United We Blog! for a Democratic Nepal United We Blog! for a Democratic Nepal We blog for a peaceful and democratic Nepal. Maoists Attack Outskirts of Kathmandu By UWB on January 14th, 2006 in Xtra | 2 Comments » A day after they suffered heavy casualties in Syanja, Maoist rebels launched surprise and coordinated attacks on different police posts in the outskirts of Kathmandu killing at least 14 policemen and spreading the propaganda worth a billion dollar. Isn’t it shocking to hear that Maoists have attacked police posts in Kathmandu That too in a sensitive and important office like Thankot Check Post (pic) It becomes especially so if consider the fact that Nepal Police had gathered information about possible attacks by the rebels in and around Kathmandu. They circulated information in the police force to give special attention in increasing security in the police offices that are outside the Ring Road. But Maoists easily launched a ‘high profile’ attack in an Area Police Office like Thankot and mercilessly killed about a dozen innocent policemen. The rebels also attacked Dadhikot Police Post in Bhaktapur at the same time. What do these attacks signal It’s not that Maoists have become stronger and attained capabilities to attack Kathmandu. Even though human casualties on police side is significant in Thankot, these attacks will largely be considered as propaganda tactics of Maoists. The government wanted fight and they are giving that. If this government feels an ounce of responsibility toward innocent people of Nepal, it should immediately declare a ceasefire, cancel the upcoming municipal polls and invite rebels for talks. Living In Darkness By UWB on January 14th, 2006 in Guest Column | 1 Comment » Nepal is second richest country in water resource in the world. Sounds good but reality The story of load shedding tells it al. Saturday Blog By Anbika Giri Today it’s not necessary to run for me to reach my room. I can walk slowly. It was different yesterday. It was about half past seven when I reached Chahabil Chowk. When I heard two people talking about load shedding, I ran towards my room. Bad luck, I could not get what I wanted. Such things don’t come in mind other times. Last time also I was quite careless about managing candle and had to stay in the dark. The problem has become more frequent because I have just shifted my room. In the new room I really do not know which thing is kept at which place. After opening the door, I tried to search a candle but failed. Read More » Sarkar, Sarkar, Sarkar By Dinesh Wagle on January 14th, 2006 in Wagle's WebLog | 7 Comments » People of Khotang, east Nepal, talked about varieties of their problems with the king who toured Diktel Thursday (Jan 12). His Majesty should not interpret their presence in Diktel and other parts of the country as their support to his rule. An experience of watching a video of the royal tour in Nepal TV King Gyanendra, or Sarkar as many people call the king in Nepal, is currently touring eastern parts of the country. Like in all other royal visits, people are queuing up to convey their message and grievances directly to the monarch who is ruling them directly. This morning I read a news report on Kantipur that says a man in Diktel, Khotang presented himself in front of the king with an unexpected message (that turned into the front page headline): “Magh 19 pachi bhrastachar badhyo maharaj!” In the night, an announcement on Nepal Television stopped me from switching off the TV and going to bed. The network, after the English news bulletin, was ready to show me footages of the king’s visit. I was curious to see if that bite will be broadcasted. No that did not happen but I immensely enjoyed the video as I saw people overwhelming the king with so many problems. Sarkar! Khotang-Diktel bato! [Your Majesty, we need Khotang-Diktel road]. Read More » Life and Time in Nepal By UWB on January 14th, 2006 in UWB Photo Blog | No Comments » Glimpses of Nepal’s lifestyle A Saturday Photo Blog Keeping the Chill Away A lucky goat in Parsa district gets a piece of garment to avoid the chill. Cold wave has made life difficult in different parts of the country. Pic by Sujeet Mahat Read More » Preparing For Urban Warfare By UWB on January 13th, 2006 in UWB Photo Blog | 5 Comments » Security personnel, including Royal Nepal Army, under the unified command practiced through out the day managing disasters and controlling urban terrorism and crime by staging reharshals in different parts of the city. FAKE : No, its not the arrest in pro-demonstration this time. Police and army practice arresting fake looters in the city as part of their preparation for disaster management and crime and terrorism control. All pics by Bikash Karki Read More » Chitwan Civil Society Meet By UWB on January 13th, 2006 in UWB Photo Blog | 1 Comment » For the first time after the Feb 1’s royal takeover, civil society in Chitwan spontaneously participated in a pro-democracy mass meeting in the town. Many people arrived from the villages to participate in the meeting that was organized by Democratic Forum in the premises of Bharatpur’s Birendra Multiple Campus. All pics by Binod Tripathi Read More » Collateral Damage By UWB on January 13th, 2006 in Anything | 6 Comments » Charikot Update: Today civil society and political parties read out two separate ‘investigation’ report on the incident in a mass meeting organized in Satdobato ( pic inside) . Both reports blame security forces for firing indiscriminately without first gauging the situation. Both reports say Maoists didn’t attack the building and the shop. Original post: An innocent family in Charikot, east Nepal, is caught up in the firing and losts properties worth hundreds of thousands of rupees. A soldier gives company to Alina Thapa, owner of the shop and daughter of Punya Bikram Thapa, owner of the hosue, whith her daugther and grand daughter. They are shocked and awed by the incident. All pics by Rajendra Manandhar A family in Charikot, Dolakha lost properties worth nearly Rs. 8 hundred thousands. How Because bullets were fired upon the shop and the building. Who fired Security force or the Maoists Both deny. The district administration suspects that the Maoist blast caused the fire where as political parties and civil society members claim that the fire was created as the result of electricity malfunction after army fired upon the building. Fire caught the house of