Kalpit Parajuli

Muslim leader talks about discrimination in a Hindu country which does not recognise Muslim customs, laws and festivities and discriminates against Muslims in the public sector. Now mainstream Muslim groups want to fight for their rights, so do Muslim fundamentalists.

The story of how in the only sate where Hinduism is the national religion, people respect and love the Crucifix. And of a tiny new born religious community that lives to serve their neighbours in Christ’s name.

The First Apostolic Vicar to Nepal, Mgr Anthony Francis Sharma, tells the faithful to go out and vote, stressing the importance of voting for those who, in good conscience, want the good of the nation. The last rampart of the last Hindu monarchy in the world falls.

With the signature of the leader of the Nepali Congress Party and the Nepali Congress Democratic Party, the new political reality obtains the absolute majority in Parliament and can push ahead in forming a new executive. President Koirala tells AsiaNews: “A strong message at home and abroad”.

More than 30,000 people register for the camp, cancelled because too dangerous. Situation in Nepal is increasingly precarious as Maoists and regular army resume clashes.

All efforts are being made tonsure elections set for November 22nd. For the moment Maosit leaders promise “peaceful protests”, but already their militias are on the streets and the leaders have not excluded “retaliation”.

The killing of a Muslim leader in Kapilvastu district (perhaps at the hands of Maoists) unleashes sectarian violence between the two groups. Hundreds of homes are torched; hundreds of people are hurt and many are killed. Now police are in control of the situation.

Dozens of wounded among the worshippers above all women, who were celebrating the feast of Teej. Some speak of local conflicts, but Maoist militants say it is a strategy to force government decisions. Fears grow that they want to return to the use of violence.

A group made up of 19 newly founded parties has decided to participate in upcoming elections for the National Constitutional Assembly and restore the Hindu monarchy. The Maoists threaten to abandon the government.

In 1951 the king had invited Jesuits to found a school in the country, but with a ban on all other religious activity. Now Nepal is a State and the ban is no longer valid. The bishop of Nepal speaks about current projects and old persecutions, such as his arrest in 1986.

Nepal’s government announces it cannot provide security to the king who, according to tradition, should open Shree Krishna Janmastami celebrations. This is the latest step since April in stripping the crown of all its prerogatives.

In a sign that a new page has been turned in the history of the country, Catholics and Buddhists take part in the festival, an event that signifies the search for eternal peace and the victory of good over evil.