To Warn Their Leaders: People around the country are organizing rallies and mass meeting intending to keep pressure on political leadership that has taken over the control of the government because of the historical peoples’ movement. Protesters say that leaders shouldn’t hesitate to take bold steps which include drastically cutting the rights and powers of the king, removing him as the supreme commander of the army and bringing the army under parliament. In the photo above, students in Kathmandu are seen holding a stick rally warning their leaders. “Today we are carrying stick,” said a student. “It will be khukris (sharp knives) if they hesitate to take decisions.” Both pics by Shaligram Tiwari
No Monarchy, No God: It is no secret that monarchy has become one of the most hated institutions in Nepal. The standard slogan in any protest rally is against monarchy and king in Nepal. The photo above was taken in an art workshop today in Kathmandu. The theme of the workshop was ‘art and myrters’. Jana Andolan II saw 19th martyr yesterday when an Indian national died. He was undergoing treatment in a Kathmandu hospital. Pic by Bikas Rauniar
What Does That Finger Signal: American Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central America Richard Boucher arrived Kathmandu this afternoon. After seeing American too eager to welcome the king’s April 28 proclamation (king was forced to issued another proclamation after people flayed this), people are suspicious about America’s role. This letter represents the general feeling about American among Nepali people. Pic by Bikas Rauniar
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Comments
69 responses to “Kathmandu Images: What People Want”
A Maoist victory will force India’s hand. They cannot allow a Maoist revolutionary movement on the south side of the Himalayas from which further insurrection can spread to India. It is the last thing that India would want to do with improving trade relations with the West, but they would see no alternative. Try to see beyond your own personal ambitions and local areas of concern. It’s a much bigger game than you realise.
Let’s assume India did not act. What would happen then? Nepal would be isolated from the international community like Hamas led Palestine,North Korea and Cuba. Donor country
funding will disappear. Tourism will never recover. The economy will be like the Kampuchea of Pol Pot’s time, (though I know Nepalis will never do to other Nepalis what the Kymer Rouge did to their people). Do you want to live in a nation regarded as a rogue state by the world at large and you can’t get a visa to go anywhere except another rogue state? It’s not a welcome picture.
“People are supreme” The people do not have guns. The Maoists do.
Bedeshi:
I am infering from your posts above that you are totally against the Maoist. Well I understand why you would be suspicious of the Maoist. I am appalled by their acts of violence and terror in the past.
However, the Maoists must be given a chance to lay down their arms and come to the political arena. If you ask me I think the Maoist have been very pro-active in initiating peace talks and declaring ceasefire. They have long realized that “taking over” militarily is not an option. Why eles do you think they have been meeting Indian and Nepali political leaders in Delhi? If they join mainstream politics and if they are elected I say that is fine by me…
Look at Ireland and how the IRA has now become political. Everyone wanted democratic elections in Palestine and when Hamas won the Western world is condeming them – this is just another example of the hypocrisy! Besides so long as we don’t pose a security threat to the Americans they don’t care who is in power!
As for India a continuing Maoist insurgency in Nepal is a worse senario then the Maoist joining politics…
I am actually in sympathy with many of the Maoist grievances but totally against them gaining power because no good for Nepal can come of it. I honestly do not care what flag flies over the country as long as there is peace, stability and a chance for prosperity for the Nepali people. There are impossibly divisive issues such as land ownership that may never be sorted out in our lifetimes but no progress can be made on any matter in the present chaos. Someone has to be in charge. As to the lack of international support for the democraticaly elected Hamas, hypocrisy or not, the donor nations can choose who to give their money to. The people of Palestine chose freely who to go to bed with and they will now have to live with that decision and all of it’s consequences.
I hope we aren’t going to use the IRA as an example for Nepal. That struggle has spanned three centuries and many generations. That it is successfully concluded is yet to be determined. Nepal is a very fragile nation with not much time to live unless someone steps forward, takes charge, and puts things in order beginning with wiping out the ages old corrupt practices, aphno manche, class discrimination and so on and so forth as has been repeated ad nauseum. Strong medicine is needed and quickly. We cannot continue to cuss and discuss and chase our tails. Time is not on our side!
comparing poor Nepalese farmers who want to live in a country where they have the oppertunity to be as successful as someone from a ‘high caste’ family is not comparable to Hamas, bideshi. The damage that Hamas has caused with suicide bombings of civilians etc is not comparable to the small scale attacks these so called maoists have launched. Yes, 13000 people have died, but funny how no one brings up the Army, which shoots people randomly (not caring if they hit civilians) and says ‘oh they’re all maoists.’ The nepalese army is the uncontrolled force here that needs to be taught human compassion and the difference between right and wrong.
