Sadly!

RIP, Axis of Nepali Politics

Nepal has lost its most criticized and most praised political personality.

Girija Prasad Koirala (1925-2010) passed away on Saturday afternoon, at 12:10 p.m. on March 20, after being the axis of Nepali politics for at least last two-decades.

He led four of 18 governments since the establishment of democracy in 1990 through a popular movement. He was one of the leading forces then but soon after emerged as the most powerful single political personality.

He was stubborn to his beliefs and thoughts, yet the power to persuade, or to enforce, them.  That one quality, along with his long contribution and commitment to democracy, put him to a height that rarely any personality could achieve.

Early in his life, he fought for the cause of laborers and began his political career which was eminent given that his father was on exile for raising voices against autocratic Rana regime and his both bothers being into politics.

He was also involved in looting the jewelry and gold from bank to fund the armed movement against Panchayat System and led the hijacking of an airplane in domestic flight in 1973.

When he became the prime minister for the first time in 1991, he continued a family legacy which saw two of his brothers led the nation. The first taint on his career emerged when he dissolved the parliament after three years. The general election that followed failed to give any party the majority.

He led the minority government in 1998 and again Nepali Congress government in 2000 forcing party’s own PM Krishna Prasad Bhattarai to resign. During his third tenure, the Royal Massacre happened.

Following the April Uprising in 2006, he sworn in for the fourth term which saw him sign one of the most important documents in Nepal’s political history – the peace accord with the Maoists. After abolishment of monarchy, he became the acting head of the state until the election of the first president.

Until the every eve of his life, Koirala was a very vocal ‘anti-communist’. But towards the end of his life, he was soft as he agreed to sign a 12-point agreement with Maoists and worked together with communist forces for the cause of democracy.

At the time of his demise, he was leading the political activities as the co-ordinator of the High Level Political Mechanism.

* * *

Though he always kept his private life confined within the boundary of his family members, he seemed to be an emotional family man.

His conjugal life, with a widow whom he married, lasted only 16 years, from 1952 to 1978.

And, he was also involved in a corruption scandal – that involved benefits for his daughter Sujata Koirala whom, after she returned and took a political career, he continued promoting in party ranks and government despite wide-spread criticism. It was for more love for the daughter than anything else.

* * *

I was not a particular fan of Girija Prasad Koirala despite being an admirer of his brother B P Koirala, both for his literature and political thoughts. In fact, many put me as the GPK-critic for I always thought him of being a crooked politician.

I represent a family that was led by a person who stood, and failed, against Koirala after the establishment of democracy. My distant uncle, Jaganath Acharya, resigned from his cabinet following a dispute with Koirala, who seemed to be against the much needed land reforms. Acharya led the force of 36 MPs against Koirala which forced him to dissolve the parliament.

Apart from that for me he was too stubborn to be a political leader (though I admit that this characteristic proved beneficial for the country later on) and was too focused on his personal cause than that of nation and party.

But 2006 changed my views on him. I wasn’t a big fan but an admirer; I disliked a few of things he did afterwards but never went vocal, even at teashop gossips, against him for I saw him the only person capable of keeping the democratic political forces tied for the nation.

As he used to say that ‘the peace process the last struggle of his life’ and jokingly that he would haunt if it’s not completed before his death, I believe he passed away a little early.

Without the axis, the political forces are in a danger of being divided and weak; and that in lack of the father-like figures, the political leaders are more likely to fight for wrong causes.

Let’s hope his last wishes of concluding peace process will be completed in time and that the political forces will join hands for the good cause for which he left responsibility to them.

With his demise, Koirala is no longer a Nepali Congress leader; he is no matter which political belief we follow, is the national hero!

May his soul rest in peace!

March 20, 2010 by Politics Talks Remembrances Sadly!

Shameful

The news was: Nepal Police raided at a Bunkers’ Party at the Babylon Disco in Kathmandu and arrested and detained for a day 356 college students.

The background was: Police tipped off all the media about the raid.

The result was: A television station which happened to be a walking distance of the disco live covered the raid. The news made front pages of every newspaper and prime news of televisions (as if this is of national importance).

The truth is: It was immoral, something that is not socially accepted, in part of the children to bunk classes and attend a disco.

Yet another truth is: It was immoral for police for create such a fuss of the event.

