Re: Nepal-Will India interfere militarily? Nepal Crisis (merged)
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/04/25/nepal.protests/index.html
Nepal protests give way to joy
Nepal’s seven-party opposition alliance called off a massive protest planned for Tuesday, replacing it with a “victory rally” following the king’s decision to restore democracy in the Himalayan kingdom.
CNN’s Satinder Bindra, reporting Tuesday from the capital of Kathmandu, said officials were expecting a rally of 700,000 to 800,000 in the city of 1.5 million.
King Gyanendra announced late Monday he was reinstating the Parliament he dissolved in 2002, giving in to demands of the alliance that launched the protests three weeks ago.
News services, however, reported Tuesday that Maoist rebels rejected the king’s offer to reinstate Parliament.
Additionally, the Reuters news service reported that the Maoists announced a blockade of Kathmandu and district capitals.
Maoist leader Prachanda called on the Nepalese people to continue peaceful street protests until elections were called for a special assembly to write a new constitution, Reuters reported.
Despite the reports on the Maoists’ reaction, hopes remain high for a return to a lasting peace in the nation, with the chief of the army telling CNN the military was backing the democratic process.
The army has been the major force supporting the absolute rule of the monarchy in Nepal during the past 14 months.
A “sense of normality” had returned to Kathmandu, Bindra reported, with “smiles back on faces and traffic back on the streets.”
Shops were reopening and mobile phone services had also been restored.
The protests during the past three weeks paralyzed Kathmandu, causing shortages of food and goods, and forcing residents to shop during the brief times that the curfews were lifted.
“There is a sense that the nation can look forward to building peace,” Bindra said, adding that most parties agreed what the king had now offered was enough for real progress to be made.
Emerging from Tuesday morning meetings, opposition leaders said they wanted to quickly put together an assembly and to write a new constitution that would likely limit the powers of the king.
The parties said they want former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to lead the new government.
The opposition also hoped to rescind laws imposed by the king during his 14 months of solo rule, implement a high commission to prosecute cases of excessive force and provide financial assistance to the families of those killed during pro-democracy clashes.
King Gyanendra delivered his royal proclamation in a brief television appearance late Monday night, saying the Parliament would convene on Friday.
“Nepal people are the source of the sovereign,” the king said. “Sovereignty of Nepal remains in the Nepali people.”
From now on, the seven-party opposition alliance would “bear the responsibility of taking the nation on the path of national unity and prosperity,” Gyanendra said.
“We are confident the nation will forge ahead toward sustainable peace, progress, full-fledged democracy and national unity,” the king said.
Gyanendra also expressed his sympathies for the 14 demonstrators killed by his security forces.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences for all those who have lost their lives in the people’s movement,” Gyanendra said in the address, broadcast on state television and radio.
The Nepalese Parliament is expected on Friday to swear in a new prime minister and cabinet and to form the new constituent assembly.
That assembly may look at providing a legitimate role for the nation’s Maoist rebel force which has been waging a bitter and deadly insurgency in the kingdom over the past 10 years.
CNN’s Bindra said the army chief told him late Monday he was even prepared to consider a role for the Maoists in the Royal Nepalese Army.
“Anything for peace,” he said.
Most opposition leaders favor a constitution that would give Nepal a ceremonial monarchy, or simply eliminate the royalty completely.
King Gyanendra seized power 14 months ago, after accusing the government of failing to control the Maoists, whose insurgency has cost at least 13,000 lives.