Bastards arrested and other news

Just a quick note today as a sort of round up of the political situation.

Yesterday Kamal Thapa (the former Home Minister) and four other senior figures implicated in the suppression of democracy were arrested.

Things have been progressing much slower than most people want, and there's been consternation that the guilty figures were still walking around free - and not just free, but with access to their offices. All incriminating documents have obviously been shredded by now. People had been starting to wonder if the justice commission would let all the real villains off scot-free (they obviously have strong family connections) and just punish minor functionaries and security officers. At least now it looks like that won't be the case.

It's unlikely that the King will be prosecuted, but apparently he's, essentially, going to be sent to Coventry by the international community. He may officially remain head of state, but he won't be invited to anything in that capacity. I suppose he'll just sit in his palace and count his billions for consolation.

It looks like it could be months, or even a year, before the new elections to the Constitutional Assembly (new body which, it is hoped, will take the power to change the constitution, including becoming a republic). Talks with the Maoists are starting next week. And there has been vibrant direct action as students go round defacing all signs with 'Royal' on them, like the name's of buildings - Royal National Stadium and stuff like that. And also all the propaganda slogans saying the King loves the people and believes in democracy, which implausibly litter the city. Actually, there's not many of them left as people tore them down and trampled on them on victory day, but the one's that remain have had the 'King' in King Gyanendra crossed out.

Apart from that, the leaders are all jockeying for position and fighting for cabinet seats. Which is probably why all the miscreants were still walking around free for two weeks - no-one's actually leading here. And Goirala, the new PM, is so ill he's been on a ventilator several times.

Apart from that, I have a mammoth hangover. But on the plus side I have clean clothes again. I kept forgetting to take my clothes in, until the day I was wearing my last pair of pants for the third day running. Then I remembered, but was told I couldn't get them back until the next evening. Four days in the same pants was too much even for me, so I was forced to buy a pair. I communicated in the inernational language of sign with the woman in the shop until she said, 'Ah, panties!'

She then produced a large bag of quite the most unnattractive knickers I have ever seen. I was forced to buy a pair of enormous pink granny knickers with flowers on. She then tried to persuade me to buy a bra in the '50s scaffolding style to go with it, but I demurred.