Dedicated to Daniel Pearl

It’s really much disappointing to hear the news of accidents. After many months, this morning death of 14 passengers in a bus accident in Chitwan once again hurt me.

My heartfelt condolence to those killed in the accident.

At least 14 people were killed and 31 injured when a passenger bus veered off the road and plunged into Trishuli river of Chitwan on the Prithvi Highway, some 130 kilometers southwest of Kathmandu, on Monday night.

Policemen in Chitwan said the bus, which was heading towards Birgunj, a southeastern business city, from Kathmandu, fell some 130 meters down the highway.

The injured have been brought to Kathmandu and Bharatpur for treatment.

The injured, who are undergoing treatment in various hospitals in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur, said majority passengers were Indian nationals.

Assistant Sub Inspector of Police Ramesh Silwal said the reason of the accident hasn’t yet been known.

He also said almost all dead bodies have been recovered. However, identity of only two passengers has been known.

Terai once again began reeling under serious crisis, as the Madheshee People’s Rights Forum (MPRF) resumed its protests from Monday. It’s so disappointing to hear that the MPRF refused to sit in a dialogue with the government stating that Home Minister hasn’t resigned yet. The MPRF had demanded the resignation of the Home Minister as a precondition for the talks. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on February 8, during his second statement to the nation, addressed all the demands raised by the Madheshee people; proportional representation, federal structure of the state and guarantee of Madheshee representation in the governance. All the Madheshee leaders; including the MPRF had welcomed the PM’s statement. But I haven’t understood why the MPRF has resumed its protests. Rumours are around and I also strongly believe that the MPRF’s demand of the Home Minister’s resignation smacks foul. Some of the NC leaders who can’t see the progress, which Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula has gained, are busy conspiring against him. Those leaders, led by PM’s daughter Sujata Koirala are backing the MPRF to seek the resignation of Sitaula. Otherwise, there is no any justification of seeking Sitaula’s resignation. The Madheshee people should understand this reality and stop attending any protests in the terai region. It’s high time all people; including Madheshee, indigenous nationalities and others nurture mutual harmony to prepare the environment for constituent assembly polls. Such protests are sure to hamper the constituent assembly polls. And once the CA poll will be deferred, the regressive forces will begin intervening the democratic process.

Read today’s editorial in The Kathmandu Post

I thought it would be interesting for all to read the recent declaration by More Characterless Girls (Jhan Charitraheen Cheliharu). The declaration was carried by both the Nepali Times and Kantipur daily. I don’t have any comments on its content. But I have a reservation that whether or not it’s good to give such a huge space to such underground group, which doesn’t want to introduce itself to the readers. I think we are fooling the readers by presenting the item, which has no any authenticity.

However, I enjoyed reading the piece. I also read a strong response by a scribe. He has launched a blog called charitrabanchela (Charactered boy), as a counter to those charitraheen cheliharu (characterless girls). I am unable to put the response, as the language being used in the stuff may sound much obcene to my friends. If you want to read it please visit www.charitrawan.blogspot.com

Read the article published in the Nepali Times:

Jhan Charitrahin chelis declarations made me start this blog.

Hope you will like it.

FEBRUARY 2007 DECLARATION of Jhan Charatraheen Cheli
(Courtesy: UWB)

We, a hardline faction of the underground group, Charitraheen Chelis (Girls of Bad Character), have broken off and declared Nepali women autonomous.

Our breakaway faction, Jhan Charitraheen Cheli (Girls of Even Worse Character), roundly denounces the members of the original Charitraheen Cheli.

“The chelis of our mau-samuha (mother-group) did not behave badly enough,” says one member of the Jhan Charitraheen Cheli. “Most of them are happily married, with well brought-up children. Two chelis have a steady boyfriend– meaning, one each, not one in common! And the others don’t like men, or even women,” she complains. “For example, after the 2005 coup they called for a sex boycott till the reinstatement of democracy – but they forgot to call off the boycott after April 2006! We take this as a grave conspiracy,” she adds, explaining, “That is why we had to break away and start our own underground group.”

