As February 29, the first historic day dawned  in the new Federal Democratic Republic of  Nepal, the United  States, UN and India  separately  congratulated the Nepali people for their  new found democratic credentials,   after  carefully  weighing   the  unfurling  political situation in Kathmandu during the past  two weeks. 

 On May 28, the Nepali Constituent Assembly members overwhelmingly and finally decided to vote to declare  Nepal a  federal democratic republic.  The  United States  became one of the first countries to  congratulate the people of Nepal on this historic step.  A press statement  from the American Embassy  in Kathmandu stated,  “The United States of America congratulates the people of Nepal on the Constituent Assembly's first step in defining a new, democratic Nepal with the declaration of a republic on May 28…in another   exciting milestone in Nepal's democratic development… we encourage the representatives of the CA to continue their work to fulfill the peoples' desire for peace, democracy and development in Nepal."

The  American congratulatory  note came within  hours after the  US State Department's deputy spokesperson, Tom Casey,  noted  in his regular media briefing in Washington DC that  the  U.S.  was momentarily   'withholding' comments. Casey speaking earlier had mentioned, ” There's been a political transition. There have been elections. The new government is in place and moving forward. We have had some conversations with those officials, in part to verify that some of the efforts that we can make, in terms of being able to provide humanitarian assistance and other programs, are going to be able to move forward…Certainly, it's a situation we continue to watch. And we continue to urge forward political developments in that country." 

Similarly, UN Secretary-General  Ban Ki-moon also congratulated the Nepali people.  In his message,  Ban stated, “The people of Nepal have clearly spoken for peace and change through the April 10 Assembly election.”  But Ban cautioned  Nepali  political parties to continue working in a cooperative manner and to form a new democratic government as soon as possible.  Ban’s special  representative to Nepal, Ian Martin,  was more loquacious  stating the UN was always proud in assisting Nepal particularly in  “the election of the most inclusive body it has yet known.”   Martin stated the  democratically-elected  Nepali representatives now  had  the solemn responsibility to prepare a new constitution as well as to act as an interim legislature during this next important transition phase of Nepal's peace process, and to fulfill the Nepali people's aspirations for sustained peace, economic and social progress, democracy and human rights. 

Similarly,  India which  shares an open border with  Nepal and is its closest neighbor, extended warm felicitations on behalf of  the Indian parliament, government and the people of India.    The Speaker of India's Lok Sabha, Somnath Chatterjee,  also conveyed his good wishes stating  that India remained steadfast in its commitment to extend all possible support to the Nepali people  to  achieve  a stable, prosperous and democratic Nepal.  Chatterjee also  felt  the successful formation of the CA to draft a new constitution for Nepal was the result of painstaking efforts and sacrifices made by the  Nepali people and the political leadership to  the cause of democracy. He  wished that  future  CA discussions would  be emboldened by that spirit of sacrifice, which lies at the heart of all democracies. 

Yesterday afternoon,  there were  reports of  minor skirmishes around the Narayanhiti  Palace  which CA members   hope will be vacated in the coming two weeks.    A  Nepal Government prohibitory ban  is still in effect on demonstrations around the  palace and the Birendra International Convention Center where the CA proceedings were held.   Finally, Nepal has become  the youngest member of the global   freedom  club with the much awaited declaration coming around 11.26 p.m.  which was  close to midnight.  Many overjoyed Kathmanduites, especially the young generation   spent  the remainder of the  night  street dancing,  singing,  and waiting excitedly to get a glimpse  of  the early  morning sun rise  over the New Nepal.  

(Surya B. Prasai is an independent global strategic communications, media, and international development  resource consultant who writes frequently for this and other global media)

(Note from the Nepal Horizons Editorial Team: The views and opinion expressed in this article are that of the author and not of NHC. We request individuals with interest in Nepal to submit their views on contemporary Nepalese issues to the following e-mail address: editor@nepalhorizons.com.  Pictures of contributors or images that relate to submissions are welcome)