campaign. The US - which regards the Maoists as terrorists - has congratulated the Nepalese people for holding elections which it says were mostly peaceful. Maoist say they look forward to an assembly that reflects the people’s will.
 
Maoist Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who changed his name to Prachanda, was on the verge of seeing his dream come true with his Maoist party sweeping. A graduate in agriculture, Dahal left his job as a school teacher in a village and groomed an army of revolutionaries with the dream of ousting the monarchy and establishing equality. It is expected that as the chief executive power of Nepal, Prachanda would fulfill the genuine aspirations of the Nepalese people.
 
The stunning victory of a once underground party mocked as “terrorists” even during the poll campaign and blamed for derailing the election last year also signaled the end of the road for Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, who despite his advanced age and chronic ill health was hoping to lead the government yet again. It also predicted the end for King Gyanendra, who jeopardized his forefather’s throne by trying to step out of constitutional monarchy and revive absolute reign.
 
Change of regime should result in prosperity of common people and nation. The new rulers have to concentrate on genuine welfare of the common Nepalese, in stead of trying to outsmart the political opponents in rhetoric. During the war, Maoists controlled huge swathes of the desperately poor countryside where basic services like roads, piped water, primary healthcare, education, electricity and telephones are lacking. Senior Maoist leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara said after being declared a winner “Nepali people are looking for economic, social, cultural and political changes… and a lasting peace. For this, they look to us as an alternative force,” he must breathe life into the future goals of Nepal.
 
It seems the army has already opposed the idea of the current interim parliament declaring Nepal a republic. Sources say the army is also unhappy about Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s Nepali Congress Party’s recent decision to vote for the abolition of the monarchy when the Constituent Assembly meets. The Maoists have now hinted that they are ready to compromise on the timing of the abolition of the monarchy. But they look far less likely to compromise on the proportional representation issue.
 
From emerging scenario, it is King Gyanendra who would be gaining. From a position of rock-bottom unpopularity, when he had to give up power in April, 2006, his standing has been gradually picking up - thanks to the chaos and discord among the political parties and Maoists. But the wider held view is that a final showdown between the army and the Maoists in Kathmandu is more likely than ever.
 
 
The Maoists might try to pressure other parties to agree to their demands for the immediate ending of the monarchy and for the CA polls to be held under a fully proportional voting system. Prachanda pledged to retain the ruling coalition till the new constitution was written and urged the bureaucracy and security forces to work together for the creation of a new Nepal. However, he was inexorable about the demolition of Nepal’s 239-year-old Shah Dynasty of kings. “We will work for a federal democratic republic to build a strong foundation for peace,” he said. That might give rsie to direct confrontation between the executive and the military Establishment that opposes abolition of monarchy, unless military opinion is totally ignored.

A senior Maoist leader in Nepal has urged the country’s beleaguered King Gyanendra to step down “gracefully.” The former rebels  said that the abolition of the monarchy was now just a “matter of procedure”. The Maoists have won  far more than many analysts had expected and they are now tipped to secure an absolute majority. senior army figure, Brigadier General Shiva Ram Pradhan, has expressed the willingness of the military to work with the new government.
The chairman of the country’s chamber of commerce has praised Maoist leaders for their promise to listen to the private sector when working out economic policy.
 
Former US President Jimmy Carter, who is an election observer, has said Washington must deal with the Maoists: “It’s the end, I hope, of armed conflict, of revolutionary war in fact”. That would mean the new government in Kathmandu will have support from both China and USA and also can hope for collaborative efforts form several nations across the globe.

These days, inflation has become a global problem. Food prices are skyrocketing and we can discern an impending humanitarian crisis in the near future. Growing energy expenses, competition between biofuel and food demands, variations in global weather and changing consumption patterns in China and India have been some of the reasons behind soaring food prices.

It is projected that inflation in Nepal will remain around 7% in 2008. But at a time when the neighboring countries are gearing toward maintaining low and stable inflation, the Nepal Rastra Bank has not taken any effective step to lower the rising inflation through better economic leadership.

India has been taking serious measures aimed at curbing inflation that has reached as high as 7.14%. It has banned export of commodities like rice, cement and lentils, hiked interest rate and increased cash reserves for commercial banks. China also said that it will pay farmers more for rice and wheat, trying to increase output and rein in surging inflation. Warehouse owners and traders in the Philippines found to be hoarding rice would be charged with “economic sabotage”, which carries a life sentence.

The FAO predicts that global food stock of 405 million tones today is the lowest since 1980. Similarly, the WFP Nepal has projected that more than 3.8 million poor Nepali people have been put in a vulnerable position because of the poor harvest and continuing food shortages and skyrocketing prices. Further, the average household food stocks in Mid and Far Western region are down by half compared to a year ago and the officials estimate that food prices will increase by 10% every moth till the next harvest. It is time the stakeholders concerned forwarded necessary policies aimed at moderating inflation and averting the disastrous food crisis.

