With the abolishment of the monarchy Nepal has taken an important steep towards the creation of a democratic republic. Yet the process remains complex. Nepal is an ethnically, religiously, economically and politically differentiated society that has only recently emerged from ten years of internal conflict. Underdevelopment remains the principle issue that any new government must grapple with but until other divisions are resolved, the economic crisis in Nepal seems set to deepen. My brief excursion to this transitional society allowed me to make some preliminary observations that I will briefly discuss here.
Nepal has historically been a highly centralized Hindu Monarchy, which is reflected in the distribution of wealth and opportunity. The elites in Katmandu have, and still do, enjoy a lifestyle unlikely for the majority poor in the city and impossible for groups living outside the capital city. Juxtaposed on this economic inequality is the caste system, under which social mobility is unattainable. The gap between rich and poor is clear in Katmandu where the vast majority live in poverty, shuffling around enormous piles of garbage and breathing toxic air while SUVs and luxury sedans sound their horns impatiently on the crowded dusty streets of the old brown city. The further one goes from Katmandu, the economic conditions are evidently more dire with the exception of popular tourist areas in Pokhara and along the Annapurna trekking circuit.
For this primarily economic reason, coupled with resentment of religious, caste-based and minority-based discrimination, Maoist insurgents waged a ten year struggle against the monarchy. Certainly, the Maoists used violence and caused great suffering but the majority of deaths and disappearances were the result of the Monarchy’s heavy handed response. International opinion concerning the Maoist cause has been mixed, with some commentators branding them terrorists and others lauding them as freedom fighters. Either way, the Maoists have succeeded in pushing out a discriminatory religious monarchy in favour of a republic that seeks to abolish the caste system and promote minority rights through a new constitution.
Democracy will not come easy in a state where up to 65 percent of the population remains illiterate. Many believe that democracy is just a new way for the educated, wealthy elites to control what goes on in government. The media is clearly linked with the established political parties and a democratic culture is still a long way from materializing in Nepal where education is woefully under funded. Common people in many parts of Nepal feel unprepared to make complex economic and political decisions and some even advocate for a strong centralized government to make tough development decisions unilaterally. However, citizens expressed relief that the discriminatory monarchy had been disposed of and cautious optimism that a new government would help develop the country in a manner conducive with basic human rights principles.
Most often, corruption is cited as the biggest threat to democracy and government in Nepal. Even the Maoists, with their lofty ideals seem unable to resist the temptations available to governing parties now that they have entered the system. Attempts at reconciliation and peace-building have been mired in a culture of impunity on both sides of the conflict and amnesty has been put forward by the new political parties that were formerly combatants. Calls for Nepal to ratify the Statute of the International Criminal Court have not been answered and seem unlikely to be in the near future. This is all occurring as attempts are made to amalgamate the Maoist insurgents with the army, a delicate process if there ever was one!
Many other ethnic and religious conflicts are simmering just below the surface in Nepal. There are over one hundred and fifty ethnic minorities and languages in Nepal. Nepalese is a language created to attempt to unify these differing cultures and traditions. Importantly, there is unrest in provinces with increasing Muslim populations, where people feel left out of the decision making process in Katmandu. It is important to realize this is a state with little or no infrastructure. Communications outside of Katmandu are limited, accentuating the geographic distances between groups, which need little enhancement as communities are separated by towering 6000-8000m Himalayan peaks. Federalism has been put forward as a potential solution but critics warn that this could further divide the population. Indeed, it is a long way from remote areas of Nepal that have no electricity, no roads and little contact with the outside world to the distant capital of Katmandu, a city that most in those regions will never see.
There is a real need for participatory and accountable development in Nepal. All development policies must take into account the ethnic and religious minorities, especially the large Buddhist population. Development should not be conducted for the benefit of elites in Katmandu alone. Presently, the proceeds of what little development is occurring are being funneled to external bank accounts and used to send family members out of the country resulting in a drain of capital and human resources. The right to development calls for a process in which all human rights can be realized in development and in which the benefits of development are justly distributed. Minority rights insist that all groups can participate in decision making and that their particular issues must be taken into account. Indigenous rights promote self-determination and control of local resources for local people. Since these third generation rights are inadequately protected at the international level, it is imperative to promote them nationally. Here the language of minority, indigenous and development rights must be built into a new constitution in order to ensure that development benefits all.
Democracy is not a panacea to the complex problems of this severely underdeveloped nation. An election is only a first step towards a functioning and responsible government in Nepal. Currently, political infighting, elitism and unaccountability are preventing the basic functions of governance from developing. The focus of a new government must be on promoting economic, social and cultural rights, which require an accountable plan to develop infrastructure. Katmandu suffers from inadequate basic services such as garbage collection, health, education as well as water and electricity. The pollution in the city renders it dangerous to personal health and the environment. These problems are set to worsen unless a plan of action is put in place immediately. It is clear that international assistance is required, but is unlikely to be forthcoming. Nepal simply does not have the strategic usefulness or natural resources to attract the attention of the international community. Without benevolent assistance, as opposed to self-interested economic exploitation, from its economically powerful and regionally influential nieghbours India and China, little progress will be realized and the basic rights of the Nepali people will continue to be unfulfilled
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