For more pictures pls. visit the link below:

http://www.nepalhorizons.com/nepalhorizons/photogallery/20050328-peace-rally-in-new-york/index.html

Poonte wrote:

"My only concern was that since more than half of the participants at the rally were Sherpas....."

So, what's wrong with that? Can you not see that you are saying what you say you aren't saying? You seem to insinuate that the Sherpas do not represent the broader Nepalis community.

"...the idea that supporting the notion of peace automaticaly translates into support for the King is absurd... "

Says who? Why are you making up things in your own mind? Why is it so hard for you to accept the fact that there are people (well.. at least the vast majority of people living in Nepal) who genuinely believe that the step taken by the King was timely and necessary.

"King is only ONE of the way that some people believe is the path towards peace; and others, like myself, hold different beliefs."

King is our best hope at the moment. Let's give him a chance. We will soon find out what good he is up to. How is restoring the couurpt netas back to power going to solve the problems? You tell us. They had the chance to do so for a number of years now. The netas created the mess; they are the root cause of the problems. They should be punished not rewarded.

Let's put the interest of the people and the nation first, not the interest of the netas. Democracy was merely used as a pawn by the netas to fulfill thier selfish interests. They were always feuding for power but never did a damn thing about the problems plaguing the country.

To put things into perspective, here's a quick rundown of the events preceding the royal takeover:

--> Deuba dissolves parliament in 2002 because of his feud with Girija
--> Deuba announces fresh parliamentary elections
--> the govt says it cannot hold the elections in the stipulated time due to security reasons
--> the govt says elections cannot be held unless security situation improves
--> meanwhile the security situation further deteriorates
--> the local administrative bodies remain defunct
--> the maoists grow from strength to strength
--> the King sacks Deuba
--> the King installs Lokendra
--> under Maoists threats, scores of mayors and thier subordinates across the country resign.
--> Lokendra resigns
--> Surya Bahadur becomes the PM.
--> Surya Bahadur resigns
--> the King reinstates Deuba (a coalition govt is formed; major parties join the govt; Girija's NC refuses to join)
--> meanwhile some coalition members themselves admit that elections are impossible
--> Girija jackass declares that his party will boycott elections if and when they are held
--> the maoists announce that they will not hold any talks with the govt
--> the King sacks Deuba and assumes all executive powers.

All this while, the situation had gotten from bad to worse. The government had ceased to function. People were becoming refugees in thier own country. Maoists were gaining grounds at an alarming rate. Surely something had to be done. Just ignoring the problems wasn't going to make them go away. The netas, shit scared to go to thier constituencies, were living off thier ill-gotten-money comfotably in Kathmandu.

The royal takeover, albeit belated, has come as a great relief to the vast majority of ordinary folks like myself here in Nepal. We were simply at our wits end. These netas have been crying wolf since the royal takeover; but no one is paying heed to it. The number of protesters are usually 7/8 -- and unlike some of you on here, I don't want to speculate on thier background. There have been instances where even some of thier own leaders/cadres have been expelled from the party for supporting the King's move.

The important thing to remember here is that the King has, in his royal proclamation, said that he is assuming power for a period of three years, so lets not fret too much. In his subsequent interviews, the King has made clear his intention to shorten that time if things improve quicker.

Lokman,

You can pick parts of a sentence and interpret it whatever way you want, but fact remains a fact: The subequent follow up to the part of my sentence (which you omitted) holds more weight as per my message. Do not distort it. To avoid repitition, I stand by what I said about the rally with regards to the Sherpas, and re-read my explanation given in the adress to GORKHALI X if you must. I have nothing more to add.

Many people see many different ways to peace. Just because you have faith in the King doesn't mean that others' views should not count. Support peace, we ALL do. Support King, some of us don't. You choose to see ONLY one path, that's your choice; you want to question the paths thought of by others, that's your right; but to link the ultimate goal to ONLY ONE methods of achieving it is being very narrow and arrogant and intolerant to varying opinions. Your undemocratic stance on this regard is perhaps reflective of your support for an undemocratic King.