Subash Dahal

Kathmandu

SOURCE: Letters to the Editor. The Kathmandu Post. April 26, 2008

 Why are the former two big & ‘democratic’ parties reluctant to join the Maoist-led government?

These democratic parties & their leaders seem concerned for:

*the Maoist cadres’ high-handedness

*stunning election result

*being led by a US Terror Watch listed hardcore communist party

While it’s now naked clear that the Maoists emerged as the largest party by resorting to the hook or crook strategies, one must not forget that most of the votes they got were not for communism at all.

In fact, the people who voted against one party Royal Regime would never withstand some other politburo elites as their Messiahs either.

Let this be written on the Ratna Park Wall in large bold letters - the Maoists would not be able to successfully sustain their communist ideals, if any, for long.

However, as Nepal is at a very critical stage after the cliched 238-yrs-old Shah dynasty Rule, the older, & therefore, mature parties must co-operate with the namesake Maoists for framing a democratic constitution as well as the new government.

Leaving the Maoist party on its own would be like resigning all responsibilities to a mishevious hyperactive teenager - a reactive but unworthy act on the part of ‘grown-up’ parties.

The parties should shock the Maoists this time - by making their presence in the government, & not allowing the Prachanda Pathiks get away merely with a lip-service call for a coalition government.

Let no one forget, to quote CK Lal, that people no longer shoulder those leaders who refuse riding comfortably through thick & thin.

There’s a saying in Nepali that one has to take extreme care while using both the Thutuno(oracular opening) & Mutuno.

Some uses & misuses of Chothale Thutunos in Nepali Politics:

*”In history, monarchs have been beheaded & also had to flee. Let that not be repeated in Nepal.” - Prachanda, Maoist Supremo

*”Better find a democratic method before deciding anything about the monarchy.” - Kirti N Bista, former PM during the Royal Panchayati Regime

*”…the UML(United Marxist-Leninist) is a eunuch party.” - Dr. Baburam, Second In-Charge of the Maoist Party

*”The Maoists must dissolve their Young Communist League(YCL) if they’re really willing for cooperation.” - Madhav K Nepal, Former G. Secretary, Nepal Communist Party(UML)

*”…the YCL activities are justifiable.” - Hisila Yami, Maoist Minister

*”We will not join the Maoist-led government unless the Madhes demands are met.” - Upendra Yadav, President of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum

*”We will not extend UNMIN’s tenure anymore. We’ll integrate the PLA(Maoist Army) with Nepal Army without the UN meddling.” - Chandra P Gajurel, Chief of the Maoists’ Foreign Affairs Dept.

*”Constituent Assembly election is a part of the peace process. UMMIN’s mandate is to take the peace process to a logical end.” - Ian Martin, UNMIN Chief

*”…during the transition period, there’s a need for collaborating with every party & stakeholder. Perhaps, the Nepali Congress should continue to lead the next goverment as well.” - Ram C Poudel, Peace Minister 

*”…the PLA(Maoist Army) should be adjusted outside the Nepal Army.” - Girija P Koirala, PM of Nepal

UN calls for halt to executions

The business sector suffered mostly due to the Maoist insurgency in the last 10 years, and now it’s upto them to build up confidence.”
Kush K Joshi, President, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce & Industry

“Wise & learned people lead our party, not the stupid ones.”
Prachanda, Maoist Supremo

Understandably, the share prices in Nepal dipped sharply among the news of the Maoist Party inching closer to majority in the Constituent Assembly election held on April 10.

And even the Maoists themselves fear that the temporary fear during the transition might become a new trend despite assurance from leaders for following a ‘capitalistic’ market economy.

The fears, however, are not unjustifiable. Although the Maoist leadership sounds really wise & pragmatic, they have not returned or made public about the confiscated land & property during the People’s War - not even after being a component of the Seven Party coalition government for the last two years.

Moreover, the grassroot Maoist cadres still beleive in the same hit & run theory - attacking all those not conforming to their ideology or hooliganism. The latest high-profile example could be the present Finance Minister Dr. Ram Saran Mahat who was allegedly attacked by the Maoists while celebrating his victory in the election.

“If the Maoists can thrash an incumbent government minister like me so easily & get away with that, how can a commoner feel secure under their leadership?” asked Dr. Mahat.

If the wise & learned Maoist leadership does not effectively control its cadres, & starts  a massive confidence building campaigns immediately, they’ll neither be able to check the capital flight to India which has already begun in effect.

The greatest folly lies in considering the Maoist tail to be heavier than its head - its simply unbelievable that the leaders who controlled their cadres even after the killings of dozens of their comrades in Gaur, Kapilvastu & Dang massacres, can not check the high-handedness against general public.

The real question would be why don’t they?

