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Archive for June, 2010

Rigor mortis

How can demagogues be prevented from hijacking democracy? This is a riddle as old as democracy itself. The ancient Athenians grappled with the question, and history is replete with examples of tyrants who exploited populism and stoked ultra-nationalism during economic crisis to get in power, often with disastrous results and wars that caused immense suffering to the people they led. [...]

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Little big country

Last week, Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed announced that his country would phase out all ozone-depleting chemicals by 2020, ten years ahead of what is required of his country under the Montreal Protocol. In his speech, he thanked his predecessor President Gayoom for having taken the lead in climate change issues and putting the Maldives on [...]

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North and south

Our hosts from the May 18 Memorial Foundation in Korea had planned a tour of the demilitarized zone (DMZ). The group of editors and publishers from Pakistan, Palestine, India, Taiwan, Thailand and Indonesia were looking forward to taking a peek at the North from the South. However, word came that the trip to Panmunjeom was [...]

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- Karma: Well articulated. If only China allow greater autonomy for Tibetans to practise their value, none would suffer so much. It is so idiotic to see many people who believe China will be super power. They dont realize that within China there are so many problems just ready to burst. Think of China as a combination of Arab Spring and Greek meltdown. Now multiply that by 20. That’s the problem China is going thru and Big Focking COmmie knows that. For that sole purpose alone, they are using force. Mao Commie believes using force to brutally suppress its own people will solve the problem. They dont realize that it only makes opponent stronger. In fact, Maos are forgetting their own history. In the 30s Mao and their supporter became stronger and stronger as Japs supporess more and more with brutal tactics. Similar way is on the way within Domestic China. No matter how much media they try to control, they can’t do it. Their homeland security budget is bigger than external...
- Tashi Lama: I don’t understand why someone has to be a Chinese fan, like Pukas Kapbera, he seems to be a frog well (eenar ko maindag) not of ocean (samudra) I think it is futile talking on becoming super power or not and of the sovereignty or Tibet, when one doesn’t know that fact of true history. I think Puskas will learn little bit if he visits national museum at Chowni, who knows Chinese might even try to erase those proofs by bribing the museum officials there. Concerning Chinese attitude and behavior, Nepalese don’t have to go far, they can just realize that from the comrades like Prachanda, Bijaya, Passang and Baburam etc. whatever they do is the copy cat of Maoism in China. At present Mao’s Marxism in China is not respected, it is because China now is the capitalist Communist, where money and power is worshiped. Poor and weaker ones are suppressed, one who rises peacefully for freedom and justice is crime against nationality, subject to severe...
- Puskas kapbera: Whatever you say,china is going 2 be a superpower,china’s affection is increasing everywhere, everyone believe, if dis is fact n we believe tibet is china’s ,china never raise voice in nepal’s internal issue, why some nepali raise tibbet issue n helping them even it’s worthless. Why don’t we want best reln. Wid china? If china help us n our devlopment, why don’t we respect one china policy? As a nepali,neither we can go indoamerican ally nor chines ally. We should make proper balance reln., no matter wen’s visit, we should welcome wid our intrest
- Shamir Fernandez: It is indeed good news that the Chinese PM has canceled his KTM trip. At least for once he has to know that the Chinese cannot push their weight around everywhere. They are not a super power but a super bully. The poor Tibetans will surely achieve independence for their homeland and teach the Chinese a lesson.
- Samphe Lhalungpa: Very interesting. Nepal has to avoid being a catspaw between rising regional powers…for the Burmese, it has to do with being overwhelmed and the loss of cntrol of the domestic economy..so the change in tack. But its a long road and small countries need to keep their wits and be nimble…I thought Feringhi came from Franks, who were among the first knights in the crusading days…anyway, dont much subscribe to racial theories of exploitaion, when I see how effective some national elites are at exploiting thier peoples…
