Posted to nepaldemocracy@googlegroups verbatim... Why it makes more sense to support Krishna Pahadi than to support political leaders ? The fight for democracy is the order of the day. Naturally, the political parties are ('should have been' would be better words) the political leadership in this fight. Unfortunately, they are not. Not yet. The empty streets when 7 parties perform their "routine" movement are proofs to it. There is no indication that people have rejected the parties (nobody is calling for a partyless system, everybody is for multi-party democracy). This and other direct evidences show that it is the current old leadership of the two major political parties, NC and UML, but not the parties themselves, that has been REJECTED by Nepali people at large. The individuals in the leadership, their legacy and their lack of clarity and determination regarding the fight for democracy are what are there to be rejected. And rejected they indeed are. Political parties do have people with relatively clear view and determination regarding the fight for democracy. In fact, at this point, political parties minus less than a handful of individuals at their supreme leadership is fully capable of restoring public faith and ownership to the parties and thereby providing the political leadership in real to the emerging POPULAR movement for democracy. So the major, in fact the only, hurdle to a powerful popular movement for democracy is these handful individuals and their power inside the parties. The political parties must liberate themselves from the shackle of these individuals- for the sake of their own survival (in Darwinian sense) and for democracy. Until quite recently, it was believed that "internal democracy" is what is needed to get rid of these suckers. However, the convention of the NC demonstrated that "internal democracy" ain't sufficient. (Did you listen to Ramchandra Poudel and Narahari Acharya in BBC yesterday ?) If "internal democracy" is not sufficient, then what is left ? "External democracy"- that is what is left. Voter's voice is what "external democracy" is all about. Since we are not at a time of election, (we are not in a position to exploit King's election, simply because the election is not possible and, more importantly, not desirable at this time for other complexities), the voters only have MEDIA and STREETS to bring the "external democracy" in action. And that's exactly what "Citizen's movement for Democracy & Peace" is. This movement is not only against the King, but also against the weaknesses and lapses of the political parties. So, let's help "Citizen's movement for Democracy & Peace" in every way we can. Let's promote "Citizen's movement" and thereby pressuring the political parties for their "cleansing" and thereby reviving them as strong political institutions commanding popular faith and trust to be strong enough to withstand any anti-democratic force and maneuver in the country. Do not promote the popularly rejected leadership in the name of supporting the parties. You are hurting the parties. However it seems difficult or undoable, the political parties got to get rid of the individuals the common people have rejected. Until that happens, it is "Citizen's movement" at whose hand lies the ad hoc political leadership of the popular movement for democracy- against the King and for reviving the political parties to be able to take the political leadership back. Support Krishna Pahadis, support the genuine and THE people's fight for democracy. Else, be bhardar of Girija and bang your head on the wall seeing the "movement" under his commandership not moving an inch ahead. ******************* Let's meet with Krishna pahadi to listen to the messages of "Citizen's movement for democracy & peace" in NY public meeting on this Sunday. -Deepak