His Majesty King Gyanendra has on the recommendation of the seven-party alliance (SPA) and in accordance with the Constitution of the Kingdom 1990 appointed Nepali Congress president Girirja Prasad Koirala as new Prime Minister.
This was stated in a communiqué released by the Royal Palace Press Secretary on Thursday.
A meeting of the SPA on Tuesday had unanimously nominated Koirala as the prime ministerial candidate. nepalnews.com mk Apr 27 06
Deploring the killing of seven civilians by the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) soldiers in Belbari, Morang, on Wednesday, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) -Nepal has called for independent judicial investigation into the incident.
“OHCHR-Nepal deplores the latest killing of seven unarmed civilians by the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA), in Belbari, Morang District, on 25 and 26 April, and calls for action to ensure that no further such killings occur,” a press statement issued by the OHCHR said, adding, “OHCHR-Nepal is therefore calling on the civilian authorities to establish, at the earliest opportunity, a fully independent judicial investigation into the shootings at Belbari.”
It added, “This investigation should establish the facts of what occurred on 25 and 26 April, and make recommendations for accountability mechanisms for the punishment of those responsible, as well as measures to ensure that such violations are not repeated.”
The OHCHR deployed its teams to Belbari, Itahari and Dharan to begin investigations into these shootings, according to the statement. “OHCHR-Nepal has confirmed that one civilian woman was shot dead on 25 April by RNA soldiers, and that a further six civilians were killed on 26 April when RNA soldiers fired numerous rounds at demonstrators who had gathered to protest the alleged rape and killing of this woman the previous day.”
More than 20 others are confirmed to have been injured in this shooting.
Reacting to the clarification of the Ministry of Defence on the incident, the UN rights body stated, “OHCHR-Nepal has found no evidence to support the RNA account that shots were fired from among the demonstrators on 26 April or that civilians were armed or presented an imminent threat to the lives of members of the RNA.”
This is the second time in less than ten days that RNA soldiers have opened fire with live ammunition on civilians in the Eastern Region, following the shooting at demonstrators at Chandragadhi, Jhapa District on 19 April, which resulted in two fatalities and at least 13 civilians suffering bullet injuries, the statement further said.
“It is essential, as part of Nepal’s current transition, that a new ethos of accountability is established. The shooting of unarmed civilians is inexcusable, and it is vital in order to establish public trust in the rule of law that an appropriate investigation be completed and sanctions imposed on those responsible. Those under investigation should be suspended immediately,” the statement quoted Ian Martin, OHCHR representative in Nepal as saying. nepalnews.com mk Apr 27 06
The health of Nepali Congress president and newly appointed Prime Minister, Girija Prasad Koirala, is quite critical, his party colleagues said.
Talking to reporters at Koirala’s residence at Maharajgunj on Thursday evening, Nepali Congress spokesman Krishna P Sitaula said Koirala has been placed under ventilator to facilitate his respiration.
85-year-old Koirala has been suffering from respiration-related ailments for the past few years.
His Majesty King Gyanendra appointed Koirala as the new prime minister this evening. He is expected to be administered oath of office at 9:30 a. m. on Friday. He will then have to lead the treasury benches at the first session of the reinstated House of Representatives at 1:00 p. m.
Sitaula, however, said whether Koirala would be able to take oath of office would depend on the advice of the doctors who will examine him again on Friday morning.
A group of physicians, led by Dr. Madhu Ghimire, has been examining Koirala on a regular basis.
Koirala was unable to participate in the “victory rally and mass meeting” organized by the seven party alliance at Tundikhel in Kathmandu Friday afternoon due to ill health. nepalnews.com by Apr 27 06
Leaders of the Seven Party Alliance (SPA), have vowed not to repeat mistakes they had committed in the dissolved parliament and to move ahead as per the mandate of the popular movement of the country.
Speaking at a mass meeting in capital, they said that holding the elections of the constituent assembly and restoring lasting peace in the country are the major agendas of the reinstated House of Representative (HoR).
