DOCSLIB.ORG

162 12 - 18 September 2003 16 Pages Rs 25 ANALYSIS By

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
162 12 - 18 September 2003 16 Pages Rs 25 ANALYSIS By www.nepalitimes.com #162 12 - 18 September 2003 16 pages Rs 25 ANALYSIS by ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ RAJENDRA DAHAL political solution, this new unity will early one year after he wrested help in reaching a concrete agreement in power away from an elected prime any future talks to end the insurgency. If minister, King Gyanendra is now they are not, it will prove that the poised to discuss a truce with the Maoists really want a military settlement, political parties. and the government can respond NThe king returned to Nepal this week accordingly. It is likely that the Maoists after nearly 17 days to find his country will try to drive a wedge between again on the brink of war, and his subjects the parties and the king in the fearful and apprehensive about the coming weeks. Ceasefire and peace talks, this time between the king and parties. future. The Nepali public is afraid that As in the past, however, it will not the Maoists are about to demonstrate their be easy for the parties to reach an All together now military clout by unleashing a new round agreement on the formation of a new of slaughter. Recent bombings and government, and the king may also find assassinations in the capital are seen as a their proposal unsatisfactory. Girija sign of things to come. Prasad Koiralas demand that parliament The king is be reinstated will not be easily acceptable Editorial p2 expected to use the to the king, since it will make Koirala Live and let live next week to get and his Congress too powerful for the back up to speed, while the parties take a palaces liking. rest from their vigorous defiance of a The king may therefore listen more government ban on assembly. By late to the UML, RPP and the Deuba MIN BAJRACHARYA next week, the king is expected to meet Congress. The UML may have gone political leaders in tea party diplomacy to along with the Congress to fight find common ground. The main purpose regression, but it would prefer to have of such rapprochement will be to send the an all-party government under its own A school boy walks home Wednesday as political street protests wind down. The Maoists have announced an indefinite education Maoists the message that constitutional leadership. Koirala agreed to endorse strike and a three-day bandh next week. forces are now united. Madhab Kumar Nepal as prime minister If the Maoists are truly serious about a in return for political favours, but that promise may now have lapsed. unprecedented international pressure on to the Indian stance on accommodation Being so close to power, it is also the parties and palace to patch up. Both between the parties and the king. This likely that the parties will start have realised that they cant deal with the new convergence has yielded a roadmap Weekly Internet Poll # 102 bickering again and the palace could Maoists alone. that is still a bit murky. But after next Q. Was the resumption of conflict avoidable? try to take advantage of this. In addition, there has been a shift in weeks meetings it may clear up However, the situation has changed the American position from sufficiently for us to see the way ahead. t from the last time the king tried to unquestioned support for the kings find a suitable premier: there is hawkish actions to a position that is closer Rajendra Dahal is the editor of Himal Khabarpatrika. Total votes:1,135 Weekly Internet Poll # 103. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Q. Now that the ceasefire is off, do you think the political parties and the king should unite ? ○○○○○○○ NAVIN○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○Involve SINGH KHADKA Maoists inRudiger development? Wenk of the European Commission delegation o address the underlying causes of the insurgency, the agrees: “If the idea stops violence, why not bring in the Maoists government needs to deliver development to remote as well?” Ironically, the Maoists have said they don’t think much villages. But many of them are under control of the of the idea, stressing their priority is the revolution. Yet, some Maoists, whom the government has once more declared terrorists. donors believe if Maoist-supporters in villages are brought on Now, the government is under pressure from some of Nepal’s board—even by camouflaging them as community user groups— donors,T who support 75 percent of the development budget, to it could pave the way to resume local development work. involve Maoists in grassroots projects. Government ministers have Multilateral donor agencies echo the same message. said privately that they find the idea absurd. “Everyone should be involved to make the develoment projects At meetings with donors on Wednesday and Thursday, the move ahead,” says the new ADB’s Country Director Sultan government had a tough time convincing Hafeez Rahman, citing the example of Sri them the situation was under control and it Lanka where the Tamil Tigers were involved was capable of taking development to the in project implementation. “The idea is to people. Most foreign-funded aid projects Donors say yes, broaden participation so the people have been disrupted, and Nepal’s 30 year benefit,” Sultan said. Wednesday’s ENJOY achievements in child health, literacy, water government not consultation meeting focussed on the World supply and forestry are seriously threatened. so keen. Bank’s $70 million Poverty Reduction The Sumptuous Barbecue Dinner Local bodies have been without elected leaders for more Strategy Credit, and the IMF’s $70 million Poverty Reduction at our illuminated Courtyard and Garden than a year, and most VDC secretaries have fled to the safety of Growth Facility for three years. district headquarters after the ceasefire collapsed 27 August. There has been an escalation of violence while the missions For Vegetarians Much bilateral aid has