Home // Szenereports // Nepal (May, 2004) Namaste!  This is Rai Ko Ris with an update of the situation in Nepal and a small bit about the d.i.y punk activities here.  ‘Small’, because it really is, we’re not kidding.  (Please treat this as an update from the last report we made in another zine called Ganyang from Malaysia because a lot has changed since then.)  We’ve done a couple of d.i.y benefit gigs this year already.  At each gig (usually 50 rupees entrance) we raise money for free-food activities (we went around town at night giving out food we made at home) and we just started a sponsorship for a ten-year old kid who’s father died and mother is mentally ill, who is from our village.  We have a kind of loose collective of people involved in the gigs who bring any cases forward that need a donation or collection for local causes.  At the next gig, we plan to even do a small demonstration around the tourist ghetto of town to raise awareness about child prostitution/paedophilia that is common in Kathmandu.  So far, we’ve had some very interesting guest speakers at the shows.  We had Milan Rai, an anarchist anti-war activist from the UK who founded ‘Voices in the Wilderness UK’ a sanctions-breaking group who worked hard throughout the nineties.  Milan himself went to Iraq repeatedly and was one of two Britons to be arrested for distributing medicines to children’s hospitals; this activity was illegal at the time when sanctions were imposed on Iraq.  Milan has since formed an anti-war organisation ‘Justice Not Vengeance’ and written the books ‘Chomsky’s Politics’, ‘War Plan Iraq – ten reasons not to go to war in Iraq’ & the sequel ‘Regime Unchanged’.  For more info: www.voicesuk.org  and  www.justicenotvengeance.org   Nepal’s branch of Amnesty International gave a small presentation at one gig where we had their posters of ‘Stop violence against women’ all around and above the stage area (we have a tiny stage at the Buddha Bar where we hold our gigs).   Amnesty made it clear to all, that if we were unlawfully arrested and tortured by any army or police personnel, we could contact them for support to put pressure on authorities to stop this practice.  Richard Corbridge who co-founded ‘Reason To Believe’ a d.i.y hc punk zine, gave a little talk about his involvement with the d.i.y ‘network’ in the UK.  Richard is currently a volunteer in Nepal for the National Handicapped Association. Bands involved in d.i.y gigs with Rai Ko Ris include: Justice Nowhere – trio, slow thrashing hardcore, & socially charged lyrics.  They only just started so they have about six or seven songs…but the lead guitar/vox Khadga Ghale is a very inspired young man and will continue this great band we hope!  He is the younger brother of Rai Ko Ris’ last guitarist, Bodh Ghale…(who has now gone abroad). Propaganja – we always bill them as ‘punky reggae skunks’.  They were 13 year-old little snot-nosed teen skaters from the American school when we first met them at our shows in 2000.  Now they’re lanky, dreadlocked albino Rastas with a lot of good reggae tunes, with fun as well as socially aware lyrics.  Rob plays ska-ish rhythms on guitar and Niels accompanies him with these beautiful bass lines.  Slimboy Sam, blues harp – he’s an American guy that’s been living in Nepal a long while and runs a recording studio/has in the past been involved with the Beastie Boys’ Free Tibet activities.  He’s always willing to come to play his range of harmonicas at our d.i.y gigs.  He’s got a bunch of harps in a little bag, all different keys, and he just blows you away. Shannon Scam – this band played at the last gig.  Really nice guys – Balesh, Georgie & Santosh…all are ‘Limbu’ (ethnic tribe like the Rai, from the Eastern Himalaya).  The name of their band comes from one biography called Mr. Nice Guy…a herb dealer in the seventies.  This was one of his ‘scams’ when transporting marijuana I guess?  Anyway, these guys had been practising for some months together and came up with some good melodic punk-screamo songs.  The bass player didn’t have time to commit so now they sometimes jam with  Rai Ko Ris.  Balesh & Georgie are getting pretty active and we’re all collectively starting a zine soon.  Let you know when it comes out.  Can contact Shannon Scam at BLIMBU@yahoo.com We also sell photocopies of zines from all over the world, and give out flyers, and info sheets at our gigs, so if you have any distro/label info, etc, feel free to send it to us at: S.Rai, C/o NK Rai, PO Box 21778, Kathmandu, Nepal. Email:    raikoris@mail.com.np For our website and online zine Himalayan Frostbite with news on recent political events & other articles  www.geocities.com/raikoris Update of the political situation in Nepal, May 2004. In the capital, Kathmandu, everyday there has been demonstrations, protests, & the inevitable police brutality that always follows this type of thing.  Mainstream political parties are fighting peacefully (& errr…sometimes with bricks and stones!) for the nomination of a government composed of people’s representatives (previously elected MP’s/party members).  These mainstream parties are therefore against ‘regression’ i.e. the King (& the generals who he bows down to) because he dissolved parliament and has been hand-picking his own Prime Ministers since October 2002 (in order for the army to do what it wants – usual slaughter & rape?!).  