Democracy For Nepal: Curfew? What Curfew? Royal Tamasha

Friday, January 20, 2006

Curfew? What Curfew? Royal Tamasha

If only by small groups here and there, the curfew was broken. And the UML has announced a rally for Saturday. If not Friday, then Saturday.

Nicholas Howen has put it right: "Silencing the leadership, the King hopes, will silence the people."

Nobody believes the hype. The curfew had nothing to do with the Maoists.

The Maoists are fighting for a Democratic Republic. And they are willing to disarm. It is the king who does not want peace.

The Sadbhavana Leaders Did Not Get Arrested

Did you notice? None of the Sadbhavana leaders got arrested. I think that is like saying, go reunite with Badri Mandal, contest the polls, and put yourselves in good shape.

But the seven party alliance will stay intact. I am glad the Sadbhavana leaders did not get arrested. It is just that I am not glad others got arrested.

These arrests show there is no rule of law in the country. These arrests are totally arbitrary.

Sunday Meeting

I have a meeting with some of my closest comrades here in New York City. Hope the curfew will get us to get much more proactive in our help to the democracy movement in Nepal.

In The News

Maoist target security personnel in Nepalgunj NepalNews Maoist rebels have attacked a group of security personnel at the busy BP chowk of Nepalgunj ..... at least three security personnel were killed ..... The rebels also attacked a team of security personnel stationed at Jamunaha police post near Nepal-India border this evening..... The policemen remain out of contact after the Maoist offensive
Over 200 arrested for defying curfew: Govt; Opposition activists carry out protests .... police have taken into custody 214 people for defying the curfew orders imposed in the capital ...... Vehicles belonging to security agencies, media and human rights groups and those that had already obtained curfew passes could be seen plying on the roads...... most of the shops remained closed even after the lifting of the curfew .... hundreds of opposition activists carried out protests including torch-lit rallies in various parts of the capital as soon as the day-long curfew was lifted.... The alliance said it will organize a mass meeting at Basantapur of Kathmandu at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. "The government's repressive moves will not deter our mass movement," said a statement issued by the CPN (UML)
A Reporter's Diary: Life was in hurry and haste Friday evening in Kathmandu People were anxious to know what had happened throughout the day...... Radios were close to their ears to hear news form local FM stations..... Cadres of political parties and students of Nepal Commerce Campus, Minbhavan, began their protests rally at Baneshwor chowk just a few minutes before it was 6 p. m. Security forces deployed in the area tried to disperse the crowd...... Most of the medical clinics and vegetable shops were open in the evening while many others remained closed...... They feared talking to strangers and looked as if some spies were following them...... People who had come out of their 10-hour "confinement" within their houses feared to go near agitating mobs..... A student of Ratna Rajya Campus, Dinesh, said he spent all day watching TV. He said that a government that is responsible and accountable could not impose curfews just to foil peaceful mass meetings. Leading rights groups alarmed at mass arrests in Nepal Amnesty International (AI), Human Rights Watch (HRW), and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) ...... expressed fears that violence and human rights abuses could spiral out of control by orders reportedly given by the district administrations granting security forces permission to shoot anybody violating curfew at night...... "These arrests, combined with the heightened restrictions on civil and political rights over the past week, highlight the government's continuing disregard for human rights," said Purna Sen, director of Amnesty International's Asia Pacific program....... "The curfew, the ban on demonstrations, Thursday's mass arrests and severe communication restrictions are all attempts by the government to silence peaceful and legitimate political protest, which is needed now more than ever in Nepal," said Nicholas Howen, secretary-general of the International Commission of Jurists. "If peaceful political debate is prohibited, there will never be an end to Nepal's 10-year civil war." ...... "Silencing the leadership, the King hopes, will silence the people. Such actions belie his stated belief in democratic principles and the rule of law."
