Koirala Disappoints: He Is The Same Worn Out Record

Girija Koirala wants to go back to 1993. Well, this is 2005, not 1993.

He wants the king to revive the parliament.

1. This king will never do it. Because that will be tantamount to ceding center stage to Girija when he does not intend to, he does not have to.
2. The 1990 constitution does not allow for a revived parliament. The parliament's term has expired.
   

Girija is talking stupid. He wants a revived parliament so his party becomes the biggest again, he gets to steal away many of Deuba's MPs, and Girija becomes Prime Minister again. This guy is not bothered that there actually is a civil war going on. He wants to maintain the status quo.

• Nepal : Implacable Koirala avows fresh war on king New Kerala, India .... Koirala ruling out any immediate understanding with King Gyanendra .... Koirala, four-time former prime minister and chief of the Nepali Congress party, also ruled out heeding the call by the international community, especially India, to reach an understanding with Gyanendra and start peace talks with the communist guerrillas...... said he did not recognise the new government as constitutional and his party would be holding consultations with other parties for a new agitation strategy ..... implacable Koirala said the Maoists were not the gravest problem ..... "The gravest destabilising factor is the palace," he said. "Since Oct 4, 2002, (when King Gyanendra sacked prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba the first time), he had been manoeuvring to assume direct rule. But all his experiments have failed. He has no alternative now." ..... Koirala said he would hold talks with King Gyanendra only if the king reinstated parliament, lifted the state of emergency, released detainees and restored total media freedom. ...... The king has to take immediate steps (to tackle the immediate disruptions), not us," he said. "The king has to take the initiative." ...... "We thank the friendly nations who have helped to restore democracy in Nepal but this is a problem between us and the king. We will decide how to solve it, no one else." ...... Koirala said the media was giving undue importance to the rebels. "If the people and the parties come together, they will be isolated," he said. "The biggest threat is the direct rule assumed by the king." He also ruled out reaching any understanding with the Maoists till they gave up violence.
• Koirala avows fresh war on king Times of India
• Freed Koirala vows to intensify agitation against King Press Trust of India Koirala today vowed to mobilise all political forces to launch a widespread agitation against King Gyanendra's seizure of power even as he thanked India for supporting their fight against the authoritarian rule ..... The agitation will continue till full-fledged democracy is restored and it will be further intensified .... told a crowded press conference at his party office ...... he would mobilise all political forces to launch a widespread agitation against the direct assumption of power by King ..... about 1,500 political activists from various parties, including Nepal Communist Party-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, were still in detention ..... expressed his sincere thanks to the friendly countries, including India, for supporting the political parties' fight against the authoritarian rule. "But it is our problem and we must solve it by ourselves." Demanding reinstatement of Parliament, Koirala said it would resolve the political problems and the Maoist issue.
  

It is time to present a Gorkha Dakshin Bahu to Girija for his decades-long contribution to the cause of democracy and retire him. He is of that age.