- Portlander: I agree, the rest of the 29 member team should have stayed backed and worked on planning on things like – feasibility study and implementation of using solar powered street lamps, checking the needs of water availability for the agricultural zones, proper emission checks for transportation vehicles, differentiation of diesel usage for big SUVs and industries and so many other things.
- Gole: Beware of the Firinghees , not the khaires or quires or the gores. Viringhee or firinghee used to be the expression aptly used by our ancestors for the whites, the North Europeans in the past. We seem to forget that expression these days. I would like to remind the present generations of that. Viringhee ,the disease called syphilis was a common one before the advent of antibiotics inr the past. As it was a new introduction many died in America and in the East by the introduction through the Europeans there. So the word originates and is called Viringhee or the whit- mans disease. Beware of the white-ma and their pontifications and conversions or indoctrinations. Chamber’s dictionary—Feringhi,Feringhee.fer-ing’ge,n, a Hindu name for a European,—Also Ferringee (Frank) .
- Krishna: Kunda sir, I especially liked your wishful thinking on the last paragraph of the editorial. I think Nepali leaders should be instructed by supreme Court regarding the number of delegation in any international symposiums. I think they do not read or listen to the common people’s opinions. They need to be instructed by the authority like SC. Although, Nepali people have the supreme authority, that is never realized. Darkness under the lamp.
- Vija Srestha: What we must see and not forget,that all these young people are not gone away from it.Chandra uses the word party and he as a party member will be followed and punished till the end of his days.The party has let him go,saying he is not suitable or fit or whatever reason,but in reality Chandra is gone be forced,kept to his party name at any time the party will consider there is a need,even if just to sneak and be a snitch.That’s what Prachandra means by re-grouping ,giving other ways to serve the party,kind of you are not here ,but as Chadra says,he soon has to return to party duties (he has joined the YCL)Let’s not forget all these PLA integrated,rehabilated or disqualified,they have been re-grouped for totally the same reason like Chandra,plus we have paid them for,we have integratd them into the army and will have given and shared all the courses of army there is to learn .At the present it is washed away with the sentence peace process ,constitution...
- Raj Pal: Great documentry. It is disappointing that tens of thousands were fooled by the leaders who fooled them 10 years ago are still at the helm. I am glad these young boys see NO HOPE in Mao. Hope they will find usefull to do with their time for their family, community and nation.
- Sushank Kumar Yadav: Thank you so much for such an article which has literally a lots of interpretations and documentary video made it alive. Here i feel like this story of Chandra Bhakta Shrestha shows how youths sentiments are manipulated and gradually political ideology becomes dominant. A 12 years old Chandra is just an example whose sister`s murder leads Chandra and his mother to hardcore Maoism. Condition applies ,If any other ‘ism’ now uses the same formula and ensure a youth for any such situation based help then poor youth can be used for their motive.Today`s violent gangs of youths used for criminal acts in every nook and corners of country are visual examples of this.Where they are manipulated in such a way that they never notice.
- Aditya Todi: Dear Mr. Dixit, My name is Aditya Todi and I am currently a sophomore from Nepal studying in Stanford University, CA. I was in Rato Bangala School up until 5th grade, after which I studied in an international boarding school in India, Woodstock School. Firstly I am amazed at the fact that I happen to be the first person to comment on such a brilliantly written and inspiring piece of story. Thank You Mr. Dixit for bringing into light stories that are able to to touch a chord with the human race. The thirst for education and knowledge in our country is great and it is perhaps fitting that Jhamak is able to subtly lend a voice to the greater society, without ever speaking to it. Jhamak writes, “…instead of noticing my creation, they trampled over it, and soon it was gone”. Could this perhaps be a larger metaphor for the very creation of our country. That “instead of noticing” this creation, it is gradually being “trampled over”....
- Deepak: moaist are the idiots who has eventually killed the creativity of these nepali youths in the name of change but merely the change is they are even more corrupted leaders in this fragile country
