Timeline of Nepal’s civil war
A chronology of how the Maoist war began and the march towards peace.
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On Thursday, Nepalis vote in elections for a constituent assembly which is meant to write a new constitution and serve as a parliament for the poor Himalayan country.
The election – the country’s first in nine years – was the centrepiece of a 2006 peace deal between the government and former Maoist rebels after a decade-long civil war.
The following is a chronology of how the Maoist war began and the march towards peace:
1994 – The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) is founded by Pushpa Kamal Dahal, known by his nom de guerre Prachanda.
Feb 1996 – Maoists, who oppose the Himalayan country’s constitutional monarchy, launch a “people’s war” to establish a single-party communist republic.
Feb 2005 – King Gyanendra takes absolute power vowing to crush the Maoists.
Sept 2005 – Maoist rebels announce a unilateral ceasefire but the royalist government rejects it.
Nov 2005 – Maoists join a loose alliance with the seven main political parties to end royal rule.
Jan 2006 – Rebels end the ceasefire.
Apr 2006 – King Gyanendra gives up absolute power after widespread protests. Veteran politician Girija Prasad Koirala is sworn in as prime minister and invites rebels for talks.
Jun 2006 – The new government agrees with Maoists to dissolve parliament and form an interim administration that includes rebels.
Nov 2006 – Prime Minister Koirala and rebel chief Prachanda sign a peace deal, ending a civil war which killed more than 13,000 people.
Jan 2007 – Parliament scraps old constitution and adopts a new interim constitution. Maoists control 84 seats in the 329-member interim legislature.
Dec 2007 – The ruling alliance and the Maoists agree to abolish the monarchy after the elections.
Feb 2008 – Ethnic Madheshi groups call a strike demanding autonomy which brings much of the economy to a standstill.
Feb 2008 – The government seals a deal with most Madheshi groups to end the protests.