They said that they will give top priority to the election of the constituent assembly and to take action against those using excessive force during the people’s movement during the Friday’s session of the reinstated HoR.
Addressing the victory rally, participated by tens of thousands of people, general secretary of CPN-UML, Madhav Kumar Nepal said that the SPA has no alternative to SPA then holding the election of the constituent assembly and establish inclusive democracy in the country.
He urged the government to be formed to provide appropriate compensation to the people injured during the pro-democracy movement of the country and to the family members of the people killed during the movement.
He said that though the SPA had given the mandate to Girija Prasad Koirala to be the Prime Minsiter of the reinstated HoR, he has to take oath before the people and work as per the aspiration of the people, adding, “If the reinstated house failed to address the problems facing the country and work as per the aspiration of people, we will come to the street resigning from the Parliament.”
He urged the people to be cautious as they have get only partial success and the destination is the election of the constituent assembly.
He informed that the lawmakers have decided not to take the allowances of the time, when the parliament remained dissolved and even considering not to take the daily allowances, considering the poor economic situation of the country.
“This is people’s victory,” “Leaders, beware! Elections must be held for the constituent assembly,” chanted enthusiastic supporters of the opposition parties. They were carrying four-start flag of Nepali Congress and hammer-and-sickle flag of various left parties.
Youths, women, professionals, government employees and even people who were injured during pro-democracy movement took part in the rally chanting pro-democracy slogans.
Former Prime Minister and president of Nepali Congress Democratic (NC-D) Sher Bahadur Deuba said that parties will not deviate from the mandate of the people and will work for the welfare of people.
Deuba, who was sacked time and again from the post of Prime Minister following the dissolution of the parliament citing Article 127 of the Constitution said that the parliament will delete Article 127 of the constitution and remove the provision of Rajparishad.
Former premier Deuba, once known as the loyal to the King, said, “I knew the King better so he may deceive the people so I can’t compromise in the issue of holding election of the constituent assembly to make people sovereign.”
Deuba stressed the need of changing phrase His Majesty’s Government into Nepal government and to make Royal Nepalese Army inro Nepali National Army.
“I get deceived time and again but this time I will not be deceived,” Deuba expressed his bitterness that he was sacked by the King while working in his favour as well.
NC president Girija Prasad Koirala who was selected for the post of Prime Minister by the SPA, did not attend the mass meeting due to ill-health but the mass chanted slogans demanding Koirala to come to the rally and express his commitment to work in favour of people and respect the mandate of the people.
The crowd did not allow NC vice president Sushil Koirala, to speak on behalf of GP Koirala and NC. They chanted slogans like, “We want Girija”, “We wan’t his comitment”, “Leaders don’t deceive us”.
The SPA that had announced a protest programme for the restoration of complete democracy in the country from the same location some three years ago and urged people to participate in their protest programme organized as a victory meeting in the same location to make commitment to the people before the first meeting of the reinstated HoR.
The King on Monday reinstated the HoR as per the demand of the SPA, following the 19-day long general strike of SPA and nationwide protest programme.
Sushil quoted Girija as saying that he will work as per the people’s mandate and move ahead as per the roadmap of the seven political parties.
Addressing the same programme, Chairman of People’s Front Nepal Amik Serchan said that the agitation of the SPA become successful due to the active participation of the Maoists and added that the problems facing the country will not be resolved unless the parliament holds election to the constituent assembly.
Similarly, chairman of Nepal Workers and Peasants’ Party Narayan Man Bijukchhe, Chairman of United Leftist Front Prabhu Narayan Chaudhari and Bharat Bimal Yadav of Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandidevi) also reiterated that holding the election of the constituent assembly is the main duty of the reinstated parliament and vowed that the parliament will work in favour of people.
They said that they will not repeat the mistakes parties had done in the parliament and added that they will work in favour of people to establish inclusive democracy in the country and to restore lasting peace by bringing Maoists into the mainstream of politics.
