Election Farce & Tragedy.

I had always wished well, both to the tried people of Nepal, and to HM Gyanendra, and to this day I believe the sacking of the corrupt, inefficient, lazy Deuba government was CONSTITUTIONAL. But I believe also, to put it mildly, HM is recieving flawed advice. Mildly, undiplomatiacally: I think he should scarp the farce election! It seems it was enough of the MaoBadBoyz to kill ONE candidate, Bijay Lal Das in eastern Janakpur city earlier this month, kidnapp Ram Kumar Tharu from farwest Nepal, and bomb the house of a third in the midwest and people simply didn't dare to register.

The contestants for the mayoral posts in Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) and Lalitpur Sub-metropolitan City (LSMC) said they were undeterred by the Maoist threatening and were determined to contest in the municipal polls. They said they were safe and living in their own residences. Speaking at a programme in Kathmandu, mayoral candidate of KMC Rajaram Shrestha said no one should bar people from exercising their franchise or contesting for people?s representation. Candidate for mayor in Lalitpur Sub-metropolis Prem Lal Maharjan said he has no fear and is living at his own residence. ?I am determined to contest in the municipal elections, as it is an integral part of democracy,? Maharjan said, adding people do have the right to boycott elections if they wish to. Prachanda Man Shrestha, another mayoral candidate of KMC, said he was not afraid of those who have vowed to disrupt the municipal elections. Urmila Shrestha, who is contesting for mayor of Thimi Municipality, also expressed determination on vying for the post without any hesitation. ?I am not interested in politics. I am contesting in the elections to serve the people,? Shrestha said. Madhu Shah, who is contesting for LSMC chief, was also firm on his decision to take part in the polls.

Banda Revisited on Bicycle

Last week it was the DAYLONG CURFEW - governement-sponsored "chakka band" ("Stop the Wheel!"), yesterday it was the 7 dwarves turn. Judging from the NTV people took it in stride, many joked that it's good with "excercise" and nice without pollution and noise. There were also large number of bicycles - so maybe one positive legacy these "bandas" leave behind is the versatility and utility of bicycles! Now if only Nagar Palika (the Municipality) start making some cycle-paths along the most frequented roads...
Elections are on, yesterday was the last day of registration, and it must be said, many candidates got cold feet after brutal murder of a mayoral candidate in Janakpur last week. Many places there were only 2 or 3 who cast their "topis" in the frey!

3,255 candidates file nominations for municipal polls

Of the total 4,146 posts, only 3,255 candidates filed nominations across the country on Thursday for the February 8 municipal polls.

The EC is holding election for 4,146 representatives in one metropolis, four sub-metropolis and 53 municipalities in 43 districts of the country.

According to the Election Commission, 236 nominations were filed for the posts of mayor and 192 for deputy mayor.

Only 98 nominations were filed for 177 seats in Kathmandu metropolis, including 10 nominations for Kathmandu metropolis mayor and eight for deputy mayor.

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Knowing the energy and seriousnes the nepalis, even during the "nominal" elections in panchayati times, took to the polls, it shows the intimidation works! The maobadis by killing one hapless politicians in Janakpur were able to derail and descredit the elections. Now the doubters and ill-wishers can rightly point that "there is hardly any interest in these Palace elections"
Thanks very much, 7 dwarves! Nepal sinks deeper into quagmire.

Koirala berates Koirala

Bollywood starlet Manisha K. was all over MSM last couple of days. This handsome young lady is on a warpath against her grand-uncle, the O3. She is not as smoooooth as him, but at least she makes sense:








How can democrats shun polls? questions Manisha

By Bhuwan Sharma
KATHMANDU, Jan. 24: Indian cinema's popular actress Manisha Koirala has appealed to the political parties to move towards the path of peace, understanding and reconciliation by participating in the upcoming municipal elections.

Stating that the ongoing street protests would only lead to greater conflicts, the granddaughter of late leader B. P. Koirala said that it was the need of the time to go for talks and understanding with His Majesty the King by putting an end to the protests.

"You claim to be democrats but reject the polls. How can you be democratic?" she questioned, indicating the seven agitating political parties. "The political parties should take part in the polls."