been frozen pending the reinstatement of from Washington are in town, and government officials are Special Sish Kebabs and many more. VDCs and DDCs. jittery. But Shankar Sharma of the National Planning For Reservation: 552 1810 The government has proposed forming all-party village Commission feels team members are satisfied. “If they are committees, and donors suggest Maoists could be included in positive, the other donors will be too,” Sharma said. The them. “Let an all-party or cross-party committee be the solution,” government has tried to convince donors its project budget will says Danish Charge d’Affaires Gert Minecke. “In their stronghold not be diverted to security. But budgetary support is different, areas, the rebels could be included, and elsewhere it might not and some donors are worried their poverty-reduction support be necessary.” could become “fungible”. t 12 - 18 SEPTEMBER 2003 2 EDITORIAL NEPALI TIMES #162 Nepali Times is published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Chief Editor: Kunda Dixit STATE OF THE STATE by CK LAL Desk Editor: Trishna Gurung, Design: Kiran Maharjan Webmaster: Bhushan Shilpakar [email protected], www.nepalitimes.com Advertising: Sunaina Shah [email protected] Subscription: Anil Karki [email protected] Sales: Sudan Bista [email protected] Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Lalitpur GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 01-5543333/ 5523845 Fax: 01-5521013 Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hattiban: 01-5547018/17 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ShootingThose○○○○○ who live in mortal fearmessengers of the truth see journalists as enemies. IVE AND LET LIVE aniel Pearl, Mazen Dana, interpreting is getting to be dangerous when blatant attempts are being made Lt will soon be a year since an elected prime minister was sacked and King Gyanendra took over the reins of power. There were questions about the Gyanendra Khadka. All journalists business. And the disincentives for free, to tarnish his reputation. constitutionality of that move, but the majority of people gave their king the killed in the line of duty. In an age fair and fearless reporting are increasingly As usual, the Maoists accused benefit of the doubt last October because he vowed to restore peace. His handpicked when business, celebrity and international frightening. Khadka of being an informant. Just like government kept that promise, and by January a truce and peace talks were declared, event reporting have become the three The market, the mafia and the they did after killing scores of others T Ijustifying the royal move in the public eye. Dmost coveted beats, these journalists stuck military arent the only things the media who were teachers, health post workers, Cast adrift, the political parties took nearly twelve months to muster enough unity to what a hard-nosed hack is supposed to has to be wary of these days. Militants of or other citizens working to improve the and energy to counter the king’s move, and even then it has been a relatively restrained agitation. The party leaders were unable to completely convince Nepalis do: inform the public honestly and fairly. every hue, driven by a stubborn lives of their communities. Even that their anti-regression campaign was about restoring democracy and not about Those who live in mortal fear of truth doctrine of the righteousness of if there was some truth in the returning to Singha Darbar. And except for one Congress senior, the party that was in eliminated them. their cause, are even more allegation, there was no reason power for the longest period since 1990 showed scant remorse for squandering our Perhaps it has something to do with dangerous enemies of the free to kill him so mercilessly. Fellow hard-earned freedoms. the risks involved in being an press. journalists, who were so If the January cseasefire legitimised the king’s October Fourth move, the T breakdown of the truce three weeks ago and the dread of full-scale violence is now independent professional that the Daniel Pearl was a Jewish forthcoming in censuring the forcing a royal rethink.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Politics of Culture and Identity in Contemporary Nepal
    HIMALAYA, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies Volume 20 Number 1 Himalayan Research Bulletin no. 1 & Article 7 2 2000 Roundtable: The Politics of Culture and Identity in Contemporary Nepal Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/himalaya Recommended Citation . 2000. Roundtable: The Politics of Culture and Identity in Contemporary Nepal. HIMALAYA 20(1). Available at: https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/himalaya/vol20/iss1/7 This Research Article is brought to you for free and open access by the DigitalCommons@Macalester College at DigitalCommons@Macalester College. It has been accepted for inclusion in HIMALAYA, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Macalester College. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Roundtable: The Politics of Culture and Identity in Contemporary Nepal Organizers: William F. Fisher and Susan Hangen Panelists: Karl-Heinz Kramer, Laren Leve, David Romberg, Mukta S. Tamang, Judith Pettigrew,and Mary Cameron William F. Fisher and Susan Hangen local populations involved in and affected by the janajati Introduction movement in Nepal. In the years since the 1990 "restoration" of democracy, We asked the roundtable participants to consider sev­ ethnic activism has become a prominent and, for some, a eral themes that derived from our own discussion: worrisome part of Nepal's political arena. The "janajati" 1. To what extent and to what end does it make sense movement is composed of a mosaic of social organizations to talk about a "janajati movement"? Reflecting a wide and political parties dominated by groups of peoples who variety of intentions, goals, definitions, and strategies, do have historically spoken Tibeto-Burman languages.
