Beginning of the end?

Well we were sitting in a bar last night with some friends preparing ourselves for a 20 hour curfew today when news came that the King was going to make a "proclamation" at 11:30pm. He announced that parliament would be reinstated this Friday and that the peoples will should prevail. I was woken this morning by a text - the mobile phone service was back up, a very promising sign. After checking the news and making a few phone calls it became clear that all was well, no curfew, the planned demonstrations will go ahead as victory rallies and the general strike has been called off. The people I have spoken to are clear that this is not the end of Nepal's problems but it may be the beginning of the end. We are all waiting for some word from the Maoists and hopefully the first thing the new parliament will do is call a ceasefire as a preliminary to the bringing them into mainstream politics. Fingers crossed. Although in previous spells of democracy in Nepal politicians have not done a very good job, it is possible that this time round they might start working for the people instead of themselves. I'm sure the successful exercise of people's power has been a great lesson for Nepal and will remind the politicians what happens to incompetent governments.

 

With the likelihood of some normality coming back to life here, we now have to face an even more scary prospect than revolution - work! But before then Sheila wants to go shopping so bye for now.

 

Thanks for all your messages.

Roshan

 

P.S. Ben reckons the fear of rats is Musophobia or Murophobia. Any other suggestions?