South Asia Monitor: Nepal's Future: Uncertain and Fragile

June 5, 2006

After 10 years of chaotic democracy and Maoist rebellion, the restoration of Nepal's parliament on April 28, 2006, and the promise of a constituent assembly put power into the hands of the country's people - for the moment. But Nepal's future is far from secure. The role of the monarchy, if any, has yet to be decided; the balance of power between the confrontational political parties and the Maoists is just beginning to be worked out; the Maoists' commitment to the political process is not locked in; and Nepal's political meltdown still poses a danger to India and the region. Moving from today's fragile beginning to a stable and secure political arrangement for Nepal and for the region will require uncharacteristic selfrestraint on the part of Nepal's political actors and steady nerves on the part of its foreign friends.