The first meeting of the Jhan Charitraheen Cheli took place in mid February
in a seedy bar in Kathmandu.

Our first agenda was to revisit the 40 points’ declaration made by our mau-samuha on March 4, 2005, through their official mouthpieces, Nepali Times and Kantipur, both edited by dishy men. We discovered that the 40 points are pretty damn good, especially Point No. 1, which asserts our right to take up agendas solely on the basis of our wishes and needs.

“That mau-samuha wasn’t all bad,” one member was heard admitting.

After re-passing our mau-samuha’s 40 points’ declaration, we progressed on to other, more timely matters. Our twelve-point declarations are as follows:

1. Make love, not regression! We declare that the sex boycott called by our mau-samuha in 2005 is comprehensively over, retroactive to April 2006, but only for those of the loktantrik persuasion.

2. Vision 50/50: No penises in Parliament! We demand that until 50 percent of seats in Parliament are reserved for women of diverse backgrounds, women of diverse backgrounds should occupy all 100 percent of Parliamentary seats. The same goes for all government bodies! 50 percent or bust!

3. Naturalize foreign jwais! One of our brave chelis has volunteered to sacrifice her independence (temporarily) to marry a foreign man, only to seek full naturalization and citizenship rights for bideshi jwais (foreign sons-in-law). Qualified candidates, please apply with CV, photo and statistics.

4. 40 is better than 33! We applaud the CPN(M) for filling 40 percent of their Parliamentary seats with women. But why not 50 percent?

5. And what’s with the grey coats? We’ve noticed Maoist women open their mouths only to repeat the same carefully rehearsed party-approved lines. Ladies, we invite you to release your individuality from the party’s command. Speak your minds freely. Unleash yourself from all uniformity. Start by getting rid of those awful coats.

6. Whipping is for brutes! Women of all political parties, Defy all whips placed by your party denying women’s rights. Do not sacrifice our rights for ‘more important’ agendas set by your party’s men. You know they will only betray us, yet again.

7. New leadership for the New Nepal! We nominate Ram Kumari Jhankri as the first President of Nepal.

8. Turn the National Women’s Commission into a constitutional body! But first, fill 50 percent of the positions in the Constitutional Council (which forms all constitutional bodies) with women. If not, fill all 100 percent of the positions with women. It’s 50 percent or bust!

9. Hello? OHCHR? How many years before a single case comes to trial? We demand that the case over Maina Sunwar’s torture and murder in military custody be seen through properly. The case was filed with the Police, and they have tried to contact the Army; but 16 letters later, there has been no reply. Perhaps Ambassador Moriarty has insights from his tour of army barracks? Maybe he could try getting the Army to respond?

10. Don’t forget what makes the world go around! We unanimously declare the sexiest man in Nepal to be Sunil Babu Pant of the Blue Diamond Society.

11. Donors, back off! All your projects and networks and alliances and seminars are keeping our best women too busy to lead the women’s movement. Back off! Their country needs them more than your country reports do.

12. Give it up, give it up, give it up! We demand that all our demands be met by March 8, International Women’s Day, or else we will declare a nationwide chulo-ra-cholo bandh (stove-and-blouse closure). That’s right, boys: No food, and no sex for you. Nada. Zip. Nothing. No joy till you capitulate.

In conclusion, we would like to declare that – following the example of other successful rebel groups before us – we are fully prepared to come above-ground to take part in negotiations, should the government invite us for talks.

Jaya Nari!
*The Jhan Charitraheen Chelis*

Maoists seem to have gone berserk with the feeling that they lost their vote banks in the terai region. Lately, they have been intervening the programs and attacking the cadres of Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and even the Madheshee People’s Rights Forum. It’s true that the Maoists significantly lost their control in the terai region due to the 15-day long protests in January.

But the way, the Maoists have been intervening the programs of other political parties, shows they haven’t yet changed their attitude even after they came to peaceful politics.

The Maoists havent’ yet expressed their democratic character despite their leadership’s repeaded pledges.

But the Maoists must take not of the fact that they can never win heart and mind of the people if they continue expressing their so-called megalomania.

