CRISIS IN NEPAL

Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal , the youngest democracy on our earth, is a landlocked country, bordered to the north by the China, and bordered by India on its east south and west. With an area of 147,181 square kilometers and a population of approximately 30 million, in terms of land mass it is the 93rd largest countryin the world. Kathmandu is its capital and the country's largest metropolitan.
Nepal is a country of highly diverse and rich geography, culture, and religions. The mountainous north of Nepal contains eight of the world's ten highest mountains, including the highest,
Mount Everest. Hinduism and Buddhism are the main religions, Christianity has also spread its wings here. There are more then 300 churches in Nepal. Its recent past may be summed up from the days of Prithvi Narayan Shah, a Shah Dynasty king, who unified the many small kingdoms in 1768 and had formed a monarchy. In may 2008 the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) , the Congress Party of Nepal, The Communist Party of Nepal- Unified Marxist Leninist- (CPN-UML) and all other political parties of Nepal jointly overthrew the last king of Nepal Gyanendra Shah and established Nepal as a federal democratic republic. Dr. Ram Baran Yadav was sworn in as the first President of Nepal on 23 July, 2008 and Mr Pushpa Kamal Dahal, better known as Prachanda was sworn in as the Prime Minister.
The back ground of the present crisis in Nepal, goes back to a decade of Maoist insurgency, with the army playing a pivotal role in trying to suppress it. The crisis began over the integration of, over 19,000 former Maoist rebel fighters now confined to UN-supervised barracks, into Nepal's regular army. Another issue between the Maoists defence minister and the army was that the defence minister had put eight generals in for retirement despite requests from the army headquarters to extend their term by another three years. The generals challenged the government decision in the court, which ordered that they be reinstated. Prachanda who led the Maoist moment from the forefront also wanted to place some of his leading guerilla Maoist colleagues in higher positions in Nepal army. This was opposed by the chief of the Nepali army Gen. Rupmangat Katuwal, as it would have jeopardized the disciplined hierarchy of the army as well as threatened its secular fiber. It was also seen by the Chief of Nepal's army, and many of his senior colleagues, as a move by the Maoists to tactically infiltrate in to the higher command structure of army, and than totally Maoise the army. This could easily have become the ground for some later coup by the pro China Maoist guerillas taking complete control of Nepal army and Nepal per se, there by destroying the youngest democracy before even it could have found its feet.


The dispute got ablaze when the Maoist Prime Minister, Prachanda and his defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa got cheesed off with General Rupmangat Katuwal , the army chief, for not complying to their demads of including the Maoist guerillas in the fresh 3000 plus men recruited in to the Nepal army. Over this issue a show cause notice was issued to the general, and on the grounds of the reply of the general not being satisfactory, the Prime minister summarily fired him from the top post of the Nepal Army.
The real twist in the tail came when Nepal's President, Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, a member of the main opposition party, told the general not to quit and wait till the prime ministers diktat gets the approval of the house, thus setting a good tradition for the young democracy. Prachanda knowing well that the house is not with him on this issue decided to resign, both as a democratic move, as well as a face saving move. Even the deputy Prime Minister Bam Dev Gautam, who leads the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist party (CPN-UML), stated that Prachanda’s move was against his advice. He had Said, "We had sought consensus on the issue but the Maoists have gone ahead and decided to take matters into their own hands, our position is very clear, the action on the army chief must be in accordance with the consensus of all parties in the parliament."
He even threatened that his party which has 110 members in the house will quit the Government if the army chief was sacked. AS a result the army chief is back in his seat, and hopefully the demcratic ethos shall prevail in Nepal.
Now Nepal is once more facing a crisis but it is not as big as the insurgency. If handled well it is a great opportunity for the pro-democratic forces in Nepal to join hands in safeguarding the true interests of Nepal, and save the country from being hijacked by pro China forces and save it from becoming another Tibet.
All along this crisis, Gen, Rup mangat Katuwal , the Nepal army chief has proved that he is a true Gurkha, and a true soldier who faced this crisis boldly, and gracefully, thus upholding the great traditions of chivalry, and soldiering. Bravo General !!!!!!!!! Nepal and all its true well wishers are proud of you. Well done Mr. President, Dr. Ram Baran Yadav and Mr. Bam Dev Gautam for upholding the values of true democracy.


Hoping and wishing that the people of Nepal get to enjoy the democracy they have got.
CIAO

by........ Balwant Gurunay, Mba, PgPr.

8 comments:

  1. a very clear and detailed writing. better then the professionals.

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  2. Radhika Thapa5 May 2009 at 09:42

    This is the most informative article on the nepal crisis in which every single relevent detail has been put in the right perspective. The links are extremely helpful and well placed. The pictures, links and the matter of the article are well thought out and nicely put. Very well packaged.

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  3. Balwant ji,
    Nepal has become free of the kings rule and we want it to grow as democracy. Army chief has done right work. all army bharti should be from public and not the maoist. all parties have worked for my countrys freedom. Good writing by you.

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  4. Brief as it could be yet detailed as it should be, this artcle is so very informative and the political analysis and hints are so accurate.
    jai ho.

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  5. A very good article.
    Your pointing tht under the maoists Nepal Could just be another Tibet in the making is so true.

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  6. Dear Mr. Gurunay,

    I just love the way you write. This article gives a very clear picture of the current situation in Nepal. Other than that it is a beautifully written essay with helpful links at the right places which help gain a lot of general knowledge about this mountain republic.
    Best Wishes,
    Jeevan.

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  7. Dear Dolma,
    Every country goes through its own share of suffering and so has Nepal,
    But now I feel this country should wake up to the vast potential it holds in terms of becoming the best tourist destination on this earth. It has 7 of the world's 8 highest mountains. A great potential for white water adventure. A great potential for hydro elctricity. And it has just about 30 million people. If the goverment is serious this population can be educated well with in no time and literacy rate be brought to 100%. Compare it with the 100 billion people in India and the Nepalis are one of the hardiest and bravest people in the world. Monarchy had it's own selfish agenda in not letting the developement pace gain momentum but now that its people's rule why cant it be done?

    Well ! all that is required is a few years of stability. If Nepal remains free of Chinese or any other super power's influence, I assure you within 10 years, it will be a prosperous little country that it's citizens will feel proud of. I very strongly feel that Nepal should by no means tow the maoist line for it could become the biggest mistake on part of Nepal as a nation and Nepalis as People.
    China has territorial ambitions all around and communising Nepal will be nothing less than a total take over or making of another Tibet.
    Regards.

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  8. Great reading. Lucid and mildly acidic. I like it.

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