Tuesday, January 31, 2006

February 1, 2006 Royal Proclamation


Royal proclamation on Wednesday morning NepalNews ..... His Majesty King Gyanendra is to address the nation at 9 a. m. on Wednesday (Feb. 1), an official announcement said....... His Majesty is addressing the nation upon the completion of the first year of his direct rule....... There are reports of hundreds of arrests across the country today as the opposition parties and rights groups plan to observe Wednesday as a “Black Day.”....... Through a royal proclamation in the morning of February 1, last year, King Gyanendra had dismissed a coalition government led by Sher Bahadur Deuba, jailed hundreds of activists across the country, state of emergency was declared and harsh press censorship was introduced....... Though the state of emergency was lifted after three months, critics say civil liberties and press freedom are still curtailed....... Authorities don’t agree. They say Nepali media is one of the freest in the world and certain restrictions on the civil liberties are only temporary in nature

Beloved Countrymen.

I come back here on the idiot screen a year later, to the clock, to apprise you of the progress made on my watch. Foreigners were warning me of a failed state. That really hurt my pride. I am a grand-grand-grand-grandson of none other than Prithvi, you know. So I organized a coup and let the dogs out. The rest, as they say, is history. If you don't know already, I am here to tell you, thousands of Maoists have been captured or killed, some say 4,000, some say 7,000, but those are just numbers. Some foreigners claim most of them were not even Maoists. What do those foreigners know? Besides, it is my word versus theirs, and they are all dead. I mean the Maoists, not the foreigners. The foreigners may bark all they want. I will do what I intend to do. You, my countrymen, have heard of my roadmap. Them foreigners have not. The so-called political parties of Nepal have not either. That is why you will read in my newspapers that they are called anti-national. It seems to me they listen to them foreigners more than to me. Is that not anti-national? You tell me.

You kill a few Maoists, you arrest a few so-called leaders, and suddenly the country is breathing easy. Their pain is a small price for the country to pay. These have been acts of love on my part. I love my country, and I know you do too, and I know you love me. When I am out on my visits, you offer me flowers.

When I was growing up, I once read in democracies they have elections. I never forgot that lesson. Contrary to the opinion in some circles, I am pretty smart, you know. I remember. So I have professed to organize not one but two elections. I have also provided security. Most of the candidates are in protective custody. But these political parties have decided to boycott elections. Now you tell me, who is democratic? Me, who is organizing elections, or the parties that are boycotting the same? The truth is self-evident, and it is out there for all to see.

Maoism is a defunct, archaic ideology. Don't get me wrong, Mao was a great guy, and I have to say that on record, because I like to play the China card, you know. Some people say so is the monarchy. That simply is not true. I have reinvented the monarchy on my watch. Monarchy as you now know it is only a few years old. It is a toddler. I intend to nurture it, to grow it. This is cutting edge stuff I am offering. In this monarchy, there is freedom of speech, as long as they don't really push it to the point that I feel uncomfortable. There is political freedom, not for the shallow leaders, but for the people. A few loudmouths do not make a democracy. Who should I worry about, 200 so-called leaders, or 27 million people? You tell me.

Some of you might have heard I went to Africa. If they are going to make me feel unwelcome in Europe and America, where do you think I am going to go? This is one big world. So I went to Africa, and I met a guy who has been in power for 27 years running. He instantly became my role model. As soon as I came back to Nepal, I sent him a birthday card. "We should stay in touch," I said.

I am going to stick to my roadmap. Those who oppose my roadmap, what really are their options? You think Saddam got scared when the world imposed economic sanctions? No. He was and is a resolute man. He let the children die and blamed it all on the western powers. So don't test my resolve. Know your place in the scheme of things. I know mine. I am born to rule.

I want the people in Nepal to be able to eat two square meals a day, and sleep at night in peace. I have said that time and again. My intentions are crystal clear. Once we take care of the political parties, I am going to focus on the economy. Just you wait.

Just between you and me, you know what I think? These people, they are plain jealous. They see my expensive cars, and my helicopters, and my lifestyle, my palace, and they don't like it. That is where their democracy comes in. Theirs is a democracy without elections. Tell that to Thomas Jefferson.

People used to say the Maoists are about to take over. But look at what happened. After my coup last year, noone ever heard of Prachanda or Baburam. They probably fled the country, if they were ever inside. All my key advisors think they live in India under Indian protection, but I am an open minded man. I think they could be in Bangladesh, in Bhutan, they could be anywhere. They could even be in South India.

