Umesh, Turn It Into A Business

Umesh.

Your first video clip of the December 2 rally has been a big hit. How do I know? Last night I tried to access it, and Google had temporarily reduced the 6 minutes, 14 seconds clip into a 30 seconds clip. They do that to video clips that get viewed too many times. That is them getting thrifty on bandwidth. So, bud, you are rocking the boat. Feel good about it.

Fervent discussions are on at the Nepal Democracy group. Several great projects have been identified.

• Video blog the movement to the tune of 100 plus hours. First Clip.
• Medical care for peaceful demonstrators.
• Legal action at the national and international levels against those that might violate the human rights of the demonstrators.
• Propaganda work.

I would like to suggest something new for the first listed project. Why don't we turn it into a for profit business model for you? As in, how would you like to be able to quit your job and do this full time? The seed money from our end would be a donation, not a loan. You get to keep it. But you turn it into a business fast.

Do you have the option to take a one month long leave of absence from your job? If you do, take it. Acquire broadband if you don't already have one. You will receive help for that from this end. I know you have about 40 minutes worth of video clips from December 2. Upload them all as soon as possible. And "hire" KP Dhungana. He uses your equipment to do all the political interviews, starting with the one I have suggested: 7 leaders, 7 questions. His first few weeks he only gets money for basic expenses. He gets back pay later. Upload those videos as well. Fast. Speed is key. I will stay in touch and keep suggesting project ideas. I will do it all for free.

So how is the money made? I propose a one cent a minute plan to the nearest 10 cent mark.

So for that first 6 minute clip, you would have charged 10 cents per view. For a 100 minute clip, it would be a dollar. But leave that first one free. That is a free sample.

Google Video gives you that option. You can charge per view. They will keep a small cut of it, and give the rest of the money to you. I am strongly considering doing something similar for my blog on American politics. It would be like becoming a talk show host, only I will be doing all the talking. 10 cents per clip, for a standard near 9 minutes clip. We could compare notes along the way.

If we could switch gears like this, the advantage for me would be this aspect of the movement would be off my shoulders. I would have totally delegated. So I can focus more fully on some of the other projects. The network will still be very involved in providing you with protection, should such be needed at any point in time. Otherwise you will function like a small media house of your own.

I would hope you would have competition locally! I desire both quantity and quality.

But you sure will have the first mover advantage. That really helps.

Diaspora Logistical Help To The Movement
Nepali Bloggers At The Forefront Of The Movement
Audio Video
Logistics To Bring Down The Regime
Dinesh Wagle, 7 Leaders, 27 Questions
Movement Taken To Online Video

Money is a good thing. This movement is for political liberation, but it is also a movement for wealth creation. Trust me on this one.

What say you?

This thing could really expand. You could end up the first Nepali media house catering to the Nepali diaspora exclusively. The business could really pick momentum right away. I know there is this deep hunger at this end for video clips like yours.

For that first 6 minute clip, what if it were 10 cents per view, and 1000 Nepalis viewed it? That would have been a clean 100 dollars. Would that have been enough money for you to think you just made a one month salary? For a day or two of work? Is that cool or what?

I think the idea is so good you could rapidly expand your operations with the money you yourself make.

What if you made 10 such wonderful clips, and each made you $100 only. That would be $1000 made. At that point you could pay for your own broadband, buy a few more batteries and memory cards, hire a few people. The business would really take off.

You could be really expanding and fast.

What if the regime comes down before the New Year? I think that is very likely. I want a quickie movement, I don't want a slow bleeding one. Some career politicians are out there talking in terms of foiling the February 8 polls. That would be too late. The regime has to fall before that.

This regime gave us February 1. We should give it January 1.

Your business would still be valid after the movement succeeds. It will still be valid throughout the peace process and even after the coutry gets a new constitution and there is full fledged democracy. It would be a new media entity.

Let me know.

More important, get down to work!

In The News

End social exclusion to restore peace: Experts NepalNews
China now plays global card: Khetan
Raj Parishad regional meet on Dec 25-27
Regional Administrator summons journo
King a Hurdle in Peace Process: Nepal Himalayan Times, Nepal
Democracy may save the king Hindustan Times
Pro-Maoist Students Close Nearly Dozen Schools in Central Nepal ... NewsLine Nepal, Nepal
Nepal prince furious at being stoned, cops suspended NewKerala.com, India



Hello folks. Please take a minute or two to express solidarity to Umesh
over email. Thanks.

To: Salokya ...@gmail.com>
Cc: Gagan Thapa ...@yahoo.com>, Dinesh Prasain
...@gmail.com>, Sarahana Shrestha ...@samudaya.org>,
KP Dhungana ...@gmail.com>, Madhav Nepal
...@gmail.com>,
Subject: URGENT ----- Re: Umesh, Turn It Into A Business

Umesh. Protection is the number one issue. I'd rather you stop video
blogging than feel unsafe. But you do not have to feel unsafe.

Gagan, Dinesh. Please help with this part. Umesh, you must know Gagan
Thapa. Dinesh Prasain is with COCAP. And http://www.insn.org/ Btw,
INSN linked to your video clip.

Also get in touch with Madhavji.

Madhavji, it is very important for the movement to protect Umesh and
other video bloggers. Please get him in touch with some of your party
cadres, some student leaders.

Umesh. Pass on all the threat emails. Also there are ways to track down
the computer from which the email was generated. We can look into that.
If the punishment can not be meted out now, it will be after the
democratic government comes into power, which will be before the New
Year. Make sure you document everything.

For now, increase your visibility.

Puru Subedi: "Paramedra ji already produced one outcome with some money
he received and forwarded to Nepal as a donation. I am glad that Umesh
ji was able to bring that video to us. It is being shown almost every
Nepali household that I have gone in the DC area this weekend."

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8008922312335507894
This got him fired. This got him receiving threatening emails.

--- Salokya ...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Good Idea ! to "sell" video blogs !
> but I have lack of equipment. What I am using is small 3.1 megapixel
> camera
> made in khasha and that I can not give to anyone cause it should be
> handle
> with care as you know how is "khasa product"
> I have been sacked from my job......no reason given....but some
> suspects its
> because of my blog...
> च्यानल नेपालषो मेरो जाà¤-िर
> "चट"<http://merosansar.blogsome.com/2005/10/19/channel-nepal-fired-me/>
> http://merosansar.blogsome.com/2005/10/19/channel-nepal-fired-me/>
> मैले à¤...वषाश पत्र
> बुझेँ<http://merosansar.blogsome.com/2005/10/20/fired-letter/>
> http://merosansar.blogsome.com/2005/10/20/fired-letter/>
> They have not paid me my remaining salary.
> Yes I need broadband badly. Currently I am using night surfing
> package
> (830pm to 830 am) which is not enough.
> I am receiving kind of threat mails also. So please be there to
> protect me
> if anything goes wrong.

