Wednesday, August 24, 2005

To Meet Or Not To Meet


I personally welcome this democratic exercise. As for the meeting, so far I have not seen any initiative from the other side: maybe they are even less interested than we are. I hope there is, and I am still up for meeting. My personal agenda for any such meeting I have already made public. What you see is what you get.
A movement for democracy itself has to be democratic.

As for dialogue, the South African experience comes to mind. Nelson Mandela negotiated with the apartheid people, and the apartheid people were outright heinous. I would not put the king and his comrades in the same category. They are many steps ahead of the apartheid types, and several steps ahead of Burma, and a few steps ahead of Pakistan. Nelson Mandela was jailed for almost three decades: that is practically a lifetime. Aang Sang Su Kyi is in jail. Benazir Bhutto is in exile. (To: Benazir Bhutto, The Junta Is Defiant: Is It The Burma Option They Have In Mind?, Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka: Lessons For Nepal, Burma Option Or Pakistan Option) Message 1

....... I personally have no political interest but I am a loyal citizen of my country who is now working outside Nepal and have every rights to meet our present king if given opportunity. I am saying me personally. I am saying anyone of you who understand out common voice. I have seen and read many articles about many politians like you and me who do excellent demostration in front of the public and media by burning tires and slogans but when the real time comes to take the challenge when the real opportunity comes to talk and take leadership we usually slip down and stoop down to our knees loosing one's dignity. I know and hope you're not one of them.

Don't get me wrong, my all intestions is to cut down on more killings on innocent Nepalase and children. That's all I care and this is one more strategy towards that goal. I am not a political analyst or a professor of Anthropology. I would rather ask my king than the president of the United States or Prime Minister of India. I still don't believe that the situation in Nepal can't be solved internally. And your point of comparing president Bush with our king is baseless. It's good that they're not meeting and giving this opportunity to meet king with us. In that respect I would even meet Moist Leaders Prachanda or Baburam to tell them my feeling and concern about our under-powered people in Nepal.

Second concern for me is Nepal Center in the USA. My other proposal of meeting king is to ask him to see whether how big his heart is to unite Nepalese. We have seen how much effort its taking us to raise one single Temple, center of our own. I heard that present king doesn't get involve in donating or believe in charity. It all depends on WHO is asking for WHAT reason? I don't think if I request him - he would not deny my proposal for a small property like this. If worst comes, I would like to ask his personal finance and ask for a small interest free loan for a while - until we are capable on our own feet. The other solution is to ask for a bigger Nepal Embassy who does all this. Let's ask for a bigger, larger Nepali Embassy and make them more active, rich and sincere so that we civilians need not worry about promoting Nepali Culture, Language and heritage in the International arena. I want to ask him and his freinds anf family like Sarad Chandraji - if they personally can contribute on this vernture.

Thirdly, let's think for a while from a civic society perspective let's come up with a better options too. Is demostration is the only way to acheive the solution? I am for diplaying cards on Sept 16th, need to be very attractive so that our message is sent accross. I even thought of dressing like a poor beggar or a poet who is locked in a cage - like a parrot - as Lekhnath has mentioned on his poem 'Pinjadako Suga'. Something creative, artistic, and think about Gai Jatra- vibrant and meaningful, colorful. So even when the media captures- let it capture Nepali Jhanki. And after the demostration I would rather suggest to host a dinner/snacks get-to-gether WITHOUT hard drinks (I have a special reason for that) so that we know each other's committements better. I am ready to donate $100.00 for a better and fruitful outcome. Let's not start deviding people again - let's unite them for the same cause, Nepal and Nepalese. Forget about Bush or Singh or even Indra Dev from Heaven - no one can bind us if we are not ready and prepared to embrace each other !