- Battisputali: This was a powerful, overwhelming documentary. Kudos to Subina Shrestha. This video gives more insight into Post-conflict Nepal than hundreds of statistics peppered daily news reports combined. I found two instances especially poignant. He tries to blame himself instead of the party for his disillusionment. Right after he says “I sometimes wonder if the party has lost track,” he says, “perhaps I haven’t fully understood its ideology.” It is pretty clear that the party has not been able to deliver on its promises. Then, as you mention, at the end, he says, “We used to want to build the country. But I feel I haven’t even been able to help my family, how can I help my country?”
- Kunda: Thank you, Rituraj-ji and Rupa-ji. Looks like we are on the same page. The field is wide open in Nepal for a public service broadcasting station with information-education-entertainment model.
- Rituraj Sapkota: A nice summary of what has been and always will be an endless debate/discussion. I teach Television production and film making in an institute in Central India and everything that comes on TV is a pure contradiction of what we teach in Media Ethics and just about everything else to do with production. The way Anna Hazare movement was broadcast round the clock and beyond was revolting, more so because only a few miles away from where I live, young Maoists my age are being hunted down by the armed forces who will perhaps not rest till the last of them lies dead. When I travel from Nepal to here, I encounter beggars, eunuchs, vendors and the invisible people who run a family cleaning railway tracks, carrying baggage, building roads, pulling rickshaws, begging or running a shop four square feet wide. Yet these people’s lives are never depicted anywhere. Films are always about the urban elite who have problems with self realisation needs, while a huge population...
- Rupa Subedi: Dear Kunda ji, Overall, I think the democratization of electronic media is a good thing. But I must say the that Facebook in Kathmandu has also revealed the “less attractive” aspects of human nature (a bit like the book Lord of the Flies does). I find it quite disturbing how nosy people are – taking such an interest in people’s personal affairs in a “group-think” way that in other countries people might say is akin to “mobbing/hounding”. Here is our poor country going through tumultuous changes, and there is Facebook competing to be the latest to “break the news” about so-and-so’s personal life (with not a thought that perhaps that person would kindly like to be left alone). So yes, citizen journalism is good – but what are the issues being covered – that is probably more important. Rupa
- Daniel Gajaraj: During the Rana Rule every year there used to be Pajani. Every civil-army personel had to pay respect,dam rakhnu pardatheo Rana Maharaj kaha. Then they were either continued ,renewed their services or retired from service. In the same light every Nepali Prime Minister has to get the blessing of Delli ko Badsah, the rulel of India for stability. There has been more than ten visits by Nepali side but not a single reciprocal visit from New Delhi to Nepal yet. So if Baburam has no special agenda to solve the Nepal India outstanding problems essentials ,his present visit amounts to Ashirbad visit or in idiomatic Nepali DAM Rakhney Bhraman,tribute paying visit.
- Vija Srestha: ‘It’s all official! Can there be a better example of conflict of interests?’ Don’t you get it Mr.CAA of Nepal,we live in Nepal.This is one of the examples that anything can be made official in our country Nepal and this is one of the examples that this is the exact place where there are no conflicts of interest,this is an exact place as long as it exists,that there never will be confict of interests as it is a place where one can control and earn as much as one wishes and whoever is that person,knows and you know Mr.from CAA of Nepal ,that money is the factor that controls people and their actions.Since you know and are from CAAof Nepal,do the job you are suppose to do,regardless of the consequences for you.CAA of Nepal is a Government Institution,and as long as we have Government officers and leaders who can be paid for, there are not gone be changes .Is there anyone in Aviation in Nepal who dares to speak and act?One can count on fingers have many...
- CAA of Nepal: Ok crusader journalist I’ll give you an information that you can act on if you are really serious about helping air safety in Nepal. An Airworthiness Inspector by the name of P. Mallick in the full time employee of the Aviation Safety Department of the CAA of Nepal is also in the official payroll of Agni Air. He does the maintenance of the Agni Air aircraft himself and then as Airworthiness Inspector for CAA of Nepal also approves the aircraft for release! This is done with the knowledge and blessing of all the powers that be in the CAA of Nepal! It’s all official! Can there be a better example of conflict of interests?

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