Instant Messenger Conversation With Rajendra Mahto

Paramendra Bhagat says:
hello
Rajendra says:
Hello pappu
Rajendra says:
how r u?
Paramendra Bhagat says:
all good .. kaise hain?
Rajendra says:
Tik hai
Paramendra Bhagat says:
intjar kar rahe the aap ka messenger par .... kai deen se
Paramendra Bhagat says:
audio hai?
Rajendra says:
sorry, kai din ke bad yaya hu
Paramendra Bhagat says:
it's all good
Paramendra Bhagat says:
girija nikle, so news padhe, lekin unka koi statement nahin out huwa hai ..... at least not that i know of
Paramendra Bhagat says:
hridayeshji kaise hain?
Rajendra says:
Aj girija babu ka press meet tha likin sab Gobar kar diya
Paramendra Bhagat says:
kyon? kaise?
Rajendra says:
Koi accha statement nahi ayay
Paramendra Bhagat says:
okay
Rajendra says:
fir ohi raja se milneku bat , parliament revive and all party govt. as like this.
Paramendra Bhagat says:
ye congress wale sambidhan sabha ke taraf nahin jayenge kya? waho purani rut laga rakhe hain
Rajendra says:
sabhi log nirash hai aha par
Paramendra Bhagat says:
that will not work ...... wo log ek tir do sikar karna chahte hain ... ek hi tir se maobadi aur sadbhavana dono ko out karna chahte hain
Rajendra says:
O khud hi out ho jaenge
Paramendra Bhagat says:
to un ko retire kiya jaye ...umr bhi to ho gayee ...... democracy ke yogdan ke liye Gorkha Dakshin Bahu de ke retire kar diya jaye
Rajendra says:
tik kaha ap ne
Rajendra says:
Koirala and company Full Democracy ke liye kabhi nahi larega.
Paramendra Bhagat says:
mere bichar mein hum sadbhavana wale .... we wanted Sambidhan Sabha before Maobadis ....... federal government ki mang to aap log bahut pahle se kar rahe hain
Paramendra Bhagat says:
that is true
Rajendra says:
Pahariyo ko Raja se power ka bhag banda chahiye.
Paramendra Bhagat says:
true
Paramendra Bhagat says:
republic hogee to President Rajendra Mahto declare ho sakte hain .... monarchy rahegi to Raja Rajendra Mahto nahin ...no chance
Paramendra Bhagat says:
monarchy to pahadi institution hai
Rajendra says:
bas tik yehi bat hai
Paramendra Bhagat says:
waise to i am against violence .... lekin abhi ke crisis mein Sambidhan Sabha nahin kar sake to baad mein kabhi karenge?
Rajendra says:
ab mujhako lagta hai Full democracy ke liye, consituent assembly and federal system ke liye madheshi ko larana chahiye.
Paramendra Bhagat says:
Peace time mein dikkat ho jayegi ...... crisis ka phayada uthana jaroori hai .... making creative use of crisis
Paramendra Bhagat says:
common minimum program = Constituent Assembly
Rajendra says:
Raja ke presence me hone bala sambidhan sabha kaisa hoga?
Paramendra Bhagat says:
Constituent Assembly ke liye Nepali Congress aa jane ke baad civil war turant samapt ho jayegi
Rajendra says:
Raja jo sambhidhan sabha ka election karwaega oh sambidhan kaisa banega thora anuman lagaiye/
Paramendra Bhagat says:
sab party Constituent Assembly ke liye aa jaye to civil war samapt ...... yani ki jo party sabha ke liye nahin rajee ho rahe hain, they have blood on their hands
Paramendra Bhagat says:
Sarbadaliya Sarkar, Sambidhan Sabha ..............have to go together
Rajendra says:
Nahi
Paramendra Bhagat says:
why not?
Paramendra Bhagat says:
election raja nahin all-party government hi kar sakti hai
Rajendra says:
jab tak Military raja ke hath me rahega sambhidhan shba ka election nam ke liye hoga, Raja ko stamp lagane ki ba t hoga
Paramendra Bhagat says:
king ko option 1: Sarbadaliya Sarkar, Sambidhan Sabha ...diya jaye .... option 2: Democratic Republic ....... skip option 1
Rajendra says:
1990 se bhi bhura sambhidhan banega
Paramendra Bhagat says:
delhi mein aap log ka kais activity hai? wahin se nepal worker sab ko phone kar ke coordinate karte hain?
Rajendra says:
Republic me hone bala sambhidhan sabha ublic ke anusar ka sanbidha tab banega.
Paramendra Bhagat says:
yani republic first?
Rajendra says:
yes
Paramendra Bhagat says:
girija ka statement .... i just read .... wahi ghisi piti baat ......
Rajendra says:
Emocracy ka dusman to Raja hi hai na/
Paramendra Bhagat says:
true
Paramendra Bhagat says:
delhi mein jo bibhinna party ke log sab hai, unka kya mood hai?
Rajendra says:
Constitutional monarcy ke tahat raja rahana hi nahi chahta hai to kya kiya jaye. aa to monarcy aa to rupblican , eske bad todsara rasta kya hai ?
