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JJackson
04-12-2008, 01:00 PM
Moderator's Note

This thread was called Nepal: Maoist Democracy coming soon? and has now been changed to Nepal (catch all) (ends).

Nepal's Maoists gain first seats (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7341944.stm)


The Maoists have won four out of the seven seats already declared, election officials say.

But they are also ahead in 56 out of 102 seats whose partial results are coming through as the count proceeds

Norfolk
04-12-2008, 01:41 PM
Talk about a fundamental contradiction in terms. It is practically impossible to see any good coming from a Maoist electoral victory in Nepal.

For that matter Maoist activities seem to really be on the upswing in Bhutan and North-East India as well in recent years and especially months. I am tempted to look for patterns here; not connections per se, just patterns.

Jedburgh
04-14-2008, 01:01 PM
The Economist, 14 Apr 08: Maoists Take the Lead (http://www.economist.com/daily/news/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11039582&top_story=1)

Nepal's Maoists, who until two years ago were a vicious rebel party to a decade-long civil war, look likely to have won a general election. Of 186 seats declared on Monday April 14th the Maoists had won 103. A complicated electoral system mixing direct elections with proportional representation makes the overall complexion of the impending 601-seat assembly still hard to predict. But the Maoists may have won an outright majority.....

....An outright victory for the Maoists would be a nightmare for India. Plagued by a Maoist insurgency of its own (http://naxaliterage.com/), India until recently backed Nepal’s blundering King Gyanendra, who tried to crush the Maoists in the field. India forsook the king after he seized power in 2005. And it played an important part in brokering the peace process after his withdrawal from power following street protests the next year....

William F. Owen
04-14-2008, 01:10 PM
Three years ago, I talked to retired Colonel living in Nepal. From what I gathered from him, if ever there was an insurgency that could have been quickly and easily defeated, it was this one. It was almost as if the Government didn't want to defeat them.

I am not so up on the nuances of Nepalese politics, but my I am pretty sure that no COIN doctrine was applied as we would understand The Nepalese Government clearly didn't act, in any meaningful way, but rather blundered despite a wealth of opportunities to do otherwise.

I'd be extremely interested to know anymore detail.

Jedburgh
04-14-2008, 03:35 PM
Three years ago, I talked to retired Colonel living in Nepal. From what I gathered from him, if ever there was an insurgency that could have been quickly and easily defeated, it was this one. It was almost as if the Government didn't want to defeat them.

I am not so up on the nuances of Nepalese politics, but my I am pretty sure that no COIN doctrine was applied as we would understand The Nepalese Government clearly didn't act, in any meaningful way, but rather blundered despite a wealth of opportunities to do otherwise.

I'd be extremely interested to know anymore detail.
Well, hosted right here in our library is the USAWC paper The Maoist Insurgency in Nepal, 1996-2001 (http://smallwarsjournal.com/documents/crane1.pdf).

The International Crisis Group has published quite a bit of good detail on the situation over the past few years. On their Nepal archive page (http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=1265&l=1) you can find links to all of'em, if you have the time to go through them as backgrounders.

Jane's Intelligence Review has also published a few interesting pieces on the insurgency (a good one a couple of years back on the Maoist's use of IEDs) unfortunately, they're subscriber access only.

Ray
04-14-2008, 04:17 PM
Three years ago, I talked to retired Colonel living in Nepal. From what I gathered from him, if ever there was an insurgency that could have been quickly and easily defeated,


Three years ago, I talked to retired Colonel living in Nepal. From what I gathered from him, if ever there was an insurgency that could have been quickly and easily defeated,

It is interesting to know that the retired Colonel from Nepal felt that insurgency in Nepal could be eliminated quickly and easily.

Obviously, he would have inputs for this belief and one would surely desire to know what inputs led him to this conclusion.

On the other hand, Nepal theoretically has all the ingredients for a successful insurgency. And experience including mine, indicates that once an insurgency takes root, it is indeed well nigh impossible to defeat it, especially when external elements in all its facet play a role. And in terrain like in India and Nepal with similar economic, political and social backgrounds.

