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Thu, 14:50 25 Jun 2009 GMT17

 
Nepal peace

Last reviewed: 14-01-2009

WAR-WEARY NATION EMBRACES PEACE


Nepal's royalist government and Maoist rebels signed a peace accord in November 2006 ending a 10-year civil war in the Himalayan nation.

  • More than 13,000 killed
  • Hundreds of thousands displaced
  • Thousands of ex-Maoist fighters remain in camps

    The peace deal came seven months after nationwide pro-democracy protests and general strikes forced King Gyanendra to end a 15-month period of direct rule.

    The Maoists then formally joined the political process, registering as a political party and taking seats in an interim parliament.

    Nepalis elected in April 2008 for a new constituent assembly which will draw up a new constitution, the centrepiece of the peace deal.

    One of the Maoists' key aims during the years of conflict was to overthrow Nepal's 240-year-old monarchy. In May, the new assembly formally voted to abolish the monarchy.

    Nepal's peace process has been clouded by unrest in its southern plains where activists from the Madheshi ethnic group have demanded more autonomy for the region known as the Terai. A regional strike in early 2008 paralysed the capital Kathmandu and threatened to derail the national elections.

    The government agreed to grant more autonomy in a deal with protest leaders. However, analysts say armed groups fighting a low-intensity insurgency in the Terai may prove harder to satisfy.

    Thousands of former Maoist fighters are still confined to camps. Maoists say they must be integrated into the military but the army - traditionally seen as being pro-monarchy - has so far refused to allow them into their ranks.

    KEY FACTS


    Percentage of people living on less than $1 a day (2005 - PPP value) 24 (World Bank)
    Percentage of population living below national poverty line (2006) 31 (World Bank)
    Life expectancy at birth (2005) 63 years (UNDP Human Development Report 2007/2008)
    Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 births, 2005) 56 (UNDP Human Development Report)
    Maternal mortality rate (2005) 830 per 100,000 live births (UNDP Human Development Report)
    Internally displaced people 50,000-70,000 (Jan 2008)
    (Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre)

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    A woman walks past a burning tire and road blocks during a general strike called by Maoists in Kathmandu June 15, 2009. The Nepali capital has remained virtually shut down on ...


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