European Diplomats Honored Nepalis’ Verdict of Republic
by Mohan Nepali
European ambassadors and diplomats, based on their joint decision, refused to participate King Gyanendra’s birthday
ceremony. The Royal Palace had invited them, including one thousand other bigwigs.
Although the Nepalis have already dismissed monarchy and the autocratic ruler king from their mind, Nepal’s Prime
Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and his party, the US Administration and Indian Hindu ruling elites have been making
every possible effort to preserve the feudal monarchy in Nepal. The Nepalis gave their final verdict for the complete
abolition of monarchy during the April uprising (2006) that continued up to 19 days with the total defiance of
nationwide military curfews. However, traditionally rooted ruling elites of Nepal, who have organized themselves into
different political parties and religious groups, have been adventuring to distort the anti-monarchy version of April
verdict that originated from almost 10 million people across the nation. Nepal’s population is about 280 million, the
majority being grassroot rural masses that shaped the historical political uprising against monarchy in Nepal.
The interim constitution declared in January has excluded king’s position. Angered by this, hardcore royalists and Hindu
zealots backed by Indian extremist Hindu parties have been carrying out various armed activities against the national
agenda of democracy, state restructuring and the proposed elections for the Constituent Assembly.
But Nepal’s King believes Maoists are terrorists and criminals, not a political force while justice philosophers,
including human rights advocates stress Maoists are a political force. Nepal’s pro-democracy parties prefer a political
solution regarding Maoist insurgency while King and his parties emphasize on military rule to encircle and destroy
Maoists.
As the Nepali Maoists, having entered the peace process by depositing their arms and soldiers in the UN-monitored
cantonments, have participated in the interim government, royalists have been making direct and indirect efforts to
force them out of the government. Especially, the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) backed mostly by anti-change fanatic
killers and Hindu fundamentalists within and outside Nepal, Jantantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) manned by robbers and
killers active in Indo-Nepal border areas have been doing their best to instigate violence and pull Maoists into them so
as to derail the whole peace process. Although the MJF massacred 30 Maoist cadres in cold blood, the Maoist leadership
has expressed their commitment not to emotionally quit the peace process. As Maoists time and again expressed their
commitment to pluralism, press freedom and human rights, European leaderships seem to be positive towards them.
In connection with respecting the Nepalis’ verdict of republic, the European ambassadors and diplomats refused to attend
the king’s birthday ceremony.
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