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OT: Violence flares in Nepal after Peace-Talks Collapse
- Thread starter beoram
- Start date
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- Mar 5, 1999
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- 34,096
Thanks, Beo -- I think.
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2003
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- 476
This news sucks. I don't hear much about Nepal in the news, so i don't really know what this is about...
From the article it states:
What is the opinion here? Is the king out of order, or are the rebels like extremists? Who's side are we on?
From the article it states:
What is the opinion here? Is the king out of order, or are the rebels like extremists? Who's side are we on?
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2003
- Messages
- 1,413
IMO on one side you have a corrupt monarchy that takes more than their fair share of $$ from the hard working people to keep them down. On the other side you have the communists that say one thing and you know darn good and well they are lying through their teeth and when they get in control life will really be hell. In the middle you have a wonderful peace loving people who are scared to death for their lives and their children. The maoist have burned and closed down many rural schools and health clinics and left many of the airstrips that are used to transport food and supplies to the rural areas out of order. Just my observations. I'm not there, but I am in contact with a few people over there that are living through this. In fact one of my friends is afraid to really talk even over the internet for fear of them catching him and taking out the villages that he works in. We've learned to keep conversations very coy.
Just my thoughts
Just my thoughts
- Joined
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In one of the links above, it states the US is giving aid to the Government. So apparently, officially anyways, it looks like we're on the King's side.
Further reading seems to state that all the rebels are looking for is a democratic election, and new leaders who will draft a new constitution.
I don't believe bombing is the way to go about effecting change tho, so i'm thinking the rebels are way outta line. With over 7000 killed as a result of their protesting, i don't see a victory for them, only labels as "terrorist extremists".
I understand seeking change and wanting democracy and fair elections... i cannot see, nor condone, killing folks as a statement. This is a sad situation over there.
Further reading seems to state that all the rebels are looking for is a democratic election, and new leaders who will draft a new constitution.
I don't believe bombing is the way to go about effecting change tho, so i'm thinking the rebels are way outta line. With over 7000 killed as a result of their protesting, i don't see a victory for them, only labels as "terrorist extremists".
I understand seeking change and wanting democracy and fair elections... i cannot see, nor condone, killing folks as a statement. This is a sad situation over there.
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2001
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- 1,780
Gonzo,
The situation is somewhat complicated. The royals of Nepal actually helped to bring a certain amount of democracy into Nepal in the 1950s, when the then figurehead king fled to India - and then lead the overthrow of the heritary Prime Ministers of Nepal - the Rana clan, whose rule was rather oppressive.
But there have been problems in establishing democracy in Nepal, and the kings at various points in time since 1950s have taken greater control of the government. In the 1990s, a greater amount of democracy was again established and political parties were legalised once again (they had earlier been declared illegal [though personally I think that making political parties illegal might be a good idea universally..]).
Later in the 90s, the so-called Maoist insurgency began in full force. To a large degree the Maoists in practice act sort of as dacoits--'bandits', and exhort money, goods, food from the Nepalese peasantry. And they destroy property, enforce bandhs (roughly 'strikes' or 'closures') of businesses under threat of violence, sometimes target Nepali businesses which accept 'capitalist' money (from the West), etc., etc. Though, to be fair, I think there are some of the Maoists who do truly think they are helping the people of Nepal. But a lot of them seem just to want to be in power themselves - without improving things for the people.
In terms of the peace negotiations, it is being said that both sides - Crown and Maoists, are being too inflexible. But I'm not so sure about this - the Maoists are demanding to have a new Constitution written which would make Nepal a Communist State, with the Nepali Royals deposed. The Crown is willing that the Constitution may be emended. So it seems to me that the Maoists are being much more inflexible.
here's the Maoists' website if you want to see some of their views:
http://www.cpnuml.org/
There's another factor of political parties, who have not been involved in the talks thus far. Lots of people are saying that they should be - again, I don't know - that may just further confuse matters. The present King of Nepal removed the 'elected' Prime Minister about a year ago after that Prime Minister kept postponing elections. I think the King felt that the Prime Minister (and the political parties in general) were impeding negotiations/resolutions between the Govt and the Maoists.