Curfew leaves thousands of Kathmandu-bound passengers stranded stranded at Kalanki Chowk and various places on the Prithvi Highway ..... Unaware of the curfew orders during their night journey...... hundreds of passenger buses have been stuck at Nagdhunga and many other places along the Prithvi Highway since last night. “I came across a group of youths who were fearing that they may miss their abroad flight this evening” ........ “We have not got anything to eat as we had to stay inside the bus throughout last night and this morning,” a weary-looking woman said...... streets looked completely deserted by the time the curfew orders came into effect at 8: a.m..... Despite sporadic protests and arrests of dozens of opposition political leaders and cadres in the morning, there were no reports of violence.
Don’t raise question marks on the King’s democratic credentials: Minister Pandey People of Nepal have never experienced the institution of monarchy going against their will and consent...... the political parties who should have followed the path of the King have rather confined themselves to Kathmandu..... He said the power of the ballot was much more powerful than that of the bullet and that history was replete with experiences to tell us that democracy has always emerged victorious in all kinds of ideological struggles..... the government that tries, despite odds, to conduct free and fair polls in the country after a gap of seven years is termed as ‘repressive,’ ...... Urging the political parties and “friends of Nepal” in the international community to fully understand the real intention of `terrorists’ ...... The so-called unilateral ceasefire was not a genuine offer, rather it was a strategic ploy on part of terrorists to accumulate resources and strength to launch a series of attacks against innocent civilians and security personnel....... “While human rights organisations both at home and abroad are always on the forefront to point out even minor aberrations made by the security forces while on duty, there has not been a matching concern in respect of atrocities committed by terrorists” ....... alleged that human rights organisations were increasingly behaving as political activists...... “While Nepal’s commitment to human rights is total and unflinching, Nepal does not accept human rights activists dictating on matters that fall essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of a sovereign country” ....... urged all concerned to be objective in making assessment and to refrain from making what he called ‘pejorative remarks’ directed against the country’s security forces “fighting one of the deadliest terrorisms” ...... even in developed democracies facing terrorism and other serious crimes, national security has always received priority over civil liberties, the Foreign Minister complained that Nepal had been the victim of double standard in this respect as well....... based on credible information that terrorists are all set to create large-scale violence during the protest programmes organised by the political parties.......
Dozens arrested in Delhi while demonstrating against Nepal crackdown Nepali Youth Initiative for Peace and Democracy ..... Pravasi Nepali Sangh Bharat, Nepali Jan Sampark Samiti, Bharat, Migrant Nepalese Watchmen Labour Committee and Indian organisations including Socialist Front India participated in the demonstration organised by the NYIPAD in front of the Royal Nepalese embassy in Delhi..... for more than an hour.... demonstrators were in custody till this evening
Kofi Annan dismayed at Nepal arrests, calls for inclusive `national dialogue’ called on all sides in the strife-torn Himalayan kingdom to return to the negotiating table and halt the violence...... UN human rights officers had also visited 97 of more than 120 persons detained on Thursday..... renewed their call upon King Gyanendra—who is currently touring eastern districts of the country—to reach out to the political parties
Nepal cracks down on protesters Monsters and Critics.com Police stormed the Dharamashala Inn where protesters had gathered ahead of the rally ..... Similar arrests were made in cities across the country where protests were planned..... All the leaders were handed three-month house arrest notices, and telephone lines to many of their homes were cut..... The alliance nevertheless issued a statement saying it would defy the government and proceed with the protest rallies when the daytime curfew ended at 6 p.m. Friday.
Head to head: Should Nepal protest? BBC News Many Nepalis have been angered by what they see as moves to restrict their civil liberties. ..... I want the monarchy in Nepal to end. The king's actions only serve to reflect his feudal and autocratic tendencies..... We need to support the republican movement in Nepal, which has recently gained so much momentum...... King Gyanendra is carving a path to his destruction. I believe that the king knows he cannot last long and is trying every possible way to live up to a false heroism..... Let him enjoy his "mirage-popularity" while it lasts. ..... People feel strongly when they cannot be vocal about their opinions, when they cannot organise protests...... Nobody is worried about Maoists disrupting our protests. It is only the elite and the royals who believe this fear....... The whole nation is in tune and we have had enough of monarchy......

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20 January