Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy On Nepal
in the US Congress
on December 21, 2005

Some interesting points: (mostly verbatim)

� The army continues to see itself as the defender of an anachronistic, corrupt and autocratic monarchy.

� The political parties do not have a record of putting the interests of the nation above their own self interest. They urgently need to reform. Yet they are the real representatives of the Nepali people and there is no substitute for them.

� The international appeal to the King for reconciliation have failed. The Bush Administration should apply whatever pressure it can, including denying U.S. visas to Nepali officials and their families.

� The municipal elections announced by King Gyanendra for early next year, without any consultation with the political parties, are no solution. An attempt to apply a veneer of legitimacy to an otherwise undemocratic process will only prolong and exacerbate this crisis.

� There is a growing possibility that the King�s obstinacy and unpopularity will trigger massive civil unrest, shootings and arrests of many more civilians by soldiers and police, Nepal�s further isolation, and perhaps the end of the monarchy itself.

� 12 point understanding could be the basis for a national dialogue to restore democracy and end the conflict

� The United States should do everything possible including supporting a broadly inclusive political dialogue with or WITHOUT the participation of the palace.


Full speech:
- http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200512/122105f.html
- http://www.blog.com.np/?p=1052#more-1052

I also think that "democrati republic" is not practical. I doubt its practicability in the presence of barbaric force in the form of maoists.

So, I think the movement should be to bring the king back to the consitution. But its imperative that the party realize the past mistakes and start working on to rectify the past mistakes which also includes getting rid off party leadership and bring the clean record leaders.

I do not see any posibility of King steping down from thrown. I beleive he could be brought under constiitution.

Also, party is playing with fire by joining the hands with maoists. They cannot be trusted based upon there past trend. But party leasers are too narrow to think about the country. All they know is how to get a piece of pie.

My 2 cents

peace out

Lets keep attainable goals. Too sick of big talks. Kishne said he will make Nepal Singapore. Deuba said he has a magic stick to solve the maoists problems. All these BS.

"You need to learn to crawl, before you learn to walk".

Lets keep the attinable goals and work towards achieving it.

"You mentioned in the some thread above that Ashu is royalist and in the other thread you do not believe he is... I thought those statements made by you were contradictory." -highfly

Oh well, I went over all my Ashu-related postings just now... Couldn't find where I may have suggested him to be a royalist. Some of his screwed up arguments and/or their implications certainly give the king an advantage [therefore, attracting the critics], but I don't think that necessarily makes one a royalist. Sorry to have given you a possibly false impression.

This thread is no fun anymore. Nobody to argue with ;-) The semantics aside, we all seem to pretty much agree, which is good I guess... :-)

Echoes,

Thats the thing bro. Well in my part, I was not arguing for fun. I am really frustated by the situation in Nepal, to tell the truth. All it comes down to commoners. They suffer the most. Its really easy to talk about what is right and what is not and about philosophies. But implementation, thats the tough part.

It was a good conversation you. Unlike with others who start personal assault when you are critical.

Airight bro

peace out

Seems like this Ashu character has really gotten into you all. Why?

Riten,

I will tell my reasons. Although I do not agree with him in all the things he says, but I admire the facts that he is back in Nepal working over there. He is a Harvard graduate, so opportunites are plentyfull in US. But he chose to go back and work there. Unlike others who are all farts and no shit, he is for real.

I find his analysis of current poltical turmoil more real and practical than anybodys else. His views are balanced and working towards progressive solutions than just biased opinion and balant attacks on anybody.

peace out

I second that highfly.

This is the exact reason why folks like nepe and alike do anything to express their utter jealousy towards ashu.

Are you guys sure you have all the facts on Ashu right? Are you sure?

I have used Robin Bhandari's service with much satisfaction several times in the past. I would recommend his travel agency in the list above.

ps- to be fair to others, I did not even inquire with them. They could be equally good.

Some kind of cyber mob mentality exists in this cyber forum too. I see a select group of people attacking Ashu everytime.

I have seen ashu to be very down to earth in his postings. He is all about observing the ground realities and making his analysis according to what is best for the country as a whole.

Some of his attackers seem to be well educated, but they display too much inferiority complex. There is no need to attack ashu for his opinions. No need for name calling. Is it because these people feel intellectually threatened that they want to drag him down? Or are these people simply good for nothing khutta tanne mentality?

Ashu's points are pragmatic unlike some of your theoretical mahabharatas. You are all clamouring for the sky to open up and drop the panacea that will be the answer to everything. You have lost track of the main goal of democracy in your hate-ridden campaigns.

Thumbs up for Ashu.

Highfly,

I don't know why are you so worried about the poaaibility of nepal being a red state? Nepal would never be a red state. All the possibilities without the majority consensus is temporary as is the present day monarchy. Maoist and army are fighting for a long time now but they are getting no where.Fighting for the minority interest is the reason behind their failure. Now when Maoist join the democratic alliance, they have a possibility of being accepted by nepali.

However, if the major portin of population wants the country to be red state, what else we can do? so lets's pave a way toward a system where majority rules. Constitutional Assembly is what i see as the first step to start with.

