BREAKING NEWS FROM KATHMANDU!

[Brownfist]

The King has just made a speech stating that he will restore Parliament on Friday and is asking the opposition parties to restore democracy in Nepal. He has also expressed his condolences for those hurt and killed in the protests!

I think that the King has become desparate. He knows that he is loosing power. The BBC keeps on saying that this is a huge concession and that it came from diplomatic wrangling between foreign diplomats and the King. A huge protest was planned for Tuesday (Nepal Time) in which the parties were calling for 2 million people to attend.

I think that the BBC's coverage is pointless. The people of the country do not want the King or his parliament. I do not think that the parties will agree to the parliament as the protests have become increasingly militant and republican. Furthermore, the common demand now is for a new constitution. I really hope that the 7 party alliance recognizes that they would be selling the people out if they accept this "compromise". I personally believe that the 7 party alliance will not accept this offer, as it does not undo the very causes of the crisis. The 7 party alliance has grown to understand that as long as the King stays, they will never have proper power in the parliament. Also, the Maoists will never accept this "compromise". The BBC's coverage of this event is highly irritating as they are basically praising the King, they have no real interest in what is best for the country. Rather, they are just interested in up-holding the anti-communist line of their diplomats.

[Brownfist]

Nepal ruler restores parliament
(Source: The BBC)

Nepal's embattled King Gyanendra has agreed to reinstate Parliament, in an effort to end weeks of unrest by opponents to his absolute rule.

The move is aimed at "protecting multiparty democracy and restoring peace", he said in a televised address.

The announcement comes after almost three weeks of opposition protests in which at least 14 people have died.

The king assumed direct powers in February 2005, saying parties were unable to deal with Maoist rebels.

On Monday thousands demonstrators defied a shoot-on-sight-kill curfew in the capital Kathmandu, ahead of a major rally already planned for Tuesday.

The opposition has been calling for both the restoration of parliament and the drafting of a new constitution.

[Brownfist]

Full text of the royal proclamation

Proclamation to the Nation from His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev
(24 April 2006)

Beloved Countrymen,

Convinced that the source of State Authority and Sovereignty of the Kingdom of Nepal is inherent in the people of Nepal and cognizant of the spirit of the ongoing people's movement as well as to resolve the on-going violent conflict and other problems facing the country according to the road map of the agitating Seven Party Alliance, we, through this Proclamation, reinstate the House of Representatives which was dissolved on 22 May 2002 on the advice of the then Prime Minister in accordance with the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal-1990. We call upon the Seven Party Alliance to bear the responsibility of taking the nation on the path to national unity and prosperity, while ensuring permanent peace and safeguarding multiparty democracy. We also summon the session of the reinstated House of Representatives at the Sansad Bhawan, Singha Durbar at 1 P.M. on Friday, 28 April 2006.

We are confident that this House will contribute to the overall welfare of Nepal and the Nepalese people.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to all those who have lost their lives in the people's movement and wish the injured speedy recovery. We are confident that the nation will forge ahead towards sustainable peace, progress, full-fledged democracy and national unity.

May Lord Pashupatinath bless us all!

Jaya Nepal!

[Janus]

Yes, I agree with you that he is getting rather desperate. After all, many nations are pulling off support due to his authoritarian tactics.

However, he still has not met one of the main demands by stepping down. Until he does this, much of his actions will seem only to be gestures as he had already promised "multi-party democracy" but was rejected by the opposition parties.

[violencia.Proletariat]

Wooo more lies from a despot :rolleyes: Get on with it and hang the bastard!

[Brownfist]

SPA leaders welcome King's address; general strike lifted
Kantipur Report

KATHMANDU, April 25 - Welcoming King Gyanendra's second proclamation in three days, leaders of the seven-party alliance (SPA) on Monday said the restoration of the House of Representatives (HoR), dissolved in May 2002, has opened the doors for resolving the current crises facing the country.

