The Economist seems to think so. Is this a desperate measure by the Monarchy to save itself or is it another blame game that we are so good at playing?

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Source : - http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8597143

Nepal
A second front

Jan 25th 2007 | KATHMANDU
From The Economist print edition
Ethnic violence threatens Nepal's new-found peace

THE peace process in Nepal passed important landmarks this month as former Maoist rebels joined an interim parliament and started putting their guns into storage. Yet even as a final settlement to that insurgency remains distant, the country is faced with another cause of violence: ethnic strife in its southern plains next to India, a region known as the Terai.

The two conflicts are connected. Ten years of Maoist insurgency have made many Nepalis more assertive and convinced some of the merits of political violence. Also, the peace process will involve a constitutional assembly, for which elections are due in June. The ethnic group known as Madhesis, who dominate the Terai, fear they will be cheated.

Nepal's censuses have always underestimated Madhesi numbers. Ethnically and culturally, they are indistinguishable from the Indians across the border. They probably make up more than 40% of the population but are barely represented in the bureaucracy, army or police and their “Nepaliness” is constantly questioned. Ahead of the elections there is a drive to give millions of Madhesis the citizenship they lack, allowing them to vote. But Madhesi politicians complain that constituencies are gerrymandered so that “one hill vote is equal to 20 Terai votes”.

The Terai is volatile. A breakaway faction of ex-Maoists, the Terai People's Liberation Front, is waging a violent campaign for independence. In December a campaign for Madhesi rights in the town of Nepalganj turned into communal violence as hill-people sacked and burnt Madhesi businesses in a two-day spree, condoned by the local authorities. This week there were demonstrations, daylong curfews and five deaths in the central Terai after a Maoist shot dead a Madhesi protester.

Fanning the flames is the monarchy, all-powerful a year ago in what was the world's only Hindu kingdom, but now at risk of abolition. By sowing communal tension, the palace may hope to postpone the election. Consistent accounts place royal agents in the Terai stirring things up, as well as in India, appealing to religious fanatics by linking the future of Hinduism, Madhesis and the royal family. Hridesh Tripathi, a cabinet minister who leads a Terai-based party, says it is to be expected that the palace “will use all forms of conspiracy”. The Madhesis' grievances give the plotters some fertile ground.

Happy friday to u Capt. saab..Howdy??
Thanks for the post...hmmmm...interesting thought, Mr. Tripathi !!!!

Hey SNDY!

Me doing well - how about yourself? It's only lunch time here but can't wait to get out:)

As for the article, there is plenty of responsibility to go around, and I don't think there is anyone person to blame for everything, but at the same time, I wish people would own up to the mess they have all contributed to and kick some rear and get this sorted out.

Happy Friday to you too ... hope you have a rocking one. My weekends are pretty unplanned these days so not sure what all I am going to do but, at the very least, I am hoping to relax and have some fun :)

I'm doing good too..It's lunch time already?? wow !! Lucky u...
It's sad that Nepalese are fighting with each other..it's sad..it's time to join hands for a new and better nation hoina ta?? Rather than wasting time and energy fighting...
Well, Have a wonderful weekend...

it is the last ditch effort carried out by monarchists and shiva-sena from India to save monarchy in nepal

Hmmmm.....
Same was said about the maoist movement too about a couple of yrs ago that Gyaney did this to take power from the parliament. I dunno, I would have to see more proof. I am not saying that the king is 100% innocent either. Its interesting chain of events though. :-)

Hope yr stayin warm Capn' its nipple frosting cold out there.

It may be a blame game.But,if you analyze it from political point of view,Palace would have given support to terai violence.
Now,he has only two cards left for his exitence,this is the first one and it is working well.I do not think he needs to play a second card.

Personally,I am not Royalist and condemn all what he has been doing since he became king.But,he has no choice other than fueling for instability in nation.

IN OTHER WORDS HE IS NOW RETURNING THE FAVOR TO THE MAOS ? HE HE
dR GYANEY IS PRESCRIBING EXACTLY WHAT DR BABURAM AND DR PRACHANDA PRESCRIBED FOR HIM ? HE HE

Hey Bathroom Coffee -

Me too not a big fan of conspiracy theories. The only thing that might give this story some credibility is the source of publication - these guys are not known to publish crap - and the fact that politics has always made for strange bedfellows in Nepal. I cant find the link, but remember that interview where Prachanda publicly admitted meeting with the former prince Dhirendra and his offer of support? At a tactical level, wierd $hit has happened in the past between the palace and the problems around it. But like you, I will reserve final judgment till more evidence is available and can still give the monarchy the benefit of the doubt till more is known (if ever it will be known).

As for the weather, I'll go as far as ear-falling and nose-biting :) LOL! But did have a good laff at your characterization of it :)

Happy Fri and good seeing you around!