Paramendra Bhagat says:
true
Paramendra Bhagat says:
you can not force Gyanendra to become Constitutional Monarch when HE himself is not interested
Rajendra says:
Nepal me sabhi party me raja ka penitration hai , jo dikai deta hai bastab me o rahata nahi hai
Paramendra Bhagat says:
power us ke paas hai, is liye
Paramendra Bhagat says:
power hai, paisa hai, log ko tang karne ki capacity hai .....
Rajendra says:
Ab nepal me Raja wadhi or Raja birodhi , ki rajniti hogi
Paramendra Bhagat says:
Congress ke hi student wing mein to pura Republican fervor hai ...... sirf old people are for constitutional monarchy
Rajendra says:
Moibadi ka ab parkcha baki hai , yah bhi asali Republican hai ya nahi?
Paramendra Bhagat says:
why do you say that? wo to sab deen se republican hain..
Paramendra Bhagat says:
actually they are the only party that are formally Republican
Rajendra says:
Congress me jo koirala kahata hai ohi hota hao
Paramendra Bhagat says:
true
Paramendra Bhagat says:
girija sambidhan sabha mein nahin jayega .......he wants revived parliament, steal away Deuba's MPs, become Prime Minister again, back to 1993 .... not going to happen
Rajendra says:
Mhujha ko sabhi pahari par sanka lagta hai, kyo ki sabhi pahari raja ko apn pahariwad ka batbrikcha mant a hai
Paramendra Bhagat says:
mukhya baat hai waise civil war to samapt nahin hogee ..... plus, that whole strategy depends on the KING reviving the parliament ..... the king will never do it .........so Girija is banging his head against a rock
Paramendra Bhagat says:
true .... US mein bhi bahut pahadi sab raja ko support kar rahe hain..... kathmandu ke upper class type log .......
Rajendra says:
Nepali janata ko parliament revive ya all party govt se matlab nahi ahi
Paramendra Bhagat says:
the monarchy is a Nepali Speaking High Caste Male institution
Rajendra says:
yes fir bhi thira bahut Maowadhi par thora bharosa hai
Paramendra Bhagat says:
mere bichar mein Republic goal to hai, lekin sab se bloodless, simple way to go there = Sambidhan Sabha ...... it is the only meeting point for all forces, since we can not change the Monarchists, Girija and the Maoists
Paramendra Bhagat says:
Sadbhavana ne Madhesi ke liye jo kiya, Maobadi ne Janajati ke liye so kiya
Rajendra says:
Abhi sambidhan sabha ka election kis bat ke liye , pahale taye hona chahiye,
Paramendra Bhagat says:
isi liye Sadbhavana should strongly support their call for Sambidhan Sabha ...... wo to hum do force ke beech meeting point hai
Paramendra Bhagat says:
Step 1 kya ho?
Rajendra says:
Raja ko majabut karne ke liye sambidhan sabha se Madheshi ya Nepali Democrate ko kya faida hoga/
Paramendra Bhagat says:
Step 1: Sarbadaliya Sarkar with a 1-point agenda of Step 2: Sambidhan Sabha
Paramendra Bhagat says:
is mein kya dikkat hai?
Rajendra says:
All party govt ke babjudh bhi Acha sambhidhan nahi banega
Paramendra Bhagat says:
what do you suggest? step 1? step 2?
Paramendra Bhagat says:
sambidhan to all-party government nahin banayegi .... it will only conduct electiosn to Sabha
Rajendra says:
Maowadi ko chorkar sabhi party Raja ko bachana chahta hai.
Rajendra says:
Mouwadi apne agenda par age badhe, aj nahi to kal people Republican me jayegi.
Paramendra Bhagat says:
but that will mean continued civil war
Paramendra Bhagat says:
no peace ..... and the Maoists might lose!!
Paramendra Bhagat says:
akele wo log kab tak ladenge? they are not that strong
Rajendra says:
First , Raja ke sambhandha me kya soch hai , fir age ka ranniti tayae kiya ja sakta hai
Paramendra Bhagat says:
wo log to republican hain ...... lekin they are willing to go for Sabha to let the people decide if they want to keep the monarchy
Paramendra Bhagat says:
ho sakta hai sabhi party raja ko bachana chahte hain..... to unko kahiye ..... but first end civil war ...... and the only way to do that is to agree to constituent assembly ..... kya baat? Bangkok mein sirf natak huwa? ........... party wale sambidhan sabha discard kar diye?
Rajendra says:
Aj ke din me sambidhan sabha se bhi madheshi ko kucha nahi milega, ah antarik bat hai , kyoki madhesi janata etana jagruk abhi bhi nahi huya hai m abhi bhi ye congress or uml jaisi party ko hi Vote pole kare ge, ah aps ki bat hai.
