I am not sure trading one oppressor for another will accomplish much. If it truly IS a Republic, then great. But Maoists seem to be the ones in control now. That cannot be good. At least not for human rights.
It's sorta like exchanging a thug named Bautista for a thug named Castro.
Why is marxism=dictatorship? Look at the performance of the state of Kerela(India) under maoist rule. They do not have high economic growth but their literacy rate and extreme poverty rate is almost equal that of a developed nation. So do not lose hope just because the new leaders are communist. OF course if they have contacts with the naxals, its all over. The naxals are power hungry bastards who care nothing about the poor and it is very likely they will ruin Nepal just like they did eastern india. Also India will ruin Nepal if they harbor the naxals.
Where has Marxism NOT been brutal or oppressive? I'm not talking about Socialism. Hell, I'm half Socialist as it is. I'm talking about Marxism, Communism, Stalinism, Maoism, etc.
I don't know about Kerela State and would be interested to hear more. But I would have to wonder how autonomous they are. Are the Marxists free to rule as they wish or are they restrained to some extent by the more Democratic Indian central government?
Much of what I know of Nepal is, admittedly, through a very narrow prism. I am interested in and quite concerned about the persecution of religious minorities around the world. In Nepal, Christians have had a pretty awful time of it. Will this improve or worsen under a Maoist regime? In China, North Korea, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam...life has not been good for Christians. Gratefully, things have improved for Christians in China and Vietnam...though they still do not enjoy the freedoms they would experience in the west. I get differing accounts of how other religious groups are treated in various Asian countries, so I can't comment authoritatively.
But if the Nepalese Maoists allow freedom of religion, I'll be the first to celebrate. Based on Maoism's past concerning human rights in general and religious freedom in particular, I'm hesitant to become overly enthused.
