The Washington Post today ran an editorial titled "The Himalayan Mistake".

It has suggested the US government to warn the King Gyanendra and his Generals of blocking Nepal's lifeline of support from the outside world.

Full text:

Editorial
The Washington Post
Monday, February 14, 2005; Page A16

A Himalayan Mistake


A RULER besieged by Maoist guerrillas has forcibly dissolved his civilian government, arrested scores of opponents, declared martial law and suspended personal freedoms. Democratic governments face an unpalatable choice: either swallow this coup or suspend military and economic support in an attempt to reverse it. Either way, the Maoists may get a boost. If this sounds like an anachronistic policy conundrum, it is; nevertheless, the United States faces an urgent dilemma in Nepal, a desperately poor country of 24 million wedged between India and China. A three-sided struggle is underway between a king who would return to absolute monarchy, insurgents inspired by the China of the 1950s and a democratic civil society that suddenly has been driven underground. The risk is of a new failed state in Asia, or a repeat of the brutal totalitarianism that once devastated China and Cambodia.

The troubles of Nepal, revered by trekkers as the home of Mount Everest, have been steadily growing since 1996, when the Maoists launched their war against an elected democratic government and the then-constitutional monarch. When the king was murdered in 2001, he was succeeded by his brother, who had opposed the transition to democratic rule a decade earlier. As the Maoist insurgency grew worse, King Gyanendra dissolved the parliament in 2002; for most of the time since then a multiparty appointed government has led the country while conducting on-and-off peace talks with the Maoists. This month the king deployed troops in the capital, Katmandu, placed the civilian political leadership under arrest, and suspended freedom of the press and of assembly. According to Human Rights Watch, more than 150 political leaders and student activists have been detained or confined to their homes, including every prime minister since 1990. The media have been banned from any critical reporting on the military. Many journalists, human rights activists and civilian politicians have been forced into hiding.

The king's crackdown was greeted with universal condemnation by the governments that supply Nepal with most of its military and economic aid -- including India, the United States and Britain. But the king has shown no sign of reversing course: He has appointed a new, non-party cabinet and issued statements denouncing the civilian political class as inept and corrupt. He has the Nepalese military on his side, and he appears to believe that he will win over the country and its donors if he can make progress against the Maoists, who control large parts of the countryside and are renowned for their brutality.

Such thinking is delusional. More likely, the king's folly will bring about the demise of the monarchy along with democratic government and worsen bloodshed that has already cost more than 10,000 lives. The Bush administration should join with India, Britain and other concerned governments in making the king and his generals an offer they can't refuse: Restore the multiparty system and democratic freedoms, or lose Nepal's lifeline of support from the outside world.

Nepe bro,

Here is the thing. If life line is stopped who gonna suffer. People living in Nepal. Leaders are so rich there is not gonna be any effect. In the same way no effect to Royal family and maoists. So who gonna suffer. That presurre tactic is really stupid.

Think about the people. So, whoever wrote that article piece of cra* and he is not thinking about people. The person should keep it real

Higfly bro,

You have shown an idiosyncratic mandale reaction and I classify you as a Neo-mandale. I shouldn't have attempted to discuss with you, however I couldn't let all the prepostorous comments mushrooming in Sajha from the King's band. Yes all Mandales think that 1.only Kathmandu is Nepal. 2.Only a small group of mandales should prosper 3.Any body who comments that mandaletantra is not good is a crap. etcetra etcetra.

Dude that's not an article. Thats the editorial. So the editor of Washington Post is also a crap because he do not support your great visionary King, isn't it?? Timro sapana haru Gyane dai le pura garidiun.

well New user, u cannot be blame as a mandale. Its generalization. Its really easy to talk and hard to implement. Here the article is in Washington post. It ignores the facts how severely people will be affected when there gonna be economic sanctions.

Facts: King will not give up power. If he has to many people will be lose their lives. There are no trustworthy leaders to back this up. It will be hard to get people involved with the current poltical leadership.

Maoist they have support in country sides because of thier lies. Its like rule under the gun. There will be possible intervention from foreign country if they come to power.

So, I was talking about general people so I am neomandale. SO what do I call you maobadi Newuser.

Yo all cannot just generalize peole. I am willing change. Its need of time people should be willing to change.

You canoot just boast about republican nation without thinking about consequences. WHo is gonna be in the power? WHo is gonna rule at that time?

Peace

i agree with high fly
new user
cant u just back off and give king a chance
he looks like the only hope for peace so can u keep your mouth shut for a while
i am sure u were bitching against that girija and his likes in past 14 years
just take a rest
let king do his job
peace

Yo USA, UK India lai ke ko tauko dukhai? They called back their ambassadors.. I hope they will not ask those ambassadors to return to Nepal immediately. Let Nepalese sort out their own problems. Afterall foreigners are not nepalese, and so they don't have full understanding of nepalipana. Then how can they solve nepalese problem. Just keep quiet.

And who are they to ask Nepal to restore democracy? HOw do you define democracy under different cultures?

i am confused !
i hate gyane and his killer son.but, i think, gyane is only the person who may solve the current problem in nepal. i cann't trust damm idiot old leader's too. so in my opinion, we have to wait till 100 days of gyane rule. if it seems ok then we have to show our support to gyane otherwise i cann't imagine the future of our nepal. i do support highfly's opinion regarding this thread.

Has anyone here been to Nepal recently?

Highfly,

I can show it right here that neither you understood the editorial nor is your displeasure for pure concern for the hardship of common people in Nepal.

Before I do that, you might want to restate your understanding and concern. What say you ?

The king has my full support as long as he can control the Maoists.

