Question

Describe the second popular movement for democracy of Nepal.

Answer 1

• Nepal witnessed an extraordinary popular movement in April 2006. This movement aimed at restoring democracy in Nepal.
  
• Nepal won democracy in the year 1990 though the king remained the head of the State.
  
• The real power was exercised by popularly elected representatives. King Birendra accepted this transition from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy.
  
• King Birendra was killed in a mysterious massacre of royal family in 2001. King Gyanendra, the new king of Nepal was not prepared to accept democratic rule.
  
• As a result, in February 2005, the king dismissed the then Prime Minister and dissolved the popularly elected Parliament.
  
• The movement of 2006 was aimed at regaining popular control over the government from the king. All the major political parties in Parliament (Seven Party Alliance of Nepal) called for a 4 day strike and this protest soon turned into indefinite strike in which many other organisations joined hands.
  
• People defied curfew and took to the streets. Even the security forces could not control them as more than 1 lakh people gathered almost every day to demand restoration of democracy.
  
• They stuck to their demands for restoration of parliament, power to an all – party government and a new constituent assembly.
  
• On the last day of this protest movement, the king was forced to accept all the demands of the movement. As a result, SPA chose Girija Prasad Koirala as Prime Minister and the restored parliament passed laws taking away most of the powers of the king.
  
• This movement was known as Nepal's second struggle for democracy.