Maoists, Christians work it out

KATHMANDU, Nepal -- Christians working to enshrine religious freedom in Nepal's-yet to be written constitution have found allies in the Maoist Communist Party of Nepal, which controls most of the country's poor, undeveloped rural areas and has 220 seats in the 601-seat national assembly. The constitutional assembly convenes May 28.

Maoist leader Barsha Man Pun was the chief guest at a May 18 forum discussing the new constitution organized by the National Council of Churches of Nepal. Pun reassured the gathering, "The new constitution will not favor any religion.... We will see to it that people's freedom of religion will be there--I promise you this." His comments were met with thunderous applause from the 500 forum participants.

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