The unanswered question is: Who the hell is Nepal Police to arrest youngsters who are not involved in any illegal activities? What on the earth prompted them to tip-off media for the live coverage? Are they trying to copy, at least in part, the Moral Police that once dreaded the streets of Afghanistan?

We all believe what the students did was wrong – morally wrong not legally wrong (because this is the country where there is no legal restrictions of smoking and drinking or even bunking classes).

I believe that what Nepal Police did was morally as well as legally wrong. I am not saying they do not have the authority to raid or arrest people; but if they arrest 356 people and release every one of them without any indictment, then this only means a drama for nothing!

The senior police officials probably enjoyed the evening with a peg or two of whisky for staging such a big drama. Well done! But what about the youngsters? Most of them were crying and some of them were forced to show their faces to the television cameras (and did not the police use offensive language with them)?

I am sure throughout their lives they will never utter police without using an abusive word prefixed.

Our police should understand that morality and legality are different. People could do something which is morally wrong, but the police is legally bound, they are not the Talibans.

For the Nepal Police and for the television broadcasting it live, it’s a shame!

March 20, 2010 by Sadly!

Troublesome gunture

Gunture n. 1. gun culture. 2. use of guns in society.

Today, Jamim Shah, a media entrepreneur, was shot dead in his car at Lazimpat, Kathmandu. Shah, the owner of Channel Nepal – the first satellite television channel of the country and also of a cable television network, once was publisher of two national dailies.

Every murder is cold blooded; but after hearing the news of Shah’s murder, I felt worse than a murder. Not only because he was a media entrepreneur but because it was an addition to a series where guns are used in a way unprecedented in our history.

A few days ago, fellow blogger KP Dhungana wrote an entry (Nepali link): Tomorrow’s headlines could be like these. He listed five hypothetical headlines:

  • Husband shot at wife for [tasteless] curry
  • Neighbors shot at each others on issue of waste, seven injured, three serious
  • Pistol found in tiffin box of 12-year-old
  • Guns used after motorcycles collide
  • Bus assistance shot at demanding passenger

It was more of a satire. But also was an indication to the future. The gunture is not new in developed countries – more so in USA. But we were not much used to such news. We called ourselves peaceful and the gunture was rare.

Thanks to the Maoists’ People’s War and the rise of armed groups in Terai along with the lack of impunity, the gunture is on the rise in Nepali society.

The murder of Shah may not be a perfect example of gunture but the murder of eight-year-old schoolboy Santosh Karki in Gothatar was. Innocent Karki became victim of gunture when gun was used in a minor conflict.

Nobody can deny the fact that the armed conflicts and impunity are chief motivating factors behind gunture that one day in future could endanger more innocent lives. Events like blind firing in crowded places could happen in future because not much concerns are shown in the psychological management of those who have fought or/and killed or/and seen killings of people during the Maoists’ armed revolt.

Impunity also should end; political parties should be concerned if their stand for political benefits is paving way for crimes in future.

Gunture is not going to be good for any of us!

February 7, 2010 by Sadly!

A game of neighbors

A game of football is all about scoring. A player needs to penetrate into the opponent’s area to score goals – and if the defense is not good, then there will be more room to play for the opponents. Every goal is scored because of a weakness!

The game of politics is similar – not same because the number of players is not equal; there are not strict referees or rules! More so, when it’s a game of diplomacy [or diplomatic relations]! And, the topmost point on saving your game is that: don’t let opponents the playing space!

* * *

Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) was at his best [either for honesty or satire] when he addressed the mass meeting at New Baneshwor after the conclusion of two-and-half-day of general strike.

Here is a piece of what he said [copied from myrepublica.com / ekantipur.com]

Why talk to puppets here in Nepal? I have no energy for talks with the leaders of the CPN-UML and the Nepali Congress. Now the talks will only be with the master.

We are ready to hold talks with New Delhi.

It’s a pity that the parties are helpless when it comes to taking any decision on their own as they are remote-controlled by New Delhi.

Was this a self-realization? Or an outcry for not being helped by India to form their government? Or simply the truth?

Many people I listened to at the teashops believe it’s the truth that Nepali political parties are puppets to our big neighbors. But along with that all of them believe that what Prachanda said including all the bad things about India was simply an outcry because the Maoists were not favored by New Delhi.

* * *

Most of the times, the truth is bitter to swallow.