These are all my personal reasoning and plans, you don't need to agree but I have rights to my freedom. I hope you're NOT against my freedom of writing/proposal and indicating to be nonsense and baseless idea is merely your misunderstanding about my sincerity. You're deviding us and NOT respecting each other's idea like Baburam, retired and power hungry politicians or even present day king's actions shows all this. May be think for a while - these power hungry people, political silos need our help ultimately. I love your comments and I still respect your voice - even though they're a little harse on me and on my feelings towards on my people(including king, baburam, dirty politicians) and my beautiful country. 'These all are our shit and we need to learn how to wipe them out ourselves' is my point.

Message 2

I do understand your feeling. But do you think that the King is dumb that he does not hear what news is saying, what his foreign friends told him, and what others are voicing?

This is the same King who has literally advertised Prime Minister's post and requested for application. Isn�t this mockery of governing system? So I don�t think this King is dumb or needs to hear this voice. Even I was proposed with this idea, however, I refrained from entertaining. I am not boycotting the King, but I am just letting him know that we are not for a King who wants to reign and rule. The country is of its citizens, and Kings are just mere a head of state, by virtue of their birth and Nepalese keeping monarchy as a tradition. If he really wants to rule, then he should be ready to be questioned, challenged, and approved, and as an individual born in Nepal he has equally that right to do as all Nepalese have.

Regarding the money for Nepal Culture Center, I will not be entertaining it from Sharad Chandra Shah or Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah as advisor to state, and head of State, respectively. If we Nepalese residing in USA can not come up and build our own cultural center then it should be our weakness and we don't deserve to it from Nepali state, too. Culture has to be nurtured by us, and it should try to reflect our true Nepalese culture. That is it should have our Sherpas, Tamangs, Tharus, Terai Basis (Maithali), Bahun Chetri, Newars etc. that is truly reflected but not only Bahun/Chetri Hinduism......... Nepal is conglomeration of different ethnic, religious, and cultural society.........

Finally, I am not of opinion of meeting King, and those who opt to, I don't have any grudge, too.

Message 3

Dear frends

I am sick of begging democracy with a pearson. Democracy is not his pewa.We are the master of country .You know what I mean. Since we all live in the USA. We all have used one time or other tax payer money. We Nepali pay king and his family. Now we want to beg with democracy. Begging days are over now we demand.

If king wants meet with us then he has to accept this pre-condition in public he should give-up on monarchy system and if he choose he could be interim president till Nepali could choose new head of state. Otherwise please don't try to week out republic demand. There is no room of constitutional monarchy.

Message 4

Friends;

1. First of all, let's respect people's voice in a gentle manner, that's the begining of the democray that we are invisioning and demanding for the past 10 years. Otherwise how are we in the US are different from any other un-educated but concerned citizen who are driven by this on going horrible cult of killing and dada-giri-dom. No wonder why king thinks giri and martial art dadas/well known gundas and underground don can pull this boat that is sinking in the ocean of blood day by day.

Let us be transparent here and put up our strengths/ideas together to be clear and loud - though some are still in crude form. Let's first identify the items that we agree. Our system that we are dreaming is new and so are we to execute it - but a very genuine and a way to express and fight for the right cause we need to agree on basic humanity first. Democracy is I guess a layer on top of the basic principles of protecting ourselfs from animalism[please read the article I have attached with this email]. The basic being Human Rights, Freedom of speech, education rights to the under-priviledged, food for everyone, shelter for the poor etc.

2. I personally don't believe in telling people what kind of freedom, democracy people in Nepal need. We being in the US should help them what they want NOT ask people to follow us what we want to see them to do. We are in the safest place in the world (despite of some 911 type of terrorists attack) and we all need to be vocal about demostratating what freedom is all about in general. For this I will give you one tiny example: please educate me how to resolve these type of issues in general in Nepal? Please convince me to begin with.

I was in Nepal a month back and had to go upto Banepa. My cousin offered me a ride and was driving his Maruti he just bought. While coming back a motorbike hit the car and the rider fell from the bike. Luckily he was wearing a helmet and hidn't hurt much himself. We stopped the car and asked him if he was hurt first. He said he is fine. We checked our car too - the motorbike made a lot of smudges on the side and the bumper came off. Politely we asked if he had insurance for the bike but he said "what if he died?". We told him it was his mistake and saw his red eyes and knew that he was awefully drunk. Suddenly we see 20 people surrounding us. Now what, we discussed?

a. Shall we wait for the police to come and take a report.

b. Ask people what we should do to a drunk-driver who is refusing to give his insurance/licence card? One of them replied - "Here everybody drinks and drives?"

