The following is an update from an ally of Atlas in Nepal on the situation unfolding in Kathmandu. It is anonymous for safety concerns.
Dear friends of liberty,
I am writing to update you on the situation in Nepal. Politically, this must be the worst situation in the last three years. In 2006, radical revolutionary Maoists were brought into the political process through a peace deal. A constitutional assembly election was held as a part of the deal and the Maoists became the largest party (by force, I will add).
They formed a government, ran it for nine months and resigned. Since that time they have been kicking and screaming about establishing an “authoritarian people’s regime” in the country. As they stepped down from the government, they have not let the parliament function and there has been no progress toward the making of a constitution.
Binod Joshi/AP
The new Nepali constitution is due May 28th. On the 29th of May, Nepal will technically be a country without a constitution. There is no chance that the constitution, which has been in the works for two years, will be ready. Political polarization has increased like never before and the Maoists are demanding that the constitution can only be established if they are leading the government. They have made it clear in the last several months that they will establish their “authoritarian people’s regime” at any cost. They have also communicated clearly that they will use their power in the House of Representatives as well as their power in the streets to capture control of the state.
On May Day (the first of the month) they launched their next phase and the biggest ever campaign to take over government. They have made it clear that they will not give up until they achieve their mission. An estimated 1.5 million Maoists cadres from across the country took to the streets to stage a strike in hopes that the Constituent Assembly would resign. The city of Kathmandu came to a standstill. All schools, businesses, public buildings, party venues, open spaces, houses under construction, floors of department stores, and parks in the capital city were shut down and fully occupied by the Maoists. All the workers were threatened to be on the streets. Food and fuel were running out, electricity rationed. They forced households to feed and lodge at least four people every day as their duty in “support of the great revolution.”
Extortion to raise funds for this campaign has been rampant and there are several groups of Maoists cadres coming to each entity (big or small) to demand donations and the minimal ask is USD 100 and can be as big as USD 100,000 depending on the volume of business. (Nepal’s per capita income is USD 400) The whole society looked confused about what would happen in the following days! The state was prepared to take any steps necessary to maintain peace, and gathered about 15,000 forces in the city to resist the 1.5 million fighters in the street.
Fortunately, on the sixth day of the strike at least 20,000 people fought back in a counter-protest calling for end to the Maoist-led strike. The business community, human rights organizations and civil society groups said enough is enough.
After six days, their strike had failed in Kathmandu. But the future is uncertain. There is political deadlock and the United Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) is declaring that they will put forth a new “people’s constitution” unilaterally. The situation has improved but it’s only temporary. The whole of last week we have been rallying to build up a greater campaign and coalition. I am hoping to have more updates by the end of this week.
For more information on the situation, see this article from the Himalayan Times
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Dear editor,
Please, don’t mind to read this long comment which you can offer to all for discussion.
Whom and why the Maoists stopped the strike in Nepal? But their threatening and protests is in the same position. They want to disturb the people with protests. Nepalese people do not want any kind of communist authoritarianism, they aspire only full democracy. The concerns of the people are political stability, peace and good governance. A democratic political system is always put at the highest echelon. It is because only a good and well-established political system can lead the public mass by determining appropriate social and economic management of the state through concrete policies and programmers. But, mainly the so-called three bigger parties– the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and the Maoist – have been sucking blood of the people like the vampires by sharing power and position only amongst themselves. The Maoists want the present government to step down, to be replaced by one led by themselves. The government wants the Maoists to return all confiscated property, disband their militant youth wing (YCL), be reasonable about the rehabilitation of their ex-combatants into mainstream society, and a few other lesser demands before a consensus government can even be considered. Neither side is backing down. The Nepali people wake up every day not knowing how safe their life and property are. Both the members of Govt. and Maoist leaders are visionless how to build the country. They are all traitors.
Nationality cannot be saved by miscreants fed by foreigners. Nepal has been known as the party of opportunists and destructors.The court, national army and various bodies of the state should fulfil their respective responsibility. Although Girija has died away the nation will not be able to become free from the crimes he committed. After general election- 1990, Girija Prasad became Prime Minister. He came out aggressive in spreading the influence of Congress in every organ of the politics and administration by finishing off opposition. The current violence, murder, theft, rape and insecurity started from 1991. The creator of Maoist rebellion was Girija. After 1992 in name of annihilating Masal-Communists (later who called the Maoists) the murder, suppression, rape was not much it crossed the limit. In revenge, Maoist systematically killed thousands of civilians, police and army personnel. Millions worth physical infrastructure was destroyed or burned.