Nepali Congress General Secretary Ram Chandra Poudel said the seven parties will now move ahead "upholding the spirit of the demonstrators and the SPA's roadmap based on the 12-point understanding with Maoists".

"We are committed to the 12-point understanding and we will achieve our objectives," he said.

"This is a very positive declaration by the king," said K.P. Sharma Oli, Standing Committee member of the CPN-UML, reacting to the king's televised address to the nation. "It has opened the doors for the resolution of problems facing the country. Now, we all should move forward swiftly."

Nepali Congress-Democratic General Secretary Prakash Man Singh said it was a political victory of the Nepalese people and the SPA.

"The royal proclamation has come about on par with the SPA's roadmap and the parties will now push forward the process for resolving the present crisis through people's representative institutions," said Singh.

After the reinstatement of the House, an all-party government will be formed to hold a dialogue with the rebels and bring them into a peaceful political process, and then the process for constituent assembly elections will begin," said Singh.

Pashupati Shumsher Rana, Chairman of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, said the proclamation was a positive step, a good initiative towards resolving the country's problems, and an outcome of agreement between the king and the SPA.

"With the rebels admitting that there is no military solution to the problem, sincere efforts by the House will certainly pave the way for a negotiated peace."

The SPA had flatly rejected the king's offer on Friday. The king had offered the parties the opportunity to form a government and recommend a name of their choosing for the post of prime minister.

The SPA is going to reschedule the protest rally scheduled for tomorrow. "Tomorrow's rally will be organized in a different way and all the top leaders will address the people," said Oli.

President of Nepal Workers Peasants Party Narayan Man Bijukchhe said, despite its being late, the king's address has met the SPA's demands.

Hridayesh Tripathi of Nepal Sadbhavana Party (Anandidevi) said the HoR has been reinstated on the basis of the SPA-Maoist roadmap as spelled out in their 12-point understanding.

However, People's Front Nepal leader Lila Mani Pokharel said the king's proclamation has failed to accomodate the feelings of the demonstrators in the streets. "The process of announcing this declaration is dangerous," he said, alleging that the king's address appeared to be above "the constitution and the rule of law".

People take out 'victory rally'

Immediately after the king's address, thousands of people in their bedtime attire jumped to the streets, out of excitement and rapture, in the capital. The streets of Kathmandu reverberated with merrymaking and whistles.

Among them was a man with white bandages on his head shouting - "This is the people's victory!" With their sweat rolling down their cheeks, others followed him. "I wouldn't mind even if I had lost my life for loktantra," said 44-year-old Bhagawan Bhandari, who was injured when police charged batons on his head as he was defying a curfew in Baneshwor on Friday.

"I directly came to the street from my bed after hearing the king's address," said Bhandari who had 11 stitches on his head due to the police lathi-charge. Others were shouting - "Long live brave martyrs… "

Meanwhile, the authorities on Tuesday morning resumed the mobile phone service that had been disconnected since Saturday.

General strike lifted

Meanwhile, the SPA, immediately after the royal address on Monday night, withdrew its nationwide indefinite general strike that was in place for the last 19 days.

[mzalen-do]

this proves that no one n absolutely no one can go against wishes/pressure of the masses 'cept of course george bush...so what is that make him?a nobody!

[Brownfist]

Well I am really worried about this. The King has yet to compromise to other parts of the 12-pt. minimum agreement that is commonly dubbed as the 7 party alliance. I am also worried that King will not agree to the elections and constituent assembly, furthermore, he continues to make no reference to the Maoists. However, on the other hand this is a success as it does follow the road plan that was agreed upon. I think that as long as the guerrila war continues and there is a possibility for mass movements the King will be forced to agree to the wishes of the people. I think the question is what the Maoists are going to do next. There is yet to be a reported statement from the politbureau.

[Severian]

Originally posted by [email protected] 24 2006, 12:11 PM
I do not think that the parties will agree to the parliament as the protests have become increasingly militant and republican.
Well, you were wrong there.

