Former King has helped enforcement of republic: Girija

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 16: Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said ousted former King Gyanendra has contributed to the establishment of a republic during officials celebrations to welcome a republic Sunday.
The CA, in a controversial decision without debate, declared a republic 28 May by toppling the 238-year-old Shah dynasty.
Koirala said hoisted the national flag at Narayanhiti Royal Palace vacated four days earlier by the last king of a dynasty founded by King Prithvi Narayan Shah by unifying modern Nepal.
“ The king has vacated the king understanding the feeling and desire of the people. This is his help for declaring a republic,” Koirala said.
Gyanendra gracefully, amid tears and jeers, exited the palace at a time when, he said, the country was ‘going through period of very serious and sensitive upheaval’.
The only person to become king two times in the world, once as an infant, sent the message to listeners and viewers at home and abroad; the historic and rowdy news conference in which questions weren’t entertained, was boycotted by state-controlled and owned Nepal Television and Nepal Radio that denied people their fundamental right to information.
Amid calm and composure despite abuses and attacks by ‘reporters’ who gate-crashed Narayanhiti, the last king of the Shah dynasty assured: “ I pledge to be completely dedicated to the independence and territorial integrity of the nation of Nepal which was formed and has remained independent and sovereign because of blood, sweat and sacrifice of the great ancestors of us Nepalese, wherever and whatever circumstances I maybe in,” the departing king said in obvious praise of his ancestors.
Gyanendra bid farewell from the Kaski Hall where he swore-in Koirala more than three years ago as government chief reportedly with an understanding with agitating parties and even the Indian government to give continuity to constitutional monarchy.
There was no mention of that secret accord.
“I would like to live in my own Motherland and contribute in whatever way possible for greater good of the country and peace of this land,” amid unconfirmed reports he had been offered asylum in India—an offer that was never even seriously considered.
The year 2007 would not be repeated when a 104-Rana dynasty fell as King Tribhuvan went in to exile.
The last king used the 15-minute chaotic address to tell the country and world he and his family were innocent of charges and suspicions of involvement in the 1 June 2001 Narayanhiti Riyal Palace massacre in which 10 members of the royal family, including the entire family of King Birendra were gunned down by Crown Prince Dipendra.
“When all Nepalese people and the royal Family were overwhelmed with grief, at that time, to level accusations and blame in this way seems to be a strategy to damage the goodwill of the Nepalese people towards the institution of Monarchy and to spread ill will, which was also not compatible with human suffering.”
But the hatred and damage created were irreparable.
Dr Baburam Bhattarai attempted to open wounds by saying an inquiry in to the unparralled massacre could be re-launched.
What needs investigation is why the effective government of the day led by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala didn’t stop the flight of Debyani Rana, one of two girlfriends of Dipendra, for an effective probe of the massacre.
The departing king implicitly supported the finding of the Taranath Ranabhatt Commission that concluded Dipendra engineered the massacre.
As a citizen, Gyanendra for the first time frankly defended himself and his actions; he never regretted the imposition direct rule on 1 February 2005.
He only said: “…I would like to express my sorrow, if anybody has been inadvertently hurt by actions of my own or of the members of my family while working as head of State of the welfare of Nepal and Nepalese.”
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Indian ambassador Sood meets former king

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 16 June: The meeting between former King Gyanendra and Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood at the regal suite of Soaltee Hotel 26 May is significant, Janabhavana reports.
One source said Sood offered the king many ‘reliable’ enticements.
He conveyed to the king India’s policy to push a republic in Nepal two days later 28 May.
Sood assured the King he would work to make available all of Narayanhiti is desired and proposed unconditional exile in India.
The king didn’t take much interest.
There no contacts later.
The palace okayed the meeting after weeks on persistent requests.
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Passenger bus bombed



Kathmandu, 16 June: Violence continues unabated in the tarai after the 10 April inconclusive CA election in which no party gained an absolute majority in the 601-member assembly.
At least 18 persons were injured overnight when a rebel group bombed a passenger bus in Saptari.
The motor vehicle, defying a strike , proceeding to the capital from Dharan.
Madeshi Virus Killers called he strike.
One day earlier, two persons were killed and18 others were injured in a bombing attack by Tarai Tigers in Rautahat.
Two persons were injured when a parked bus was torched in Chandranighapur, Rautahat, Monday evening.
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Dalai Lama and “Tibetan Government-in-Exile” behind Tibetan protests in the capital

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 16 June: Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zheng Xianglin Monday directly accused said Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government-in-Exile” based in India for the unprecedented daily protests of Tibetan refugees in Nepal.
Such continued daily protests have never been conducted by 17,000 plus refugees who have been given asylum in Nepal.
The protests coincided with the worldwide relay of the Olympic torch to Beijing from Greece three months ago but continues in Nepal.
“Dalai Lama and the so-called ‘Tibetan Government-in-Exile” are behind the protests. Now, one leader dispatched by the “Tibetan Government-in –Exile” is in Kathmandu, holding secret meetings with the ring leaders of some organizations for ‘Tibet Independence’ including ‘Tibetan Youth Congress’, and plotting various anti-China political activities,” Zheng told The Rising Nepal.
China has sought Nepalese government protection for its nationals and embassy.
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Curriculum Vitae of BHOLA BIKRUM RANA for permanent upload

Name: Bhola Bikrum Rana
Education: MA in political science from Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu.
Born: 6 June 1945.
Marital status: Married with three children.
Current status: Editor-in-Chief People’s News/ Editor: People’s Review.
Career: Launched journalism career as sub-editor with the Motherland, a daily newspaper. Took a three-month journalism course in the then West Berlin in 1969. Launched a daily English language newspaper, Himali Bela, and was also its founding editor-in-chief. In 1983, launched quarterly Foreignb Affairs Journal which specialized in Nepal foreign policy. Worked as Nepal correspondent of United Press International (UPI). As a freelancer has contributed reports to newspapers, climbing magazines and international radio stations, including VOA and Deutsche Welle.
Member of Press Council from 1986 to 1987. Member of the foreign committee of Nepal Mountaineering Association.
Publications: Documents on Nepalese Foreign Policy. Chapter on Nepal in the book
:Newspapers in Nepal; Contemporary Trends and Problems published by Heinmann Asia.
Address: POB 802, Kathmandu,Nepal.
Telephone: 4416493.
E-mail: bholarana@wlink.com.np
Date: 16 June 2088.
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