The roads are cleaner now, you must have noticed. Who did that? I did that. It was not Girija or MaKuNe. MaKuNe? That is a funny name. Who could have thought? I heard somewhere that MaKuNe hopes to become president and live in the Narayanhiti. (Gives out a Gabbar Singh laughter)

Now where is he, and where am I?

All sorts of people come to visit me. People from the UN, India, Europe, top US people. I receive faxes. Bush himself wrote to me. Who says the coup is not working? It is working for me. I never received so much attention before in my life.

Last but not least, my fellow countrymen, don't worry, be happy. Be thankful I am in charge.

May Lord Pashupatinath bless you all. He sure has blessed me.

In The News

Royal proclamation on Wednesday morning NepalNews
Rights groups call upon King Gyanendra to repeal Feb 1 proclamation
Nepal risks political collapse: ICG
US troubled by developments in Nepal
OHCHR Nepal renews its call to CPN (Maoist) not to target civilians
Hundreds of seven-party activists arrested nationwide
Over two dozen pro-democracy activists arrested in Kathmandu
Free and fair election is not possible: Opinion poll
HM publicizes reports
Certificates issued to elected candidates

US sends top general to talk with Gyanendra NewKerala.com, India
Nepalese immigrants in India protests against crackdown by King ... Webindia123
Nepal on violent cusp of change before vote International Herald Tribune
Nepal, in a Climate of Contradictions, Prepares to Vote New York Times
Boycott King Gyanendra’s administration Asian Centre for Human Rights, India
500 candidates withdraw nominations amidst Maoist threat Outlook (subscription)
Nepal gives protection to poll candidates Hindu, India
Over 600 candidates withdraw from Nepal polls Times of India
India's options in Nepal Daily Pioneer
Koirala rules out talks with King Gyanendra Hindu, India
Koirala rules out possibilities of talks with King Gyanendra Webindia123, India
Nepali King to address nation Wednesday Xinhua, China
Top student leader arrested, media raided ahead of protests Deccan Herald
A year after power grab, Nepal slides deeper into crisis INQ7.net, Philippines
As Nepal economy weakens, one export grows: people Gulf Times, Qatar
NEPAL: FNJ, NBA to observe Feb 1 as 'black day' Asia Pacific Media Network, CA

 मेयरका उम्मेदवारमाथि गोली प्रहार Kantipur Publications
पत्रिकाको कार्यालयमा रेड
सिंहलाई ४५ लाख
त्रिविको निर्णय अवज्ञा गर्दै पठनपाठन
१२७३ उम्मेदवार निर्विरोध
हुम्लामा दलहरूको आमसभा
राज्यकोषमा मनपरी
जनआन्दोलनको कार्यदिशा
'के सोचेँ मैले, के भयो अहिले !'
सरकारलाई मन पर्दैन एफएम
युद्धमोर्चामा परिणत सहर
Capital candidates holed up in APF barracks
Rana stresses reconcilation
Open letter to LK Advani
माओवादीसित बातचित भइरहेको छ: वामदेव गौतम
सहरी विद्रोहको चालबाजी
ओरालोमा अर्थतन्त्र
 'माघ १९' को पासोमा राप्रपा
 नेपालगन्ज आक्रमण: फोटो-फिचर
 अचानोमा जनता

Visitors
31 January09:45Harvard University, Cambridge, United States
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31 January11:55The World Bank Group, Washington, D.C., United States
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31 January12:27Arcor Internet-Produkte, Germany
31 January12:34Maroc Telecom, Morocco
31 January12:38Samara State Economic Academy, Russia

Democracy Now! | Headlines for February 1, 2005
Nepal: A country silenced
The Hindu : Front Page News : Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Restore Press Rights and Freedom of Speech in Nepal Petition
King Gyanendra & Henry VIII
Nepal Insurgency- 2005
Gyanendra News - The New York Times
all4all.org | Nepal: Martial Law Declared
Project Page
Nepal: Security Forces 'Disappear' Hundreds of Civilians (Human ...
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Non-Violence All The Way


All that proponents of violence promise can be achieved through non-violence and better. Violence actually gets in the way. If we stick to non-violence, we are forced to work to raise the people's political consciousness. Violence is an unwelcome short cut. It is not even a short cut. Violence muddles up things where what is needed is clarity.

The seven party alliance is unflinchingly committed to non-violence. I am not worried there might be an ideological shift towards violence. I am not even worried about Maoist infiltration. I am worried about state violence and I am worried about accidental violence on our part.

