USA, May 21, 2006: (HPI Note: The following article is from the Christian evangelical organization, Gospel for Asia.)
Described by some observers as a “21st century Magna Carta,” the sweeping political changes decreed yesterday by Nepal’s parliament are being met with prayerful caution by Gospel for Asia leaders in the region. “To experience this historic change for this nation is truly an answer to prayers,” declared Narayan Sharma, Gospel for Asia’s national leader for Nepal. “For the last 10 years there has been no prayer meeting or worship service in our churches without specific prayer for the nation.” “This is definitely welcome news,” said GFA President K.P. Yohannan. “It is the first time in the history of Nepal that there has been a democratic, secular government.” If the changes passed by the parliament stand, they will indeed be a peaceful revolution for the mountain kingdom. “May 18, 2006–the day a new Nepal was born,” declared the Nepali Times. It explained that Thursday was “the day the parliament restored by ‘people power’ declared itself supreme and decided to save the monarchy from a king who nearly took it down with him.” In the new Nepal, decisions on royal succession and other palace matters will be made by the parliament’s State Affairs Committee. The parliament, taking power on the strength of recent massive street demonstrations, also passed laws to: 1. Slash royal allowances; 2. Tax royal income; 3. Allow court trial of royal family members in court in criminal cases; 4. Strip the king’s command of the army; 5. Replace the royal household with civil servants; 6. Declare Nepal a secular state instead of “the world’s only Hindu kingdom” It is this last provision that is of most interest to Nepal’s long-oppressed Christian minority.
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