CINA

'Nobody Is Discontent with the Abolition of the Monarchy'

Former underground Maoist rebel leader Prachanda is set to become Nepal's first democratically elected prime minister. He spoke with SPIEGEL about political violence in Nepal, his relationship with the US and how being a rebel interfered with his family life.

SPIEGEL: Nepal’s 240-year-old monarchy was abolished last Wednesday. Even as thousands of Nepalese celebrated the birth of the new republic with fireworks, music and dancing, seven bombs exploded in the capital Katmandu. Your decade-long Nepalese People’s War saw more than 10,000 people killed and only officially ended two years ago. Will the violence ever end?

Prachanda: Those explosions were just minor incidents and, fortunately, there were no casualties. Nobody in Nepal is discontent with the abolition of the monarchy. On the contrary, ever since we won the elections earlier this year, everyone has been celebrating a political festival of sorts and really welcomes the new republic.

SPIEGEL: A Katmandu businessman was brutally murdered by your Maoist comrades only last month. You apologized to his widow on behalf of your People’s Army and announced that the family of the slain man would be compensated. But coming from a future prime minister, surely that’s too little -- what about a judicial inquiry and adequate punishment for the murderers?

Prachanda: Please -- Rome was not built in a day. After decades of ruthless feudalism, it will take a while to properly establish the rule of law. A commission has already been set up to investigate that murder. My Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) is the largest of the four parties in the new Constituent Assembly. We already have the mammoth task of rewriting the constitution ahead of us. I am very aware that, as head of the largest party, the lion’s share of the responsibility to see all this through is mine.

SPIEGEL: Hindu extremists in Nepal are said to be behind last week's blasts. They are unhappy at the dismantling of the world’s last Hindu kingdom. But even prominent members of Nepal’s business community consider it unwise of the new Constituent Assembly to have done away with King Gyanendra altogether. Lastly, you seem to forget that millions of poor Nepalese still believe that the king of Nepal has always been an incarnation of Vishnu, the most important Hindu god.

Prachanda: That's a huge exaggeration. First, it's just a handful of people who are Hindu chauvinists. Second, this business about the king -- and especially Gyanendra -- being an incarnation of Vishnu is an illusion. Ever since the massacre in 2001 of the former king, Birendra -- who is Gyanendra’s brother -- along with his entire family, most Nepalese believe that Gyanendra is no divine avatar but a murderer. Still, who says Gyanendra cannot remain a businessman, even as an ordinary citizen? If he contributes to Nepal’s gross domestic product, all the better.

SPIEGEL: That’s very generous of you. But a former head of state is hardly likely to be content with tending to his business interests in tobacco and hotels.

Prachanda: So, what does he want? To form a new political party? Absolutely no problem. If he wishes to compete with us, I would only welcome it.

SPIEGEL: Gyanendra has been given two weeks to vacate the Narayanhiti palace, the traditional royal residence. And yet, hundreds of Nepalese, euphoric over the formation of the new republic, demonstrated outside the palace last Wednesday and demanded that Gyanendra move out straightaway. Why? Are there any signs that the deposed king -- along with loyal members of the Nepal Army who are guarding him -- will conspire against the new assembly in the coming weeks?

Prachanda: I don’t think so. Within hours of the formation of the new republic, the royal flag was brought down, and the new flag was hoisted atop the palace. That was a clear sign of Gyanendra's acceptance of the new order. I will appeal to the Nepalese not to use any improper methods to push the king to vacate the palace straightaway. I am sure he will leave by himself: in a peaceful, graceful and dignified manner.

SPIEGEL: It has been two years since you joined the peace process and voluntarily placed most of your arms and 20,000 Maoist cadres under UN surveillance. It has been just months since international observers confirmed that the elections -- which you won with a majority -- were free and fair. And yet, Nepal’s Maoists remain on the United States' list of terrorist groups.

Prachanda: I met with several American officials last week. They assured me that we will soon be removed from that list and that Washington is looking forward to cooperating with us.

SPIEGEL: You've gone from being a powerful underground rebel to an even more powerful future prime minister of the new republic of Nepal. How does that feel?

Prachanda: I am happiest for the people of Nepal and their liberation from feudalism. It is their historic victory. Personally, it’s more complicated. As a rebel, I hardly had time for my wife and three children. Now, I have the serious feeling that my family life is going to get even more complicated. But I suppose that is the price I must pay.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,557421,00.html

Related news:

☞ NC leaders ask people to be ready for struggle (Nepal.., 6.04)

☞ BJP sore over Nepal change (..News, 6.02)

 
*****

While the wave of demonstrations (mainly as "candlelight vigils")..

..started few weeks ago with protests against the KORUS FTA - especially against the resuming of beef imports from the USA - now, since some days, a majority of the protestors are demanding the resignation of the LMB gov't..

Today's Korea Herald reported that.. 
   
..Protests against U.S. beef imports are intensifying with more violent clashes between police and demonstrators, despite increasingly tougher dispersal measures by the police, including the use of water cannons and on-site detentions.

Thousands of people again inundated streets in central Seoul, chanting slogans criticizing the Lee Myung-bak government, which they claimed trampled "the will of the people," calling for measures to safeguard public health. The demonstrations stretched into early this morning.

"Violent police move out! Lee Myung-bak step down!" protesters shouted.

The protests are expected to further intensify in the lead-up to the government's formalizing of the new import terms, slated for tomorrow. Once published in the official gazette, the pact with the United States will immediately go into effect.

 
Opposition parties also ratcheted up their pressure on the government yesterday, calling for either nullification or renegotiation of the import deal. The main opposition United Democratic Party joined the unceasing wave of protests and initiated its own campaign outside the parliament yesterday, demanding the government renegotiate the import deal. The liberal party is expected to launch campaigns across the nation with its regional offices taking part.