200 Brown Shirts

Brown Shirts Wikipedia

To The Seven Party Coalition

• Document every physical threat, every physical assault, document all arrests made, all mistreatments of those arrested.
  
• The UML having 1,000 volunteers and 8,000 party workers at the December 2 rally was a good idea. Do that on a larger scale starting from December 10. Do your own crowd control. This is a non-violent movement because non-violence is more effective. We want to be effective.
  
• Have a central information gathering mechanism.
  
• The democratic government will lawfully take action at both national and international levels as necessary.
  
• Cooperate with the police if such be coming, like in the case of the security blanket thrown around the UML party office. The police belong to the people. They are on the people's payroll. It is their job to maintain law and order. Besides this is not a movement to dismantle the state structure. This is a movement to take over that structure on behalf of the people. Actively befriend the police at all their levels. Encourage junior officers to report on the senior officers who mistreat those arrested and protesting.
  
• Take endless digital pictures. Document everything, every little untoward incident.
  
• Provide extra security to all the top leaders in all the parties. Let them be accompanied by party cadres at all times during the movement.
  

To The Regime

• Right to peaceful assembly is a fundamental human right. You violate that and you violate some major international laws.
  
• This is no 1990. Noone is going scot-free. Don't issue orders now that you will regret once behind bars. And regret you will.
  
• There is a right to peaceful assembly. But armed assembly is illegal. Those 200 brown shirts, why were they not arrested? Issuing physical threats is illegal. They issued threats to the top leaders. Why were they not arrested? Threats of vandalism are illegal. Why were they not arrested?
  
• Don't arrest those who did not throw stones. Don't arrest without issuing warrants. Don't mistreat those arrested. Don't deprive them of food and water. Don't arrest minors and schoolchildren. Do not beat anybody. Physical assault in custody is illegal. You will be punished.
  
• Obey the law. Respect human rights.
  

To The Prince

• Leave policy to the king, and policing to the police. Otherwise you are hurting that very king. You are not qualified to intervene.
  

To The King

• I don't know what you are thinking.
  
• If you are thinking of playing one party against the other, that time might not come.
  
• Make your conciliatory moves before December 10. Or you will face a million strong crowd march towards the Narayanhiti.
  
• Nepal is a few weeks away from hitting the world headlines.
  
• After October 2, 2002, you came out for an all party government. After February 1, 2005, you came out for a constituent assembly. Go back to that drawing board. There is no other way out. The state structure is melting around you. Your own son seems to be melting around you. Those are signs. Read them.
  

Students protest against attack bid on UML party office They claimed the armed gangsters who tried to attack the UML central office in Balkhu were sanctioned by the government..... hundreds of UML activists took to the streets in Pokhara this afternoon to protest the bid to vandalize the party’s central office. ..... a group of around 200 supporters of the February 1 royal move drove around Ring Road of the capital on motorbikes chanting pro-king slogans and carrying national flags. The group, reportedly affiliated to the youth wing of the ‘nationalist front,’ held a meeting at Kalanki and warned that it would bring down the UML central office in retaliation of an alleged attack on the convoy of Crown Prince Paras by UML supporters on Friday
UML serious over attack bid on party HQ armed 'Mandale' criminals sanctioned by the ultra rightist element that is ruling the state ..... The rampaging 'Manadale gang' ruthlessly attacked Ain Bahadur Magar, an UML activist, at Balaju ..... journalists, human rights activists and security officials who reached the party central office on time and thwarted the possible vandalism ...... The armed group also chanted slogans against the leaders of the opposition parties and threatened to physically attack them ...... The UML standing committee also denounced the attack on pro-democracy demonstrators by pro-palace activists gathered at New Baneshwor ..... Several innocent students and passers-by were arrested by the police
Police deny food to detained people Police denied food and water to about 20 people, including five students, arrested Friday afternoon on charges pelting stones on the security convoy ...... Those arrested include five students of VS Niketan School along with commuters...... There are 13 persons including a 12-year old boy being kept in a dark room at Tinkune police post without food and water. Others in detention include Raj Kumar Bhandari (Ramechhap), Rabindra Karki (Bhaktapur), Suman Bhetwal (Dallu), Surya Prakash Bhatta (Buddhanagar) and Rajendra Kafle (Gothatar) ..... Also in detention are Yuba Raj Rai (Minbhawan), Padam Bahadur Magar (Minbhawan), Raj Kumar Shrestha (Dhading), Binay Aryal (Shankhamool), Shankar Thing (Minbhawan), Ram Hari Neupane (Nuwakot) and Bidir Karki (Tehrathum). Most of them are college students..... five students of grade nine and ten of VS Niketan School were arrested from the street near the school..... Navaraj Parajuli, a former people's representative from Koteshwor, alleged that a police official lied to him saying all the detainees were given food, but an assistant sub-inspector said they were given nothing....... The detainees also complained that police beat them up and forced them to admit pelting stones at the VVIP vehicles .... The cavalcade of Crown Prince Paras and other security chiefs passed through the area at the same time when the angry demonstrators were pelting stones at each other.
Police provide protection to UML HQ Police have been providing protection to the headquarters of the CPN (UML) ..... in retaliation of alleged attack on Crown Prince Paras by UML supporters on Friday ..... Supporters of Crown Prince Paras have alleged the UML of deliberately attacking at the motorcade of the Crown Prince and have vowed to take revenge
Royalists, party activists clash in Baneshwore The incident occurred when the pro-king groups lining both sides of the road to welcome Their Majesties chanted anti democracy slogans immediately after the UML mass meeting ..... the government employees were barred from getting outside the Singh Durbar premises on Friday to attend the mass meeting of the UML and to force them to line up to welcome Their Majesties upon their arrival...... Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers had sent a written order to all the ministries, departments and corporations to ensure that their staff line up on both sides of the Singhadurbar-Bhadrakali section of the road at 3:00 p. m. – at least one hour in advance of the royal return.
Tens of thousands of people take part in UML’s rally; minor scuffle reported participants in the rally sat on the road in front of Birendra International Convention Centre for over three hours to listen to their leaders...... over 75,000 ..... Madhav Kumar Nepal said Friday’s mass meeting was only a rehearsal and that the ‘tsunami’ of the people’s movement was in the making...... security personnel had barred dozens of public vehicles – that were carrying hundreds of UML workers-- from entering the Kathmandu in Dhading and Kavre.

