Kathmandu, June 3: In its first official statement on the subject, the Royal Palace said Sunday that the condition of King Dipendra is “very critical”. Prince Regent Gyanendra said in a message to the nation Sunday morning that the King is not able to conduct his duties as head of state. A nation still in shock was home watching news about Nepal in foreign television news because state controlled radio and television was giving out only sketchy information on the Friday night shooting in which at least eight members of the royal family were killed.
Six other members of the royal family were injured and Crown Prince Dipendra, who has been declared King, is struggling for his life at the Birendra Military Hospital. Shops reopened after a voluntarily closure Saturday and vehicles were again plying the busy streets. The King, Queen and other members of the royal family were cremated Saturday night with full state honours at Pashupati’s Aryaghat as the biggest crowd in recent memory gathered along the streets to bid a tearful farewell to the royal couple and their two children. The crowd shouted pro-monarchy slogans and against Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala whose car was pelted with stones as police restored to firing in the air at several points during the funeral procession Saturday.
World leaders continued to mourn the death of a popular monarch. After statements from India and the United States, Pakistan’s Chief Executive Gen.Pervez Musharraf said: “The late King was a popular monarch who made a singular contribution to the democratic evolution of Nepal and will hold a very special place in the history of his country.” The UN Secretary General isaid he was “profoundly shocked by the reported killing Friday evening of King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya as well as other members of the royal family. He is deeply saddened tragedy. The Secretary General extends his heartfelt condolences to the people of Nepal and calls for calm and stability.”
The UN Secretary General said he was “profoundly shocked by the reported killing Friday evening of King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya as well as other members of the royal family. He is deeply saddened tragedy. The Secretary General extends his heartfelt condolences to the people of Nepal and calls for calm and stability.”
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles, Pope John Paul II and others also expressed their condolences. Russia’s flags flew at half mast. A regional meeting of seven foreign secretaries of SAARC to be held in Colombo this week has been postponed.