That's my two paise on the situation. I'm sure there are many other points of view on the matter.
by the way, on the topic of not hearing much about Nepal (and other places) on the news, I find the BBC website gives good, fairly unbiased, succinct reports:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/
and they have various sections which focus on areas of the world, e.g.:
South Asia (India, Nepal, etc.) - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/default.stm
East Asia/Far Orient - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/default.stm
Europe - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/default.stm
Middle East - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/default.stm
Americas - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/default.stm
Africa - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/default.stm
other good online sources for South Asian news (and different points of view on world news) are:
Times of India (the largest English daily in the world)
The Hindu (India)
Nepali Times
The situation is somewhat complicated. The royals of Nepal actually helped to bring a certain amount of democracy into Nepal in the 1950s, when the then figurehead king fled to India - and then lead the overthrow of the heritary Prime Ministers of Nepal - the Rana clan, whose rule was rather oppressive.
But there have been problems in establishing democracy in Nepal, and the kings at various points in time since 1950s have taken greater control of the government. In the 1990s, a greater amount of democracy was again established and political parties were legalised once again (they had earlier been declared illegal [though personally I think that making political parties illegal might be a good idea universally..]).
Later in the 90s, the so-called Maoist insurgency began in full force. To a large degree the Maoists in practice act sort of as dacoits--'bandits', and exhort money, goods, food from the Nepalese peasantry. And they destroy property, enforce bandhs (roughly 'strikes' or 'closures') of businesses under threat of violence, sometimes target Nepali businesses which accept 'capitalist' money (from the West), etc., etc. Though, to be fair, I think there are some of the Maoists who do truly think they are helping the people of Nepal. But a lot of them seem just to want to be in power themselves - without improving things for the people.
In terms of the peace negotiations, it is being said that both sides - Crown and Maoists, are being too inflexible. But I'm not so sure about this - the Maoists are demanding to have a new Constitution written which would make Nepal a Communist State, with the Nepali Royals deposed. The Crown is willing that the Constitution may be emended. So it seems to me that the Maoists are being much more inflexible.
here's the Maoists' website if you want to see some of their views:
http://www.cpnuml.org/
There's another factor of political parties, who have not been involved in the talks thus far. Lots of people are saying that they should be - again, I don't know - that may just further confuse matters. The present King of Nepal removed the 'elected' Prime Minister about a year ago after that Prime Minister kept postponing elections. I think the King felt that the Prime Minister (and the political parties in general) were impeding negotiations/resolutions between the Govt and the Maoists.
That's my two paise on the situation. I'm sure there are many other points of view on the matter.
by the way, on the topic of not hearing much about Nepal (and other places) on the news, I find the BBC website gives good, fairly unbiased, succinct reports:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/
and they have various sections which focus on areas of the world, e.g.:
South Asia (India, Nepal, etc.) - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/default.stm
East Asia/Far Orient - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/default.stm
Europe - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/default.stm
Middle East - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/default.stm
Americas - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/default.stm
Africa - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/default.stm
other good online sources for South Asian news (and different points of view on world news) are:
Times of India (the largest English daily in the world)
The Hindu (India)
Nepali Times
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2003
- Messages
- 476
Thanks, i really appreciate the info and viewpoints.
It does seem the Maoists are doing much more harm than good... And while communism may be seen as somewhat of a good idea(?) the fact of the matter is that it's been pretty proven as a system that does'nt work very well.
I'm not much for politics, to me it all seems like BS. But a system made covering all agendas which sits down to hash out issues in a peacefull manner seems the best route. Voting for this or that generally seems to appease the populace by majority rule. Sadly, around the world these days, people don't want to act like adults.
It does seem the Maoists are doing much more harm than good... And while communism may be seen as somewhat of a good idea(?) the fact of the matter is that it's been pretty proven as a system that does'nt work very well.
I'm not much for politics, to me it all seems like BS. But a system made covering all agendas which sits down to hash out issues in a peacefull manner seems the best route. Voting for this or that generally seems to appease the populace by majority rule. Sadly, around the world these days, people don't want to act like adults.