Editing Politics of Nepal (section)

===2002–2007: suspension of parliament and Loktantra Andolan===
{{Main|2006 democracy movement in Nepal}}
On 22 May 2002 [[Gyanendra of Nepal|King Gyanendra]] suspended the Parliament, appointed a government led by himself, and enforced [[martial law]]. The King argued that civil politicians were unfit to handle the Maoist insurgency. Telephone lines were cut and several high-profile political leaders were detained. Other opposition leaders fled to India and regrouped there. A broad coalition called the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) was formed in opposition to the royal takeover, encompassing the seven parliamentary parties who held about 90% of the seats in the old, dissolved parliament.

The [[OHCHR|Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights]], in response to events in Nepal, set up a monitoring program in 2005 to assess and observe the human rights situation there.<ref>[http://www.ohchr.org/english/countries/np/summary.htm Nepal Summary] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070717103319/http://www.ohchr.org/english/countries/np/summary.htm |date=17 July 2007 }}, OHCHR.</ref>

On 22 November 2005, the [[Seven Party Alliance]] (SPA) of parliamentary parties and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) agreed on a historic and unprecedented 12-point memorandum of understanding (MOU) for peace and democracy. Nepali people from various walks of life and the international community regarded the MOU as an appropriate political response to the crisis that was developing in Nepal. Against the backdrop of the historical sufferings of the Nepali people and the enormous human cost of the last ten years of violent conflict, the MOU, which proposes a peaceful transition through an elected constituent assembly, created an acceptable formula for a united movement for democracy. As per the 12-point MOU, the SPA called for a protest movement, and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) supported it. This led to a countrywide uprising called the [[Loktantra Andolan]] that started in April 2006. All political forces including civil society and professional organisations actively galvanised the people. This resulted in massive and spontaneous demonstrations and rallies held across Nepal against King Gyanendra's autocratic rule.

On 21 April 2006, King Gyanendra declared that "power would be returned to the people". This had little effect on the people, who continued to occupy the streets of Kathmandu and other towns, openly defying the daytime curfew. Finally, King Gyanendra announced the reinstatement of the House of Representatives, thereby conceding one of the major demands of the SPA, at midnight on 24 April 2006. Following this action, the coalition of political forces decided to call off the protests.

At least 14 died during the 19 days of protests.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/04/23/nepal.protests/ |title=Gunbattles, curfew wrack Nepal |date=April 23, 2006 |publisher=[[CNN]] |accessdate=2022-06-10}}</ref>

On 19 May 2006, the parliament assumed total legislative power and gave executive power to the Government of Nepal (previously known as His Majesty's Government). Names of many institutions (including the army) were stripped of the "royal" adjective and the Raj Parishad (a council of the King's advisers) was abolished, with his duties assigned to the Parliament itself. The activities of the King became subject to parliamentary scrutiny and the King's properties were subjected to taxation. Moreover, Nepal was declared a secular state abrogating the previous status of a Hindu Kingdom. However, most of the changes have, as yet, not been implemented.  On 19 July 2006, the prime minister, [[Girija Prasad Koirala|G. P. Koirala]], sent a letter to the United Nations announcing the intention of the Nepali government to hold elections to a constituent assembly by April 2007.