(Courtesy: Mr. Ripley)
It is difficult to understand why the normally balanced Nepali Times, commenting (http://nepalitimes.com/issue/365/Editorial/13927) on the recent blasts in Kathmandu that killed students and injured many innocent people, felt compelled to market the Maoists.
“Surprisingly, the Maoists have also denounced the terror attacks. For a party that had waged war against the state for over a decade employing identical methods, the Maoists have exhibited mature and measured judgement in the wake of the blasts. It seems the former insurgents are getting a crash course on how it feels to be on the other side.”
Maybe the Maoists have penetrated the Nepali Times union and they need to show the comrades that they are indeed fair and balanced in their reporting to keep the presses rolling.
Or maybe the writer(s) have started drinking the same kool aid as Kanak Dixit, the flaky civil society activist, journalist, and intellectual, along with the usual line-up of other flaky and morally confused human rights activists who enlightened us by declaring the incident was a “pre-meditated crime.” No doubt, such harsh condemnation will make the bomber(s) quake in their boots. One takes it that “genocide” and “crimes against humanity” are reserved if Royalists or the NA are involved.
At the same time the Nepali Times was making the above ludicrous observation about Maoist maturity, here is just a sampling of headlines from the Nepali Press:
1. Maoists to resume land seizure campaign (Nepalnews.com)
2. Prachanda asks Maoists cadres to gear up for agitation (kantipuronline.com)
3. Maoists beat up jouro, civil servant (Kathmandu Post)
Then let’s take the most mature of all responses delivered by the ferret-like Baburam Bhattarai who promised to demonstrate within a few days the hand of Royalists in the plot. We’re still waiting.
The second assertion the Nepali Times editorial makes is that the Maoists are now divided into two tiers: one is a more “peaceful” tier headed by Dahal and Bhattarai and the other a more “radical” tier, presumably under Badal and others. Once again, the writers were feeling magnanimous.
“There is no reason for Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal to feel defensive or apologetic for the steps he has taken to transform a violent organisation into a party of peaceful politics.”
This is the delusional mind-set in the media and certain intellectual and political circles that wants to believe that somehow Dahal and Bhattarai will walk away with a handshake if fair polls happen to reject the Maoists or that they are willing to participate as a minority in a democratically-oriented government.
In his excellently researched book on Stalin (The Court of the Red Tsar), Simon Sebag Montefiore offers us this observation about Stalin’s personality:
“The man inside was a super-intelligent and gifted politician for whom his own historic role was paramount..a fidgety hypochondriac…garrulous, social, and a fine singer, this lonely and unhappy man ruined every love relationship and friendship by sacrificing happiness to political necessity and cannibalistic paranoia….his solution to every human problem was death. A man who invents his name…and entire past is likely to end up in a mental institution, unless he embraces by will, skill, and luck, the movement and the moment that can overturn the natural order of things. The movement was the Bolshevik Party, his moment, the decay of the Russian Monarchy.”
To accept that Dahal and Bhattarai, who take Stalin (along with Marx, Mao, and Engels) as their gods (and who have demonstrated similar ambition, greed, and adopted the tactic of using death as a solution for all of our ills) have somehow become measured and mature or that this duo forms the vanguard of a democratically-oriented front within the CPN-M points to a seriously flawed mindset within media and intellectual circles in Nepal.
But let’s not place the blame of the bombing on the media. Like it or not, a free press is critical for democratic governance. Blogs, like this one, can help calibrate some of the thinking the media tries to impose through its own power. There are, unfortunately, no other media positions in Nepal who advocate a strong response to Maoists and stability but also support a democratic republic.
No. The person that must take the blame for this bombing and for a complete security lapse in Nepal and destined to go down as the worst Home Minister in Nepali history is Krishna Sitaula.
A weasel of a man, who in a sorry attempt to deflect attention from his own failures, observed several days following the bombings during a “security meeting” that “the ongoing struggle between the Monarchy and the democratic forces has reached the final stages.”
One wishes he would just do his job (if this was Japan, he would have been required to commit hara-kiri) or just resign instead of making grandiose political statements.
