Continuing violence

Nepal is a land where conspiracy theories abound where apparently all kinds of dark forces are at work to scupper progress and those who are on the side of what is right and good. The best illustration of this is probably the plethora of these that followed the massacre of the Nepalese royal family in 2001. Conspiracy theories make for intriguing speculation by the man in the street but they also are a way that for example a political party can prepare its constituency for failure. The Maoists are no exception in this respect and there have been many statements from them since their landslide victory in the Constituent Assembly elections suggesting that plans are afoot to deny them their destiny to govern and form the "new Nepal". I am sure that they are, at least in part, quite correct however it could well be the case that the biggest threat to the Maoist agenda coming to fruition lies from within. For it would appear that some from the ranks of the People's Liberation Army have not grasped yet that murder is no longer an acceptable activity in the post-conflict Nepal.

Last week some PLA fighters abducted a Kathmandu business man, Ram Hari Shrestha, and took him to one of their cantonment camps near Chitwan. It was alleged that he had been involved in theft and for that he was beaten to death. A PLA brigade commander has been arrested and two others are at large. The Maoist leadership has been quick to condemn the outrage. For Shrestha was not just any old member of the public. He was prominent within the Kathmandu community and his family had given shelter to the Maoist fighters during the People's War. Such was his connection to the Maoists that the Maoist chairman himself, Prachanda, went to the widow's home to tell her of the vicious circumstances of her husband's demise. There have now been street protests against the Maoists and today in Kathmandu there is a "bandh" (strike) that will close down the city and all transportation. This has been a Maoist shot in the foot if ever there was one but maybe Shrestha's death will not be in vain given the impact that perhaps the public revulsion will have on ensuring that the Maoists stick better to a non violent path in future.

More difficult to read has been the bomb attack on the Norwegian Embassy last weekend, a discrete establishment which is within ready walking distance (earshot) of my home. It is hard to imagine why the affable Norwegians should be the target of anyone's aggression. Unless perhaps someone from the European community is giving them a taste of their own medicine for the atrocities inflicted upon their ancestors by marauding Norsemen a thousand years' ago. More likely it is a protest by a disgruntled Nepali tourist who has been on holiday in Norway and is making a statement against the cost of the basic essentials of life over there. I visited Norway way back in 1984 and the cost of beer was ridiculous. I haven't been back since.

Phew...

The protests that matured into a full strike today ended abruptly this afternoon following agreement not to increase fuel costs. That comes as a huge relief, also personally, as had it continued we'd have been unable to get to the airport tomorrow and the start of a long overdue month's holiday in the UK. But I wonder how the Government will sort this mess out?

I gather that a UN land cruiser was stoned by a mob yesterday; normally these blue plate vehicles are immune from domestic protests. However these gas-guzzling four wheel drive jeeps with things like "Human Rights" and "World Food Programme" emblazoned on their sides have attracted a great deal of resentment in recent months as they drive past long queues at the petrol stations. I am surprised they weren't targetted before. The UN needs to sort its branding out.