HEADLINES IN CLIPPINGS 01. Nepal's King Gyanendra takes charge after dismissing government 02. State of emergency declared 03. Nepal king dimisses government, declares emergency 04. Nepal king sacks government, assumes power 05. Flights turn back as Nepal shuts main airport 06. Nepal's King denies 'coup' 07. India voices concern over political developments in Nepal 08. Emergency Nepal's internal affair: China ////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Dak Bangla: http://dakbangla.blogspot.com/2005/02/nepal-king-takes-over-emer_110726227514916\ 618.html 01/02/2005 01. Nepal's King Gyanendra takes charge after dismissing government Sunil Vyas In one of its sensational move, Nepal's King Gyanendra Tuesday said he has dissolved the coalition government and taken charge of Nepal amid a bloody Maoist insurgency. "I have decided to dissolve the government because it has failed to make necessary arrangements to hold elections by April and protect democracy, the sovereignty of the people and life and property," said King Gyanendra in a televised address. "I have exercised the rights given to the crown under the present constitution and dissolved the government for the larger interests of the people, country and protection of sovereignty," the 63-year old king said. "A new Cabinet will be formed under my leadership. This will restore peace and effective democracy in this country within the next three years," the king assured. Several important political leaders including members of the Nepal Communist Party-United Marxist and Leninist, a key partner in the former coalition government, were put under house arrest, party sources said. The king accused political parties of indulging in 'factional fighting'. "In fact all the democratic forces and political leaders should have united to protect the country's democracy, national sovereignty, people's life and property and also protect the country's economic infrastructure," the king told the nation in more than half an hour long interview. "Innocent children were found massacred and the government could not achieve any important and effective results. The crown traditionally is held responsible for the protection of national sovereignty, democracy and also people's right to live peacefully. It is the duty of the crown to protect all these segments of society," he reiterated. The king maintained that the Deuba government had failed to protect democracy and sovereignty of the people. King Gyanendra had appointed Deuba as Prime minister last year and asked him to conduct parliamentary elections and hold peace talks with the Maoist rebels. Earlier, the King had sacked Deuba in 2002 for failing to hold elections, but asked him to form the government last year as the rebels stepped up insurgency in the Himalayan kingdom. Meanwhile, security was beefed up at key locations in Kathmandu soon after the speech was telecast. Security forces were stationed in front of government establishments and buildings, post offices, telecommunications centres and the state bank, witnesses said. The insurgency has so far claimed more than 11,000-lives in the Himalayan state. LINK http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/1449.html 01/02/2005 02. State of emergency declared >From correspondents in Kathmandu NEPAL's King Gyanendra has declared a state of emergency after dismissing the government and taking charge of the country, which is fighting a Maoist insurgency, state media announced. "A state of emergency has been enforced across the country," suspending all fundamental rights of citizens, state run radio and television said. Political leaders accused the king of staging a coup. "I have exercised the rights given to the crown under the present constitution and dissolved the government in the larger interests of the people," the king said in an address on nationwide television. King Gyanendra, who sacked Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba for the second time in two years, said he would head the new government and form a council of ministers. He promised to "restore democracy and law and order in the country in the next three years". "For the larger interest of the Nepalese general public, the nation and democracy and people's fundamental rights, we have decided to form a new government under my own chairmanship." Opposition leaders said King Gyanendra, who ascended the throne after a palace massacre in 2001, had staged a new coup. Residents of Kathmandu, reached by telephone said outgoing landline telephone and mobile phone links had been cut. "The king has staged a coup and taken over the country's administration and other powers into his own hands," Sujata Koirala, leader of the women's wing of the Nepali Congress and daughter of a former prime minister, said. The King also had Kathmandu's airport shut down, and flights to Nepal were turned back, airline officials said. "We are told that Kathmandu is shut down today due to a general strike after the king fired the government," an official of state-run Indian Airlines said. It was not immediately known when air links would be restored. Of four daily flights between New Delhi and Kathmandu, operated by different airlines, three were not allowed to land while the fourth, leaving later in the day, was cancelled. Road links between India and landlocked Nepal were, however, open, an Indian customs official said. "The border is open. Trade is taking place and there is movement of people," a customs inspector said from the border town of Jogbani in the eastern Indian state of Bihar. "So far there is no problem. Everything looks normal." Troops and armed police patrolled the streets