Nepal's Revolution

Publication date: Wednesday 26 April 2006

This is not one of those carefully orchestrated "orange" affairs with its mass-produced placards, rah-rah gals, and giant PR firms to aid media coverage, so loved by the "international community". Nor does the turbulence have anything to do with religion. What is taking place in Nepal is different: it is the culmination of decades of social, cultural and economic oppression.

This is an old story. Nepal's upper-caste Hindu rulers have institutionalised ancient customs to preserve their own privileges. Only last year was the custom of locking up menstruating women in cowsheds declared illegal.

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The full version of this commentary can be found at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1760502,00.html