Monday, August 08, 2005

Project Take Over Tundikhel: Draft 1









  1. Set up a PayPal account and display a Make A Donation button at the Alliance homepage.
  2. Have a first stage goal of getting 250 Life Members who pay in $125 each. That is $31,250. That is seed money with which to seek $100,000 and above from the National Endowment For Democracy and/or do more fund raising the Alliance way itself. How about getting 1000 Life Members! 2000?
  3. Keep all book keeping transparent and online in near real time.
  4. The proposal is that all expenses to do with a decisive protest movement in Nepal will be funded from this end.
  5. The idea is to take over Tundikhel in Kathmandu as a first step on a 24/7 basis. The second step would be to replicate the same in all 58 municipalities. The protests end only with the establishment of an interim government with the sole responsibility to hold elections to a Constituent Assembly.
  6. The protest organizations in smaller towns might not be 7 deep. They might only be 6 deep. Or 5 deep. To be decided locally. The Tundikhel version itself might start out 6 deep and that would be just fine.
  7. Possible expenses could be as follows.
  8. Three meals a day for all Leaders cooked right there on the grounds. Simple, basic, cheap, clean, healthy. Leaders are those doing minimum 12 hour shifts and having teams minimum 7 strong each at any one time of the day, and having replacements for themselves for those 12 hours or less when they are not on the premises. Volunteers are members of such teams doing 4 hour shifts or less but always having a substitute for when they are not around, or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 in succession. The leader of 7 such Leaders is a Senior Leader, and eats and sleeps at the premises. On premise tent lodging for all Senior Leaders and above. Makeshift mobile toilet facilities on the grounds. Plentiful supply of drinking water. Parked tankers on the premises or nearby. 7 Senior Leaders report to a Field Commander. 7 Field Commanders report to a Commander. All Commanders have on site tent offices, small ones, perhaps shared. 7 Commanders report to a Marshall. 7 Marshalls report to a Central Committee Member.
  9. Pyramid of 7. Open elections are held bottom up through consensus. No votes cast.
  10. 7 Volunteers * 7 Leaders * 7 Senior Leaders * 7 Field Commanders * 7 Commanders * 7 Marshalls * 7 Central Committee Members = 8,23,543. The central committee is presided over by a different member each day.
  11. 8,23,543 people converge onto Tundikhel at once. So the structure will have to be built beforehand. The takeover should not last more than two weeks if done well and if a resolution is reached within that time frame, it might be a possible to go into a Constituent Assembly that guarantees a ceremonial monarchy. But we should be ready to hold for two months. If it goes into two months, a place for the monarchy is an open question for the Constituent Assembly. If it has to last longer than two months, the movement turns into a revolution. It spills over from Tundikhel into the streets. At that point there is no more room for the monarchy in any shape or form. The Constituent Assembly only decides on the shape and form of a republican democracy.
  12. If the movement has to spillover into a revolution, the central committee unilaterally announces an interim government and seeks its recognition from all foreign powers as the only legitimate government in the country and starts issuing orders to the state apparatus, the police and the army included, as soon as the recognition is forthcoming from the key powers. Ambassadors are replaced as a first step.
  13. Other expenses. About 50 on site digital cameras uploading at least 100 photos each per day. Taking at least 2 pictures during any one hour period during daytime and 1 per hour at night time when awake. At least 2 of the leaders at any one level must be awake at any one point in time. So there will be those who sleep during day time and stay awake at night. From midnight to six in the morning is the no activity time. Each camera equipped with two memory cards, such that only memory cards leave the premises for uploading purposes. Marshalls and above have a camera each. They also have a prepaid mobile phone each. Some online options for photo hosting, by no means exclusive: Yahoo, Flickr, Blogger. To be individually decided, but linked to from one central site.
  14. Activities will have to be staged on premises to keep people involved in creative ways. Like skits, songs and dances. Speeches. Small group political meetings. Small group trainings. Press conferences.
  15. A tent exclusively for use by the media people.
  16. This is draft 1. I seek feedback.
  17. The Alliance transfers money to the Central Committee. That committee takes care of all expenses on the ground. And furnishes book keeping in a transparent way in near real time online.
  18. The central committee decides on the date and time when the takeover starts and springs a surprise if possible.
  19. The safety of peaceful demonstrators - and all protests are to be kept non-violent at all times - is top priority. Law enforcements agencies are to be warned. Making sure there is no violence is one thing. But if peaceful demonstrators are to be subjected to brutal and retaliatory acts, the interim government will investigate and punish all such acts. All such acts are to be documented as they might happen.
  20. The central committee is to come up with a cheaper, bare bones version of the above as a backup plan.
eDemocracy, 4S Campaign, 24/7 Vigil For Democracy: Take Over Tundikhel (March 19)
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Janata Dal Constitution

(This is a proposed constitution for a proposed new political party for Nepal that is envisioned to operate withing the broad democratic parameters described here: Proposed Constitution, Reorganized UN, Methods.)