I didn't know how to respond to that answer from the public and told my cousin to forget about the scene and go directly to the mechanics on our own. This is the situation in Nepal and we are fighting for their cause right? Think twice now when we fight for democracy in the US - these are the basic humanity or civic sense that we need to build on top of basic humanity - NOT only political division or transition is sufficient is my concern. 'Padekale bigareko desh Nepal' - I even see today - many of my good old educated friends don't bother to follow the rules of the street and feel proud in drinking-and-driving. Let's see if we can get-rid-of this freedom first !! Can we, shall we !!

Thanks. 1




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Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Opposition To The Idea Of Meeting With The King


This is the democratic way. We talk back and forth.

My stand on democracy has been clear and transparent, and right at this blog. (5 Steps To Democracy)

I think on September 16 we should hold the biggest protests possible. That is not a new position.

But holding dialogue with the king - if possible, which is a big if, there is no indication even they want it - is also one way to help the cause of democracy. We make our point. Even if the worst happens, in that he sorely disappoints, we will have claimed a political victory. That will energize us for our future programs.

I have already made my personal parameters for the dialogue very clear in my email to Sharad Chandra Shaha. (Letter To Sharad Chandra Shaha)

But for me that comes second. I am for genuine dialogue. Where you really try and listen to each other, and understand. My push for dialogue is nothing fake and surface.

If our sole focus is to shun dialogue with the other two camps, and only do things to strengthen our internal group cohesion, we end up with a mentality that we never did any wrong, we will not do any wrong. We have to watch out for that. We have to always be open to reflection and to self-criticism.

Heck, I am a strong proponent of dialogue also with the Maoists. (You Can Always Trust The Democrats To Be About Two Months Behind Schedule)

But having said that, I do mean to extend my empathies to those who have borne direct brunts from this regime. I do not take their pain lightly. It is just that achieving democracy at the earliest is what is good also for them. And so we have to exhaust all possible options.

Paramendra Bhagat


Email From Somnath Ghimire

Dear all,

Who brought up this nonsense and baseless idea to meet with King? Even the President of the United States does not want to meet with the Unconstitutional King of Nepal. Why do we need to bother to meet with him?

We boycott the meeting with King in New York, Why?
---Somnath Ghimire

I) Where in the Constitution of 1990 states that King can be the Chairman?

What king enjoys now as Prime Minister: Some key provisions: (Unacceptable in the eyes of our people)

Article 35 (1): Executive power the Kingdom of Nepal is vested in His Majesty and the Council of Ministers.

Article 36 (1): Constitution of Council of Ministers- King appoints the leader of the party which commands a majority in the House of Representatives as Prime Minister.

Article 36 (3): King appoints deputy prime minister, state ministers and assistant ministers on the recommendation of the prime minister.

Article 36 (4): Prime minister and other ministers to be collectively responsible to the House of Representatives.

Article 36 (7): proviso- If prime minister dies, king appoints deputy prime minister or the senior most minister to act as prime minister until a new prime minister is appointed.

Article 42: If no one party has a clear majority in the Lower House, a member of the House who is able to command a majority there is to be appointed as prime minister.

Article (43): Duty of prime minister to inform the king on decisions of cabinet, Bills and other concerned issues.

Article (117): Prime minister is the Chairperson of the Constitutional Council which has responsibility to recommend names for appointment in constitutional bodies:

Article 87: Appointment of Chief Justice

Article 97 (2): Appointment of Chief Commissioner and Commissioners of Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority

Article 99 (1): Appointment of Auditor General

Article 101 (2): Appointment of the Chairperson and members of Public Service Commission

Article 103 (2): Appointment of Chairperson and members of Election Commission

Article 109: Prime Minister recommends to the king for the appointment of Attorney General of Nepal.

