Protests in Nepal

[Lillymon]

Bit of a change from the usual Backroom chatter, but I've been watching this unfold on BBC News 24, and it got me thinking. From what I'm seeing now, the only real possibility seems to be the formation of a republic. That is something I'm rather split about. The public seems to genuinely want democracy, but it's hard for me to forget that all this unrest was started by a Maoist party. With them right on the Chinese border, is it really feasible for any republic formed to not be communist? Also, the fact that the United States and European Union sent a lot of support to the king while he was trying to suppress the Maoist insurgents makes it seem like a revival of the Cold War. But what made me start this topic was me wondering what causes people to make uprisings like this. King Gyanedra assumed complete power, sent the police forces out to try and stop the protests, and imposed severe media censorship. In other countries, measures like this have been enough to quell unrest for years or even decades. In other countries, the people are treated just as badly yet seem to take their punishment with no protest at all. What causes uprisings like this to happen?
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[Danoz]

What a great question, best topic here in awhile. Political uprisings, insurrection and the conditions for genocide is a topic I consider incredibly important as a student of political science. I know a girl who is an exchange student from Nepal, she's very passionate about the politics of her home country, and listening to her gives me a unique perspective on the situation. You have a great tension in this country. About five years ago the crown prince in Nepal murdered all members of the Royal Family and proceeded to kill himself. With the Maoist insurgency going on, new elections were postponed and the new King dismissed both the cabinet and the acting prime minister because he conceived them to be incompetent. After elections, more recently, he reinstated the prime minister position only to dissolve it again and put up martial law curfews. Yesterday he announced that he would be stepping down and giving the country “back to the people” in hopes to end the rioting, but it hasn’t really done much. So, we have a very tired people hungry for Democracy, a toothless parliament and a king who retains control over the military and, even in renouncing his crown, cannot stop the riots. It opens an interesting question, since people in Nepal are a deeply religious, Hindu people, and if I remember correctly it has been traditionally believed that the king is a human incarnation of God (or an ancestor of a god). My friend tells me that this perception has not been abandoned. Imagine the unthinkable tension, if that were your home… and what is the solution? It seems like the king is taking a step in the right direction, but he is terribly unpopular and the elected governments are perceived as corrupted and weak. I can’t really comment on how I think this is going to unfold, or what can/should be done about this because I have limited knowledge as to the history and culture or the region… but it is an important topic nevertheless to be discussed and researched so that Americans know what’s going on.
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