Now, you've introduced another prevalent absurdity in this discussion: Not supporting the king automatically translates into support for the Netas. I beg to be alarmed! There can be no doubt WHATSOEVER that the sheer ineptitude of the political leaders was downright frustrating and loathesome. However, in a sytem of democracy, albeit weak, ther was at least an opportunity for the people to pressure them to either change or quit. This was not happening, I know, but there was at least a platform for it to happen; and given time, it would have happened sooner or later. Authoritarian misconception of a "quick fix" is neither genuine, nor sustainable. If autocracy were to be effective, it would have worked marvels already during 30 years of Panchayat -- it did not!

We gave democracy chance for 14 years -- this is not even close to 30 years of autocratic Panchayat , neither it is what might been required. Politcal and social transformations take AT LEAST a generation to be effective. Even through the process of weak democracy, we had, at least, begun to see rising trend in critical, independent thinking among the educated mass -- people were becoming more aware, hence empowered. The solution to incomplete and ineffective empowerment and awareness is more of it, not less. And less is what KingG has given.

Mind you, Lokman-jee, forced peace under the barrel of a gun, particularly when it's effectiveness is limited mostly to the urban areas alone is not genuine and sustainable. The very narrow mentality of "if everything is ok in KTM, all is fine in Nepal" is ONE of the greatest fallacies of KingG and his supporters.

I am not appalled at my picture being published in this discussion forum, it just shows your lack of ability to grasp the very core of democracy, which champions freedom of individual expression, freedom to nurture individual ideas, and actually practice these rights. I believe that there is a greater need for the peace to be restored in Nepal, for the greater good of people, and personally believe that the parties in Nepal have failed to achieve this foremost goal in the light of their own petty little interests. Thus, I may have a different view on the present situation than some of the other individuals in this forum do but I do not think that this should be any cause for a personal smear campaign against I or other similar minded individuals. Sajha ? please kindly remove the pictures represented in the sentiments of yellow journalism.

Sincerely,
Amod Katwal

Protest in NY:

Should it have been like this:

OR like this ?

Poonte,

Could you let us all know what will be ideal solution? Supposing the scenario of republic who is gonna rule? Maoists?

In the current context republic means maoist coming in the power. Current leadership do not hold creadiblity for mass movement and governance.

King will never give up monarchy. Ultimately he will have to go back to constitutional monarchy. Republic means maoists winning the battle. I cannot even thnik about the aftermath, cause its so horrifying.

Keeping real, current leadership will not be able to draw mass movement. If there is a leadership change then they will be popular and would be able to negotiate with king.

You talk about democracy. There was no democracy. Parlaiment was supended by the like of morans like Deuba and Girija. Election was not possible cause of maoists insurgency.

I am for multi party democracy but I cananot take these corrupt morans to lead the country.

So, please suggest us with your possble solution to the crisis. Let it be short and sweet
so that the essence of your soulution is not lost.

Peace

PS: If you call for bloodshed , r u ready to take a bullet with the people on the ground. Show some actions

Poonte whatever you say and said makes no difference, the main thing is like LOKMAN said why the sentence, half of them were sherpas. dude that is racist and very racist, you should have never used that sentece. You are differenciating between the different ethnic people who live in nepal.

that was not the correct choice of words or sentece.; that is all I am saying, you are also acting like Nepe now... I am right whatever I say is right mentality

and dude why would goverment give a rats ass to send some people the america to rally in DC and NY.. are you tripping on acid and seeing thigs.. this is the most absured thing I have heard....... STOP THE RUMORS, anti-king people.............

want to hear my statment----------> the king is not going to give anything, there will be a huge bloodbath before anything changes in nepal, all you supporters of democracy, peace with democracy is DEMOCRAZY. Your NETAS sucked before and they still suck.

SPELLING MISTAKE

"""all you supporters of democracy, peace with democracy is DEMOCRAZY"""

-------------all you haters, democracy without peace is DEMOCRAZY-----------------


No Maoist, No Corroupt Neta's............bring peace in nepal, I will support anyone who brings peace in nepal.............

all you blabbers, can anyone write some solution here........ we all know what the problem is.............. who has the solution that is what I want to read not your complains.............. if I was to see you people in real life I would shoot you with no mercy.............. your complains has braindamaged nepal......... if only you'll would use your wastful time to find a solution.......

Peace

There is one big flaw in all these hard core democracy activists. They are all background activists. They are practicing in safe bantering by either being a keyboard warrior - safely sitting behind the keyboard or safely participating in so called rallys to promote democracy in Nepal. What they are hiding from is the fact that people will lose life who are involved in the democratic war in nepal - while they safely enjoy western or european democracies being safely tucked away in a foreign country.

