Nepali New Year 2064

King Gyanendra is still King. His Majesty spoke today to the nation. eKantipur and the Malaysia Sun report on the speech.

eKantipur also reports on the Nepali PM's speech. The Nepali PM reportedly said that Nepal has entered a "new, democratic age." With all those broken promises about the new democratic age since the French Revolution, is there reason to be an optimist?

Nepalese politicians should take the lessons of history and not make any promises they aren't able to keep. But I guess it is in vain to give such advice to politicians?

One of the already broken promises is the postponing of elections for the "Constituent Assembly" (The Hindu News Update Service). If it is correct that elections may be held May thru June or October thru November only – and politicians don't try to drag electors to the polls outside of those windows, which I wouldn't trust they wouldn't – we might not see elections before October. Any bets against further postponing?

It's now been about a year since the "April Revolution." My views on the case of Nepal have basically not changed since then. My views are expressed in an article published last July.

Back in February Nepalese in America welcomed the King's address, which was so fiercely attacked.

The work going on for making Nepal safe for democracy – or was it Maoist rule? – needs to be balanced. Nepal must be made safe from unchecked democracy, conning Maoists, and those politicos running the show.