Article 115: Prime minister recommends for the imposition of the state of emergency.

Article 118: Prime minister is the chairperson of National Defense Council of Nepal. Same Article incorporates that army operates on the recommendation of the Council. King is now the defense minister of Nepal. Defense minister is also a member of the Council.

II) Militarization in Nepal, Militarism is the antithesis of humanism. It disregards human rights, suppresses freedom and mocks civil liberty. Nepal today is a prime example of such a process of militarization.

III) Authoritarian Rule: Inspiration of Militarization: The King adopted his strategy to make the people forcefully loyal towards him and not to give any opportunity to raise a voice in favor of democracy and against autocratic rule. Such practice made the king more dependent on the military power with a growing threat to the citizens. Hence, the militarization instigated by the Maoist expanded with the royal attitude of militarization. The Royal Nepal Army itself misunderstood its role considering as if it was only to be loyal to the King but not accountable to the rule of law.

IV) Consequences of Militarization:

a) Increase in Defense Budget: Once the democracy started weakening, the Royal Palace has been prone to increase the nation's military strength with new recruitment in the Royal Nepal Army and the Armed Police Force with an explanation to control terror. The total military strength of Nepal is above 85000. The Government of Nepal increased NR 1.20 billion for security to recruit additional 13,000 security personal for the Royal Nepalese Army. The increase in the security budget will divert the money from the basic needs like health, education, drinking water etc for the citizens.

b) Human Rights Violations and Denial of Rule of Law: With the growing violation of human rights basically by the security forces, there appeared impunity and disregard for the rule of law. In the face of Supreme Court orders to respond to habeas corpus petitions, military authorities consistently issued false denials or failed to respond in substance. They also obstructed the NHRC from fulfilling its monitoring and investigative duties. Many people were re-arrested immediately after they had been released by the courts. Six days before King Gyanendra’s 1 February 2005 coup, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour summed up the situation in the following words: “A climate of impunity prevails in this country as a result of which the rule of law, the fundamental glue of any society, is being worryingly eroded.” Immediately after the royal coup, thousands of political as well as human rights leaders were detained without any warrant and show cause. After the pressure from the international community and homegrown protest in Nepal, the royal government was compelled to release many detainees.

c) Royal Commission for Corruption Control (RCCC): Constitutional Fraud: Part 12 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal has a provision of Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority. Before the Royal coup, this Commission was actively functional. However, after the royal coup, King Gyanendra set up Royal Commission for Corruption Control (RCCC) allocating it absolute authority to arrest the suspect, investigate, trial, give verdict and penalize. Such provisions have encroached to the entire jurisdiction of the judiciary of the kingdom of Nepal. "The RCCC is by far the greatest blunder. It may appear to some that it is powerful instrument to check the political forces that have now been allowed to come out in the open.… It is also a glaring reminder to all Nepalese of how easily absolute power can be used against them." (Nepali Times 3-9 June 2005).

d) Encroachment to civil administration: When the tenure of the local governments was expired, no action was taken to activate them. Instead of seeking democratic and decentralized option, the king appointed Regional and Zonal Commissioners in all five-development regions and fourteen zones respectively to replace the local governance. All these Commissioners are pro-royalist and anti-democratic forces who exercise unlimited power. But there is no any provision of such appointment in the Constitution. Moreover, the royal government has also appointed District Monitoring Committees in order to monitor and evaluate the performances of the civil services. This has undermined the role of Public Service Commission as provisioned in the constitution. The government has recently initiated appointment of District Development Committee Presidents and members in such a time when legality of the present government is under public scrutiny.

e) Nationalistic education: Despite a number of faults the multi-party system has brought about many positive changes in the country including in the education sector, privatisation in education has been so much rampant that there has been inter-institutional link locally and globally which assist in sharing the emerging knowledge and skills. But the government has been preparing to introduce new text books in the schools with nationalist flavor basically praising the Nepalese monarchy to appreciate every activity and personality of the members of the royal family. But such nationalistic education will only make the citizens more slavish than ever before and the students will lose the materials that are akin to the globalization and uprising science and technology.

