Flickr Tag: NepalDemocracy

Flickr Tag: NepalDemocracy

Rallies have to be organized in New York City, also all across the country, all over the world. But rallies are hard to organize. People are busy. People are scattered. But solidarity has to be expressed.

On the other hand, small scale get togethers can also be organized. People could get together once every two weeks at the same time all over the country.

There is yet another way.

Can we instead take pictures of groups and individuals who support the cause of democracy in Nepal and post them online at Flickr, all with the same tag, NepalDemocracy? That might be an idea.

Rallies tend to be a few hundred strong. But this Flickr way, we could show thousands of faces. And it would be self organizing. We would not need a central site, or a central webmaster, or some kind of a central committee. Message would get spread word of mouth.

A few enthusiasts could do the camera work and go around their city of residence, and take pictures and do the uploading.

Flickr Tag: NepalDemocracy

This might be the best way to show a ton of faces. Even when we hold rallies, it is ultimately pictures that get sent around.

Rallies will still be held. But this is also an idea.

It is easier to ask people to upload one of their photos than to show up at a rally.

This goes with the theme of online activism.

Another great idea was Googlebombing An Autocrat King.

Flickr Tag: NepalDemocracy

This Flickr tag idea will give me an excuse to go out and meet a bunch of Nepalis locally. The elitism among the Nepali organizations in the US bothers me. You get a handful of talking heads. They are usually well educated, making decent income. If there are 50,000 Nepalis in the US, perhaps more, 15,000 or more in New York City itself, we should be thinking thousands, not hundreds.

Most are working long hours, doing odd jobs. They need to be reached. After all, this is a democracy movement. There is power in numbers. Our activism has to move beyond a club culture to something more mass based.

I like the idea of perhaps raising $10 each from a thousand different individuals. And I like this Flickr idea.

Flickr Tag: NepalDemocracy

In The News

Nepal cease-fire set to end Monday Japan Today, Japan
Fear of war grips Nepal Daily News & Analysis
Annan fears more bloodshed in Nepal in 2006 Newindpress
Massive scam emerges in Nepal’s army fund Peninsula On-line, Qatar
Massive scam unearthed in Nepal army welfare fund Gulf Times
Online News Media Seeks Official Recognition in Nepal NewsLine Nepal, Nepal
State hindering growth of online media PeaceJournalism.com
Nepal Govt Asks Fringe Parties to Make Feb 8 Polls a Success NewsLine Nepal, Nepal
Government holds all-party meeting for upcoming municipal polls Nepalnews.com
We Will Not Fall Prey to Maoist or King’s Ambush: Nepal Leaders NewsLine Nepal
Dr. Hall appointed new British envoy to Nepal Kantipur Online, Nepal
Koirala Abstains Alliance Meet to Discuss Nepal Politics NewsLine Nepal, Nepal
Seven parties meeting to continue; Maoists likely to extend truce by 15 days NepalNews
NBA asked to protest against appointment of Justices
Minister greeted with black flag; 24 injured
Rights groups call upon Maoists to extend ceasefire
Journalists demand official recognition for online media

Nice And Easy: President Nepal

The Seven Party Alliance, The Maoists

Come around to this: Proposed Republican Constitution 2006.

Then we will have the option to go for an interim government, and a referendum. Even a constituent assembly is about these top party leaders banging heads among themselves. Why not bang heads now?

40 Reasons Why The Three Forces Should Come Ar0und To My Proposed Constitution

The King

He vacates the Narayanhiti, because that belongs to the state. Other than that, he gets to keep the rest of his property, his private residences, his factories, his hotels, his tea gardens. He stays on in the country as a private citizen.

The President gets to live and work in the Narayanhiti.

The Army

The interim Prime Minister becomes the Commander In Chief. Other than that there are no changes made among the army top brass for the duration of the interim government.

Only a duly elected President makes the requisite changes.

General Amnesty

A Truth And Reconciliation Commission is set up, so that individuals and families that have suffered during the decade long civil war may get heard, such that their stories get told and archived.

Other than that the Maoists are granted general amnesty, as are the RNA.

The Maoists get to become an unarmed political party within a multi-party framework.

The RNA becomes the Nepal Army.

Madhav Nepal, Interim Prime Minister

It is a choice between him and Girija Koirala. Nepal is the obvious choice for many reasons. His party is the largest, it is much larger than the Nepali Congress. He and his party practice internal democracy much more than the Nepali Congress. They actually discuss things before they make decisions. He has been for the interim government idea: Girija has not. Madhav Nepal realizes the pitfalls of reviving the 1999 House, Girija does not. The UML has offered a greater clarity. The UML rallies have been the lifeblood of the movement recently. Koirala's health is failing.

Koirala is also disqualified. Madhav Nepal's job will be much tougher than that of Krishna Prasad Bhattarai's was in 1990. Nepal has to make peace with the Maoists, unify the two armies, and tame the army. On top of that, he has to bring forth a new constitution. Koirala does not have the political skills to engage in democratic debates, build coalitions, and such. He is good at taking stands and sticking by them.

Tulsi Giri

He gets jailed or deported.

Tulsi Giri going jail, and chukkie pissing.

President Nepal

A guy with last name Nepal gets to become the first President of Nepal, looks like. He sures looks like he is on his way.

