The Koirala government was looking for a dramatic ploy to placate aggressive Maoists who one week earlier threatened to walk out of the 22 November elections to which Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala was paying only lip service.At least that’s the Maoist charge and the perception of many independent analysts.Maoists presented Koirala with a set of 22 demands including fulfilling calls to declare a republic through parliament and nationalization of royal assets.Koirala surrendered to Maoist pressures last Thursday and nationalized seven palaces, including Narayanhiti Royal Palace, where the King and Queen reside. Four palaces in the Valley were transferred to the government Monday.The King and Queen are presently residing at Nagarjung.
Three palaces: Hanuman Dhoka Royal Palace, Patan and Bhaktapur Durbars are UNESCO heritage sites of archaeological and historical importance.Only rare, ceremonial state functions are held at Hanuman Dhoka where Dasain pujas are conducted as well.Palaces in Patan and Bhaktapur are hardly used by royal family members; they, in fact, house government offices and museums. The palaces are monuments that attract tourists—must see and visit sights in the Valley for them.It has now come to light government took over Nuwakot palace 14 years ago and ‘nationalized’ it for the second time in as many years.Local political party leaders in Nuwakot were shocked by the government decision Thursday, The Kathmandu Post reported.The Nuwakot Land Revenue Office, following directives from the then His Majesty’s Government, on November 4, 1993, registered Nuwakot Palace in the government’s name.All proof, the government acted in haste and without adequate homework.Following the announcement Thursday, local leaders in the adjoining Nuwakot district have been raising questions regarding the government’s ‘irresponsible’ act, the newspaper added.
The palaces and other assets are and were owned and held legally under the laws of the land, including the basic law—the 1990 constitution which has been thrown into the wastepaper basket and replaced by an interim constitution by an interim government.The royal property was seized by a government whose chief faced charges at the CIAA for possession of assets incommensurate with his income. Koirala never presented himself before the investigating agency to offer an explanation.The agency hasn’t yet explained why it withdrew or shelved charges against Koirala after he was propelled to power in April 2006 through street protests.The agency has lost moral authority to continue more so when other constitutional bodies envisaged in the 1990 have been demolished; how and why does the CIAA continue?
An unaccountable elected government with unlimited authority but with only a limited mandate does not have the moral authority to do what it’s doing.A government that hasn’t been elected is taking sweeping decisions in the name of the people when constituent assembly election is less then 90 days away.Government couldn’t wait for assembly elections to elect people who would have had the popular mandate to suggest sweeping changes for a ‘New Nepal’. Why the haste?The very persons who charge the King are misusing state assets to manipulate elections [justifying their nationalization of royal assets] and are in a mad race to go to or retain seats in Singha Durbar for manipulation. Party rulers are abusing state power and authority to acquire wealth every day to misuse influence elections; the nationalization is driven by a conspiracy desire to create additional hatred against the King and monarchy to influence the outcome of elections.
Government and ruling parties had to create a fresh issue to face the people in elections after failing to deliver in the last 16 months.The assets were held by the members of the royal family during successive governments headed by the present ‘revolutionary’ rulers from 1990 to 1 February 2005 when the King took-over for three years.While government seizes royal property, it criminally legalized motor vehicles stolen by Maoists, even from government, or cars and jeeps smuggled in from India.Maoists drive around in these vehicles freely now throughout the country to influence voters.While Koirala treats others like criminals, his government threw aside suggestions and recommendations of the EU, UN, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch not to enact laws amnestying Maoists especially for grave crimes against humanity.
The government withdrew 59 criminal cases against Maoists at courts this week, including Prachanda, insulting victims of Maoist atrocities and security agencies deployed by the government headed by leaders in the present parliament against the former rebels during the people’s war.Prachanda, not Koirala, is in government’s driving seat. Government has asked banks to freeze the accounts of the King.Koirala and Home Minister Krishna Prasad Shitaula turn a blind eye to daily Maoist extortion.Government can if wants to, though.It dissolved parliament last week to enable lawmakers to go to constituencies to create an atmosphere for a vote despite Maoist opposition.
Three palaces: Hanuman Dhoka Royal Palace, Patan and Bhaktapur Durbars are UNESCO heritage sites of archaeological and historical importance.Only rare, ceremonial state functions are held at Hanuman Dhoka where Dasain pujas are conducted as well.Palaces in Patan and Bhaktapur are hardly used by royal family members; they, in fact, house government offices and museums. The palaces are monuments that attract tourists—must see and visit sights in the Valley for them.It has now come to light government took over Nuwakot palace 14 years ago and ‘nationalized’ it for the second time in as many years.Local political party leaders in Nuwakot were shocked by the government decision Thursday, The Kathmandu Post reported.The Nuwakot Land Revenue Office, following directives from the then His Majesty’s Government, on November 4, 1993, registered Nuwakot Palace in the government’s name.All proof, the government acted in haste and without adequate homework.Following the announcement Thursday, local leaders in the adjoining Nuwakot district have been raising questions regarding the government’s ‘irresponsible’ act, the newspaper added.
The palaces and other assets are and were owned and held legally under the laws of the land, including the basic law—the 1990 constitution which has been thrown into the wastepaper basket and replaced by an interim constitution by an interim government.The royal property was seized by a government whose chief faced charges at the CIAA for possession of assets incommensurate with his income. Koirala never presented himself before the investigating agency to offer an explanation.The agency hasn’t yet explained why it withdrew or shelved charges against Koirala after he was propelled to power in April 2006 through street protests.The agency has lost moral authority to continue more so when other constitutional bodies envisaged in the 1990 have been demolished; how and why does the CIAA continue?
An unaccountable elected government with unlimited authority but with only a limited mandate does not have the moral authority to do what it’s doing.A government that hasn’t been elected is taking sweeping decisions in the name of the people when constituent assembly election is less then 90 days away.Government couldn’t wait for assembly elections to elect people who would have had the popular mandate to suggest sweeping changes for a ‘New Nepal’. Why the haste?The very persons who charge the King are misusing state assets to manipulate elections [justifying their nationalization of royal assets] and are in a mad race to go to or retain seats in Singha Durbar for manipulation. Party rulers are abusing state power and authority to acquire wealth every day to misuse influence elections; the nationalization is driven by a conspiracy desire to create additional hatred against the King and monarchy to influence the outcome of elections.
Government and ruling parties had to create a fresh issue to face the people in elections after failing to deliver in the last 16 months.The assets were held by the members of the royal family during successive governments headed by the present ‘revolutionary’ rulers from 1990 to 1 February 2005 when the King took-over for three years.While government seizes royal property, it criminally legalized motor vehicles stolen by Maoists, even from government, or cars and jeeps smuggled in from India.Maoists drive around in these vehicles freely now throughout the country to influence voters.While Koirala treats others like criminals, his government threw aside suggestions and recommendations of the EU, UN, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch not to enact laws amnestying Maoists especially for grave crimes against humanity.
The government withdrew 59 criminal cases against Maoists at courts this week, including Prachanda, insulting victims of Maoist atrocities and security agencies deployed by the government headed by leaders in the present parliament against the former rebels during the people’s war.Prachanda, not Koirala, is in government’s driving seat. Government has asked banks to freeze the accounts of the King.Koirala and Home Minister Krishna Prasad Shitaula turn a blind eye to daily Maoist extortion.Government can if wants to, though.It dissolved parliament last week to enable lawmakers to go to constituencies to create an atmosphere for a vote despite Maoist opposition.
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