Reality bites for new republic (August 2008)

It’s been a year of considerable change for Nepal: a country where more than 40 BMS World Mission workers and partners are based.

BMS couple Alan and Megan Barker, seconded to the International Nepal Fellowship in Surkhet, describe the political feeling there at the moment, as it begins life as a republic.

“After the sweeping success of the Maoists in the April elections, the new assembly has abolished the monarchy and elected a President.

“The former king has been evicted from his palaces and government ministries have moved into the royal residences.

“Sadly, however, the hope that things were going to change for the good after the elections seems to be gradually disappearing as the political parties continue to bicker and wrangle among themselves, rather than getting on with running the country.

“The current assembly is supposed to be writing a new constitution for the country within two years, but at the moment their interest seems to be diverted onto power-grabbing and less on the real issues.

“The Maoists didn’t win an overall majority, so the other parties can still exert influence – something which they are doing with gusto and usually not in a positive way! The latest development is that the Maoist leader has just been elected as Prime Minister – something that took weeks to decide after much negotiation.”

Alan and Megan add that petrol, diesel and gas remain in short supply and prices continue to rise. The World Food Programme recently warned of food shortages in some of the poorer and most remote parts of the country

Please continue to pray for peace and wisdom for Nepal, and that decisions made will ultimately improve the lives of those in greatest poverty. Pray that, under the new government, BMS workers and partners would still have the freedom to share Jesus through words and action.

Street in Surkhet, Nepal

Utilities