This also appears to be the wish of USA & India who wish to control Nepal economically or for their own gains.   (Remember, the ex-King was assassinated in the ‘royal palace massacre’, most probably with a very bright green light from these super power countries.  We believe this was because he was reluctant to send the army to fight against the Maoist guerrillas and wanted instead to negotiate with them, whom he considered as his ‘subjects’/ people…as opposed to those funny rumours that it was his own son who killed him & fifteen or so others after taking a couple of drags of marijuana one night).      These agitations on the streets of Kathmandu that you may have heard about in your news, makes us laugh because it is these mainstream political parties who were the original reason why farmers in the hills took up their arms in the first place.  The mainstream parties in the past have been full of corruption and dominated by the Brahmin Hindu caste group of the Himalaya (originated from India…like the King), and have centred all the wealth from donors and businesses to Kathmandu only, with no regard for most of the population of Nepal who live in the rurals.    Meanwhile, the guerrilla movement of the underground communist ‘Maoists’ continues.  This ‘revolution’ began in 1996 when this party went underground because their own party members were jailed for their beliefs (communism).  They joined farmers in arms and began their ‘people’s war’.  Their demands include abolishing the Hindu caste system & feudalism, having a Republic (no monarchy) as opposed to the situation now where the King is head of State (& army); ceasing the ‘beggar economy’ of Nepal based on donations from foreign NGOs, which the mainstream political parties have been happily using as a safety net for years (and have also been putting large portions into their own pockets too).  However, it is not necessarily a peaceful movement.  It’s very d.i.y, home-made guns & bombs type thing, and targeted killings of ‘traitors’.  You know, in the past people in the city used to talk about our corrupt bastard leaders and say “somebody aught to shoot ‘em all.”  Now somebody-ies are, and everyone’s freaking out and chanting  ‘peace & security’.  So, that’s why most of the rich citizens of Kathmandu are ‘happy’ with the army & police presence with their guns and naivety on our streets — guns that have also gone off ‘accidentally’ maiming a few here & there passers by.      Situation of the war: travelling is still fine.  Contact us for details.  The Maoist movement is growing because as well as military might and supremacy of guerrilla war tactics, their political agenda is active.  They continually send articles to mainstream press (their own papers & presses & “zines” have been totally banned and destroyed by the state) and they have stated if there continues to be a stalemate between three factions i.e. the Maoists, the mainstream parties, & the King, it will only encourage foreign intervention.  They also stated that the mainstream parties should better be careful when negotiating with the King in case the King offers ‘cheap/non-long-term’ solutions; Maoist leaders say that instead, the mainstream parties should politically align themselves with them, so that there are better chances for a clear-cut republic. On the other side, the army is still terrorising civilians in the villages since they can hardly catch any Maoist combatants and this only encourages the villagers to join the communist guerrillas who therefore grow as much as the army is inlvolved.  The mainstream parties protesting in Kathmandu have pretty much said they are OK with sharing power with the King and have cleverly stated to the King that they will not cry for a Republic like the Maoists, if the King reinstates one of them as Prime Minister.  This is pure black-mail for cheap success.  During a mock student union election, it was clear that the majority voted for a Republic (like the Maoists).  However, the mainstream political parties dare not mention ‘Republic’ because they get their pockets fat from USA & India, etc, who are pushing for a Constitutional Monarchy (which means knew laws have to be signed and approved by the king & he is still recognised as head of army; King still keeps his privileges as a royal idiot with lots of cash).  With the King at the top, these foreign powers keep things as THEY wish them to be.  With a Republic, Nepal will be doing things differently, there will definitely be more control of foreign intervention & investments & influence and this poses a massive threat to America & other imperialists who don’t want this one country to be the exception in their globalised imperialist democracy.  If you don’t believe us, look at Haiti & other Central or South-American nations.  The USA, India & Britain are already training the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) and have donated or sold hundreds of weapons (such as M16 rifles), as well as provided armed helicopters with night vision (easier to slaughter the innocent villagers), army gear, etc.  Meanwhile, donor agencies are continuing to pour in aid, despite their lame demands for ‘humanitarian concerns’.  