We have worked out a loose alliance with the Maoists. That is great. But we democrats should be leading the Maoists rather than the other way around. We will not be actors in a multi-party communist democracy. The Maoists will be one party in our multi-party democracy. We will not resort to violence. They will eventually disarm, as they have said they will.

If we stoke the people's passions, but not provide a clear roadmap, a clear leadership, or if we disappear from the scene, or are pushed out physically by the regime, the marchers could turn into a mob. That mob could turn violent. At the end of the day the old regime will likely have collapsed beyond repair. On the other hand, instead of like France in the late 1700s, we could end up like one of the African countries of recent times. There could be a long drawn out civil war at the end of which the country is worse off than it was before. We have to skip that part. We have to avoid that part.

Political leadership matters. The seven party alliance will make sure the country does not slide into a civil war. The alliance will make sure our revolution stays non-violent. Non-violence is our weapon, and it is stronger than the mightiest sword.

I am open to the idea of talking to the king and his people like Nelson Mandela was open to the idea of working with de Klerk. Remember, Mandela did not compromise on principle. South Africa became a full-fledged democracy. White rule was abolished. Apartheid was completely dismantled.

But dialogue requires that the king play ball. We can not hold dialogue with a king who does not want to talk. We can not hold dialogue with a king whose idea of dialogue might be that we finally come around to his ridiculous roadmap. If the Maoists are willing to get rid of the mantra of a communist republic after talks with us, what ground is the king willing to give? That is what the talks will be about.

The first order of business would be to cancel the municipal polls and get all the political leaders released. That could be a confidence building measure. And then we could go from there.

Dialogue with the king is not to break the Maoist-Democrat alliance to form a Democrat-Monarch alliance. That is not the idea. The idea is to bring the monarch to the table so as to create some common ground for all three forces to find a positive outlet for the country as a whole. The idea is to break the political paralysis.

But what if the king does not play ball? Then we will have the revolutionary non-violent option. We could get a few hundred thousand people to gherao the Narayanhiti until the king abdicated the throne. Then the revolution would declare the House revived. That House would act like the parliament during the French revolution. It could lawfully abolish the monarchy, bring the army under the parliament, confiscate the property of the members of the old regime that might have illegally amassed it, imprison members of the old regime on charges of treason for that is what conspiring against democracy is. You don't need a bloody revolution to do all that. You need a non-violent revolution, political clarity, and bold leadership. Bloodshed is uncalled for.

Considering we do have this revolutionary option, if and when we do talk to the king, we do so from a position of strength. That is why we have to be open to the idea of dialogue.

I don't understand the principled opposition to the idea of dialogue that some in the democratic camp hold. If you engage in talks where all you do is demand the release of all the politial prisoners, that is still dialogue. How could any democrat be opposed to do that? How much longer do we want our comrades behind bars!

If we then negotiate a roadmap to a constituent assembly, that is still dialogue.

A constituent assembly would be 300 constituencies of near equal population sending one elected representative each who will get together and write a new constitution for the country. I think there is basic agreement among the democrats and the Maoists that that is the goal. There can be more than one possible roadmap. And I think we have to be flexible about the roadmap. That is where dialogue comes in.

The roadmap is to be a political decision.

As to what form the dialogue will take, that is a second step discussion. What I mean to say here is that we have to be open to the concept of dialogue with the regime. I have Nelson Mandela on my side. What about you?

There can be no compromise on the idea of a full democracy, there can be no compromise on the idea of a constituent assembly. But we have to be flexible as to the roadmap, because we are trying to take three very different political forces to that assembly idea. We can not have a my way or highway attitude.

Constituent assembly will be a ton of dialogue. If we can not even manage the easier task of dialogue for a roadmap, what chances will we have with the assembly? Let the roadmap dialogue that includes the three forces be the dress rehearsal for the mega dialogue that a constituent assembly is bound to be. And we will have a second dress rehearsal when we hold our formal peace talks with the Maoists.

My proposal does not rule out the idea of getting rid of the monarchy before the constituent assembly elections are held, and it does not rule out the idea of getting rid of the monarchy with the sheer force of a revolution, but my proposal does suggest even that revolution has to be non-violent. What my proposal also says is that we have to gather strength for any eventuality, and the revolutionary alternative, but from that position of strength we have to be very open to the idea of dialogue with the king. We should end the autocracy like Mandela ended apartheid, it was through dialogue.