18 Boys Arrested Without Warrant INSN, Delhi/Kathmandu, 4 December:INSN has received information from a Kathmandu-based human rights organisation that eighteen youths were arrested without warrant on December 2, 2005 at Minbhawan of New Baneshwor after the vehicle of the prince, Paras, was pelted with stones by unknown assailants. The youths are being held at Tinkue police station, Kathmandu. The detainees were forced to give their finger prints on written statements prepared by the security forces. However, the detainees are unaware of the content of the statements, and some received death threats from security officials, forcing them to comply. Some of the detainees were beaten severely while being taken under control, such as Sachin Bhatta, a 10th grader at V.S. Niketan, who sustained injury to his ear, resulting in hearing difficulties. A minor, Shanker Thingh Tamang, age 12, is also being held among the detainees. The police authority has refused food and bedding, and all the detainees are being held in one dark room that has the capacity of only 4-5 persons. Students from V.S. Niketan and another student of BBS have been unable to attend their examination scheduled to begin from December 4, 2005 as they continue to be in police detention.
Name and identification of the detainees:
Shanker Thingh Tamang, 12, of Om Bakery
Arjun Lama, Ujjwol Maskey and Sachin Bhatta, of class 10 at V.S. Niketan and Subash Lama of class 9 from the same school.
Surya Prakash Bhatta, 10th grader at Aristo English Boarding school in Dhangadi, Kailali district.
Suman Prasad Bhetwal, 12th grader at Orient College, Ring Road, Kathmandu
Binaya Aryal, student of BBS 1st year of Kanchanpur, District
Navraj Thapaliya, Koteshwor, Kathmandu
Rajendra Kafle, Gothatar, Kathmandu
Uddhav Rai, Padam Bahadur Magar, Yuvraj Rai and Bidur Karki, workers at Variety Food Land, Minbhawan, Kathmandu
Ram Hari Neupane, sales boy of Himal Media
Raj Kumar Bhandari of Dolakha District
Raj Kumar Shrestha of Dhading, also a helper in a public transport Ba 1 Ja 9536
Rabindra Karki

Crown Prince seeks explanation from top security officials NepalNews

Crown Prince Paras on Saturday sought clarification from chief of Nepal Police and other high-ranking security officials on alleged security lapse on Friday when his cavalcade heading towards Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) to receive Their Majesties King Gyanendra and Queen Komal reportedly came under attack.

According to reports, the Crown Prince arrived at the Police headquarters at around 10 a. m. on Saturday—a public holiday. Inspector General of Police Shyam Bhakta Thapa, chief of the Army Staff of the Royal Nepalese Army General Pyar Jung Thapa, chief of the Armed Police Force Sahabir Thapa and chief of the National Intelligence Department Devi Ram Sharma were present on the occasion.

Crown Prince left police headquarters within ten minutes.

Meanwhile, Kantipur daily reports that IGP Thapa has constituted a five-member committee to probe into Friday’s incident. The committee comprises deputy inspector generals of Nepal Police Him Gurung and Keshav Baral, senior superintendent of police Krishna Bahadur Thapa and superintendents of police Upendra Kanta Aryal and Rana Bahadur Chand. The committee has already started probe into the incident.

Earlier, reports said pro-UML supporters and a group of royalists clashed at Min Bhavan area immediately after the conclusion of a huge mass rally of the UML at New Baneswore on Friday. The cavalcade of Crown Prince Paras and other security chiefs passed through the area at the same time when the angry demonstrators were pelting stones at each other.

At least half a dozen security personnel including SP of traffic police were injured in the stone pelting, according to reports.

Crown prince Paras vandalised police headquarters, beat up three police IGPs

INSN, Kathmandu/Delhi, December 3, 2005. According to very reliable sources in Kathmandu, Crown Prince Paras Shah vandalised Nepal Police headquarters at Naxal, Kathmandu and beat up three Inspector Generals of Police (IGPs) this afternoon. He reportedly accused them of not being able to provide security to him yesterday as he was on his way to the airport to receive his father Gyanendra who returned from an extended visit to Africa.

Violence erupted yesterday afternoon in Kathmandu after a group of pro-monarchy vigilantes attacked demonstrators at New Baneshwor who were participating in a mammoth yet peaceful pro-democracy demonstration organised by the Communist Party of Nepal (UML). The enraged demonstrators retaliated by pelting stones at the royalist vigilantes. The police used force against the pro-democracy activists while providing security to the royalist vigilantes. The angry demonstrators also pelted stones at the security convoy that passed through the road while the clash was taking place to receive the royal couple at the international airport. Paras Shah was also on his way to receive the royal couple, protected by the security convoy.

Paras reportedly went to the police headquarters around noon today, banged his car on the main gate, entered into the compound, called up the IGP of the Janpath Nepal Police Shyam Bhakta Thapa at his own office, broke chairs, and slapped him on his face several times. He then reportedly ordered the IGPs of the Armed Police Force and the National Investigation Department to report themselves immediately to Nepal Police headquarters, lined them up, shouted at them and slapped all of them on their face and kicked them several times. Reportedly, he did this in full view of other police officers and personnel. He was reportedly asking them repeatedly, “What if the stones had hit me? I could have died. Why did you not provide security?”

Paras also reportedly assaulted a colonel of the Royal Nepal Army, in charge of the security convoy yesterday.

The three police IGPs have reportedly complained about the insulting behaviour of the prince to the king, but have not made public the details of the incident.

Several major media houses in Kathmandu have reportedly confirmed with the police sources about the incident. But fearing action by the royals, they have not carried the news yet, at the time of writing this report (7:30 pm).

Some human rights activists and journalists in Kathmandu expressed the fear with INSN that a few dozen civilians arrested by the police after the incident yesterday may be tortured or even disappeared. Immediately after the incident, the police randomly arrested people from the surrounding area, accusing them of engaging in violence. The government has not made public the list of the people arrested, let alone their whereabouts, as yet.

It is publicly known in Nepal that prince Paras has murdered and assaulted people several times in the past, before he became the crown prince, and has assaulted journalists and businessmen after becoming the crown prince.

Diaspora Logistical Help To The Movement

Nepali Bloggers At The Forefront Of The Movement

Two concrete projects have been identified so far. One has been to video blog it to the max. Another that has been making the rounds has been of providing medical services to the peaceful protestors. Lilamani Pokahrel was the first person to have brought this up. (Lilamani Pokharel For Continuous Movement) And I had a long conversation with the Alliance president Sanjaya Parajuli last night. (Alliance Action In Kathmandu, Roadmap) He put a major emphasis on the idea. Pramod Aryal was on the phone from Atlanta this morning. In that conversation the idea took yet another leap. A lot of specific names at both ends surfaced, mostly from him, as well many logistical details.