Also the burden of proof is clearly on the accusers: Mr Tripathi and the G 7 + 1 need to go public with the evidence if they are so convinced of it.

YEah if it wasn't the Economist I would not have given it a light of the day.

Common you intellectual people living in comfort of Europe, Americas and Australia, don't you think this was expected and our dear visionary political leaders should have thought about it. Has any contry in the world been declared republic by the way of constitutional Assembly...will a sole power house give away his power and comfort so easily without trying to throw his leg and arm for survival. If a person can is capable and intent to be in power abolishing his entire family, as you presume it to be true even after 5 years, do you think he will give the power he has gained just because 15 civilian were killed on street protesting. Just give an unbiased thought about it.

Jai Nepal.

Is it not rather politically expedient to blame someone that's down and out and has v ery little voice? the problem seems to be short sightedness of Maoists to not see that they should have integrated the Madhesi issues in their agenda. they don't want to fess up so blame the king. The political parties don't have the balls to blame the Maoist lest they lose grip of the maoist co ck they are sucking, blame the palace.

And oh the palace the supreme organizer had the Maoist under its control didn't it? I thought Gyane was supposed to be Prachanda. The flaccid parasite, soused in expensive scotch and sweetmeats is not visionary or competent enough to pull a stunt like this

HEre come the conspiracy theory experts. As mentioned above UNLESS WE SEE SOME EVIDENCE I AM NOT GOING TO GIVE WEIGHT TO THE FAVORITE NEPALI PAST TIME OF HE SAID SHE SAID GAME. WE MIGHT LIVE IN FOREIGN COUNTRY BUT WE ARE NOT STUPID. So let us be the judge of whats what.

"Is the Palace really fanning communal tensions ? "

Somebody is in a "witch hunt"...kinda a funny.

There is no concrete proof to be able to blame anyone so, pretty much being speculative at the moment, my gut feeling tends to concur with the article. 'G' and his likes are horrendously injured alright but, by no means, dead yet. when you're down and out, divide them all and jeopardize their cause- is a simple and most commonly used rule of politics innit?

thanks for sharing the article caps!

bathroomcoffee sndy and others, good to see your union. :-)...thought i was the missing one so here i am...better late than never :P

cheers
LooTe

once again nepalese and their far fetched imagination and conspiracy theory

for those of us who heard numerous "arastriya tatwa" from 1990 to 2000. from KP bhattarai, ganesh man to GP koirala.

this is no more than another action to beat the dead horse

if one is convinced and has proof of such action of KING G or any other individual then prosecute them. if not let him and others live in peace. there should be a limit to everything. मेरो गोरुको बाह्र टक्कआ गर्नु ठीक होइन

jahile pani नेपालीको तिललाई पहाड बनाउने बानी कहिले पनि गएन

I still strongly believe that the royal institution is not that evil who would think harm for Nepalese and Nepal.

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but as always, i have been wrong before so, once again
what do i know (O:

i sincerely wish that I am right this time...

So perhaps this is a reverse consipracy theory: the government of Nepal, which, if it is not the most diverse government the country has ever had in its history, is certainly far more inclusive than the ones the King has had, is crying wolf for nothing when it accuses the right, known for it's anti-Madesi sentiments, of encouraging violence?

I say the proof will lie in what charges, if any, are brought against Mr Thapa and the others who have been arrested at the local level. Badri Mandal - another person with known and close ties to the King - has also been arrested. Unless they have been acting on their own, why is it far fetched to ask if the Palace is involved? If Sushil Koirala were arrested for creating law and order issues, would people not ask if Girija Koirala was responsible?

That said, the right can only instigate from the sides, clearly there is something deeper than right-wing instigation that is causing this. Arresting royalists will not solve this problem - certainly more has to be done to address the underlying issues, but anyone causing public insecurity needs to be dealt with whether they are a commoner or the King.

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Maybe this will help diffuse the situation if they can get the MPRF and others on board:

Source: - http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=99097

Eight parties reach four-pt decision to resolve Terai unrest

Kantipur Publications

KATHMANDU, Jan 30 - The eight political parties Tuesday night reached a four-point decision to address the different demands of the agitating Madhesi community.

At a meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Residence at Baluwatar, the top leaders of the eight parties expressed commitment in principle to create a federal democratic set-up through constituent assembly elections. The structure of the federal set up will be determined by the new Constitution to be drafted by the constituent assembly.

The parties also agreed to fix electoral constituencies for the first-past-post election system based on population and geography. New constituencies will also be added in districts where the population has grown, however, without reducing the number of the existing electoral constituencies (205). The number of seats under proportional electoral system will be equal to that of the first-past-post election system.

The parties also expressed commitment to maintain peace and order in society by effectively controlling the incidents of vandalism and arson caused by the “regressive elements” while appealing to all to help create a favourable environment for holding the constituent assembly elections.

The agreement is expected to be signed on Wednesday followed by an address to the nation by the PM.