And if they won’t, then who else?

                                                  An ambulance ambushed by Maoists 

                                                   Let this remain a nightmare: When the Maoists started civil war, they killed people as a punishment of  spying their activity. (Pic: Sagar Shrestha,Nepalphotographs.com)                                         

  

The greatest test of moral courage for the Maoist-led government would be to apologize publicly for all the atrocities committed on people during their People’s War. 

The Maoist supremo Prachanda has rightly sensed the distrust for the Maoists among a large section of the population despite their sweeping victory. And better if they realize that the distrust is not America or India incited, but made in Nepal.

How can people forget the picture of a teacher mercilessly hacked just like a goat, or a passenger bus being blown to pieces in Supremo Prachanda’s own home district?

If Prachanda, Baburam, Badal, & other Maoist leaders - now CA members & new leaders of the New Nepal - really feel the responsibility of public mandate they’ve received, as they say, better they begin their New Nepal jouney by apolosizing formally for their atrocities.

The Maoists have been rewarded more than they deserved for their contribution in empowering all maginalized sections of the society - & now Maoist need to prove that they really deserve to lead Nepalis.

To prevent Nepal from slipping into Cambodia or Bolivia kinda mess, to discourage the new forces from raising their arms, & to  dispel all aprehensions as Prachanda asked after winning the election, the Maoists must confess all their past mistakes - their first governmental decision being a concrete demonstration of humility.

   

The CA polls since long have been an excuse for the government’s each and every failure. People’s problems have been ignored and sidelined since long. Prices of essential commodities have been sky-rocketing, which has put undue pressure to the people.

In my analysis, the price hike is an agreed upon deal among the politicians and businessmen. During the elections, all the parties, including independent candidates need money and the source is none other than the business community. But the transitional period has not been lucrative for the businessmen and at the same time, Indian criminals, too, have been extorting quite a lot of money from them. In a bid to recover the loss, the business community seeks for some illegal ways, which are then approved by the leaders as long as they receive donations. The people are then made the ultimate victims as the businessmen are allowed to widen their profit margin through haphazard price hikes.

This circularity does not end here. When the parties ascend to power after the elections, it is the turn of the businessmen to ask for some favor from the decision makers. The responsible members of the CA to be elected by the April 10 election should think of ways to stop this intricate circularity.

Praveen Kumar Yadav

Media Monitoring Center, Birgunj

SOURCE: The Kathmandu Post. April 10, 2008

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.

Beware, The People’s Movement is still ongoing…!

Now that the results of the Constituent Assembly election have begun pouring in, the leaders, candidates, & cadres of the political parties need to observe maximum restrain & acceptance of people’s verdict.

The greatest beauty of electoral system lies in its periodic nature - all victories & losses are temporary - only valid until next time.

The high competition, especially among the three major national parties, & the regional parties, shows that the people have been cultivating their desire of keeping a ’strategic balance’.

This means the result would be a mixed bag, as expected & accepted by all party leadership, when they agrred upon continuing the existing all party government just a few days before the polls.

However, the fresh mandate requires all parties co-operate with each other, facilitate the peace process, & pave the way for a new constitution by accomodating the new forces & faces that emerge with every update of the poll result.

And remember the Movement is still ongoing!

 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

You..u..u…u…aha…

 The countdown in days has narrowed into hours; & April 10, 2008 would be the dinstict divider in the timeline of Nepal’s history - before & after the Constituent Assembly election.

Thousands of liters of blood, sweat, & tears have been spilled for an event that just requires marking a particular sign, & dropping of a paper into a box.

Let this ballot revolution be the last destination for all bullets - & let all arms become enlightened refusing to fire.

Let the practise of converting human sufferings into stastistical graphics be rendered invalid - every single suffering derserves the recognition of a 100% suffering.

To establish that all is not fair in love & war, & that means are no less important than the ends, one needs to contribute a few hours of one’s life standing in the hot sun.

The day reminds one of the sea of people flowing every nook & corner during the Mass Movement 2006, & the Madhes Movements, defying all tyranny.

April 2008 expect a similar Dynosiac overflow, & if anyone fails to deliver: Shame on them!
–

Generally I refrain from making personal comments, but sometimes one is compelled to do so.

Some figures whom I’ll have to greet as CA members despite my unwillingess:

* Ram Bdr Thapa(Badal): The greatest yet unrecognized person behind Madhesi-Pahadi communal violence. He had arrogantly threatened the Madhesis of Safaya(Purge) who were protesting against Maoist high-handedness in Lahan.

*Hridayesh  Tripathi, Rajendra Mahato: Despite being a clean figure, Tripathi for accusing all Paharis of looting the Madhesis, & Mahato for fanning extremism even as a Minister.

*Govinda Raj Joshi, Sharad Singh Bhandari, Bijay Gacchedar, Kamal Thapa: They̵