A Year of Democracy

Today Nepalese are celebrating the first anniversary of the reinstatement of democracy – last year’s uprising ended King Gyanendra’s 15 month rule. It sure is a time to celebrate but even after a year of the restoration of democracy, many questions still remain unanswered… Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal has said that “no meaningful steps have yet been taken to find out the whereabouts of disappeared citizens and that the perpetrators of serious human rights violations continue to enjoy total impunity even after a year of the restoration of democracy. “

OHCHR stated “One of the most pressing needs is to address accountability and the right to justice of the many who have suffered violations or abuses at the hands of the State or the Maoists, both during and after hostilities. Probe commission reports such as that of the Rayamajhi Commission have never been made public or their recommendations implemented. The progress that has been made in human rights must not be taken for granted. There is much more which needs to be done, with many challenges lying ahead. OHCHR-Nepal reiterates its commitment to do all it can to assist in strengthening the protection of human rights in support of the peace and electoral process.”

As Nepalese are looking towards a more stable government, the country still cries for justice to those who had suffered violations or abuses during pro-democracy protests. And while Nepalese celebrated their victory, the royal couple paid a visit to a holy temple in the outskirts of the valley.

Fight for the Crown

It’s not the king’s crown anymore, Maoists are now turning their heads for the beauty crown. Maoist women organizations joined hands with other protestors last weekend to protest against the coveted Miss Nepal beauty pageant. They say the competition degrade women and contain nudity ( not to mention Nepal doesn’t even have a swim suit round unlike international beauty contests.)Demonstrations are a common feature of every Miss Nepal contest but this is the first year that Maoists are protesting against the pageant. And protestors got a boost when the newly appointed Minister of Information, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, a senior Maoist leader, said he was against such contensts and would try to ban broadcasting the contest on state television. But Mahara was unable to do so.

So do beauty contests degrade women or they don’t? You don’t have to love these contests to support them, you can hate them if you want but respect them as this year’s winner Sitashma Chand phrases it 

“I respect their choices, but I only wish they did respect our choice and opinion too. I have nothing to say, it’s their belief, it’s their opinion, I love the pageant, I became Miss Nepal, I’m proud of that.”

Maoists to Officially Go on Air

Nepal’s journalists have been waging their war for freedom of speech, and now maoists are following suit. They are now registering their FM radio and will be running their activities according to  government rules and regulations. This step comes right after former Maoist rebel Krishna Bahadur Mahara was appointed the Minister of Information and Communications in the new interim government. Mahara however, was unable to clarify the ownership of the five Maoist-run radio stations.

The Maoists have been operating Radio Jana Ganatantra at Frequency Modulation 95.1 megahertz in the eastern region.

Joining Hands

The Maoists joined the government on April 1 taking five ministries under their control- for many of us this is a sign of progress in the stalling peace process – reviving our hope of having elections in June. The eight parties have decided on June 20 for the elections to Constituent Assembly.  Setting a date by itself is a huge leap for us … But even after their induction to the interim government, their extortion and intimidation is still making news.

A report on Kantipur says “a contractor of an under-construction school at Khajuri in eastern Dhanusha informed that some Maoist cadres asked for donation and threatened him by phone of exploding a bomb in the school and killing him if he defied their order. “

“Similarly, Maoist cadres at Mann of Kalikot thrashed seven villagers there. The Maoist cadres used stick, khukuris and knives and assaulted the villagers. The villagers are said to be seriously injured. Among the injured is one 14-year-old. “

Educational Reform- the Maoists’ Style

Have you wondered how the education system would work if the Maoists’ push for a reform gets a green signal? Nepali Times’ recent article “Little Maoists” gives you a peek into what it might actually look like. The article quotes CPN member Hisila Yami talking about their plans on education for an “All-Nepal”. And as I went through their course plan for children in classes four and five, I came across some very alarming topics.  Their 20 hour Military Science course would include “introduction to war, homemade guns,  explosives, grenades, and much more.” It doesn’t end with simple introduction, they will also be learning how to make and use guns.

So, if Maoists were to implement their plan, nine and ten year olds will be experimenting with guns and grenades… when I was ten I think I was still playing with dolls! While Nepal’s literacy rate has barely made 30 percent, this new reform if ever implemented would just take us a step backward.

P.S.: Hisila Yami is a graduate from the School of Planning and Architecture in Delhi, India, and is married to Maoist leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai.