The present King, I believe, is actually hated since he is imperious and appears to have schemed to ensure that democracy does not succeed. His ruthless use of the Army is well known as is the loyalty of the Army to him. It is believed that the higher ranks are staffed by people screened for the loyalty to the monarchy. This I learnt from the many Nepalese who work in India and in the Indian Army in various economic levels of society. His son, Crown Prince Paras' activities including running over a popular singer has also made him a disliked figure. There are also alleged corruption charges against the monarchy as also the belief that the current King played a role in the massacre of the last King's family and this is widely believed.

In short, the monarchy which should have been the binding factor since he is taken as the incarnate of the Hindu God, Vishnu, was instead reviled. It is also a fact, that Nepali, Maoist or otherwise, is deeply religious in nature.

The infrastructure and the economy were barely sustainable. Yet the aspiration was high given the innumerably Nepalis who work in India, including in the Indian Army (a large majority have settled down in India too!) and who show dissatisfaction when home given the vast difference in the lifestyle and visible economic disparity of India and Nepal.

In addition, there is said to be a nexus with the Indian Maoists (who are of serious concern to India's security) and the spread of ‘revolutionary’ thoughts is believed to be enhanced as the Communist Chinese have about 69 projects in Nepal. Neighbouring West Bengal in India has been a Communist ruled State for over 23 years and the influence of these cadres cannot be ruled out. Therefore, the spread of radical political thought in a semi backward population was possible.

Lastly the terrain, mountainous and harsh with population far and between is ideal country for guerrilla activities.

As I see it, insurgency was coming and it came, even if none wanted to address the issue seriously.

Insurgency came and it has been squashed by the ballot. This is a good sign since the ‘face’ of the insurgent and their actions will be ‘overground’ and can be addressed in a democratic manner within and without Nepal.

Had the insurgency taken root, it may have been difficult to control. But ofcourse, I am not aware of the inputs that the Colonel of Nepal has, which may prove my surmise a trifle off course.

Of course, it is difficult to state if the Govt of Nepal seriously addressed the insurgency. Prima facie, whatever inputs are in the public domain, indicates that they did!

JJackson
04-14-2008, 07:08 PM
I for one am looking forward to having a Maoist Democracy if - as they claim - they wish to maintain multi-party democracy. This should be an interesting democratic experiment and I look forward to seeing how they adapt Maoism. I will be even more interested in seeing how they fair when they come up fro re-election after the Nepalese have found out what living in a communist state means. They seem keen to stop the supply of Gurkas but claim they will abide by all existing arrangements.
Good luck to you and welcome to the democracies club.

William F. Owen
04-14-2008, 07:39 PM
It is interesting to know that the retired Colonel from Nepal felt that insurgency in Nepal could be eliminated quickly and easily.

Obviously, he would have inputs for this belief and one would surely desire to know what inputs led him to this conclusion.

This was in the early days of the Iraq insurgency, and as I remember we were discussing how you spot an insurgency in the early stages. He seemed convinced that the Nepal insurgency was very well forewarned and could have been dealt with early on.

Ken White
04-14-2008, 08:41 PM
Malaya and Kenya were. Rhodesia was. Viet Nam was. So was Iraq. In fact in the latter, aside from all the obvious signs which the Army War College study, State and the CIA predicted, Saddam himself told us. He publicly released all the prisoners in jails, told us he was going to arm the populace and put weapons and ammo everywhere and that the whole nation would arise to defeat us. Gave the two russian generals who suggested all that gold medals just before we went in. We all missed it or at least missed the total significance. Then compounded that felony by disbanding the Army and putting a bunch of political twits in the CPA -- which should never have been formed. We not only missed the warning signs, we exacerbated the problem by not knowing what to do once the battle for Baghdad was finished.

So we have a an Intel failure (in the sense of lack of force by the community in stating the indications adequately in their ceaseless effort to never be wrong...), followed by political failure, followed by military failure, leading to a full blown insurgency. Which, like most of them, will be fixed by military effort, followed by political improvements. On the Intel improvements, the jury's out...

I further suggest that all those I mention could have been avoided and rechannelled with little effort early on had not a little old fashioned hubris (or our stupid egos...) gotten in the way. I honestly have not paid that much attention to Nepal but I suspect that the same thing holds true.

William F. Owen
04-15-2008, 04:30 AM
I further suggest that all those I mention could have been avoided and rechannelled with little effort early on had not a little old fashioned hubris (or our stupid egos...) gotten in the way. I honestly have not paid that much attention to Nepal but I suspect that the same thing holds true.

If I had more time, I'd bring myself up to speed on Nepal, but....

