Thousands of people gathered in Basantapur Darbar Square on Friday morning for the peace rally organized by various human rights, civil society and professional organisations.
Even though the message of the peace rally was to demand the political parties to resolve their differences, the rally was charged with anger against the banda still being enforced by the Maoists.
During the impromptu march that followed the gathering, there were small skirmishes with the Maoists camped on various road intersections.
On Exhibition Road, the police fired a dozen teargas shells to separate the peace rally participants and the Maoists supporters.
Young Communist League members made a human chain in Sundhara to stop the peace rally from proceeding.
In the morning, Maoist supporters prevented groups of people in Bagbazar and Kupandole from attending the rally, the organisers said. In Kupandole, the situation was tense for a while following a small confrontation between the two groups.
Meanwhile, the United States has asked the Maoists to withdraw the strike which is on its sixth day today. “The Maoist-imposed strike in Nepal is creating serious hardships for the people of Nepal and the risk of dangerous confrontation is growing,” said Robert O. Blake, the US assistant secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, in a statement issued today.
PHOTOS: KIRAN PANDAY AND DAMBAR KRISHNA SHRESTHA
This peace really was not independent movement of different human rights, civil society and professional organisations because espically all of them were supporters of Nepali Congress as well as CPN UML party. I think it was a anti-maoist activity to create the pressure withdraw for peaceful Janaandolan and Nepal Bandha which has called by the largest political party, CPN Maoist to ensure peace, constitution and joint consensus government since a week.
Where are the so-called civil society leaders in today’s rally? Where is Comrade Devendra Raj Pandey? Where is Comrade Sundar Mani Dixit? How can they face the public if they are so compromised on the side of violence and criminalism? These apologists for Maoists are worse than Maoists. The Maoists at least have an ideology, civil society aguwas as hollow opportunists. Thank you Maha Jodi and Ani Choying for showing the light, thank you for speaking out so eloquently with music and satire for ahimsa!!! Thank god we still have you.
11. We call upon the civil society, professional organizations, various wings of parties, people of all communities and regions, press and intellectuals to actively participate in the peaceful movement launched on the basis of these understandings centered on democracy, peace, prosperity, forward-looking social change and the country’s independence, sovereignty, and pride.
I think one solution to the current crisis could be a boxing match. This could be called the “High Level Political Match, The Final Punch”.
Contestants: The main leaders of the three biggest parties.
Requirements:
1. A caged Boxing Ring placed at Tudikhel. “Caged” so that the contestants know the sentiment of the people.
2. A neutral referee. Human Rights anybody?
3. Some popcorn and cold drinks for the spectators (Everyone who is on the streets and at home)
Rules:
1. The contestants have to engage. Each contestant is allowed to use both hands and legs at will. However, this needs to be done in a very “peaceful” manner.
2. The contestants cannot leave the ring until there is a “logical conclusion” of the match
3. The referee is free to use a “lathee” on any of the contestants if they show any sign of fatigue/and or fail to use words such as “constitution making”, “peace” , “janta”, ” 12 bujhe samajhdari”, “antarim sambidhan” “chalphal” “kataputali punch” (ofcourse no cold drinks for them – coke for just Rs. 15,000,000,000, you’re right!
Note: The punches have to be flowing at all times
Neutral View: I am positive match “niskarsa ma pugcha” and there will be a “sahamati” sooner rather than later
Where’s UNMIN? I need to get this proposal passed
People shouldn’t fall oblivious to the fact that, in democracy, all people should have the right to express their views, for instance by protesting. The Maoists, being the largest party, should at least be able to abide by democratic norms and values which it has been harping since about six days. So, why should only Maoists protest? Can’t other people protest as well? Do people even know that the bandh is costing the nation big time? People don’t want any closures. How can anybody say that political parties like the NC and UML organize such ‘anti-maoist’ activities? Nobody needs to be ‘forced and yanked on their ears’ to be taken to the protests, if the janata want peace, they will go by themselves, freely. They don’t have to be bussed from nooks and corners of the country. How can any peace-loving rally offend Maoists for the rally wasn’t meant against Maoists, it was meant against the way they worked it out. The rally cannot be organized by political parties given that such great figures like Ani Choying Dolma, Maha jodi came in and gave their short speeches. It reaches the peak of irony, when Maoists accuse the government paying off the people who were involved in the rally. Good laughs!
Calling the Maoists “democrats”? Hahahahahahahaha. These are people who were so threatened by a mere peace rally they first tried to spread rumours via mass SMS that it was called off, then they started threatening the organisers, they vandalized the hotel of one of the sponsors, then they started spreading disinformation. When none of that worked, they attacked peace activists with iron rods in Kopundole, and then they assaulted them again after the rally in New Road, Durbar Marg and elsewhere. The Maoists are cowards. Madav Nepal may be a weak leader, but I prefer him to the Gestapos and Waffen SS of the Maoists.
Ganesh Khatiwada- You are correct. This was an anti Maoist rally. People are simply fed up of Maoist murder loot and extortion and will not stand it any longer.
Enough is enough ! We all know that its the Indians, Americans and Chinese that are the real culprits. The Nepali leaders, who have no backbone, who are currupt, who have already sold their souls to either the Chinese, Indians, or Americans Masters, these leaders are SLAVES! They obey orders from their Masters. They are Dogs, that bite and bark for a bare bone. The only power in Nepal lies with the Nepali people. Rise Nepali people , Rise against this unjustice. We need a Jung Bahadur ! I wonder – where are all the Thapas, Basnets, Kunwars – the Bahuns in power , they do not have any guts. Get rid of the Bahuns. Bahuns are only good for doing puja, not ruuning a country.
Can Mother Nepal give birth to another Jung Bahadur, I hope she does.
I second Neutral’s motion! Brilliant.
All our political leaders have hatred towards each other’s parties (in public), they only love power and money. For them, 1st priority is kursi and satta, 2nd priority is personal egos, 3rd may be relatives n party (that too divided into factions), their last priority, is country’s people. however, now i think, country is not in their priorities at all.
Today. the legacy of rana is being continued by shah,s, Grija Prasad, Madhav NEpal and Prachanda and so on. I respect what Girija has done in April revolution, but, in one or another way, he together with Makune and Prachanda and shah dynasty are responsible for making Nepal, a miserably failed state.
Well if any body could tell me which political ideals of Nepal would you support and why? I would be very thankful. I am curious to know that if people are also willing to talk about how to fight corruption in Nepalese government?
Are the governments in Nepal trying to heat the people of Kathmandu to start a fight? Sometimes I just come to feel that the political elites are trying wage a war so that their hidden agenda to use the government budget for their own selfish motives and political scandal? Conflict paves way for a lot of corruptions….look out though the political conscious people and also one more question …in the next comment….
Short sighted thinkers, narrow minded leaders and the followers of bind faith and above that came unfortunate Maoism. Maoism in the land locked country of Nepal has nothing to do, they can only exploit poor people, and brain wash the illiterate populace of innocent Nepalese, with which they thrive for time being!
Violence has no place in the birth place of Buddha, non violence is the only means for peace and stability in Nepal, to which dialogue for peaceful negotiation should be tabled.
Down with Maoism, May Peace come to Nepal!
Jai Nepal!