Trouble in Shangri-La
Hey Folks,
Below is an analysis by a friend of mine of the present situation in Nepal. Having read it and viewed/ listened to other reports, it struck me that the situation exposes a few things many of us may never have noticed before.
For some time now, we haven’t heard much about the situation in Nepal, and what we have been hearing has presented a negative perspective of the Maoist insurgents (of course, we have a long history of disdain for the C-word) . Numerous times I’ve seen it reported that 13,000 had been killed during the insurgency, but not until today did I see it clearly reported that 13,000 INSURGENTS had died fighting for their revolution.
For the most part, I believe, Americans either are totally unaware of this situation, or they have some vague notion that “communist terrorists” are opposing a benign monarchy and killing good people in Nepal.
This, however, is not the case. Even though our government has provided military and political support for this monarchy and have designated the king’s enemies as “terrorists,” the people of Nepal - Maoists and otherwise - are strongly resisting the monarchy. The people's resistance makes it clear: the Maoists are not "terrorists" but are and have been freedom-fighters. It is the Bush regime that has been lying - and the press has been largely negligent, complicit, or a patsy.
Any honest, clear-eyed view of the reality in Nepal quickly reveals who is for the people's “Freedom” and “Democracy” and who is concentrating on privilege, power, and profit at the EXPENSE of the people.
See the National Geographic Video commentary directly above this posting. A generally good report, except for the “Who are the Good Guys” section, where the narrator can’t decide who the villain is, but where the worst thing he can say about the Maoists is that a civilian was killed in the crossfire between both forces and that an unstated percentage of civilians had died in the fighting between both forces.
And this report was created in November of 2005 BEFORE the “civilians” joined with the Maoists in declaring the monarchy and its military-based government to be “the Bad Guy” and the oppressor of the people - disregarding the Bush administration's claims to the contrary.
- Uke Man
Revolution at the Roof of the World
The U.S. media has been forced by recent dramatic events in Nepal to provide a modicum of coverage of the quickening political situation there.
Seven parliamentary parties, in alliance with the Maoist insurgency whichcontrols a large majority of the countryside, are poised to wrest power fromthe hereditary monarch, King (Shah) Gyanedra, who a year ago abolishedParliament and instituted military rule.
The Royal Nepali Army, among the worst violators of human rights in theworld today, has been freshly equipped with increasingly lethal arms fromtheir friends in the Bush administration, which has designated theanti-Maoist campaign part of the “War on Terror”.
Despite their efforts, the insurgency has grown in scope and now effectivelycontrols as much as 80% of the countryside. In their secure base areas, thenew People*s Government is building the nucleus of a future democratic Nepal where discrimination against women and minorities is being combated and the needs of the poorest people of the poorest country in the world are being advanced.
It looks like the capital, Kathmandu, a city of 11/2 million, where, despitea shoot-to-kill curfew, a general strike and protests of people from allwalks of life has paralyzed the city, may sooner, rather than later, beunder new management.
Hundreds of thousands are expected to protest today (Thursday) in the faceof the army and martial law. One can only hope that the army rank-and-file,who are ordinary Nepalis after all, will refuse to take part in a bloodysuppression of their fellow citizens and perhaps even join them.
In addition, Indian government envoys, including a relative of the King,have arrived, and it’s not too farfetched to wonder if their discussions mayinclude an offer to evacuate Gyanedra to exile in India.
Here are some sources:
BBC online for the most up-to-date general news:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4924610.stm
Hindustan Times (India) article with historical info:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1678888,00120001.htm
Amnesty International Statement:
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news/press/16959.shtml
Sunday times (London) article:http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,25689-2141744,00.html
Asia Times article on the international context:
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HD19Df03.html
Great first-hand articles including by Li Onestro, who traveled in the redareas of Nepal:
http://rwor.org/a/044/nepal-mass-upsurge.htmand:http://rwor.org/s/nepal.htm
The Nepali Maoists, in their own words- lengthy analytical articles: http://cpnm.org/new/English/statements/2005/statements_1feb2005.htm#17m
Below is an analysis by a friend of mine of the present situation in Nepal. Having read it and viewed/ listened to other reports, it struck me that the situation exposes a few things many of us may never have noticed before.