For example, raping women and throwing them in jail as maoists to rape them some more is extremely wrong. Raping small children is also wrong. Killing men suspected of being maoists without a due trial is also wrong. If you disagree, then it’s your call. I’m just sure that no one will agree with you on those counts though.
No one here’s buying comparing Nepalese farmers to Palastine, so quit trying to make them analogous. The Nepalese army however, can be compared to terrorists.
And Nepal doesn’t need a king for its national identity. We are tired of having someone who’s parents were cousins, whose father’s parents were cousins, etc, trying to represent our identity. His chromosomes are screwed due to his mother’s and father’s being so similar–so it’s safe to assume he’s mentally unstable. I doubt the country wants to be represented by a mentally unstable monarch.
I doubt having the monarch will do much for the tourism industry, and i really doubt the country will collapse without the king. Why? Because the nepalese people are smart people and not idiots like you have assumed.
You read more into my posting than is there. I cannot defend barbarism against innocents regardless of the cause or flag it’s done under. War brings out the worst in man and has always been an uncivilized horror. My analogy to Hamas is not to the character of the movement compared to the Maoist, but to the response of the international community to a Maoist Nepal. The donor funding will stop. I understand your anger as a women who does not have equal rights with a man even though the Constitution says that you do. There are many wrongs that must be righted, but nothing can be improved upon in the midst of the chaos, bhands, demonstrations, blockades, asassinations, kidnappings and so on. It must end. Someone must take charge.
Sorry to disturb you all!
THey say religion is poison, i say Rastriyata is poison. i say we all are too damn crazy and this thing called Rastriyata is full of shit. In the name of your country,for pride you sacrifice a fellow human, you constantly breed hatred. For what?
For a beast in the jungle, territorial instints for survival makes sense, but i thought we humans were different.We are intelligent.
Guess i’m wrong. We are animals afterall.
Melissa:
Yes the RNA has also been responsible for atrocities but the Maoists have been responsible for even more autrocities. There is no point debating this issue! The Maoists hae destroyed infrastucture, stalled education and health care and made the lives the people they are suppose to liberate MISERABLE! Let’s not even discuss this who is worse issue!
Bedeshi:
The Maoist do represent many grivances of the majority of the people. If they come to power through legitimate means then what is wrong with that? I don’t think donor funding will stop. Did you read Richard Boucher’s statement today?
“Mr Zagat
do you have gobar filled in your cranial cavity?
CHECK!”
Actually, I’m writing a news story for my college on what is going on in Nepal right now.
Came here to get some non-mainstream views from people who are living through it.
I thought you and Tayaa had interesting views and was just looking for some elaboration.
Is there anyone out there BESIDES coke who would be willing to give me a non-smart-ass take on how the protests and transitions are affecting the people living through it?
Mr Zagat!
I differ from you all here.
When i say “dhoti” it hurts you all and when in “The Hindu Magazine”, one Indian Bitch Writes Nepalese living in India as a House Keeper and and a Guard, you do not say anything.
I accuse you all a bunch of half Educated confused men.
Read THIS
Voices from Nepal
BY KALPANA SHARMA
Nepal is one of those unrecorded stories that only emerge when there is a crisis.
THEY guard our buildings. They work in our houses. They are our colleagues. There are thousands of Nepalis working all over India. Yet, in these last three weeks, when their beautiful Himalayan country has been convulsed with violence, leaving 14 dead and over 5,000 injured, how many of us have stopped to ask the Nepalis in our neighbourhood what they think about what’s going on in their country and whether their families are safe.
Coke:
What are you talking about?
hey guys, coke is onto something – I don’t know what he’s smoking, but he sure sounds like he is full of BS? Don’t even ask about his IQs – he’s got none!
#28 Kenam,
Hear! Hear!
Rest of you are bunch of whiners. Check out # 28 and be pragmatic.
I agree with righton – give’em some time folks, it’s just been a week. Changing things
for better don’t come easy – it requires sacrifices, hard thinking, dedications, and above all determination to do what you are required of doing. “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” as once said by Kennedy. That’s what we need to do – a collective effort from all of us to make sure to steer the country to the right track. I am sure there is going to be outpouring support in terms of moral, and finacial assistances which will be made availabe from all our friends from all over the world. This time around, let spend this capital of goodwill to show the world that Nepal is kicking live and well, and peace at last!
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