Chairman of Nepal Bar Association Sambhu Thapa and Chairman of Federation of Nepalese Journalists Bishnu Nisthuri also cautioned the lawmakers not to curtail people’s rights and to hold the election of the constituent assembly immediately to bring the Maoists into the political mainstream for restoring lasting peace in the country.
They added that the problems facing the country could not be resolved without addressing the agendas raised by the Maoists.
The local administration withdrew its order declaring Tundikhel and surrounding areas as ‘prohibited zone’ on Tuesday allowing people to assemble at the city center for the first time in the last 15 months. nepalnews.com pb Apr 27 06
Pakistan has welcomed the royal proclamation of April 24 restoring the dissolved House of Representatives.
“Pakistan welcomes the developments in Nepal following the royal proclamation of 24 April which included restoration of the Parliament. We hope that the breakthrough would usher in an era of durable peace and prosperity in the Kingdom of Nepal,” a press release issued by the spokesperson of the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
The statement further said, “The government of Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering support for the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nepal.”
Saying that Nepal-Pak ties are based on the principles of sovereign equality and non-interference, the Pakistani government said it was confident that the bilateral relations would be further strengthened in the days ahead.
The Pakistani government’s response to the royal proclamation is the latest in the series of welcome messages from the international community.
Pakistan was among a few countries including China that had described the royal takeover of February 1, 2005, as Nepal’s internal affair. nepalnews.com mk Apr 27 06
By Indra Adhikari
His Majesty King Gyanendra addressing the Nation on Nepal Television, Monday, Apr 24 06. nepalnews.com/rh
Monday night (April 24) marked the victory of the sovereign people when the king, who had usurped executive power, was forced to step down because of his own regressive acts.
Millions of people came to the streets to spill out their dissatisfaction against the royal regime within one year of king’s direct rule, even though the people had largely kept silence when King Gyanendra sacked then prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba in October 2002, hoping that they would get some relief from continued instability in the country.
Royalists claimed in the beginning that king’s proclamation had popular support and that the parties were no more with the masses.
Right activist Krishana Pahadi addressing a mass meeting assembled after staging victory rallies in different parts of Kathmandu at Tundikhel, Tuesday, Apr 25 06. nepalnews.com/rh
Finally, when the parties called for decisive movement against the autocratic royal regime beginning April 6, the agitation spearheaded by the seven-party alliance (SPA) was not only theirs but it turned out be the people’s movement. “The major cause of the popular uprising against the king’s rule was increasing frustration among the people who gained nothing from the commitments made by the king during the proclamation,” said Yuvaraj Ghimire, editor of Samay weekly.
“It was not the parties that forced the king to surrender, but the people power. Even then, the credits go to the seven political parties and the Maoists for this success who instigated people to come to streets against the regime,” said spokesperson of the Nepali Congress Krishna Prasad Sitaula.
A protester climbing a bamboo to put a party’s flag on top of the poll, Thursday Apr20 06
SPA leaders have admitted that they had not initially expected that the movement to grow so strong with the participation of millions of people.
People believe that end of conflict was possible only when the Maoists are brought into political mainstream through peaceful means. Millions of people from western hills, who have hard hit by the Maoists insurgency, wholeheartedly joined in the demonstrations demanding peace and democracy. They have realized there is no end to the problem unless many just demands of the Maoists are addressed.
The number of people joining the movement spiraled up by the day as the movement went on. More than 1 million poured into the demonstrations in Kathmandu last Friday. The number of people joining the demonstration further increased after the first proclamation of the King until finally forcing the king to capitulate.
General strike day 17 : Protesters at Tinkune burning tyres despite the curfew, Saturday, Apr 22 06. nepalnews.com/ks
“More than a dozen years of freedom had developed a willingness amongst the people to challenge the establishment – something king Gyanendra was not able to grasp,” says senior journalist Kanak Mani Dixit.
Participation of the people was more than five times than that of 1990’s popular movement. For continuous 19 days, people kept on protesting without rest, turning the agitation into a full-fledged people’s movement when a number of districts saw more than 200,000 people marching on the streets for their rights.
