Nepalese
Protesters Dismiss King's Pledge Of Democracy
By Justin Huggler
22 April 2006
The
Independent
King Gyanendra of Nepal made
a desperate attempt to save his throne as hundreds of thousands of people
took to the streets of Kathmandu yesterday calling for his overthrow.
In a televised address, the
King promised to restore democracy and hold elections, and revert to
being a constitutional monarch. But his words were dismissed by the
opposition parties which have been leading the protests as too little,
too late. "The King has not clearly addressed the road map of the
protest movement," said Krishna Prasad Sitaula, spokesman for the
largest opposition party, the Nepali Congress. "Our protest campaign
will continue."
On the streets too, the people
vowed to continue their rallies. There were spontaneous demonstrations
in reaction to the King's speech, with people chanting: "Democracy
is coming! Gyanendra leave the country!"
Looking tense before the
camera, King Gyanendra said: "We are committed to multi-party democracy
and a constitutional monarchy. Executive power of the kingdom of Nepal,
which was in our safekeeping, shall from this day be returned to the
people."
He was speaking after the
biggest protests yet in Kathmandu, which saw protesters breach many
of the defences of the police and army and march deep into the city
centre, which is under strict curfew. They marched in a column that
filled the wide avenue and stretched for two miles. Local television
news put the size of the crowd at 150,000, but that seemed a severe
underestimate.
"Death to the monarchy!"
they chanted as they marched. And as they walked, the people of Kathmandu
lined the streets to cheer them on. This was a nation on the march.
Several police lines fell back before them. Soldiers guarding the airport
grinned and gave them signs of support.
At times, the crowd had a
carnival atmosphere. They danced in the streets and shouted with joy
that they had defied the curfew. "It is a tragedy for Nepal if
Gyanendra lives," they sang.
At one moment, the crowd
suddenly turned and headed for the city centre with a surge of purpose.
Several protesters shouted: "To the palace!" But they met
more sustained resistance from the army lines deeper inside the city,
and several protesters were injured after soldiers opened fire with
rubber bullets.
It was with these scenes
raging outside his palace that the King made his attemptto defuse the
crisis. Sitting in front of a backdrop similar to the one he appeared
before when he seized the absolute powers of a medieval king last year,
he said he was acting "in the greater interest of the nation and
the people, and our unflinching commitment toward constitutional monarchy
and multi-party democracy".
He called for talks with
the seven-party opposition alliance which has been leading the protests
and asked it to nominate one of its number to serve as interim prime
minister until elections could be held. Nepalese analysts said that
was a clear attempt to split the seven-party alliance, which have never
agreed on anything except their opposition to the King's rule.
The opposition parties said
their leader would meet today to discuss the King's proposals. But the
biggest parties were quick to dismiss them. "We haven't been demonstrating
for the premiership," said one senior figure.
"The people will not
accept this speech," said Chakra Sijapatki, a security guard at
a hotel who was listening to the speech on a car radio. "We have
been fighting for democracy and a republic."
Many on the streets complained
the King had said nothing about bringing the Maoist guerrillas who have
been fighting a 10-year civil war into the mainstream. The opposition
parties have agreed a frameworks for peace talks.
There was positive reaction
on the streets. "Now the King can become a ceremonial monarch,"
said one protester, Utsav Koirala. King Gyanendra has offered elections
before. What people want is a new constituent assembly to debate whether
Nepal should have a monarchy at all.
"How can the King remain?
He must take responsibility for all the people who have been killed
in these protests," said Prakash Dhidal, another protester. A protester
who was injured by police gunfire in Kathmandu on Thursday died of his
injuries yesterday, bringing the number killed in Kathmandu to four.
There is a huge swelling
of anger against the violence used by police on protesters. Doctors
at the hospital where the bodies were taken wore black armbands yesterday.
On the spot where the police fired on the demonstrators, some one wrote
in chalk "Martyrs' Square".
Kantipur newspaper yesterday
printed the name of one police officer who it said shot an unarmed protester
in the head and killed him - which may well lead to reprisals against
the officer.
Changing regimes
* 1991 Nepali Congress Party
(NCP) wins first multi-party democratic elections
* 1994 NCP government dissolved
and replaced by Communist regime
* 1995 Communist government
dissolved. Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) begins insurrection to
abolish monarchy and establish a "people's republic"
* 1 June 2001 Royal family
is killed in drunken shooting spree by Crown Prince Dipendra, who then
shoots himself
* 4 June 2001 Prince Dipendra,
declared king on 2 June, dies. His brother, Prince Gyanendra, becomes
King
* July 2001 Maoist rebels
step up violence. Sher Bahadur Deuba becomes Prime Minister, heading
11th government in 11 years. He announces peace with rebels, truce begins
* November 2001 Peace talks
fail and Maoistsattack army and police posts
* November 2001 King Gyanendra
declares state of emergency
* February 2005 The King
dismisses the government and assumes direct power
* November 2005 Rebels and
opposition parties agree on programme to restore democracy
* April 2006 Protests against
the King lead to fierce clashes in the capital; at least four are killed.
