Bad News from Kathmandu...

Daniel Koster

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KATHMANDU, Nepal (CNN) -- Maoist rebels have struck two mountain towns in Nepal, killing at least 68 police and soldiers.

The fresh bout of fighting between Nepalese troops and the Maoists has also led to "dozens" of rebel casualties, government officials said on Friday.

In some of the fiercest fighting seen since the six-year rebellion began in this South Asian country, thousands of rebels stormed the town of Khalanga, torching buildings as they went.

In the Thursday night attack, at least 30 police and three soldiers were killed along with an unknown number of Maoist fighters.

Security forces began a search and destroy mission Friday morning to track down the fleeing rebels, using helicopter gunships and troop reinforcements.

Meanwhile an attack on a police post in the northwestern Gorkha district killed at least 23 people Thursday night.

Earlier Thursday, officials said they were trying to start a dialogue with the rebels, who are waging a campaign to rid Nepal of a feudal system they say favors only a small urban elite.

Since the rebellion began, more than 3,000 people have been killed and the Himalayan kingdom's already weak economy has been battered.

The assaults followed a national strike earlier this week called by the rebels, who are inspired by the revolutionary ideas of the late Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong.

The government calls them terrorists.
 
KATMANDU, Nepal (CNN) -- An attempted bombing of a senior advisor to the Nepalese king has been thwarted by police.

Police on Wednesday said they had intercepted the bombing attempt by a small group of suspected Maoist rebels at the home of one of the king's top advisors.

They shot and killed one man and arrested at least three others, a Home Ministry source said.

The men planted the explosive device at the home of Keshar Jung Rayamajhi -- head of the supreme advisory council to the king. Police defused it before any damage was done.

Though no group has claimed responsibility for the bombing attempt that fell on the final day of a three-day general strike called by Maoist rebels, police said they suspect it to be the work of the insurgents, who are fighting for a republican state in Nepal.

Traffic remained light in the capital on Wednesday, with only a few vehicles on the road. Buses and trucks remained off highways. Most businesses and schools were closed.

The government says that nearly 7,000 people have died in the course of the Maoist insurgency, which began in 1996.

Nepal's King Gyanendra has taken over all executive functions after sacking an elected government in October, a crisis precipitated in large part by the government's inability to control the Maoist rebellion.
 
Prayers for the kamis, and for the Maoists, but you can best believe they ain't the same prayer.:mad: :grumpy: :mad:

Sarge
 
When all this was breaking loose a while ago and it looked like Big Ghorka might move somebody put up a link to for contacting your Senator. Anyone got that link. We (The United States) support/have supported governments fighting communist causes for a long time, but are silent about this. Let's let our representatives know that. Some of our money and troops would go a long way in a country as poor as Nepal, provided it was given to the right people.
 
We've been talking with Pala and he said things were the pits. Everybody has a hard time getting to and from BirGorkha. Tougher still getting the khukuris to the DHL office for shipping. We have a hundred or so ready to go but can't get them into the air.

Pala bought the land for the new shop but now thinks it is a poor investment and doesn't want to build anything in Nepal. We have in-laws in Kalimpong, east of Darjeeling, which is an option. This area is heavily populated by Nepalis and would present no new language barriers for kamis and sarkis. And, the cost of living is considerably cheaper than Kathmandu Valley. If things go completely to hell this is a move I'd endorse and be happy about.

Time will tell.
 
I still had that congressional site bookmarked. It looks like we need to make a stink all right. I can contact folks I went to school with from Kansas that will send emails for me also. Seems like they would have to do something if enough noise is made over the situation.
It doesn't look like the US is going to do any thing with out a kick in the rear. So, I guess we need to give them one. If we could have done something before the election we would have had a better chance. We still need to try.
Pray for the good people in Nepal. Like Sarge says we can pray for those Ba$tards too. Just a different kind.:mad:
 
sounds like the same-old situation to me.

Kalimpong doesn't sound like a bad idea - I won't mind moving there myself!
 
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