Now, the Maoists are opening a ‘Pandora’s Box’ (evils collections) in the name of so-called- ‘people’s supremacy’ in another word- ‘one party communist anarchism’. The Maoist-led government (2009) failed to maintain the rule of law and become failure to provide social justice to the common people. Due to the Maoist leadership the rule of law, Judiciary, Nepal army, and prestige of Nepalese identities including Pashupatinath, religious culture & traditions are at peril. The Maoist, during the insurgency, destroyed infrastructure, including projects of hydro-power, irrigation projects, radio stations, television, suspension-bridges and telephone towers. So, the poor Nepalese people are still in painful. Then, why and whom the Maoists are showing the drama in the world. We thought, the Maoist may be political party to save the prestige of Nepalese people but the Maoists could not do for the benefits of the people. Without vision and political honesty no one can move the nation. Now the Maoists are confused and they are manifesting a double standard for power.
We, Nepalese people are suffering from the notorious activities of
Nepalese traitors as well as UNMIN. The main cause of the crisis in Nepal is UNMIN, because the UNMIN listens only to the Maoist rebels and the corrupt leaders of Congress, UML and Maoist leaders. Nowhere in the world, would a country be able to protect its sovereignty by making the national army weak and powerless? The national army can’t compare with Maoist’s army. Due to the suspicious activities of UNMIN, now, in Nepal, we have two kinds of army- the national army and the Maoist’s army. Can we imagine two kinds of army in a country? Why UNMIN, now, is not responsible for the overall management and supervision of Maoist army and their movement?
If anybody points the truth about peaceful assignment of UNMIN, we can read the statements of the Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai. He says- ‘After the abolition of the monarchy, would try to resist, and our main contradiction then would be with the bourgeois democratic parties. After April 2009 [when Prachanda resigned from government], that phase of the Constituent Assembly and implementation of the bourgeois democratic republic was more or less complete. We had formulated the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), we had our base areas, we had a lot of mass support, and all this we have been able to preserve. The PLA is still with us, and the arms we collected during that war are still with us within the single-key system, monitored by the United Nations team, but basically the key is with us and the army is with us and we have never surrendered. We are still continuing in the path of revolution.’ Is it democratic thinking? Can Indian leaders and America & UN’s diplomats answer the result? I am sorry to write that it was a great blunder of Indian diplomats- Shyam Saran, Sive Shankar Mukharejee, Rakesh Sood and other officials who not only blundered in their assessment of Maoist but
also did much harm to Indian’s interests in Nepal.
Whom and why the Maoists stopped the strike in Nepal? Now, Nepalese Maoists, RIM and COMPOSA have been joining the hands for one-party anarchist-Communist rule. The Nepalese and Indian people are not secure. The situation is being very dark. The Maoists proposal is just like a poisonous wine in a new bottle. Without analyzing the assumption, the Indian leaders supported the Nepalese Maoist’s hypocrisy. ‘Crows are never the white for washing.’
What were pitfalls of the Constitution of 1990? Why was it suspended
without reason? What kind of new constitution they require? These are
the causes of crisis in Nepal. Nepalese democratic exercise faced the
black period in between 2005-2010. During the period, the Nepalese people
tolerated the worst political practice made by corrupt leaders. Nepalese people feel ashamed of so called leaders who are giving slogans to built New Nepal. The culprit leaders are trying to make the people fool. The so-called founders of the Republic Nepal made us ashamed before the world. The power mongers, opportunists, corrupt, ethics-less, kidnappers and killers are now the advocators of the constitution. The democratic powers like USA, European Union, UNO and others are not sounding against the undemocratic attitude in Nepal. ‘A dog’s tail in a barrel always crooked.’ The so-called three big parties, the Maoists including NC and UMLs are fighting only for Power & Money. During the protests and strike of the Maoists may be violence.
The nation’s future seems dark because they have walked as directed by unseen force beckons without studying Nepal’s geographical reality and sensitivity. It was these corrupt people who drained the state coffer yesterday, and today also these are the very ones. Nepal will not become firm without punishing them. Nepali NC, UML and Maoist leaderships and the agreement 24 April 2006 with the King has already failed. So, there should revive the King’s proclamation 20 Apr.2006, according to the 1990 constitution and form all party cabinet including the foreigners who want peace and democracy in Nepal. From that a path should be searched with Everyone’s agreement to save the nation. I request- the entire democratic world also should think positively, how to save the peace & democracy in Nepal?
Thank you.
Dirgha Raj Prasai
Former member of Parliament,nepal.
Political Analyst. Email: dirgharajprasai@gmail.com