Curfew, Shoot At Sight Order
This is pathetic. This is cruel. This is undemocratic. This is sadistic. This is attempted murder. This is a call to arms. The king's order is tantamount to saying, okay, so you are a human being, and that means maybe you have a right to peaceful assembly, but I don't care. If you practice that right, you are headed for a certain death. That is what the king's stunt means.
The king is saying to the people, with your money I buy the bullets, with your money I pay the salaries of these soldiers, and I am going to order them to shoot you down. That is what he is saying.
This is heinous. This is barbaric.
Postponing The Big Day By A Day
I just read in news KP Oli had made public the decision to postpone the big demonstrations by a day. I believe that is a wise decision. We have to act smart. We have to outsmart these dumb people in power. Their hearts are dumb, their minds are out of place.
I like this cat and mouse game. Let's play it. If they impose a curfew for Saturday, our big day shifts to Sunday. If they do a repeat on Sunday, on Sunday we break the curfew. If they shoot down peaceful protestors, Kamal Thapa and the king and a few others are looking at going behind bars for life.
They don't have the option to shoot. Unless they are suicidal, which might as well be.
Keep Learning
We learned from the January 20 experience. That is how we have come this far this second time around. We have to keep learning. We have to preempt their every move. They have only so many moves they can make. What are they? We have to figure them out beforehand.
They will arrest. They will fire tear gas. They will baton-charge. They will impose a curfew. They will shoot. They will threaten. They might even offer back door dialogue.
We have to think up our counter moves, early and ready. So far we are doing great. A regime that was already so very isolated had become even more so. But this movement is not about the foreign powers. The good news is the Nepali people are upto the challenge.
Don't Let The Momentum Break
We got the momentum. The wind is behind our back. We have to build on it. We have to take this revolution to new heights. This one is for the history books.
Keep The Chain Of Command Intact
Mass arrests are a great idea, but we have to do it in a way such that the chain of command stays intact. That means some leaders of every level will have to stay underground or semi-underground until the movement concludes.
Do the smart thing, stay away from prison as far as possible. If you do go to prison, and you are a key organizer, make sure there is some replacement, there is a plan B.
As the movement gathers momentum, the chain of command will become even more crucial. When the revolution hits its climax, that is when we will need the best brains. Because at that point things will go rapid motion. We are going to take over the state machinery. And we have to mentally prepare now.
Non Techie Communication: Courier Service
They may cut the phone lines. But we have people. The entire chain of command should be tied to an equally good chain of communication. I am thinking courier service. Handwritten notes, delivered by human beings.
The World Is With You: You Have Been Winning
They have been losing. That is the news.
Their Options
They could stop the repression. They could release all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally. They could come around to the constituent assembly roadmap.
Or we are headed towards a revolutionary parliament.
What Is A Revolutionary Parliament?
The 1999 House that will function under an interim constitution. It will have revolutionary powers. It could declare the country a republic. It could purge the entire army top brass. It could do things like that. It could send Kamal Thapa and the king to jail, for example.
Get Even: Document Everything
Anything the regime does that violates your human rights, they will pay for. Document every atrocity. There is enormous power in non-violence, there is enormous power in rule of law, there is enormous power in democracy. All the power is people power.
Stay United, Stay In Good Spirits
Victory is in sight. Can you smell it?
