Who are the key actors in Nepal?
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The Editor of the Nepal Country Guide offers background notes to the key stakeholders in the conflict in Nepal:
The Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-Maoist) CPN-Maoist declared a Peoples War in February 1996. Ideologically, the CPN-Maoist is very close to the Communist Party of Peru (Shining Path) and both are members of International Revolutionary Movement. CPN Maoist in Nepal has formed its own government and levied tax on the people. The Maoists control large regions of rural Nepal where people not complying with the government will meet serious punishment. Political Parties The major parties are heavily factionalized. Two former Prime Ministers, Mr. Girija Prasad Koirala and Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba lead the split factions of the Nepali Congress. Mr. Deuba has now been sentenced to imprisonment by a corruption commission established by the king. Communist Party of Nepal United Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) is another big party which secured large number of votes from the people in last general election. It is also factionalized. Now it has trumpeted an anti-royal tune and called its party workers and the people to establish a republican state. Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) is considered to be pro-royal and established itself as the third largest party of the kingdom. In 2005, this party also split reducing the number of their members able to join the government. Even after receiving a fully fledged mandate, not a single party in Nepal has been able to serve its full tenure. The government has changed 13 times in the 12 years since democracy was introduced in 1990. As a result, the king has dissolved the cabinet and formed a new government under his chairmanship. Government The present government is formed under the chairmanship of the king. The government is neither popular nor has any support from the parties, people or the international community. Most of the ministers in the kings cabinet have little or no political background and are associated somehow or other with crime. King and the Palace The King is highly revered among Nepalese and considered to be a reincarnation of Lord Vishnu. As a result, two thirds of the population still has a deep faith toward the king regardless of his behaviour. But there can be no doubt that almost all Nepalese show strong antipathy towards other members of the royal family, who run the kingdom in the name of king. From the registration of NGOs to the implementation of big hydro projects, or sanctioning big loans from the commercial bank, involvement of members of the royal family is mandatory. Civil society Nepalese civil participation has an illustrious history dating back to the Vedic period (around 2000BC). Its activities can be perceived in almost all social fields including the fight against violence, human rights abuses, social inequality, gender discrimination and many more critical issues relating to corruption, economic, social and cultural problems. However, civil society in Nepal remains very weak due to widespread mistrust, fragmented initiatives and lack of skills that have created confrontational attitudes among different stakeholders of Nepal. The Army The Maoists have appealed to the Royal Nepalese Army for mutiny in the overall national interest. But an estimated 94,000 active troops gave deaf ear to the appeal and owe their allegiance to the king, who is supreme commander. In addition to the army, there is an additional 20,000-strong Armed Police Force and 40,000 police. They both have very ill repute in violating human rights and are a frequent target of the Maoists. India Nepal-India ties date back centuries. India offered military and intelligence advice prior to the royal takeover in February 2005. But its support was heavily criticized by western governments as India ignored human rights agenda and security takes priority in its support. India suspended its military support after the coup and showed strong signs of disparagement. However, the outrage of Mr. ManMohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, sounded hollow in the context of obtaining support for permanent membership of the security council in the UN. The Hindu vote is critical in India. So any suppressive attempt to Nepal including action against king can impact election results as Hindus in India consider Nepalese king as a king of all Hindus rather than just a king of Nepal. Pakistan Pakistan influence in Nepalese conflict has been very minimal but this changed when. Pakistan expressed willingness to furnish arms support after India suspended military support in February 2005 India accuses Pakistans intelligence services of infiltrating madrassas along the border though there has been only one reported case of such incidence. From time to time, India has moved its troops to the Nepalese border to check on Maoist illegal activities; but this was widely believed rather to have been a message to Pakistan and China. Despite Pakistans wish, its influence in Nepal is very negligible. China Unlike India, Chinas support is basically in infrastructure projects like irrigation, road construction etc. From time of independence of India, Nepalese rulers, when they have a difference with Indian leaders, went to China for support. When the late King Mahendra had a difference with Jawaharlal Nehru, he played this China card and introduced party-less Panchayat system that lasted for 30 years. But the trick employed by the present kings father in 1951 may not work again as many changes took place in Nepal during last 45 years. However, the politics of this tiny Himalayan kingdom have always occupied priority in China who is anxious to ensure zero activities of Dalai Lama and his followers for a free Tibet. The current government has already expressed its commitment to ban Dalai Lamas followers and activities in Nepal. These days Chinas presence in Nepalese politics is clearly discernible in almost all activities. Link: One World Nepal Guide |
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