I think it took some time for the Thais to acknowledge that the "Insurgency in the South" was a real problem. Having said that, I it being an insurgency I know pretty well, why the Thai Army doesn't even do the basics, is an utter mystery to me.

As an aside, there are several very competent ex-British Army officers living in Thailand, two of whom have offered to help. One spoke with me at the COIN Study week at their staff collage, but that was it.

The Thais know what needs to be done, but they choose not to do it. I suspect Nepal had the same symptoms.

Ken White
04-15-2008, 05:28 AM
wondrous strange. Circular logic is an intriguing thing. They usually seem to get there but the route is in my observation often unfathomable.

Ray
04-15-2008, 06:39 PM
Nepal Peace Plan May Slow as Army Won't Accept Rebels (Update1)

By Jay Shankar

April 15 (Bloomberg) -- Nepal's army said it will refuse to accept former communist rebels into its ranks while they remain ``politically motivated and indoctrinated,'' a move that may delay the Himalayan nation's peace process,,,

Puspa Kamal Dahal, the leader of CPN (Maoist), on Jan. 9 accused the government of delaying the integration of his fighters into the army, saying the holdup may harm the accord that ended the civil war in which 13,000 people died.,,,

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said in the same month he opposes former guerrillas joining the army because he doesn't want the institution to be politicized. He suggested former rebels be recruited into a security force for industries.

Nepal faced a similar problem in 1951 when fighters of the Nepali Congress were to be integrated, Lal said. The Nepal Police was formed as a result and Nepali Congress members recruited. ``There was only the army until then,'' he said......

The Maoist fighters, who follow the ideology of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong, may become part of a security force or used to protect national parks and resources or to guard television and telephone towers and radio stations, Lal said......

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601090&sid=aDtABYl7hN3Q&refer=france



If the Communists "revolutionaries" are inducted into the Army, it will create serious problems.

Therefore, one has to watch how things pan out,

JJackson
04-15-2008, 07:37 PM
I don't know how big an army Nepal thinks it needs.
The CPN look like they are going to be able to form a government with an absolute majority, without coalition. If the Army dont think they can work with their former enemies it does not bode well with them taking orders from those same former enemies as their political masters. Might they not have a more reliable army if they keep the 32,500 that were on their side and disband the Kings army that were against them - or make them park rangers.

Ray
04-15-2008, 08:58 PM
They could.

But the consequence would be grave for the sucontinental stabilty!!

It is scary!!

Ray
04-16-2008, 02:42 PM
The Indian TV news indicates that King Gyanendra of Nepal fears for his safety since the Maoists have won.

The Indian govt has stated that there is no reason for the King to be concerned, though if there is any request, the Indian govt will grant asylum provided he guarantees that he will not indulge in political activities.

Ray
04-19-2008, 06:36 AM
Maoists in Nepal orders the King to vacate his Palace.


Kathmandu, April 18: The Nepal royal family has begun renovating King Gyanendra’s private residence, Nirmal Niwas, on a war footing after the Maoists issued a 28-day deadline to the king to vacate the Narayanhitti Palace.

Gyanendra’s son Prince Paras and his wife Himani are supervising the renovation of the Niwas, located in the busy Maharajgunj area of Kathmandu........

Maoist majority

The Maoists today inched closer to a simple majority under the direct voting system, bagging 119 seats in the elections.

With 240 seats up for grabs under the first-past-the-post voting system, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) is just two short of a clear majority, followed by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s Nepali Congress with 35 seats and Communist Party of Nepal-UML (CPN-UML)with 31.

However, the former rebels got only 32 per cent of the votes cast under the proportionate representation system which prevents it from clinching a majority in the 601-seat Constituent Assembly.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080419/jsp/foreign/story_9158680.jsp


This nexus between the Indian and Nepal Maoists may raise various new issues in the subcontinent.


