Katmandu, November 23. According to Deutsche Presse-Agentur, "The recent success of the communists in parliamentary elections in Nepal may well result in a political constellation previously unknown the world over a communist monarchy. King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev of Nepal is expected to formally hand over the task of forming a government to the communists, the strongest faction in Kathmandu's Parliament, during the course of the week. The fact that communists are to play a decisive role in shaping the fate of one of the poorest countries in the world has several reasons and is set to have repercussions on political structures even beyond Nepal's borders. The key to understanding the victory of the communists in Nepal lies mainly in India. Since independence, the powerful neighbour has meddled in Nepalese internal affairs and was perceived by many Nepalese as unbelievably arrogant. The election results may also be seen as the direct consequence of what many saw as violations of Nepal's sovereignty by In

dian authorities. More than once, Indian policemen followed suspects well into Nepal without official permission and even arrested them there. Nepalese goods in transit were inordinately delayed in Calcutta several times. Nepal has complained that the Indian Air Force illegally overflew Nepalese territory. Furthermore, Nepal is also contractually obliged to consult India in matters realting to foreign policy and of military significance. Most Nepalese say their hair stands on end whenever New Delhi speaks of the 'special relations' between the Hindu kingdom and Hindu-majority India. Playing on such sentiments, the communist election campaign labelled India's attitude 'Big Brother behaviour' and the party announced that it would protect against it more consequentially in future so as to preserve the honour of Nepal. Mohan Adhikari, President of the Nepal's communist party United Marxist Leninist (UML) also promised that all contracts with India would be re-examined and work permits made compulsory for all Ind

ians in Nepal. Up to now, borders between the two countries have been open and not even a passport was required for Indians visiting Nepal. Nepal's communists are essentially nationalist-oriented, their radicalism manifests itself largely in launching verbal attacks on the Indian neighbour, but in western terms they could be classified as upright socialdemocratic. They promise land reforms but understand them as part of an overall privatization package. They also accept the constitutional monarchy and all democratic parliamentarian rules of the political game. Aware that the poor Asian state will not be able to survive for long without financial aid, the communists have also been reassuring international funding agencies and project partners at every available opportunity. So the ascent of the 'red star over the Himalayas' may not be as dramatic as it sounds even though it may have repercussions on the field of foreign policy. But the cooling-off of relations with India is expected to be balanced by an impro

vement in links with China. Kathmandu's 'equidistance' from both Beijing and New Delhi, as announced by the Nepalese communist party, may lead to a stronger presence in Nepal of, for instance, Chinese development experts. Up to now, the government of the now-defeated Congress always went to great lengths to alleviate India's fears of too strong a Chinese influence on the strategically-important Himalayan kingdom. The communists will be spared the trouble of having to do so". (EuroTibet News N·6)