Democracy For Nepal

Monday, April 24, 2006

18 Days Of April Revolution: Victory

Beloved Countrymen,
Convinced that the source of State Authority and Sovereignty of the Kingdom of Nepal is inherent in the people of Nepal and cognizant of the spirit of the ongoing people's movement as well as to resolve the on-going violent conflict and other problems facing the country according to the road map of the agitating Seven Party Alliance, we, through this Proclamation, reinstate the House of Representatives which was dissolved on 22 May 2002 on the advice of the then Prime Minister in accordance with the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal-1990. We call upon the Seven Party Alliance to bear the responsibility of taking the nation on the path to national unity and prosperity, while ensuring permanent peace and safeguarding multiparty democracy. We also summon the session of the reinstated House of Representatives at the Sansad Bhawan, Singha Durbar at 1 P.M. on Friday, 28 April 2006.

We are confident that this House will contribute to the overall welfare of Nepal and the Nepalese people.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to all those who have lost their lives in the people's movement and wish the injured speedy recovery. We are confident that the nation will forge ahead towards sustainable peace, progress, full-fledged democracy and national unity.
May Lord Pashupatinath bless us all!
Jaya Nepal!

Video of April 24 Royal Address

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The king has reinstated the parliament. That reinstatement is the departure point of the seven party alliance roadmap. Step two is an all party government, step three is peace talks with the Maoists, and the final step is a constituent assembly.

I accept the leadership of the seven party alliance. They got what they wanted, and so I am happy.

Of course there are reservations. There are people who think this step has now got us stuck in the 1990 constitution. I don't think so. The House reinstatement has been a political decision on the part of the king. It has not been a legal or a constitutional decision. The next three steps of the roadmap are also going to be political decisions.

If there is any deviation from the roadmap, the people should still be ready to come out into the streets. But when that happens, would you rather have Kamal Thapa as Home Minister, or Bamdev Gautam? I would rather have Bamdev Gautam.

Some people say we should be cautious because the king has not given us a constituent assembly, he has merely revived the House. That is not how I read the speech. He has made a clear commitment to the roadmap of the seven party alliance.

House Revival Through Supreme Court Decision
The King Will Only Respond To Internal Pressure (April 22, 2005)

Brave People

The people who braved the streets all across Nepal have a reason to celebrate. This has been a historic revolution. In Ukraine in 2004, it happened only in the capital city, only in one part of the city. In Nepal it happened all across the country. The people shut down the country for 18 straight days. The Nepali people have given a new meaning to the word revolution.

Stick To The Roadmap

Vigilance has to be maintained. We have to secure a constituent assembly, otherwise these 18 days will have gone to waste.

Commend The King

I also commend the king. He has delivered a perfect speech. He has mentioned the movement, he has mentioned the martyrs, the injured. He has come around to the roadmap of the seven party alliance which he describes as "agitated." If I don't like this step, I should take my grievances to the seven party alliance.

You can not say the choice is between a ceremonial monarchy and a republic, and then blame the king for not giving you everything you wanted. A republic, for example.

The Ball Is In the Court Of The Seven Party Alliance

The ball is no longer in the king's court. It is for the SPA to stick to its roadmap. The faster we can get to a constituent assembly, the better.

Two Armies

The formation of the all party government should be smooth. Peace talks with the Maoists will prove challenging, I think. It will be easy because both sides have already agreed to the end result: a constituent assembly. It will be tough because the country has two armies.

I think the best thing to do would be to dismantle both armies, and then take the country to a constituent assembly.

Nepal is not about to go to war with India or China. Nepal is a poor country. We need to be producing teachers and health care workers and political activists, not soldiers. We need to be spending on education, health and micro credit, not on defense.

Constituent Assembly

I think it has to be 300 seats of roughly equal population. The assembly has to stick to the one person one vote principle as closely as possible.

Constituent Assembly: 300 Seats Of Roughly Equal Population

Committed To A Republic

As the president of Hamro Nepal, I am committed to the cause of a republic. Getting there through a constituent assembly is my first choice option. That is the non violence way. That is the democratic way. That is the ballot box way. That is the people power way. You work to win hearts and minds.

For me it is not about the person of the king, any personal dislike, any vendetta. For me it is about a republic being the best vehicle for a rapid socio-economic growth of the country. It is about principle. It is about thinking what is best for the country, what form of a political arrangement. A republic will best make possible a double digit growth.

Hamro Nepal, Latest
Hamro Nepal: Draft Constitution
Hamro Nepal All Set To Be Launched
Organization: Hamro Nepal
Your Many Identities

The Movement Is Very Much On

It is just that it is more fun when your folks are in power.

Now the Maoists should declare an indefinite ceasefire, and the SPA needs to reciprocate without delay. And the SPA will.

Now if the people feel the need to come out and protest, they don't have to fear bullets and batons. The SPA government will respect the right to peaceful assembly.

Madhesis And Constituent Assembly

The revolution has won, but the revolution within the revolution has not even been launched yet. A constituent assembly is the best possible framework the Madhesi community can hope for in which to fight for total equality. The word Nepali has never before included someone like me. That has to change.

My Most Controversial Blog Post To Date: On Madhesi Issue
Aire Gaire Natthu Khaire Pahadis
First ANTA NYC Event, Times Square Marriott
Time For Madhesi Militancy Is Now
Madhesi
Madhesi Hum Lenge Sau Mein Pachas
Madhesi Rights: Abhi Nahin To Kabhi Nahin
Tibetans And Madhesis

International Isolation Now Ends

The country got globally isolated on February 1, 2005. That phase is now over.

Now the country can go back to living fully. We need healthy, relentless debates on many topics, but we don't need to shut the country down for such debates.

Prime Minister

I wonder who will be Prime Minister.

18 Days In Pictures

Kantipur Day 1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|11|12|13|14|15 |16 |17|18|19
Phalano.com Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

Paramendra,

I felt like I need to write to you since your blog has so much reach. In reaction to the King's latest proclamation 4/24 06:45PM GMT:

- House revival is a dead end trap. Here is how KG is thinking:
a) revive house
b) let politicans squabble
c) people go back home
d) tempers cool
e) 4-8-10 weeks later we're back to October 2002 - bickering politicans, raging Maosit insurgency,
f) King slowly builds good will as peole start blaming politicans
g) C.A can not agree on monarchy so further complications
h) Maoists break agreement with parties and start killing NC and UML workers
i) Army generals maintain loyalty to KG
j) fast forward to 2008 January, stage is set for another KG/Army power grap - this time factoring in mistakes from previous power grab!

Reviving the house is a mistake!!! This hous is not worth 1 life let alone 14 lives.

Abolition of monarchy is the only way forward. Maoists can be brought into the mainstream through a negotiated compromise. The main obstacle is the King!

We can not compromise on this! I hope you publish these thoughts on your blog.

Here are other reasons we can't trust KG:
- he has not released political prisioners
- he has not returned money stolen from the treasury
- he's cadre's need to be brought to justic for killing innocents - he himself needs to be put on trial!

Thanks,
Shailesh