Yesterday I had a meeting with another party. This time it was with the Nepali Sadbhawna Party (Anandi Devi). Translated to English, The Nepalese Goodwill Party. Judging from the name, a good party. After all, who doesn't want goodwill?
An upon arrival, goodwill was shown indeed. They had lined up the whole leadership of the party in a meeting room, lacking only the leader, Anandi Devi. Good people.
The interview went according to plan, and I went home to transcribe it, which took forever.
After this I went to see Ghana Brazil in hope of an African miracle. But no.
But I met an interesting character from Brazil, who told me he lived in India. We agreed that the Ghanians were a forced to be reckoned with, and that they were unlucky to meet Brazil.
Other than that I can report that living in an apartment beats living in a hostel by a mile.
Today I even found Simpsons on the TV. I also found a channel that sends counterstrike matches. Surprisingly, it was British. I would have thought Korean for sure. Is gaming the new world cup? Sure hope not.
Other than that that there is not so much of interest to report. Stay with us for updates on the political situation of Nepal to follow.
Bon Voyage
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Monday, June 26, 2006
Fieldwork, apartment, courage
Today I decided to reformulate my project proposal!
From now on the focus will be on how the alliance between the Maoists and the political parties could happen. Earlier I wanted to focus on the Maoist uprising, but after reading some books and finding out that the subject is covered in depth already, I decided to focus on something more recent. So from now on I'll rush around interviewing political parties and studying their documents and statements. Finally some direction and clarity. Of course, my supervisor is yet to comment on this course of events, but hopefully, the reply from Tromso will be positive.
I also went to check out an apartment complex in Thamel today. They have apartments with cable TV, kitchen, fridge and balcony for only slightly more than I pay living in random hostels. I'm moving in tomorrow and are really looking forward to getting a semi-permanent place where I can install myself. The system of packing all my belongings in one heap at the hostel is now going to the scrapheap of history.
Just read on VG that Frp considers it cowardience not to throw out the Afghan refugees. When all else fails, what's better than to appeal to traditional values of courage and boldness?
I can already picture how Per Willy Amundsen sees himself as the strong man with the courage to throw out all the bandits and terrorists from Norway. I also look forward to future FRP slogans branding themselves as the only party with the courage to take a stand against degeneration of christian values, world communism and the worldwide terrorist conspiracy.
Infact, I'm gonna give the FRP some good slogans for free, because I dare.
FRP for the common man, because we dare!
Dont' be a hippie, vote FRP!
Don't be a fag, vote FRP!
Vote neoliberalist, or be a terrorist!
Vote christian-right, or prepare to fight!
And as a special pamphlet to be distributed to minority groups:
Vote Siv, or leave!
Until next time, stay bold.
From now on the focus will be on how the alliance between the Maoists and the political parties could happen. Earlier I wanted to focus on the Maoist uprising, but after reading some books and finding out that the subject is covered in depth already, I decided to focus on something more recent. So from now on I'll rush around interviewing political parties and studying their documents and statements. Finally some direction and clarity. Of course, my supervisor is yet to comment on this course of events, but hopefully, the reply from Tromso will be positive.
I also went to check out an apartment complex in Thamel today. They have apartments with cable TV, kitchen, fridge and balcony for only slightly more than I pay living in random hostels. I'm moving in tomorrow and are really looking forward to getting a semi-permanent place where I can install myself. The system of packing all my belongings in one heap at the hostel is now going to the scrapheap of history.
Just read on VG that Frp considers it cowardience not to throw out the Afghan refugees. When all else fails, what's better than to appeal to traditional values of courage and boldness?
I can already picture how Per Willy Amundsen sees himself as the strong man with the courage to throw out all the bandits and terrorists from Norway. I also look forward to future FRP slogans branding themselves as the only party with the courage to take a stand against degeneration of christian values, world communism and the worldwide terrorist conspiracy.
Infact, I'm gonna give the FRP some good slogans for free, because I dare.
FRP for the common man, because we dare!
Dont' be a hippie, vote FRP!
Don't be a fag, vote FRP!
Vote neoliberalist, or be a terrorist!
Vote christian-right, or prepare to fight!
And as a special pamphlet to be distributed to minority groups:
Vote Siv, or leave!
Until next time, stay bold.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
We're not in Kansas anymore
Saturday arrives. And I have decided to take the weekend off. Managed to sleep until 11. But when I got up I realized, "there is nothing to do here". Sure, I could visit a temple or check out some old Newari architecture, but I don't know. I could also just sit on the internet all day and wait for the world cup to begin.
Yesterday, as I was walking home, I met a man from Iran looking for a place to dance. I told him that unfortunately I couldn't help him, and he told me that he was in Nepal to forge money. One of the more interesting conversations I've had so far I have to say.
The plan is to meet the maoists on monday, and in preparation for it I have read some old interviews with them.
I end todays blog by these wise words of CPN(Maoist) standing commitee member Baburam Bhattarai.
"Down with the imperialists, down with all feudalists, reactionaries and comprador buourgeise. Down with all opportunism, revisionism and rightist tendencies. Long live the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)."
Yesterday, as I was walking home, I met a man from Iran looking for a place to dance. I told him that unfortunately I couldn't help him, and he told me that he was in Nepal to forge money. One of the more interesting conversations I've had so far I have to say.