Preamble

The underlying concept is of a total, transparent democracy.

Article 1: Membership
  1. Any voter in Nepal can become a voting member of the party. Dues are Rs. 5 every four months or Rs. 12 a year if paid at once. A member must also have attended at least one party meeting authorized by the wada chairperson or above every four months. Such meetings must have been announced at least a month in advance, or longer. Such are voting members.
  2. All such members elect the 5 members of their wada committee. Beyond that it is indirect elections. Any member from the wada may be a contestant. A list is to be prepared of the aspiring contestants in alphabetical order. The top five vote getters get in. There must be at least five contestants. If there are no more slots than contestants, no elections are held.
  3. One of the five is the wada chair, elected at the same time.
  4. All members of wada committees and above are known as Active Members of the party. All active members of the party vote to decide on the party's candidate for parliamentary elections.
  5. There are to be secret ballot elections. Before the ballot is printed, all aspiring names must get together to meet in person for at least one hour to get to know each other and exchange views and attempt a possible consensus list.
  6. No member may be expelled from the party except through a 60% vote by the committee he or she might be part of. All such decisions may be taken to the Appeals Committee directly above or at the same level - at the district, state, and central levels - by the expelled member for the final, binding decision.
Article 2: Party Structure
  1. There will be a party committee to reflect each level of the state apparatus, 5 for the wada level, 7 for the village level, 9 for the town level, 11 for the city level, 17 for the district level, 21 for the state level, and 31 for the central level.
  2. If a member of a committee get elected to one at a higher level, that person loses membership of the earlier committee. The vacant seat goes to the next person down the list when elections were held.
  3. Elections at any one level must be completed nationwide before the one at the next level may be held except when it might not impact that next level elections.
  4. All wada committee members are voting members and possible contestants of the village/town/city committees. All village/town/city committee members are voting members and possible contestants of the district committees.
  5. All parliamentary seat candidates in the last held elections in a state are voting members and possible contestants for the state committee.
  6. All parliamentary seat candidates in the last held elections at the national level are voting members and possible contestants for the central committee.
  7. The committees expire every four years. It is for the Election Commission to decide precisely when. But the period may not be less than three years.
  8. Only the party's Election Commission may spend any money on the elections inside the party. Candidates are barred from doing so. The commission will educate all voters on the candidates' bio and political platforms, authored by the candidates themselves, giving roughly equal space to each. The commission may design additional elements to the campaigns.
Article 3: Party President
  1. Elections for the party presidency are to be held by the national Election Commission. Until that happens, the party Election Commission fulfills that role.
  2. Members of the three state committees, and all popularly elected officials at the state and national levels vote for party president. When there might be an overlap, one person may not be counted as two votes. Only a voter may be a contestant. If there be more than two candidates, a second round of voting should take place between the two finalists. This is also true for distributing party tickets for inter-party elections that invite direct voter participation.
  3. The election is to be held at the party convention where the candidates offer their visions for the party and the country. More than potential voters may be invited to such a convention.
Article 4: Party Flag And Election Symbol
  1. The flag is to be a sky blue rectangle representing peace, and a golden sun in the middle to represent prosperity.
  2. The party's election symbol is to be the pole star that symbolizes the party's relentless aspiration to provide the best possible vision for the country's future.
Article 5: Party Candidates For Inter-Party Elections
  1. As to who the party candidate will be is to be decided by the active members at the said level through secret ballot elections held early enough to allow time for the larger election campaigns, unless specifically stated otherwise. A candidate has to be someone in the voting pool, or someone sponsored by at least three members in the voting pool.
Article 6: Election Commission, Appeals Committee
  1. The central committee will elect a 7-member Election Commission from among its members. The commission may use the party structure at all levels to do its work. There must be at least a one degree of vertical separation for a party member to aid an internal party election in a leadership capacity.
  2. The district, state and central committees are to elect a 3, 5 and 7 member Appeals Committees each.
Article 7: Membership Dues
  1. Membership dues are to be collected by the wada committees and are to be passed on to the village/town/city committees. Each committee keeps one third to the nearest rupee and passes the rest to the committee directly above.
  2. All book-keeping is to be transparent. Expenses to the last paisa are to be posted online on at least an annual basis.
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Sunday, August 07, 2005