Phone Talk With Madhav Nepal, Hridayesh Tripathy
Maoist, Moriarty, Madhav, Manmohan: Get Behind The 3 Point Program
Madhav Nepal, Commander Of The Movement
Email From Madhav Kumar Nepal

Proposed Republican Constitution

प्रस्तािवत संिवधान (November 15)
Proposed Constitution (November 14)


Proposed Republican Constitution

Preamble

1. Nepal is a federal republic, a total, transparent democracy, with the sovereignty resting with the Nepali people.

Article 1: The Legislative Branch

1. There is to be a lower house, the Pratinidhi Sabha, with 180 members, 60 per state, and a upper house, the Rajya Sabha, with 60 members, 20 per state, all of whom are to be directly elected through constituencies demarcated such that the largest has a population not more than 5% of the smallest, geographically in close approximation to a circle or a square, and protected from partisan gerrymandering by an autonomous Election Commission. The constituencies need not respect district boundaries. Three constituencies for the Pratinidhi Sabha will make one for the Rajya Sabha. The entire Sabha is dissolved en masse when its term nears expiration.
2. Private and public sector media entities wanting to cover live the proceedings in the parliaments may do so.
   
3. The Pratinidhi Sabha will have reserved seats for the four groups, Dalit, Madhesi, Janajati and Mahila, 5%, 10%, 9%, and 12% with some overlaps. Half of the seats for women will cut across that of these four groups as well. For example, of the 5% seats for Dalits, 50% of them will have to be women. And the 5% for Dalits will be half in the Terai, but that is not to cut into the Madhesi reserved seats. 5, 10, 9 and 12 are a quarter of the supposed shares of the populations of these groups, to be revised each census. When identifying the seats for the Dalit, Madhesi and the Janajati, the Election Commission will seek constituencies where the groups have their largest share of populations. No three contiguous seats may be reserved seats. The total number of reserved seats may not exceed 40% of the total. In addition to this formula, seats will be reserved so as to ensure women as a group get 33% of the total seats.
   
4. Other than the specified groups, the Muslims will get one seat. The Newars will get one seat in the Kathmandu valley.
5. The reservations are to exist only at the federal level, and only for the Pratinidhi Sabha. And they are to be doled out according to a formula that is to be as follows: Not more than 40% of the total seats may be reserved seats. During a census, a citizen may specify upto three collective identities. One is to be gender, which will be in a category of its own. Each person also has to denote as to which he or she considers the primary identity, other than gender. If a group's representation in the Pratinidhi Sabha is less than 40% its share in the national population, that group qualifies for reservations. As soon as their share other than the reserved seats hits 40%, the reservations are discontinued.
   
6. Women get a 33% reservation at all levels of government. Within that reservation arrangement, women from all backgrounds are to be accomodated as per the said formula.
   
7. All matters of national importance are to be decided by the national parliament through a majority vote unless otherwise stated. Parliamentary procedures are to be laid out or revised with a 60% vote margin.
8. The legislatures are to elect their Speakers and Deputy Speakers. The legislatures shall assemble at least once every four months, and as often as necessary. The Speaker does not get to vote in the parliament.
   
9. No parliamentarian may be arrested while the parliament might be in session except for felony charges. Their speech in parliament is protected from any and all oversight, legal and otherwise.
10. A simple majority of the parliament will pass the budget. All budget proposals must originate in the Pratinidhi Sabha, and can also be thus tabled by the President.
    
11. All bills must be posted online in three languages - Nepali, Hindi and English - for at least one week before they may be voted upon.
12. All regional and international treaties that Nepal might enter into will have to pass a 60% majority in the parliament.
13. Political parties may not engage in fund-raising activities. Instead each national party, described as those that garnered at least 3% of the votes in the previous nationwide parliamentary elections, will get an annual sum that will be directly proportional to the number of votes it earned. That money is to be used for party-building and electioneering activities. Details of expenses are to be posted online in the three languages to the last paisa on at least an annual basis.
    
14. The Election Commission holds secret ballot elections for party leadership for each national party. Tickets for all elections are distributed by parties through democratic methods involving members at or below the said level in their respective organizations.
    
15. The Election Commission puts in place ceilings as to election expenditures. Independent candidates may not raise money, but may spend their own money that may not exceed the amount of the party candidate spending the most money. Once elected independent candidates may not join a national party for at least one year.
16. A party may not charge its members more than Rs 36 a year.
    
17. Every person on the state's payroll - elected officials, bureaucrats, justices, police, army personnel, teachers, health care workers - is to submit a Family Property Statement, to be posted online and archived and updated annually. Upon exiting the public sector, they may discontinue the practice, but the archives will remain, and the updates will resume should the individuals re-enter public service.
18. Details of all expenses incurred by the state, to the last paisa, are to be posted online in the three languages. All contracts offered by the state to the private sector are to be bid for in a similar transparent manner from beginning to the end. All job applications and promotions in the public sector are to be similarly handled in a transparent manner.
19. All formal political deliberations at all levels of government in the long run and at the state and federal levels in the short run are to be posted online in as real time as possible in the language that was used at the venue. Efforts are to be made to make the same available in Nepali, Hindi and English. All votes are to be similarly made public.
    