    [Show full text]
  • Nepali Times Completes Six Parliament on Wednesday
    #306 14 - 20 July 2006 18 pages Rs 30 ILLUSION: Singha Darbar reflected in a monsoon puddle 6 years while the budget was being presented to the nearby Nepali Times completes six parliament on Wednesday. years this week. We reprint a selection of editorials since 2002 on p2-3. From this issue we have also tinkered with the typeface of our headlines and changed some graphic elements, without tampering with the basic layout which has remained the same for six years. The sans serif font is Verdana, which is curvy and more pleasing to the eye than the previous Garamond. The Franklin Gothic has been replaced with the more elegant and precise Palatino. Other than that, we haven’t changed anything. Nepali Times is still the lively, timely and reliable paper our readers have come to expect every Friday. KIRAN PANDAY Weekly Internet Poll # 306 Q. Should Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala now resign and make way for a successor? An interim budget by an Total votes: 6,839 interim government Mirage during an interim peace Weekly Internet Poll # 307. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Q. Do you think the budget adequately KIRAN NEPAL there weren’t any. At a time when Parameswor Mahaseth of Salt Gurung, said his party was for reflects the country’s priorities? we needed a transformatory Trading Ltd agreed: “If they can nationalising private property and inance Minister Ram Sharan budget we got one that is do a 12-point agreement on assets of big capitalists. Mahat presented his incremental.” politics, why can’t there be a “We put the cart before the Fgovernment’s budget for the Other speakers at the six-point agreement for the horse,” said Radhesh Pant of Bank coming year but in trying to Himalmedia Roundtable on the economy?” of Kathmandu.
    [Show full text]
  • Politics of R Esistance
    Politics of Resistance Politics Tis book illustrates an exciting approach to understanding both Indigenous Peoples of Nepal are searching for the state momentous and everyday events in the history of South Asia. It which recognizes and refects their identities. Exclusion of advances notions of rupture and repair to comprehend the afermath indigenous peoples in the ruling apparatus and from resources of natural, social and personal disasters, and demonstrates the of the “modern states,” and absence of their representation and generality of the approach by seeking their historical resolution. belongingness to its structures and processes have been sources Te introduction of rice milling technology in a rural landscape of conficts. Indigenous peoples are engaged in resistance in Bengal,movements the post-cold as the warstate global has been shi factive in international in destroying, relations, instead of the assassinationbuilding, their attempt political, on a economicjournalist and in acultural rented institutions.city house inThe Kathmandu,new constitution the alternate of 2015and simultaneousfailed to address existence the issues, of violencehence the in non-violentongoing movements,struggle for political,a fash feconomic,ood caused and by cultural torrential rights rains and in the plainsdemocratization of Nepal, theof the closure country. of a China-India border afer the army invasionIf the in Tibet,country and belongs the appearance to all, if the of outsiderspeople have in andemocratic ethnic Taru hinterlandvalues, the – indigenous scholars in peoples’ this volume agenda have would analysed become the a origins, common anatomiesagenda and ofdevelopment all. If the state of these is democratic events as andruptures inclusive, and itraised would interestingaddress questions the issue regarding of justice theirto all.