Read the news published in The Kathmand Post for reference:

Maoists, MPRF cadres clash in Rupandehi; police personnel critically injured in accidental fire

By Madhav Dhungana

My dear friends,

I am putting a debate for all of you. Is it really good for us to declare our country a republic through parliament? People have numerous ideas. Some say the Maoists havent’ yet changed; I mean they haven’t changed their attitudes and they have continued intimidating, torturing and even abducting people in many parts of the country. Some say our leaders are not visionary and once there won’t be king, other elements will start playing in that vacuum, and we will become the citizen of India. Some say the Nepali Army may not tolerate it and it will try to take over power further inviting chaos.

But some strongly say the monarchy in Nepal never worked for the people and it is not people-friendly. They argue that once we dismiss monarchy, we will cut off the root of conspiracies and our country will move ahead rapidly. I would like to know what people; especially youth, intellectuals think over this idea. With this notion in mind I am putting this issue for a debate. Please put your opinion and let all people know what our youth and intellectuals in fact want?

The terai unrest which continued for more than fifteen days and claimed over two dozen lives left a bitter lesson for all political parties. I guess it is the bitterest for the Maoists, who used to claim the terai is under their control. I would say the terai Aandolan (movement) swept away not only the Maoists but it also challenged other political parties; especially Nepali Congres, UML and the Nepal Sadbhawana Party. Oh yes, the 15-day movement was a boon for Upendra Yadav, the chairman of the so-called Madheshi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF). Yadav, who was dismissed by the Maoists in the past, in fact challenged the Maoists and other political parties, who used to brag about their strength in the terai, has strongly secured his position in the terai. It’s interesting, Yadav, though he doesn’t have a party (MPRF is not a party as such), could become a hero over night. Yadav jee, luck has supported you. As Nepalis say if the moon is on your right side, nobody can harm you (Chandrama Dahina Bhaye, Kasaiko Kehi Lagdaina), you won the battle. I have some reservations over the terai unrest. Although the movement was for genuine cause, the royalists and I would say Indians infiltrated the protests and made them very violent.

Yesterday, I heard a news that the Maoist cadres obstructed the mass meeting of MPRF in Rupandehi. It shows how scared and insecured are the Maoists now after the terai movement. They are specially much scared and much irritated at the same time with the MPRF because the stronger the MPRF becomes, the weaker becomes the Maoists in the terai. This is also because Prachanda scheduled his 15-day special program for terai and he has been speaking at various forums in the terai. But it’s not as easy as the Maoists and other political parties are thinking to win the heart and soul of the terai people; especially after the terai unrest. I am sure the terai people have generated the feeling of ethnicity after the movement. They are looking for especially the person of the terai origin and I am sure they will vote for such candidates only. It also squarely put a pressure upon all other political parties to select the candidates of terai origin in the terai region. Otherwise, the Pahadi candidate, no matter how good and competent he may be, can’t win the elections.

Once again, Yadav has emerged as the strongest candidate for the terai region. I advise Yadav jee not to play the ethnic/communal card and not to flare the communal feeling. It will divide the nation and it will ultimately harm all the Nepalese people. I would appreciate, if Yadav gets elected and raises those genuine issues, suppressed for years, in the parliament.

During the month of October, the Danielpearl foundation broadcasts World Music Days eSTAGE an on-line gallery and radio station featuring music, poetry, stories, art, photography, articles, and  dedications echoing  Danny’s ideals of tolerance and humanity.

Daniel Pearl World Music Days was created in response to the 2002 kidnapping and murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl at the hands of extremists in Karachi, Pakistan. Danny’s family and friends came together to work towards a more humane world, forming the Daniel Pearl Foundation, whose mission is to promote cross-cultural understanding through journalism, music, and dialogue.

Danny was a talented musician who joined musical groups in every community in which he lived, leaving behind a long trail of musician-friends spanning the entire globe. Commemorating Danny’s October 10th birthday, World Music Days uses the universal language of music to encourage fellowship across cultures and build a platform of Harmony for Humanity.