With Sitaula as an enabler of Maoist ideology overseeing an ugly security disaster, a media that cannot shake its delusional thinking, flaky civil society and human rights leaders, democratic politicians that cannot unite against the Maoist threat, and a confused United Nations peace mission, the winter of 2007 could be a very, very cold one.
Related Posts:
Ordinary Nepali Realities vs. Extraordinary Nepali Dreams
http://nepaliperspectives.blogspot.com/2007/08/ordinary-nepali-realities-vs.html
Peace or Appease Process?
http://nepaliperspectives.blogspot.com/2007/07/peace-or-appease-process.html
Revisiting Recent Nepali History - A brief Collection of "Inconvenient Truths"
http://nepaliperspectives.blogspot.com/2007/07/revisiting-recent-nepali-history-brief.html
Lack of Law & Order in Nepal, Primarily a Maoist-Originated Problem
http://nepaliperspectives.blogspot.com/2007/07/lack-of-law-order-in-nepal-primarily.html
"Yes, Yes, Yes..... No, No, No.... But, But, But.... Definitely Maybe!" - Nepali Maoist Leader's Interview
http://nepaliperspectives.blogspot.com/2007/06/yes-yes-yes-no-no-no-but-but-but.html
11 comments:
You are right on the money- I guess appeasement is the best strategy for most of the media houses here. They got no balls to state the facts but twist and turn to massage the balls of powers- that-be by wearing soiled flags of Fourth estate which has turned into a prostitute and does prostitute for clientele of all colors compromising their integrity, ethics and values aka Dixits.
DOA
OOah...don't talk negative about these people, you will be considered as the vilian of baffling CA election...
They are quite busy in brining communism in Nepal. But they are farming dollars/IRs. It is good seasons for them, they are the only people (excluding spam leaders) who are gaining a lot with these civil war and uncertainty. It is monsoon for them to grow the dollars. More they cry about democracy and peace more they will earn million dollars. But those who are giving dollars to them don't know where they are heading our country i.e.
1. toward autocratic and syndicate rule of spaM
2. toward communism
3. toward unsecurity
4. toward injustice and no rule of law
5. toward corruption
6. toward bringing civil war
7. toward bringing ethnic war
8. toward bringing more poverty by brining more war
9. toward dividing our nation
10. At the end toward abolishing the country and surrendering to outsiders
At the end they will be targeted by the people if country heads like this with their support....
Everyone has a livelihood and family to protect. And I would suspect that the Dixits do as well.
If the Maoists can threaten major media houses like the Annapurna Post and shut down the Himalayan Times, what can a little media house like Himal do to face the threat?
Some Maoist is sure to have reminded Kanax Dixit that his Rato Bangala investment and the Himal media investment will be open only with the Maoists blessing.
So, one after another article comes out, appeasing the Maoists.
These are not moral, ethical, conviction-based indivdiduals. These are cowards and opportunists.
And people wonder why the press in Nepal is targeted by every single group on every side of the political factions? This is exactly why. Because they take sides and try to feed Nepali people with bull shi* that benefits their own interests.
This is not someone trying to moderate issues or be balanced.. this is someone trying to knowingly tell a story in a way that benefits themselves with no regard to what "free" press means.
How much has Himal media and Rato Bangala been extored over the past 12 months? This is all we need to know. Jivan asks the right questions. What is the answer?
I also agree that Dixit is a sly sob, however how many of you commenting above actually live and run an organisation in Nepal? Most of you seem to agree that the maoists are dangerous and could resort to extreme measures and then you expect people here in Nepal to be all brave and gung ho against maoist atrocities and intimidation? How many of you know that there is no security thanks to Sitaula's lack of leadership, and when attacked there will be noone at the door to help your family leave alone yourself. It is fine sitting in the comforts and security of foreign lands being brave about maoists but I believe it is a time to tread carefully. There will come a time soon where everyone can feel comfortable about going gung ho on the maoists and their ways. But till a semblence of order is restored and we have a legitimate government I suggest people in far off places not be so candid with their words when it comes to the "intentions" of journalists. I wonder how you would face the music with the YCL knocking at your door?