There is also no second opinion that some form of control is required for corruption, not excluding the royals themselves but the main focus should be insurgency than corruption.

Hence my two cents :-)

Yo Nepe bro,

I did not like this in the above editorial: "lose Nepal's lifeline of support from the outside world. "

Any individual caring about Nepalese would not dare such statement.

I do not wanna disclose my identity to prove how concern I am about Nepal. But FYI, from my family someone was involved in 2007 revolution. He got busted cause BP Koirala snitched on him. Becasuse of torture he went through it had a lifelong affect on him till his death.

I was told to stand up for u r beliefs. Thats what I am doing. At this point of time, I really do not care who is ruling as long as they can provide security and peace. I am against anybody who will use pressure tactics against Nepalese civilians to deal with the rulers.

Only thing I am saying is the thing suggested to bring democracy back by cutting of lifeline to people in Nepal is that I cannot support. For me its load of crap.

I believe almost all Nepalese are concerned about Nepal. I am one of them. I believe so are you so u wanna have a discussion. But boy, u gotta know not to generalize anybody and blame that they do not feel about Nepal cause they have a different opinion.

Peace
Highfly

"Aimimg high, flying high" as ever

I agree with high fly. Whenever I read articles and editorials around the websites I am dismayed at the attitude displayed by the leading Newspapers and its neo-conservative people. Without quite knowing that the views they differ from, also could be the best alternative. I mean, what would they know about the situation in Nepal without quite being there and understanding the needs and desires of the general population?

Pretty much every Nepalese that I have talked to wants the King to be in power, atleast he may shine while the corrupted leaders have done nothing for the people for more than a decade now while they have been in total control. And this neo-cons have a very different view. They want to see democracy at any cost and for that they may use military might for a possible invasion.

This millenium is about the lesson that we learn. We are working towards globalization and rather than threatening to use force if somebody does not agree with them, I would like to have seen the view point that 'if you donot do good to the public, we will use our military force'. I don't think for most cases it will work, but I believe that the views of public should be the first priority no matter what. The king might have done one of the most grotesque mistake in the modern history of Nepal, but is he going to do good to the public? That I think should be the question that needs to be addressed.

I think the UN should take a broader role for the case in Nepal and see to it that human rights violations does not occur. Dr. Irene Khan is in Nepal to study the situation and that will make a positive effect. Lets all hope that the peace will prevail in Nepal in the coming days.

I join high fly, and all others to write against the editorial.
- Dear writer of this editorial, seems u can write well, but why did u have such a long sleep for 15 years, that we never got a chance to read such an editorial against the corruption, bribery, poverty, and like u r begging developed nations to pressure the king, why didn't you ever BEGGED earlier to the same nations, you r begging today, urging them to help, financially, to restore peace, to increase their contribution in health, education, argiculture, security, technology, and to re-design the whole system of Nepal?????? , I tell you what, those big nations are capable to help Nepal in those sectors, besides to read your editorial which misinterprets the steps of the king, even before the begining of it.
re-think, Please.

Can we stay out of country and suggest what is better and not for Nepal in present situation? We cannot make our judgement based on the information provided by media, can we? Talk with people (not involved in political parties) working in the country and listen to what they have to say or go back in the country and feel it yourself only then I believe your opinion would have some validity.

Actually, if someone living outside of Nepal really not only suggest but aslo dictate what really should happen in Nepal.

Baburam and Prachanda are not in Nepal, yet they are not only suggesting what should happen in Nepal but they are dictating........isnt it funny and embarrassing isnt it ?

Highfly,

I do not relate a poster's anonymity to degree of his/her patriotism. So this does not concern me.

[ However, I will take this opportunity to let arrogant anonymous posters, a lot of them have mushroomed these days, know everybody knows that anonymity is the cheapest way to afford arrogance in the cyberworld. ]

Now back to our topic. I had asserted two things, Highfly.

1. you did not get (understand) the Editorial.
2. The displeasure you displayed towards the editorial was not your pure concern for the common people in Nepal.

First the Editorial.

The Editorial did not, I repeat, it did not call for blocking Nepal's lifeline of foreign support.

It merely called for giving warning of doing so [as a psychological and moral pressure] to the King and his loyal Generals for reversing King's autocratic rule.

See ? They were not calling for making common people's life more miserable by blockade right away.

They were upto making greedy Gyanendra's life miserable my letting him know he is as isolated from the world and unacceptable as Saddam Hussain once was.

Now, see for yourself, how your displeasure to the Washington Post was not your pure concern for the common people of Nepal, but was for yourself being challenged in supporting the Saddamic regime of Gyanendra Maharaj.

Now for your statement implying that you are supporting this Saddamic regime because you believe this is bringing peace and stability, I do not have much to say except that this is no different than to believe that the communist regime of the Maoists will bring peace and stability if they come to power. Very true but only if we don't care about the type of peace and stability.

As someone said -- " We don't need the peace like that of a cemetary" I don't want peace of mutes.

Gyanendra wants Nepalese mouth sealed...

I think Dr. Tulsi Giri reads sajha.com Kurakani.. He said what I said here to BBC:

"Every country has a problem which it is trying to solve," he said, "but then it's not justice that you make comments on how Nepal is dealing with it."

Mr Giri said the government would have no choice but to pursue the guerrillas if they kept rejecting peace talks. "If they co-operate, it's OK. Otherwise, what's the alternative?" he asked.

- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4266767.stm

Nepe ji,
I would like to hear your opinion on following matter if you don't mind,

what were/are the alternatives to kings actions?
or even better,
what would you do if you were in gyanendras shoes?

dariwal