Paramendra Bhagat says:
well then so be it ........... ballot box ke marfat janata jo bole us ko to manjoor karnee hi paregi ......
Paramendra Bhagat says:
lekin mujhe lagta hai, even if the monarchy stays after Sabha ... wo England ke monarchy ki tarah rahegi .... kam se kam Musharrafism to samapt hoga
Rajendra says:
Esh paristhiti me Madhesh ko to kuch bhi nahi miliga, ulta future me pahariyo ko kahne ke liye ah hojaga ki janata ne sambhidhan banaya ahi , madheshi or sadbhawana wale kyo birodh karte hai, ahi beoharik bat hai.
Rajendra says:
Britain ke monarcy me rahane wala raja last 2 years or 1 feb se kya kar raha hai
Rajendra says:
Britain ke monarcy jaise raja rahe to kisi ko apti nahi haogi
Paramendra Bhagat says:
agar madhesi log sambidhan sabha ke election mein federal government wale candidate ko vote nahin denge to that means they don't want federal government ....... so be it .............. "Power flows through the ballot box."
Paramendra Bhagat says:
wahi to baat hai .... Sambidhan Sabha ke baad jo naya sambidhan banegi .... wo document hi raja ko army se alaga karegi .........
Rajendra says:
Lekin mujha ko lagata hai Gyanendra Active Monarcy se niche anewale anhi hai , kisi na kisi nam par.
Paramendra Bhagat says:
but he does not have that choice
Paramendra Bhagat says:
us ko agar hatana bhi hai to Sabha ke marfat hi hataya ja sakta hai
Paramendra Bhagat says:
that will be the best, most efficient way
Rajendra says:
Army abhi raja ko chorne ke mood me nahi hai
Paramendra Bhagat says:
but the army will not have that option
Paramendra Bhagat says:
in my opinion ............ sabhi party ko Sarbadaliya Sarkar, Sambidhan Sabha ...........is common minimum program par ek kiya jaye
Rajendra says:
Ek bar janata ke nam ka sambidhan sabha se Jis rup me raja ko stamp lag jayega, bad me our dikat hogi.
Paramendra Bhagat says:
there is no other way to end the civil war
Paramendra Bhagat says:
Sarbadaliya Sarkar, Sambidhan Sabha
Paramendra Bhagat says:
this makes room for all 3 forces: (1) Monarchists (2) Maobadis (3) Parties
Paramendra Bhagat says:
Sarbadaliya Sarkar, Sambidhan Sabha ke alabe dusra koi meeting ground hi nahin hai
Rajendra says:
Nepal me jab tak raja rahega tab tak koi bhi system sucess nahi hoga
Paramendra Bhagat says:
us CMP par agar sab party manjoor ho jaye to bhi raja Sarbadaliya Sarkar, Sambidhan Sabha par ane mein hichkichayegi, but he will be forced to ............. lekin abhi to us par koi pressure bhi nahin hai
Paramendra Bhagat says:
to aap ko lagta hai direct Democratic Republic ke liye movement jaree rakha jaye?
Paramendra Bhagat says:
unending, ceaseless street movements and mobilisation?
Paramendra Bhagat says:
that is an idea
Paramendra Bhagat says:
wahan ka taja taka local conditions aap ko maloom hai, mere ko nahin
Rajendra says:
Nepal ki sabhi party ko raja kabhi bhi ek nahi hone dega, na sbhi party common agenda banayege na raja ko kuch karna pare ga
Paramendra Bhagat says:
so what do you suggest?
Rajendra says:
na nau man tel hogi na radha anchegi
Rajendra says:
ar par ki larai
Paramendra Bhagat says:
agar sabhi party CMP nahin banayegi to raja will go on for 3 years
Rajendra says:
ohi hone wala hai
Rajendra says:
3 years nahi aur lambha samaye tak
Paramendra Bhagat says:
CMP 1: Sarbadaliya Sarkar, Sambidhan Sabha CMP 2: Democratic Republic ............. option 1 less revolutionary hai ..... teesra option: do nothing, let the Maoists and Monarchists fight each other out
Rajendra says:
Sabhi party me raja ka penitration hai , kabhi bhi sabhi party ek nahi hoga,
Rajendra says:
Democratic Rupblic tik hai
Paramendra Bhagat says:
agar sabhi party CMP1 ya CMP 2 par nahin aa sakte hain, to Nepal becomes Pakistan ......
Rajendra says:
Pakistan ban cuka hai , pakistan hi nahi Taliwan banega.
Paramendra Bhagat says:
jo party sab Sarbadaliya Sarkar, Sambidhan Sabha bhi manne ko tayar nahin hai wo Democratic Republic kab se manne lage?
Paramendra Bhagat says:
true .... more like Taliban
Rajendra says:
Party me Raja ka kaja hai ishi liye partyo se bhahut asha nahi kijiye
Paramendra Bhagat says:
Maobadi miltarily Kathmandu capture karne ki sthiti mein nahin hai... is liye Raja indefinitely power mein rahega
Rajendra says:
Raja step soch bichar ke hi uthaya hai