"People's mandate is the true identity of the political parties and their leaders", actress Koirala who arrived in Kathmandu Tuesday said at her father Minister Prakash Koirala's residence in Maharajgunj.
...

She said that while there is Maoist problem in the country, the parties are aggravating the situation by rejecting the polls. Recalling the contribution made by her grandfather and other leaders, she accused the political leaders of leading democracy to the present situation during the 12 years of their rule. "They could not solve the Maoist problem that began during their own time."

She asked the leaders to join hands with the King to solve the Maoist problem. "They should first help the King solve the Maoist problem, and then only they should talk about democracy. They should not create difficulties only by boycotting the polls."
...

Expressing her sincere trust on the King, she said, "The King is democratic. His Majesty has asked for three years, which is not a very long period. The democratic forces should not fear for democracy. Once established, democracy will remain."

She said she would assist the elections and would stay in Nepal until then. "During my stay in Kathmandu, I will help create an atmosphere for polls. It is my duty to come to Nepal during elections."
...
She claimed that there was democracy at present in Nepal and said, "That we are going for polls is itself a proof that at present there is democracy in Nepal."

Asked why the international community were asking the government to restore democracy, she said, "They are selfish, and they see with biased perspective. They did not say a word when Bhutan's king evicted 100,000 of his citizens of Nepalese origin who have been suffering."

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Right on! She doesn't mince words (like her grand-uncle), and asks SENSIBLE questions - what it is the 7 dwarves are afraid of?
Any election, held in minimum of freedom and without state coercion (and that is the situation we have here!) clears the confusion and CORRECTLY measures the public mind. And every susquent election attracts and gets better candidates.
It's Democracy, stupid!

Day curfew in the Valley

I think this Kamal Thapa is a wonderful camel: if he didn't do this daytime curfew, we would have the 1,000 dead I predicted!!!
They should charge the O3 and his attack poodle MKN with sedition and give them 20 years and a hammer and send them to Humla breaking big stones for the roads they neglected to build in 12 years of their accursed PM-ship!!!
People in general seem to enjoy an extra day-off, some, like my 'amrikan frens', went for a hike on the surrounding hills. And the city can enjoy a day-off of smoking TATAs and HERO HONDAs too!

Update 16:30 Looking from the terrace, listening to BBC World on the 'net, watching the afternoon TV-News shows. All is quite is in Valley... only sporadic exercise with M-16's from neraby barracks. Accroding to my unmentioned 'frens', the same is giong on at the APF barracks bellow Maharjgunj on the other side of the Valley - maybe to let people know that they are "ready"- for anything... And the hapless tourists, walking the 4 km to the airport with huge backpacks. Latest from the Palace friendly (controlled) NTV: the Tourist Police woke-up to the fact, and there were phone nos. to call and shuttle buses from all major hotels, from Hyatt in north (Boudha) to Oberoi in south and Himalaya in Patan, and of course from Thamel-area.
Another day in life of the Kingdom is slowly ending - but 18:00 is quickly approaching, and hungry hordes will hit the streets, and lights will go out, may still get tricky!

Leopard attack in bamboo grove!

