Where is our Pinochet?

I am truly depressed by developments in Nepal. I didn't have any apetite to blog (for 3 weeks!!!) and comment on this sorry state of affairs. HM blew it - he didn't go the whole nine yards of Pinochet when he took over last year, while he could...
And now he, and the whole Nepal, is paying the price: Like the good ole' Osama been Loaded said - the parties - and the citizens in general - like the STRONG HORSE. And HM looks a lot like a lame one. If he had listened to his inner voice (and mine!) he would have hanged the people responsible for the rise of MaoBad Boyz and he would have gained respect. And more respect would come if he had expelled anyone: foreigner, ambassador, "human rights" campaigner, ANYONE who as much as squeek-ed about "this war is unwinable". And pulled Nepali soldiers from Congo defending who knows what and let them defend their farms and homes. He could have put the country on war footing, make the same conditions for Kathmanduites as for their brethren livng under in the hills, so no one will have any illusion there IS A WAR GOING ON: close dancing halls, concerts, cinemas, restaurants to close at 6PM. Finger-tip scanners with GSM-phone connected to Police database, ID cards for everyone in the Valley

7 March, 2006
NEPAL
Maoist rebels sell looted petrol to raise funds
by Prakash Dubey

Attacks on tankers are followed by cheap oil sales in villages. Experts say the rebels are running short of money.

Kathmandu (AsiaNews) ? Maoist rebels are stealing and selling petroleum products to raise funds since the decline pf the lucrative marijuana trade. On 25 February, in the southwest district of Banke (500km from Kathmandu), the rebels seized nine tankers of the Nepal Oil Corporation and distributed around one million litres of petroleum products at a price less than the official rate of 6.5 rupees per litre. The 18 drivers were released on the night of 27 February and handed over to human rights activists.

One activist who secured their release said: ?The Maoists said they would distribute the petroleum products among the poor villagers at a minimum price, to help them. They further contended that the tankers belonged to rich bourgeoisie elements who exploit the people.? He said the rebels refused to return the tankers although they were private property but at least, they did not blow them up as they did on 24 February in Kavre district. Another two tankers were seized in Chitwan district, near the Rapti River, on 25 February.

Naveen Karki, an economist, told AsiaNews: ?It?s not precise to say the Maoists distribute petroleum to help the poor. Rather, they sell the stolen petroleum in villages through people to who they give a good commission. They must find funds to cover their daily needs, as incessant army offensives against them have weakened their economic hold in areas where they used to get money from people. I am sure Maoists will target other economic installations to procure funds.?

Karki added: ?Another source of easy money for the Maoists has been the multi-million cultivation of marijuana in the country?s northern districts. Now, the marijuana trade is protected by the army, the government and political parties, but the true beneficiaries were the Maoists. However in recent times, Indian security forces have stepped up anti-smuggling operations and the drug trade in Nepal has collapsed. The rebels have lost millions of rupees per week. This is why they have taken to looting private tankers, unlike in the past, when they

looted or destroyed oil tankers intended for security purposes.?