UDP members are also reportedly considering joining the candlelight vigils, something the party has been vacillating about as their participation could make the vigils appear politically motivated.

Party leaders of the progressive Democratic Labor Party launched a ribbon-hanging event as part of efforts to publicize its opposition to the beef deal. About 300 DLP members are expected to join the party's daily rallies.

The minor New Progressive Party is set to soon file a damages suit against President Lee and Agriculture Minister Chung Woon-chun.

Police in Seoul detained more than 200 protesters between Saturday night and yesterday morning on charges of contravening the demonstration law following the 24th candlelight vigil, which drew an estimated 100,000 citizens.

Reminiscent of the 1987 pro-democracy movement, in which pent-up public resentment against the military junta led by Chun Doo-hwan was unleashed in central Seoul streets, about 40,000 citizens packed Seoul Plaza during the candlelight vigil Saturday. The vigils were held at about 100 locations nationwide, including Busan, Daegu, Gwangju and Incheon.

Nearly 10,000 riot police were deployed in central Seoul. They used water cannons, clubs and shields to disperse increasingly uncontrollable demonstrators during the protests that began at around 8:50 p.m. on Saturday and ended at around 9 a.m. yesterday. (*)

Scores of injuries(**) were witnessed, but no official word was released.

Around midnight Saturday, about 9,000 protesters occupied roads near the government complex in Jongno, central Seoul, and the entrance of Cheong Wa Dae, the presidential office, chanting anti-government slogans.

At around 4 a.m. yesterday, police started to use water cannons as protesters continued to refuse police dispersal orders. Police also dispatched special troopers to push the demonstrators back away from the presidential office...

* Of course it's wrong!! The protest demonstrations in Seoul started on Saturday at 4 p.m and until now there's no end in sight!!
** Over 100 citizens sustained injuries in the fiercest clashes yet with riot police during all-night street protests over the weekend (K. Times, 6.01)

Related reports, pictures, videos..:

☞ Report, incl. video about the current police terror (KCTU)

☞ '광우병 촛불'이 '광우병 항쟁'으로 (통일뉴스)

☞ [5.31, afternoon/evening] Photo Report

The bourgeois (extreme reactionary and of course very close to LeeMB and the "ruling" GNP) daily newspaper Chosun Ilbo published last Friday (5.30) following report:

Massive Protests Send Message to President Lee

  
Over 10,000 people gathered in downtown Seoul to protest against the resumption U.S. beef imports on Thursday, marking a sixth day of demonstrations that blocked the roads of the capital. Civic groups organized a candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. in Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall that drew many university students, with the flags of major universities like Korea, Sungkyunkwan, and Ewha prominently visible in the crowd.

Democratic Labor Party lawmaker Kang Ki-kab said the government “ignored public opinion” when it decided to go ahead with the announcement of new import rules for beef. Demonstrators shouted slogans like, “Nullify the agreement, and withdraw the announcement” and “Withdraw the announcement, it will be judged by the people.”

Led by an anti-Lee Myung-bak group that took to the streets around 8:30 p.m., protesters marched from Euljiro 1-ga and Gwanggyo through Jongno 2-ga and 3-ga, back to Euljiro and on to Jongno 1-ga. They eventually occupied the eight-lane avenue in front of the Gwanghwamun Post Office and attempted to enter Sejongno, which leads to Gwanghwamun. But police barricaded the street with police busses while 105 companies of altogether 9,000 police officers were stationed in the Gwanghwamun area, the largest number since the candlelight vigils started.

Choi Bo-sig from the Chosun Ilbo’s National/Politics News Desk observed the protests during the past five days. Here is his account of the events:

What is noticeable in this rally is that it is not centrally controlled. Even though there may be some groups who are leading the demonstration, they are failing to drive the people into a single direction. Most participants seem to believe misinformation on U.S. beef available online, and came out because of genuine indignation.

When police blocked the crowds from entering the roads on Sunday night, a woman in her 30s with a baby on her back asked officers if they wanted their children to eat U.S. beef. “I came here to protect my child,” she said. Around 1 a.m., five middle school students were debating whether they should go home or stay. “It’s not cowardly to go home now because we’re going to come again tomorrow,” one of the girls told the boys. This emotional innocence seemed impervious to logic.

For them, occupying the roads does not seem so wrong compared to the government’s indifference to people’s legitimate demands. The World Cup experience, of huge crowds going out into the streets and supporting the Korean national football team, also fed into this demonstration. “I love this country because when something happens everyone comes out into the streets,” one protestor said.

A police officer said police are uncomfortable about having to forcefully disperse crowds made up of ordinary citizens -- middle and high school students, salarymen on their way home, women wearing high heels and miniskirts. “There is no channel for dialogue,” an officer complained.

It was impressive to see workers who would have to be up early the next morning take part until late at night. One 31-year-old office worker who gave his name as Kim stayed with the demonstrators until 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Kim, who voted for President Lee Myung-bak, said he knows that there is only a slim chance of being infected with mad cow disease from eating U.S. beef. “But the president did not seek any understanding from the citizens, and didn’t consult public opinion when so many people were concerned and fearful about it,” he said. “ That clearly shows what he thinks of the masses. He believes the people are his employees who should follow the decision made by the CEO of the country. I regret my vote every day,” Kim said. That perhaps sums up what is really in the minds of the people who were swarming through the heart of the capital. The government fatally missed it.

For more please read:

☞ Leaderless, Candlelit Vigils Show No Letup (K. Times, 6.01)

☞ It's Not About the Beef Anymore (OhmyNews, 5.30)

李정부 박살내자!

자본주의 박살내자!