South-western Chitwan district saw the largest demonstration in its history, where more than two million people joined in the rallies every day. +++
People from remote parts of the country also joined the people of urban areas to protest the direct rule of the king keeping their household affairs behind.
Former PM Krishna Prasad Bhattarai outside the Narayanhity Royal Palace after receiving an audience from King Gyanendra, Monday evening, Apr 17 06. nepalnews.com/rh
In Kathmandu, about one million people participated in different rallies on Friday, defying curfew imposed by the district administrations of Kathmandu and Lalitpur. Huge protest rallies were organized in almost all cities and towns around the country.
People in remote districts like Mugu, Dolpa, Mustang, Manang, Rolpa, Achham, Dadeldhura and Pyuthan and other districts also came out in thousands to join in the democratic movement. Notably, these districts have been highly affected by the Maoist insurgency and the activities of political parties had been curtailed by the rebels for years. These districts had remained largely silent in the political changes of 1951, 1980 and 1990.
General Strike Day 12: Supreme Court staff staging a sit-in program at their …
“The unexpected participation in the movement proved that people in these areas were politically alert and were convinced that the present conflict will not get an outlet unless democracy is restored,” observed Ghimire.
Farmers in districts like Gorkha, Jhapa, Kavre, Bardiya took out rallies in the district headquarters with their tools. In Chitwan, farmers spilled their milk on the street as a form of protest while their counterparts in Sindhupalchok stopped the supply of vegetable to Kathmandu.
In Banke, hundreds of children staged rallies demanding peace and better environment for their growth wherein they could continue their study without obstructions.
‘Vote for democracy’: Thamel-based tourism entrepreneurs handing over Rs 130,000 to the fund set up for treatment of the people injured during the ongoing movement for democracy at Kathmandu Model Hospital. About Rs five million has been collected in the fund, Saturday, Apr 15 06. nepalnews.com/rh
The opposition protests reached new heights as student activists, professionals and civil society members took to the streets on April 8defying the curfew and the prohibitory orders imposed by the royal government. Curfew was disobeyed in various other cities as well. This was an indication that people were ready to risk their lives while fighting for peace and total democracy.
Even the marginalized communities showed huge participation in the pro-democracy rallies across the country. On Sunday, freed Kamaiyas (bonded laborers) of Bardiya district staged a rally saying that their rehabilitation could be not be done in the absence of democracy.
General Strike Day 14: Local people of Gongabu, Kathmandu, demonstrating for ‘total democracy’ on Wednesday , Apr 19 06. nepalnews.com/rh
Demonstrations were not only the factors that shaped this people’s movement but the international pressure as well. Most donors including Japan, the US, the UK, India and the EU warned that the King would have to face serious challenges if he did not listen to the people’s voice. In the meantime, the Amnesty International went on to urge the international community to impose travel ban on the King and his aides.
The clear mandate the movement has given is that the country should now go for a new constitution to meet the aspirations of the people, limiting the role of the monarch to that of a ceremonial figurehead and make him or future monarchs, if any, unable to usurp what belong to the people – the sovereign power. “The political parties must ensure through new constitution that the future monarchs will not have be able to confiscate people’s sovereignty,” Ghimire added.
Lawyers under duress: An angry policeman charging with the butt of his gun raised against lawyers while they were staging a rally defying prohibitory order at Babar Mahal, Thursday, Apr 13 06. nepalnews.com/rh
People risked bullets, batons and teargas and took to the streets. The government finally came to realize that its tactics to suppress the movement were not working anymore. The more atrocious the security forces the more courageous the protesters became. At least 16 pro-democracy activists lost their lives while, according to parties, over 5,000 people sustained injuries and few injured persons were taken into custody by the security forces.
The government repeatedly stated that there was infiltration of Maoist rebels in the movement but in the due course of the movement this claim proved nothing more than a propaganda theory. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights-Nepal rather found that armed security personnel had infiltrated the peaceful demonstrations in Nepalgunj on April 9 with an intention to incite violence.