Alliance Gathering At Queens Bridge Park










The Alliance For Democracy And Human Rights In Nepal organized a gathering from 11 AM to 7 PM. Other organizations were also represented. Two that come to mind are the Nepal Democratic Youth Council and the Nepal Students Union, the North America chapter. There were relentless political discussions, but the gathering did not have an overtly political feel. To families it must have felt like a grand family gathering. There were a lot of children fooling around. Numerous teams competed at the volleyball court. So it was also a tournament. A dohori and a poetry recital were also held. Prizes were awarded.

But for me it was primarily political, also a little social. (GDF, To: ADHRN, ADHRN, $100,000) I went to meet local Nepalis in person. And I went to forge political alliances for the project I have in mind to work to provide maximal logistical support to the movement for democracy in Nepal.

Curiously I was pinpointed individuals at the gathering from a distance who might have presonal contacts within the regime in Kathmandu. I did not make any immediate move though I wanted to. There were lots of non-political people I did not get to meet due to time constraints. And all I did was meet, meet, meet people. But I am open to establishing channels of communication as might become available. My personal goal is not to rub noses in the dust. I seek the most peaceful, efficient way to bring democracy to Nepal, and I am all for dialogue, especially with opponents.

And I mean that from a position of strength. I keep my options open. If the regime takes to acting repressive towards peaceful demonstrators and retaliatory towards democratic activists, there will arise a need for a Truth And Reconciliation Commission once the democrats come into power. The commisssion would investigate and punish all the culprits that might have thus participated. Or elements of the regime can behave, and we can all end up getting along just fine.

I am neutral on the monarchy question, personally. But I have personal friends and allies who are staunchly, uncompromisingly republican, and they have every right to be so, and if they are targeted for that, then I see it a democratic imperative to do all I can to protect them. Ultimately it is for the Nepali people to decide for themselves if they want a ceremonial monarchy or not. I really don't spend a lot of time thinking about the monarchy. My time is for democracy. The concept is very much work in progress. And my next bit of focus is to do with the logistics of the movement.

Although I must say I feel the ground shifting from beneath the king's feet. Attitudes are morphing. He is the chief executive and is directly responsible for all the excesses of the current regime. There is no escaping responsibility.

The public actions of the regime leave room only for confrontation. Grounds for a massive, peaceful movement have to be laid.

I met Somnath Ghimire. He is the Vice President of ADHRN. More important to me, he is a personal friend of Gagan Thapa. I mean, I am a Gagan Thapa fan. Ghimire is impressive in his own right, and we had a lot to talk about.

I noticed I was the only Madhesi at the gathering. Lone wolf.

107 Photos

She was asked to reach into the bag and pick the winner for the second prize. Her mother ended up the winner. So another lady dragged along a random child to do the picking for the first prize. That "drag" lady won the first prize. That was a minor miracle. What do you think?

