ABSTRACT
Armed conflict in Nepal began in 1996 with the declaration of a People’s War by the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists (CPN (Maoist) ). It should be noted that there are different Communist and Maoist parties in Nepal (for an overview see graphic in Thapa 2003: 44). Until 2000, the armed conflict was waged with low-intensity specifically in the rural areas of Western Nepal between the CPN (Maoist) and the police. Then, from 2001 onwards, the Royal National Army was sent out to fight against the CPN (Maoist) following the onset of a countrywide destructive war that was now also affecting the cities. The armed conflict lasted for a decade, causing tremendous human suffering including the deaths of more than 15,000 people. In April 2006, mass demonstrations around the country led to a peaceful transfer of power from the King to the democratic parties and the CPN (Maoist), which was followed by the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement at the end of the same year. This agreement officially ended armed conflict in the country and re-integrated the CPN (Maoist) into the political arena.
