Wednesday, 2 January 2008

Nepal Will Officially Abolish the Monarchy

1 January 2008

The Mirror, Vol. 11, No. 541

“Nepali parliamentarians officially adopted an agreement on Friday to abolish the monarchy which had lasted for centuries, and announced that this country will be a republic. However, King Gyanendra still reigns during this time when a resolution is sought between the Maoists and the government in order to make Nepal a republic, which may take effect at the first conference of the new constitutional assembly; a poll for the constitutional assembly will be held in mid April 2008.

“A senior Maoist leader, Mr. Krishna Bahadur Mahara, said, ‘This is a historical chance for this country.’ Now we will mainly focus on the holding of a general election and to work with different parties to implement the creation of a republic.’

“The Maoists had rebelled for many decades to overthrow the monarchy, though the rebellion ended late last year with a historical peace agreement between the main political parties.
“During a vote on Friday, 270 among the 321 parliamentarians voted for the abolition of the monarchy, and three voted against it. The rest were absent or abstained.

“This amendment of the constitution was achieved after the government and the Maoists had formulated an agreement of 23 points, which ended a long-term deadlock in the peace process.
“Mr. Rajendra Dahal, an editor of Himal Magazine, told AFP that the government had provided a clear road map to give up the monarchist institutions. They asked the King to give up the throne voluntarily and peacefully.

“No comment from the Royal Palace has been given. The King, aged 61, had most of his power including his roles as head of state and as a commander-in-chief removed since the public demonstrations, which had forced an end of his dictatorial rule of 14 months, in April 2006.
“The amendment of the constitution gave the parliamentarians the power to change Nepal to become a republic before a poll, if the King would attempt to interrupt the elections.”

Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1532, 30-31.12.2007

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