[advance_copy]

Lousy commies can't get any support for their stupid ideology without killing people. Commie idiots don't realize their collectivist theories are crap, or maybe they do and just want power no matter how they get it.

[minus_273]

an update.

[CarrotAndStick]

http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=290203&sid=NAT

It is for Nepalese to choose roadmap for democracy: India

New Delhi, Apr 22: Apparently stung by criticism of its handling of the Nepal crisis, India tonight said it was on the side of democratic forces and would welcome Maoists coming to the negotiating table.

It also said it was for the people of Nepal to choose the roadmap for ushering in democracy and wanted Maoists to abandon violence.

"If negotiations to bring Maoists (to the table) are undertaken on the basis of principles of multi-party democracy and abandonment of violence, it should be welcomed," Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran told reporters here.

The briefing came hours after the seven-party alliance in Nepal rejected the king`s offer to transfer executive power to the people, naming of a Prime Minister by them and elections.

He expressed serious concern at the rapidly deteriorating situation and disruption of essential supplies in Kathmandu and other parts of the Himalayan nation.

Maintaining that India had "consistently supported" the restoration of multi-party democracy in Nepal, Saran said New Delhi had earlier suspended arms supplies to the country which still "remains in force".

"This has been our consistent approach .... Now it is for political parties to decide what their future should be," he said adding New Delhi was not in a position to prescribe what was best for the people of Nepal.

"We have seen the press release issued by the seven- party alliance (SPA) in which they have reiterated their agenda. We support the restoration of peace and multi-party democracy as that is the need of the hour. The sentiments of the people of Nepal have to be respected," he said.

To questions on Maoists, Saran said: "No military solution is possible. We need to have a political solution" and the Maoists should accept multi-party democracy and abandon violence.

As a neighbour, the Foreign Secretary said, India always wished that peace and prosperity prevailed in Nepal "because stability is in the best interest of India and democracy is the best guarantee for such stability".

Observing that the situation in the Himalayan nation was being constantly monitored, the Foreign Secretary said long queues of cargo vessels and tankers were in place on the Indian side of the border.

"Grave hardship is being faced by the people. As soon as conditions permit, we will like to resume the movement of cargo .... Our endeavour will be to see that the people do not suffer," he said.

Replying to questions about criticism from some quarters on New Delhi`s handling of the situation, Saran said: "Certain elements have tried to deliberately distort our intentions ... There is no question of our siding with one side or the other. We are firmly on the side of democratic forces and peace. And there should be no ambiguity about it and this lie should be nailed."

He said the principle on which India was working was that power should be handed over to the people of Nepal and "the king appeared to have conceded that. However, the people of Nepal should decide what their future should be."

Bureau Report

[marron]

Thanks for the post, you are right, several of us are following events in Nepal. I was hoping we would get involved below the surface, to help build a security force that could resist the Maoists, but we have (probably for good reason) let India take the lead there.

Nepal is India's problem, but it looks like an opportunity for some friendly help. Letting Nepal fall to their version of Shining Path would be a disaster.

[Dog Gone]

The king is close to China, but the maoist rebels are coming from India?

South asian politics are a bit confusing.

[CarrotAndStick]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1499543.cms


India ready to give neighbour a helping hand


NEW DELHI: Along with supporting Nepal ruler Gyanendra, the Indian government has handed out unreserved kudos to the people of Nepal. "The people of Nepal have undergone acute suffering and economic hardship during the last several months, but have always kept their faith with democracy and freedom.

They deserve our respect and admiration," an MEA spokesperson said. The Indian response evolved after the king met the Indian ambassador Shiv Shankar Mukherjee in Kathmandu on Friday morning to give him the details of his proposed statement.

This formed part of a high level discussion between Prime Minister, national security adviser M K Narayanan, foreign secretary Shyam Saran and PM's special envoy Karan Singh.

It was decided that since the king had walked some distance, India would now support his actions. Opposition leader Jaswant Singh, who is due to travel to Nepal on Monday, also went on record to say that the agitations should now stop.

He was briefed by Saran on the discussions in Nepal over the past couple of days. There have been reports of rejection of the king's offer by the parties in Nepal, but government sources here felt saner counsel would prevail.

The interim government, when it is formed can, with its executive powers, reconvene Parliament or set up a constituent assembly and call for fresh elections.

The new government should also have the powers to negotiate with Maoists, though each of these powers will be hard fought victories, because it is likely that the king may insert many riders to dilute his offer.

The initial reactions also seem to suggest that the Maoists too may not reject the king's offer out of hand; instead wait for developments to evolve. The next step is for the parties to select a PM — India will certainly push them towards a quick decision.

Once an interim government has been announced, a timetable for elections will be next on the agenda. On Friday the MEA said, "The aspirations of the people of Nepal can now be addressed by enabling them to enjoy their rights through a democratic electoral exercise free from the threat of violence."

Once a government has taken over, India will formally announce a comprehensive economic package to pull Nepal out of its economic morass.

India, said the MEA spokesperson, "now stands ready to render all possible assistance to enable Nepal to achieve political stability and economic recovery at the earliest possible date."

India, having rolled up its sleeves and entered Nepal's political labyrinth, will now stay deeply engaged. The parties will be persuaded to take advantage of the king's offer and press home their high ground.

The Maoists will be persuaded to stay quiet through the period of transition and the international pressure will now build up on the Maoists to disarm and become a part of mainstream politics.

This transition too will have to be managed. The king will have to be persuaded to stay the course, with the assurance that the monarchy will remain only constitutional.

The royal Nepal army may technically be with the king, but Indian sources said, they now know that their equipment and technology lifelines would be retained only if they weighed in on the side of multi-party democracy.

[CatoRenasci]

I trust the Chinese ... to be communist totalitarians.

For all that India is the 'world's largest democracy' and that we have been cozying up to the Indians lately as a counterweight to the Pakistanis, I REALLY don't trust the Indians.

[dljordan]

I was there for a while in 92' and they were having problems then. This is a Chinese takeover for sure. The commies are threatening Bhutan too.

[The Lion Roars]

this is bull. india isnt supporting the maoists. they are guilty of NOT supporting the king. but that doesnt mean they are supporting the maoists.

from what i read about nepal there are three players: the king, the political parties and the maoists. the first two were united against the maoists till the king suspended parliament and political parties.

frankly india should have supported the king in putting down the maoist violence. imagine a maoist terrorist state ready to send cadres for a red revolution in india too!!!

anyways time that we big boys jumped in and armed the nepalese army to the teeth against the maoists.

[Wiz]

ping

[Wiz]

America will support India for the invasion of Nepal in case of Maoist to take over the government.

[Flavius Josephus]

Not on my local news. Sorry, no story.