King agrees to go, says Nepali home minister
Tuesday, 3 June 2008
KATHMANDU, June 2 (AFP): Nepal's ex-king has agreed to quit his palace before a June 12 deadline and live as a commoner in line with a constituent assembly's vote to scrap the monarchy, the home minister said Monday.
"He said he is ready to live life as a common citizen," Home Minister Krisna Prasad Sitaula told reporters after talks with Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah.
"He welcomed and accepted the decision made by the first meeting of the constituent assembly."
The Maoist-dominated assembly formally abolished the world's last Hindu monarchy and set up a republic just before midnight Wednesday. The king was given 15 days to leave his palace in Kathmandu.
"I don't see any complications in the former king's departure from the palace. He told me he would leave within the (June 12) deadline," the minister told reporters after a 10-minute meeting.
Gyanendra is expected to move to a private residence in the north of the city-a home he occupied before he was vaulted to the throne in 2001 after a palace massacre.
The 1960s, pink-hued Narayanhiti palace -- set in acres of prime land at the end of the capital's Kingsway commercial hub -- will be turned into a national museum, officials have said.
"Government committees are currently working inside the palace auditing property and taking stock of the security situation," minister Sitaula told journalists.
An estimated 1,500 soldiers protect the palace and security concerns have been raised for the former monarch when he moves to his private residence.
"Based on the recommendations of the security committee the government might provide some security for the ex-king," Sitaula said.
Gyanendra's coronation was tainted with tragedy after his nephew, Crown Prince Dipendra, wiped out most of the royal family in 2001 after being stopped from marrying the woman he loved.
The new king's unpopularity deepened in 2005 when he sacked the government and took direct control of the impoverished nation, a move he said was needed because the politicians had failed to tackle a bloody Maoist insurgency.
Pushed into an anti-royal alliance, the political parties and Maoists organised massive protests in April 2006 that forced the king to restore parliament.
"He said he is ready to live life as a common citizen," Home Minister Krisna Prasad Sitaula told reporters after talks with Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah.
"He welcomed and accepted the decision made by the first meeting of the constituent assembly."
The Maoist-dominated assembly formally abolished the world's last Hindu monarchy and set up a republic just before midnight Wednesday. The king was given 15 days to leave his palace in Kathmandu.
"I don't see any complications in the former king's departure from the palace. He told me he would leave within the (June 12) deadline," the minister told reporters after a 10-minute meeting.
Gyanendra is expected to move to a private residence in the north of the city-a home he occupied before he was vaulted to the throne in 2001 after a palace massacre.
The 1960s, pink-hued Narayanhiti palace -- set in acres of prime land at the end of the capital's Kingsway commercial hub -- will be turned into a national museum, officials have said.
"Government committees are currently working inside the palace auditing property and taking stock of the security situation," minister Sitaula told journalists.
An estimated 1,500 soldiers protect the palace and security concerns have been raised for the former monarch when he moves to his private residence.
"Based on the recommendations of the security committee the government might provide some security for the ex-king," Sitaula said.
Gyanendra's coronation was tainted with tragedy after his nephew, Crown Prince Dipendra, wiped out most of the royal family in 2001 after being stopped from marrying the woman he loved.
The new king's unpopularity deepened in 2005 when he sacked the government and took direct control of the impoverished nation, a move he said was needed because the politicians had failed to tackle a bloody Maoist insurgency.
Pushed into an anti-royal alliance, the political parties and Maoists organised massive protests in April 2006 that forced the king to restore parliament.