The peace process in Nepal is right now on very thin ice. This is the worst it has been since it started since the decade old civil war came to a halt. The Maoists have now said they will revive their parallel governments in the districts. What used to be called the royal army has said it will come out of the barracks. There are more than a dozen armed groups already active in the Terai, the southern plains, my part of the country, that was mostly okay during the civil war, but now will bear the major brunt should civil war break out again. The prime minister and his ruling clique are too status quoist, unimaginative, largely incompetent. They are adding fuel to the fire. All sorts of ethnic groups that have sprouted add to the complexity of the picture.
When a civil war starts, it takes a life of its own. Nepal could become worse than Sri Lanka if it were to fall off the cliff. The best time to act is before it all starts, like now. And it is political work. I am in a good position to plug back in and make some moves.
Otherwise this downturn could cost tens of thousands of lives and years of time before it peters out again. The last round cost 13,000 lives lost to warfare, twice that many lost to suicide, 10 years of time, and that is not even mentioning the damage to the economy.
But if things turn for the better and work out, Nepal not Iraq becomes the model for how to spread democracy in the world. Both countries have 27 million people each.
You are in a position to help. I need some help. This is a SOS call. Please give me our first ever conversation. Please come to the Planned Parenthood event on February 11 and do so. I would greatly appreciate that.
February 11, 6 PM
Planned Parenthood of New York City
26 Bleecker St.
New York, NY
One killed by Goit's men in Rupandehi; Jwala's two men killed in police encounter in Saptari NepalNews
Sushil Koirala demands dismissal of YCL
Mashal raises objections at PM's statement on fulfilling Madhesi demands
UML divided over electoral alliance with the Maoists
Sujata washes her hands off decision to raid YCL offices
King Gyanendra breaks 'silence' yet again, slams decision to abolish monarchy
Maoists under fire for reviving revolutionary council
EU stresses on need to end violence
Maoists resurrect 'parallel government'
NC election assemblies continues despite blasts
Army mobilisation may become essential for election security: RPP chief
Maoists have resorted to physical attacks on NC leaders: Sushil
Resolve Terai problems to ensure election: EC
NHRC concerned about JTMM-Goit’s hit list
Bandh continues to paralyse life in Terai; MJF cadres clash with police in Nwalaparasi
YCL men manhandle DEO
Serial blasts near NC mass meeting in Rajbiraj; nearly a dozen people injured
Terai sees no respite from Bandhs
Debate on NA mobilisation continues
Ethnic groups warn of protests from mid-February
Madhesi Front forces administrative offices in Terai to close down
Maoist activities likely to invite army mobilisation: Sushil Koirala
2 JTMM-J cadres killed in police action
Barack Is Lou, I Am Madhesi
Barack draws his African heritage from the Lou in Kenya. I knew that from his autobiography. What I did not know until the recent violence in Kenya is the Lou in Kenya are like the Madhesi in Nepal, the lowlanders who have been marginalized by the highlanders who control the politics and the economy. And now when it looked like a Lou got himself elected president, the highlanders' election commission went ahead and messed things up, risking the ensuing violence.
So the goal for someone like me is not just to make sure there is no second round to the civil war in Nepal, and I do not mean to sound alarmist at all, but the goal also is to help the Madhesi achive equality through nonviolent political action.
Annan Sees Small Gains in Peace Talks in Kenya New York Times, United States
Diplomatic Initiatives Multiply in Kenya Crisis
And why do Kenya's other tribes resent them so much? Slate
Kenya: IDPs Leave City for "Ancestral Homes" AllAfrica.com, Washington
Kenya's crisis and challenges of democracy in Africa Daily Nation, Kenya
Why Kenya’s democracy is so awfully fragile and brittle Daily Nation, Kenya
Kenya: Intellectuals Fail in Times of Crisis AllAfrica.com, Washington
TIMELINE: Kenya in crisis after disputed elections Reuters
Kenya: Where Are Young Leaders for New Kenya?
Kenya: Casualties As Fresh Chaos Erupts AllAfrica.com, Washington
Kenya: Don't Blame the West AllAfrica.com, Washington
Kenya: Why the Middle Class is a Struggling Lot in Kenya AllAfrica.com, Washington
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