Nepal Factor

The Nepali Maoist organizations share a common objective with Indian Naxal organizations in overturning the status quo and establishing their own revolutionary rule. In 2004, both groups formed a cross border coordination committee to shelter each other’s cadres and share resources. These reports gives credence to the assumption that these two movements have more in common than just common ideology. The Indian and Nepali governments need to set their petty differences aside and coordinate the actions of their law enforcement bodies and administrations to deny sanctuary to the opposite side’s Naxal organizations. The recent flip-flops in Indian government policy in providing military aid to the Nepali government does not help the situation. The Indian government needs to adopt a consistent policy of providing support to the Nepal without allowing China and other countries to gain a foothold in Nepali affairs. While stopping arms supply to the RNA is not preferable as it will most certainly give China an opportunity to step in and provide arms to King Gyanendra, India needs to make sure that it’s arms are not used to suppress political dissent. Just as in India , the Nepali Maoists movement has it’s roots in genuine socio-political factors. Nepal must create conditions to clean the swamp that provides a fertile ground for fresh recruits.

Maoists in Bhutan

The other problem – though not as advanced as Nepal is Bhutan . Bhutan has a large refugee population composed primarily of Nepali origin. The Maoists are working hard to woo these refugees to join their movement and jump create trouble in Bhutan as well as Nepal . Although Bhutan did act finally to evict the ULFA training camps in 2004 after numerous Indian representations, a comprehensive solution has yet to be found to the refugee problem.

Bhutan is the ace up India ’s sleeve in case of North eastern India ’s problems going out of control. At least 50 youth from the refugee camps reportedly have joined the Maoists ranks.
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/SRR/Volume21/paul.html


Interesting is also the fact that the internal problems of Tibet coincides with the unsettled situation in Nepal and India's sudden interest to reactivate old airfields bordering Tibet Autonomous Region.

As also the Border Road Organisation being pulled out of non border laying of roads within India and being redeployed for roads along the Indo Tibet Border.

And why did the Dalai Lama leave India during this period for a visit to the USA? http://www.dalailamafoundation.org/members/en/events.jsp#80710


New Delhi: India is reactivating a military airfield which it operated 43 years ago and is a stone’s throw away from the Karakoram Pass held by China.


The last time India landed a fixed-wing aircraft at Daulat Beg Oldie airfield in northeastern Ladakh was in 1965. Landing fixed-wing at the airfield will enable India to induct troops swiftly.


"DBO (Daulat Beg Oldie) becomes very, very crucial because our troop strength there may have to be increased 10 times (in the event of a conflict). And if that happens when roads are in disuse, the only way will be to induct troops by air—that’s what was done during 1962,” says strategic affairs analyst Air Vice Marshal Kapil Kak.


Though a conflict with China looks improbable at the moment, Karakoram lies on an axis which could be used to threaten Ladakh. India is most vulnerable in this area. By activating the airfield at Daulat Beg Oldie, India would like to be seen as exercising a more assertive presence on the disputed boundary with China.


There are also plans to revive airfields at Chushul and Fukche further south along the Sino-Indian boundary in Ladakh. For a brief while after the Chinese aggression in 1962, these airstrips were extensively used for troop build-up and have since been in disuse. Provision of forward airstrips now is a priority not just in Ladakh but also in Arunachal

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india-dares-the-dragon-set-to-restart-airfield/63546-3.html
.


NEW DELHI, MARCH 1:In a show of urgency prompted by aggressive Chinese military activity along the India-China border, the Government has decided to withdraw the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) from road projects within the country and ordered immediate diversion of these resources to build over 1,100 km roads along the China border.
http://www.indianexpress.com/iep/sunday/story/279094.html


and yet at the same time, India ensured a dead city syndrome in Delhi, when the Olympic Torch Relay ran the truncated 3 km route with none observing the same except the 21000 odd security forces who were guarding the route!!


New Delhi, April 17: Indians today got to see what life in China is like, but only on television, through a charade played out on their own capital’s streets.

Delhi allowed China to use the iconic Rajpath to display posters against the Dalai Lama, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the western media, while clinically clamping down on Tibetan protests.

As the Olympic torch trundled down Rajpath — hidden from ordinary Indian eyes by an iron curtain of security — official Chinese delegates were allowed to walk and bus with propaganda placards.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/archives/archive.html


One wonders if there is more to it than what meets the eye.

Has the coming of Maoist in Nepal caused a churn in the fine balance that was there in Nepal and the adjoining areas?

Ray
04-19-2008, 09:22 AM
More as a bacgrounder:




China tries to sabotage border roads

22 Dec 2007, 0116 hrs IST,Amalendu Kundu,TNN

GANGTOK: The Kunming bonhomie notwithstanding, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China is undercutting Indian Army's efforts to strengthen its presence on the border. On November 23, a week before the visit of defence minister A K Antony and chief of army staff Gen Deepak Kapoor to Sikkim, PLA soldiers unloaded boulders in an effort to wreck the construction of a metalled road at Fingertips, a strategic spot near Gurudongmar in North Sikkim. The area is close to the Kangra La pass bordering south-west Tibet.

