Here's a map showing Nepal's proximity to China.
According to the AP:
King Gyanendra sacked the government and assumed full power in February 2005, vowing to crush a decade-old Maoist revolt in which more than 13,000 people have died.
At least five people have been killed and hundreds wounded in police action against pro-democracy protesters, who are into the 13th day of a general strike that has brought the impoverished nation to a standstill.
And:
King Gyanendra has offered to hold elections by April next year, but activists say he cannot be trusted and should immediately hand over power to an all-party government.
....The United States and India, Nepal's giant neighbour, have both called repeatedly for the restoration of democracy.
This is typical MSM reporting, casting MAOist (likely Chinese backed) rebels as pro-democracy insurgents, and providing no background that really helps anyone to understand the players. Does the USA really back Maoist "freedom fighters"? Doubtful.
Would it help our understanding of the context if the AP bothered to report on which nearby government is supporting the Maoist fighters?
Are there any good guys here? Possibly not... but the wide eyed innocent face value acceptance of Maoist insurgency as "pro-democratic" is laughable.
