A Kingdom under Siege

A Kingdom Under Seige explains the political and social background to the Maoist insurgency that has embroiled Nepal‘s government, political parties, king, police, and army in conflict against highly motivated guerilla fighters since 13 February 1996. By early 2003, the rebels had come to threaten the central institutions of the Nepali state. The authors describe how a combination of state neglect, political instability and the growth of radical left politics led to a build up of tensions. The insurgency‘s promise of a more just and equitable society gained favour with many of Nepal‘s poor and disadvantaged people. The government‘s failure to tackle the rebellion‘s causes or to engage the Maoists‘ agenda led to thousands of deaths and widespread destruction of infrastructure that peaked in 2001 and 2002. The book concludes that lasting peace depends on building a state that attends equally to of all of Nepal‘s diverse population groups.

Table of Contents

1. Life and Death in the Time of War
2. Politics in Nepal (1768-1996)
3. Understanding the Causes of the ‘People‘s War‘
4. The Growth of the Maoist Movement
5. Two Momentous years, 2001 and 2002
6. Cost of the Conflict
7. Ceasefire Again
Annexes
Notes
References

About the Author:

Deepak Thapa is a journalist and book editor based in Kathmandu. He is the editor of Understanding the Maoist Movement of Nepal (Martin Chautari, 2003). Bandita Sijapati has a Master's degree in international economic policy and economic and political development from Columbia University.