11:28 PM Anon.
What a great observation you have.
Let's also encourage people living in far away places not to be "over janne" when it comes prescribing policy for Nepal. In the same manner, let's suggest to our press moguls also to not be "over janne" when it comes to displaying their biased wisdom.
If under threat from the YCL, the correct thing to do to maintain journalist integrity is to not write. It is incorrect to write to save your own ass, while taking out rallies that say freedom of press is sacred because the Nepali media is completely unbiased.
The people who were offended during Gyanendra's time should be even more offended and up in arms now. This is the question "Mr. Ripley" is accurately asking is where are these people today? They advocated strongly to bring the Maoists into government. Why are they keeping shut when the Maoists are still behaving like Maoists?
Do you (assuming you are living in Nepal like many of us), have an opinion on whether misleading the public is the right thing for the Nepali media to do?
I completely disagree that because some commentors on this blog may be living in foreign lands, that they should not criticize what is obviously wrong.
Had it not been for the support of the Nepali Diaspora, the April uprising would not have been successful. If it wasn't for Sitaula's nephew demonstrating infront of the White House with Chitra Tiwari at his side, Washington wouldn't have even cared about Nepal.
Where are these die hard democrats today when democracy in Nepal is being dismantled day by day. These people definitely had a strong part to play in "restoring" democracy in Nepal, hoina ta? Ho bhane why don't they speak out against the autocratic way government is being run in Nepal now? Why can't they speak out against the biased reports in the press?
Whether living here or abroad, every Nepali has a vested interest in what happens to our mother land. If the ones abroad are feel safer, they should criticize harder on behalf of those who cannot criticize the Maoists within Nepal. Not less.
This is called "BETAL KO BANSURI" of biased civil society groups, fake human right groups, biased media houses.
They brought snake cobra to kill the mouse in the room. But they ignored that the same cobra will attack them after killing the mouse.
I totally agree with ''Betal Ko Basuri's'' assessment. Its only a matter of time when the Maoists start to slaughter these politicians like ''Khasi and Boka''.
Myaa Myaa
"betal ko basuri", what are you doing in opposition? Are you ready to take on these people and expose them or are you also just going to play your own "betal ko basuri" and complain?
Why do we even bother talking about a ''free and fair CA election'' when deep inside our hearts we know that there is not going to be a ''free and fair CA election''? And it looks like there is not going to be any CA election free or unfree, fair or unfair. So, why don't we stop complaining to each other, blaming the Maoists for everything and just stop wasting our time? The Maoists are running the show now. And they don't give a shit to what we do or say. Its complete bollocks. We are being duped. And the sad part is that we know we are being duped. Yet, we don't do anything except bitch about them. I am afraid that our bitching doesn't mean shit to anyone least of all to the Maoists. The good thing about Bitching is that we can express our frustration and anger by speaking about it verbally. But, Thats it. Nothing else. So, lets prepare ourselves to suffer for the rest of our lives at the hands of the Maoists.
Here is to people like us who don't have the balls to stand up and fight. All we do is sit in our homes, read the papers, watch the news, come online at nepalnews.com and post our comments and then bitch about the Maoists. I say we deserve to be ruled by these Maoists. We have dug our own grave and we must now lie in it.
And if we don't like being ruled by the Maoists then why don't we do something about it instead of just bitching about them all the time? Why don't we organize a group of like minded people and protest against the Maoists? Words can be a powerful weapon if used wisely. But, there is no denying the fact that actions speak louder than words. [b]So, lets speak out. Lets stand up and fight for our rights, our beliefs, our freedom. Cause no one is going to fight for us. We have to fight for ourselves.[/b]
The Maoists stood up and fought for what they believed in. They were not afraid to fight for their beliefs. They had the courage to stand up and fight against an army which was far more superior to them. And, look at them now. They are running the show. They are making the so called corrupt-visionless-stupid-blind-idiot politicians dance according to their tunes. And if we don't stand up and fight then they will make us dance according to their tunes.
And the Maoists are dancing according to the tunes of RIM and CCOMPOSA.
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