20. Every elected official at all levels of government is to get a decent monthly salary.
21. Anyone above the age of 18 is a legible voter. Members of the Pratinidhi Sabha will have to be at least 22 years of age, and that of the Rajya Sabha at least 25 years of age. The terms of members of the two bodies shall last four and six years respectively. All elected officials are to have been citizens.
22. Acts of impeachment require a vote of 65%. This constitution can be amended by the same vote margin.
23. The parliamentarians may not increase their salaries in a way that might affect the members of the existing class. The same applies to the salaries of members of the cabinet.
24. The parliament may create, merge and dissolve ministries, agencies and commissions as necessary.
    

Article 2: The Executive Branch

1. The President is directly elected by the people. If a candidate not earn 50% of the votes, a second round is to be held within a month of the first when the two top candidates contest. The President serves a five year term.
   
2. A candidate has to be a citizen and at least 30 years of age.
   
3. The President may elect members to the Cabinet that might or might not be members of the parliament. But if a MP get into the cabinet, that parliamentary seat goes vacant.
   
4. The President makes nominations to the Supreme Court and other constitutional bodies like the Election Commission (EC) and the Commission to Control Corruption (CCC) - both of which are autonomous - to be confirmed by a 60% vote in the parliament. The commissioners serve 6-year terms.
5. The army, to be called the Nepal Army, is not to be larger than 0.1% of the national population and is to be downsized accordingly within 5 years of this constitution getting promulgated. The President is the Commander-In-Chief of the army. The army can be abolished with a 65% vote in the parliament.
   
6. The central bank is to be autonomous, and the governor, to serve a six-year term, is to be appointed by the President, subject to a 60% vote in the parliament.
7. All appointments made by the President, except for his or her personal staff, will need a majority vote in the parliament for confirmation, unless otherwise stated.
8. The President signs bills passed by the parliament. The President may also be the originator of bills to the parliament.
   
9. The President may send back a bill passed by the parliament. But if the parliament send it back to him with a 65% vote, it has to be signed.
   
10. If the President not respond to a bill within 10 days of it having been sent, it is to be assumed signed.
11. Eash state is to similarly elect a Governor.
    

Article 3: The Judiciary Branch

1. The judiciary will reflect the composition of the government, from village/town to district, to state to the national level. Towns and cities with more than 25,000 people will be served with more than one court, the number to be decided through a formula by the state government. There will be a layer between the district and the state levels, the Appeals Court, 10 per state. The system is to be peopled like the civil service, on merit.
2. The President makes nominations to the national Supreme Court. The Governor makes nominations to the State Supreme Court. Both are subject to their respective parliaments for 60% of the vote. Justices to the Supreme Court are to serve to the age of 70 or upto their voluntary retirement.
3. The state and national Supreme Courts interpret the constitutionality of laws passed by the parliaments when thus challenged, but such interpretations may be overturned by the parliaments through a 65% vote.
4. The parliament, federal or state, may not diminish the salary of a sitting judge.
   

Article 4: The States

1. The current "zones" and "development regions" are to be abolished, but the "districts" are to be retained. The country is to be divided into three states, roughly of equal population, Eastern, Central, and Western, to be called Koshi, Gandaki, and Karnali, that are to include all three geographical regions, Terai, Pahad and Himal, and based on the three river basins. Each state is to have a Pratinidhi Sabha, 120 members, and a Rajya Sabha, 40 members. Each seat for the federal Pratinidhi Sabha is to be divided into two for the state Pratinidhi Sabha.
   
2. The districts will have their own governments, forming a third layer, named Zillapalika. It is for each state to design the formation and functioning of its component district and town/city governments. The village units are to be called Grampalika, the town units are to be called Nagarpalika, and the city units Mahanagarpalika, and will form the fourth layer of government. District, town/city and village elected officials are to be at least 21 years of age.
3. The voters in the districts will directly elect the District Chairperson. Mayors for towns and villages are also to be directly elected. Each directly elected official must have secured at least 50% of the votes cast.
   
4. The judicial and law enforcement services are to be operated as a meritocratic, inclusive civil services by the three states and the federal government.
   
5. The federal government will directly transfer 10% of its annual budget to the 25 poorest districts measured by per capita income. This does not prevent further federal expenditures on those districts.
6. The income tax structure is to be as follows: 50% federal, 30% state, 10% district, and 10% village/town/city. The income tax is to be collected by the federal government, and funds transferred by the same to the other levels of government as per this formula, and is to be gradually phased in where none might be getting collected now.
7. The federal revenue from all sources other than income tax is also to be similarly allocated. 50% stays at the federal level, the rest goes to the three states equally. Each state is also to send out 40% of its non income tax budget directly to the districts in direct proportion to the population of each district.
   
8. The education system shall follow a tri-lingual policy up to Class 10, beyond which it is for each individual institution to decide on their own as to the language of instruction. The first language is to be the student's first language, the second language is to be Nepali. For those for whom Nepali might be their first language, the student may choose any language spoken in Nepal. The third language is to be English, the contemporary global language of science and commerce. This policy applies to schools in both the private and the public sectors. The language of instruction for all other subjects to Class 10 will be a decision to be made by the individual school board for the public schools and by the owners of the private schools: it is to one of the three - Nepali, Hindi, and English - or a combination.
9. It is for the state parliaments to decide on the use of a second, local language as the language of government at the local levels.
   

