Posted on 04/21/2006 2:55:05 PM PDT by mylife
Nepal King returns power to save crown, parties distrustful
Sudeshna Sarkar (IANS)
Kathmandu, April 21, 2006
Bowing to nationwide opposition to his rule, Nepal King Gyanendra on Friday said he was returning power to people but the opposition parties remained distrustful, calling it a ploy to block a new constitution that threatens to axe monarchy in the Kingdom.
"I am returning power to people in accordance with the constitutional provision," the monarch, who has earned the dubious distinction of being the most unpopular King in Nepal's recent history, said in an address to the nation broadcast by the state media.
However, belying popular expectation, he did not dissolve his cabinet or announce that he would restore the parliament, dissolved in 2002, though he had met the chief justice apparently to discuss the step.
Crisis Chronicle
April 6: Over 300 activists arrested.
April 8: Troops killed activist post curfew.
April 9: Another killed and hundreds arrested.
April 10: US, EU asked King to restore democracy.
April 11: Protests, clashes continued amidst curfew.
April 13: Curfew was lifted, 70 lawyers arrested.
April 14: Oppn rejected King's call for polls.
April 15: Thousands marched in Kathmandu.
April 16: Oppn asked citizens not to pay taxes.
April 17: Govt threatened to impose emergency.
April 18: Govt employees arrested.
April 19: Four activists killed. Curfew and shoot-at-sight orders imposed.
April 20: Three protestors shot dead.
April 21: King announced that he would transfer power to the people. The 58-year-old monarch asked the alliance of seven opposition parties, who began a dogged agitation against his power grab through a bloodless coup last year, to name a consensus candidate who would be made Prime Minister.
Till then, the present cabinet of handpicked ministers would govern the country under the King's chairmanship.
For the first time in his 14-month totalitarian rule, Gyanendra, without naming the Maoists, included them in his brief message lasting less than 10 minutes.
He said those who had left the constitutional way should be brought back to the mainstream for peace and development of the country. However, Gyanendra continued to blame the parties for the present turmoil and defend his power grab.
He said he had assumed direct power moved by people's "sufferings and tears" in an endeavour to give Nepal peace and good governance and to tackle corruption.
Even as thousands of protesters defied curfew and bullets to invade the capital and raise slogans for a republic, the King claimed the Nepali people had supported him since he was only implementing what they had desired.
He also appreciated the "courage and discipline" showed by the security forces, who have been criticised by human rights organisations for using excessive force on unarmed demonstrators and being responsible for the death of at least 14 people during the 16 days of protests.
The King said elections were the only way to choose people's representatives, indirectly defending the controversial local elections he had called in February and the general elections his government had pledged to hold by April 2007.
The seven opposition parties began a hurried consultation to chalk their response to the offer. Deep distrust still remained about the sincerity of the King's intentions.
"This is a ploy to block our efforts for a new constitution," said Prakash Man Singh, former minister and son of Ganesh Man Singh, who was one of the leaders of the 1990 mass movement that had reined in the present King's brother, Birendra.
"Elections to a constituent assembly is our minimum demand," said CP Mainali, leader of the United Left Front, a partner in the opposition coalition. "The assembly would ask the country if Nepal should remain a monarchy or become a republic and implement the verdict."
That the King has not extended the olive branch fully was indicated soon after when the royalist government, fearing fresh unrest at the meagre peace offering, extended curfew from 8 p.m. to 12 midnight.
"As long as the King remains and the army remains under him, we can't expect any election to be fair, be it for parliament or constituent assembly," said another opposition leader.
Maybe he should have asked Tsar Nicholas of Russia how that worked out for him.
The Moaist will take over
It wont go wrong for him though.
The Royal Nepalese Army is fanatically loyal to the throne. Yes, King Gyanendra is unpopular, but the RNA is not going to let the last Hindu kingdom in the world be toppled by a bunch of selfstyled Sandinistas.
I hope you are right
The King is MORE revolting!!
The Maoists are most revolting of all!!!
The king offers peace but for some reason, the "peaceful democratic protesters" don't want it. It seems they don't really want peace or democracy at all.
When you know the offer is about as genuine as Hilary's policies, is it any wonder you reject it? You'll notice that all the parties have united against him - he is a chronically bad ruler. You can get away with an autocracy if you're good in the job or skilful at crushing dissent but he is incompetent in both these areas.
If the last King hadn't been killed in the Palace family massacre, things might have been different.
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