Question

Introduction on popular struggle of Nepal for democracy

Answer 1

Nepal's mass movements, an exceptionally strong political force, include all sectors of the population. This has been the case since the 1950s. It was particularly the case in the 1960s despite the repression after King Mahendra Bir Bikran Shah Deva dissolved the parliament and banned all political parties imposing the Panchayat system.

Despite this setback, the mass organisations continued underground, especially at the local level. It was this which led to the overthrow the King and the establishment of limited democratic rights.

In 1990, the King was forced to grant some concessions after a massive 50-day campaign. All the left parties, mass organisations, youth, trade unions and even some of the bourgeois politicians who were against the absolute monarchy came together to organise strikes and other mass actions. During this period, more than 500 people were killed and over 50,000 arrested before the King finally agreed to dissolve the Panchayat system. An interim government was formed between the Congress Party and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) [CPN (UML)]. National elections, widely believed to be rigged, resulted in a Congress Party government

Answer 2

The 1990 People's Movement was a multiparty action in Nepal that caused an end to the autocratic government and the origin of representative democracy. It also rejected the Panchayat system. The campaign was characterized by unity among the several political parties.

Pro-democracy anxiety co-ordinated by Leftist groups and Nepali Congress. King Birendra bends to constrain and announce a new Constitution building multi-party democracy under a representative government.