A Kingdom under Siege – Nepal’s Maoist Insurgency, 1996 to 2003 Deepak Thapa Bandita Sijapati

A Kingdom Under Siege explains the political and social background to the Maoist insurgency that has embroiled Nepals government, political parties, king, police and army in conflict against highly motivated guerrilla fighters since 13 February 1996. By early 2003, the rebels had come to threaten the central institutions of the Nepali state. The authors describe how a combination of state neglect, political instability and the growth of radical left politics led to a build up of tensions. The insurgencys promise of a more just and equitable society gained favour with many of Nepals poor and disadvantaged people. The governments failure to tackle the rebellions causes or to engage the Maoists agenda led to thousands of deaths and widespread destruction of infrastructure that peaked in 2001 and 2002. The book concludes that lasting peace depends on building a state that attends equally to of all of Nepals diverse population groups.