Article 5: The Individual

1. The individual is the most important component of the state and is to be protected and celebrated. The Universal Declaration Of Human Rights is the bedrock of this constitution.
   
2. Every person has a birth right to freedom of speech, freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of religion, a right to a speedy, public trial, and a right to privacy, a protection from unreasonable searches and seizures. No person may be tried and punished for the same crime twice. No person will be compelled to testify against themselves. No person will be deprived of life, liberty or propety without due process of law. Private property may not be taken for public use without due compensation. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. The privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended. No ex post facto law shall be passed. No warrants are to be issued, except upon probable cause, and should specifically describe the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. A person charged with a crime is to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his or her favor, and is to have the Assistance of Counsel for his or her defence.
3. Every person born in Nepal is a citizen of Nepal. But this does not prevent people not born in Nepal from seeking Nepali citizenship.
4. Every person is equal under the law. Any law that might conflict with that fundamental premise will become null and void as soon as this constitution takes effect.
5. No person shall be taxed more than 40% of their income by all levels of government put together. Those in the bottom 40% income brackets are not to pay any direct taxes.
6. No business may be taxed more than 30% of its profits, and businesses in the bottom 30% income brackets will not pay any direct taxes. All business expenses are tax write-offs.
7. The sales tax may not exceed 10% and is to be collected by the state.
8. Elections at all levels are to be organized on Saturdays.
9. No citizen of age may be barred from voting for whatever reason except when they might be serving time.
10. It is a stated goal of the state to make possible lifelong education for every person in the country through creative partnerships between the private and public sectors, and through creative uses of the internet and other technology. The state shall also attempt to provide universal access to secondary education and primary health care, free of cost. The secondary education provision applies to people in all age groups.
    
11. The state shall attempt to provide universal access to micro-credit to all in the bottom 40% income brackets, not all of it by the public sector.
    
12. All persons that might enter into agreements, either in the private or the public sector, to access credit will have the option to declare bankruptcy as a last resort, but such declarations may stay on that person's credit record. Money owed by an individual, as opposed to by a business or a corporation, may not be passed on to the next generation. Indentured servitude is an illegal form of collecting money owed by an individual or family. Money owed may not be paid for through manual labor. Any person, group or organization, lending money on interest, the total of which is larger than Rs 20,000, to be indexed to inflation as calculated every five years and rounded to the nearest thousand, is to register as a small business owner, and will be subject to taxation and regulation.
13. All educational institutions, public and private, must have at least 10% of its students on need-based full scholarships. Institutions may also opt to have 5% on such full scholarships, and 10% on need-based half scholarships, or 5% on full, 6% on half, and 6% on one-third scholarships. But at no time should the proportion of full scholarships dip below 5%.
14. Employees of the state in the education and health sectors will be paid salaries that are at least 10% larger than to those with similar qualifications serving in other fields.
15. An accurate, scientific census is to be conducted every 10 years, and scientific projections are to be made for the intervening years.
    

Article 6: Capitals

1. The national capital is to be shifted from Kathmandu to the Chitwan valley within 10 years of this constitution getting promulgated.
   
2. Udaypur Valley, Chitwan Valley, and Surkhet Valley will respectively serve as the capitals for Kosi, Gandaki and Karnali.

Interim Constitution, Revolutionary Parliament (April 8)
Proposed Republican Constitution 2006 (January 1)
Proposed Constitution (December 19)
Proposed Constitution (November 17)
Proposed Constitution (September 3)
Proposed Democratic Republican Constitution (August 12)
Janata Dal Constitution (August 8)
Proposed Constitution (June 18)
Reorganized UN, Proposed Constitution, Methods (May 30)
Proposed Constitution (May 3)
Shortcut To A New Constitution, Shortcut To Peace (April 8)
This Inadequate, Improper, Insufficient 1990 Constitution (April 4)

The King Is Being Super Unreasonable

Why is he in power in the first place? What is his reasoning?

(1) Because Monarchism as an ideology is superior.

Nothing could be further from the truth. He has described Maoism as an arachaic ideology in international forums. If Maoism is 50, or 70 years old and defunct, Monarchism is 200, or 2,000 or 5,000 years old and defunct.

Monarchism does not even remotely compete with democracy as an ideology. He has no ideological grounds to be in power.

A monrachy makes little statistical sense.

(2) Because he as a person has superior skills at statecraft.

The records show otherwise. Before he became king, the Maoists were active only in a few districts. Now they are active in all districts. Most of the lives that have been lost to the insurgency have been lost on his watch. Nepal is right at the bottom when it comes to respect for human rights on the planet. The economy is down. The limited peace that has been achieved has been at the behest of the seven party alliance and the Maoists. He has been a total failure.

You talk peace but refuse to reciprocate a ceasefire and get further isolated internationally, because it has become so obvious to one and all that peace is not what you are interested in. Either you are against peace, or you are simply inept. Both build a strong case against you.

You talk democracy and foist Tulsi Giri on the people. That guy has a fundamental character deficiency when it comes to democracy.