    [Show full text]
  • Forum for Participatory Democracy
    PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY Practices and Reflections Forum for Participatory Democracy CONTENTS Abbreviation............................................................................................................................................................i Foreword ................................................................................................................................................................iii Bimal Kumar Phnuyal Acknowledgment .................................................................................................................................................v Prologue ....................................................................................................................................................................1 Mukti Rijal Building State for Democratic Governance .............................................................................................9 Chandradev Bhatta FES Nepal Civil Society and Democracy in Nepal ..................................................................................................... 17 Kalyan Bhakta Mathema Freelance Contributor with Special Interest on Civil Society and Democratization Local Governance and Democratization in Nepal ............................................................................... 31 Mukti Rijal, Ph.D Institute for Governance and development (IGD) State, Women and Democratization in Nepal ...................................................................................... 37 Seira Tamang Women Rights
    [Show full text]
  • Mongolism–Bahunism-Maoism in Nepalese Politics
    Mongolism–Bahunism- Maoism in Nepalese Politics. Dr.Gopal Gurung Buddha was an atheist and I worship him. I do not believe in second rebirth after death, nor do I believe in the theory of heaven, hell and rituals. Every man has a right to live happily without suffering any deficiency. And I strive for it. Author Name (Gopal, Mongolism-Bahunism-Maoism in Nepalese Politics, 2006) Works Cited Gopal, G. (n.d.). (Gurung, 2006)Writer: . Gopal, G. (2006). Mongolism-Bahunism-Maoism in Nepalese Politics. In G. Gurung, Mongolism-Bahunism-Maoism in Nepalese Politics (B. Rai, Trans., Third ed.). Kathmandu, Province 3, Nepal: Mongol National Organisation. Table of content Contents Documets .................................................................................... 1-16 Chapter 2 .................................................................................. 17-68 Chapter 3 ................................................................................ 69-114 Chapter 4 .............................................................................. 115-150 1 Documents Police terrorism in the heart of capital and danger to my life. September 10, 2001 An appeal to the Human Rights and Amnesty International Activists of the world. 1. I Gopal Gurung, President, Mongol National Organization, Publisher and Editor, New Light and Thunder bolt weeklies; Consultant and co-ordinator, Press Foundation of Asia – Manila; writer and novelist of more than 200 articles and a dozen of books, appeal to the Human Rights and Amnesty International Activists of the world to save my life from the danger of inhuman atrocity and terrorism of police and the present policy of monarchial government of Nepal which is prevailing on me since 1980 to till now ie 2001. 2. While my second edition of Hidden Facts in Nepalese Politics was published in 1988, I was arrested and sent to prison for unknown period under two charges of Treason Acts at a time.
    [Show full text]
  • Standard and Syllabus of Specialization Training
    Standard and Syllabus of Specialization Training................. Office of the Attorney General, Nepal Government Attorney’s Specialization Standard, 2075 Preamble: Whereas, it is expedient to make provisions, for effective government representation and defense; Government Attorney had to have training of specialization, the Office of Attorney General has laid down this standard. 1. Short Title and Commencement: (1) This Standard may be called as “Government attorney Specialization Standard, 2075”. (2) This Standard shall come into force from 15 Jestha 2074. 2. Definition: In this Standard, unless the subject or the context means otherwise: - (a) “Government Attorney” means the Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General, Joint Attorney, Deputy Attorney, District Attorney, Deputy District Attorney, and the word shall also represent Gazetted officer of Government Attorney groups of Nepal Judicial Service. (b) “Specialized Government Attorney” means the government attorney who has gained a Standard determined special qualification, experience, and knowledge and has listed in section 8 of the standard. (c) “Management Committee” means the management committee of the Office of the Attorney General. (d) “Training provider Authority” means National Judicial Academy, Judicial Service Training Centre, Prosecution Training Centre and other National and Foreign institutions established according to the law which provide training on Law and Justice. 3. Government Attorney to be Specialized: (1) Government Attorney shall be specialized for the effective work performance of the Government Attorney. (2) While specialization of the government attorney according to the sub clause (1) the following specific area shall be considered: (a) Constitutional Law, (b) Organized Crime Prevention Law, (c) Banking and Commercial offence related Law, (d) Tax and Revenue Law, (e) Corruption Prevention Law, (f) Service related Law, (g) Government and Public Property Protection Law, (h) Cyber Crime Prevention Law, (i) Other Subjects as specified time to time by the Management Committee.