If you are really concerned about democracy then I advise you (dare you) to go to nepal and be in the frontlines asking for democracy and protesting against the king. I have one word for all you high fly people. COWARDS.

Thats what I am saying Saroj, it is so easy to point out the flaws. But reality is how to solve it. They call for mass movement and shit. It will result in bloodbath before any change. The people urging for democracy and so called leaders can they go in the frontline to face the bullets?

I am so surprised to see people talking about republican settings with the comfort of couch at home.

Peace

The most compelling and harrowing blunder the political parties (which was/were in power then) made during handling of Maoist problem (since the pre-insurgency period) made was the fact that many of social and political agendas that the Maoist tried to bring to the wide and comprehensive debate in the wide audience of Nepali politics were very realistic and pressing whuch no other political forces in the countries ever had any heart and determination to do.

Out of the 40 Points demands submitted by the Maoists during Pre-insurgency peroid was
at least 6 of them were hard-core communist agendas which I dont find it realistic, pactically possible and not in the wide and long term interest of the country at all, which were:

6) The monopoly of foreign capital in Nepal's industry, trade and economic sector should be stopped.

### My comment: Nepal does not have huge sums to invest in its economy and certainly it's undesirable reality that Nepal has to rely in foreign investment and Nepal has to live with. Investors who invest will certainly have some influence and it's the reality in every country in the world. Investors will go to other countries where they will if they dont get it in Nepal.

27) Those who cultivates the land should own it. (The tiller should have right to the soil he/she tills.) The land of rich landlords should be confiscated and distributed to the homeless and others who have no land.

### My comment: Landowner and tiller have relationship of Landllord and tenant who rented a house to run his own business. Tenant cant claim on landlord's home just because he has rented landlord's home to run his own business.

29) All should be guaranteed work and should be given a stipend until jobs are found for them.

### My comment: No country in the world has ever achieved this goal. Even the most hardcore communist countries in the past and the present have tried and failed miserably. It's the responsibility of each individual to find job for himself/herself and it is
not the responsiblility the government to find job for each individual citizen though the government can greatly help create favourable ecomonic conditions for businesses and industries to get started, grow and expand which will have direct positive effect on employment opportunities to individuals.

32) Poor farmers should be completely freed from debt. Loans from the Agricultural Development Bank by poor farmers should be completely written off.

### My comment: If the ADB frees all bebt of so many farmers from where will ABD get money to provide loans to the same farmers in the future.This will lead to bankruptcy of the very insititution that provides the loan to the farmers. It wont be in the interest of the same farmers to kill the institution that provides loan when needed.

8) The cultural pollution of imperialists and expansionists should be stopped. Hindi video, cinema, and all kinds of such news papers and magazines should be completely stopped. Inside Nepal, import and distribution of vulgar Hindi films, video cassettes and magazines should be stopped.

### My comment: People will get such materials anyhow and the total human and financial cost of enforcing any related laws will be astronomical. Instead let it be legal and impose tax on such material and make these material a source of revenue for the government.



9) Regarding NGOs and INGOs: Bribing by imperialists and expansionists in the name of NGOs and INGOs should be stopped.

### My comment: Certainly there are many NGOs and INGOS that are established with intent of making money in the name of social services however banning of all NGOs and INGOs will certainly curtail useful and sincere INGOs and NGOs as well.


28) Brokers and commission agents should have their property confiscated and that money should be invested in industry.

### My comment: There will be commission agents and brokers in economy of every country and provide their service in every sector economy which always have been intergral part of economy of every prosperous economy.


35) Education and education for profit (private schools?) should be completely stopped.

### My comment: Pulic should be able to choose which type (public or private) schools should each individuals can go or can send their children to.

If the pre-insurgency governments had isolated the hardcore communist agendas "point by point basis" which I have listed in the previous post and implimented the rest of 34 or so demands wit some adjustments of the "40 point Demands", and completely excluded the hardcore communist demands, the Maoists would have been out of business very early years of insurgency because people would not have have realied upon the Maoists to fulfill the "non-hardcore communist" yet realist social and political agendas.

