Democracy Leaders Reject Nepalese King’s Attempt To Save The Monarchy
April 22, 2006
Kathmandu, Nepal: Nepal’s besieged God-King, Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shaw went on nation-wide television and radio Friday
in a desperate attempt to save the Monarchy.
In the much anticipated 5 minute speech the King responded to the concerns of India’s Special Envoy , Karen Singh, who
had been rushed to Kathmandu by the Indian Government, but failed to address many of the central demands of the 7-Party
Alliance (SPA) and the Maoist insurgents who reached a 12-Point Agreement which, if implemented, leads to elections and
an end to the Maoists’ armed insurgency.
The King, citing Article: 35 of the 1990 Constitution proclaimed, “Executive power of the Kingdom of Nepal, which was
in our safekeeping, shall be returned to the people”.
His Majesty did not mention that the 1990 Constitution also reserved the RNA (Royal Nepalese Army), which has propped up
the monarchy, to the King.
There was no mention of many of the prominent demands of the SPA such as creating a Special Assembly to write a new
constitution, nor the 12-Point Agreement.
While major news outlets hysterically report that , “the King has restored democracy”, the Coordinating Body of the SPA
issued a statement vowing to continue the 2 week long bandah (strike) and demonstrations until the peoples’ demands are
met. While the SPA has yet to release it’s “official” response and the Maoists say they will consult with the SPA before
further comment, Civil Society and Party leaders, as reported by Kantipur News, viewed the King’s offer as, “incomplete
and ambiguous” and “a conspiracy to diffuse the ongoing Peoples Movement”. United We Blog, a leading source of
discussion and opinion, termed the King’s message as “deceptive” and having “only solidified his ambition to stay in
power”.
As the call for restoration of democracy and the end to the Feb.1, 2005 Royal power grab has gained momentum, and the
call for a Republic is being supported by hundreds of thousands throughout the Kingdom, King Gyanendra seems unwilling
or unable to understand the demands of the Nepalese people.
Each day the Pro-Democracy ranks swell even as the brutal attacks on unarmed protestors by the Security Forces
continues.
Yesterday there were more than 300,000 demonstrators in Kathmandu, and large demonstrations across the Kingdom. Larger
demonstrations are expected on this 17th day of the agitation.
Hundreds of protestors have been beaten with batons, shot with rubber and live bullets, and tear-gassed. Hospitals
throughout the Kingdom are filled to capacity with the injured and blood is in short supply.
An expert on Nepal, and faculty Member of the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University, S.D. Muni is quoted in the Times
of India, a leading Indian newspaper as saying, “the King is fighting a violent battle, which he can’t win. There is
growing feeling in India that the King cannot be sustained.”
In 1989, in response to a threat of increasing Chinese arms supplies to Nepal, India sealed the border with Nepal and
suspended the shipment of all petroleum products until Democracy was restored. With a massive debt owed to the IOC
(Indian Oil Company) by Nepal’s only petroleum importer and the continued suppression of the pro Democracy movement, New
Delhi grows increasingly concerned that it may be to resort to the same action. Aware that the King can resort to
playing his “anti-India” card, India weighs it options to help prevent all out civil-war in Nepal.
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D. Michael Van De Veer- Freelance Journalist
Contributor to UnitedWeBlog, &
Pacifica’s Free Speech Radio News.
Member-South Asian Journalist Association(SAJA)
Host-OUT OF THE BOX KKCR-FM www.kkcr.org