of Kathmandu and surrounded the palace and other key sites such as government buildings. State radio said the king had suspended some articles of the 1991 constitution but did not say which. Several key leaders including those of the Nepal Communist Party-United Marxist and Leninist, the main partners in the former coalition government, were under house arrest, party sources said. Security forces were barring entry to Mr Deuba's residence, witnesses said. The king accused political parties of "indulging in factional fighting". "All the democratic forces and political leaders should have united to protect the country's democracy," King Gyanendra said in his half-hour speech. "Innocent children were found massacred and the government could not achieve any important and effective results. "The crown traditionally is held responsible for the protection of national sovereignty, democracy and people's right to live peacefully." The king summoned Mr Deuba last night to discuss the "law-and-order situation and the proposed elections", a former cabinet minister and Deuba confidant said. Mr Deuba had promised to hold long-postponed elections after the rebels, fighting to topple the monarchy and set up a communist republic, failed to respond to his mid-January ultimatum to agree to peace talks. But he had not set a date and his coalition partners opposed holding elections before negotiations resumed with the rebels, who had vowed to sabotage the polls. The Maoist conflict which has claimed more than 11,000 lives since 1996, has become increasingly bloody in the past couple of years. The king first sacked Mr Deuba in 2002 and branded him incompetent for failing to hold elections and fight the Maoist revolt. He also dissolved the parliament. But King Gyanendra recalled the veteran politician last year, ordering him to hold elections and resume talks with Maoists after international and domestic pressure grew on him to restore democracy. Last week, the king of nearby Bhutan warned of a "real threat" that the Maoist revolt in Nepal could escalate out of control with negative implications India and his own tiny Himalayan kingdom. "We sincerely hope ... some initiatives will be taken by the political parties in Nepal to resolve the Maoist problem," King Jigme Singye Wangchuk said. Gyanendra became king in June 2001 after his brother King Birendra and most of the royal family were shot dead by the former crown prince, who was high on drink and drugs. The crown prince also killed himself. LINK http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,12115029%255E401,00.ht\ ml 01/02/2005 03. Nepal king dimisses government, declares emergency Kathmandu, Feb. 1. (PTI): Nepal today plunged into a political crisis after King Gyanendra dismissed Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba government accusing it of "failing to protect democracy" and declared a state of emergency in the country. Armoured vehicles with mounted machine guns patrolled the capital and security was beefed up. Plainclothesmen have been stationed at government offices and at residences of several political leaders. There were unconfirmed reports that political leaders, including those from Nepal Communist Party United Marxist and Leninist, a key ally in the Deuba coalition government were put under house arrest. Phone lines in the capital were shut down. The king, in a televised address, declared that a new government would be formed under his leadership that "will restore peace and effective democracy in this country within the next three years." "I have decided to dissolve the government because it has failed to make necessary arrangements to hold elections by April and protect democracy, the sovereignty of the people and life and property," the king said announcing the dismissal of the Deuba government installed by him last year. This is the second time in three years that the king has dissolved the government. "For the larger interest of the Nepalese general public, the nation and democracy and people's fundamentals rights, we have decided to form a new government under my own chairmanship," the king said. Later, the state-run TV reported that a state of emergency has been declared in the Himalyan Kingdom. LINK http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200502011301.htm 01/02/2005 04. Nepal king sacks government, assumes power (Reuters) KATHMANDU - Nepali King Gyanendra sacked the government and assumed power himself on Tuesday, saying the leadership had failed to hold elections or restore peace amid an escalating civil war with Maoist rebels. Indian television channel NDTV said the king had taken power for the next three years and placed many politicians under house arrest. ?I have decided to dissolve the government because it has failed to make necessary arrangements to hold elections by April and promote democracy, the sovereignty of the people and life and property,? the king said in an address on state radio. Shortly afterwards telephone and mobile lines were apparently shut down in Kathmandu and communications links closed between the country and the rest of the world. No further details were available. The strategic Himalayan nation sandwiched between India and China is locked in a bitter three-way struggle among the king, the Maoist rebels and political parties who are often bitterly divided amongst themselves. The king is often accused of overstepping his powers, and reappointed Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba only last June, two years after sacking him for the same reasons he cited this time - inability to tackle the long-standing revolt against the monarchy and failure to call