In The News
  • Maoists abduct 223 people in Nepal Times of India, India
  • Maoists abduct 223 people including 150 women Press Trust of India
  • Nepal ineffective in curbing Maoists: Pranab Sify, India
  • Political crisis, fear grip Nepal Houston Chronicle "There is a climate of fear. The rule of law is totally demolished." ..... analysts expect no real breakthrough for at least three to four months, when the parties can organize protests after the monsoon and crop-sowing season. The parties have so far failed to rally popular support against the king, despite his increasing unpopularity..... The palace says Gyanendra is popular and adored, but many Nepalis are suspicious
  • India concerned about Nepal's political situation Radio Australia
  • Nepal Army not tackling Maoists effectively: Pranab Outlook (subscription)
  • Border fencing will benefit Bangladesh too, says India Peninsula On-line, Qatar
  • A regional gathering stresses on the need to deepen efforts to ... PeaceJournalism.com, Nepal India aims to become self-sufficient in electricity by 2012 and build in a 5 percent reserve margin. “All in all, another 100 GW of electricity generation is needed for that. In total, the price tag is put at $205 billion to 2012” ....
  • HM King to address the UN next month PeaceJournalism.com, Nepal will be arriving in the US on September 12 ..... Nepal has urged for resumption of arms from India in exchange for its support to the latter’s bid for permanent membership of the UN Security Council (UNSC).... “While putting pressure on Kathmandu to restore democracy, (India) also realizes that in its UNSC mission, every vote counts. Now it will have to weigh its options”
  • Sharpen The Ideological Struggle People's Democracy
  • Now, MPs Forum On Nepal People's Democracy
  • India to go ahead with fencing of border with Bangladesh India Daily, NJ 4000-km border with Bangladesh
  • NSU Hoists Black Flags in Valley Colleges Himalayan Times, Nepal
  • Pre-paid re-registration Kathmandu Post, Nepal
  • Ex-army staff pledge to work for nation, monarch Gorkhapatra, Nepal Former army personnel who had retired after long military service have pledged to utilise the remaining period of their life in the service of the nation and the Monarch if their need is felt.
  • Former student leaders demand UML’s special session Kantipur Online, Nepal demanded a special session of the party for restructuring the party organization and leadership..... More than 200 former student leaders who had worked at the central level of the student body since 1979 assembled at Pulchowk in Lalitpur yesterday to form a council of the former students and also criticized the mistakes committed by the political parties in the past....Shankar Pokharel, former president of the ANNFSU and current central member of the UML, said the meeting of the former student leaders was called to discuss all the past weaknesses of the party and chart out a future agenda for the party.
  • NC-D general convention in January Kantipur The decision to convene the convention was taken in consultation with senior party leaders Sher Bahadur Deuba and Prakash Man Singh who are in jail.... in Kathmandu.....The party also sacked its central advisory council member Sri Prasad GT for supporting present government and accepting its nomination in District Development Committee.
  • NC urged to initiate ideological change on Monarchy Kantipur Intellectuals and professionals Saturday urged the Nepali Congress (NC) party to revise its principles and remove "constitutional monarchy" from its statute claiming that monarchy and democracy can no longer go together. ....If the NC fails in this direction, said the intellectuals, it will vanish from the country's political landscape...... said Professor Dr Lok Raj Baral..... Professors Krishna Khanal, Krishna Hachhethu and Navin Prakash Jung Shah..."Even if the party does not like to opt for republic immediately, the term monarchy should be removed from the statute and the fate of monarchy should be left at the hands of future movements"
  • ‘Single poll can end turmoil’ Kathmandu Post, Nepal One of the drafters of the present constitution argued Saturday that the present political turmoil can be ended through a single poll that would elect parliament and constituent assembly at once..... We can activate Article 3 of the constitution to hold elections.... Aryal said Article 127 of the constitution has been used to dismantle the constitution whereas it was provided for its protection......Former army chief Satchit Shumsher Rana said the insurgency could not be resolved militarily. President of the Forum, Himalaya Shumsher Rana said hopes have emerged with the new chief justice promising to look into the case of House reinstatement.
  • ‘Docs’ role crucial for democracy’ Kathmandu Post, Nepal Dr Mathura Prasad Shrestha on Saturday said that doctors in Nepal were not playing the role they had played in the 1990's movement ...... Human rights defender Krishna Pahadi said virtually all nations, with the exception of a few underdeveloped countries, are capable of making Atom bombs.
  • Journos rally against threat to Nepal FM Kathmandu Post, Nepal
  • 'No links with Indian Maoists' claims Bhattarai Himalayan Times, Nepal The Maoists in Nepal have no “direct physical” or “military links” with the Naxalites in India nor are they anti-India in any way, claims Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai ..... He also dismissed media reports that his party was linked with the LTTE. “We never had, don’t have and don’t want any contact with them.
  • Govt to Appoint Mayors, Dy Mayors Himalayan Times, Nepal “working” to appoint mayors and deputy mayors in 58 municipalities who will be reuired to fulfil the responsibility to conducting elections to those municipalities...The appointees could possibly be picked from independent politicians, former Panchas and people supporting political parties and who are ‘interested’ in taking posts but having ‘grudges’ in their party-folds.” Such parties include the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Nepal Sadbhawana Party (NSP), and even some from the seven-party alliance. The government is also planning to appoint nine Ilaka members in each district to work as members of the DDCs..... there was understandable ‘stampede’ among the local leaders of the RPP for the plum posts.