And by now the idea has taken a life of its own. There is a major thread at the Nepal Democracy group devoted to it. This has got to be one of my favorite threads at the group. Now we are talking.

Another offshoot of the idea is that providing medical services will also allow us to document atrocities should they happen. The democratic government will pursue all legal actions possible at the national and international levels. We have to develop the mechanism, create that threat, and publicize so as to reduce the extent of repression from the state, if any.

Right to peaceful assembly is a fundamental human right. No regime may violate it. The regime is going to have to respect the tenets of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights when dealing with the movement, or it runs afoul of many international laws. The movement is going to document all such instances as they might occur.

Video blogging the movement to the max is also about bringing maximum exposure to the movement. This is war with communications technology, if you will. Non-violence as a political tool is being reinvented through this movement in Nepal to be put to use elsewhere on the planet down the line.

There are going to be two levels of organization for the diaspora work. There is going to be open, transparent work, and there is going to be clandestine work. So prepare to get surprised. Act surprised.

Some snippets from the thread are as follows.

Pramod Aryal: "First thing we need at that time is gauge, plasters, antibiotics, anesthesia, minor surgery, radiation for controlling excess bleeding and recovery. If the hospitals are overwhelmed, or if the security forces block access to medical fascilities, then we will see untoward casulties. Now let us plan for this...... Madhu jee, talk with medical doctors association, nurses association, paramedics, and pharmaceutical importers and producers. Have a revolution committee of doctors to treat patient. Have the roster revolving with the doctors who can give time. Have similar group of nurses, paramedics and othe health care professionals....... Look for a house, big enough to make a temporary hospital. Easily accessible. Somewhere in Naya Banewswor Chinese Highway. Make it a make-shift hospital. Negotiate rent, and let us raise funds for that...... Have 5-10 ambulance (temporary), Maruti vans could be a make-shift ambulance. Stand by and ready ...... Make a budget...... Negotiate with pharmaceutical importers, and producers, and have basic medical necessities in a temporary warehouse. Collect them immediately. Be prepared, and if Nepal supply is not enough talk to Indian producers and distributors...... This will be needed every where, not only Kathmandu. Thus talk with arilines also for cargo facility. have temporary similar things in big cities, like Pokhara, Biratnagar, Dharan, Birgunj, Bhairahawa-Butwol, Dhangadhi, Mahendra Nagar, Nepalgunj, Surkhet, Ilam, Dhankuta. And be prepared to airlift to Kalikot, and other remote places....... Once you guys work on this plan, put a website and request for donations. Definitely a lot of expatriates would donate there....... Make sure you all ask for blood donation and make a temporary blood bank if needed, and even if you need to import materials for such bank workout now and plan for fund raising. This can be done with respective associations and civic society. Then we all will win. Please talk to the folks of these plans. Since all these associations have national network it can be done in few days...... "

This is an amazing piece of writing, don't you think? Let's keep the book keeping as transparent and online as possible, otherwise I am all for decentralized fundraising and distributing. The important thing is that the work gets done. We should all seek the most efficient ways to complete the tasks at hand.

Pramod Aryal had one little brainstorm, and look at all those logistical details. Wow. This is Napoleon going to war!

Contribute: http://www.geocities.com/paramendra/nepal1000.html

Pramod Aryal again: "Since we will have revolution, it might appear that the security forces might try to use excessive force. In that case we have to act. We need to form a group where we can control such excess. My idea is having Keshav Sedai jee, Dinesh Tripathi jee from here, and some lawyers from Nepal who have knowledge of International Law, and we should make it point blank that any excess used would be directly challenged in the International Court of Justice, at Hague. We should have that committee right now, and other civic society members should document such excesses. It might not be easy for Nepali lawyers to fly to Hague, but our lawyers here, and their international friends can file the case in the court. The lawyers from (N)epal should provide such information. You should announce such committee sooner, so that it will give clear message to security forces what the civic society is doing."

The movement is in the air. It sure is.

Gaury Adhikari: "1. Have mobile clinic set up in few vehicles with full team of paramedics (Nurses and one physicians with IV, fluids, Analgesics and surgical supplies. With these help one can stabilize the person on the field and then ship to nearby hospital: Kathamndu medical college in the east, Patan Hospital , B/ B hospitla in the South and Bir hospital and Teaching hospital in the center. MOdel Hospital can be vital in taking cases as well. 2. with Mobile clinic ferrying patient to hospital , the chaos in the street for injured will be spared. For this to happen all ER of the valley hospital will have to cooperate and be able to absorb the cost. A meeting should be called and communication channel will have to be built around this scheme of things. There has to be identifieable core leader in this chain of command so that it does not breakdown when the panic hits hard in the street. 3. This plan will also have system of " Triage in place. For " Triage " to happen a physician will have to be present in mobile team: he can decide whether the person is dead or beyond resuscitaiton or can be salvaged at the hospital ER. I think this is important if there is mass casualties, but for sporadic violence this will be irrelevant. 4. Similar model can be developed in other cities as well. For remote villages it should be taken in case by case basis. It also depends if the movement is going to be launched simultaneously or at phases. 5. The whole system will have to be reevaluated constantly and improved on as the conflict escalates. 6. REsources will have to be committed by the major hopsital for it to work , and mobile clinic can be run by fund raisng. 7. It is implied here that lots of volunteer personnel will have to be willing to take part in this scheme otherwise funding for such an operation by " fund raising " to "pay it as you go " basis will not be feasible. I am sincerely hoping that a Nepali will not have to shed one more drop of blood for what is innately theirs: Freedom..."

I am beginning to like this Google group, yo! (To: ND Group, c/o Puru Subedi, Nepal Democracy Google Group Does Not Believe In Free Speech) Gaury has also provided amazing details. Keep it coming, folks.

Contribute: http://www.geocities.com/paramendra/nepal1000.html

Pramod Aryal: "If even the hospitals won't be able to bear the cost, then we should be able to work on this. Thus my suggestion is have a bank account for this, have online payment system, and generate the idea within the country also. We should move in war footing. This is not a movement, but a revolution and this will have greater casualties. Expect this. Reconcilation chances are vanishing ...... For any reason any of the leaders are enjured only, then it will go out of control and we will see a lot of blood shed in Kathmandu in similar but stronger terms than what we saw after 12 Nepalese massacre in Iraq...."