And if you do conclude this was a sellout...well, I pointed out that possibility recently, and you got rather upset with me! (http://www.revolutionaryleft.com/index.php?showtopic=48642&st=75)

The Maoists have rejected this (http://www.itv.com/news/world_769795.html) and called for more protests, which incidentally will give us some measure of whether they can politically lead working people at all. They can keep people off the roads and streets with their armed blockades; but can they get people to come out in the streets?

Personally, I don't know if this was a sellout; or a tactically correct move in the situation. It's difficult to know the kind of detail needed to assess tactics from a distance. Could the regime have been toppled? How significant were the cracks in the obedience of the army and police?

One, more easily answered, question is how this is received by rank-and-file protestors, who'd been pushing past the political leadership of the opposition parties (which are variously bourgeois or reformist workers' parties.) Calling for a republic; demanding the king leave the country or lose his head. Some initial reports say the spontaneous response of the population was to celebrate victory (http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=71916); but we'll see further with, for example, the "victory rally" tomorrow.

***

But clearly this confrontation has ended with working people and others seeking to expand democracy in a stronger position; and the regime in a weaker one. (Whether or not it could have ended even better, say with the regime wholly overthrown....)

For now at least, the momentum is with the mass movement for democracy; the monarchy for now will be able to do little but drag its feet. Hope to exhaust, disillusion and dispirit the masses with time; with people eventually demobilised the reaction can then hope to strike back. It's a pattern that's happened again and again; Allende's Chile for example.

That's the danger; the solution is to press forward as fast and hard as possible. The parties promise that elections to the constituent assembly will be the parliament's first order of business. If the monarchy or army attempts to place obstacles to that, renewed mass action will be key.

***

The role of the U.S., Indian, Chinese and other government has been notable. And relatively united.

All sought the restoration of parliamentary democracy in the hopes that would increase stability. Which clearly the absolute monarchy cannot provide.

But they all called on the parties to accept the king's offer last Friday; to form a government without parliament being reconvened. Even when they favor the forms of bourgeois democracy - as Washington does in many places, currently - they are opposed to filling it with real content which expands working people's space for organization and struggle. And certainly they don't want to see destabilizing mass action to achieve it.

[Brownfist]

As I said in a more relevant post Severian I apologized for this sentiment. I will apologize again, I truely did believe that the 7 party alliance had more sense and would not betray the people but I was wrong and you were right. But you are being awfully smug about it, which was an accusation I levelled against you. I have been always of the opinion that I would rather be wrong about my cynicism than right about it.

I think that your question is a really good one about the Maoists and people on the street. I have a feeling that they will get several thousand people out but I do think a lot of people will not come out. I really hope that I am wrong again, and that masses of people come out. I think that the regime could have been toppled and the cracks in the army and police had begun to appear. There were already signs of dissent at the lower orders being reported.

I also think that we need to see the "victory rallies" in a partial light. I think that people will celebrate this victory, but this does not preclude them from asking for more. I personally believe that the King will do everything in his power to ensure that the elections for the constituent assembly do not occur or are thwarted. I think that the situation in Nepal is saddening. The 7 parties have demonstrated yet once again that they still consider the monarchy acceptable as long as they get short-term gains.

As for most Nepalese people I know I do not think that they consider Nepal democratic. The King's ability to arbitrarily dismiss parliament and the prime minister is still in place. The parliament still has limited role in relation to the army. This is a farce that is being called democracy. Lets see if the 7 party alliance is able to successfully set in motion the elections for a constituent assembly, and engage with the Maoists in a meaningful dialogue if the Maoist led protest fails. I wonder what is happening in the countryside where majority of the Nepalese population lives?

[Janus]

Ok, so the Nepalese parliament has been reconvened and are currently trying to establish a constituent assembly. We will have to wait for the constituent assembly to reach a decision on the constitution. That is when conflict may ensue as the king or the Maoists may be upset with it.