The Crows of Kathmandu

G.P. Koirala, the leader of the Nepali Congress Party, is back as the country’s Prime Minister. After weeks of demonstration, Nepalese King Gyanendra decided to hand over political power to the civilian authority by reconvening the parliament that he unceremoniously dissolved early 2005. People across the globe celebrated the victory of People Power in Nepal.

I hope that this victory would lead to concrete democratic gains. Nepal has suffered so long from deep poverty and a protracted insurgency, the latter partly a result of dissatisfaction over the monarchy’s strong political and economic influence in the country.
Caution, however, should be exercised. The ball is now in the hands of the ruling Nepali Congress Party and its ‘split’ sister, the Nepali Congress Democratic. The international community has a role in pressuring both parties not to make mistakes as they did when they were still under one party.