The United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) on Friday said the total number of weapons of the PLA registered in seven cantonment sites so far is 3,428. And the total number of PLA combatants, so far registered in seven cantonments is 30,852. The figure. It comes around 10 Maoist combatants shared one weapon and fought for 10 years.  During the press conference, UNMIN Chief Ian Martin also looked much surprised while presenting the figure. He said when he met with Maoist leaders before beginning the registration of PLA combatants and their weapons, a Maoist leader told him that the number of weapons is far more than their combatants. But he must have awestruck to find the Maoists returned so few weapons. I am sure the Maoists hid almost half of their weapons. It is further justified by their AK 47s. If they purchased AK 47s, they must have purchased other weapons also. The Maoists have also not put all their real combatants in cantonments. They are planning to influence the Constituent Assembly elections for which they have retained their arms and combatants. It’s a huge challenge for the UN, political parties and the civil society in Nepal to find out the exact number of weapons the Maoists have hidden.

The UNMIN also said it is not and will not be in a position to state whether the weapons of the Maoist’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), it has registered, correspond to the full total of weapons held by the Maoist army.

While making public the report of the registration of PLA combatants and weapons, in Kathmandu Chief of the UNMIN and Special Representative of the UN Secretary General Ian Martin said the total number of weapons of the PLA registered in seven cantonment sites so far is 3,428.

 He also said the Nepal Army (NA) has made available to UNMIN a breakdown by types of 3,430 weapons, which it states were taken from the NA, the Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force.

 “UNMIN is not in a position to confirm or refute reports of weapons purchases by or on behalf of the CPN (M), although the weapons registered include a number of weapons not held in the stocks of the state security forces, such as AK-47s,” he said at a press meet, organized here.

 He also said any allegation or report that weapons continue to be held by the CPN (M) in breach of the Agreement on Monitoring of the Management of Arms and Armies (AMMAA) will be investigated by UN arms monitors, including through Joint Monitoring Teams (JMTs) comprised of one UN monitor serving as team leader, one monitor from the NA and one monitor from the Maoist army.

 He, however, said there is a high degree of correspondence between the types of weapons listed by the NA and the types of weapons registered. “The Joint Monitoring Coordination Committee (JMCC) has agreed to compare these listings and report its conclusions to the parties,” he said.

 The UNMIN report also said the total number of Maoist combatants, registered at the seven main cantonment sites, including those from the associated satellite cantonment sites, is 30,852. “UNMIN is in the process of registering members of the Maoist army currently engaged in leadership security arrangements or undergoing medical treatment outside the cantonment sites,” the report said.

 While stating that the registration of Maoist weapons has not however been completed, he said the AMMAA provides that “security provisions will be made for CPN (M) leaders through understanding with the government.” “UNMIN has urged the parties to reach such an understanding, which is under negotiation but has not yet been concluded,” Martin said.

 He also said the UNMIN is in the process of registering members of the Maoist army currently engaged in leadership security arrangements or undergoing medical treatment outside the cantonment sites.

 The UNMIN report further said the types of PLA weapons so far registered are 91 mortars (of which 55 are locally-made); 66 machine guns; 2,403 rifles; 61 automatic weapons (sub-machine guns); 114 side-arms; 212 shotguns; 253 various/miscellaneous; and 233 home-made weapons. “This includes 524 weapons retained for perimeter security by designated guards, in accordance with the AMMAA, and 49 of the weapons are so far retained away from the cantonments, pending an understanding with the government on arrangements for personal security of leaders,” the report said.

 Many combatants return to cantonments

Martin said many PLA combatants, who had left the cantonments, have returned to their respective cantonments. “Although I don’t have exact figure of how many of them had left the cantonments and how many returned, I have heard many of them have returned to their cantonments,” he said.

 He also reiterated that the departures from the cantonments are a clear breach of the agreement. “UNMIN has expressed its concern about conditions at the cantonment sites and urges both parties to cooperate over urgent measures to improve conditions,” he said.

Ha ha…it’s really interesting to hear that United States Ambassador to Nepal James F Moriarty on Friday praised Maoist leader Prachanda and expressed his desire to shake hand with the rebel leader.

