An even bigger civil war for Nepal?

[crazyjizzy]

 

 

 

 

I am afraid that this fine country will descend into war, anarchy, and bedlam. I don't know how it could be avoided, even if the Monarchy abdicates. I think that in that case, the country will probably become a "populist" mess, like post-1917 Russia, Maoist China, Cambodia, or post-fall Vietnam. There have already been hints of "re-education" of the merchantile classes, and the educated elite.

 

Nepal Maoist clash leaves 23 dead

 

Police have detained hundreds of people in Kathmandu

Twenty-three people have been killed in a clash in Nepal, officials say.

Six security forces and 17 Maoist rebels were found dead following an attack on an army patrol on Saturday night, the army said.

 

Meanwhile Nepalese opposition parties called for three more days of protests after scores of people were arrested in clashes in the capital on Saturday.

 

An alliance of seven parties is demanding that King Gyanendra give up the absolute power he seized last year.

 

"There will be no break in the struggle for democracy" said Madhav Kumar Nepal, of the Communist Party of Nepal.

 

Police were out in force in Kathmandu on Sunday, while protests were on a smaller scale than on Saturday.

 

House arrest

 

An opposition co-ordination committee also announced a general strike to be held across the country on Thursday.

 

 

 

The opposition wants its supporters to boycott local elections next month, which it says are undemocratic and aimed at entrenching the king's direct rule.

 

Hundreds of people have been arrested in the past few days.

 

On Friday security forces detained scores of people, and put five opposition leaders under house arrest, to pre-empt planned rallies.

 

Then on Saturday, impromptu protests on the streets of Kathmandu led to clashes with police.

 

The government said nearly 200 people were taken away in trucks, but the opposition put the number much higher.

 

Poor conditions

 

There has been strong condemnation of the arrests from the international community, and calls for a return to democracy.

 

A member of Nepal's official human rights body has expressed concern at the conditions in which detainees are being held.

 

Sudip Pathak, who sits on the National Human Rights Commission, an independent but statutory body appointed by the government, told the BBC he had visited detention sites.

 

He said he found 40 men to a room, inadequate medical facilities, no drinkable water and very poor food.

 

The clash on Saturday night that left 20 people dead was the bloodiest since Maoist insurgents abandoned a four-month unilateral truce earlier this month.

 

Sixty people have been killed in escalating violence this month.

 

On Sunday a mayoral candidate for the southern town of Janakpur was reportedly shot dead in an attack blamed by police on the Maoist rebels.

 

Bijaya Lal Das was a member of the NSP party which supports King Gyanendra.

 

The rebels have not confirmed they killed him - but they have threatened anyone who takes part in the election.

 

More than 12,000 people have died in Nepal since the Maoists began their fight for a communist republic 10 years ago.

 

Link to the BBC

[wfinley]

I've been watching these reports as well. We were hoping to head there for Sept / Oct of '06 but are beginning to get second thoughts. Anyone else planning a fall trip there?

[cj001f]

I've been watching these reports as well. We were hoping to head there for Sept / Oct of '06 but are beginning to get second thoughts. Anyone else planning a fall trip there?

 

I was there over Christmas. If you don't mind some transport disruptions, communication disruptions, and mind your surroundings (unlike half the stoned hippie fucktards there) you should be fine. I experienced no disruptions, but did see a riot (or rather I saw it between rock throwings and quickly left). It's neither as dangerous as the State dept hyperbole makes it out (I saw worse riots in Argentina this past year) nor as benign as the boosters would have you believe.

 

Tourism is one of the main industries in Nepal, all sides of the conflict realize that. From the people I talked to nobody liked the Maoists (except for their corruption fighting) and the King wasn't well like either. But hey, the US has decided to prop him up. Soldiers armed with caplock rifles aren't a major threat.

[archenemy]

I have delayed a trip there twice now. I should have just gone the first time b/c it just keeps getting worse. I am also curious to hear from anyone who has been there w/i the last couple of months.

[cj001f]

I should have just gone the first time b/c it just keeps getting worse.

