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Evolution of Maoism in Nepal : Understanding Maoist Insurgency from Wider Perspective Printable Version PRINTABLE VERSION
by Manish Thapa, Nepal Nov 1, 2005
Peace & Conflict   Opinions
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Abstract
This article examines the root causes of Maoist Insurgency in Nepal. There has been a lot of scholarly debates and analysis to find out the root cause of evolution of Maoist insurgency in Nepal. All of these debates, literatures and analysis are written from various perspectives. This article will review all of these debates, literature and analysis and provide you with an intensive framework to understand the root cause of evolution of Maoist Insurgency in Nepal.

1. Introduction

Land-locked between India and China, the Kingdom of Nepal is renowned for the spectacular natural beauty of her mountains and for her culture of tolerance and peace symbolized by Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. It is for this very reason that Nepal once declared herself a Zone of Peace.

Nepal is a poor developing country that is ailing with various social and economic ills. Up until about twelve years ago Nepal’s political system was not multi-party democracy. The prevailing political system was blamed for the country’s socio-economic ills. Democracy was seen as the panacea and it has become Nepal’s great hope. Although political parties were banned the pro-democracy movement was continuing. From the onset this was centered at educational institutions of higher learning where the country’s rulers tolerated it. Students and teachers were at the forefront of democratic struggle.

Pro-democratic movement gathered much strength in late 1989 and the late King Birendra finally acceded to their demands giving the country a constitutional monarchy and multi-party democratic system. Nepal now had a democratic constitution and multi-party elections. The Maoist communist party also contested in the first election and held almost a third of the seats in Nepal’s Parliament.

People had expected that much development would follow democracy. However, development did not come to fulfill the hopes of the impoverished people. Unemployment soared and along with it came disillusionment and dissent.

The Maoist seemed betrayed by the failed promises of democracy and felt powerless. In 1994, they abandoned their legislative seats and their leaders went underground. In February 1996, they declared a People’s War claiming that only a communist state could solve the country’s social and economic ills and that is how Maoist insurgency was born in this country.

After eight years of the rising tide of Maoist insurgency peace has been destroyed giving rise to widespread fear and sense of insecurity. Likewise, the linchpin of the democratic system, election of the local bodies and the national parliament has been stalled. The education institution is in shambles and the economy is on the path of destruction. The country’s social and physical infrastructures built over the years are also being gradually destroyed, eroding the capacity of the country to deliver much needed development.

Nepal is currently in the midst of arguably the most successful Maoist insurgency the world has witnessed in the recent decades. The Maoist, who appear to model themselves on Peru’s Shining Path guerrillas, have shaken the country’s 14-year old, multiparty democracy to its very foundation. On November 23, 2001, after four months of cease-fire and peace talks, the Maoists walked out of the dialogue blaming the government for not responding to any of their conditions favorably. The Maoists launched armed attacks on army barracks, police stations and other government establishments in Dang, Syangja, Surkhet and many other districts of Nepal. On November 25, the Maoists declared the formation of a 'People's Liberation Army' to carry forward the people's war. Then the government realized that the police failed to take control of the insurgency, the army has been mobilized since then.

The second round of peace talks between the Maoists and the king's government was announced in early January 2003 and was followed by a cease-fire by the both sides from January 29, 2003. The talks continued until August and the cease-fire lasted for about seven months. On the eve of the fourth round of talks, on August 17, 2003, the Royal Nepal Army conducted a raid in Doramba village of Ramechap district where Maoist cadres were reportedly holding cultural programs to spread the message of their politics. 19 unarmed Maoist cadres who were engaged in a 'cultural' program in Doramba were arrested by the army, taken outside the village and shot at point blank range in an execution-style killing. The Maoists walked out of the peace talks and the hostilities resumed.
Several scholarly debates and analysis were conduced in the past to understand the root cause of Maoist Insurgency in Nepal. Given the magnitude of the crisis, the exploration of its causes and continued success has become a subject of interest to commentators and scholars in Nepal and beyond. Popular wisdom holds that rebellion is a direct result of the increasing despondency felt by the poor and the socially marginalized in the country. While there is an element of truth in these prevailing analyses, evidence suggests that the underlying causes of the insurgency’s origins, rapid growth and continuing success are far more complex. My study has attempted to look into the origin of this conflict from the different perspective such as the socio-economic factor, trans-boundary factor and internal politics. This study looks into the Maoist revolt and explores its causes from a wider perspective, thus this study provides an intensive overview of the origin of the Maoism in Nepal and extrapolate the cause of its evolution.





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Writer Profile
Manish Thapa


I am Manish Thapa from Nepal. I was born in 6th March 1981.I am pursuing Advanced International Study Program in Peace and Conflict Studies in European University Center fro Peace Studies (EPU), Austria, under Austrian Development Cooperation Fellowship.

I contribute regularly in Nepal Samacharpatra Daily (Nepali Daily Newspaper). Basically in Samacharpatra, I report about Development Issues and Human rights issues. I also contribute regularly in various development journals like Development Insight and Development Journal of Nepal.

I am also member of Vienna based International Press Institute (IPI) which is the global Body of International Press. IPI Nepal National Coordination Committee is working in Nepal to maintain Free, Fair and Ethical Journalism Practices.

Beside journalism, I am also running a Youth NGO called Youth Advocacy Group (YAG). YAG is a youth led NGO and I am serving as its President. YAG works with more than 10.000 youths in Nepal on different issues. YAG is a forum for youths of Nepal. Here in YAG we promote Youth Advocacy and Activism. Beside this we also run awareness campaigns on Sexual Reproductive Health, HIV/AIDS, Skill Based Training, Youth Empowerment Initiatives, Youth Journalism Project etc. On YAG, I am basically involved in formulating its plans and policies, fundraising activities and involved in training young people about Journalism.

I am also serving as Consultant (Program & Research) in Social Promotion and Integrated Development Center. Social Promotion and Integrated Development Center (SPIDC) is leading women led NGO in Nepal. I am consulting them on the issues related to Women Empowerment Activities and giving them training on Advocacy of Women Empowerment Issues at a national level.

I am actively involved with Taking IT Global Project (TIG). I am a active member of TIG and involved in many projects led by TIG such as Global Youth Advocacy Network (GYAN), "Speak Up for 2015 Campaign", MDG Asia Pacific Group etc.

Time to time, I involve myself in a consultancy job in various INGOs and UN organization. Recently I involved in UNFPA project called Reproductive Health Initiative For Youths in Asia (RHIYA) to write a booklet on “Meeting Generation Gap in Sexual Reproductive Health” and “Advocacy Leaflet on Sensitizing Sexual Reproductive Health Issues”.

I am currently involved with Mountain Resources Management Group an INGO with their Peace and Development Initiatives by preparing them various literatures on the Issues of peace and development. MRMG is working with The Carter Center of USA to initiate Peace Talks between the Government and the Maoist. The entire campaign is lead by President Jimmy Carter of USA.

So these are some of my activities on which I am currently engaged in. So summarizing my profile I can simply regard me myself as a Journalist, Youth Activist and a Development worker.
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