And, the truth is that India is a powerful neighbor on which we depend on many things. All over the world, it’s not a new thing that the smaller countries are dominated by big neighbors.

However, we are in better than many other countries’ position because we are in-between two future superpowers. A perfect balance in diplomacy could help us in our benefits.

Yes, the Indians are playing with our internal matters. They are because there are a lot of things they can gain from us – mainly in resource-sharing sector. But then who to blame?

In football, it’s more blame on your side than to the opponents. The opponents are there to score; it’s your weakness to let then score.

The Indians want benefits (in fact everybody wants benefits, including the political parties and leaders – only difference could be for the country or the party). And, it’s our weakness that they are using to play on us.

* * *

What Prachanda said is a shame for them; for us. Because it came from the mouth of a former prime minister who has still a long years left in which he is well-placed to become the nation’s top leader.

To speak against any neighboring or non-neighboring friendly nation on mass gathering is a foolish thing on the part of the leaders of his height. There is no gain of it other than a thousand more claps in the program and a mockery in the newspapers.

God bless us!

More on topic:

Roundup of media coverage on Prachanda’s speech @ The Brief

Irresponsible and senseless [editorial] @ Republica

Irresponsible and senseless
December 23, 2009 by Politics Talks Sadly!

Simply inhuman

Killing anyone is a crime itself. Killing someone for criticism is an act of people who have already lost a portion of humanism. Attempting to kill a journalist for what she wrote – that too by gradually cutting her right fingers and pushing off a cliff – is simply inhuman.

Tika Bista, a 22-year-old Rukum-based lady journalist, was brutally attacked for murder and thrown on the 20-meter deep cliff and left to die. She was found next day, airlifted to Kathmandu for further treatment and she is still fighting for life.

A few things indicate that the attackers though unknown as yet are Maoists.

Reports say Bista had been receiving phone threats in connection with her recent commentary on local Jantidhara weekly titled – “Why Maoists need Tirtha’s sindoor?”

She wrote the article in response of Maoists using a slogan about martial symbol (sindoor) of former MP Tirtha Gautam, widowed due to murder of her husband by the Maoists in 1999, while waving black flags to a minister.

Bista had issued a press release last week on the threats she was receiving from unknown people after the article was published.

While talking to her friend at the Nepalgunj Hospital when she regained consciousness briefly, Bista quoted a male threatening her on mobile as saying:

Writing about the widows?.. Should I send you to heaven? Yadu Gautam is already there and you can meet him there.

According to The Himalayan Times, the brave journalist told the friend: I’ll never be intimidated by such attacks. Nor do I want my name to be among killed journalists.

Such first-degree murder attempt to people for what they write/think/believe should stop!

NepaliVoices strongly condemn the attack and demand government to arrest and punish those involved!

December 10, 2009 by Journalism & Media Sadly!

Nepal Cabinet meets at Everest!

December 4, 2009. A date to remember because Nepal government created a world record by holding a cabinet meeting at Kala Patthar – 5,5542m / 18,192 ft above sea level.

cabinet-6807364

The meeting was held to create awareness about melting in the Himalaya due to human-induced climate change.

For a few things, I feel good about the meeting:

  • The first and foremost important is it generated the awareness about melting of Himalaya. A few years back, there were a lot of concern (media coverage) about Cho Rolpa lake which was on the verge of exploding and if that had happened, there could have been a big problem in quite a large area – places on the banks of river Tamakoshi. The risk was reduced spending a good sum of money. But there are some other such lakes high on the Himalaya that could break free and flood into us.
  • The second is the coverage Nepal got through the event will help boost Nepali tourism. I would love to take a photograph at the Kala Patthar helipad where the meeting took place. Why not put a stone sculpture marking the venue?

Climate Change is a big issue, and as Nepal can not rule itself out of danger coming from rising sea level no country can rule itself out of dangers arising from melting Himalaya. Climate change effects are global and it needs a consolidated and honest effort to fight it.

Not a single country or a group of nations can fight climate change; that’s the truth. For saving our mother earth to our future generation, all individuals and individual countries have to work together. Unity is the key to fight climate change.

Nepal is nothing on the economic and/or political map of the world; but the concern raised by it [and the even smaller Maldives during their undersea cabinet meeting] has given people around the world a smile [what the heck!..] but that way they will also think about climate change!