an election. In January, Deuba had promised to go ahead with the election despite the civil war and the refusal of the Maoists to come to peace talks by a Jan. 13 deadline. But many members of Deuba?s own cabinet were known to be unhappy with the election plan on grounds it was unrealistic in a country where the rebels control much of the countryside. The rebels have been fighting since 1996 to replace the monarchy with a communist republic in a revolt that has cost around 11,000 lives. The king himself had promised that elections would begin by the start of the Nepali new year in mid-April. Indian television said he accused political parties of factional fighting. This is the fourth time the king has sacked a prime minister in less than three years. Nepal has had no parliament since 2002. Nepal is one of the world?s poorest nations and its only Hindu kingdom. Many people still view the king as a reincarnation of the god Vishnu. But the monarchy?s reputation nosedived in 2001 when the crown prince, Dipendra, killed his father, the popular King Birendra, and several other royals in a palace massacre. He then turned the gun on himself. Gyanendra was crowned king after the massacre, but has never been as popular as his brother Birendra. Tens of thousands of tourists visit Nepal each year as it has eight of the world?s 14 highest mountains, including Mount Everest. LINK http://khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2005/February\ /subcontinent_February29.xml§ion=subcontinent&col= 01/02/2005 05. Flights turn back as Nepal shuts main airport NEW DELHI (Reuters) - International flights to Nepal were turned back on Tuesday as the airport in the capital Kathmandu was closed after King Gyanendra sacked the government and assumed power, airline officials said. Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport was apparently shut down, along with telephone and mobile phone networks in the Himalayan country, largely cutting it off from the rest of the world. "We are told that Kathmandu is shut down today due to a general strike after the king fired the government," an official of state-run Indian Airlines told Reuters. It was not immediately known when air links would be restored. Of four daily flights between New Delhi and Kathmandu, operated by different airlines, three were not allowed to land while the fourth, leaving later in the day, was cancelled. "Our aircraft returned and all our flights to Kathmandu are cancelled until further notice," the Indian Airlines official said. Officials at private Indian carriers Jet Airways and Air Sahara also said their aircraft were turned back after they had taken off from New Delhi for Kathmandu. A Thai Airways official in New Delhi said its flight from Bangkok to Kathmandu had also gone back to the Thai capital without landing in Kathmandu. Road links between India and landlocked Nepal were, however, open, an Indian customs official said. "The border is open. Trade is taking place and there is movement of people," a customs inspector told Reuters by telephone from the border town of Jogbani in the eastern Indian state of Bihar. "So far there is no problem. Everything looks normal." Gyanendra sacked Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's government saying it had failed to hold long-delayed elections or restore peace amid an escalating civil war with Maoist rebels. (Additional reporting by Surojit Gupta in NEW DELHI) LINK http://www.reuters.com/locales/c_newsArticle.jsp?type=topNews&localeKey=en_IN&st\ oryID=7495447 01/02/2005 06. Nepal's King denies 'coup' King Gyanendra dismissed Nepal's government today and declared a state of emergency, taking control of the Himalayan kingdom for the second time in three years. He denied his takeover was a coup, although soldiers surrounded the houses of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and other government leaders. "We will oppose this step," said Deuba, who was not allowed to leave his home. Armoured military vehicles with mounted machine guns were patrolling the streets of Kathmandu, the capital, and phone lines in the city had been cut. Airlines reported that the Kathmandu airport had been closed to flights. Long lines quickly formed at grocery stores and petrol stations, as worried residents stocked up on supplies. "We are so confused. We don't know what is going on or what will happen," said Narayan Thapa, a government worker in Kathmandu. "I am worried I can't reach my family on the phone." In an announcement on state-run television, the king accused the government of failing to conduct parliamentary elections and being unable to restore peace in the country, which is beset by rebel violence. "A new Cabinet will be formed under my leadership," he said, accusing political parties of plunging the country into crisis. "This will restore peace and effective democracy in this country within the next three years." Later, state-run television reported that a state of emergency had been declared. The monarch, who is also the supreme commander of the 78,000-member Royal Nepalese Army, said security forces would be given more power to maintain law and order. But he insisted human rights would be respected. Deuba was also fired as prime minister in October 2002, sparking mass street protests demanding the restoration of a democratically elected government. The king reinstated Deuba last year with the task of holding parliamentary elections by March 2005 and conducting peace talks with the Maoist rebels. Nepal has been in turmoil since Gyanendra, 55, suddenly assumed the crown in 2001 after his brother, King Birendra, was gunned down in a palace massacre apparently committed