Neighbor-owner of broiler-farm (fortunately 150 m away from our terrace!) came rushing to borrow a phone. The mobile was cut-off in preparation of tomorrow's mega-demo, so he had to use our phone for a call to Bhaktapur Hospital. I waited politely on the terrace, as a large group of grown-up boys and young men run across the pale-green winter-wheat fields, shouting and gesticulating. Neighbor finished his call and came up, where my lady waited with a cup of tea. Boy had he a story to tell. One of his workers, a local village chap, heard a newari girl, about 5, from a (another-) neighbor's farm to cry "Chor, chor", which means "Thief" from Khyber Pass down to Tamil Nadu, and in it's slightly modified Roma (Gypsy, in old, rasist times...) form "Chorka" is also known in whole of Eastern Europe and the Balkans. And due to modern immigration, even in Helsingør, largest Roma colony west of Teplice (western Bohemia) this word is understood!
But back to this village lad - when he heard the cry he rushed to the little girl who stammered "there where two thieves", and they took a goat. In the direction she pointed, at the western edge of our hill, there was to his knowledge only one grazing goat, HIS! Filled with righteous rage, he set after the "thieves". The edge of the hill goes steep down, with large bamboo growth with great view of Changu Narayn temple on the hill, and there was his goat - in jaws of a leopard! He, or more likely she, hungry mother I think, dropped the goat and charged the poor, anarmed guy. It bit him on right upper arm and badly mauled him on his back and run away in the growth. I couldn't help - can't walk more than 20 m before my newly healed leg gives up - I could just watch as they carried him ob a bamboo stretcher across the fields to the road, out of sight, to wait for the ambulance... I heard later he lost lot of blood and is in deep pain in the hospital.
And the goat is dead. And she was pregnant, the neighbor said, the poor fetus was still moving! And the leopard has not been cornered, maybe staring down from some bamboo grove on the Telkot ridge above, growling with hunger.
This guy, according to village lore, is a kind-of unlucky bird (german: Pechvogel): he had three sheep grazing last year and a pack of 10 dogs from our village tore them to pieces, neighbor laughed, showing with small movement of his hands how much. or better - how little - there was left of ALL three sheep! Some people really seam to ATTRACT bad luck!

Kathmandu Valley under attack

Eleven policemen killed in Maoist attacks at Thankot and Dadhikot (news update 9:30 p. m.)

Latest reports say at least eleven policemen, including a police inspector, were killed during coordinated attacks by Maoist insurgents at Thankot police check post in the capital, Kathmandu, and Dadhikot police post in Bhaktapur district Saturday evening.

According to security sources, the rebels attacked the Thankot check post at around 5:40 p. m. They first exploded a bomb and later opened fire indiscriminately. Police inspector Mahesh Rawal, two sub-inspectors and seven policemen were killed in the attacks. Sub-insepctor Yadav KC is said to be in critical condition. Over 40 police personnel were stationed at the check post during the time of surprise Maoist raid.

At around 5:30 p. m., another group of rebels attacked a police post at Dadhikot in Bhaktapur district in the Kathmandu valley. A total of 17 policemen were stationed during the time of Maoist offensive, according to police sources. Sub-Inspector of Police, Hari Prasad Sharma Wagle was killed while seven more police personnel were injured. A civilian, Sangita Mahat, was also injured during the attack. Some policemen are reported mission after the Maoist offensive.

Officials are yet to provide details about the number of casualties in the latest attacks. A Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) official said RNA personnel have already reached Thankot and are conducting search operation. All the vehicular movement along the main entry point to Kathmandu have been stopped.

According to a Nepalnews correspondent who reached Thankot police post after the incident, Maoist rebels had arrived at the police post in a bus. They were in combat dress. It could not be known how could they cross another security post at Nagdhunga only a few kms away on their way to Thankot.

Thankot is the major overland entry point to Kathmandu.

Krishnasenonline, a pro-Maoist news agency, has owned responsibility of Saturday?s attacks at Thankot and Dadhikot and has claimed that there has been no casualty on the part of the rebels.

Suspected rebels have also caused explosion at the office of ward no. 9 of Lalitpur municipality this evening. There are also reports of explosions in some ward offices of Kathmandu metropolis.

Details are still awaited.

Saturday?s attacks are the first major attack by the rebels in the Kathmandu valley after they broke off their four-month-long unilateral ceasefire early this month. In December 2004, they had attacked a police post at Sankhu at the outskirts of Kathmandu killing four police personnel. nepalnews.com by Jan 14 06

So far so good...

