I’m back in Kathmandu for a meeting with the four other Peace Fellows as well as some other COCAP personnel from the regions. We’ll be discussing our progress on the collective proposals and addressing some concerns we, the Peace Fellows, have regarding the structure and efficacy of the COCAP model outside Kathmandu. Being here has also given me a chance to share some photos that I’ve wanted to upload for a while now but couldn’t in Baglung. These pictures below were taken over a month ago when Yogendra and I took a stroll through Baglung to meet some of the locals.

We started through the “busy” streets of Baglung, where people were out and about enjoying an early evening without electricity.

But first we needed some ambulatory sustenance, so we grabbed a few bananas from the corner shop.

While passing a small alley I saw some blooming flowers with the hills as a backdrop. Soon after snapping a few shots, a group of women started shouting, inviting Yogendra and me to join their group. From the hammer and sickle sign, I had an inkling that they’d be some communist group.

I sat down and asked what they were discussing. Interesting enough, it was a woman’s faction within the National Communist Party of Baglung. While the Maoists are staunch anti-royalists, I was surprised to find out that most supported the monarchy and were calling for a constitutional monarchy and not a republic. They explained to me that the king was a symbol of Nepal and that throwing away the monarchy would be a mistake. When I asked what the monarchy had done for the Nepali people in the past I received few answers. Oddly enough, most said the king was a “bad man”. I left confused.

Yogendra and I then walked away from the center of town to see the beautiful surroundings of Baglung. Obviously, we weren’t alone in finding a quiet place for contemplation.

But soon we were back on the streets and ran into a Maoist leader in Baglung. In fact, the gentleman that Yogendra is speaking with is leader of the Young Communist League (YCL) in Baglung district. The YCL is the youth wing of the Maoists and have become the de facto security apparatus of the party, now that the regular Maoist forces are in cantonments. The YCL didn’t exist before the Maoist fighters were placed in these barracks, which are now overseen by the United Nations Mission in Nepal. The YCL have been blamed for numerous kidnappings and extrajudicial actions since the Maoists joined the political process. Incidentally, the YCL leader’s brother was kidnapped and disappeared by the Nepali Army during the civil war. The two who are listening intently are also YCL comrades.

Grumpy old men — Nepali style.

There is a reason the little girl on the right is the only one not smiling. If her sister finds too many lice, she’ll end up looking like the other two on the left.

Some ladies brightening up Baglung.

And finally back to Yogendra’s room for some chiya (tea). Of course Yogendra, my focal point facilitator and dai (big bro) is on the right. His eight year old son, Yaman, is in his lap. In back is his ten year old, Yamuna and just on the right is his three year old daughter Manjita. On the left is Bikash, who works for CYC, the COCAP focal point office of the western region.