Deepak Khadka: "..... a massive agitation is going to erupt soon. .... I am sure we will be seeing amazingly inspiring and spontaneous creative actions during the agitation, yet a thoughtful preparedness to prevent/minimize unwanted loss and inspire people more would be a call of the day....... memory of some of most unispiring and negative fear about the movement I have heard in various forums for a long time...... "

Pramod Aryal: "I like the idea of mobile clinic. This will also give account of what is happening and if we need to charge these security officers, or others during movement or future investigation. Following is the group, the Bar Association and Medical Association should establish link, Physicians for Human Rights, http://www.phrusa.org/about/index.html this organizations have lawyers and physicians. ...... This organization is full of lawyers and could be helpful in keeping responsible officers to follow international norms or face charges. The mobile clinic and bar association will give fresh accounts."

This guy is a living, breathing encyclopedia, looks like, not to say a walking phone book.

Pramod Aryal: "And also we have to be clear, any use of excess force would be tried in International court of justice, as Bosnian war........... that is for true, and we have to do it....we ought to fight and people of Nepal are ready, now it is civil society to protect these people..."

Looks like finally the diaspora might open up its wallet in a major way. The moral support otherwise was getting too wordy. The video blogging part has to be rapidly expanded. And this medical services idea has to be implemented fast. December 10 is a deadline of sorts.

Another hole still in our effort is we need to get as many high profile political figures here in America and elsewhere in the world to put out statements in support of the movement.

Start donating, folks. Money is needed and fast. Money has to be raised and spent fast.

Contribute: http://www.geocities.com/paramendra/nepal1000.html

Alliance Action In Kathmandu

Chief of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Ian Martin has welcomed the extension of unilateral ceasefire by the Maoists and urged the government to reciprocate it.

Speaking at a program in capital on Saturday, Martin said, "It is equally important that the government reciprocate the ceasefire and stop violations of human rights and humanitarian laws in the period ahead," he added.

Martin reiterated the UN’s willingness to mediate in the peace process if asked by the government and the concerned parties.

“The UN has played a post-conflict role in some countries and it is up to the government and the people to consider what role it should play in Nepal,” he said.

Saying that the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has welcomed the Maoist truce, he suggested the government to follow the path of peace.

Martin urged the government to end its military operations and asked the rebels to put an end to abductions that were carried out even during the period of the unilateral truce. He said there was no military solution to the ongoing conflict.

Stating that the media ordinance and code of conduct for NGOs recently introduced by the government was against human rights, Martin said, "The UN is closely monitoring the situation in Nepal."

In The News

13 students, others freed; Kathmandu SP suspended NepalNews
SC issues show cause notice over ban on BBC retransmission
Swiss govt. welcomes Parties-Maoist understanding, asks to build the bridge of peace and reconciliation
UML serious over attack bid on party HQ
Crown Prince seeks explanation from top security officials
Students protest against attack bid on UML party office
Martin urges government to reciprocate truce
CDO selecting candidates for municipal polls
Fighting continues in Nepal despite rebel ceasefire Offaly Independent, Ireland
Democracy may save the king Hindustan Times
'India has no role in Maoist-parties agreement' Expressindia.com
Inquiry ordered into attack on Nepal prince Indian Express, India
Royalists threaten opposition parties in Nepal NewKerala.com
Nepal-India transit meeting ends inconclusivelyNepalnews.com, Nepal
Nepal’s largest party demonstrates its power in Eastern Nepal United We Blog, Nepal
Koirala Urge King to Hold TalksNewsLine Nepal

Nepali Bloggers At The Forefront Of The Movement

For the longest time it has been Kantipur's Dinesh Wagle who has been hogging the limelight, and for good reason. United We Blog is in a class of its own.

And I have been working with Dinesh to video blog the movement. We have been stuck so far on the basic equipment details.

In the mean time I ran into Umesh Shrestha of Mero Sansar. He already has audio and video blogs. That means he already has the equipment. Besides his is also a groundbreaking blog, the first in the Nepali language.

He was going to cover the December 2 UML rally on his own. But then we started talking, and we figured if I could help him with the purchase of four more batteries to the tune of $20, he could provide longer footages to what he has been doing so far. Instead of five or eight minutes, he might be able to offer 40 minutes.

Right then I contacted my friend in Seattle Himanshu Shekhar who owns the MoneyToNepal.com company, a fellow Madhesi, a major league software entrepreneur. I got him to donate $100. First I decided to send off $20. Then I changed my mind and sent out all of $100. If the money is already at the other end, it will be easier to move it around.

If you organize stuff online, the group looks like a cloud, not a pyramid. There is no central authority. The best ideas could come from any member of the group, at any time. Execution is faster. You just keep moving as fast you can. You walk and chew gum at the same time. You stay tuned in with the group. And you keep doing what you need to be doing. You keep moving. Fast.

Look at this video clip: December 2. Umesh Shrestha is one amazing human being. And I said as much at a thread at the Nepal Democracy Google group which pretends to be the cyber Upper House of the Nepali diaspora.

Then I came up with this project: 7 questions for 7 leaders.

Girija Koirala*. Madhav Nepal. Gopal Man Shrestha*. Hridayesh Tripathy. Amik Sherchan. Narayan Man Bijukchhe. CP Mainali*.

(1) This is for the global audience who do not know anything about Nepal. Can you please say what is going on in Nepal? What are you agitating for? What do you want?

(2) What is your understanding of the other two forces, the Maoists and the king?

(3) The king says the democracy in the 1990s failed. How do you respond to that criticism? There is criticism that you democrats are not united enough, that your vision and action plan are not clear enough. What do you say to that?

(4) How and when do you expect this democracy movement to conclude? What will the endgame be like? What are the various scenarios that could play out?

(5) The king has announced elections for the towns and cities for February 2006, and for the parliament in April 2007. Why is that not a good idea? Why will you not participate?

(6) You and your party are for a constituent assembly. Which means you are for a new constitution for the country. What will that new constitution be like? What is your party's vision?

(7) How can the international community help you in your effort to establish democracy in Nepal?

Umesh got back with me saying he is not too political a person. But then he referred me to another blogger. And when I visited his blog, boom, I found a treasure drove of blogs in Nepali, a whole bunch of them blogging away. Just take a look.