I dunno, I thought it was nice with only 60-70% of the tourists that were there before. Otherwise "worse" seemed only to apply to the Nepalese.

[archenemy]

that's an interesting point. How are the airfares--do they reflect the lower demand?

[cj001f]

that's an interesting point. How are the airfares--do they reflect the lower demand?

Not really. There's still no cheap way into the kingdom via air. There are more airlines flying KTM-DEL (Jet Airways is probably the best, Air Sahara decent, Cosmic Ok, but all better than AI or RNA), but Delhi is still expensive to fly into and a shithole airport. I went in via BKK and exited KTM-Varanasi via CosmicAir. It was probably partly the low December season but in talking to people the tourist industry is hurting for visitors so there's lots of negotiating room pricewise. Unless you've got a tight schedule the turmoil shouldn't be too bad. Still lots of Euros running around; the biggest drop sounded to be in numbers of Americans.

[Dustin_B]

I've been watching these reports as well. We were hoping to head there for Sept / Oct of '06 but are beginning to get second thoughts. Anyone else planning a fall trip there?

 

I am. I'll probably be there from early November through the first half of December. I cancelled a trip there last year and i don't want to cancel again. I'll be in Tibet regardless though so I can decide when I'm over there.

[Dechristo]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4682568.stm

[Mal_Con]

SUX nice beautiful people

[layton]

anyone know seth hobby and if he's ok?

[Dechristo]

from a letter to Scott MacLennan of The Mountain Fund

 

Hi, Scott

 

I am in Kathmandu now, it’s warm and dry and calm. In fact, the weather is unusually good for this season, when in years past it has been cold and rainy at this time. It seems they have been having an unexpectedly warm and dry climate for the last 18 months or so. One could even characterize it as a drought. Is the old global warming beginning to make its mark?

 

On the flight in yesterday, I saw a surprisingly clear view of Nepal's 8000 metre peaks, seen from east to west: Kangchenjunga (3rd highest mountain in the world), Makalu (5th highest), Lhotse (4th highest), Everest (1st highest), and Cho Oyu (6th highest). I think it was one of the best airplane views I have ever had of the Himalaya. We thought we could see Pumori (our current objective), but weren’t sure, as from our perspective flying up at 9000 metres above India and Nepal, Pumori is relatively dwarfed by the sea of peaks around it.

 

Here in Kathmandu, it has just been Buddhist New Year and the famous Hindu Shivaratri festival all at the same time, so everyone looks relaxed and happy, and it appears not much work is getting done. It might be even more laid back than usual. On the drive in from the airport yesterday, we saw quite a few groups of people parading around, waving flags, holding banners, chanting, praying, and playing music. Nepal may be having political struggles, but it’s certainly not very apparent when you wander around the streets of Kathmandu.

 

In one busy section of town where many people were out on the street, our driver and local agent, who is himself from one of Kathmandu's old established families, pointed out several foreign dignitaries wandering around in the streets, probably walking to have their lunch at a famous 5 star hotel restaurant in the embassy district. This small group of mainly white men in suits and ties looked a bit out of place next to the Nepalis wearing their Saris and Dotis and carrying handbags filled with vegetables, going about their business. The dignitaries were walking slowly, gesturing and laughing.

 

Our driver, who seemed to know all of the dignitaries in the group, pointed out several top level embassy staff. We did not see anything that looked like a policeman, security, or bodyguard within a half kilometre of them. Either the embassy officials on their lunch break were walking with security agents who were extremely well camouflaged as being very relaxed, smiling and laughing and enjoying the day, or they were feeling quite relaxed about the Nepal security situation at the moment. That may seem a bit of an unexpected surprise, as these same embassies have been busy crafting frightening announcements to folks back at home warning them that Kathmandu is unsafe.

 

Do you suppose that is their day job; to please the folks back at home hungry for bad news, and when they are on lunch break, they just relax and enjoy life? As ever, it seems that Nepal is a country of contrasts.

 

Thank you very much. I look forward to hearing from you and working with you to help mountain people everywhere. Best Regards.

 

Yours Sincerely, Dan Mazur