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Democratic Protests in Nepal is getting unprecedented coverage in International media. Of course it is well deserved and thanks to all the media coverage, world now sees how Nepalese are fighting for their freedom. I just noticed that Boing Boing has a story about A Nepali photoblog site Phalano.com which is publishing the photos of the ongoing protest everyday. I’d mentioned about this blog in my previous entry News from Nepal .

Talking about this photo BoingBoing says:

This demonstrator has shaved a message into his head. I can’t read it. But would welcome a translation from a BoingBoing reader.

There is an excellent translation in the comment with which I totally agree:

You asked for a translation of "Loktantra". The Nepali language used "Prajatantra" to mean "democracy". "Praja" means "subjects" (of a King or monarch), so "Prajatantra" actually means "the rule of subjects", which obviously is unsatisfactory. So the new term "Loktantra" was coined. "Lok" means "folk" - so "Loktantra" would be full democracy, as opposed to a half-hearted version.

Today Nepalese living in Hong Kong marched from Kowloon Park to Star Ferry in support for full democracy in Nepal. The march turned to a mass gathering at Star Ferry and different speakers gave speeches supporting the demonstrators in Nepal and asking King Gyanendra to give up power. Hong Kong’s lawmaker and activist, Leong Kwok-hung and representatives from human rights groups participated in the march and spoke at the meeting.

Nepalese in Hong Kong come out in Support for Democracy at home

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Nepal’s King Gyanendra has finally bowed to the people power by announcing that he returns the executive power back to people. But many major issues demanded by the people are not addressed and looks like he’s playing a political game just to diffuse the tension temporarily . The major issues not addressed in his royal proclamation are:

• What about the constituent assembly?
• What about the Maoist insurgency?

Basically he’s taking things back to where they were 5 years ago. If we just go back to 1990 constitution then he effectively remains with power to dissolve the elected parliament if he wishes to do so in the future and the Royal Nepalese Army still remains under his control. So, leaders and Nepalese people don’t give up until you get the full democracy. The 1990 constitution is flawed and it basically was a compromise between the Palace and Political parties at that time.

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Things are pretty tense in Nepal. Demonstrators have defied the shoot on sight curfew that has been imposed for 18 hours. Now it’s extended by 7 more hours. More than 100 thousand people have come to demonstrate against the Royal regime. Police have fired on mass protest killing at least 3 and injuring hundreds. I’m quite sure things are going to change soon. The whole nation is awakening. King has ignored the people’s aspiration, so he’ll have to bear the responsibility for what’s coming next. I don’t know what he’s waiting for till now?! He shouldn’t be wasting time when he has so little left.

I’m so dying for the latest news from Nepal and these are the sources I’m relying upon (checking every few mins):

• Nepalnews.com
• eKantipur.com
• United We Blog! for a Democratic Nepal
• MeroSansar (Nepalese Blog)
• BBC Nepali (Nepalese)
• Nepali Times
• The Himalayan Times
• Google News
• PHALANO.com (Photo Blog)
• International Nepal Solidarity Network
• Samudaya.org
• CNN Asia
• BBC News, South Asia

Curfew has been imposed in many different parts of Nepal to suppress the demonstrations against the Royal regime of King Gyanendra. The mobile telephone network is brought down to disrupt communications but the normal people are defying curfew orders and coming out to protest. Hundreds have been arrested and 3 are known to have died from police/army bullets.

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Buddha Boy was spotted 3 KM away from the current meditation spot on Sunday morning according to the Om Namo Buddha Committee chairman Mr. Lama. A team of seven people from the committee came in contact with the Buddha Boy and he reportedly vanished after talking with them for half an hour. "He said he would reappear after six years. He has asked monks to perform prayers in the meditation spot," Lama claimed.

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eKantipur.com is reporting that bank account of Meditation Management committee is frozen after the disappearance of Ram Bahadur Bomjon.

The local administration of Bara district on Monday stopped the bank account of Meditation Management Committee after “little Buddha” suddenly disappeared from the meditation site and could not traced anywhere.

I’ve been following the news like crazy from yesterday since I read about Ram Bahadur Bomjon’s disappearance. Now almost all the major news are reporting the story. While I was writing about this in my previous article Buddha Boy Lost and Found eKantipur.com was reporting that he has been found which appears not to be true. I’ve read many news and blogs, so these are the facts known till now:

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After 10 months of meditation Ram Bahadur Bomjon has mysteriously gone missing. CNN is reporting a team of police is dispatched to search him in the jungles of Bara. His photo above is taken from CNN which appears to be a new one. His hair has grown longer and is covering up to his nose. The gown should be a new one (the old one was apparently burnt by the fire erupting from his body).

Kantipur Online is reporting that the boy has been found near his meditating site. Now the story is changed to ‘Buddha boy’ Bomjon abandons meditation site (see the Update at the end of this story)

State-run Nepal Television earlier Saturday reported that whether Bomjom himself abandoned his mediation or somebody forcefully took him way was not clear.

Nepal News is saying Little Buddha “reported missing”

Ram Lama, member secretary of the committee that manages hundreds of devotees who visit the Ratnapuri to have “darshan” of the young boy, said he did not have any idea where Bomjan may have left. He, however, dismissed reports saying that Bomjan may have been abducted.

“He has left along with one of his colleagues. He must have gone in search of a quieter place,” radio reports quoted Lama as saying.

NewslineNepal.com is also saying “Little Buddha” Goes Missing from Meditating site in West Nepal

I think he’s just gone for a walk or in search for a quieter place. What do you think?

Update

Kantipur Online (eKantipur.com) has changed the story from Meditating boy Bomjon lost, Found to ‘Buddha boy’ Bomjon abandons meditation site. So, it’s unclear whether the boy is still missing or has been found. The older story of eKantipur.com is not available online but I’ve the screen capture.

Other News sources on Buddha Boy’s disappearance:
Reuters: Nepal’s mystery “Buddha” boy goes missing
The Times of India: Nepal’s ‘Buddha Boy’ vanishes
UWB: Where is the Buddha Boy?

Nepali Times have an article Mayadebi’s meditating son. (Requires login. It’s free to register). There’s nothing new about the Buddha Boy himself but it’s interesting to know his childhood from his mother. I think she’s fed up of the same questions everyone is asking.

Mayadebi remembers Ram stopped going to school, followed a Lama and went from monastery to monastery. His mother lost track of him and she would hear he was in Lumbini or Dehradun. Mayadebi says she has never gone near her son since he started fasting. “I’m too scared,” she tells us, “I am afraid of what I might see. After he left school, I was afraid my son was going to be a good-for-nothing, after he started meditating the neighbours said that he had gone mad. But now I’m just worried about him.”