• Mero Sansar
• Ratna Park
• Blogger Nepal
• Laliguras
• Nepal Gulf News
• Sayapatri
• Mero Paribesh
• Prabas: Saudi Arabia

A few of them are solely dedicated to literature. A few of them are mixed, and are very bloglike. Blogs are not newspapers gone online. Blogs are blogs. They are like themselves. And now that I have looked around some, it is so obvious to me that Mero Sansar has been a pioneer of sorts. Blogger Nepal is more overtly political.

What's the idea?

The idea is to video blog all street demonstrations in Kathmandu, but also to interview as many leaders of the seven party coalition on an ongoing basis as possible. The Nepali diaspora has to be able to feel it. When democracy activists in Kathmandu take to the streets, the Nepalis abroad might not be able to smell the streets, but the crowd dispersed over the globe has to see it, has to hear it. Video footage does much more than text and even digital photos. You feel the energy through the video.

And it is important to sway global opinion. One important goal of the movement is to shape global opinion in its favor. Video blogging the movement also keeps the lights on and chances of extreme oppression are lessened. I have talked more about that here: Movement Taken To Online Video.

Interviewing leaders also lets the diaspora put its questions directly to the leaders, so they are more accountable. The movement for democracy has to be democratic.

The talk is very much on as to how best to go about it.

Logistical support is to be provided, but that is not the most important element. I think we all should help shape the basic guidelines. I offer some.

• Keep the costs down. Use the existing equipments and infrastructure. Share equipments. Do timeshare on equipments. Seek private citizens with broadband facilities or private companies with such facilities who will allow use of their internet access for uploading purposes.
  
• Seek help from the diaspora. Keep all book-keeping transparent, or at least within the group.
  
• There must be at least 10 camcorders among the private citizens there. Borrow.
  
• Delegate. Make a list of all the work to be done, and then delegate, so the workload is not too much on a few people. So person A, person B and person C donate cameras, persons D, E and F are the camerapeople, persons G and H do the editing, persons I, J, K and L are offering broadband, persons M, N and O do the quality uploading, persons P, Q, R and S do the quantity uploading. It might not exactly work out that way. But that is one model. You decide locally.
  
• My preference is to upload all video clips at Google Video. It is the best free hosting service I know. But you decide. I know there also are other options. If you use Google Video, make sure you insert the word Nepal somewhere. Most people will likely see your video clip when they search for Nepal at Google Video.
  
• December 2 is a work of art. Follow the good example.
  
• It is a good idea to edit and offer a five or a 10 minute highlight. So, yes, quality matters.
• But quantity is even more important. Upload as much raw footage as you can. That is how we magnify the impact.
  
• Let it be a goal: 100 hours minimum of video online by February.
  
• Be safe, and always have Plan B. Stay united, and stay visible. Report any and all harassments, if any, by the authorities to the network. We will respond.
  

This is history being made and recorded. This is like 1947 in India.

Protests

What Is A Constituent Assembly?

Constituent Assembly
Constituent Assembly
Some Facts of Constituent Assembly Constituent Assembly - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia A constituent assembly is a body elected with the purpose of drafting, and in some cases, adopting a constitution.

• National Constituent Assembly - formed in 1789 during the French Revolution ..... Following attempts by King Louis XVI and the Second Estate to prevent the delegates from meeting, the new assembly was forced to relocate to a tennis court on June 20; there, it swore the Tennis Court Oath, promising to draft a new constitution for France...... The Assembly re-named itself the National Constituent Assembly on July 9, and began to function as a governing body and a constitution-drafter....... Following the storming of the Bastille on July 14, the National Constituent Assembly became the effective government of France. In the words of historian François Mignet, "The assembly had acquired the entire power; the corporations depended on it; the national guards obeyed it... The royal power, though existing of right, was in a measure suspended, since it was not obeyed, and the assembly had to supply its action by its own." .....
  
• Russian Constituent Assembly - formed in January 1918 during the Russian October Revolution ..... The Bolsheviks took the position that the workers' councils (known in Russian as soviets) were the only legitimate form of government (the Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin's slogan prior to the revolution was "All Power to the Soviets!"), and while they permitted elections to continue they did not accept the ultimate authority of the Constituent Assembly to decide on an alternative form of government....... In the election to the Constituent Assembly (the first fully democratic parliamentary election in Russian history), Lenin's Bolsheviks received between 22% and 25% of the vote in that election, while the Socialist-Revolutionary Party received 40%...... A peaceful demonstration in support of the assembly was shot at and dispersed by troops loyal to Bolsheviks. A motion by the Bolsheviks that should have made the assembly powerless was voted down. The Bolsheviks and their allies then walked out and the next day declared the Constitution Assembly dissolved.
• Constituent Assembly of India - formed on 9 December 1946 to write the Constitution, and serve as India's first Parliament, dissolving on 26 January 1950 when India became a republic. The Constituent Assembly of India was elected to write the Constitution of India, and served as its first Parliament as an independent nation. It was elected by millions of Indian adults and by universal suffrage. It first met on December 9, 1946, while India was still under British rule. At this point, the Constituent Assembly became the Provisional Parliament of India, until the first elections under the new Constitution took place in 1952.
• South Africa: Post-Apartheid

A constituent assembly is the only way out for Nepal. But what is a constituent assembly? I think the democrats need to address this issue. The assembly will be a clear departure from the 1990 constitution.

How many seats will that constituent assembly have? Will those seats be allocated based on equal population? Or what? There has to be some open discussion on this topic by the seven parties and then the Maoists. How long will that assembly take to do its work?

If the seven parties were to ditch the House revival stance and instead get wholeheartedly behind the constituent assembly idea, that would speed things up. (Political Reasons Against House Revival)

The very fact that noone has suggested the 1999 House should be revived so it can become the constituent assembly shows that is not even an idea. The fundamental flaw of the 1999 House is that its 205 seats are not marked based on equal population.

The Nepali experience of a constituent assembly is likely to be different from that of other countries in the past, be it France, Russia, India, or South Africa.

I keep coming back to an alternate proposal: 40 Reasons Why The Three Forces Should Come Ar0und To My Proposed Constitution.

The beauty of my proposal is that it can be done in three steps.

1. The seven parties engage in an open debate on it. They accept it.
2. Then they engage the Maoists in an open debate on the topic.
   
3. After those eight parties come around to it, they give the king an invitation to come around to it. If he does not come along, that would be recipe for a showdown, a non-violent revolution.
   

I think what prevents the first step from taking place is that quite a few people especially in the Nepali Congress are still too hung up on the 1990 constitution. They like the status quo of the 1990s.

On the other hand, you are looking at an interim constitution and an interim government, and then elections to a constituent assembly, likely a body of perhaps 300 individuals, representing seats that are roughly equal in population.

