THIS IS HOW NEPAL LOOKED IN 2005
War and Peace
Nepal was convulsed by civil war from 1996 until 2006. The insurgents who call
themselves 'Maoists' are an indigenous movement, with no connection to China
(which has disowned them). On the other hand, the recently-toppled king was
heavily backed by China. Go figure. Pakistan, the US, the UK, Belgium and India
all provided weapons to suppress the Maoists called 'The Peoples' War'.
During the war, Nepal enjoyed the distinction of being # 1 in the world for 'disappeared', about 2/3 last seen in the custody of the 'security' forces. Villagers were caught between the two armies; both sides used food, medicine and water as weapons. There is evidence that both sides committed atrocities. Perhaps most alarming were the killings of children (165 by the army, 135 by the rebels) and the 'diappearances' of journalists and people working on human rights and the restoration of democracy. At least 13,000 died in the conflict, a majority were civilians, killed by the state.
We were under a 'state of emergency' from 2001: freedoms guaranteed by the constitution such as freedom of the press, opinion, privacy, ownership and assembly were denied. The king seized absolute power in February 2005 and was ousted by a popular uprising, "Jana Andolan 2' a year later. Four million people took to the streets in non-violent demonstrations, demanding a return to democracy. In three weeks, the security forces unleashed bullets, teargas and truncheons on the people: 22 died, more than 5000 were injured. The people did not back down. It was an exciting and terrifying time.
The king was ousted, and an interim parliament was convened, with representatives of the seven main political parties sitting. After the Maoists called another ceasefire, the seven-party alliance managed to hammer out understandings with the rebels. Nepal has an interim parliament and will go to elections of a Constituent Assembly (proportional representation). The Maoists (who say they want peace) will also field candidates for the Constituent Assembly. In the meantime, both armies are under UN supervision while they disarm and land mine removal has begun.
A high-level Nepalese inquiry has investigated human rights abuses and corruption during the king's reign. It has yet to be made public. The world human rights community insists that Nepal ratify the Rome Statute (which came out of the Nazi Holocaust and the world's wish to prevent genocide and other crimes against humanity). Ratification would bring Nepal under the purview of the International Criminal Court and would help to end the culture of impunity and its abuses widespread disappearances and torture. There is a cautious air of optimism in Nepal nowadays.