  • Journos Want FM News Ban Lifted Himalayan Times, Nepal
  • Indians capture Nepali land PeaceJournalism.com, Nepal
  • The Nepal Crisis: Interview with National Council of Churches in ... ChristianToday, UK has never faced any crisis as it is facing today..... In 1990, there was a people’s uprising and the king was persuaded to introduce a multi-party system of government. It had the semblance of democracy but was far from it. Religious freedom was absent and basic individual freedom and rights were limited...... this action was totally unconstitutional, as the Constitution of Nepal has no such provision that enables the king to assume such authority or appoint anybody as “vice-chairman.”..... Human Rights Watch once said that there is zero human rights in Nepal....... Maoist rebels continue to torture civilians suspecting them of being government spies amd agents. Forcible conscription of children into the army as soldiers and bombing raids conducted in civilian areas suspected to be militant hideouts have struck fear in the heart of the Nepalis....... The situation is very much within the control as all the actors are acting within certain limitations. This is not an instance of terrorism…the events taking place are not terrorist activities but all are operating within the political sphere. So I am very hopeful of a peaceful solution of the problem. The problem can be solved and should be solved through dialogues and peaceful negotiations. The Maoists are ready and willing to do that and they have put forth their agenda and their demands very clearly....... The US, UK, and India are also involved in providing military aid to the government of Nepal. This is making dialogues and peaceful resolutions difficult. ..... Intervention of the international community should be limited but productive and constructive.
  • Poets, singers, teachers rally for Nepal democracy RedNova.com, TX
  • Civic society urge for complete democracy Kantipur Online, Nepal
  • King Of Nepal: An Enemy Of Democracy News From Bangladesh by Somnath Ghimire King Gyanendra’s father, King Mahendra, did the same thing in 1960. He had dismissed parliament, imprisoned the parliamentary leaders and imposed the fascistic Panchayat system, in which the people had no political rights. Parties were banned and replaced by royalist councils. King Mahendra organized handfuls of people who were instructed to chant slogans in favor of his coup. He divided the political parties........ King Gyanendra Shah is entirely isolated from the masses of people; he has the title now as a “CITY MAYOR”....... let all democrats build up consensus for struggle under the slogan of fighting for a “Multiparty New Democratic People’s Republic of Nepal”........ Their political fortunes in the Nepalese political arena are dwindling and they have bet their personal survival on the kindness of King Gyanendra Shah ........ The feudal monarchy of Nepal – confined to military barracks, isolated from the masses and hated by the Nepalese people and people all over the world – is as rotten at its foundations as a rotten tooth......... The monarchy is the root of all problems of Nepal and the root cause of the Nepali people’s suffering and misery......... Many Nepalis say this tall, severe man in his daura-suruwal tight pants and knee-length shirt is the reason their country is in crisis...... This monarchy has become a burden on the nation ...... His image has eroded, his credibility is down. ...... His standing is steadily falling ..... Many doubt elections can ever be held until the Maoists are brought back to the negotiating table, something most say rests in the king's hands........ people close to the palace say considered his brother weak, now effectively has full control of the government and the country until an election can be held and a new government formed, but when? ....... Gyanendra is not obeying the Constitution of 1990, so why do we need to call him as a “CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCH”? Let us decide that what we all want to call him.......
  • Twelve Years Of Democratic Achievements And Failures by Somnath Ghimire For Nepal to become a stable democracy, it is imperative that our leaders should embark on democratization....... As the NC leader Girija babu dissolved the parliament, the evil days and black cloud started again in Nepal........ Why our leaders have to be involved in corruptions while our hard earned baby democracy was just fostering? ...... Transparency is a hallmark of democracy. ........ Some will argue that democracy and king are incompatible, that the Nepal's quest for freedom is a fool's errand. Non-sense...... Members of Raj Parishad are "Panchas" and "Mandaless" ...... The question of whether King Gyanendra is compatible with democracy is as relevant as whether the monarchy in the UK is compatible with democracy. ...... In the past twelve years, Politics have become Khaane Bhando for Neta (leaders) and limited circle of karyakarta (followers). ...... Why Nepali Congress though elected 2 times with mandate to form government failed to rule for five years? ...... Our palace has a strong influence in politics even when there is democracy in the country. ...... There is Imperial household agency in Japan under the prime minister. We don't need a separate Raj Parishad and many other institutions. Royal palace must be democratic and transparent ....... RPP has shown its true color. So, is the party of Badri Pd Mandal. ....... Democracy can be restored and even king may be bound to leave. It is easier to uproot democratic government with democratic means than with undemocratic means....... Even in China, it took 50 years still there is a long way to go. There are even so many poor farmers and no too many people who are very rich. Per capita income is still so low. ....... people watching the events rather than participating. ..... people tasted the freedom of expression and freedom of speech. However, we never got good governance......
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Saturday, August 06, 2005