The message given by Nepal’s cabinet meeting at the Everest region was loud and clear: [as put forward by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal] “Climate change is not only issue of the mountainous nations or nations at the sea level, it´s a common issue of all. To save the earth, the biggest sacrifice is needed from the nations producing large amount of carbon.

Questioning NTV live

Two disturbing observations about Nepal Television’s live coverage:

  • Nepal Television’s ‘live coverage’ of the meeting itself. The tape brought early from Kala Patthar was broadcasted as if it was live. The announcer was describing the event as if it was happening right then. I knew it was not because it was broadcasted after we were informed from the journalists at Kala Patthar that the meeting had concluded.

ntv-300x199-1101098

  • As the ministers arrived back to Syangboche, a TV presenter described the decisions made by the cabinet ahead of the press conference in which the cabinet described the thing. Understandable fact is that the presenter received a copy of decisions, but was it ethical to announce that by himself ahead of ‘official announcement’?
December 4, 2009 by Featured Mainstream Media Sadly!

Mr Hyde (of Maoists) wakes up

The efforts to forget political consensus among top three political parties in Nepal was going well (quotes of Maoist leaders):

The meeting ended on a positive note. The meeting was a step closer toward resolving the problem.

– Maoist leader Dev Gurung (on October 23)

We will show flexibility for the end of political deadlock.

– Maoist spokesperson Dinanath Sharma (on October 20)

And, all of the sudden, it seemed like all that was a child’s play (headlines of news on October 25):

New condition by Maoists: ‘Government under our leadership’

Maoist Vice-chair Narayankaji Shrestha said the proposal for a Maoist-led government is not a new one. “We have been demanding it for long.

(from myrepublica.com)

So what changed all of the sudden?

At least for an ordinary citizen, nothing (the leaders could have talked secretly to many things that we were unaware of). If nothing had changed in these few days, why the Maoists become Mr. Hyde?

The Maoists have proved they are not very good at the politics of bargaining (otherwise how could a party that could form a government under their leadership fail to elect their candidates in the post of president, vice-president and speaker!) Had they realized during all those meetings, they were being dominated by?

I don’t know that but if Maoists decide to launch a nationwide movement against the government, it could be a bad decision. If they fail… Then what next?

Even if they return to the talks, it would make nothing other than making their image childish! (but that would be a good choice at least for the country, I believe).

[Note: Mr Hyde as in The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson]

October 26, 2009 by Politics Talks Sadly!

The mockery of democracy

Believe it or not, Nepali politics is dirty. Politics in underdeveloped countries such as Nepal is always dirty, because we, the people, and leaders rarely understand the essence of it. This is also true because for the politicians, their career and party generally come before the nation.

For the Maoists in Nepal, the most important thing right now is the terming of the President’s denial to obey their decision to sack army chief as ‘unconstitutional’ – for them: it’s the prime priority; it does not matter even if the constitution is not written or the peace process does not go forward.

What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy?

– Mahatma Gandhi

For me, a Nepali, terming the move does not matter. If they think it’s unconstitutional, ensure that it’s explicitly written in the new constitution.

For Nepali Congress, it’s ‘not unconstitutional’. Come on, what if Dr Ram Baran Yadav resigns and we get a new president if it’s termed ‘unconstitutional’.

As for me, Yadav and everyone of those 14,000 killed during the Maoists’ War are equal and, as the people’s leader, Yadav should be happy to resign if that means a great way forward for the nation’s most important tasks!

Democracy is the substitution of election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few.

– George Bernard Shaw

We have proved it. Theoretically, people’s voices count loud in democracy. Not in Nepal’s democracy though. No matter how much years current Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal had given for his political career, he was the ‘unchosen one’ from two constituencies.

No matter how good he is performing, he should not have been appointed the top post to lead the people.

Ditto to Sujata Koirala, the newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister. What a mockery of democracy the oldest leader of the oldest party, and of the nation for that matter, has made?

Incompetent people have chosen ‘the incompetent few’ – as proven by the cry the great leaders of the party are making after she, the most applicable qualification of her being the daughter of the ‘almost great leader’ took oath of office.

The jokers (as the father had made them) were left issuing press release opposing the appointment. If the party cannot have internal democracy, how could they promise us a democracy?

It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.

– Sir Winston Churchill

But we have no choice! Democracy is the lone choice and those leaders are the only candidates on offer. Even if among all those 600, we have a few good one, they stand nothing more than a mere follower of the greats – as in a herd of sheep!

