Troubles reflect Nepal’s post-war paralysis

NEPAL: Three years after the end of Nepal’s civil war, the Himalayan nation is in a state of political paralysis reflected in the blocked streets of the Capital and empty Parliament this week.

Tuesday is the third and final day of a nationwide strike by the opposition Maoists, which has led to violent clashes with police and caused widespread disruption to roads, schools and other public services.

The ultra-leftists won elections last year after they ended their 11-year “People’s War,” but quit the government in May over a row with the country’s first president about firing the army chief.

Since then, there has been deadlock between the former guerrillas, who are demanding an apology from President Ram Baran Yadav and a parliamentary debate about his powers, and a coalition that took over the task of ruling.

“At the root of all this conflict lies a complete trust deficit and ideological differences between the parties,” said Prashant Jha, a political commentator and a columnist for the widely read weekly Nepali Times.

“The Maoists believe the other parties are too conservative and regressive to make any change in state structure.”

The stand-off has cast doubt on the larger goal of completing a peace process that is meant to ensure lasting stability in one of the poorest countries on the planet.

There is growing concern about the lack of progress on key issues such as the integration of former Maoist fighters into the army, as well as the drafting of a new constitution.

The process of redrawing the constitution is already well behind schedule and few now believe the government can meet its May 2010 deadline. “If you push them too far, they (the Maoists) can paralyse the country and bring anarchy.

They have the capacity to do that,” warned Lok Raj Baral, political science professor at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan University. They remain the biggest party in parliament with around 40 percent of the seats.

Tuesday, AFP