Been waiting this past 2 weeks for some sign of where the things are moving. Lot of movement under surface to be sure: the politicians manouvering, the MaoBadBoyz deploying, the RNA donning helmets...
Biggest news is the (second?) split in the RPP. Powers that be at the Durbar have discerned that the royalists too need a popular mass party, as to counter the massive rallies of the 7 (moral) dwarves. Like the one 2 days ago in Janakpur, where all 7 honchos surveyed SERIOUS crowd, congratulating each other. MKN goes even so far as to predict the END OF THE MONARCHY IN 4 WEEKS!!! Well, the mental capacity of this pygmy in mind, it's hard to give any credence to his claim.
Back to the RPP-split: As I already wrote the other day (05-12-19), my favorite plitician, Kamal THAPA, currently the Home (Police and Admin) Minister, was elected president of the RPP, and Pash.Sumsher RANA was sacked - "expelled". Yersterday PSR went to Patan Court, and tried to annul the decision and get "his" party's symbols protected. But he's whistling in the dark, and his "independent" position (that is "independent" of anybody - HM King, the 7 dwarves, his co-leaders in RPP, but not independent of India - from where his wife hails, and where he is frequent visitor!) is gone. This is right how it should be in Civil Wars: from the chaos of multiple players, through attrition, treachery and the last vestigies of common sense, there at last emerge TWO PLAYERS, and everybody in the country will have to choose one or the other - Red or Blue!

On the operative side, the War is grinding on, but somehow with diminished violence (so far!) - there was an attack on Nepalganj Airport, Wednesday ditto on the Bardiya town Dhungaddi in the Far West (600 km W from KTM). So far no or minimal casualties. It seems the RNA air wing is earning it's pay - it's no more so easy to muster 1,000 - 1,500 fighters in one place for their hallmark MASS ATTACKS. The RNA helos are flying above them, trying to figure out where the bands of 200 or so fighters will converge and mass for the next attack. It's not easy in the barren hills of Rolpa, no cloud cover.

UPDATE: There is battle raging in Tanahun:

Ten Maoists killed in Tanahun clashes: MoD

At least ten Maoist insurgents were killed in two separate encounters with the security forces in the western district of Tanahun on Thursday.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the rebels were killed in clashes at Chitre and Aambote areas.

No casualties on the security side were reported. The incident and the casualties are yet to be confirmed independently.

Two rifles, socket bombs, logistics and Maoist documents were recovered from the clash scenes, the statement added. nepalnews.com mk Jan 12 05

But everybody is tense, waiting - Prachanda is, whatever you might sink of this deluded man, is a man of his word, so to speak - so the attacks in the Valley are expected. And dreaded none the same.
Faster, Your Majesty, faster!
("Borrowed" from Michael Ledeen)

Tighten the seat-belts, here comes 2006!

This year, 10th since the MaoBadBoyz took to the jungles to teach Nepalis a lesson, will be decisive. It will make or break - or, in best case - hang - Prachanda and his commie loonies and fellow travellers.
Tomorrow, Jan. 2nd, expires the one-sided, extended maobadi truce, which the RNA never honored. For the last week there were rumors and partial reports of RNA's offensive in the "birthplace" of maoists - better known as Dolpa Human Experimentation and Torture Area #1.

Already, the RNA freed 1,000 villagers from maobadi forced labor camp - when the terrorist saw the RNA they ran away - good sign for the upcoming fight!

Abducted Rukum locals rescued: RNA

More than 1000 villagers who were forcibly taken by the Maoist insurgents from different places of the mid-western Rukum district on various dates have been rescued by the security forces, according to the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA).

A statement issued by the Directorate of Public Relations (DPR) on Friday said that the locals were rescued from Rukumkot, Shoba, Chunawang and Mahat areas of Rukum on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, four Maoists have surrendered in Pyuthan and Bajura districts, according to the DPR.

Sitaram KC, secretary of the Maoist party in Biju Bazzar area in Pyuthan district, surrendered to the security forces along with his gun and ammunition on Wednesday. Likewise, on the same day, three Maoists namely Bal Bahadur Shahi alias Balbhadra, Shanti Singh alias Rabina and Reule Rawal alias Prakash surrendered to the local administration of Bajura district. nepalnews.com mk Dec 30 05

Then we have the municipal elections in early February, which will be decisive for the further political developments for the whole 2006. If these elections (in RNA-controlled towns and municipalities) go well, without too much bloodshed, they will demonstrate that HM King's strategy is sound, and, more importqantly, the impotence of both the MaoBadBoyz and irrelevance of the 7 dwarves.