Indian troops, however, swung into action the next morning, and removed the obstruction. The road construction — at an altitude of 18,500 feet — was completed on November 27. Chinese representatives, however, did not speak about the offensive at Fingertips during a meeting between army representatives from both sides on November 23. They also kept quiet on the bunker dispute at the trijunction of Sikkim, Bhutan and Tibet.

Significantly, prior to the Fingertips manoeuvre, Chinese troops had entered Indian territory and asked Indian Army personnel manning the border post there to stop construction of the road.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/China_tries_to_sabotage_border_roads/articleshow/2642152.cms

JJackson
05-02-2008, 01:50 PM
US in contact with Nepal Maoists (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7379567.stm)

Ray
05-03-2008, 05:30 AM
KING AND COMRADES
- The Maoist victory in Nepal is not as conclusive as is made out

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080503/jsp/opinion/story_9216492.jsp

Norfolk
05-03-2008, 07:49 PM
No, it's not, but then the Communists comprised only minorities in the parliaments of many Eastern European states in the late 1940's. The Maoists may not have a "friendly" foreign army to lend them irresistable force, but there is no way that the hard-core is going to give up on their ultimate goals - whatever they may be - any time soon.

I just can't see how any real good will come out of this predicament, either for Nepal itself, or for India.

Ray
05-06-2008, 05:20 PM
It is a very delicate and tricky situation; more so, it the guerillas are taken into the Army!

It is the power hungry and ruthless King who has led this situation to come to pass to this sorry state!

One must watch the situation carefully.

With Tibet up in flames, China would love a fraternal buffer!

Ray
05-31-2008, 05:17 PM
MISSION POSSIBLE (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080531/jsp/opinion/story_9341619.jsp[/url) - The new Nepal needs to recognize that it cannot do without India
Sunanda K. Datta-Ray

The spotlight that has shifted from Shri Panch Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Deva should rightly fall on Sitaram Yechury, to whom the United Progressive Alliance government virtually outsourced India’s relations with Nepal. Since he has been the principal interlocutor between the two countries, our expectations of a stable and responsible regime that is mindful of India’s interests on a strategic border are largely concentrated in him. Much will depend on how Yechury has presented the Indian national position, as distinct from his own ideological inclinations, to Prachanda and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist).

Strictly speaking, the transformation of the world’s only Hindu kingdom into a republic is no concern of India’s. Forms of governance are internal matters. But since domestic evolution is intertwined with foreign policy, especially for a landlocked country whose fortunes are so closely linked with those of its southern neighbour, New Delhi will carefully watch how the new men in Kathmandu conduct themselves in the coming weeks and months. The jubilant crowds we see on television screens speak of relief and hope. Since neither is a permanent factor in the merry-go-round of politics, those crowds can just as easily turn either into the Maoist mobs that have ravaged Nepal for years or protesters to be mown down like the civil war’s 13,000 victims.......

Ray
06-15-2008, 04:12 PM
Monarchy gone, but no consensus on government

Nava Thakuria
12 June 2008

As the King vacates the throne, Nepal's political parties squabble for power

More at:
http://asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1254&Itemid=31



The old guards of Nepal politics are not ready to abdicate their space to the new kid on the block, no matter what be its popularity.

Troubled times ahead.

Jedburgh
07-05-2008, 02:33 PM
A pair of reports from ICG, 3 Jul 08:

Nepal's Election: A Peaceful Revolution? (http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/getfile.cfm?id=3499&tid=5551&type=pdf&l=1)

.....Nepal’s elections were a major step forward in the peace process, and for this all political parties and institutions – from the Election Commission and security personnel to civil society groups who kept up pressure for a free and fair vote – deserve much credit. The fact that they were also a triumph of democracy owes more to the Maoists and new parties such as the MJF than the old “democratic” mainstream. For all the Maoists’ use of intimidation and the MJF’s policy flip-flopping, it was their campaigns that allowed voters to wield power, not only delivering a more representative assembly but voting out many unloved old faces that most citizens had thought they would be burdened with in perpetuity.

