At the
end of the 2006, TFF Associate Shastri Ramachandaran visited Nepal.
He is an editor of The Tribune in Chandigarh, India. Here are the
links to his multi-faceted observations and analyses.
Article 1
The Tribune, December 29, 2006
Nepal Jam
Valley of chaos, hope and despair
"I am in one of the world’s poorest
countries where bread-and-butter issues await the transition to
a New Nepal to be ushered in with elections to a constituent assembly
six months down the line. The world’s fastest peace process
— sealed between the Maoist guerrillas and the SPA —
has certainly thrown life out of gear. Continue
here.
Article 2
The Tribune, January 2, 2006
Nepal's rebirth
Many challenges on the road ahead
Ramachandaran's fascinating account of the world
fastest peace process - but: "Despite dreams of a peaceful
and participatory democracy rising from the rubble of the crumbled
monarchy, the situation today is nightmarish. If there is a state
in Nepal, it is so fragile that there appears to be no evidence
of it. Neither is there any semblance of an administration though
the SPA Government of Mr Koirala is highly visible in its negotiations
with the Maoists." Continue
here.
Article 3
The Tribune, January 3, 2006
Himalayan passage
Beware of mischief in Nepal-India ties
"New Delhi had to be on its toes, think
on its feet, throw its full weight behind the movement for democracy,
appear hands-off, remain hands-on, keep a cool head and not turn
its back on any section or be too up-front when counsel was sought.
And India managed to do all that; and also shift from its long-standing
position of support to the twin pillars of constitutional monarchy
and multi-party democracy to the sole pillar of multi-party democracy
with the Maoists, if they went with the political mainstream."...
"Now, the SPA and Maoists -- though divided
by ideology, rivalries of power politics and differences on major
issues -- are one in their democracy project, which cannot succeed
without inclusive economic development and massive financial assistance.
Unlike the “international community”, which is just
vocal about democracy, New Delhi has to put its money where its
mouth is." Continue
here.