For some time now, we haven’t heard much about the situation in Nepal, and what we have been hearing has presented a negative perspective of the Maoist insurgents (of course, we have a long history of disdain for the C-word) . Numerous times I’ve seen it reported that 13,000 had been killed during the insurgency, but not until today did I see it clearly reported that 13,000 INSURGENTS had died fighting for their revolution.
For the most part, I believe, Americans either are totally unaware of this situation, or they have some vague notion that “communist terrorists” are opposing a benign monarchy and killing good people in Nepal.
This, however, is not the case. Even though our government has provided military and political support for this monarchy and have designated the king’s enemies as “terrorists,” the people of Nepal - Maoists and otherwise - are strongly resisting the monarchy. The people's resistance makes it clear: the Maoists are not "terrorists" but are and have been freedom-fighters. It is the Bush regime that has been lying - and the press has been largely negligent, complicit, or a patsy.
Any honest, clear-eyed view of the reality in Nepal quickly reveals who is for the people's “Freedom” and “Democracy” and who is concentrating on privilege, power, and profit at the EXPENSE of the people.
See the National Geographic Video commentary directly above this posting. A generally good report, except for the “Who are the Good Guys” section, where the narrator can’t decide who the villain is, but where the worst thing he can say about the Maoists is that a civilian was killed in the crossfire between both forces and that an unstated percentage of civilians had died in the fighting between both forces.
And this report was created in November of 2005 BEFORE the “civilians” joined with the Maoists in declaring the monarchy and its military-based government to be “the Bad Guy” and the oppressor of the people - disregarding the Bush administration's claims to the contrary.
- Uke Man
Revolution at the Roof of the World
The U.S. media has been forced by recent dramatic events in Nepal to provide a modicum of coverage of the quickening political situation there.
Seven parliamentary parties, in alliance with the Maoist insurgency whichcontrols a large majority of the countryside, are poised to wrest power fromthe hereditary monarch, King (Shah) Gyanedra, who a year ago abolishedParliament and instituted military rule.
The Royal Nepali Army, among the worst violators of human rights in theworld today, has been freshly equipped with increasingly lethal arms fromtheir friends in the Bush administration, which has designated theanti-Maoist campaign part of the “War on Terror”.
Despite their efforts, the insurgency has grown in scope and now effectivelycontrols as much as 80% of the countryside. In their secure base areas, thenew People*s Government is building the nucleus of a future democratic Nepal where discrimination against women and minorities is being combated and the needs of the poorest people of the poorest country in the world are being advanced.
It looks like the capital, Kathmandu, a city of 11/2 million, where, despitea shoot-to-kill curfew, a general strike and protests of people from allwalks of life has paralyzed the city, may sooner, rather than later, beunder new management.
Hundreds of thousands are expected to protest today (Thursday) in the faceof the army and martial law. One can only hope that the army rank-and-file,who are ordinary Nepalis after all, will refuse to take part in a bloodysuppression of their fellow citizens and perhaps even join them.
In addition, Indian government envoys, including a relative of the King,have arrived, and it’s not too farfetched to wonder if their discussions mayinclude an offer to evacuate Gyanedra to exile in India.
Here are some sources:
BBC online for the most up-to-date general news:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4924610.stm
Hindustan Times (India) article with historical info:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1678888,00120001.htm
Amnesty International Statement:
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news/press/16959.shtml
Sunday times (London) article:http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,25689-2141744,00.html
Asia Times article on the international context:
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HD19Df03.html
Great first-hand articles including by Li Onestro, who traveled in the redareas of Nepal:
http://rwor.org/a/044/nepal-mass-upsurge.htmand:http://rwor.org/s/nepal.htm
The Nepali Maoists, in their own words- lengthy analytical articles: http://cpnm.org/new/English/statements/2005/statements_1feb2005.htm#17m
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