Complex Politics of Nepal
A few random links on Nepal’s current political developments:
- Exploring the Complex Politics of Nepal - A radio interview on National Public Radio discussing recent developments. Very helpful for anyone new to Nepal’s politics.
- US can remove red corner notice - Recent comments by James Moriarty, the U.S. envoy to Nepal, to move beyond the ‘terrorist’ label for Maoists, if they fully commit to a democratic rule of law. This could be another stabilizing factor, sorely needed if democracy should win in Nepal.
- Nepal Army chief helped convince Gyanendra - An editorial in The Hindu, an Indian daily, on behind-the-scenes brokering that preceded the King’s announcement to give up his powers. It offers some hope, that there are a few level-headed leaders in the Royal Nepal Army.
- The Americans are leaving, State Department stays on - This opinion piece is quite critical of the U.S. ‘advisory’ role to the King in the last five years. If nothing else, at least, it explains why many Nepalis are not fond of the current U.S. administration. In this writer’s view, the U.S policy of a military solution to the Maoist problem (which meant providing the RNA with modern arms and ’security’ consultants) was destined to fail from the beginning. It was just an another ‘misinterpretation’ of local politics as in many other countries of South and Southeast Asia since the WWII.