But if the king is smarter, better skilled than the likes of Madhav Nepal and Girija Koirala and Baburam Bhattarai, then that actually is a case for a republic. Because he is then saying it is not the Monarchist ideology, but his being an exception to the line of kings why he deserves a chance.

If he is an exception to the line of inept, dumb kings, he is an argument against the monarchy as an institution.

(3) Because the country needs peace and democracy.

He is the reason why there is neither. He is preventing peace. He is the one who uprooted democracy. Democracy is milk, the king is a cat. Cats are not known to guard milk too well.

(4) Because he really is a constitutional monarch at heart.

Then he needs to get out of the way as soon as possible. His only option is to come to the idea of a constituent assembly as soon as possible. And then get on best behavior so that parties that are for a constitutional monarchy will have a case to make to the people. Right now he has lost even the RPP. He is not exactly acting like someone trying to preserve the monarchy.

He is giving the country two options: that it is between an executive monarchy or an activist monarchy.

A constitutional monarch is neither seen nor heard. And even that he can only get if the people might so desire. Otherwise he is out.

He has really been trying the patience of the people all over the country, and all over the world.


Podcast

December 31, 2005 (15 minutes) The king has refused to reciprocate the ceasefire. That is extremely unreasonable. Monarchism is an archaic ideology. And if he is an exceptionally smart guy, that actually is a case for a republic. If the Maoists go back to violence, that hurts the democracy movement. The king is losing even the RPP. Non-violence is more effective as a political weapon. The diaspora needs to rise above petty territoriality and elitism and express solidarity in large numbers through large scale moral and logistical support.



Monarchism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Monarchism is the advocacy of the establishment, preservation, or restoration of a monarchy as a form of government in a nation.
monarchism: Definition and Much More From Answers.com
basic.theology.forums > Monarchism
monarchism - definition of monarchism by the Free Online ...
TRINPsite: Book of Fundamentals: Monarchism
Amazon.com: Democracy, Revolution, and Monarchism in Early ...
Democracy, Revolution, and Monarchism in Early American Literature
Monarchism - Reviews on RateItAll Moody’s Gorgeous Life » Monarchism

Democracy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Democracy in its ideal sense is the notion that "the people" should have control of the government ruling over them. This ideal is pursued by implementing a system of voting such that the majority of people rule, either directly or indirectly through elected representatives.
Democracy Now!
Democracy For America
The Center for Democracy and Technology
MoveOn.org: Democracy in Action
Democracy in international politics - openDemocracy
Center for Voting and Democracy
National Endowment for Democracy
LWV | Home
Democracy in America

Republicanism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Republicanism is the idea of a nation being governed as a republic. In a broad definition a republic is a state or country in which sovereignty is invested in the people. Most commonly such principle beyond the control of the state's citizens is a hereditary principle, and in this sense a republic is the opposite of a monarchy. Thus the term republicanism is often used to describe any movement that is opposed to monarchies.
Australian republicanism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Republicanism
Reader's Companion to American History - -REPUBLICANISM
Republicanism and Democracy
Oxford Scholarship Online: Republicanism
The Genesis of Republicanism: The Birth and Growth of the Grand ...
Townhall.com :: Columns :: Republicanism in decline by Tony Snow
[PDF] MODELING FLORENTINE REPUBLICANISM John F. Padgett Santa Fe ... Republicanism, Democracy, and Constitutional Government: The ...

Googlebombing An Autocrat King

Autocrat King

Umesh Shrestha of Mero Sansar has come up with this great idea to Googlebomb King Gyanendra.

Autocrat King

All you have to do is add this link somewhere on your webpage or blog.

Autocrat King

The more links, greater the chance that no matter who on earth does a search on the term "autocrat king," they will end up at the official homepage of King Gyanendra.

Autocrat King

This was a great idea successfully used against George W. The phrase linked to him was "miserable failure."

Autocrat King

So if you have a webpage or a blog, participate immediately.

Autocrat King

If you don't have one, launch one. It is so easy to do. Go to Blogger. Launch your own blog. And copy and paste this phrase.

Autocrat King

This is creative.

Autocrat King

This is non-violent.

Autocrat King

This is global.

Autocrat King

This is fun.

Autocrat King

This is hip.

Autocrat King

This is online.

Autocrat King

As you know, the more sites that link to a site, higher up it shows up in search results.

Autocrat King

So let's give this king a popularity he never had.

Autocrat King

He deserves to be Googlebombed for not reciprocating the ceasefire.

Autocrat King

He deserves to be Googlebombed for his obstinate stand against the seven party alliance.

Autocrat King

He deserves to be Googlebombed for bringing Tulsi Giri back into power.

Autocrat King

He deserved to be Googlebombed, period.

Autocrat King

So participate. Launch a blog if you don't have one. And link.

