December 10, 2007: British Army recruiters made one
of their regular calls for volunteers, and over 17,000 young Nepalese men
turned out to apply for 230 openings. Britain maintains, as it has for two
centuries, a force of 3,500 Nepalese (mainly Gurkha) troops. The average annual
income in Nepal is $240, while a Nepalese serving in the British Army makes at
least $25,000 a year. Getting in is like winning the lottery. The Indians also
recruit Gurkhas for their army, but the pay is much less.
The Maoist criminal (as opposed to political)
violence persists. Increasingly, the Maoists are shaking down foreign tourists
as well, often using violence to persuade the reluctant. The police and army
are under orders not interfere, lest widespread fighting resumes. But the
extortion is seen as purely political, with the Maoists using the money for
personal, not party, purposes.
December 8, 2007: The Indian Army has resumed close
relations with the Nepalese Army. These relationships were severed four years
ago when the Nepalese king tried to crush the Maoists. Communist members of the
Indian government, and Indian leftists in general, were pro-Maoist and got the
government to cut off relations with the Nepalese military. But now the Indian
Maoists have become more violent, and have refused to negotiate. Time to do
what you can to contain the Nepalese Maoists as well.
December 5, 2007: Sensing a shift in power, China
has made peace with the Nepalese Maoists. Although the home of Mao, China has
renounced many of the revolutionary tactics preached by Mao Tse Dung. Mao is
also seen as an inept ruler, who killed tens of millions of Chinese with
idiotic economic policies.
