King Gyanendra: Democracy Message and Controversies

Share This Story

By Indra Adhikari

Notwithstanding the rights guaranteed by the constitution that a person has the right to free speech and expression, the political parties, their sister organisations and civil society members hastily attacked the statement given by de-powered king Gyanendra Monday.

King Gyanendra, who succeeded to the throne some six years ago, had been increasingly unpopular since he took over executive power in 2005, reaching a climax in April last year, whereby mass demonstrations forced him to return power to the people.

Democracy Day

To mark the 57th anniversary of democracy day, which had actually liberated the sidelined Shah dynasty from the grip of the autocratic Rana regime, fourth in succession to the throne after the liberation, King Gyanendra had attempted to defend his position in taking the February 1 step two years back. He said it was a compelling situation after the parties failed to maintain stability and revive the elected bodies.

The first to condemn the royal statement was home minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula who said the King's statement was not approved by the cabinet, specifically, the palace did not consult the cabinet for the statement. Sitaula said the government would not be responsible for any untoward incident incited by the statement.

The home minister, who instantly formed a committee to investigate stone pelting at the royal carcade some days back, came out against the royal statement. Ironically, he seemed as serious about the king's statement as he was in investigating the attack on the king during the Shivaratri festival.

Infuriated Party Meetings

UML, holding an emergency standing committee meeting, termed the statement to be unconstitutional and inappropriate while NC, whose president holds most powers at this time, said the statement was another furious shot of the king 'to cover his black deeds in his 15-month rule' - for which the king has taken moral responsibility for all that happened during his direct authority. The informal NC central committee meeting held Monday also condemned the royal speech, except a few who raised the issue of the right to speech guaranteed by the constitution, to be applicable to the King as well.

Maoist chairman Prachanda, visiting the eastern town of Biratnagar, the hometown of PM Girija Prasad Koirala, told the media early morning that regressive forces are still actively trying to disturb the constituent assembly polls slated for mid-June. Earlier in the day, at a public function, he told the easterners that it was too late to declare Nepal as republic, which he had repeated during his first public speech in 25 years in Kathmandu on February 13, marking the 12th anniversary of the 'people's war'. The enraged Prachanda, who proposed a provision to vote out the king in the interim constitution, had called the seven party leaders and urged them to be prepared to declare a republic.

Royal Rumours

Weeks back, reports said King Gyanendra had made several proposals for talks with PM Kiorala and Prachanda supposedly proposing his grandson be installed as the new king and wishing himself and his even more unpopular son Paras to relinquish their claims to the throne. Indian media reports frequently - sometimes saying the king was ready to leave the country with his family while other times making efforts to save the monarchy.

Still, everyone is very unaware of what is going on inside the palace, that has remained silent since King stepped down in April last year. The recent political statement by a divisional headquarters chief of the Nepali Army had raised eyebrows regarding royalists still active in the once king-loyal military force.

Yet, nothing has come true.

Condemnations and Demonstrations

While the government organised democracy day function was observed on the Nepali Army's open theatre at Tundikhel, the Maoist affiliated Young Communist League and others were demonstrating against the monarch at Ratna Park, some 200m away separated by a garden named after Queen Mother Ratna.

Hours later, student organisations affiliated to the eight-party coalition launched a demonstration in Kathmandu demanding the declaration of the end of the monarchy before the CA polls are held. Civil society leaders added fuel to the fire, putting pressure on the parties in the interim parliament, to declare a republic.

Interestingly, what prevents the parties declaring a republic is unclear but everybody guesses it is the influences of the Nepali Congress who still wishes to have a ceremonial kingship. Except this party, others in the ruling coalition favor a republic. Under pressure from PM Koirala, the parties agreed to withhold the issue to the first sitting of the constituent assembly. But time is passing with no serious preparations for polls by the parties and the government. The royalists are being accused of inciting demonstrations to disrupt the polls, but there are meek hopes that elections are held as per the schedule.

Testing Rage

This was the second statement by the king since April last year. Occasions are available for the king to test the level of rage prevailing among the general public against him. The protests were smaller, mostly encouraged by Leftists, but the general public seems less interested in what happens to the king or monarchy but watch with curiosity the days of peace and instability in the country.

Remaining quiet would bring more support to the monarchy from citizens but these intermittent statements might become instruments for anti-monarchists to incite people against the monarch.