[angkor]

I was last in Pokara just as the Maoists were starting up (1996), and I met a few of them running my hotel, they were obviously in sympathy.

The basic beef at the time was that the royals were stealing everything they could get their hands on (in particular foreign aid); that they ran the country like a serfdom (hard to argue with that); and that they provided absolutely nothing to the people, especialy outside Kathmandu.

At the time I argued that Maoism and communism had recently fallen apart everywhere throughout the world, and they reluctantly agreed, except that "We are a poor country, and this is where we have to start." We continued a bit, then they appeared angry, and I changed hotels the next day.

Great photo of Machupuchare.

[sagar]

"I was last in Pokara just as the Maoists were starting up (1996), and I met a few of them running my hotel, they were obviously in sympathy."

Yes, Pokhara was one of the starting points for Maoism.

"The basic beef at the time was that the royals were stealing everything they could get their hands on (in particular foreign aid);"

Interesting. Politicians are thought as corrupt in Kathmandu(where I lived). The king has hardly any control over foreign aid. They go directly to the ministries and that are run by senior ministers, junior ministers, and co-ministers. For example, the Road Department alone had 6 ministers at one time. One was the senior minister, 2 junior ministers, and 3 co-ministers from other departments. My dad was working as an engineer and used to say that whenever there was the influx of foreign aid, all the money would go to the ministers. There, they'd divide it... and pick their cronies(usually sons or son in laws) as "contractors". Then, the contractors would hire laborers and buy materials.

Laborers were paid peanuts and materials were never up to the standard. My dad had to "sign" all papers, so he would be technically responsible for the quality of the highway under his supervision. I remember him getting mad whenever there was the influx of foreign aid or new ministers being added to the department. He had to make those elected bastards with no education happy just to keep his engineering job.

"that they ran the country like a serfdom (hard to argue with that); and that they provided absolutely nothing to the people, especially outside Kathmandu."

King lost all his power after 1990 revolution. He remained only the figurehead. I doubt the dire economic situation was due to him. Of course, the king could care less, but I don't think he was directly responsible.

"At the time I argued that Maoism and communism had recently fallen apart everywhere throughout the world, and they reluctantly agreed, except that "We are a poor country, and this is where we have to start." We continued a bit, then they appeared angry, and I changed hotels the next day."

Yeah, that was the feeling. I was in the 8th grade in 1996, but grew up in a politically charged household. So I was kept up to date with all political news and events. Half in my extended family were monarchists(mostly mom's side), a quarter had political hopes(Nepali Congress), and a whole quarter were commies(of non-Maoist, but Marxist brand).