King promises to give power back to the people but gives no indication
of how or when
King Gyanendra of Nepal made
a desperate attempt to save his throne as hundreds of thousands of people
took to the streets of Kathmandu yesterday calling for his overthrow.
In a televised address, the
King promised to restore democracy and hold elections, and revert to
being a constitutional monarch. But his words were dismissed by the
opposition parties which have been leading the protests as too little,
too late. "The King has not clearly addressed the road map of the
protest movement," said Krishna Prasad Sitaula, spokesman for the
largest opposition party, the Nepali Congress. "Our protest campaign
will continue."
On the streets too, the people
vowed to continue their rallies. There were spontaneous demonstrations
in reaction to the King's speech, with people chanting: "Democracy
is coming! Gyanendra leave the country!"
Looking tense before the
camera, King Gyanendra said: "We are committed to multi-party democracy
and a constitutional monarchy. Executive power of the kingdom of Nepal,
which was in our safekeeping, shall from this day be returned to the
people."
He was speaking after the
biggest protests yet in Kathmandu, which saw protesters breach many
of the defences of the police and army and march deep into the city
centre, which is under strict curfew. They marched in a column that
filled the wide avenue and stretched for two miles. Local television
news put the size of the crowd at 150,000, but that seemed a severe
underestimate.
"Death to the monarchy!"
they chanted as they marched. And as they walked, the people of Kathmandu
lined the streets to cheer them on. This was a nation on the march.
Several police lines fell back before them. Soldiers guarding the airport
grinned and gave them signs of support.
At times, the crowd had a
carnival atmosphere. They danced in the streets and shouted with joy
that they had defied the curfew. "It is a tragedy for Nepal if
Gyanendra lives," they sang.
At one moment, the crowd
suddenly turned and headed for the city centre with a surge of purpose.
Several protesters shouted: "To the palace!" But they met
more sustained resistance from the army lines deeper inside the city,
and several protesters were injured after soldiers opened fire with
rubber bullets.
It was with these scenes
raging outside his palace that the King made his attemptto defuse the
crisis. Sitting in front of a backdrop similar to the one he appeared
before when he seized the absolute powers of a medieval king last year,
he said he was acting "in the greater interest of the nation and
the people, and our unflinching commitment toward constitutional monarchy
and multi-party democracy".
He called for talks with
the seven-party opposition alliance which has been leading the protests
and asked it to nominate one of its number to serve as interim prime
minister until elections could be held. Nepalese analysts said that
was a clear attempt to split the seven-party alliance, which have never
agreed on anything except their opposition to the King's rule.
The opposition parties said
their leader would meet today to discuss the King's proposals. But the
biggest parties were quick to dismiss them. "We haven't been demonstrating
for the premiership," said one senior figure.
"The people will not accept this speech," said Chakra Sijapatki,
a security guard at a hotel who was listening to the speech on a car
radio. "We have been fighting for democracy and a republic."
Many on the streets complained
the King had said nothing about bringing the Maoist guerrillas who have
been fighting a 10-year civil war into the mainstream. The opposition
parties have agreed a frameworks for peace talks.
There was positive reaction
on the streets. "Now the King can become a ceremonial monarch,"
said one protester, Utsav Koirala. King Gyanendra has offered elections
before. What people want is a new constituent assembly to debate whether
Nepal should have a monarchy at all.
"How can the King remain?
He must take responsibility for all the people who have been killed
in these protests," said Prakash Dhidal, another protester. A protester
who was injured by police gunfire in Kathmandu on Thursday died of his
injuries yesterday, bringing the number killed in Kathmandu to four.
There is a huge swelling
of anger against the violence used by police on protesters. Doctors
at the hospital where the bodies were taken wore black armbands yesterday.
On the spot where the police fired on the demonstrators, some one wrote
in chalk "Martyrs' Square".
Kantipur newspaper yesterday
printed the name of one police officer who it said shot an unarmed protester
in the head and killed him - which may well lead to reprisals against
the officer.
Changing regimes
* 1991 Nepali Congress Party
(NCP) wins first multi-party democratic elections
* 1994 NCP government dissolved
and replaced by Communist regime
* 1995 Communist government
dissolved. Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) begins insurrection to
abolish monarchy and establish a "people's republic"
* 1 June 2001 Royal family
is killed in drunken shooting spree by Crown Prince Dipendra, who then
shoots himself
* 4 June 2001 Prince Dipendra,
declared king on 2 June, dies. His brother, Prince Gyanendra, becomes
King
* July 2001 Maoist rebels
step up violence. Sher Bahadur Deuba becomes Prime Minister, heading
11th government in 11 years. He announces peace with rebels, truce begins
* November 2001 Peace talks
fail and Maoistsattack army and police posts
* November 2001 King Gyanendra
declares state of emergency
* February 2005 The King
dismisses the government and assumes direct power
* November 2005 Rebels and
opposition parties agree on programme to restore democracy
* April 2006 Protests against
the King lead to fierce clashes in the capital; at least four are killed.
King promises to give power back to the people but gives no indication
of how or when
© 2006 Independent News
and Media Limited