Nepal

Nepal: Terai Strike Ends, Autonomy To Be Granted

Date: March 6th, 2008 |

A strike in the lowland Terai area bordering India that was squeezing off the fuel supply to Kathmandu and causing power shortages came to an end Feb. 28 when the government signed an agreement to establish an autonomous province for the Madhesi people. This action represents a step into the future for Nepal and [read more]

Nepal: Maoists Pull Out of Government, Troubles in Terai

Date: September 19th, 2007 |

No Comments

Maoists pulled out of the coalition government in a dispute over abolishing the monarchy, raising concerns that the fragile peace in Nepal could be in jeopardy. The former rebels have vowed not to take up arms again but to press their demands through peaceful demonstrations. They have argued that the monarchy should be abolished before [read more]

Nepal: Agreement Between Maoists and Ruling Parties

Date: November 14th, 2006 |

No Comments

An agreement between Nepal’s ruling parties and Maoist insurgents that calls for the Maoists to give up their weapons and join an interim government has raised hopes that the violence of the past decade will cease. The interim government is to be formed by Dec. 1 and a constituent assembly is due to be elected [read more]

Nepal: King Gives In to Protesters, Restores Parliament, Demonstrations Called Off

Date: April 25th, 2006 |

No Comments

In the face of escalating violent protests, the king gave in to the people’s demands and reinstated parliament, paving the way for a coalition of political parties to take control of the government, set up special elections for an assembly to rewrite the constitution, and possibly leave the king powerless. It is too early to [read more]

Nepal: Protests Against King Turn Violent

Date: April 11th, 2006 |

No Comments

The political crisis between the king and the opposition coalition of political parties and Maoists is playing out around the country. Several days of rallies were met with a daytime curfew, shoot-to-kill orders to the police for curfew violators, and violent confrontations between protesters and police. One protester was shot dead in Pokhara, a key [read more]

Nepal: Maoists Resume Collecting “Donations” from Foreigners

Date: October 11th, 2007 |

No Comments

A Maoist leader assured a delegation of tour operators that Maoists will not harm tourists during strikes or protests, and will not hamper their movement, but two days later the Kathmandu Post reported that Maoists have resumed collecting money from trekkers and mountaineers in the Myagdi district, which includes Mount Dhaulagiri. The practice of demanding [read more]

Nepal: Tourists Returning

Date: January 18th, 2007 |

No Comments

Tourism is rebounding amid optimism that peace with the Maoists will hold now that the insurgents are part of the interim parliament. Visitor numbers are up in Pokhara in advance of the spring trekking season, and U.N. officials are just beginning the task of monitoring Maoist weapons and registering their fighters. How quickly and successfully [read more]

Nepal: Maoists Still Extorting Trekkers

Date: September 12th, 2006 |

2 comments

According to officials of the Trekking Agents Association of Nepal, Maoists continue to extort money from tourists in many trekking areas despite agreements not to do so since the king was stripped of power and a political transition is in progress. The Maoists are charging foreigners 100 euros ($127) and also sometimes charging trekking guides, [read more]

Nepal: Political Crisis Deepens

Date: April 18th, 2006 |

No Comments

The political crisis between the king and a coalition of opposition parties and Maoists is growing more dangerous. Police fired on demonstrators in Chandragadi, some 310 miles southeast of Kathmandu, on April 19, killing four. In Kathmandu, authorities imposed an 18-hour curfew in and around Kathmandu April 20 in an effort to stop a massive [read more]

Nepal: Maoist Blockade of Kathmandu Called Off

Date: March 21st, 2006 |

No Comments

Maoists called off a blockade of Kathmandu March 19, six days after they imposed it and essentially stopped all traffic to the capital city. They also called off a general strike set for April 3 but endorsed a series of protests planned by opposition political parties to begin April 6. The move suggests that the [read more]