Nepal: A Country In Crisis

1768 - Prithvi Narayan Shah, the ruler of the small principality ofGorkha, formed a unified country from a number of independent hill states. Thecountry was frequently called the Gorkha Kingdom, the source of the term "Gurkha"used for Nepalese soldiers.

1792 - Defeat at hands of Chinese in Tibet. Expansion halted. After 1800,the heirs of Prithvi Narayan Shah prove unable to maintain firm politicalcontrol over Nepal. Country in turmoil

1814 - 1816: War with Britain. Defeated. Becomes Quasi Britishprotectorate.

1846 - Rana family gained power, entrenching itself through hereditaryprime ministers, and reducing the monarch to a figurehead. The Rana regime, atightly centralized autocracy, pursued a policy of isolating Nepal from externalinfluences. This policy helped Nepal maintain its national independence duringthe colonial era, but it also impeded the country's economic development.

1923 - Britain formally recognises Nepal's independence - though foreignrelations remain under British control.

1950 - King Tribhuvan, a direct descendant of Prithvi Narayan Shah, fledhis "palace prison" to newly independent India, touching off an armedrevolt against the Rana administration.

1951 - Shah family returns to power and, eventually, a non-Rana isappointed prime minister.

A period of quasi-constitutional rule followed, during which the monarch,assisted by the leaders of fledgling political parties, governed the country.

During the 1950s, efforts were made to frame a constitution for Nepal thatwould establish a representative form of government, based on a British model

1959 - In early 1959, King Mahendra issued a new constitution and thefirst democratic elections for a national assembly were held.

The Nepali Congress Party, a moderate socialist group, gained a substantialvictory in the election. Its leader, B.P. Koirala, formed a government andserved as prime minister.

1962 - Declaring parliamentary democracy a failure 18 months later, KingMahendra dismissed the Koirala government and promulgated a new constitution onDecember 16, 1962.

The new constitution established a "partyless" system of panchayats(councils) which King Mahendra considered to be a democratic form of governmentcloser to Nepalese traditions.

As a pyramidal structure progressing from village assemblies to a RastriyaPanchayat (National Parliament), the panchayat system enshrined the absolutepower of the monarchy and kept the King as head of state with sole authorityover all governmental institutions, including the Cabinet (Council of Ministers)and the parliament.

1972 - King Mahendra dies and is succeeded by his 27 year-old son, KingBirendra.

1979 - Amid student demonstrations and anti-regime activities, KingBirendra calls for a national referendum to decide on the nature of Nepal'sgovernment--either the continuation of the panchayat system with democraticreforms or the establishment of a multiparty system.

1980 - The referendum is held in May, and the panchayat system wins anarrow victory. The king carries out the promised reforms, including selectionof the prime minister by the Rastriya Panchayat. King agrees to allow directelections to national assembly - but on a non-party basis.

1985 - NCP (Nepali Congress Party) begins civil disobedience campaign forrestoration of multi-party system.

1986 - New elections boycotted by NCP.

1989 - Trade and transit dispute with India leads to border blockade byDelhi resulting in worsening economic situation.

1990 - Pro-democracy agitation co-ordinated by NCP and Leftist partiesunited under a common banner of the United Left Front (ULF). This "Movementto Restore Democracy" is initially dealt with severely, with more than 50persons killed by police gunfire and hundreds arrested. In April, the kingcapitulates. Consequently, he dissolves the panchayat system, lifts the ban onpolitical parties, and releases all political prisoners.

An interim government is sworn in on April 19, 1990, headed by Krishna PrasadBhattarai as prime minister presiding over a cabinet made up of members of theNepali Congress Party, the communist parties of Nepal, royal appointees andindependents.

The new government drafts and promulgates a new constitution in November1990, which enshrines fundamental human rights and establishes Nepal as aparliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch.

1991 - International observers characterize the May 1991 elections asfree and fair in which the Nepali Congress wins 110 seats out of 205 to form thegovernment.

The largest opposition, the United Marxist and Leninist Party (UML), wins 69seats.

Girija Prasad Koirala becomes prime minister and forms the government.

1992 - In May/June, the structure of Nepal's new democratic government iscompleted following local elections in which the Nepali Congress Party scores aconvincing victory.

1994 - Koirala's government defeated in no-confidence motion. Newelections lead to formation of Communist government, making it world's firstCommunist monarchy.

1995 - Communist government is dissolved. Nepal Communist Party (Maoist),a radical leftist group, begins insurrection in rural areas aimed at abolishingmonarchy and establishing people's republic.

1997 - Continuing political instability as Prime Minister Sher BahadurDeuba is defeated and replaced by Lokendra Bahadur Chand. Surya Bahadur Thapareplaces Chand as he is forced to resign because of a split in the party.

1998 - Thapa stands down because party splits again. G.P. Koirala returnsas prime minister heading a coalition government.

1999 - Fresh elections give majority to Nepali Congress Party. KrishnaPrasad Bhattarai becomes prime minister.

2000 - Prime Minister Bhattarai steps down after revolt in NCP.G.P.Koirala returns as prime minister, heading the ninth government in 10 years.

2001 April - General strike called by Maoist rebels brings life in manyparts of the country to a virtual standstill; police arrest more than 100anti-government demonstrators, including a number of opposition leaders.