Paramendra Bhagat says:
which means parties are out, it is a fight between Rajabadi and Maobadi, let's just sit and watch who wins
Paramendra Bhagat says:
he is cunning, clever, wo to hai
Rajendra says:
yes
Paramendra Bhagat says:
wo to sit-and-watch responsible baat nahin huwee
Paramendra Bhagat says:
irresponsible baat huwee
Rajendra says:
Kya kijiye ga party sab beiman hai
Paramendra Bhagat says:
Sarbadaliya Sarkar, Sambidhan Sabha ke liye sabhi party ke approach kiya jaye aur unka statement public kiya jaye
Rajendra says:
raja se chakari karke hi kuch pana chahta hai
Paramendra Bhagat says:
coalition build karne mehnat ki baat to hai hi
Paramendra Bhagat says:
delhi mein sabhi party ke log hain?
Paramendra Bhagat says:
sab ka phone number hamein pathaiye
Paramendra Bhagat says:
hum baat karte hain
Rajendra says:
nepal ki janat a great change chahti hai. jisko main strem ki party address nahi kar pa rahi hai
Paramendra Bhagat says:
mere observation mein there is no other way out
Paramendra Bhagat says:
then paties will have to change and go where the people are, which is for great change
Rajendra says:
Delhi se lagbhag sabhi log chale gaye hai
Paramendra Bhagat says:
Goal: Democratic Republic Method: Sarbadaliya Sarkar, Sambidhan Sabha Homework: Relentless Dialogue Among All Political Parties
Rajendra says:
krishna sitaula NC 9891337128
Paramendra Bhagat says:
Raja ko politically isolate karna jaroori hai, nahin to is baar Panchayat phir se 10 saal ke liye kayam rah sakti hai
Paramendra Bhagat says:
aur bhi dijiye
Paramendra Bhagat says:
tripathyji
Paramendra Bhagat says:
ka kya hai?
Rajendra says:
sujata koirala 9871039925
Paramendra Bhagat says:
with your permission, i will post this conversation online at my blog, is that okay?
Rajendra says:
Dr ram baran yadav 9891213871
Rajendra says:
tripathi ji nahi hai
Paramendra Bhagat says:
sitaula aur koirala ji ko pahle introduce karwayen ... so they know who i am when i call .............. bihar mein log "Laloo Ka Aadmee" kah ke apne aap ko introduce karwate hain ..... mujhe "Rajendra Mahto Ka Aadmee" kah ke boliye
Paramendra Bhagat says:
wo kahan gaye?
Paramendra Bhagat says:
maobadi ka phone number hai kisi ka?
Paramendra Bhagat says:
is there any way to talk to Baburam Bhattarai or Mahara or Prachanda? wo log BBC to barobar interview dete hain ..... phone number to hoga hi .....
Rajendra says:
Acha,Sitaula NC ka organisation chief hai sujata girija babu ki beti hai
Paramendra Bhagat says:
wo to i know
Paramendra Bhagat says:
Paramendra Bhagat says:
sorry, kick out ho gaya tha..i am back
Rajendra says:
voice convertation subidha nahi hai
Paramendra Bhagat says:
okay
Paramendra Bhagat says:
main abhi kuchh samay mein call karoonga
Rajendra says:
Sabse acha Mauwadi ka Democratic Republic line hai
Paramendra Bhagat says:
wo to hai.... but how to get there?
Paramendra Bhagat says:
Goal: Democratic Republic Method: Sarbadaliya Sarkar, Sambidhan Sabha Homework: Relentless Dialogue Among All Political Parties
Paramendra Bhagat says:
this is what i propose
Rajendra says:
Sabse acha hota Girija babu Full Democracy ke liye kahte , Aj ka BBC suniyega
Paramendra Bhagat says:
abhi king sab se powerful hai .... us ko politically isolate karna jaroori hai
Paramendra Bhagat says:
okay
Paramendra Bhagat says:
to Girija se gupp kiya jaye
Paramendra Bhagat says:
kahiye unko
Paramendra Bhagat says:
ek hi coalition mein jate hain, lekin unko utna nahin kar sakte
Rajendra says:
Horahi hai but...........
Paramendra Bhagat says:
okay
Paramendra Bhagat says:
abhi wo turant bahar aye hain ... the iron is hot .... time to strike
Rajendra says:
Dekhiye nepal ka future kya hai ,
Rajendra says:
phone kijiyega mai wait karuga
Paramendra Bhagat says:
i will call you soon
Paramendra Bhagat says:
in 15 minutes
Rajendra says:
okey
Paramendra Bhagat says:
abhi .... pahle ye talk blog par publish karte hain
Paramendra Bhagat says:
20 minutes
Paramendra Bhagat says:
ok bye
Rajendra says:
call after one hour
Rajendra says:
pls
Paramendra Bhagat says:
ok 1 hour
Rajendra says:
ok
Rajendra says:
bye
Paramendra Bhagat says:
thanks for your time ... messenger par aate rahiye time time par
Rajendra says:
ok, thanks
Paramendra Bhagat says:
talk to you in 60 minutes
Rajendra says:
ok