But, as incompetent as we are or as foolish as we are, all these things will be forgotten when the election comes and we will either be Kangressi, Yemale or Maobadi – voting for them closing eyes on what they did or who is the candidates.

The greatest mockery of the democracy was/will be made by not the ‘corrupt few’ but the ‘incompetent many’!

October 13, 2009 by Politics Talks Sadly!

My views on sex video scandal

Last week, Naya Patrika, a daily tabloid, printed main story on a sex video of a rising female movie star. The story became buzz of the town, albeit on whispers, and was loud on internet as the video, first available on YouTube, was available to download on many online forums.

The video, reported about six-month old, showed the female actress and model in explicit sexual act with a married DJ. A private video – but of course of ‘big news’ for the paper: big because it attracted more than 500 comments in less than three days on its website (the second most commented story on the site had 273 comments, printed two months ago).

Before indulging into what was right and what was wrong, let me look into similar incidents in Nepal.

There were at least two similar incidents when the debate of media ethics on publication of such materials emerged. The first was publication of the nude photo of a top actor by a monthly magazine and then publication of photo of an actress in sexual act by a weekly.

The first case ended after the publication apparently apologizing with the actor after long debate and in second case, the actress committed suicide.

This news case is different in at least one factor: first the media did not publish any photo that could be considered obscene –although there were photos from the videos. (But it’s publication of the news that such video existed was enough for thousands of people to search and download the video from internet).

We at our newsroom had a long discussion on was it ethical for media to publish such news. There were arguments for and against but the not a consensus. The nearest conclusion probably was that ‘it’s an issue, running it or not is a newsroom decision.’

For tabloids, such news is big; for broadsheet, almost nothing. (As in this case, no broadsheet has printed anything on it while many weekly broadsheets are not missing the follow-ups).

One thing for sure: the debate of ethics on publication of such news leads nowhere.

The video means the actress’ movie career is over; but more disastrous effect is the social embarrassment throughout her life. But can the media be held responsible for any effect on her life due to video?

No. Despite the fact that media should be socially responsible for the effect, it should not be held responsible.

The reason she suffered is not the media but the mistakes she committed: firstly, she had an illicit relations which our society does not perceive as moral behavior; and secondly, she let the act to be recorded.

Would the newspaper have published such story if at least one of the involved people was not a celebrity? No. Then why only chase celebrity? Because they are the one people follow. Was it right on their part to engage in such activities or record such activities despite knowing that they could be the ideals of many fans?

Being a celebrity also means some social responsibility.

Personally I think media in countries like Nepal should have refrained from publishing such materials primarily because it has a lifelong effect on those involved. Everyone commits mistake; the celebrities pay bigger price for it if they go public.

September 23, 2009 by Journalism & Media Sadly!

In protest of protests!

(c) Bikash Karki

PHOTO BY BIKASH KARKI

The political interests, and egos, that result in protests on various – most of the times either unnecessary or on absurd issues – is doing nothing good to the nation and us – the citizens.

Yet, the political parties, their sister organizations, and others continue protests. Protests are necessary at times – when the state leaves no other options – but the aching fact of protests in my country is: they begin with blocking traffic.

Citizens, as if we are thought as, face problems; everybody knew it. Closing down schools and colleges is no way good as the children are stranded – most of the times outside their school gates.

Whenever we studied about rights, we always read that while exercising rights, we should also ensure that we are not violating other’s rights. But that does not count during protest. (So I thought maybe we are not citizens after all).

For the protest organizers, protests are wars and everything is fair in war and love, isn’t it?

A lot of such protests are absurd because there are not even demands. There are people who simply enjoys troubling others [the locals blocking road because the driver ran away after hitting a boy; the college students blocking the road for their friend was found dead; and most weird of all, a family blocking a highway for their daughter ran away – all is true stories from Nepal].

At newspaper office, every now and then, the suggestion on putting a separate column for protests/blockade spring up – more in disagreement with it than for humor.

While trying to remember things to write in protest of protests, my heart aches and I know everybody – leaving a few heartless politicians and others – same happens.

So until when are we, the citizens of Nepal, supposed to suffer? Until when, are we going to tolerate? Until when, are political interests playing on our emotions and rights?

August 12, 2009 by Politics Talks Sadly!

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