Indisguise,
I agree with your stand on ceremonila monarchy. I hope most of the people agree with that. I think king have to make the decision right now. He should go for constitutional assembly. If current movement forces him to step down, they would ask a little more for their toil. They may not even accept ritual monarchy anymore.

But I have to confess that i am not going to stand on the forefront of current mvement. I am just pissed by the fact that a minority group is ruling the country posing to represent a greater nepal.

i have no sympathy over what political leaders did in the past. But i agree with their current movement and also with the maoist decision to assist parties. It's not getting us to utopia but it is at least a step forward.

Well, I realize I'm risking being perceived anti-Ashu [who I have nothing against, by the way] by writing this, but I feel that I have to say something!

Ashu's Harvard degree seems to be a big deal in sajha.com. I'm probably one of those who care the least about Ashu's personal life, and even I knew it somehow...so it must be one of the hot buttons here :-)

First of all, you guys need to grow up and give every individual equal space and attention. Someone may be a graduate of a well-known school but that in itself shouldn't mean anything. S/he has only equally as much intrinsic qualities of being a great individual as any other person.

Us Nepalis seems to suffer from this phenomenon of treating certain group of people as sacred based on the positions they occupy in the society. This is the same reason why we treat kings and others as gods and why a bureaucrat's daughter has an easier time finding a qualified husband.

The result of this has been that we've lagged behind as a country. We need to open up our minds and take every single individual as equally potential and not pre-judge. It should not matter whether s/he graduated from Harvard or TU.

Secondly, you must ask questions! That is the only way you can find out about a person's intrinsic qualities and what s/he truly believes in. A good and timely analogy I can think of is the confirmation hearings in the US Senate of the Supreme Court nominees... In most cases, they're graduates of some well-known schools but that does not prevent them from being rigorously grilled... Again, a degree may help someone gain some special skills, but if all Harvard (or any other school) graduates were automatically stars, then we wouldn't see these many problems in our society today...

I admit that the discussions on this forum sometimes gets too personal. It is unfortunate but you need to realize that this is an unmoderated forum--anybody can write anything and get away. So every one needs to take some precautions about protecting his/her real-life identity (such as by using a nickname). But if you do not wish to do so, then of course you risk being harassed... Simply whining isn't going to help permanently...

So again, I'm not anti-Ashu or anything but if you start thinking that doubting an individual (whether Ashu or Nepe or John Doe) and asking tough questions is inappropriate and a mob behavior, then you are a part or the result of the conspiracy that is holding us back...

My apologies that my posting is off-topic.

Cryptonite wrote

"I have seen ashu to be very down to earth in his postings."
--

मरि मरि हँासे म त.

हाहाहाहाहाहाहा......

sunnydev,

I think the possibility of Red State is very far fetched as you said. But the war will be very long if the party join the hands with maoists. There will be no legitimacy of the party if the maoist continue violence. I want maoists making a written committment. I cannot trust maoists.

The requirement of the Nepal is strong control framework finally realizing true democracy. Thats what I think.

The biggest obstacle is the current leadership. They are too narrow to even care of Nepal and Nepalis. Look whats happening right now. Look what Girija is saying. He is still playing cat and mouse game. He is indirectly saying king that if the king does not consider him then he will support maoists. So old leadership must go so that we are not left alone in the middle.

In the other hand if there is clean record leaders leading the way then the presuure is on the king. There will be public support.

Lets keep it simple. When people like Girija is urging for democracy who will buy that?

Echoes,
My response was for the query made by Riten. You are right it does not matter where you went, who you are and what you do.

But US is the land where even bureocats wants to stay illegally. And about Ashu, I said what I thought.

Lets keep the topic alive and stay in the track.

peace out

Highfly,

You are right. We are cursed to fight for a long may be forever. On the path toward true democracy, most of us may agree on purging these evils in the order they are listed; king or his extreme lust of power, Maoist radicals, Political mobs, outdated leadership in political parties, class discrimination, unethical business conducts and many more.

Current movement is gaining some momentum not because peole have faith on the current leadership within the political parties. I don't see that the protest is led by the leaders. people have allowed them to take the forefront. Even after the king retracts, those leaders' dream to be the king-surrogate is not happening.
In the hierarchy of the purification process, why don't we include support from less evils. maoist too had bent down to the people's wish and accepted to support them. However we can't deny that they have some ulterior goals to make this decision easier.
On the process or purification, those less evils can accept the sovereignty of people or die their fate.

AM I DREAMING OR my theory of "majority rules" is natural? I wish this transient phase be short.

I apologize for some of my earlier terse statements.

"Whatmore states"Anyone who does not see the power asymmetry between the King - a god, a military supreme commander - and the Netas - mere mortals - is deliberately blindfolding herself." he he What do you think ? Ppl don't goto colleges and universities for nothing. By making that statement you are undermining your fellow countrymen's intelligence."

>> It was not my intention to undermine Nepali intelligence. My attempt was to draw attention to the asymmetry between a King-based system and a people-based system - an asymmetry some people tend to ignore. This act of ignoring, I believe, has little to do with lack of information or knowledge or education or the like. It has more to do with the active attempt to equate the two systems by applying a veneer of "neutrality". It is an attempt to present the two systems as equally good (or equally bad, take your pick), when in fact, the inherent power structures of the two systems guarantee that it is not the case.