• Nepal king to start diplomacy campaign with Jakarta visit New Kerala, India ...will start a diplomacy campaign to woo the international community with a visit to Indonesia and China this month .... will attend the Asia-Africa Summit scheduled for April 22-23 in Jakarta ..... 105 countries have been invited .... Nearly 50 heads of state have confirmed their participation and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has said he would attend if he is free. .... China... will have a considerable presence ..with a 200-strong delegation ....Gyanendra, Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey, foreign secretary Madhu Raman Acharya and other Nepalese delegates will arrive in Jakarta around April 18 ..... After the Jakarta meet, the king is scheduled to attend the annual meeting of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), taking place in Boao city in China's southernmost island province of Hainan from April 22 to 24. The BFA is the Asian equivalent of the World Economic Forum held in Davos..... The itinerary suggests a long absence of the king from Kathmandu. Though Crown Prince Paras will be the official head of state in his father's absence, the de facto administrator is likely to be Tulsi Giri .... The Asia-Africa Summit meet, regarded as the precursor of the Non-Aligned Movement, will also celebrate its 50th anniversary, holding a special function to commemorate the first meeting held at Bandung, Indonesia in 1955 when 29 African and Asian nations came together to oppose colonialism and promote economic and cultural cooperation.
• Newly formed Nepalese political front unveils guideline People's Daily Online Muskan Poudel, president of the front, called for unity of all nationalists, democratic and monarchist forces against the anti-people elements in the name of democracy .... policy and programs attach importance to the role of monarchy, law and order, social reform, unemployment, youth mobilization, free health camp and vocational education ..... The Greater National Unity Nepal was constituted during a national gathering held on March 20-21. The front welcomes King Gyanendra's takeover of power on Feb. 1.