Autocrat King

In The News

UN serious about increasing rights violations in Nepal: Martin NepalNews
EU calls for mutual ceasefire in Nepal
Tuladhar predicts unprecedented violence ahead
Country heading towards terrible confrontation: Ms Acharya
Irregularities in RNA welfare fund: OAG
Annan urges government to reciprocate Maoists’ truce
RPP lets district level to decide on polls
Annan fears more bloodshed in Nepal in 2006 Newindpress, India
EU reiterates call on Nepal to reciprocate truce Xinhua
Annan urges Nepal government, leftist rebels to reach truce People's Daily Online
UN chief fears Nepal conflict Bangkok Post
India, US express concern over political development in Nepal Malayala Manorama, India
Koirala Talks of Compromise with King on Reconciliation Day NewsLine Nepal
EU joins Annan's call for peace in Nepal NewKerala.com
Annan fears more bloodshed in Nepal in New Year NewKerala.com
2005 Review: Nepal weathers nearly a year of direct rule Monsters and Critics.com, UK
Massive scam unearthed in Nepal army welfare fund NewKerala.com, India
''RNA using Welfare Fund haphazardly''; report NewKerala.com
Massive scam unearthed in Nepal army welfare fund Webindia123
Auditor General Traces Irregularities in Nepal Army's Fund NewsLine Nepal, Nepal

A War Of Words, Not A War Of Bullets

It has been extremely unreasonable of the regime to not have reciprocated the Maoist ceasefire, but then if it did act reasonable, it would not be a feudal monarchy, would it? The Maoists should not now punish the people and the democracy movement for the obstinacy of the royalist regime.

If they now resort to violence, they punish the democracy movement. The democracy movement is on. It has definite momentum. Rally after rally are proving that. February 8 is good news. All we have to do is go to every home in the 50 plus municipalities, and convinve the people to stay back home. A total failure on the part of the regime on February 8 will deal it a fatal blow, I think.

February 8 has given us focus, it has energized our bases, and it has made a rapid bipolarization possible. The chips are falling in place.

Instead of bullets, the Maoists should go on a massive offensive with an out and out propaganda war and target the foot soldiers of the RNA, and the low paid officers of the police force. They should use the airwaves, they should engage in some massive pamphleteering. They should wake these people up so they are more prone to switch their sides to the cause of democracy.

These foot soldiers are not royalists. They just went in for the monthly salary. They need to be educated on democratic values just like the rest of the population. The Maoists should learn from Lenin, and try to win them over by raising their class consciousness. The Maoists have their work cut out for them. The work involves words, not bullets.

Dr. Baburam Bhattarai is the ultimate wordsmith. I have devoured his writings this past year, scant that they have been. He writes crisp. His party needs him now more than ever before, now when victory is so near, you can almost smell it.

Threat of violence also falls within the purview of a war of words. The Maoists have threatened to march their armed cadres into the Kathmandu valley itself should the royal regime get down to a military crackdown on peaceful protestors. That message has to be spread far and wide. That is propaganda work. The threat will be its most successful if it never gets carried out.

But if they now go back to their old ways and resort to violence, that will be a serious jolt to the democracy movement. Why would they want that? Especially when victory feels so near.

Their ceasefire has not been the ceasefire of an armed group that is tired and near defeat. The ceasefire has been the work of a smart, agile leadership that made some sound political analysis, and threw the regime off balance through a brilliant military move. An already globally isolated regime became even more isolated. What looked difficult before became real: an alliance between the Maoists and the seven party alliance got forged. The UN has been happy with the Maoists and openly critical of the regime that refuses to talk sense. It is hard for any global power to demonize a group that even the UN has been singing praises of.

These have been major achievements. The initiative has been seized from the royalists.

But if the Maoists were to now resort to violence, that will be a major step backward in every way. I don't believe they will. People who made the brilliant move of the ceasefire will likely not go dumb overnight and lose their sound political acumen. I don't believe they will.

But I feel the need to write these words of caution regardless.

The seven party alliance has already decided to engage in some major pamphleteering. The Maoists should do the same. They should work to build a nationwide network so as to make it possible to smuggle their hard hitting pamphlets into the army ranks and the police. If they could only reach 30,000 foot soldiers of the RNA, that would be an achievement.

The Maoists have been good at being able to track down the families of the RNA foot soldiers in the villages. Maybe they should do that and make a democratic, non-coercive attempt to convince those family members. Words might get passed on.

These foot soldiers are people who have been willing to fight and die for a measly monthly salary. It should not be hard to work on them and convince them to live for their country.

I am not exactly suggesting a mass uprising within the army, a mutiny, or anything like that. I am suggesting if the propaganda work is done well, when it is finally crunch time, and the regime is near collapse, these foot soldiers will come to a point where they will refuse orders. A breakdown in the RNA chain of command might be possible.

The same might apply to the police.

I would urge the student organizations who most often engage in street clashes with the police to change their tactics. Instead of confronting the police, go to the police line, and stop. Engage the front line police officers in small talk. Let the police line be a peaceful dam. And build the crowd behind it. Do peaceful, creative sloganeering. Win them over. Don't pelt them with stones. Soon these police officers will be taking orders from the democratic, interim government. It is not like they are on the other side.

More so than the army and the police, it really is about the people. I am extremely pleased with the programs of the eight parties to foil the February 8 polls.

To sum it up:

1. Maoists, extend the ceasefire if you can.
2. If you can't, then keep your armed cadres on "active defense."
3. Don't start a new round of violence. The democracy movement can not afford it.
   