If anything, the fact that "neutrality" serves as an adequate cover to hide the differences is a testament to the educated (intelligent?) powers of spin. Thus, my rationale for drawing the analogy between "neutrality" and a blindfold.


"WHATMORE STATES,"The only reason the King is not a spent force is because he has command over the MILITARY FORCE - and I don't think anyone doubts that." he he The main reason the king made a comeback was because of all the MORONIC POLITICIANS did so well in the past 15yrs. That gave a very good excuse for the king for Coup d'etat."

>> This line of argument has been, in my opinion, all but destroyed in the last 10 months of the King's rule. What have we gained in exchange for the "moronic politicians" - bigger morons? Is the King's cabinet better - with all the corrupt (morally or otherwise) faces of yonderyears making unbelievable re-apprearances?

The headlining goal of the King's Feb 1 proclamation was Peace. Where are we now on that? It is hard to believe Peace is the top priority on the face of the relentless pursuit of one thing and one thing alone - the King's (flippant) decrees. Supposedly, the decree now is a municipal election in Feb. Nothing matters as far as that is concerned and it cannot be compromised. There are no efforts on peace talks (not even a reciprocation of the Maobaadi ploy of a "cease-fire"). Heck, there is no effort on concensus building, not even with the centrist forces. Is this the way to peace? And yes, it takes two sides to start talking but after seizing the initiative with the Coup, doesn't the onus fall upon the King to extend a hand, an olive branch whatever for the sake of Peace?

How has the King proved himself to be better than the "15 year" period?

No, as much as I would like to believe that the "failure" in the "15 years" was an excuse for the Royal coup, I cannot see how that "failure" has been or will ever be mitigated under the current structure. Military power is the basis for the King's takeover and continued rule - not any moral or ethical superiority over the "ordinary folks".


"WHATMORE,"And anybody who says there was no progress in the 10-odd years is a sorry victim of propaganda. Or is propagating it." AND YOU ARE NOT MR KNOWETALL ! Show us the facts not a lameass statement."

>> The facts are there for all to see and one does not have to be a Know-It-All to see it. Why do I say that? One can look at every possible metric used to "measure" progress. Access to transportation, access to telecommunication, per capita income, growth of per capita income, literacy - whatever you want to look at, whatever you may wish to choose - suggest that Nepal made substantial progress post 1990, until the King's active meddling in politics circa 2002.

Of course, I am not crediting the "moronic politicians" for the progress. I give kudos to the Nepali people. Perhaps, it could even be said that a democratic framework made unprecedented progress in Nepal possible DESPITE the weakness (of "moronic politicians"). The greatest gains were probably made at the local level - something that we do not even pause to consider most of the time. And all this in such a small space of time.

I leave you with a single sample metric (Data from World Bank's World Development Indicators database):

1961-1989 -> Approx. Duration of Panchayat
1978-1989 -> Last 11 years of Panchayat
1990-2001 -> First 11 years of "Multiparty Democracy"

Average annual GDP growth rate for the 1961-1989 period --- 3.09%
Average annual GDP growth rate for the 1978-1989 period --- 3.97%
Average annual GDP growth rate for the 1990-2001 period --- 5.06%

Disclaimer: This I offer as just a factoid, a beginning.

sunnydev,

One thing you mentioned is very intresting.

"Current movement is gaining some momentum not because peole have faith on the current leadership within the political parties. I don't see that the protest is led by the leaders. people have allowed them to take the forefront."

So basically there is no leadership. There is still time for internal reform while moving for real democracy. It will be too late when the movement turn into mob without leadership.

So I think the right activists should work to bring all three into negotiating table.

Lets take a step by step move. First lets bring maoists and king under constitution. Also parties under constitution. (hold accountable for their actions) Work on the control framework. Everybody should be accountable.

what more,

the conclusion drawn from the data presented is flawed. You should also look at the global economy and econmomy of the giant neighbors.

peace out

if you look at the three major industries of nepal (carpets, garmets and tourism - more than 50% of the exports and GDP) that escalated extremely in the 90's and toppled terribly in the 00's, we cannot make such illogical conclusions.

Very difficult to understand discussions here. In absolute monarchies, the concept of right is completely different from civilized societies. As shepherds, it�s the fundamental rights of the rulers how to raise their Bheda-Bokas and when to butcher them. As Bheda-Bokas, it�s the duty of subjects to meekly follow their shepherds for their welfare. So what�s the fuss? Where is the confusion? Long Live Tulsi Giri.

yo sabai kura chai aba nagarpalika ko chunab pachi herula.........jasle je gare ne, jasto baal laye ne........hami chunab gari chaadne chau. Political parties are doing big mistake for not taking part in this election. Aba lets see what happens with sobeu election( student union election) as they think this process is adding one more brick in their fort. Lets see the result. Jasle jai gare ne........desh bhakta party ko member ko heesab le i will take part in election. Chane tyo bhadako maanche laayera nai kina abaord gara.

jai desh jai naresh