GDF


I have been toying with the idea of getting more closely involved with the ongoing movement in Nepal. One idea that I have floated is to become a Project Manager within the ADHRN. Another would be to start an organization of my own. Global Democracy Fund. Or something of that sort. A third option is to keep doing what I have been doing. Be a one man show, freelancing around, blogging, meeting, calling people up.

I feel a little torn. I feel pulled in two different directions. One is entrepreneurship, another the Nepal thingie. I personally feel like I function better juggling several balls at once. So I guess I keep at it.

Regime Wants Dialogue With Maoists

That is good news. Shows it feels the pressure. Protests are gaining momentum. And they are working. The mausi bhi taiyar Basanti bhi taiyar moment might be fast approaching.

And if the regime is serious about this dialogue thing, the movement might be averted. And I personally might scale back my personal involvement plans.

You hold dialogue, and you go into a Constituent Assembly. The solution is that simple. If you do it fast, clean and positive, the monarchy is guaranteed to stay on.

In The News
  • Nepal government ready for talks with Maoists, says senior ... Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates Kirti Nidhi Bista told a group of civil society leaders that the government also agreed that dialogue was the only way to settle the armed conflict..... told the civil society leaders to help the government by trying to bring the Maoists to the negotiating table..... another group of civil society leaders held a mass meeting ..... With the top leaders of political parties sitting among the audience, the civil society leaders severely criticised them for their mistakes that brought about the present situation in the country.... The political leaders listened silently to their criticisms.
  • Citizens’ forum fires latest salvo at Nepal King Indian Express newly formed Citizens Movement for Peace and Democracy turned openly against King Gyanendra, saying his refusal to accept democracy will spell doom for the 237-year-old institution, which has for the most part ruled the country as an oligarchy...... impressive turn-out in the capital was a sign of just how fast the quiet resentment against the royal takeover is snowballing into a people’s movement ....... a public rally—the biggest in the past six months..... though leaders of pro-democracy political parties attended the rally, it was representatives of the media, poets, activists, doctors and teachers who were the ones to address the crowd...... Krishna Pahadi .... It is time the people decided once and for all, what kind of political system—with or without a monarchy—they wanted, through an elected constituent assembly’’..... once the dialogue began moving in the right direction, a ceasefire would be the natural outcome, consolidating democracy..... the driving undercurrent in the tone throughout the three-hour rally, was much harsher on King Gyanendra than even that of the Maoists.
  • Poets, singers, teachers rally for Nepal democracy Reuters AlertNet Nepal has seen a string of small anti-king protests by political parties in the past six months, but they were quickly quashed by the heavy presence of troops..... establish peace with the Maoists and bring them to the mainstream
  • ‘Don’t legitimise Nepal rule’ Indian Express, India Nepal Democracy and Solidarity Committee, India, comprising nine political parties, today asked the UPA government not to take any step that will accord legitimacy to King Gyanendra’s rule...... a convention on the issue in India on August 26 for which members of Nepal’s seven-party coalition will be invited.... will also establish Parliamentarians for Democracy in Nepal, during the current Monsoon Session
  • Court okays a month’s custody to ex-CDO Gorkhapatra, Nepal
  • Nepal FM appeals at NHRC, OHCHR Kathmandu Post, Nepal
  • Civil society presses for people’s sovereignty Kathmandu Post, Nepal
  • Nation can go for referendum: FM Rana Kathmandu Post, Nepal .... the nation could go for referendum to test popularity of the monarchists and republicans..... Bloomfield strongly charged that there is no room for "moderation and compromise" in the six months of the king's rule...... A mentality in which those who argue for a negotiated peace with the Maoists are publicly attacked for advocating giving in to terrorists, where democracy is presented as something that has to wait until the Maoists have been dealt with militarily, where there is no room for moderation and compromise
  • Students burn effigies of autocracy Kathmandu Post, Nepal
  • Nepal government ready for talks with Maoists PeaceJournalism.com, Nepal
  • 2005 NASEA-ANMA JOINT CONVENTION, ATLANTA PeaceJournalism.com, Nepal
  • Maoist Rebels Running Parallel Governments on India-Nepal Border South Asia Tribune, VA ..... We have almost liberated the Nepali Darchula, and we would do the same in this side of Dharchula also.... “Usually we get arms through Nepal and sometimes through Tibet, but our main procurer are ULFA and LTTE.” ..... When asked from where do the ULFA and LTTE get arms the rebel leader said: “There are so many arms dealer all over the world. They are sitting in China, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and even in India. I am not in the position to say much on this subject.”
