Nepal set to abolish monarchy, become republic
- From: Chim <ChimS1@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 28 May 2008 00:31:51 -0700 (PDT)
Nepal set to abolish monarchy, become republic
by Deepesh Shrestha
1 hour, 29 minutes ago
KATHMANDU (AFP) - The Himalayan kingdom of Nepal was set for historic
change on Wednesday with an assembly expected to abolish the country's
240-year-old monarchy, in a key victory for former Maoist rebels.
Security was tight around the venue for the assembly, which is set to
dissolve the monarchy and sack the unpopular King Gyanendra when it
holds its first session later Wednesday.
Scores of police ringed the conference centre in Kathmandu after a
series of bomb blasts in the runup to the meet by suspected "anti-
republicans" supporting Gyanendra, who ascended the throne seven years
ago after a palace massacre.
A homemade bomb exploded in a Kathmandu park on Tuesday shortly after
Constituent Assembly members were sworn in, injuring two people.
The lawmakers, elected in last month's polls to draft a new
constitution, were set to begin proceedings at 11:00 am (0545 GMT) at
the convention centre.
"This is an epoch-making day," Maoist leader Prachanda, who is
expected to head the country's next government, told reporters on
Tuesday.
"For the past 50 years people have been fighting for this. The
institution of the monarchy will formally come to an end."
The Maoists, who have long vowed to remove the king and create a
republic, emerged as surprise winners in the April polls, taking a
third of the assembly's 601 seats.
The Maoists signed a landmark peace deal in 2006 that brought them
into the political mainstream, ending a decade-long insurgency that
killed thousands of people and crippled the already impoverished
nation's economy.
Gyanendra was crowned following the 2001 killing of his popular
brother Birendra and most of the royal family by a drink-and-drug-
fuelled crown prince who later killed himself.
Although seen by loyalists as the reincarnation of a Hindu god, he
remained at the centre of conspiracy theories linking him to the
killings.
He still enjoys some support from Hindu hardliners and powerful
elements in the armed forces and ruling elite, but observers of the
royal house said Wednesday's meet appeared to be the end of the Shah
dynasty.
"He has been isolated and he has a very slim chance of making a
comeback," said Surendra Khatri Chhetri, a history professor at
Tribhuvan University.
"The strength of republican sentiment has cornered the king."
Kishore Shrestha, editor of a weekly newspaper that regularly runs
scoops from palace staff on the dynnasty said the king appeared to be
preparing for life as a commoner.
"Palace sources have told me he has started laying off large numbers
of staff, and has been renovating two of his private properties,"
Shrestha said.
"My sources tell me that he will vacate the main palace very soon."
Gyanendra's whereabouts were unknown late Tuesday, after he was seen
leaving Narayanhiti palace, a sprawling complex in the heart of
Kathmandu, driving himself and Queen Komal in a Mercedes car and part
of a small convoy.
The palace press secretariat said it did not know where the king was
going, or if he was leaving for good -- in line with Maoist demands
that he vacate his royal home and bow out gracefully.
Last month's vote appeared to vindicate the Maoist demand for a
republic, with the former rebels winning more than a third of the new
assembly's seats.
But less than a day before the assembly was to begin, the mainstream
parties and Maoists were still wrangling Tuesday over the make up of a
new government.
Maoists insist they have the right to lead the nation after their win,
but the other parties fear the former rebels will now have too much
power.
Gyanendra sealed his fate in early 2005, when he dismissed the
government and took direct control, galvanising public sentiment
against him.
The rebel Maoists and political parties launched mass protests that
forced the king to back down a year later.
In the process the once bitter foes drew closer together, forging the
2006 peace agreement, ending a decade of civil war that killed 13,000
people, and completely sidelining the king.
"The doors to a republic were opened by the king himself," said
historian Khatri Chhetri. "The palace is no more a central figure of
politics."
.
- Prev by Date: Cambodia is facing a natural resource boom, prompting donors and NGOs to warn that without measures to improve financial transparency, promote better governance and curb corruption, the potential windfall could be squandered
- Next by Date: "On behalf of the mainland compatriots, especially compatriots in quake-hit areas, I would like to express our sincere appreciation and thanks to our compatriots in Taiwan," Chinese President Hu Jintao called for peaceful relations with Taiwan
- Previous by thread: Cambodia is facing a natural resource boom, prompting donors and NGOs to warn that without measures to improve financial transparency, promote better governance and curb corruption, the potential windfall could be squandered
- Next by thread: "On behalf of the mainland compatriots, especially compatriots in quake-hit areas, I would like to express our sincere appreciation and thanks to our compatriots in Taiwan," Chinese President Hu Jintao called for peaceful relations with Taiwan
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
|