Most of the people who subsequently supported Maoists were not interested in those 6 or so hardcore communist demands but rather people were much more interested in those 34 or so non-hardcore communist demands. The Maoists were able to completely overshadow their hardcore communist agendas by the help of other pressing and compelling social and political issues which of course were long overdue in the social political development of Nepal.

Even I'm sympathetitic to the Maoist NOT because I support those hardcore agendas put forward by the Maoists but because I support those "non-hardcore commie" social and political agendas which no other poilitical force has neither heart nor guts to bring forward and try to resolve them whicha are:
is long overdue which are.

1) Regarding the 1950 Treaty between India and Nepal, all unequal stipulations and agreements should be removed.

2) HMG should admit that the anti-nationalist Tanakpur agreement was wrong, and the Mahakali Treaty, incorporating same, should be nullified.

3) The entire Nepal-Indian border should be controlled and systematized. Cars with Indian number plates, which are plying the roads of Nepal, should not be allowed.

5) In several areas of Nepal, where foreign technicians are given precedence over Nepali technicians for certain local jobs, a system of work permits should be instituted for the foreigners.

7) Sufficient income should be generated from customs duties for the country's; economic development.

10) A new Constitution has to be drafted by the people's elected representatives.

11) All the special rights and privileges of the King and his family should be ended.

12) Army, police and administration should be under the people's control.

13) The Security Act and all other repressive acts should be abolished.

14) All the false charges against the people of Rukum, Rolpa, Jajarkot, Gorkha, Kavre, Sindhuphalchowk, Sindhuli, Dhanusha and Ramechap should be withdrawn and all the people falsely charged should be released.

15) Armed police operations in the different districts should immediately be stopped.

16) Regarding Dilip Chaudhary, Bhuvan Thapa Magar, Prabhakar Subedi and other people who disappeared from police custody at different times, the government should constitute a special investigating committee to look into these crimes and the culprits should be punished and appropriate compensation given to their families.

17) People who died during the time of the movement, should be declared as martyrs and their families, and those who have been wounded and disabled should be given proper compensation. Strong action should be taken against the killers.

18) Nepal should be declared a secular state.

19) Girls should be given equal property rights to those of their brothers.

20) All kinds of exploitation and prejudice based on caste should be ended. In areas having a majority of one ethnic group, that group should have autonomy over that area.

21) The status of dalits as untouchables should be ended and the system of untouchability should be ended once and for all.

22) All languages should be given equal status. Up until middle-high school level (uccha-madyamic) arrangements should be made for education to be given in the children's mother tongue.

23) There should be guarantee of free speech and free press. The communications media should be completely autonomous.

24) Intellectuals, historians, artists and academicians engaged in other cultural activities should be guaranteed intellectual freedom.

25) In both the terai and hilly regions there is prejudice and misunderstanding in backward areas. This should be ended and the backward areas should be assisted. Good relations should be established between the villages and the city.

26) Decentralization in real terms should be applied to local areas which should have local rights, autonomy and control over their own resources.


30) HMG should pass strong laws ensuring that people involved in industry and agriculture should receive minimum wages.

31) The homeless should be given suitable accommodation. Until HMG can provide such accommodation they should not be removed from where they are squatting.

33) Fertilizer and seeds should be easily and cheaply available, and the farmers should be given a proper market price for their production.

34) Flood and draught victims should be given all necessary help

35) All should be given free and scientific medical service and education and education for profit (private schools?) should be completely stopped.

36) Inflation should be controlled and laborers salaries should be raised in direct ratio with the rise in prices. Daily essential goods should be made cheap and easily available.

37) Arrangements should be made for drinking water, good roads, and electricity in the villages.

38) Cottage and other small industries should be granted special facilities and protection.

39) Corruption, black marketing, smuggling, bribing, the taking of commissions, etc. should all be stopped.

40) Orphans, the disabled, the elderly and children should be given help and protection.

To those who are hellbent on proving I am a racist/castist, for reasons best known to themselves -- reasons that I can only assume are laden with sinister motives to discredit what they fear is a potentially dangerous (by virtue of being well-reasoned) counter arguments to their support to the King -- I have this very, very, very last thing to say about my stance on the Sherpas at the pro-King rally:

NO, I AM NOT QUESTIONING THEIR RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS, BUT MERELY WONDERING IF THOSE RIGHTS WERE EXPLOITED BY THE ORGANIZERS OF THE RALLY.

