Background: In 1951, the Nepalese monarch ended the century-old system of rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system of government. Reforms in 1990 established a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. A Maoist insurgency, launched in 1996, has gained traction and is threatening to bring down the regime, especially after a negotiated cease-fire between the Maoists and government forces broke down in August 2003. In 2001, the crown prince massacred ten members of the royal family, including the king and queen, and then took his own life. In October 2002, the new king dismissed the prime minister and his cabinet for "incompetence" after they dissolved the parliament and were subsequently unable to hold elections because of the ongoing insurgency. While stopping short of reestablishing parliament, the king in June 2004 reinstated the most recently elected prime minister who formed a four-party coalition government, which the king subsequently tasked with paving the way for elections to be held in spring of 2005. Citing dissatisfaction with the government's lack of progress in addressing the Maoist insurgency, the king in February 2005 dissolved the government and assumed power.
November 19th 2009Asia » Nepal » Annapurna It’s hard to say what I was expecting as the local bus rumbled to the border at Sonauli for us to cross into Nepal. Tired and sore - we’d all been duped and put on a local bus rather than ... 15 photos[full story]
November 9th 2009Asia » Nepal » Annapurna » Annapurna Circuit HI All
Hearing from me a bit earlier than you and I might have thought!
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Almost immediately after my last entry, I came down with a combo stomach/bowels disruption which needs ... [full story]
November 2nd 2009Asia » Nepal » Annapurna » Annapurna Base Camp Aaahhhhh.....home again. No, not the place I was born.....Im back in Asia =) It just feels so familiar being here, even though Im in Nepal, a country Ive never visited before!
And it was quite an adv ... 15 photos[full story]
October 31st 2009Asia » Nepal » Annapurna Writing you from a small internet cafe in rural Nepal....at altitude of 3500m...unbelievable where technology has found its way to!
The trek has been going sensationally well so far. I was already ... [full story]
September 1st 2009Asia » Nepal » Annapurna » Annapurna Circuit
It was only a few short steps across the Friendship Bridge from Tibet to Nepal, yet the change in faces, personalities and culture was dramatic. We wandered with the crowd down a narrow lane way. A ... 16 photos[full story]
October 14th 2009Asia » Nepal » Annapurna
We are going trekking today!!! Had a great sleep last night with only a slightly weird dream. Everyone has been having some crazy dreams over the last couple of days. We are all slightly suspiciou ... 33 photos[full story]
October 24th 2009Asia » Nepal » Annapurna » Annapurna Base Camp It was amazing up there. The Annapurna’s are really something. Early morning views were the most spectacular, as cloud rolled in most days by about 10 or 11am. It made for perfect hiking weather ... [full story]
October 23rd 2009Asia » Nepal » Annapurna » Annapurna Base Camp I got some cool presents for my birthday. My favourite was the strawberry bubble gum. I nearly ate the whole roll in one day! I can blow little bubbles now! Mum and Dad and Aiden also gave me a singin ... [full story]
October 20th 2009Asia » Nepal » Annapurna » Annapurna Circuit October 19, 2009
I"m sitting here in Toronto...having just checked the Kathmandu weather for today....high of 97 degrees!...most people are really surprised that it's that warm....it's at about 450 ... [full story]