Koirala Is Out: Expect Some Action

Girija Koirala is out. But none of the news items carry any statement from him. Yet. But the elder statesman is known to speak his mind. So I am expecting some action. I would think he is consulting with his colleagues.

I sense it that the king is slowly loosening his grip. It will be to his credit if he follows the constitution and lifts the emergency by the end of the month. A 3-month limit is specified in the constitution. Only a parliament can extend it, and the country has no parliament.

When India - the world's "office" - and China - the world's "factory" - are contemplating a free trade area between the two, Nepal's sorry state is even more glaring by comparison. The political paralysis engineered by a reluctance to go for a Constituent Assembly prevents the nation from focusing on the economy, like China, like India.

In The News

• Nepal lifts ex-PM Koirala's house arrest Times of India
• Nepal ex-PM Koirala, others freed Indian Express ... Kishor S. Rathore, president of the Nepal Students Union—affiliated to NC-Democratic—was also among those freed.
  
• Nepal Lifts Politician's House Arrest ABC News
• Koirala freed to calm India Calcutta Telegraph, India In an attempt to placate the international community including India, the US and Britain, King Gyanendra’s government today released former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala from house arrest after a two-month detention...... the “Grand Old Man” of Nepali politics ...... 82-year-old ...... Prime Minister on four different occasions ..... he is expected to spearhead the movement for the restoration of multi-party democracy for the second time in two decades ...... Bush administration had promised to deliver a large cache of small arms and ammunition in May ..... two weeks after former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba was freed ..... Indian embassy had been tipped off about the release earlier in the day ......embassy issued a statement saying that it hoped today’s development would lead to the immediate release of Communist Party (UML) general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and other detained political leaders and workers, human rights activists, student leaders and journalists ...... In a statement, Nepali Congress leader Bipin Koirala said
• China defies world to support embattled Nepal king Reuters AlertNet "The international community should respect the choice made by the Nepali people" .... "We support the king and the government of Nepal to ensure national stability and reconciliation and for economic development" ..... Kathmandu, home to 1.5 million people, had stocks of fuel and food supplies to last more than a month.
• Li appreciates Nepal’s one China policy Gorkhapatra, Nepal .... thanked His Majesty the King and the government of Nepal for the “continued support for China’s reunification cause for the motherland.” .... Li said he was happy about the audience he received from His Majesty the King..... taking advantage of development of China’s western region and train service to Lhasa by 2006.”
• Security alert in Nepal ahead of nationwide strike Ireland Online, Ireland .... government hoped to foil the strike .... “We have a heavy presence along the major highways. There is no way they can disrupt the traffic” ....
  
• UNICEF appeals for fear to be banished from Nepal’s classrooms I-Newswire.com (press release) The start of the new school year in Nepal should be a time for all parties involved in the conflict to ensure that violence and fear stay out of the classroom ..... Schools, teachers and students have been a key casualty of the last nine years of the conflict ..... “Older children are much better able to pick up where they left off if their education is disrupted. Younger children have to start again with this difficult business of learning to read, write and count. Too many disruptions and it just gets too hard.”
• Bangladesh, Nepal among world's leading disaster hot spots Express Newsline A new study conducted by researchers at Columbia University in New York suggests that Bangladesh, Nepal are some of the world's most vulnerable countries as far as natural disasters are concerned..... implement a preventive, rather than reactive, approach to disasters
  
• India asks Nepal to remove all curbs on civil liberties Press Trust of India, India ....
• Nepal Monarchy showing signs of weakness in the middle of drifting ... India Daily, NJ ....showing signs of weakness in the middle of drifting foreign policy ..... Dahkal also said opposition parties "should stop" secretly associating with Maoist rebels, and said that the Nepalese government could lift restrictions on freedom of the press if the media does not encourage terrorist activities..... The King and his monarchy is following a directionless foreign policy with little support from the world except non-democratic power centers like Pakistan and China...... The political parties are spectators watching slow destruction of their country.
• A strange anti-India coalition – China, Pakistan, Nepal ... India Daily Hundreds of Nepalese journalists defied a government ban on protests and demanded restoration of press freedoms in Nepal. Police closely monitored the protesters but, unlike previous protests, did not disperse them or arrest anyone involved.
  
• Nepal deploys troops to block fresh bid by Maoist Daily Times, Pakistan Violence in the valley, where bombings were an almost daily occurrence last year, has virtually halted since King Gyanendra seized total power on February 1...... a statement urging the masses “to create a storm of action in favour of full democracy and against autocracy.” ..... although bloodshed has subsided, it was not clear if the rebels were wounded or preparing a major assault, the general admitted. “We have been expecting a big attack somewhere,” he said. “They have the initiative to chose a place and time ... They have been collecting weapons.” ..... The army has grown from 45,000 troops in 2001 to 80,000 today, facing what the spokesman estimated to be 6,000-8,000 well-armed combatants and a militia of 20,000-25,000 equipped usually with homemade weapons..... insurgency has since 1996 claimed more than 11,000 lives — about two-thirds of them Maoists, according to the army .....
• From The Ringside In Geneva .... the situation cannot be improved without serious intervention by the international community ..... A military solution is not possible .... democracy is the only option to improve the situation .... Royal takeover is illegal .... International intervention will work to prosecute every CDO and army officer who is involved to violate the rights of people in Nepal. He further said that international community should restrict the government of Nepal and its official to travel any part of the world...... Diwaker Panta, Director of HR Promotion Centre, said that this government is legal and that the government has provided for a budget for the NHRC...... the constitution does not permit the formation of such a type of government, which violates the jurisprudence of constitutional monarchy .....
  