And, highfly-jee,

If you had been following my writings on this issue over the months, if not years, in various threads right here in Sajha, you'd know that I too am hoping that we can resolve this national crisis without having to resort to the REPUBLICAN AGENDA. I am sincerely hopeful that the King realizes that one of the key to a sustainable solution to the crisis is that the Royal Palace itself needs to embrace profound reforms, and that he will take sincere initiatives to achieve those reforms, so that the people can live in genuine peace under GENUINELY constitutional monarchy.

Otherwise, if that is not to happen, all I am merely trying to point out is that the Republicans may be successful sooner than later in getting rid of the monarchy all together, and that I personally might even be tempted to join their bandwagons if I see no hope with this King on this regard. I am still hopeful. I am still hopeful that the King will abandone his misplaced idea of resolving the crisis the way he is trying to resolve it now -- through coercive, authoritarian force, and that very soon he will choose the path of over-arching inclusiveness and progessivity in order to address this crisis from the point of view of seeking a genuine and sincere and COMPREHENSIVE solution.

As for what you have referred to as a "bloodbath," no, I will never, in my good conscience even THINK that I will stand to gain anything by embracing violence. Yes, I am definitely seriously considering the prospects of returning to Nepal soon to see if there are any chance of initiating a PEACEFUL opposition to what I see as fatally flawed policies of the government. So far, the hope of a successful peaceful movement in Nepal is very dim, but I am engaged in constant and very active consultations with friends and family alike to see if I can return ASAP to be on the grounds, fighting peacefully for what I believe in.

Now, for your another querry regarding what I think is the solution...

I have prepared an extensive essay on this, and I am currently seeking publication. If and when it is published, I will gladly put up the link right here in this thread for everyone to review. Even in the event that I fail to secure publication for my essay, I will happily resort to posting the entire essay right here.

As promised, here's what I personally think CAN be a possible solution:

http://www.kantipuronline.com/artha.php?&nid=37060

Whether we can agree on everything or not, it never does a harm to ponder the possibilities.

Also, a new pro-democracy website has been launched. For those interested, please visit:

www.freenepal.org

and spread the word!

Poonte ji ko suggestive alternative is so soft that Gyanendra's chamchas will spit at it.
Why are we guys scared to express what we really think? or was that partly censored?

I guess you read what Gagan Thapa wrote in today's Kantipur. If anybody wants Gyanendra to realise that he should step back from autocratic ambitions, then a strong argument like Thapa's should be presented. I commend this guy for his boldness and if the new generation of leadership had been as capable as this fellow, the chamches could never have succeded to dislodge parliamentary system in Nepal.If you haven't read, read this. Make political discourses courageous as Gagan does.

- http://www.kantipuronline.com/nepali/kolnews.php?&nid=37011

Newuser,

I think Gagan-jee's write-up focuses completely on the pre-negotiations demands, i.e., the restoration of democracy. Whereas, I have attempted to explore the possible scenarios in the post-democracy phase, IF and WHEN democracy is restored. When it comes to negotiations on what roles the conflicting parties can play in a DEMOCRATIC political framework of Nepal, I don't see any bright hopes of success unless we have an unquestionably balanced attitude towards all of the parties, for reasons I have explained in the article.

Having said that, I am in COMPLETE consonance with Gagan-jee's attitude towards demands for the restoration of democracy. I too have said (in the article) that the matters of democratic principles "are not, and should not, be part of negotiations". The only difference is that Gagan-jee uses more revolutionary rhetoric, wheras I have resorted to more diplomatic terms like "non-negotiable," "uncompromisable," etc. Also, I think sentiments of a Nepali citizen are expressed more meaningfully and strongly in Nepali language. Other than that, my sentiments, I must say, are not any different from Gagan-jee.

what are the political and social agendas of political parties anyway if they have any?

Can they ever argue and make case on their each social and political agendas or are they (as usua ) just headed for PM's chair and the govt. offices only ?

The US Congress ralles in DC aganist Gyanendra's autocratic regime . . .

Above letter was given to the Nepalese Ambassador for the United States on April 12, 2005 by NY Congressman James T. Walsh in a meeting. Congressman has asked Ambassador to deliver that letter to King.

Since this letter is out, I would like to share another letter circulated by the Delegation that went to Capitol Hill on March 11:

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