4. Instead fight a war of words. Wage a major propaganda war to win over the RNA foot soldiers.
   
5. Visit homes to convince people to not show up for the February 8 polls.

In The News

Annan urges Nepal government, leftist rebels to reach truce People's Daily Online, China
Annan presses Nepal to match rebel cease-fire Reuters AlertNet
Annan urges truce between Nepal’s Government and Communist ... UN News Centre
Annan calls on Nepalese rebels to extend cease-fire+ TMCnet
Mukherjee meets Nepal, Koirala Kathmandu Post, Nepal
Mukherjee and Millard meet Nepal Kantipur Online
UN should exert pressure on Nepal: Nepal Kantipur Online
Nepal army starts 'biggest' Maoist hunt NewKerala.com
Political parties mobilise workers to actively boyott polls in ... Doordarshan
Number of killings and bombings dropped significantly in Nepal Pravda, Russia
Abuses drop during Maoist truce BBC News
Communist rebels say they won’t kill during Nepal’s municipal ... Khaleej Times
Nepal rebels assure UN over poll threat Reuters AlertNet
Pro-democracy Lawyers, Professionals Flay Pro-King Appointments in ... NewsLine Nepal, Nepal
SC appointments draw criticism; NBA calls meeting to discuss ... Nepalnews.com
NBA calls meet against SC appointments Kathmandu Post
Rights Activists Criticise SC Judges' Appointments Himalayan Times
Nepal: Seven-party alliance asks people to boycott polls Press Trust of India, India
We Will Not Fall Prey to Maoist or King’s Ambush: Nepal Leaders NewsLine Nepal
Journalists stage nationwide protest against media curb NepalNews
King should relinquish power: Ranabhat
26 people killed during ceasefire: NHRC
Democracy must to achieve MDGs: Experts
SC appointments draw criticism; NBA calls meeting to discuss appointments

Trent Lott And Gyanendra Shaha

CNN.com - Lott apologizes for Thurmond comment - Dec. 10, 2002 "I want to say this about my state: When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years, either," Lott said at last week's party...... Thurmond ran as the presidential nominee of the breakaway Dixiecrat Party in the 1948 presidential race against Democrat Harry Truman and Republican Thomas Dewey. He carried Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and his home state of South Carolina, of which he was governor at the time...... During the campaign, he said, "All the laws of Washington and all the bayonets of the Army cannot force the Negro into our homes, our schools, our churches." ..... Earlier Monday, Lott issued a statement, saying, "My comments were not an endorsement of his positions of over 50 years ago, but of the man and his life."......
CNN.com - Bush calls Lott comments 'offensive' - Dec. 13, 2002 ..... Lott, a Mississippi Republican, said he would not give up his leadership post, despite the furor over his remarks..... Lott's explanations about what he meant when he praised segregationist candidate Strom Thurmond's 1948 presidential campaign have been inadequate..... The comment in question was delivered one week ago during a 100th birthday party for the retiring Thurmond...... Lott noted that in Thurmond's 1948 presidential campaign, whose centerpiece was opposition to integration, Mississippi was one of four Thurmond carried..... "We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years either," Lott said....... a report of a similar comment he made at a 1980 campaign rally for Ronald Reagan in Mississippi....... "You know, if we had elected this man 30 years ago, we wouldn't be in the mess we are today," Lott was quoted as saying of Thurmond in a November 3, 1980 ...... Lott vigorously opposed desegregating his fraternity when he was a student at the University of Mississippi in the 1960s...... Lott insisted, did he mean to endorse Thurmond's since-discarded segregationist views. Instead, Lott said, he meant to praise Thurmond's stance on defense, law enforcement and economic development......
Wired News: Blogs Make the Headlines
Trent Lott - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Right Wing Watch - Trent Lott
Kendall Clark: the Real Distraction of Trent Lott
Trent Lott: Show This Racist the Door
On Lisa Rein's Radar: Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott Is A ...
NathanNewman.org
Rush Limbaugh's Trent Lott Spin Zone

In December 2002, Trent Lott had been Senate Majority Leader for years. He showed up at a party for Thurmond, the racist who ran for president half a century or so ago. And Lott made an overtly racist comment. For the longest time he did not apologize. Finally he apologized but he never understood that he had made a racist commet. He lost his job on the issue.

"What should have I told Thurmond, that I am glad he lost in 1948!" Lott said at one point. The guy just did not get it.

The reason I am telling this story is because this reminds me of where the Nepal king stands on democracy. The guy just does not get it.

He is someone out to get for himself either an executive monarchy or an activist monarchy. Both are wrong on democratic grounds.

February 8 Will Speed Up Bipolarization

The king's international isoliation is near complete. But only internal factors will bring democracy to the country.

February 8 is to come as a blessing in disguise. It is making a rapid bipolarization possible. It is also sending the party cadres into homes across the country to spread the message of democracy.

The king's obstinacy makes room only for a confrontation, a showdown. Looks like that is what he will get.

Gagan Thapa

62 of the 75 district chairs of the Nepal Students Union have threatened to resign if Girija Koirala does not take back his arbitrarily formed central committee of the organization.

What a waste!

A duly elected Gagan Thapa leading the NSU would have been at the forefront of the movement. Instead he and his colleagues are having to fight Girija.

It is not good for his party, it is not good for the country.

Broadband Down

My broadband connection has been down. So I have been coming online wireless, through my cellphone. It works just fine for the most part. But I have been missing on some of Umesh Shrestha's video clips.