I think they’re more concerned that if a Republic does occur, it will be much harder for them to control Nepal and they might have to pack up their exclusive American Centre and British barbeque brunches on a Sunday, and give up their big houses with cars and servants that they acquire while doing ‘aid’ work in poor countries.  Bush has pledged twenty million dollars for Nepal’s ‘insurgency problem’.  I think Congress only voted for ten million.  “Only” – ha ha! In the recent neighbouring India’s elections, the Hindu Nationalist extremist party lost power (yeah!) and now it’s an alliance between centre-right & left parties (headed by Italian born Sonia Ghandi !!).  So there is a slight hope that this new government in our neighbouring country will stop backing the army generals here maintaining full power.  The USA has branded the Maoists in Nepal as ‘the third most dangerous terrorists in the world’.  Here in Nepal everybody laughed and then opposed this statement (including mainstream people) because this is a politically motivated movement run by farmers and nothing close to terrorism, whatever the heck that is (and branding them terrorists will just put oil on the fire in stead of working toward negotiations and a political solution to the conflict).  Also it affects tourism — a major source of national income.  Most terrorists are political though, aren’t they, and most oppose the USA, so let’s just take the branding as the usual fear of ‘those dreaded red commies’ like the old days when people were less aware and were shit scared by these words used by government propaganda…and d.i.y zines did exist telling people the same thing we’re telling you.  Keep close to the truth.  Keep it going. Rai Ko Ris To summarise: As usual, the national as well as the international press/media focus on tiny little happenings of the capital where the real actual happenings are everywhere in the country except in Kathmandu who is just a little playing ground for many a rich Nepali and many very rich foreigners.  We do not necessarily condone all the violence by the Maoists either, but for truth, we want to give it to you plain & simple rather than overtly capitalist propaganda that dominates mainstream media. Latest update, beginning June 2004: - Since the past couple of weeks, under pressure, the PM Mr Thapa resigned, sometime in May and three weeks later, the king (aaaarrrgggghhhhhh !!!!!) nominated another one after the demonstrating political parties failed to propose a common candidate for the post.  The newly appointed (not elected) PM is a well known figure in Kathmandu.  He was sacked of the same post in October 2002 by the king and is part of the group of politicians that have been sharing power since 1990 that led the country to where it is now.  The main difference between him and the previous Thapa is that he is not from the king’s party but from the congress party (equivalent of any rightist party). Before being appointed, he spoke in favour of a constituent assembly (key demand of the Maoist movement) but took back his words as soon as he was reinstated saying that he has to think differently now that he is PM again (…..???…no comment).  Anyway, the guy is trying these days to include in his ministers’ cabinet members of all the political parties that used to be part of the parliament.  Otherwise, it looks like this new PM doesn’t have any power at all and seems to be ordered what to do by the royal palace (….we mean the army here and US/UK) so it is very doubtful that he is thought credible for the Maoists (whose military and political branches work and decide together). - A very ironic thing happened here when last week some US marines officers trained some Nepalese army officers on ‘Human Rights’ and awarded certificates of participation to soldiers.  It sounded like a joke with the recent conduct of US personnel towards its prisoners in Iraq. - Amnesty International declared Nepal as the place that had the biggest number of disappearances in the world in the last year (thanks to US training sessions maybe ??!!) - Freshly appointed Indian Foreign Minister came for a one day express visit to Kathmandu.  As usual, the public here is not informed of what he discussed with the king, the new PM, and some political leaders.  Some leaks suggest that India is willing to support the Nepalese army more to fight the Maoist revolutionary movement.  Keeping in mind that India’s main concern is that the Nepalese army doesn’t import too many weapons from US and UK, otherwise it would become a too dangerous little neighbour for the big giant state. - In Kathmandu, four out of the five parties who were protesting are still doing so, saying that the new PM was nominated by the king and not chosen by these parties, therefore the king is continuing an unconstitutional ruling. - Mr Padma Tuladhar, facilitator in the past betwen the government and the Maoists during negotiations, stated that the new PM has already killed the idea of any possible negotiations with the Maoists when he declared that “national elections will be held by next year and talks on the constituent assembly are not on the agenda”.  That is not very good news since the main, self-declared task of the new government is to hold negotiations with the revolutionary movement.