[Marxism] Nepal to End Its Monarchy in a Deal With Ex-Rebels

["Jeffrey Thomas Piercy, El Pato Comunista" <mqduck@xxxxxxxxx>]

Very good news and what sounds like a fair article. Though the author, 
presumably when proof reading his/her article, appeared to realize that 
the story makes the Maoists look really, really good even to your 
average brainwashed USian, and started to panic. To save the day, he 
snuck in a rumor about corruption at the bottom and breathed a sigh of 
relief.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/24/world/asia/24nepal.html?ref=world


KATMANDU, Nepal (Reuters) â Nepalâs government agreed Sunday to abolish 
the centuries-old monarchy in a political deal with Maoist former 
rebels, but the decision will go into effect only after next yearâs 
elections, party officials said.

Three months ago, the anti-monarchy Maoists, who ended their decade-long 
civil war last year, left the government. They were demanding an 
immediate declaration of a republic, a step that indefinitely delayed a 
constituent assembly election that had been set for November.

That election, Nepalâs first national vote since 1999, was intended to 
map the countryâs political future, including that of the monarchy, and 
was expected to cap the landmark 2006 peace agreement that ended a 
conflict that caused 13,000 deaths.

Government leaders met with the former rebel chief, known by his nom de 
guerre, Prachanda, but whose real name is Pushpa Kamal Dahal, to break 
the deadlock.

âNepal will be a Federal Democratic Republic nation,â the six-party 
governing alliance and the Maoists said in a statement. âAnd the 
decision will be implemented after the first meeting of the constituent 
assembly.â

âBut if the king creates serious hurdles to the constituent assembly 
elections,â the statement added, a two-thirds majority of the interim 
Parliament âcan remove the monarchy even before the polls.â

The popularity of King Gyanendra plunged when he ousted the government 
and assumed absolute powers in 2005, only to yield control after weeks 
of protest last year. The monarch has traditionally been viewed in Nepal 
as an incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu.

The twice-delayed elections will now be held within the Nepali year, 
which ends on April 12, and the Maoists will rejoin the government, said 
Arjun Narsingh K. C., a spokesman for the Nepali Congress Party, the 
countryâs biggest political party.

Thousands of Maoist former fighters have been confined to United 
Nations-monitored camps since last year after the government agreed to 
hold the elections. The government will also begin the process of 
integrating the former fighters and pay their wages regularly, the 
statement said.

In return, the Maoists will hand back the property and land seized 
during the conflict. But mainstream political parties say the Maoists 
are still extorting money and intimidating political workers.

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