However, the results have left a confused political landscape with the potential for many future disputes, even the resumption of conflict. The Maoist victory was surprisingly clean in terms of their behaviour but much less clean in pure numbers: commanding just over one third of the new CA, they have the power to block anything but can achieve nothing without support from other parties. Their opponents have shown little willingness to recognise their defeat or to smooth the way towards completion of the peace process and the writing of a new constitution. The way in which political leaders cope with the political challenges of the election aftermath will determine whether the revolutionary result delivers peace and change or further conflict.
Nepal's New Political Landscape (http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/getfile.cfm?id=3500&tid=5552&type=pdf&l=1)

.....The aftermath of the election has been marred by the behaviour of powerful losers. In a reversal of the normal grieving process, the NC (http://www.nepalicongress.org/) and UML (http://www.cpnuml.org/)’s initial acceptance has given way to stronger denial. Both they and the leaders of other parties have been happy to see power quickly returned to its usual locus – in the hands of a few men who will take all major decisions based on private horse-trading, without consulting their own parties, let alone the elected CA or the people at large.

For some, the rapid return to politics as usual may be reassuring. Back-room haggling is, after all, better than armed warfare. For a prime minister and party still in office nearly three months after a crushing election defeat, life must seem surprisingly sweet. But parties who pride themselves on blocking the Maoists’ ascendancy should be aware that they are also dishonouring a clear popular mandate. For the CPN(M) (http://www.cpnm.org/), the jury is still out on whether its peaceful revolution strategy will mark an ideological triumph, and it have much to do to win trust through reformed behaviour. But a peaceful revolution is precisely what millions of Nepalis have been demanding for years, if not decades. As the CA elections showed, they are perfectly capable of using non-violent protest and the ballot box to punish those who betray their aspirations.

davidbfpo
12-02-2011, 09:37 AM
I spotted an unusual headline this week 'Why do Nepal's former rebels want to join the army?' and returned today to read it fully. Nepal has been at peace since 2006, after a Maoist-inspired insurgency and has had five years of negotiation over the peace agreement, notably the full demobilisation of the 19,000 insurgents in camps:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15542959

The 'Why do' link:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15922387


By Monday, government monitors had interviewed around 16,000 rebels. At the last count, more than half had opted for the army while most of the others went for voluntary retirement...

..Exactly why she and so many of her comrades are so keen to sign up is a mystery given that most former fighters will not get senior positions in the army and where their mandate is limited to a strictly non-combat role.

The agreement states that former Maoists will become forest guards, disaster management personnel and security forces at industrial units...

...The flood of fighters wanting to join the army, however, demonstrates the weak hold the hard-liners within the Maoist party have on their followers.

In a subsequent BBC report it appears the matter may - once again - delay implementation of the peace agreement:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15981461

davidbfpo
10-26-2013, 06:31 PM
Some insight into Nepal:
Global Poverty project, Gabriel Neely-Streit speaks with conflict and reconstruction expert Prof. Paul Jackson, who heads the International Development Department at the University of Birmingham in the UK. Over the past three years, Prof. Jackson has been advising authorities in Nepal on integrating some 20,000 Maoist former guerrillas into the Nepali Army or civilian life. Here, he discusses the challenges and rewards of his direct-impact work in Nepal and elsewhere, and how it has affected and been shaped by his academic research.

Link:http://academicsstand.org/impact-stories-paul-jackson-on-helping-to-re-integrate-former-rebel-fighters-in-nepal/ and more on his blog:http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/perspective/blogs/nepal.aspx

davidbfpo
12-06-2013, 10:55 AM
News from Nepal rarely gets on the front page and I missed this completly until a Foreign Affairs alert landed:
The centrist Nepali Congress party won the most votes in last week's general elections, latest results announced on Thursday show.

The Maoists - who formed the single largest party in the previous Constituent Assembly - have been relegated to third place.

In many places this popular rejection would mean an exit from power, it appears not:
The BBC's Bhagirath Yogi in Kathmandu says that Nepal's future stability - as well as any new constitution - may well depend on the Maoists joining a national government, which is why intense negotiations are likely to take place in the next few days over the allocation of ministerial portfolios.

Link to a short BBC report:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25135595 and a longer one:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25087224

After a ten year civil war, ending in 2006 and the Maoists winning power via the ballot box, will they change course?