Even though the King imposed a state of emergency in February that was constitutionally lifted three months later, he still retains his powers and Nepal’s democratic process is still suspended. Protests are still broken up, hundreds of political prisoners are still being held, and the media still isn’t allowed to operate freely. Why? The King says that taking absolute control was necessary in order to crush the Maoist insurgency because the parliament was too ineffective. Yet there has been no progress against the Maoists, and now civil society is in turnoil because of the King’s actions.

Because of this, the U.S. is disbanding its cautious approach toward and situation and reprimanding the King head on. The ambassador made a speech in Kathmandu advocating a return to democracy, working with political parties, and that this bitter division between absolute rule and civil society is only helping the Maoists.

A US diplomat has warned that Nepal could slide into chaos unless the king makes peace with dissident politicians who oppose his absolute rule.

???????Unless the principles of freedom, civil rights, and democracy once again take root through a process of true reconciliation among the legitimate political forces, I fear that your country will inexorably slide toward confrontation, confusion, and chaos,??????? US Ambassador to Nepal James Moriarty said.

Moriarty made the remark yesterday in a speech before the World Council of World Affairs in the capital, Katmandu.
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Moriarty said ???????the continuing divisions between the Palace and the political parties aid only the Maoists and their plans to turn Nepal into a brutal and anachronistic state???????.

The Maoist insurgency has claimed over 10,000 lives in the past decade. These are people who want to impose a communist state and spread their own little revolution by force of arms and subterfuge. Putting it down is of the utmost importance to maintaining the security and political prosperity of the country. If they were allowed to take over, then democracy surely would have no chance.

However, the King has not proven that his state of emergency has been warranted, as he has not been able to put down the insurgency through military means alone. Also, the Maoists have used the division between government and society as an opportunity to increase attacks while reconciling its own divided leadership. In effect, it is stronger than ever. Ambassador Moriarty closed off his speech remarking on this problem.

For the sake of Nepal????????s children????????your children????????the children caught in the conflict outside Kathmandu, the children who now carry guns, the children who only want education and jobs and a peaceful future, the children who will one day grow up to govern this country????????the legitimate political forces should rise above their differences and come up with a plan to work together. Otherwise there may not be a country to govern.

As President Abraham Lincoln famously declared when my own country????????s existence was threatened by the Civil War: ???????A house divided against itself cannot stand.??????? These thoughtful words are more than eloquent rhetoric; they are truth. And they ring true here and now. Nepal will not endure if its legitimate political forces are divided. You must act now to preserve your children????????s future.

To conclude my remarks today, it is not for the United States to say how Nepal should construct its democracy. But we do say unequivocally that you should have it. And urgently so. The time for rhetoric is over. The time for action is now.

Some promising signs are appearing on the horizon. For the first time ever, the constitutionality of the King has been debated in court, opening up a big conversation in civil society. Also, the King banned news from being broadcast over FM radio back in February and has not restored this media right yet. However, the judiciary is turning against royal rule and asserting its independence by ruling that FM stations can now carry news.

As time continues to move forward, so too will the debate over Nepal’s future. The King has shown himself to be ineffective in fighting the Maoists as promised and even worse at guaranteeing the freedom of the country’s citizens. Disillusionment is nothing new after the state of emergency was imposed, but it will continue to grow and eventually all of society will be in revolt against the monarchy, either passively or actively. That is, except for the Maoists, who benefit the most from this division. Nepal’s democracy needs to be reinstated so that society can once again be involved in the governing of their own country and in the fight against the Maoists; otherwise, the future is bleak.