Tibetans And Madhesis

I must have felt this for a long time now, but I only articulated it to myself a few days back, that Madhesis are like Tibetans in some ways, although I must admit the plight of the Tibetans is much more acute.

Nepal was not my country. America has not been mine. This will change in the future, but that has been the past.

To me the best part of the current turmoil in the country is if the Madhesis were to play their cards right, political equality could be achieved in one push this time around. That is the reason for my passionate involvement. That is my self-interest. If the Janajatis, and the disenfranchised, demoralized Bahuns also benefit in the process, then so be it.

Old social thought patterns need to be broken to make room for new ones. Curiously the Madhesi-Pahadi dynamic percolates all the way to Nepali social settings in the US. Many Madhesis put up with Pahadi chauvinism when there are no practical reasons to do so. Is it for social reasons? Is it just inertia? Is it mental slavery?

The worst part of prejudice and racism might not be the hate but the mirror image self-hate that complicates social relationships among the powerless, the oppressed. That adds to the urgency. It is almost as if you have to fight the prejudice and the racism if only to reclaim your family for you.

And so I am mighty proud of the work I have been doing with the proposed constitution. It means a lot to me. Revisions are in the works.

• Shortcut To A New Constitution, Shortcut To Peace
• There Might Still Be Room For Monarchy If The King Gets On Best Behavior

Talking of Tibetans, I was born a Hindu, but I have chosen to become a Buddhist. And that puts me in flock with the Tibetans.

I think Tibet as a separate country makes no sense at a time when both India and China are trying to become a single economic unit, a free trade area, the world's largest. But I do think democracy in China that guarantees religious freedom and human rights, and a federal structure that recognizes Tibet as a state with its own legislature is the way to go.

Let the Chinese be forewarned.

In The News

• Nepal frees communist leader Daily Times, Pakistan ..... hundreds of other activists were still under detention and new arrests were being made, despite the lifting of the emergency...... latest moves by the government came as fissures emerged within the powerful Maoist group..... Schools and colleges across Nepal closed Monday at the call of seven student unions after security forces opened fire and wounded three student leaders
• Opposition to King grows in Nepal Hindu..... extended the detention of 175 lower-level politicians and activists....include Ram Chandra Poudel, Narhari Acharya, Laxman Ghimire and Madhu Acharya of the Nepali Congress party, and Krishna Pahadi..... . he still tightly controls the government...... Unless the king gives up direct rule, restores powers back to the people and frees all political prisoners, there can be no dialogue between the political parties and the king...... state-owned monopoly Nepal Telecom Mobile restored only 34,000 of the 248,000 mobile phone numbers......
  
• Annan welcomes lifting of state of emergency in Nepal Xinhua.... Annan remained ready to assist in any manner that would lead tothe peaceful resolution of the conflict between the Nepalese government and leftist rebels
  
• Nepal frees communist leader, starts mobile service Stuff.co.nz....Maoist rebel chief Prachanda, who uses only one name, accused his deputy Baburam Bhattarai of defying party decisions....."The party hopes that he will overcome his weakness and follow the process of changing himself"
  
• Nepal politicians prepare common agenda NDTV.com, India......a revival of political activity as leaders of seven mainstream political parties met at the Nepali Congress office in Kathmandu to bring out a common minimum agenda..... the first draft ready ......Experts say he is playing for time. If the political system does not cobble together a credible fight for democracy, his coup will stand vindicated.
• Nepal parties say King 'hoodwinking' Hindustan Times, India....... demanded that the monarch surrender "every vestige of power and authority he has usurped unconstitutionally."....... the King's latest decisions, including lifting of emergency and release of a few political leaders, had "confused friends of democracy" in India and elsewhere...... ask our friends everywhere to see through the new ploy" of the Monarch."
• Nepal Turmoil Shows No Signs of Abating Guardian Unlimited, UK......Communist rebels appear to be escalating attacks. And the king's political opponents say they are mulling how to turn up the heat....... there is still no freedom and the king is still going after his opponents ..... His order Saturday to lift the state of emergency decree ended sweeping powers for security forces and reinstated some civil liberties but kept Gyanendra's direct rule intact...... move was a surprise to most Nepalese ..... Analysts say forcing the king to give up his powers would require huge public rallies, like those that forced the previous monarch to give up absolute power in 1990.....escalating violence by the rebels
• Shot in the arm Nepali Times
• Political parties, civil society demand end to press censorship Press Trust of India....... Policemen and army personnel have been deployed in a massive number througout the capital despite lifting of the emergency yesterday by the King, a step termed by politial leaders and civil society members as a "cosmetic measure" to "fool" international community....... political prisoners have not been released, the Royal Corruption Commission formed to, what he alleged, "eliminate" political opponents has not been abolished.
• Leaders demand full restoration of civil rights, press freedom Zee News....... "The announcement to lift state of emergency is a positive step but this is not enough," said acting general secretary of the Nepal Communist Party (UML) Jhalanath Khanal.