One pitfall I see from the 12 point agreement is that the Maoists might try to pull a Lenin on the idea. They can't. They will not be able to. That is another story. But we have to watch out.

The 12 Point Agreement Succeeds The 4 Point Program

Especially since there are so many different variables that will come into play, and bringing the king to the idea of an interim government is no small task, it is important for the seven parties to achieve as much clarity as possible now. But there does not seem to be a mechanism in place.

There is need of a permanent committee of seven members. I can see why the three large parties might not be too excited about the idea, but they could devise a voting mechanism. You could have a seven strong permanent committee where the voting powers are as follows.

UML: 35, NC: 25, NC (D): 20, NSP (A): 5, NMKP: 5, Jana Morcha: 5, Left Front: 5. For a total of 100.

That committee would keep banging heads until they achieved as much clarity as possible for the roadmap to a new constitution for the country. Is that an idea?

The first order of business would be to have an open discussion on the House revival idea.

The idea of achieving clarity is not that you are already there, but it is that it helps you get there. There is no one catch slogan right now.

A lack of clarity strengthens the king. He has a roadmap for the next two years. Do we? We can not be moving one week at a time. If we do, he wins. As February 8 approaches, the first thing that will happen is the NC will undergo yet another vertical split. That faction might try to validate the king's move.

Achieving clarity within the seven party coalition now will also show the same group will also be capable of handling the more arduous task of a constituent assembly. The will to engage in political dialogue is the will to peace.

In The News

Royalists party activists clash in Baneshwore NepalNews
Radio Sagarmatha moves to court for the second time
Bista flays foreign intervention
Upon return to the country, King insists on his own `roadmap’
Parties, NHRC hail extension of ceasefire
Tens of thousands of people take part in UML’s rally; minor scuffle reported
Maoists extend ceasefire for one more month
To counter the King, India engineered party-Maoist deal: Minister Koirala
Maoist rebels extend ceasefire in Nepal CBC News, Canada
Nepal rebels extend truce as anti-king rally starts Daily Times
Relief in Nepal after Maoists extend truce Deccan Herald
NEPAL: Maoists ceasefire extension welcomed Reuters AlertNet
UN chief welcomes extension of ceasefire by Nepal's leftist rebels Xinhua, China
Annan welcomes Communist rebels' extension of ceasefire in Nepal UN News Centre
Nepal determined to hold elections: King Xinhua
Nelson Mandela refuses to meet Nepal king Hindustan Times
A Bountiful Diplomatic Harvest Gorkhapatra
Nepal Opposition Extends Truce Prensa Latina, Cuba
Nepal Communist Party (UML) shows its strength in Kathmandu. ... United We Blog, Nepal
Thousands turn out for UML mass meet Kantipur Online
Tens of thousands of people take part in UML’s rally Nepali Times
Thousands Take Part in UML Rally Himalayan Times
Nation needs lasting peace, democratic exercise: HM Gorkhapatra
Nepal's business houses welcome truce extension NewKerala.com, India
Nepal police arrest 18 Tibetan refugees Press Trust of India, India
Guff Gaff with Kishore Nepal Kathmandu Post, Nepal
Riots grip Kathmandu before King Gyanendra's arrival Asian Tribune, Thailand
Scientists to check Nepal Buddha boy BBC News
Truce Extension Injects New Hope Among People Himalayan Times, Nepal
NC Leader Flouts Party Line to Break New Ground Himalayan Times
India’s royal pain HardNews Magazine, India
Dispute within People’s Front PeaceJournalism.com, Nepal
Further debate essential in 12-point agreement: Bijukchhe Nepalnews.com
Court gives Nepal radios victory over king NewKerala.com, India

Political Reasons Against House Revival

I have been making a case that House revival is not possible. And it is not desirable in the first place. The argument being put forth by some in the seven party coalition is that the House is not to be revived by the king or the Supreme Court, and so it is not a matter of legality. Instead a people's movement will revive the House through a political decision.

Lilamani Pokharel For Continuous Movement
Phone Talk With Madhav Nepal, Hridayesh Tripathy
Logistics To Bring Down The Regime
Ways To Cut The Gordian Knot

Now I intend to argue that the political reasons for reviving the House are even flimsier than the legal ones.

(1) Either the 1990 constitution is dead or it is alive. I think it died the day the king appointed Chand as Prime Minister. Almost all democrats think it died on 2/1. If it is dead, it is not possible the 1999 House is still alive, hibernating somewhere, because that House can only exist within the framework of the 1990 constitution. And if you argue the 1990 constitution is still alive, then you are saying 2/1 was not an anti-constitutional move. And if 2/1 was a constitutional move, then the constitution that made it possible is in an obvious clash with the Universal Declaration Of Human Rights and hence is an undemocratic constitution that deserves to die if it is not dead already.

(2) It took a 2/1 and 12,000 deaths for the Nepali Congress and the UML to come around to the idea of a constituent assembly. The Nepali Congress has been dragging its feet on the issue forever. As recently as last week Sushil Koirala gave an interview saying the House is to be revived, and then if the need be felt, the country might also go to a constituent assembly. That shows all those who are for House revival secretly hope they can kill the idea of a constituent assembly down the line. How could they kill the idea? Say the House is revived. As soon as the House is revived, the international community will no longer feel an absence of democracy in the country. They evaporate off the political scene. And if the NC and the UML manage to amend the constitution, which they can, they could bring the army under the parliament. After that happens, the king gets reduced to being a figurehead. At that point if the Maoists resume the civil war, the global community will fully support the government and the army. And thus the Bahuns get to kill the idea of a constituent assembly. And all this could happen within a month of House revival. I smell fish.

(3) If you are in Janakpur, and you intend to go to Birgunj, why do you insist on first going 50 miles in the direction of Biratnagar? The constituent assembly idea is Birgunj. The House revival idea is Biratnagar. If you are so insistent on first going 50 miles towards Biratnagar, it is so obvious you want to increase the distance between yourself and Birgunj as much as possible. To me it looks like that is so because you dislike Birgunj.

(4) After the vertical split of the Nepali Congress, the UML is the largest party in the country. So if the NC is on one side, and the other six parties are on the other side, then the NC is maybe 25% of the weight of the coalition, if that. On their own all six parties are against the House revival idea. They have come around to it for the sake of Girija and the Congress only. But if there were to be a vote on the issue, the NC clearly loses. To not allow such a vote is undemocratic. This fight is not just for democracy in the country but also a fight for democracy inside the parties. A struggle for democracy itself has to be democratic. So if Girija will not let the seven party coalition to vote on the issue, this is an autocrat. An autocrat can not lead a democracy movement.