    [Show full text]
  • The Mongol National Organization in East Nepal
    HIMALAYA, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies Volume 21 Number 1 Himalayan Research Bulletin; Nepal Article 13 After the Revolution 2001 Debating Democracy at the Margins: The Mongol National Organization in East Nepal Susan I. Hangen University of Iowa Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/himalaya Recommended Citation Hangen, Susan I.. 2001. Debating Democracy at the Margins: The Mongol National Organization in East Nepal. HIMALAYA 21(1). Available at: https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/himalaya/vol21/iss1/13 This Research Article is brought to you for free and open access by the DigitalCommons@Macalester College at DigitalCommons@Macalester College. It has been accepted for inclusion in HIMALAYA, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Macalester College. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Debating Democracy at the Margins: The Mongol National Organization in East Nepal Susan I. Hangen Department of Anthropology University of Iowa After the "People's Movement" brought the thirty year ment as posing a threat to Nepal's young democracy. If long authoritarian Panchayat system to an end in April, would eventually "break the country into pieces" (desh 1990, there was an exuberant outburst of political activity tukraunu), and "turn Nepal into Sri Lanka." This view of in Nepal. One of the various forms of social and political ethnic and nationalist political movements as forces that activism that gained momentum at this time was thejanajati threaten democracy and the overall "security" of states is movement, a constellation of organizations and political frequently voiced outside of Nepal as well, by governments parties run by and for janajatis, the linguistically and cul­ and social scientists alike.
    [Show full text]
  • PROCESS of DEMOCRATIZATION and LINGUISTIC (HUMAN) RIGHTS in NEPAL ∗ Govinda Bahadur Tumbahang
    PROCESS OF DEMOCRATIZATION AND LINGUISTIC (HUMAN) RIGHTS IN NEPAL ∗ Govinda Bahadur Tumbahang INTRODUCTION Nepal comprises an area of 147,181 square kilometers, with a length of 850 kilometers from east to west and a mean breadth of 193 kilometers from north to south. Mountain, hill, inner Terai and Terai indicate its varied topography. 103 officially recognized caste and ethnic groups speaking more than 92 languages inhabit in this country. Nepal is a multi-ethnic and multi-lingual nation. However, the policies of one language, one culture and one religion adopted right from Prithvi Narayan Shah merely through Rana rulers to Panchayati rulers merely focused in consolidations power and sustaining dynasty rule deprived ethnic communities of their linguistic, cultural and religious rights. This article presents how ethnic communities were deprived of their linguistic rights and how they are gaining it after the restoration of multi-party democracy in 1990 and after the second people's movement in 2062/63 B.S. LINGUISTIC SUPRESSION The process of linguistic suppression was intensified with the territorial unification of Nepal by Prithvi Narayan Shah. It imposed the Nepali language and Hindu way of life together as the values, customs, traditions and costumes of ruling class on ethnic communities which had distinct languages, cultures and religions and value systems. Prithvi Narayan Shah and his successors based the unity of the country on four fundamental principles: the unquestioned authority and power of the Hindu king of Gorkha, Hindu culture in national life, Hindu social system based on caste hierarchy, and Nepali as the language of administration and education.
    [Show full text]
  • Ethnic Politics in Nepal Shyamu Thapa Magar
    Ethnic Politics in Nepal Shyamu Thapa Magar (Ph.D) National Foundation for the Development of Indigenous Nationalities 2015 Ethnic Politics in Nepal ............................................................................................................................................. Author : Shyamu Thapa Magar (Ph.D) Copywrite © : Author Publisher : National Foundation for Development of Indigenous Nationalities Jawalakhel, Lalitpur E-mail: [email protected] Homepage: www.nfdin.gov.np Executive/Managing Editor : Sarina Gurung Cover Designer : Kamsingh Chepang Cover Picture : Borrowed from NEFIN Edition : June 2015 Publication Copies : 500 Copies ISBN : 978-9937-8439-4-2 No authorized photocopying All rights author. No part of this publication my be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of authors, or as expressly permitted by law. Printed in Nepal Dedicated to my parents in Laws Late Bal Dhoj Thapa Magar (1970-2060 B.S.) and Man Maya Thapa Magar (1990-2066 B.S.) and All indigenous ethnic people of the country who are fighting for their equal rights. Shyamu Thapa Magar (Ph.D) 2015 PUBLISHERS NOTE ational Foundation for Development of Indigenous Nationalities (NFDIN) was established under the NFDIN ActN 2058 -2002_by The government of Nepal with the goals of comprehensive development of indigenous nationalities of Nepal. The academy has completed its fourteenth years. Since its establishment the NFDIN has been working for the promotion and social development of indegenours People's language, literature, religion, and culture through its yearly program. In addition to this NFDIN has accomplished different academic tasks of research and publication on the aspects of indigenous nationalities of Nepal. The academy has its regular yearly program of partial economic supports to the publication of quality literary articles and books on the endangered language of indigenous people.
