….another email post card from a Kiwi in Nepal…
The last two days have been some of the most amazing in my life.The news you are getting in NZ is probably CNN bullshit.
The late King and family in Nepal have been a symbol for the people of being independent from imperialist rule for a
start, so that is partly why the grief is so immense.
The King’s brother has just now been crowned king and the people are uprising.
The kings brother is much hated by Nepalese people and activists alike. He was cast out from Nepal for corruption and
went to live in India. The campaign against corruption is huge and the Prime Minister is also a target.
So when the whole family (actually 13 people) were massacred the Government blamed the crown prince saying he shot
everyone and then himself.
Noone believed this. Now the Government says it was an accident.
Sorry if this is crazy but I am typing hard out we are under threat from the army who are everywhere.
So essentially the kings brother arranged for his son to kill everyone, so he could be king.
The people are not accepting him and there are riots everywhere. Martial law has been imposed and the conference I am
here fore is cancelled pretty much.
A few of us are staying though and networking and supporting. The radical organisations that organised it have been
outlawed under martial law and they fear arrest.
A few of us have been caught up in demos on the street, and I think I have some good photos of the cops beating people
with sticks but I was running as fast as I could at the time.
10 people have also been shot dead by the army.
Ths is very important to get out as they are refusing to let people report it. Also the only witness alive to the
massacre has just been poisoned by the Government so there is no witness apart from the new King’s son, who people
believe did it.
The investigation committee comprises of the ruling party only and is a farce. People are amazing here they have nothing
but their bare hands and they are standing up to guns with sticks and knives. I hope my photos are good.
About 10 of us are keen to support the Nepalese people and try and get the word back to our countries.
We trekked into the peasant comminutes yesterday to share resources and food and they welcomed us like heroes it was
incredible.
But then we got trapped because the army said they would shoot us if we came back to our base. Crazy.
We are reasonably safe because we are foreigners and we feel strongly about being part of making history. The Nepal army
now faces civil war, and the end of monarchy at this rate, and it is a privilege beyond belief to be here.
We are a tight knit group and hope to make some difference. I have to run again, they are imposing curfew in half an
hour and if you are outside you get shot.
I will try and email soon.
love AR
ENDS