Description

The years 2006-2009 saw a critical transition in Nepal’s history. After ten years of civil war and gradual reinstitution of absolute monarchy, the Nepali people, in April 2006, took to the streets and forced the king to hand power back to the political parties. Peace negotiations between the leaders of the newly re-empowered political parties and the Maoists, which had already led to an important framework agreement brokered by India in 2005, gained new momentum, culminating first in a ceasefire agreement in May 2006, and later in the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in December 2006. In April 2008, after a rocky interim period and significant delays, elections to a Constituent Assembly took place, bringing to power a Maoist-led coalition under Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, known as Prachanda, the former leader of the insurgency. This government resigned in May 2009 after a tussle with the President over control of the Nepal Army. Political life ever since has been unstable and policy-making is largely paralyzed. Yet, violence continues to be (broadly) contained and the “peace process” is still formally under way – if in stasis.

Mr. Malone is the President of the International Development Research Center and Canada’s Former High Commissioner to India, and has served as a non-resident Ambassador to Bhutan and Nepal from 2006 to mid-2008. Other positions he has held include: Assistant Deputy Minister in Canada?s Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade; President, International Peace Academy, New York; Director General of Policy, International Organizations and Global Issues Bureaux, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada; and Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations. Mr. Malone has published extensively on peace and security issues, in book form and in journals. He has taught at several universities, including Columbia and NYU.