Fears of revolution force concessions in Nepal

WEEKS OF heroic struggle by the people of Nepal have forced the tyrannical King Gyanendra to make concessions as he desperately tries to cling onto power. Facing a 2 million-strong march on 25 April, Gyanendra retreated further. Parliament, dissolved by the king four years ago, will be reinstated. Behind this move was also intense lobbying from India, fearing a revolutionary mass movement in the neighbouring country.

While demonstrators celebrated, the seven-party alliance (SPA) immediately called off the mass march and general strike. Girija Prasad Koirala, an 85-year old former prime minister (four times) from the Nepali Congress will head a new government.

However, according to reports, many protestors were in no mood to accept this climbdown. Having faced the regime's brutal repression, they are demanding an end to the monarchy and a republic.

The question now is whether the revolutionary movement will move ahead or be derailed by the SPA leadership. There is no doubt that the mass movement of the last few weeks aimed to go much further than the SPA leaders and has become increasingly radicalised.

Extracts from an article by Per-ake Westerlund, Committee for a Workers' International.

Full article is on www.socialistworld.net

For background article see last week's the socialist available online www.socialistparty.org.uk/2006/436

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