• Forces Of Democracy And Peace Are Winning Mathura P. Shrestha ...... corner meetings, public agitations, lectures, interaction programs, debates, discussions in families and communities, campaigning by graffiti writings, pamphlets, posters, placards and flags ..... People who are enslaved by feudal autocracy for centuries and who are denied of their rights have nothing to loose except their chains and virtual slavery. They have however to rebel...... The so called military discipline in Nepal is based upon and dominated by slave mentality. The senior officers, commanders treat their subordinates as slaves .... Same advice goes to the Maoist military personnel who commit atrocities against the provisions of international humanitarian laws. Both categories should remember the likelihood being referred to International Court of Justice as War Crime Suspects in future...... Nepali Congress ....dissolving its liberation army in 1941... compromised with the palace by forsaking its objective of Constitutional Assembly during 1957 political agitation ..... Its armed revolution of 1962 was withdrawn because of Chino-Indian War ...... The revolution was waged for the republican democracy. ... Communist Party of Nepal - UML ..... The party stopped collecting monthly revenue or fees or donations from about a quarter of million of their cadres that amounted to only one or two rupees per head per month....... lost a large financial base to depend upon large financial houses and rich gentries ...... so called elected governments including the interim one .... became virtual stooges to palace gentries in order to strike ‘non-confronting compromises’ with the monarchy ....
• Violence Precedes Nepal Nationwide Strike Scotsman, UK ... Businesses were closed in most areas of the Himalayan kingdom because of the strike ..... a series of blasts at government buildings and a marketplace ...... Many of Nepal’s roads and highways were deserted because of the strike ..... Security forces were on alert and highway patrols were stepped up in a bid to foil the strike....
  
• One killed in Nepal blasts ahead of rebel strike Reuters AlertNet, UK ....a string of bomb blasts in west Nepal .... "The blasts were apparently aimed at scaring people to enforce the strike." .... Maoists have urged factories, businesses and schools to shut down during the strike .... about 200 cars, buses, trucks and oil tankers bound for Kathmandu and the tourist town of Pokhara were waiting in the southern town of Aaptari on Saturday for army escorts ...... people generally heed the call of the rebels
• Divisions among Nepal's Maoists Asia Times Online, Hong Kong Nepal's Maoist movement has grown so fast that it is now a proud citation for revolutionaries around the world..... the communists who until the 1980s ruled one-fourth of humanity.... Nepal's Maoists stand at a crossroads ......Bhattarai, who holds a doctorate in engineering and remains the intellectual force behind one of the most potent Maoist movements in the world, is said to be unhappy with Prachanda's alleged megalomania. Followers of the party boss Prachanda believe he has given an entirely new meaning to the Maoist revolution and hence his brand of Maoism, Prachanda Path, puts him alongside such giants of the international communist movement as Marx, Lenin, Stalin and Mao Zedong....... The Maoists have indiscriminately torched transport vehicles that have defied their shutdowns, forcibly recruited thousands of children in their ranks as soldiers and levied parallel taxes from teachers to businesses ....... Maoist workers were aware of the "differences in the party and actions have been taken against the dissidents at various levels". ...... "Prachanda will do all he can at damage control, in the event that Bhattarai has actually been expelled from the party."
• BP’s son Prakash Koirala hails Royal move Gorkhapatra, Nepal said Prakash Koirala, the central member of Nepali Congress. “Setting aside the truth and reality of what the Nepalese people want, the foreign media have been trying to mislead the people against which we all need to remain cautious.”..... He said that he was following the footsteps of his father late B.P. Koirala who had firm belief on constitutional monarchy ......“I had also raised voice in support of a government led by late Manamohan Adhikari and I had said that the government should be allowed to complete its full five year tenure.” ...... “All forces should isolate the terrorists and there is no possibility of joint works between the Maoists and other parties.” ......“If all people set their personal interests aside and support the Royal move, peace and order will be restored earlier than three years.”
• Eight killed, 20 injured in Nepal violence OregonLive.com, OR