Sent : Tuesday, July 18, 2006 5:34 AM
To : "Juergen Dahm" <juergendahm@hotmail.com>
Subject : Nepal update


Namaste Juergen,

Still in Indonesia ? Hope all is well with you, too.

Nepal Situation Update:

About political situation in Nepal, I am trying to inform you with the following update 
based on the ground reality here:

Now the whole country is caught into very hot and intensive discussion and debate on 
many political issues including the forth coming Constituent Assembly about its formation, 
process, modalities etc. Of course, there arise some differences among the political 
parties, civil society and the Maoists. But, they are minor in nature. The major political 
forces are in agreement in principal issues.

Political consciousness among even ordinary people now in Nepal is at its highest level. 
Obviously, the rich and powerful feudal class is nervous for their past misdeeds.

POLITICAL SITUATION:

There is relaxed environment now and no any kind of violent political activities like 
before take place.  However, there is heated debate about how to go about further 
regarding political process leading to constituent assembly.

Political Parties and Maoists:

The Friday, 16th June summit talk between the political and Maoist top most leaders was 
historic towards political settlement. This has given a credible hope for all as they have 
revealed almost no difference about further political course. 

The Maoists:

The Maoists top leaders have been doing back & forth Kathmandu now for consultation with 
the political leaders, civil society leaders, business leaders, foreign diplomats etc. The 
Maoists are assuring everyone that they want to have a peaceful solution.

Management of Rebels and Arms:

The government and the Maoists have agreed to have the UN invited to monitor the management 
of the arms and the  rebels. A letter to the same effect has been sent to the UN and the 
UN has expressed their support. The UN will also monitor the election of the forthcoming 
constituent assembly.

The 7 Political Parties:

The restored parliament has about 95 % members from the 7 political parties. Almost all 
of them represent in the present government and are in agreement to lead the country to 
a complete democracy. There surface some differences about the process sometimes

The king and feudal class:

Obviously, the king and his cronies who are almost all feudal aristocrats are not happy 
with the present change. They have a lot of money but, not so organized and very small in 
number. They might try to create some troubles during the transitional period. Some top 
army generals also do not like to see the king powerless. However, they may not dare to 
stand against the tide of the people.

BUSINESS & INDUSTRY:

At the beginning, there was some nervousness among the business people about the future. 
Some labor unrest and extortion brewed immediately after the collapse of the king's rule. 
However, the situation now has improved and is more relaxed since the Maoist top leaders 
have been assuring both the business people and workers about the democratic rule of law. 
The Maoists say, their plan of political economy will be of improved neo-capitalist model 
but, not of conventional communism.

GENRAL CONFUSION:

Many people are wary about further political development with the sudden shift of power 
from the king to the political parties and the Maoists. This is not abnormal in a 
transitional period, I think. It is also true that almost all Nepali people want a 
change in the governance system but, for BETTER. One of the reasons for skepticism 
is corrupt and inefficient nature of some politicians from the 7 political parties. 
However, there are also many dynamic and honest leaders both in the 7 political parties 
and Maoists. Many among the ordinary and educated people are of the opinion that the 
Maoists also should be given a chance in the governance.

SECURITY SITUATION:

In the initial weeks after the collapse of the royal government, a series of bank 
robberies and burglaries took place. A kind of anarchy surfaced in major towns and 
people got nervous. The morale in the police and army were low and they were inactive. 
General people had also suspicion about the king's powerful cronies and feudal class 
who did not like the change. After a couple of weeks with the initiative of leaders 
and ordinary people, things started to improve again. The crimes were found to be 
committed by some criminals and they have already been nabbed. They were just petty 
elements taking opportunity of unstable transitional period.  The crimes now have 
subsided and the situation is much better.

FUTURE COURSE:

Now, further tentative steps on the political process seemed to be as: promulgation 
of an interim constitution, creation of an all side inclusive political assembly, 
dissolving the restored parliament and the Maoist parallel local govt., formation 
of interim govt. including the Maoists, management of the Maoists arms and army under 
the UN and election of Constituent Assembly. 



This is my impartial observation of the current situation in Nepal.

I will try to keep you updated about further developments in the situation.

Viele Gruesse
Tilak