On People’s Movement
Prakash A. Raj looks at main actors of political stage and analyses the political events of April 2006.
For the last five years following the Royal Massacre, Nepal has seen unexpected political development with the results of long term implications in Nepalese life. After the promulgation of Constitution of Kingdom of Nepal 1990, Nepal’s political problems were close to have settled. Although the Maoists held the gun demanding to scrap the present constitution and replacing it through the elections of Constituent Assembly, the overwhelming majority of political forces were in favor of the present constitution.
After the dismissal of elected prime minister by King Gyanendra in October 4, 2002, there appeared a first crack on the agreement between monarchy and political parties. The climax of political process was reached following King Gyanendra’s actions of February 1, 2005.
This is the point when distrust and mistrust reached into the climax and slowly and gradually political parties sided with the demand of CA. After 19 days of demonstrations, the King finally gave away power to the people but the era of chaos and uncertainty has not gone away.
Noted author Prakash A. Raj closely watches all these political developments and ups and downs in Nepalese politics. His analysis of political development of the 19 days is based on the political facts.
After the Royal Proclamation of April 24, the country has seen many ups and downs in Nepali politics and power shifts from one end to other. King Gyanendra who chaired the cabinet after February 2, 2005 proclamation, is now isolated and seven political parties and Maoists have come to the central stage of Nepali politics.
Having written a number of books on Nepal, Prakash A. Raj, who comes from the family of Nepal’s Royal Preceptors and his association with the ruling family, is a well known political commentator. In his book, Raj discusses the role of the monarch, the political parties, the Maoists, and the international community.
Following April 24, many announcements have already been made making the monarch as no more than ceremonial. Political parties of all ideological affiliations have already started to drum up for the republic. In this situation, Raj tries to explore the role of Nepalese Army and how Nepal Army would operate in a Republican state. Raj also raises the question whether Maoists would join the mainstream politics or would try to capture the power.
Although many unexpected political developments have taken place, this is the first kind of book highlighting and discussing Nepal’s political problems on the basis of ongoing events as well as historical development. Raj, among others, spares no time to discuss and debate the role of different political actors and their possible reactions to on going political change. From monarchy to Seven Political Parties Alliance and Nepal Army to international community including India, China and the United States, Raj highlights their role and discusses them in detail.
“This book attempts to examine the roles of three main actors on the Nepalese political stage, the monarch, the political parties and the Maoists insurgents, as well as that of international community, including India and China and the United States of America. The stakes of India, Nepal’s close neighbor, are especially high keeping in mind security issues. Nepal’s future, then, appears to lie in the outcome of the interaction between the three main actors internally, and the three external influences,” writes Raj.