Artists and writers staging a rally in support of the seven-party alliance’s movement at Old Baneshwor, Wednesday, Apr 12 06. nepalnews.com/rh
The royal government left no stone unturned when it came to detaining whoever came its way. Drafters of the present constitution Daman Nath Dhungana and Laxman Aryal were arrested and kept in custody for more than two weeks while civil society leaders like Krishna Pahadi, Devendra Raj Pandey, Mathura Shrestha and Shyam Shrestha were detained for more than three months and dozens of others including, lawyers, journalists and professionals handed over three-month detention letters. They were released only after the king climbed down on Monday.
Trade union workers affiliated to the seven agitating political parties in a rally at Teku as a part of publicity campaign for the April 6-9 four-day general strike, Monday, Apr 03 06. nepalnews.com/rh
“The clear message of the movement is that the people want the 21st century King to fiddle with people’s sovereign power. He must respect the public opinion and let the governance be run by the elected leaders,” says joint general secretary of the Nepali Congress Ram Sharan Mahat.
The Jana Andolan part-II has also placed the parties on tight spot. They will have to deliver a clean and accountable government and, at the same time, work earnestly towards resolving the decade-old conflict by brining the Maoist rebels to the democratic mainstream.
The parties can’t afford to fail this time around.
Ten demonstrators were injured when the security forces opened fire on a victory rally held at Gamgadhi, the district headquarters of remote hilly district, Mugu on Tuesday.
The police started the firing after the participants of the victory rally encircled the helipad situated at Mahakali Higher Secondary School to prevent government nominated chairman of the DDC, Dilli Prasad Bhatta, member Dhanmal Karki, chairman of Mahendra Nature Conservation Trust Bali Raj Malla and some others from flying out of Mugu.
Thousands of people staged victory rallies across the nation on Tuesday.
Thousands, including leaders and activists of the seven-party alliance, businessmen and intellectuals, took part in a rally staged in Charikot. The rally converged into a meeting at Satdobato after passing through the main thoroughfares of Charikot.
A report from Lamjung said thousands of people staged victory rallies there. After passing through the major thoroughfares of Besisahar, the district headquarters of Lamjung, the rally converged into a corner meeting at Bhimsen Chowk. Speakers of the programmed stressed on the need to bring the Maoists into the political mainstream.
Some agitators vandalised the house of Lamjung chapter president of the Federation of National Journalists Nawa Raj Pahadi.
Sporting flags and banners, thousands of people staged a victory rally in Birgunj. Addressing a meeting, district leaders warned the central leadership of the seven parties not to settle for anything less than a constituent assembly.
About 50,000 people staged a rally, which converged into a meeting at the Mahendra Multiple Campus in Baglung.
Activists of the seven parties staged victory rallies in Malangawa, Hariwan, Lalbandi and Ishworpur in Sarlahi. District leaders urged central leaders to meet the Maoists’ demands.
Thousands of people staged rallies in different districts of the far-western region, a report from Dhangadhi said.
Thousands of people from different walks of life took part in a rally at Gaur, Pokhara, Tanahu, Jaleshwor, Gaushala, Bardibas, Matihani and Mahottari. In Dhankuta too, thousands took part in victory rallies.
A report from Parbat said, Govindanath Sharma, who was undergoing treatment after being injured in indiscriminate police firing in Parbat on Saturday, died of injuries on Tuesday.
According to doctors, one of his lungs was punctured by a bullet. Thousands of people participated in the funeral procession of Sharma.
Issuing separate press statements, political parties in the district declared Sharma a “martyr”. nepalnews.com pb Apr 26 06
India has welcomed developments in Nepal towards the restoration of multi-party democracy and the handing over of political power to representatives of the people.
It is the victory of Nepali people who showed unmatched courage and commitment to democracy and independence, a statement issued by the External Ministry said on Tuesday.
“We are ready to render unstinted support to the people of Nepal in whatever manner they wish. India wishes to see the emergence of a peaceful, stable and prosperous Nepal and will contribute to this end to the best of its ability and resources,” the statement said.