In The News
Violent protests continue in Nepal CNN-IBN, India
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight
Nepal Oppn postpones anti-royal rally
Day-time curfew imposed in Kathmandu Deccan Herald, India
Nepal Oppn postpones anti-royal rally Deccan Herald, India
NEPAL: Violence takes toll during Friday demonstrations IRINnews.org, NY
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight Munster Times, IN
Police Clash With Student Protesters Los Angeles Times, CA
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight The Columbian, WA
Day 3 of Nepal opposition protests: Curfew, mobile phone links ... Sioux City Journal, IA
Nepal king orders protesters shot on sight Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX
Curfew imposed in Nepal NDTV.com, India
Nepal king orders protesters shot on sight Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX
Curfew imposed in Nepal NDTV.com, India
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight Journal Gazette and Times-Courier, IL
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight Auburn Citizen, NY
Nepal king orders protesters shot on sight San Jose Mercury News, USA
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight Terre Haute Tribune Star, IN
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight Bluefield Daily Telegraph, WV
Nepal soldiers battle rebels CNN International
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight Norman Transcript, OK
Nepalese Government threaten to shoot protestors on sight Unison.ie, Ireland
Nepalese Government threaten to shoot protestors on sight Westmeath Independent, Ireland
Hundreds arrested in Nepal protests Gulf Times, Qatar
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight Chippewa Herald, WI
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight CBS News
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight Examiner.com, CA
4 injured, 9 Arrested as Protestors Defy Curfew in Kathmandu Himalayan Times, Nepal
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight Guardian Unlimited, UK
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight ABC News
Update 8: Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight Forbes
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight Houston Chronicle, United States
Curfew in Kathmandu, phone services snapped NewKerala.com, India
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier, IA
Nepal imposes curfew ahead of anti-king protests Arab Times, Kuwait
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight The Columbian, WA
Nepal king orders protesters shot on sight Fort Wayne News Sentinel, IN
Nepal king orders protesters shot on sight Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, GA
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight Journal Gazette and Times-Courier, IL
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight Bluefield Daily Telegraph, WV
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight Terre Haute Tribune Star, IN
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight Auburn Citizen, NY
Nepalese authorities impose all-day curfew to stop protests Radio New Zealand, New Zealand
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight ABC News
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight The Tribune-Democrat, PA
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight Norman Transcript, OK
Nepal king orders protesters shot on sight TheNewsTribune.com (subscription), WA
Nepal king orders protesters shot on sight TheNewsTribune.com (subscription), WA
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight Houston Chronicle, United States
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight Norman Transcript, OK
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight Examiner.com, CA
Nepal imposes curfew ahead of anti-king protests Reuters India, India
Nepal imposes curfew ahead of anti-king protests ABC News
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight Times Daily, AL
Nepal imposes curfew ahead of anti-king protests Metro Toronto, Canada
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight ABC News
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight The Tribune-Democrat, PA
Nepal imposes curfew ahead of anti-king protests Dose.ca, Canada
Nepal king orders protesters shot on sight Myrtle Beach Sun News, SC
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight Norman Transcript, OK
Nepal king orders protesters shot on sight San Luis Obispo Tribune, CA
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight Times Daily, AL
Nepal Oppn postpones anti-royal rally Hindustan Times, India
Nepal king orders protesters shot on sight Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX
Nepal king orders protesters shot on sight Boston Globe, United States
Call to end king's rule in Nepal Boston Globe, United States
Opposition Rally in Katmandu Postponed CBS News
Opposition Rally in Katmandu Postponed phillyBurbs.com, PA
Nepal king orders protesters shot on sight Macon Telegraph, GA
Opposition Rally in Katmandu Postponed The Tribune-Democrat, PA
Nepal king orders protesters shot on sight Grand Forks Herald, ND
Nepal cuts phones, imposes curfew Bangkok Post, Thailand
Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight Guardian Unlimited, UK
Nepal king orders protesters shot on sight Wilkes Barre Times-Leader, PA
Nepal king orders protesters shot on sight Duluth News Tribune, MN
Nepal imposes curfew ahead of anti-king protests Reuters Canada, Canada
Nepal king orders protesters shot on sight Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, GA
Nepal king orders protesters shot on sight Akron Beacon Journal, OH
Nepal king orders protesters shot on sight Bradenton Herald, United States
Nepal imposes curfew ahead of anti-king protests Reuters
Nepal king orders protesters shot on sight Contra Costa Times, CA
Nepal king orders protesters shot on sight Miami Herald, FL
Day-time curfew imposed in Kathmandu ahead of major protests Outlook (subscription), India
Nepal king orders protesters shot on sight The State, SC
Opposition Rally in Katmandu Postponed The Ledger, FL
Opposition rally in Katmandu postponed Pioneer Press, MN
Nepal king orders protesters shot on sight Monterey County Herald, CA
Opposition rally in Katmandu postponed Kentucky.com, KY
Nepal king orders protesters shot on sight Albany Times Union, NY
Opposition rally in Katmandu postponed Biloxi Sun Herald, USA
Opposition rally in Katmandu postponed Kansas City Star, MO
Nepal Rally Postponed CBS News
Opposition rally in Katmandu postponed Charlotte Observer, NC
Opposition Rally In Katmandu PostponedWRAL.com, NC
Opposition rally in Katmandu postponed Aberdeen American News, SD
Opposition Rally in Katmandu Postponed Houston Chronicle, United States
Opposition rally in Katmandu postponed Centre Daily Times, PA
Opposition rally in Katmandu postponed Kansas.com, KS
Update 7: Opposition Rally in Katmandu Postponed Forbes
US Congressmen write to king Kantipur Online, Nepal
Nepal imposes curfew ahead of anti-king protests The Kindred Times, Utah
Nepal imposes curfew as protests continue ABC Online, Australia
Nepal imposes curfew ahead of anti-king protests Ely Times, USA
Nepal imposes curfew ahead of anti-king protests Leading The Charge, Australia
Nepal imposes curfew ahead of anti-king protests Jackson News-Tribune, WY
Nepal imposes curfew ahead of anti-king protests Brocktown News, USA
King Gyanendra of Nepal Addresses The World Hindu Federation NewsBlaze, CA
His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev At Pipara Muth, Birgunj on The Occasion of The Silver Jubilee Anniversary Celebrations of The World Hindu FederationApril 7, 2006
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is indeed a pleasure for us to be amongst this august gathering of revered sages, religious leaders, excellencies, scholars and participants who are here to take part in this ceremony being held on the occasion of the silver jubilee anniversary of the World Hindu Federation.