  • NEPAL: Thousands take part in pro-democracy mass meeting in ... Asia Pacific Media Network, CA forthcoming pro-democracy protests must be a peaceful but decisive..... since the monarchy has had repeatedly betrayed democracy in Nepal, the upcoming movement must head towards a democratic republican set up.
  • Will China really rise up? The New Nation, Bangladesh Few weeks ago, a Chinese General warned the USA of nuclear attack in the event of her siding with Taiwan over possible unilateral declaration of independence..... China can do that by blocking UN embargo on Iran over nuke, pressing USA to leave Iraq as soon as possible and pledging that she will stand by Bangladesh in crisis.
  • Poets, singers, teachers rally for Nepal democracy San Diego Union Tribune, United States
  • Poets, singers, teachers rally for Nepal democracy Reuters India, India
  • Traffic resumes on rebels-blocked highway in west Nepal Xinhua, China
  • FDI And Developing Countries PeaceJournalism.com, Nepal
  • RNA denies US Senator’s accusations Kantipur Online, Nepal
  • NSU Shuts Down TU Offices Himalayan Times, Nepal
  • Sobhraj to take his case to UN NewKerala.com, India
  • As the six month ban on news on radio expires Friday, FM stations ... Nepali Times, Nepal Army sources have accused FM stations of needlessly causing panic among the people with news of blockades and of helping the Maoists. However, private television stations were never banned from broadcasting news.
  • We’re all Bise Nagarchis Nepali Times, Nepal
  • In Nepal, homosexual couples hide their relationships, but with ... OhmyNews International, South Korea
  • The Democracy Advantage Samudaya.org, AZ democracies have outperformed autocracies even amongst low-income countries..... the "authoritarian-advantage thesis" has always had weak evidence, it has been proven that not only can poor countries with a low literacy rate democratize, they can also develop much more effectively than their autocratic counterparts....... the ability of the government to fix itself, and periodic elections that allow for peaceful replacement of leaders....... the East Asian tigers (South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and China)...... Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, the authors argue that this success cannot be attributed to the authoritarian form of governance: "openness to competition, the use of international markets, a high level of literacy and education, successful land reforms and public provisions of incentives for investment, exporting, and industrialization... There is nothing whatsoever to indicate that any of these policies is inconsistent with greater democracy, that any one of them had to be sustained by the elements of authoritarianism. What is needed for generating faster economic growth is a friendlier climate rather than a harsher political system."....... statistics show that development produced by autocratic regimes is more likely to plunge drastically...... strengthening of an autocracy through well-intended aid, downfall of ill-prepared new democracies due to aggressive liberalization policies from donors, or a lack of cooperation from donors leading to crises and turmoil....... democracy cannot be spread militarily and that democratic struggles must come from within, the emphasis is on creating an external environment that is conducive to democratic struggles...... democracies rarely go to war with each other... democracies have thus far done a much better job of resolving interstate and civil conflict. .. civil conflicts start becoming rarer as democratic consolidation becomes stronger...... autocracies to a glorious ship that is quick to sink when met with an unexpected iceberg, and democracies to a hands-on raft that is more reliable even if it gets your feet wet...... Given democracies' averseness to armed conflict, a new era of universal peace might actually become reality
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Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Melamchi


Either you shift the national capital to some place like Chitwan and have endless supplies of drinking water from the Narayani River - my first choice option - or you do something drastic like the Melamchi scheme to meet the fundamental need of water in the Kathmandu valley. "At present, the Nepal Water Supply Corporation (NWSC) is able to provide only 90 million liters a day (MLD) of water whereas the demand is soaring above 230 MLD. As such, the need for Melamchi project, which in its first phase will pump in extra 170 MLD, is undeniable." (Dahal, Spotlight)

Only a democratic government that answers directly to the people could envision shifting the capital. And even a democratic government has a hard time getting together an international coalition of donors to make such an expensive project as the Melamchi possible. The proof is in the poodle. Melamchi has been talked about for over 20 years now. The fact that finally Melamchi seemed to have been coming along has been a lot of work done by several governments.