f) Rise in the Royal Expenses: The growing conflict in the country has gradually weakened civil authority and fostered the consolidation of militarization, giving opportunity to the royal institution to grab the executive power in the name of conflict resolution. Once, the king took executive power with a full confidence of military backing, the country's economy has been channeled to the royal palace. It means, there has been a monopoly of the royal institution in misusing the nation's money overtly and covertly. In 1996/97 the budget allocation for the royal palace was Rs. 64.16 million. After the king started maintaining direct rule, the royal expenses increased to Rs.619 million in 2002/2003, almost ten times. Moreover, there has been a tendency of the royal institution to divert budget from other allocations. For instance, since the parliamentary election couldn't take place, the budget allocated for the parliamentary election was diverted to purchase of luxury cars. "The palace needed Rs. 142 million to buy 'one Rolls-Royce limousine, one Jaugar and one yet unnamed luxury car for the comforts of the royal family in a country whose 9 million people do not get two meals a day. Moreover, in the fiscal year 2003/2004 Rs220 million was diverted from emergency relief funds (under the Ministry of Finance, Account No.95-3-901) allocated to provide relief to the victims of natural disasters to expend on 'marriage, gold purchase, travel, generator purchases." (Karki and Kattel2005:140-141).

g) Effect on the Media: The Nepali press media has to suffer greatly by the conflict. Between November 2001 and April 2004, more than 180 journalists have been arrested, 80 of them were mercilessly tortured and more than 8 killed.

The Royal Nepal Army Headquarters, on 2058 Mangsir 12 released a separate communiqué and ordered the press to certify all the news related to the armies from the Department of the Army News located in the Army Headquarters before release. This provision not only harassed the journalists but it also laid a foundation for the army to deliver speeches related to politics.

On 13 Mangsir 2058, a photograph of the armed Maoist insurgent was published in the Mid Week Post from the Kantipur Publication against which the government made a serious objection and confiscated all the issue of this newspaper from the newsagents in Kathmandu. Moreover, the government disappeared three journalists. Fifty-six journalists were extra judicially arrested and imprisoned for more than three months. More than sixty-two journalists had to face illegal arrest, detention and abuse. During that period the Maoists also took life of two journalists. However, the government was unable to investigate and arrest them. There was a grave violation of human rights against the journalists that were abducted by the Maoists. The journalists had to face terror, inhuman torture and unbearable treatment.

"The free media, one of the few legacies of the 1990 People's Movement that was still intact, has been deliberately and methodically torn down. The Ministry of Information and Communication sent a 'secret' and 'urgent' letter to Communication Corner which represents a cynical attempt to chock an FM radio network that was acclaimed the world over for going a voice to Nepal's voiceless." (Nepali Times, 3-9 June 2005). The government recently has made a rumour public that it was going to amend the act related to press through the ordeal where strict measures would be taken against the media. The government is putting its every effort to control all the private print and electronic media and to compel them to follow strict censorship and government's instructions. The media people have been staging street protest against such highhandedness of the government.

h) Appointment of the Human Rights Commission: Constitutional Fraud: On the expiry of the five-year tenure of the Human Rights Commission (NHRC) the government against the spirit of the Constitution and Human Rights Act, appointed the pro-royalist in the commission who are by twenty five national level human rights organizations accused of facilitating to cover up human rights violation by the security forces.

These are the few examples of King Gyanendra's deeds in Nepal and he has no respect for the democratic process and is willing to use whatever means necessary to thwart it. The monarch has shown no aptitude for coalition building or conciliation; the only arrows in his quiver seem to be intimidation and violence. He has alienated even his loyal retainers in recent days with his autocratic style. Attempting to restrain this king with a constitution is like attempting to restrain a large, vicious dog with a thread.

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