by Birendra's son, the crown prince, who also died. Ten members of the royal family were killed. Riots shook Kathmandu after the killings. Soon after, fighting intensified between government forces and the rebels, who control large parts of Nepal's countryside. The rebels, who draw inspiration from the late Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong, have been trying since 1996 to overthrow the government and establish a socialist state. They have refused the government's invitation to come into the mainstream of Nepalese politics and end the violence. More than 10,500 people have died since the fighting began. Democracy and royalty have long had a difficult relationship in Nepal. Gyanendra's late father, King Mahendra, established a rubber-stamp government and parliament but retained absolute power and outlawed political parties. The absolute monarchy ended when street demonstrations forced the king to give way to a multiparty government in 1990. LINK http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0700world/tm_objectid=15139822%26method=\ full%26siteid=50082%26headline=nepal%2ds%2dking%2ddenies%2d%2dcoup%2d-name_page.\ html 01/02/2005 07. India voices concern over political developments in Nepal NEW DELHI: Voicing grave concern over the political developments in Nepal, India on Tuesday said it has brought the monarchy and mainstream political parties in direct confrontation with each other and warned that it would only benefit forces that wish to undermine democracy. "We will continue to support the restoration of political stability and economic prosperity in Nepal, a process which requires reliance on the forces of democracy and the support of the people of Nepal," the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement here. In an hour-long meeting, External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh briefed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the political crisis in Nepal. Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran spoke to India's Ambassador in Kathmandu S S Mukherjee to get an update on the developments. "The King of Nepal has dissolved the multi-party government led by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and has decided to constitute a Council of Ministers under his own chairmanship. An emergency has been declared and fundamental rights have been suspended. "These developments constitute a serious setback to the cause of democracy in Nepal and cannot but be a cause of grave concern to India," the MEA statement said. It said the latest developments "bring the monarchy and mainstream political parties in direct confrontation with each other. This can only benefit the forces that not only wish to undermine democracy but the institution of monarchy as well". On reports that several political leaders in Nepal have been confined to their residences, New Delhi said "the safety and welfare of the political leaders must be ensured and political parties must be allowed to exercise all the rights enjoyed by them under the constitution". India has consistently supported multi-party democracy and constitutional monarchy enshrined in Nepal's constitution as the two pillars of political stability in the Himalayan Kingdom. "This Principle has now been violated with the king forming a government under his chairmanship," the MEA said in the strongly-worded statement. "We have always considered that in Nepal it is imperative to evolve a broad National consensus, particularly between the monarchy and political parties, to deal with the political and economic challenges facing the country," it said. India has a longstanding and unique relationship with Nepal, with which it shared an open border, a history of strong cultural and spiritual values and wide-ranging economic and commercial links. LINK http://www.newindpress.com/Newsitems.asp?ID=IEL20050201060222&Title=B+R+E+A+K+I+\ N+G++++N+E+W+S&Topic=0 08. Emergency Nepal's internal affair: China BEIJING: China on Tuesday declined to comment on the Nepali King's decision to sack the Prime Minister and take over the government, saying it was an "internal affair" but hoped that the Himalayan kingdom would attain national reconciliation. "As far as we are concerned, it is Nepal's internal affairs," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan told reporters when asked to comment on the unexpected political developments in the neighbouring country. "Nepal is a close and friendly neighbour of China. We hope that Nepal will achieve social stability, economic development and national reconciliation. Given the current situation, we respect the Nepalese people's choice of the road of development," Kong added. Nepali King Gyanendra announced on Tuesday in an address to the nation that he had dissolved the coalition government led by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. The King announced through the state-run television that he will form a new government under his own chairmanship, taking control of the Himalayan kingdom for the second time in three years. While declaring a state of emergency, the king accused the government of failing to conduct parliamentary elections and being unable restore peace in the country, Xinhua news agency reported from Kathmandu. LINK http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1007461.cms ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Take a look at donorschoose.org, an excellent charitable web site for anyone who cares about public education! http://us.click.yahoo.com/_OLuKD/8WnJAA/cUmLAA/TySplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? 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