The plan is to meet the maoists on monday, and in preparation for it I have read some old interviews with them.
I end todays blog by these wise words of CPN(Maoist) standing commitee member Baburam Bhattarai.
"Down with the imperialists, down with all feudalists, reactionaries and comprador buourgeise. Down with all opportunism, revisionism and rightist tendencies. Long live the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)."
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Meeting the Party
Today I met with a politician from the NPC(UML). He had a really big house in a good neighbourhood. We talked about their view of the maoist insurgency and discussed reform vs revolution. After the interview he asked if I was a member of any party in Norway, and when I said RV, he nodded with recognition and went on to tell about his visit to Oslo and RV in 2001. Interesting. The party seems to be something along the lines of SV in Norway.
After the interview he said that he hoped I would "Envigorate the party in Norway, so we could get into parliament". Seems like good advice. Torbjoern and Gunvald, I pass the ball over to you..
Tomorrow I'm going to the maoist information office with hopes of meeting someone with good english. Right now I'm broken after a long days work. When I think about it, I'm going to have a well deserved Tuborg.
Until next time,
Tapaaile kasto Kholam dineko?
Whose pen did you give?
After the interview he said that he hoped I would "Envigorate the party in Norway, so we could get into parliament". Seems like good advice. Torbjoern and Gunvald, I pass the ball over to you..
Tomorrow I'm going to the maoist information office with hopes of meeting someone with good english. Right now I'm broken after a long days work. When I think about it, I'm going to have a well deserved Tuborg.
Until next time,
Tapaaile kasto Kholam dineko?
Whose pen did you give?
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
and behold...THE LUGGAGE
Day seven i Nepal, and my luggage arrives. A miracle. Gulf Air were even generous enough to offer me 350 nKr in compensation. Joy. So from now on the fieldwork is starting. Tomorrow I'm hoping to visit the office of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist). Behind that cool sounding name is a party with the same policies of SV in Norway. But I have to say that CPN(UML) sounds way better than Sosialistisk Venstreparti.
The rainy season also started today, so hopefully things will cool down a bit and all the mosquitos will die.
On the peace side things are still looking good, but the Maoists appearently took over some village development comitee in the countryside, which was a breach of the earlier agreement between the seven party alliance and the Maoists. Most likely, it's only a detail and will have no effect on the peace process.
Talking about the peace process, things are surprisingly calm here. There are many tourists, and things look very much like they did the last time I was here.
That it for now. I'm going to my room to listen to the rain and the fan.
If you get bored, check out the fantastic website of the Maoist party.
www.cpnm.org
The rainy season also started today, so hopefully things will cool down a bit and all the mosquitos will die.
On the peace side things are still looking good, but the Maoists appearently took over some village development comitee in the countryside, which was a breach of the earlier agreement between the seven party alliance and the Maoists. Most likely, it's only a detail and will have no effect on the peace process.
Talking about the peace process, things are surprisingly calm here. There are many tourists, and things look very much like they did the last time I was here.
That it for now. I'm going to my room to listen to the rain and the fan.
If you get bored, check out the fantastic website of the Maoist party.
www.cpnm.org
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Nepal, so far
After almost one week in Nepal, there has been a lot of going around trying to get stuff done, and not much progress. As my luggage still hasn't arrived, the mood is kind of sinking. But today I got a mail from Nahil in Baharain saying that they have found a bag with my e-mail adress on it. What a miracle! My luggage is saved due to one small piece of paper with my lousy handwriting on it. After this unexpected turn of events (I had started to consider my luggage as lost forever) things look a bit brighter. I have also picked up a little nepali, and a nepali sim card for my phone. The rainy season is also about to start, so hopefully thing will quiet down when all the tourists leave. Today I spent 2 hours in a taxi in rush traffic, which wasn't any fun at all. But, if the luggage comes tomorrow, the future looks bright.
As for the status of nepalese politics, the latest news is that the seven party alliance and the Maoists have agreed on the formation of an interim government which includes the Maoists. The plan is to hold elections for a constituent assembly in one years time. The attitude of people I have talked to (mainly people trying to hassle tourists and shop owners) have seemingly lost all faith in the political parties, and the slogan is "Nothing will change, but we have not tried maoist government yet. Maybe they can change things." A sentence that conjures up thoughts of the slogan back home "Vi har ikke hatt FRP i regjering enda, la dem proeve seg". So in a way Nepal is very different from Norway, and very similar.
Tomorrow I'll go to the university and hopefully talk to some interesting people. Updates will follow.
Until then, Namaste.
As for the status of nepalese politics, the latest news is that the seven party alliance and the Maoists have agreed on the formation of an interim government which includes the Maoists. The plan is to hold elections for a constituent assembly in one years time. The attitude of people I have talked to (mainly people trying to hassle tourists and shop owners) have seemingly lost all faith in the political parties, and the slogan is "Nothing will change, but we have not tried maoist government yet. Maybe they can change things." A sentence that conjures up thoughts of the slogan back home "Vi har ikke hatt FRP i regjering enda, la dem proeve seg". So in a way Nepal is very different from Norway, and very similar.
Tomorrow I'll go to the university and hopefully talk to some interesting people. Updates will follow.
Until then, Namaste.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
starting to blog
Hello. I have made a blog. Until I'm home from Nepal I'll write in English because there are no : " or { on the computers here. Until next blog remember that "When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you."
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