The Past
Prior to 1769 A.D.: the Malla kings of Nepal had allowed the Capuchin priests to freely establish schools and clinics and run churches in Nepal.
1769 A.D.: King Prithivi Narayan Shah conquered Kathmandu. The priests and some 60 Christians were banished from Nepal.
1769 to 1950 A.D.: during the 77 years after the exile of first Christians and during the 104 years of Rana regime Christians were not allowed into Nepal.
1950 to 1959 A.D.: With the combined initiative of the then king, King Tribhuwan and the people of Nepal the 104 years of Rana reign ended in 1950. Nepal was then established as a democratic kingdom. With the advent of democracy in Nepal in 1950 the doors for Christianity was opened. A few Nepalese and some British Missionaries started a church and a hospital in Pokhara. In the meantime Christian missionaries from South India and Darjeeling entered and established churches in Kathmandu. The Catholic priests were also invited especially by the then Rana Prime Minister and the Royal family to establish school in Kathmandu.
1960 to 1989 A.D.: In 1960, the then monarch, King Mahendra took advantage of the weak democracy of Nepal and declared Nepal as a Hindu Kingdom. The period after 1960 and during the Panchayat rule many Christians and a few Muslims were jailed in the name of conversion. During this period many Indian and foreign Christians were accused of preaching and sent back to their countries. At the time those involved in preaching and those who converted to Christianity were slapped 3 years of prison and those involved in influencing the conversion were sent to 6 years in prison.
During the Panchayat rule, Fr. Gaffney, a Catholic missionary working against drugs sales and rehabilitating addicts, was murdered. Nepal Catholic Church has confirmed him as a martyr.
1990 A.D. onwards: With the advent of democracy in 1990 the jailed Christians were set free. Subsequently Christianity flourished in Nepal. The period was also marked by 10 years’ of Maoist armed conflict. At the time of Maoist insurgency the rural Christians were persecuted by both the Maoist and the government. Due to lack of research on the issue no one has the exact data to confirm the exact figure.
Monarchy was abolished in Nepal in 2007 because of the impact of 10 years’ of Maoist armed conflict and the other parties’ mass movement. Nepal was then declared a Secular Democratic Republic. The declaration was made by the re-instated parliament and was in no way advocated by the Nepali Christians and people of other faiths.
Present Scenario
Though Nepal has now been declared a Secular State many armed outfits and political parties have voiced grave concerns over the secularism. Among such armed groups the most prominent one is Nepal Defense Army (NDA) respectively. The NDA is actively involved in activities against the Christians for the past 2 years. Initially the group was active in the Southern parts of Nepal’s Terai region bordering India but in recent years its network has increased. Along with this group there are other groups that time and again are involved in persecuting Christians.
Initially these groups were involved in extortion, threatening and abducting Christian leaders. In July 1, 2008 the group murdered a Catholic priest, Fr. John Prakash, in Sirsia. The NDA and other groups affiliated to it have been time and again involved in extortion in Kathmandu and various other places.
The most deadliest attack by the NDA was the bombing of the Church of the Assumption (the main Catholic Church in Nepal) during a Saturday service which left 3 dead and 13 others injured. Soon after the blast the NDA took responsibility of the attack and released a press statement signed by its commander-in-chief Mr. R. P. Mainali. The press statement threatens to blast 1 million bombs in the houses of 1 million Nepali Christians if the Christians did not leave the country within one month. The one month’s deadline expires in June 25, 2009.
The government of Nepal expressed its concern over the incident. The Prime Minister personally inspected the Church and visited the injured in the hospitals. He expressed his condolences. Rallies were organized in various parts of the country by the Christian communities. These rallies appealed the government for a thorough investigation into the incident and to ensure that such incidents do not happen again.
Amidst all this Mainali has casually contacted some Nepali Christian leaders while his group has asked money to a few others.
Though Nepal police has arrested the woman, Mrs. Sita Thapa Shrestha, involved in planting the bomb at the Church rumors are that she is being bailed out for Rs. 1 million. The police have taken no further action to arrest the leader of NDA, Mr. Mainali.
It is now high time that the government be pressurized internally and at international level to arrest the people involved in such crimes and make security tighter so that such incidents are not repeated again.
The Christians in Nepal are still treated as second class citizens. There are no laws in Nepal for registration of Christian Churches and organizations. As there are no legislature/laws in place for providing opportunities to follow and institutionalize ones faith it is high time to do so.
The Indian national, Mr. Balam Joseph, whose wife and daughter died in the bombing of the Church in June 7, has declared that he has forgiven all involved in the attack.The press statement threatens to blast 1 million bombs in the houses of 1 million Nepali Christians if the Christians did not leave the country within one month. The one month’s deadline expires in June 25, 2009 (Today).
Translated and edited by Raju Pradhan
Republished on new layout June 13,2013
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