It amused me alot because Moriarty has been known as the harsh critic of the Maoists. Although I agree with many of Moriarty’s remarks on the Maoists, I have some reservation for his comments on Nepal’s political and other issues.

I can’t wait to see Moriarty shake hand with Prachanda. I am sure all Nepalis will be much thrilled to see that scene. 

Moriarty speaking at a program in Kathman said, “I welcome Mr Prachanda’s coming into main stream politics. He has not done yet, (but) his some moves are encouraging,” he said, adding, “Lot of his moves has made me worried.”

He said he wants to leave the country shaking hand with Prachanda.

He also said the Maoists violated the peace accord by coming out of the cantonment. “The UN has rightly noted that this is a clear breach of Maoist commitments and has called upon Maoist combatants to return to the cantonment immediately,” he said. “If Maoists do not respond immediately by doing just as the UN has asked, they will be putting Nepal’s peace process at a risk.”

While urging the political parties and civil society to include the marginalized people in the federal system, he said, “You just cannot close down the door, sit and decide the future of other excluded groups of people. They should be consulted and included in the peace process.”

 Let’s wish for that day when Moriarty will hug Prachanda and shake hand with him. 

As I was in Nepal’s Interim Parliament on Wednesday and heard the lawmakers criticize King Gyanendra’s controversial remarks on February 19, I concluded that a real battle between the Parliament and the Palace began in Nepal. The lawmakers repeatedly said the relevance of the monarchy in Nepal has finished. They said the monarchy must be eliminated for the betterment of the country. I was surprised to see Nepal Congress lawmaker Ram Chandra Poudel criticizing the king. He said the monarchy and democracy are always antithetical. Giving a reference of the past when senior leaders BP Koirala, Ganesh Man Singh, Subarna Shumshere Rana, Manmohan Adhikary tried to develop better relations with various monarchs, he said the monarchs paid them back with torture and death. I also felt Poudel was right in his conclusion that monarchy has no relevance in Nepal. Why should we continue paying such huge allowance to the king who never thinks good of us.

Tek Bahadur Chokhyal of Nepali Congress (Democratic) went to the extent of accusing King Gyanendra of murdering his brother (Late King Birendra). He said the murderer king should be eliminated. All the lawmakers strongly called upon the parliament to immediately declare Nepal as a republican state. Watching such  hot deliberations from the lawmakers, I was realy surprised to feel that the the tug of war between the parliament and the palace has reached to the melting point. Yes, none of the monarchs in Nepal worked for the people. They always tried to accumulate property and continued fooling the people with the false notion that the monarchs are the symbol of Lord Bishnu.

The parliament has rightfully asked the government to take immediate action against the king. And interestingly, the lawmakers also claimed that they would file a vote of no confidence against the government in case the government failed to take action against the king.

The king’s statement, I also think is filled with conspiracies. He may be trying to take over power if the parties again fail to hold the Constituent Assembly elections. The king’s remarks of the Democracy Day is a part of the conspiracy and he is preparing the ground for that. I have some two months ago had written an article in the Kathmandu Post arguing that the parliament must proclaim republic to dismiss the discussion on the palace. As the monarchy continues, our leaders will always feel scared and they will concentrate on the issue of monarchy and its remarks, and number of other issues of development will remain sidelined. We can feel it now also. There are dozens of issues being raised by dozens of groups in Nepal but the government and the parliament has been engaged in a debate on the king’s remarks. Once the monarchy is eliminated, no discussion will start on it and the government and the parliament will begin discussing other development agenda. And it’s also a fact that the palace always creates political, social and political chaos which will obstruct the government in its works and it will ultimately build an opinion for the monarchy. We can feel it now also. IT is the nature of the monarchy which always wants power and wants to rule the people in an autocratic way. Therefore, the palace will continue conspiring against democracy to regain power. But we will be free from such conspiracies once and for all when the parliament will proclaim republic. Otherwise, the political parties and the government will also continue suspecting the Nepali Army, which will also obstruct in building better relations between the security and the government in Nepal. So why not do away with the monarchy in Nepal?

I am sure the battle between the parliament and the palace will continue and one day the king will be dismissed.