(5) But first the Nepali Congress central committee has to meet and discuss and decide on this issue. That is the democratic way. If Girija does not allow such a debate, he is an autocrat.

(6) The constituent assembly has been the only real meeting ground for the Maoists and the seven parties. If the seven parties were to abandon that plank, civil war will restart tomorrow. On the other hand, if the king were to honestly come around to it, peace and democracy get established. So this NC dishonesty on the assembly question is to play with fire.

(7) If the honest goal of the seven party coalition is a constituent assembly, that honesty would ask that the coalition seek the shortest route to that assembly. The shortest route is not a House. The shortest route is an interim constitution and an interim government with both legislative and executive powers, and an interim prime minister who is Commander In Chief of the army.

(8) There is nothing a revived House can achieve that an interim constitution and an interim government can not better achieve.

(9) Girija Koirala has never stopped mistreating the Deuba Congress. First it kept it at bay, and that made it possible for the king to align with Deuba before 2/1. Now Koirala makes sure the NC(D) gets treated like a lesser member within the seven party coalition. That is wrong. That also shows the biggest reason Girija wants the House revived is so he can sqeeze the NC(D) to the max. The whole country wants democracy, Girija's concern is vendetta. Such are misplaced priorities.

(10) The king came out for a constituent assembly idea right after 2/1. He came out for an all party government right after October 2, 2002. The Maoists are for both those ideas. So why will the seven party coalition also not come around to those two ideas? Because as soon as it does, things speed up, and the country gets a constituent assembly sooner rather than later.

(11) Instead of focusing on the all party government and a constituent assembly on which we do have common ground with the king and the Maoists, why would we insist on House revival on which we have common ground with neither?

(12) Most important, it is the Nepali people who are dead against the idea of a House revival. Less than 5% support the idea. That is the biggest political reason why the idea has to be dropped.

(13) After October 2, 2002 when a democratic Prime Minister legitimately dissolved the House, an all party government had to be formed, and that all party government had to take the country through a constituent assembly. But at that point neither the NC nor the UML were for a constituent assembly yet. That is the real story. Instead Girija put forth his idiotic House revival stance. And that is what made all the horror afterwards possible.

(14) Seeking common ground with the king on the all party government and a constituent assembly is also the best way to ensure a smooth transfer of authority over the state army from the king to the people.

(15) The House revival stance is the biggest reason the movement has not taken off like it should have. The 1999 House reminds people of many things that were wrong in the 1990s.

(16) In the entire world history there is not one example of a mass movement, a revolution that got organized to revive a House. And there is a good reason why not. The House revival stance is bizarre.

(17) Dropping the House revival makes the endgame simpler and clearer. Then we are less dependent on the king's goodwill. A revolution can establish an interim government, but not a House.

So drop it, folks. Allow the movement to take off.

Nelson Mandela Can Smell Fish

Dick Cheney, Nelson Mandela, Howard Dean

Nelson Mandela can smell fish. This is a guy who spent the best decades of his life behind bars because he believed in freedom so much. And then came along a king who has snatched away his people's freedom.

There is noone in the world of Mandela's stature today. That is his political standing. He has attained something akin to a political sainthood.

What was the king thinking?

The king visited several undemocratic countries along the way, like Egypt, as if to suggest the west seems to have double standards. His arguments work the other way round. It is not that the autocracy in Nepal needs to be tolerated, but that the autocracy in those countries should also not be tolerated. Those countries don't have a vibrant democratic community like Nepal does. That is their misfortune.

But freedom is a sound concept for every land.

Ask Mandela. He knows.


Nelson Mandela refuses to meet Nepal king
Hindustan Times, India Nov 29, 2005

Legendary South African freedom fighter Nelson Mandela has snubbed Nepal's King Gyanendra by refusing to give him an appointment despite hectic lobbying, media reports said on Wednesday.

Last week, the king, accompanied by Queen Komal, visited South Africa where he met with South African President Thabo Mbeki. However, former president and Nobel Laureate Nelson Mandela politely declined to meet him on the ground he had no time, the popular Jana Astha weekly reported.

This was despite hectic lobbying by Nepal's foreign ministry.

The king chose to embark on a three-week foreign tour earlier in November, visiting several African countries that have virtually no diplomatic ties with Nepal, in the midst of the political crisis engulfing Nepal and regular mass protests.

The daily said the rejection by Mandela showed a diplomatic failure by the royalist government as it had been trying to get an appointment with Mandela even before the king had embarked on his tour.

While people in the country and the international community have condemned the February 1 royal coup and urged Gyanendra to restore democracy, the king has been imposing fresh curbs on the media, political parties and civil society. He has defended his takeover at international forums on the ground it was needed to combat the escalating Maoist insurgency and address corruption in politics.

The king, who ascended the throne after a shootout in the palace that wiped out the then reigning king and his entire family, is portrayed by his followers as the reincarnation of a Hindu deity and therefore entitled to unquestioning obedience.

In The News

FNJ announces two month long protest program for press freedom NepalNews
EU calls upon Maoists to renounce violence
UN rights chief calls on Maoists to extend ceasefire, 'govt should reciprocate'
King responsible for current problems: Ranabhat
India unable to tame Maoists: Patil
Bhutan accuses China of border encroachment
DAO denies ban on rallies
Further debate essential on 12-point agreement: Bijukchhe
November agreement has dramatically changed political realities: ICG
Australia ‘hails’ polls announcement
Two Maoist commanders killed: Prachanda, It was a retaliatory attack: RNA
Embattled Nepal king to return to face new challenge Reuters AlertNet, UK
UN warns of ‘full-scale conflict’ in Nepal Daily Times
UN urges Nepal king to join truce BBC News
Parties-Maoist Accord Gives Space for King: Nepal Leaders NewsLine Nepal
UN asks for mutual ceasefire in Nepal Asian Tribune, Thailand
Nepal asks Maoists to extend unilateral ceasefire Kantipur Online
Nepal: High Commissioner for Human Rights urges ceasefire and ... ReliefWeb (press release)
UN Rights Body Urges Two-Way Truce in Nepal NewsLine Nepal
Nepal Needs Army-Rebel Truce to Protect Human Rights, UN Says Bloomberg
Nepal rebel leader hints at extending cease-fire Khaleej Times
Nepalese Army Kills Two Rebel Leaders as Truce Deadline Nears Bloomberg
Nepal rebel leader hints at cease-fire Pravda
Civic society leaders against constituent assembly Gorkhapatra