The Struggles for Democracy in Nepal
From an Absolute Monarchy to the Constitutional Monarchy to the Federal Republic

 

In 1989, two groups, the Nepali Congress (NC), a pro-democracy group, and the United Left Front (ULF), a coalition of communist and leftist parties, joined forces to launch a campaign to achieve a multiparty democracy in Nepal.

The Jana Andolan (People's Movement) started on 18^th February 1990 and is observed as Democracy Day in Nepal.

To stall the movement, the government arrested national and district-level leaders of both the Nepali Congress (NC) and the United Left Front (ULF) on 17^th February 1990 and banned all opposition newspapers.

Political repression, public participation, and poor standards of living were the reasons for the popular people’s movement in Nepal.

The goal was to achieve a multi-party system, democracy, and the abolition of the monarchy.

The people used various methods like strikes, street protests, insurgency, and observing black days.

Their efforts bore fruit, and the results were the abolition of the monarchy and the introduction of democracy.

On the last day of this protest, the king was forced to meet all the demands of the people.

Nepal won democracy in 1990, although the king was still the head of state. The real power was exercised by the elected representatives.

Nepali King Sri Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev accepted the transition from, 

"An Absolute Monarchy to the Constitutional Monarchy".

The economic and political situation progressed despite corruption, nepotism, and the presence of a Maoist insurgency, which developed into a nationwide civil war between the Maoist insurgents and the government of Nepal.

Following the assassination of the Nepalese royal family, King Gyanendra Shah took control of the government and ruled until 2006 through emergency powers, enforcing nationwide oppression of the media and civil society.

In April 2006, Nepal witnessed an unprecedented struggle for democracy. The movement was aimed at strengthening the people’s government. All major parties in the parliament formed the Seven-Party Alliance (SPA) and called for a five-day strike in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal.

Almost every day, nearly one lakh people gather to demand the restoration of democracy. They demanded the restoration of the Parliament, the establishment of a government, and the power of a new Constituent Assembly.

The protests quickly turned into an indefinite strike. Many organizations involved, got united and general people fought the curfew and took to the streets. The security forces couldn’t control them.

Widespread protests led by the coalition of seven Nepalese parties alongside the Maoists led to the resignation of the king.

The SPA chose Sri Girija Prasad Koirala as prime minister, and the restored parliament passed the law, taking away most of the King's power.

The parliament was reinstated, and the monarchy was abolished, which transitioned Nepal towards a federal republic, marking an end to the country's civil war.

This movement is known as Nepal’s second struggle for democracy. This struggle of the Nepalese people is a source of inspiration for Democrats all over the world.