Isaac,

Uma Singh's case shook the whole country--but you misunderstand the case. Her murder was not perpetrated by govt. As it turned out (If I understand the case correctly), her brother's wife hired goons to kill her because of a quarrell with property.

We may be a poor country-- and chaotic--but we take it quite seriously when a women is killed. I hate the Maoists because they were so bloodthirsty, but even they spared women. (My uncle was forced to flee from his village, but aunt never left the village.) The country was shaken when Maina Sunar was killed by army, even at the height of insurgency. Rape/killing of women shocks us; it is the worst of the crimes. Sure, it is only one aspect of women rights-they need to be equal in lots of other fields, but like others here pointed out, the country is transforming. Parents are proud of their daughters, and daughters too have started to keep their sirname even after their marriage.

Govt hasn't harrassed women rights activists yet. At least, I don't know any of such cases, and I have talked to many of them. I think women activists such as Aruna Uprety, Renu Rajbhandari or Sapana Pradhan are very well respected in our society.

I think Amnesty sometimes does valuable job, but lots of time, it too operates under the western stereotype, that Nepal is a country where anyone who speaks for equality, women rights etc are oppressed. Just like you. I am sure you have well intention, but you can't shake off the stereotype you have been inculculated with, can you?