    [Show full text]
  • Sikkim University
    The Madheshi Question in Nepal: Implications for India-Nepal Relations A Dissertation Submitted To Sikkim University In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Philosophy By Rasik Rai Department of International Relations School of Social Sciences February 2017 Gangtok 737102 INDIA ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A note of gratitude to a number of people, whose genuine support and encouragements made this dissertation a successful work. The dissertation began and ended with the dedicated guidance and enormous help of my supervisor Mr. Ph. Newton Singh. Sir, without whom it would be almost impossible for the completion of the same. I would like to express my heartiest thankfulness and acknowledge him for the guidance and enduring support he bestowed upon me throughout. I also express my sincere thanks to the faculty members of my Department (International Relations), Dr. Manish, Dr. Teiborlang and Dr. Sebastian N. for their valuable suggestions. One of the major resources throughout the dissertation writing has been the library of Sikkim University and Central Library of Sikkim. Therefore, I am thankful to all the concerned authorities of these libraries who provided me access to the library and procure relevant materials during the course of my research. In the end, I extend my thanks to the entire family members especially papa, friends and relatives who believed on me. It was indeed their constant support, encouragement and patience which contributed at large in the process of this research. Rasik Rai Lists of Abbreviation
    [Show full text]
  • The Rise of Ethnic Politics in Nepal: Democracy in the Margins by Susan Hangen
    143 The Rise of Ethnic Politics in Nepal: Democracy in the Margins by Susan Hangen. London: Routledge, 2011, 208 pages, 9 black & white photos, ISBN-13: 978-0415502085, 31 €. Reviewed by Amanda Snellinger On 28 May 2012 the prime minister of Nepal dissolved the Constituent Assembly (CA). His actions were in response to the Supreme Court ruling that overruled a fifth postponement of the CA deadline. The main obstacle that kept the CA from completing a constitutional draft was how to organise the federal state structure. Consensus had become impossible. The two major political parties of the 1990s, Congress and United Marxist Leninist (UML), could not bring themselves to support the ethnic federal structure agreed upon by the Maoist party, the Janajati CA caucus, and indigenous groups. The way the dissolution of the CA unfolded demonstrates the status quo attitudes prevailing in organised politics. This development has caused many to wonder wistfully if it could have been otherwise. What if ethnic parties were able to institute themselves in mainstream party politics in the 1990s? Would this have sustained the momentum to actualise ethnic federalism? Susan Hangen’s book provides an interesting perspective from which to consider these questions. It focuses on one of the three ethnic political parties that participated in elections during the 1990s, the Mongol National Organization (MNO). It provides an overview of how indigenous activism unfolded in the post-1990 democratic era and why more indigenous people’s organisations (IPO) did not transition into organised party politics. Her analytic focus is on a party that never succeeded in party politics beyond a few districts in Ilam (East Nepal), and why this was the case.
    [Show full text]
  • Reification of Ethnicity in Sikkim: 'Tribalism' In
    BULLETIN OF TIBETOLOGY 161 REIFICATION OF ETHNICITY IN SIKKIM: ‘TRIBALISM’ IN PROGRESS1 MÉLANIE VANDENHELSKEN Institute for Social Anthropology Austrian Academy for Sciences Several scholars have highlighted the role of ethnic belonging and soli- darity on political action in Sikkim.2 In this paper, I intend to question and deconstruct this argument by highlighting the historicity of ethnic categories in Sikkim. This firstly reverses the above-mentioned argu- ment by highlighting the determining role of politics in defining and reifying ethnic boundaries, and politicizing ethnic groups. By doing so, I also propose to apply to the case of Sikkim the distinction discussed by Brubaker (2004: 11-18) between ethnic categories as commonly represented and institutionalised by states, and ethnic groups. This fi- nally supports the idea that, in Sikkim also, ethnicity3 is not pre-defined and ‘natural,’ but emerged at the intersection of various political inter- actions.4 This paper thus focuses primarily on ethnic categorization, and not on ethnic identification; it thus also proposed to differentiate categori- zation and identification.5 This approach in terms of categorization en- tails critically analyzing their emergence and use in Sikkim, in the in- tention to deconstruct the idea of a natural bond between socio-political entities constructed by political leaders, and ethnic identities and be- 1 I am grateful to Roland Lardinois for his guidance on this article, to B. G. Karlsson and Townsend Middleton for their comments, to A.C. Sinha for his information and to Prem Poddar, Stephan Kloos and Saul Mullard for their revisions. Any mistakes and the opinions presented here, however, remain my own.
    [Show full text]