Gaur Incident- Shocking & Barbaric

The recent bloodshed in Gaur has left many of us wondering if Nepal is pushing itself to a civil war. At least 27 have been reportedly killed in the clash between cadres of Madhesi People’s Rights Forum and Maoist affiliated Madhesi Rastriya Mukti Morcha.  Nepalnews reports both the parties were supposed to have mass meeting in close by areas and started clashing after MJF  vandalised Morcha’s podiums before the meeting.  And this small fight led up to some very shocking acts.

Human rights activists had startling revelations on how people were murdered in the attack:over a dozen were chased 5 to 8 kilometers and then killed, and 5 women were raped and their breasts were cut off before they were killed. Are we reaching the verge of a genocide? When I heard about Rwandian genocide in the late 90s and conflicts for Africa’s natural resources, I wondered how wars like these could ever happen, I felt I was in a different world… alas, such gory acts are for real, and could happen in places where you least expect them…

Where’s the evidence?

Bibek Bhandari, a Nepali student of International Communications in Texas, says the death threat to US officials is  sarcastic, and it’s very hard for him to trust anyone in this case. 

He further writes ” The Maoists have allegations against the king. It’s now been days that they have accused the king, but where is the evidence? They’ve just said it, but they got to prove the fact. From the king’s past actions it isn’t hard to say that he wouldn’t do it, and looking at the Maoists’ past activities it might just seem as another trick that they’re ready for. “

I am in the same note as Bibek is in this case. I am still waiting for the evidence. Sometime last week they came up with a CD which they said proved the king and the crown prince to be working out for a coup. But it turned out to be just some scanned newspaper clippings on Maoists. Yes… so much for all the allegations.

Click here to see the video.

Yes, you did click the right link… apparently, that’s all they had.

Have they joined the government for real?

The Maoists have joined the government but it seems like they have not given up their ways.  I don’ know if I am reading all the wrong news, but Maoists extortion doesn’t seem to have ebbed down at all. Minutes ago, I was talking about businessmen and now they are targeting Nepal’s monasteries as well!

The Times of India reports Nepal’s Prime Minister, Girija Prasad Koirala, met an unusual delegation. Clad in bright yellow and purple robes, nearly three dozen Buddhist heads of different monasteries told the premier how Maoists were visiting Buddhist gumbas and demanding money, crops and food.

I wasn’t expecting any of such demands… Maoists have already joined the government but they certainly havn’t changed their ways.

Strikes, Strikes & More Strikes

When I was in school in Kathmandu, I loved strikes. I usually never bothered why we had them but it was always fun to  get that extra day off, you could stay home, watch tv, chat with friends and even get time to finish that pending assignment. It was a privilege then, now it’s a nuisance.

For the last few months, everytime I read news on Nepal, I’ve always read about a strike going on some part of Nepal… against the king, against the government, against price hike, after some highway accident… the rich against the poor, the weak against the strong , and the list goes on and on.  I wonder if we could have a strike to stop all strikes!

The most recent one caught my eye… businessmen in Nepal have called upon an indefinite general strike urging Maoists to stop attacks and intimidation against them, and demanding the government maintain peace and security at industrial zones. The Maoists have joined the government but havn’t stopped intimidating businessmen. Last Sunday, they abducted and thrashed the owner of Hotel Woodlands, KTM for not fulfilling their demand of Rs 2 million donation.

Nepal’s news source says “Maoist leader Prachanda assured that actions had already been taken against the two cadres involved in the accident. Prachanda however accuses royalists of pumping up the current protests.

 And I spoke to my brother, he’s chilling out again.

Threats to Media

The so-called… unheard-of… armed group, Madhesi Tiger Nepal issued a press release threatening media and human rights activists for using their vehicles during general strikes.  They demand journalists not to use their vehicles to cover the strikes… does this mean they don’t do their or job or stress themselves out running around to do their job during strikes??? It’s very absurd that strikes are now the norm for getting your message out… last time I spoke to my brother, he was chilling out, basking in the sun, enjoying his day off from school because of a strike that he had no clue about. He said, ” it’s one more of those bandhs ( general strike), another day to relax.” But he knows his school’s having a hard time coping up with the frequent strikes, and his 4 year course might even take him 6 more months to complete.  On the other hand, my mother doesn’t get a day off. Usually government offices make coming to work a compulsion to defy strikes. So, whenever there’s a strike, she walks, and probably gets into work an hour late and gets out an hour early, tired and out of breath by the time she gets back home.

And I always thought, at least as a journalist, you can use your vehicle, and cover what’s happening – and you always expect some chaos on a “strike” day.  Apparently, Madhesi Tiger Nepal doesn’t share my thought…