“We are conscious of the challenges that lie ahead for Nepal as it embarks on the journey towards restoring political stability, achieving economic recovery and finding a peaceful solution to the armed conflict. These challenges will require the positive contribution of all concerned, drawing upon the support of the people of Nepal,” The Hindu, a leading Indian newspaper quoted Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee as saying.
On Friday, India had welcomed King Gyanendra’s intention of transferring executive authority to the people, without restoring Parliament; a position that was rejected by the alliance and the Maoist leadership.
The Bharatiya Janata Party also welcomed the developments in Nepal but cautioned the government to be careful on the role of Maoists in a future set up in Nepal.
China has also welcomed King Gyanendra’s decision to revive Parliament and said the move would restore social stability and achieve political reconciliation in Nepal.
“We welcome the positive efforts made by the King and hope that Nepali people will achieve political reconciliation and social stability,” report quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman, Qin Gang, as saying.
Maintaining that China is a friendly neighbour of Nepal, Qin declined Chinese intervention in Nepal. “We would like to see peace, harmony, stability and development in Nepal,” he added. nepalnews.com pb Apr 26 06
A day after the announcement of the reinstatement of the House of Representatives (HoR), the Nepal Bar Association (NBA), an umbrella organization of lawyers has called on the parliament, which is scheduled to convene on Friday, to scrap all the ordinances brought during the King’s direct rule.
The NBA urged the parliament to scrap the ordinances that had been introduced to curb the rights of the people. It also called for the dismissal, and if needed, impeachment, of all those officials of the constitutional bodies who were appointed after February 1 last year and who curtailed the people’s rights.
The NBA also called the parliamentarians not to accept salary and other facilities for the last four years when the parliament was not active.
The lawyers’ body also called on the to be formed government to announce a truce, call Maoists for talks, amend the constitution to pave a way for holding elections to a constituent assembly, and implement the roadmap of the seven-party alliance.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court Bar Association urged the House to curtail the power of the monarch including the provision on succession and control of the Royal Nepalese Army. It also called for a dismissal of the Rajparishad. nepalnews.com pb Apr 26 06
The United Kingdom (UK) has welcomed the King’s announcement to revive the parliament that was dissolved on May 22, 2002.
A press statement issued by the British Embassy in Kathmandu quoted Foreign Office Minister Dr Kim Howells as saying, “This is a tribute to the Nepalese people’s desire for democracy and peace. We therefore welcome the King’s announcement and the reinstatement of Parliament,” adding, “This is the moment for which the political parties have long worked: the return of genuine multi-party democracy and a government with full executive powers.”
King Gyanendra reinstated the dissolved House of Representatives on Monday as per the demand of the seven political parties.
The UK also congratulated Girija Prasad Koirala on being nominated the new Prime Minister by the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and called on the political parties to work constructively together to take forward the political process without delay.
The statement further said, “The Maoists now need to prove their commitment to democracy by giving up violence and by entering into a peace process with the new government, beginning with a ceasefire.”
The statement reiterated the UK’s readiness to assist the new government and the people of Nepal in support of peace, democracy and development.
The Danish government also welcomed the reinstatement of the HoR, saying the conflict is going to be solved according to the SPA’s road map.
A press statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Denmark said, “Reinstatement of the HoR on 24th April 2006 represents the first step necessary to address the many challenges which South Asia’s poorest country face,” adding, “Among the most important tasks ahead is the need to secure a peaceful solution to the violent conflict with the Maoists.”
The statement further said that the political leaders must now show leadership and remain united in order to ensure peace and democracy for the population in Nepal.
The statement also urged Maoists to renounce violence and decide to participate in the democratic process.
“When the King suspended democracy and assumed full executive powers on 1st February 2005, Denmark decided to maintain its engagement and presence in Nepal – to support the Nepalese people and the country’s democratic forces,” the statement added.
Denmark also expressed its readiness to continue its support to the process ahead towards peace, democracy and development – in the interest of the Nepalese people. nepalnews.com pb Apr 26 06