Nepalese Civil War

{{war}}The '''Nepalese Civil War'''(1996–2006) was a decade long Conflict between the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and the Government of [[Nepal]], with the [[monarchy]] caught awkwardly in the middle.<ref> https://interactive.aljazeera.com/aje/2016/nepal-maoist-dream/</ref> The [[war]] was essentially a Marxist-Leninist-Maoist wet dream turned into a bloody reality, complete with revolutionary slogans, guerrilla warfare, and enough political drama to fill a telenovela. The conflict claimed over 17,000 lives, displaced hundreds of thousands, and left Nepal's economy and infrastructure in shambles. Finally, at least they got rid of the monarchy.

==Background==
[[Nepal]] in the 1990s was a mess. The country had recently transitioned to a constitutional [[monarchy]] after the 1990 People's Movement, but the new democracy was plagued by corruption, inequality, and a lack of basic services. Rural areas, in particular, were neglected, with [[poverty]] and illiteracy rates soaring. Enter the Maoists, who saw an opportunity to exploit these grievances and launch a "people's war" to overthrow the government and establish a communist state.<ref>https://scroll.in/article/897373/in-nepal-families-of-those-who-died-or-went-missing-during-civil-war-fight-against-forgetting</ref>

The Maoists, led by Prachanda (real name: Pushpa Kamal Dahal), claimed to be fighting for the rights of the poor and marginalized. In reality, their tactics often involved intimidation, violence, and forced recruitment, because nothing says "liberation" like kidnapping children to serve as soldiers.<ref> https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37118106</ref>

==Decade of Violence==
The war officially began on February 13, 1996, when the Maoists launched attacks on police posts in the Rolpa and Rukum districts. What followed was a decade of bloodshed, with both sides committing human rights abuses that would make even the most jaded war criminal blush.

===Maoist tactics===
The Maoists relied heavily on guerrilla warfare, targeting government officials, security forces, and anyone who dared to oppose them.<ref>https://english.onlinekhabar.com/most-violent-incident-nepal-civil-war.html</ref> They also imposed their own "revolutionary justice," which often involved summary executions and forced "donations" from villagers.

===Government response===
The Nepalese government, for its part, responded with brutal counterinsurgency operations. The security forces were accused of torture, extrajudicial killings, and disappearances, because nothing says "law and order" like terrorizing your own citizens.

===Civilian toll===
As usual, civilians bore the brunt of the violence. An estimated 13,000 to 17,000 people were killed during the war, and hundreds of thousands were displaced. Schools were closed, infrastructure was destroyed, and the economy was left in shambles.<ref>https://360info.org/the-war-is-not-over-for-nepals-displaced/</ref>

==International Involvement==
The Nepalese Civil War didn't just stay within Nepal's borders. Neighboring countries, particularly [[India]] and [[China]], kept a close eye on the conflict, because nothing says "regional stability" like meddling in your neighbor's affairs. [[India]], in particular, provided military and logistical support to the Nepalese government, while [[China]] quietly backed the Maoists. The [[United States]] and the [[United Kingdom]]<ref>https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2014/9/19/uks-covert-acts-during-nepalese-civil-war</ref> also got involved, offering counterinsurgency training and equipment to the Nepalese army, because apparently, the [[Cold War]] never really ended against [[communism]].<ref>https://www.hrw.org/reports/2004/nepal1004/8.htm</ref>

==A Fragile Peace==
The [[war]] finally came to an end in 2006, thanks to a combination of exhaustion, international pressure, and a growing realization that neither side was going to win. The Maoists and the government signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in November 2006, which included provisions for disarmament, elections, and the drafting of a new constitution.<ref> https://media.defense.gov/2024/May/08/2003459843/-1/-1/0/20240506_NEPAL_1996-2006.PDF</ref>

The Maoists, to everyone's surprise, agreed to participate in the political process, and in 2008, Nepal officially abolished the [[monarchy]] and became a federal democratic republic. Prachanda even became [[Prime Minister]] for a while, because nothing says "revolutionary change" like trading your guerrilla fatigues for a suit and tie.

==Aftermath==
The Nepalese Civil War left the country deeply scarred. The economy was in ruins, the political system was unstable, and the scars of violence were still fresh. While the war did lead to the end of the [[monarchy]] and the establishment of a [[republic]], many of the underlying issues that fueled the conflict—poverty, inequality, and corruption—remain unresolved.<ref> https://www.prio.org/publications/7301</ref>

The Maoists, now a mainstream political party, have struggled to transition from armed rebellion to governance. Their promises of radical change have largely gone unfulfilled, and many Nepalese citizens view them with a mix of [[skepticism]] and resentment. Meanwhile, the [[government]] continues to grapple with corruption and inefficiency, because some things never change.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:War]]
[[Category:Militia movement]]

Categories: War, Militia movement