Dialogue is political work. It is in dialogue that your political skills get tested. If you are opposed to the very concept of dialogue, what kind of a political worker or leader are you?

अहिंसाका प्रश्न

Bringing them to book in the US

By MURARI RAJ SHARMA

A group of New York-based prominent attorneys and human rights activists has been working to turn the United States, a land of opportunities for most, into a forbidden land for human rights abusers in Nepal. Security officials are likely to be most affected by this initiative.

The group plans to take these human rights abusers - politicians, administrators, and army and police officials as well as Maoist leaders and commanders -- to US courts. It will collect information, facts and evidence against these abusers and prepare grounds for the attorneys to file lawsuits against them.

This group will name and shame the human rights violators by sharing information about them with UN agencies, civil society organizations and foreign governments. To shrink external space for such violators, the group will seek to collaborate with similar outfits in other democratic countries, which have laws with extraterritorial jurisdiction. While it will consider prior cases, the group will mostly focus its attention on serious cases of human rights violations that have occurred after February 1, 2005.

According to a press release issued on 18 January 2006 by Nepal Democratic Youth Council, USA, and Alliance for Human Rights and Democracy in Nepal, the group has established a panel, Human Rights Protection Coordination Committee (HRPCC) in New York and outlined its functions and scope. Through the press release, the group has also appealed to the victims of human rights violations, their family members, non-governmental organizations and interested individuals to share relevant and specific information with HRPCC to help do its tasks.

Keshav Sedain, a prominent Nepali-American attorney in New York, told this writer that Alien Tort Claims Act of 1789 "shall have original jurisdiction of any civil action by an alien for a tort only, committed in violation of the law of nations or a treaty of the United States." He added, in Filartiga v. Pena-Irala and Kadic v. Karadzic cases, US courts have held that a crime "perpetrated under the color of official authority violates universally accepted norms of international human rights law, and that such a violation of international law constitutes a violation of the domestic law of the United States…"

Often the compensation for damage runs into millions of dollars. A US federal appeal court upheld in 2003 a $4 million lawsuit against former Chilean army officer, Armando Fernandez Larios, held responsible for the 1973 murder of political prisoner Winston Cabello. Failure to pay such compensation might invite the confiscation of the assets or the jailing of the defendant, he added.

Sedain informed that criminal cases too could be brought to American courts if witnesses are available to testify against tormentors. To help this process, HRPCC intends to provide victims or their family members with travel assistance, in extraordinary circumstances, to take a stand in a court of law outside Nepal.

A member of the group told this writer that, as no one would expect Maoists to travel to the United States, government officials who come to meet their children, seek training or participate in meetings would mostly be brought to book in America. And security officials who wield force and who commit most human rights violations would, by default, constitute the majority of the panel's caseload.

This member added that the Committee would give priority to netting those security officials who have been accused of killing, raping, torturing, and causing disappearance of innocent people. Those who harm and hurt peaceful political demonstrators by the use of excessive and unwarranted force would not be spared either. Army and police officials who violate professional norms, or Geneva Conventions would be prosecuted. Those who have crushed people to help King Gyanendra consolidate his absolute power would not be condoned.

Another enthused member of the group confided that HRPCC had already swung into action. It was looking for collaborators in Nepal, the United States and elsewhere to collect concrete information and evidence to build litigable cases. It had begun lobbying UN officials to bar the known human rights violators in the Nepali military and police forces from participating in UN peacekeeping operations. The panel, he said, intended to pursue the recent assertion by the UN Human Rights Commissioner that not only rank and file but officers and commanders would also be brought to book for human rights violations. It plans to press for the implementation of Senator Leahy Patrick's call on the Bush administration to refuse US visas to the Nepali human rights abusers.

If the panel succeeds in its objective, government officials who are accused of human rights violation in Nepal would run significant risk of stiff financial penalty or jail term in America.

That said, another member of the group intoned, honest and human rights respecting security officials should be happy that they, as the rogues are weeded out, will have an increased opportunity to participate in peacekeeping operations and will not have to fear be prosecuted in the United States or under a UN tribunal.

The bell tolls only for those bad apples that, blinded by power, engage in wayward behavior to harm and hurt ordinary people or order to do so.

sharmamurari@hotmail.com

In The News

Warring parties killed 1,608 in 2005: Report Kantipur
One year of king's rule unsuccessful: Rana
Thousands demonstrate against autocracy in Delhi
Maoists attack Nepalgunj again, woman killed
Lift all radio censorship: AMARC
Municipal elections: No candidates for more than half seats

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