This king has been challenging every person and power that has advised him to restore the fundamental rights of the Nepali people. You have Tulsi Giri badmouthing Manmohan Singh. You have King G himself challenging Condi Rice. You have a regime that has actively tried to play the so-called Pakistan and China cards. The basic thinking is that because the junta has physical force at its disposal, it does not need to listen to democratic powers like India, US and the EU, because all they do is issue statements. As the king said, "They have to say what they have to say. We have to do what we have to do."
It is time the democracies stepped up and responded in kind.
The only force the regime has used has been against the common people. The foot soldiers of the Nepali army are demoralised. These are people who went into the army for the monthly paycheck, not to get killed. And they are showing it.
After the democrats take over the reigns in Nepal, I believe the Dalai Lama should be invited to set up a winter home in Lumbini, and should be encouraged to set up a second Dharmashala in the vicinity, funded by international donors. I am sure someone like Richard Gere could lead the fund-raising efforts.
China needs to be responded to for its current support to the junta in Kathmandu.
It is a global struggle between the democrats and the autocrats in Nepal now. It is for the democrats to show they mean more than press statements.
This is one Active Monarch. He is not only out to get the political parties. He has also shown the major powers fall in the same category. He is all tit-for-tat.
- Nepal king's deputy rules out talks with Maoists: New Kerala, India .... Tulsi Giri .. said he did not favour holding talks ..... was recalled from his political exile in Bangalore in India ...... "Call them what you will," Giri told the media, "People's War, Maoist Communist Centre, Maoists or even the Al Qaeda - terrorism is terrorism whatever names you give it."....... the chief minister of West Bengal was critical of peace talks between the government of Andhra Pradesh and Maoist rebels there....... "The leftist government of West Bengal was in no mood to hold unconditional talks with the Naxalites (an ultra left group that staged an armed uprising in the 1970s). The terrorists hide in jungles from where they attack people and grab headlines. That is not the way to resolve problems." ...... army was "fully equipped" to deal with the Communist guerrillas - who have rejected the king's offer of amnesty. ...... The defence forces were demoralised by the previous governments ....... "Now they are ready to sanitise areas infected by these people smelling of dirty things and eradicate them. If they don't respond to words, they will be made to respond to kicks." ...... the media raised a "hue and cry" when the army killed people but made tame noises when the Maoists violated human rights....... Accusing the multiparty governments of Nepal of abetting the insurgents, the minister said "Girija (Prasad Koirala, Nepalese opposition leader) and Madhav Kumar Nepal (leader of the biggest Communist party) will get the first bullet from their terrorist friends." ...... They have been issuing statements from India and Bangkok ....... "The Indian dailies have been writing about Maoists receiving medical treatment in Uttar Pradesh and Patna (in Bihar) ...... "The prime minister refuses to go to Dhaka saying he does not want to shake dirty hands (after the royal coup in Nepal) whereas the greatest democratic king in Asia, the king of Bhutan, is invited as a guest of honour during India's Republic Day and shakes hands with the Indian leadership." ....... Nepal's bitterness stems from over 100,000 Bhutanese making Nepal their home for over a decade after fleeing ethnic cleansing in their country. While Nepal wants the Bhutanese refugees to return to Bhutan, the Druk kingdom has been dragging its feet on their repatriation. ........ He said the present emergency may be withdrawn before three months or extended after the period, depending on the security situation........ According to Nepal's constitution, it can be imposed for three months. To be extended, the government needs parliament's approval.
- Climate of fear exists in Nepal, say jurists
Sify A team from the conglomerate of judges and lawyers visited Nepal from March 13-16 ...... presenting a report entitled "Nepal: Rule of Law Abandoned." ..... the suspension of fundamental rights "is not lawful under Nepali and international law and will not help to win the war against the Maoists."
- No talks, rebels must be wiped out: Nepal govt Indian Express, India .....future saying the rebels needed to be ‘‘wiped out’’ even as it asked political parties to come forward for a dialogue, offering them berths in the cabinet if they cooperate with it in certain areas....... The rebels ‘‘need to be wiped out and the areas under their control will be sedimented,’’ he said, adding the government ‘‘is fully equipped to crush’’ the Maoists.
- Royal coup emboldening Maoists in Nepal, says international ...
New Kerala The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has slammed the claims saying its own findings reveal otherwise and that the crackdown is disproportionate to the demands of the situation. ...... it has emboldened the Maoists politically, it has not given a military advantage to the Royal Nepalese Army ..... very selective arrests, selective surveillance, selective late night calls, selective warnings that the King's proclamation should be read carefully, through selective restrictions banning criticism of the royal proclamation or the actions of the Royal Nepalese Army ...... more than a 1,000 people have disappeared in the last few months as the state tries to "break the backbone" of the revolt. ........ The rebels on the contrary have stepped up action against those who are pro-monarchy. ...... so far Nepalis seem resigned to their fate.
- Chinese FM will visit Nepal Daily Times, Pakistan Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing is to visit Nepal at the end of March during which the possible sale of arms to the Himalayan country by Beijing will be discussed ...... A Nepalese foreign ministry source confirmed other sources of supply were being investigated....... Li’s visit would also pave the way for a visit by the king to China to participate in the Boao regional economic forum on Hainan island between April 22 and 24 ..... Kathmandu on Wednesday coming out in support of a law passed by Beijing which allows it to attack Taiwan
- Nepal: Students activists demand restoration of democracy
Jerusalem Post - Rescue Nepal from human rights crisis: jurists' body: New Kerala, India The commission, founded in Berlin in 1952, comprises 60 eminent jurists who are representatives of the different legal systems of the world...... "There is no neutral space for civilians; they are trapped between brutal Maoist tactics and an unaccountable army that since Feb 1 is under increasing pressure to show successes"
- Jurist fears Geneva trip may cost Nepalese dear:
New Kerala - Gyanendra counters Rice visit with China card:
New Kerala ..... Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Sun Heping met King Gyanendra's deputy, vice-chairman Kirti Nidhi Bista ...... Gyanendra's nailing his colours to the Chinese mast indicates Nepal is no longer depending on Indian or American support at the ongoing session of the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva ...... the US has been asking the European Union to continue its 15-year-old arms embargo against China on the ground that weapons from Europe might be used against US forces if a war ensues over Taiwan
- Kathmandu scratches China’s back over Taiwan
Statesman - Nepal's king uses media to seek edge over rebels International Herald Tribune, France Maoist rebels and the army have issued separate statements almost daily, claiming victories on the battle front
- Nepal claims rift in Maoist top rung
Times of India Nepal army reports rift in rebels BBC News ..... there have been frequent newspaper reports alleging a rift between him and rebel leader Prachanda - apparently over Mr Bhattarai's wish to resume peace talks
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