The Kingdom of Nepal, the fountainhead of Hinduism, has, since time immemorial, provided ascetics and mystics with the spiritual ground for meditation. Siddhartha Gautam, the founder of Buddhism, is a son of this land. Buddhism later spread far and wide, including India, China and Japan, and Lord Buddha came to be revered as the proponent of peace, a fact we should take pride in. Janaki is also a daughter of this soil. Having never faced any kind of discord in the name of religion, Nepal can be taken as a paradigm of perfect harmony between religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence. While holding all religions in high esteem, we firmly believe in the good virtue of creating a peaceful environment. This is also an outstanding attribute of Hinduism.
Nepal is not only home to Vedic sages and Buddhist philosophers. According to scriptures, Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, meditated on the banks of the holy Bishnumati River and Emperor Bharat, son of Rishabhdev, considered the first Tirthankar of the Jain sect, meditated on the banks of the Kali Gandaki River in Nepal. So it can be surmised that the strong religious pillars of all four sects, namely Vedic, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh, were bonded in Nepal, thereby paving the way for the spontaneous development of the Omkar Parivar.
The holy land of Nepal, which has the distinction of having sacred places like the Pashupat, Baraha, Ruru and Mukti Regions and is also referred to in the Puranas, is a common site of pilgrimage for all. The people of Nepal and India enjoy similar culture and tradition, with the age-old affinity and affection fostered by shared religious beliefs complementing one another. Common perspectives have been developed in a number of issues. The deep sentimental relations between the Hindus of the world has augmented and inspired the advancement of fraternity amongst Hindus all over in the 21st century.
Hinduism, which dates back to the beginning of civilisation itself, embraces the high ideals of tolerance and "Vasudaiva kutumbakam" or universal fraternity. In these ideals lies the strength in the relations amongst various faiths in this Hindu Kingdom.
Based on humanistic ideals, the Hindu culture, which espouses the precept "Sarve bhawantu sukhina sarve santu niramaya" or "Let every human being be happy and free of disease; let every individual's well-being be ensured", is dedicated to the good and peace of all. These ideals must be incorporated into our way of life, as inscribed in the great religious epic The Bhagawat Gita.
There are many instances where, for peace, many sages have sacrificed their lives. To establish permanent peace in the true sense is the need of the day. Let us all pledge to dedicate some of our time towards this noble cause. The holy Vedas also lay special emphasis on peace and humanism.
The Hindu religion touches every aspect of our lives. To this day, it continues to occupy the pride of place it had acquired during ancient times. We are confident that, like in the past thousands of years, its future is eternally secure because its ideals and philosophy have not been distorted. We believe that religion leads an individual on the path of righteousness. Hinduism endorses reincarnation and purity of the soul. Our religion teaches us that no matter how difficult a task may be, we must pursue to execute it with a sense of dedication and dutifulness since our good deeds in this world ensures our well-being in the next. At the same time, it also inspires us to view life in a positive manner.
It is a matter of satisfaction that the Third World Hindu Convention and, under the auspices of the Convention, the Shanti Sammelan (Peace Conference) and Santa Sammelan (Sages' Conference) are being held on the auspicious occasion of the silver jubilee anniversary of the World Hindu Federation. We are confident that the recommendations adopted by these conferences will provide important guidelines for the benefit of the Hindu world as well as humankind as a whole.
Finally, while conveying best wishes for the success of the silver jubilee anniversary, we wish to thank the organisers and participants on behalf of the Queen and ourselves.
May Lord Pashupatinath bless us all!
Jaya Nepal!
