Crisis Decision Making Under the State of Exception (Report‪)‬

Introduction Three unexpected events occurring between 20 December 2006 and 16 January 2007 have raised the question of accessibility to the highest decision maker to express concern and influence policy in the country. The first was the meeting of the American Ambassador James F. Moriarty with Prime Minister Girija P. Koirala to "express serious concern over the Maoists' protest programmes and 'armed activities'" launched against the government's nomination of ambassadors. (1) The second was the turning back of the students without an audience with the prime minister against the earlier assurance of the meeting to submit a memorandum in relations to the appointment of Vice Chancellor at the Tribhuvan University that remains vacant for over last eight months. (2) The third was the violent protest unleashed by the Madhesi community against the Interim Constitution promulgated on 15 January 2007 demanding their rights to proper representation.