Second Sunday In January

The local group here in New York City that I meet with meets next then. There is something to be said about meeting in person. I am really hoping to put in some work. There are more Nepalis in NYC than any other place in the States. This is a good place to be for the democracy movement.

Diaspora Dynamics

Moral Support: For the longest time, that is all there was the consensus for, that we will extend moral support. The expectations from the folks on the ground in Nepal were not much more. Democracy is such a basic, unifying theme that moral support is not hard coming by. But still there was and is much dissonance. The various organizations could work in a much greater harmony than they are used to. If you want to sample the dysfunction of the seven party alliance in Kathmandu, all you have to do is deal with the Nepali organizations in America: they fare worse, actually.

Logistical Support: In November a major leap was taken. It was decided moral support is to be continued, but logistical support is also to be provided. I think this was a major decision. I actually compare it to the Maoists moving from the goal of a communist republic to a democratic republic.

5 Projects: A lot of ideas started flying around. It was amazing how quickly specific project ideas materialized. Many people contributed to polish up the ideas. So far so good.

Numerous Mini Projects: I think we are now at this next phase. There is no central organizing authority. There is no one central leader. All who wish to contribute have the option to come forward, pick a mini project of choice, and start working. The idea is really of a rather loose constellation. The project I have been most involved with has shown some progress: Mero Sansar Video Clips.

But there also have been problems, which can always be expected when large groups are involved.

Time For Madhesi Militancy Is Now
NDF Owner, Stop This Nonsense, Reinstate Immediately
NAC Goes Proactive
In The Quest For Social Justice Feelings Are Going To Get Hurt
ND Dynamics
The Cloud Model, Not The Pyramid Model
ND Glasnost
Umesh, Turn It Into A Business
Diaspora Logistical Help To The Movement
Logistics To Bring Down The Regime
To: ND Group, c/o Puru Subedi
Madhesi
Nepal Democracy Google Group Does Not Believe In Free Speech

What have been some of the major problems?

Territoriality: The model is designed for it. Any interested person can participate at any stage, at any level, with an intensity of choice, publicly or anonymously. Say you are a new person, and you go to the very beginning and start arguing only moral support should be extended. Anything wrong with that? No. Because we organize and discuss online, none of the debates ever really closed. That is healthy. No decision is final. Or say you come up with a sixth project, and that is not even listed, should you refrain from carrying out? No. Or you take a look at the five projects, and you come up with mini projects within that are not specified. Can you take those ideas and run with them? Sure. Do you need anyone's permission? Heck no. I personally think small groups of 3-4 individuals working on many small projects might be the most efficient way. It will be nice if all groups kind of keep each other informed, or at least the outlines of what they might be up to. But even that is optional.

Anonymity: My idea is to act openly. If people can face the police in the streets in Kathmandu, why can't we even put up our names from the safety of the US? But that's just me. If there are people who would like to donate money, or work on the projects, but not divulge names, that would be a legitimate personal choice.

Ethnic Issues: This keeps coming up, again and again. On the Madhesi issue, for me it is a policy level thing. It is not about, oh, let's just get along. If you want me to tell you where I think you stand on the social justice issues, I have made it easy for you. Go ahead and critique this: Proposed Constitution. Other than that let's all work together on the 5 Projects in the most efficient manner possible.

Outmoded Group Dynamics: This has been the number one problem. Technology has made the cloud model possible. But people are stuck with the pyramid model in their minds.

Inertia: People who will whine endlessly, but not do anything. We have plenty of those.

I have yet to come across a person or a group who intended to donate or work on the projects who found no room to work. That is the beauty of the cloud model as opposed to the pyramid model. You have the power to decide your involvement level. You yourself are in charge.

I think if we all can think in terms of the freedom fighters in Nepal, and it is for them that we are doing the work, it should become easier for us to get along, and do our work.

In The News

SC summons Tanka Dhakal in contempt of court case NepalNews
18 students injured in clash at Balmiki Bidhyapeeth
Opposition parties call for boycott of civic polls
Central Committee meeting of RPP kicks off
Families of disappeared people lock up NHRC
EC sets up election offices
UML activists arrested
Maoist killed in clash
RPP in Crisis
NHRC seeks king’s audience for peace process

OHCHR receives assurance from Maoist leadership
Four judges appointed at Supreme Court
Nepal rebels assure UN over poll threat Indian Express, India
Rebels in Nepal pledge non-violence Scotsman
Communist rebels say they won’t kill during Nepal’s municipal ... Khaleej Times
Nepal rebels assure UN over poll threat Reuters AlertNet
Nepal Maoist nabbed in Darjeeling Times of India, India
Leahy’s Prescription: More Chaos For Nepal Gorkhapatra, Nepal
After Threats from Rebels, Nepal Govt Mulls Insurance for Polling ... NewsLine Nepal
Nepal Army Launches Massive Operation to Foil Maoist Plan NewsLine Nepal, Nepal
Nepal Army Keeps 25 Soliders Under Custody NewsLine Nepal
Chand appointed RNA spokesperson Nepali Times
Nepal's King Firm in His Roadmap for Democracy NewsBlaze, CA
A ceaseless ceasefire Nepali Times
Nepal to hold elections despite rebel threat Reuters AlertNet
Senator Leahy's Lateral Strike On Nepal NewsBlaze, CA