So what is going on?

The terror card did not work. So the junta went all out for the corruption card. It was going to be made clear once and for all as to why Deuba needed to be sacked, and corruption was going to do it.

Instead the Melamchi debacle is going to become the most visible reason of as to why this junta needs to go. The ways of this regime are such that it goes against the interestes of the people in such a direct, visible, obvious way.

A country or a person or an institution is not great and trustworthy just because it is foreign. But when the Asian Development Bank and the government of Norway express displeasure with this regime's attacks on the Melamchi project, it is obvious they are in the right.

The RCCC is an illegitimate body whose basic functionings are an offense to all the basic premises of the modern day exercises of state power. It is solid proof of the medieval nature of the institution of monarchy. The illegitimate ways of the RCCC has made it deny the fundamental logic of the need for water in the valley through seeking global help. The "verdict" is so very anti-people. The state media actually has had the temerity to suggest "eco friendly" houses to the Kathmanduites as a solution to the water shortage problem.

The RCCC defies logic and many other things. If it were not so blatantly offensive, it would be quite a curiosity.
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Mainstreaming The Monarchy


So far at this blog my most ardent efforts have been directed towards helping mainstream the Maoists. The Maoists are moving towards a multi-party democratic framework in a consistent, honest way. That is a major achievement for them.

I think the next big push should be to similarly mainstream another archaic force: the Monarchists. Monarchism in its original form is feudal, it is repressive, it is anti-democratic. But just like there are former communists in many parts of the world who have successfully entered the multi-party framework, there are many monarchies that carry zero venom towards the democratic process. In many ways it should be easier to transform the monarchy in Nepal.

It has become a fashion statement in several democratic corners in Nepal, especially among the youth, to say you are republican. And I respect that sentiment. That should find its legitimate outlet. On the other hand, that sentiment also has at times taken the form of posturing. Personally I am not interested in any posturing. It can give you a sense of belonging in a cliquish way, but can get in the way of genuine creative political work. For one, a rigid stance like that one limits one's flexibility.

That does not mean I am not republican. Under certain circumstances I can see the country going republic. Say if the movement really takes off, and the king gets cruel in trying to suppress it. I am not predicting he will. I don't know. But if he goes that route, the country should and will go republican.

If not, my stance on the monarchy is that of a democrat. If the majority of Nepalis want to keep the monarchy, it is for the democrats to respect that sentiment. You can find that out through a Constituent Assembly, or you can go look at the results of the last conducted nationwide scientific polls. And incorporate that public support for a strictly constitutional monarchy into the political platform.

The bigger impediment to the movement really taking off is the so far reluctance of the seven parties to work on internal reforms. Democracy has to be introduced inside the parties before it can be earned for the country at large.

Once you have done your homework, and then once the movement takes off, if the king goes on being an obstacle to democracy, then going down the republican route might be a viable option. But the republican slogan can not be a symptom of the parties refusing to conduct internal reforms. Such a slogan can sound like a cover-up, it can sound hollow.

I request the seven parties to look again at my Proposed Constitution for both issues: the monarchy, and internal reforms.

China And Nepal

China is an amazing economic story. Its consistent near double digit economic growth rates are truly amazing. Most democracies and aspiring democracies in the Global South, India among them, could learn a whole lot on the economic front from China. But then that success has been rooted in the market mechanism, not communism as has been traditionally known. The Chinese success earns points for political stability, for foreign direct investment, for consistent policy work, for focus, but it is not a statement on autocracy. On the other hand, I think China could never really become a world power with a global reach without becoming a democracy.

China is not supporting the king's move of 2/1. It is staying neutral. Tomorrow if a democratic movement were to come up with a policy to even more closely integrate with China, that country is going to respond even more positively. That is China on Nepal for you. China is basically politically neutral on what happens inside Nepal, but economically it wants to go ahead as much as possible. What that means is, as the movement for democracy gathers steam, China is going to continue to stay neutral. It will not be for or against such a movement.

And so, no, the China card does not exist.

In The News
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