Six in 10 Nepalese want king to go
Saturday, 9 June 2007
KATHMANDU, Jun 8 (AFP): Nearly six out of 10 Nepalese want the monarchy to be abolished in the Himalayan nation, but the same number are unclear about the relevance of upcoming elections, a survey showed Friday.
The opinion poll, carried out in April by the South Asia Democracy Group, showed that 59 per cent of respondents said they wanted embattled King Gyanendra to go.
The survey also found a majority of people are upbeat over the impoverished country's peace process, with 67 per cent believing Nepal's Maoists would stick to a pledge to abide by democratic norms and not return to war.
"During the first survey (in 2004), the idea of a republic was favoured by only 15 per cent of respondents," the South Asia Democracy Group noted in a summary of the new poll.
The study, however, also revealed that 59 per cent of people did not understand what upcoming elections scheduled for later this year were all about.
Voters will be asked to choose the members of a body to rewrite the constitution and decide the fate of the 238-year-old monarchy.
The survey, carried out with support from the Swedish-based Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, questioned 4,089 people across 40 of Nepal's 75 districts.
Gyanendra has been fighting for his dynasty's survival after the fiercely republican Maoists ended their "people's war" late last year and were given seats in government in April.
The king was forced to end a much criticised 14-month period of authoritarian rule in April 2006, after massive nationwide protests jointly organised by the rebels and sidelined political parties.
Since then, he has had most of his powers, including his position as head of state, stripped. His supporters, however, still view him as the reincarnation of a Hindu deity.
The opinion poll, carried out in April by the South Asia Democracy Group, showed that 59 per cent of respondents said they wanted embattled King Gyanendra to go.
The survey also found a majority of people are upbeat over the impoverished country's peace process, with 67 per cent believing Nepal's Maoists would stick to a pledge to abide by democratic norms and not return to war.
"During the first survey (in 2004), the idea of a republic was favoured by only 15 per cent of respondents," the South Asia Democracy Group noted in a summary of the new poll.
The study, however, also revealed that 59 per cent of people did not understand what upcoming elections scheduled for later this year were all about.
Voters will be asked to choose the members of a body to rewrite the constitution and decide the fate of the 238-year-old monarchy.
The survey, carried out with support from the Swedish-based Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, questioned 4,089 people across 40 of Nepal's 75 districts.
Gyanendra has been fighting for his dynasty's survival after the fiercely republican Maoists ended their "people's war" late last year and were given seats in government in April.
The king was forced to end a much criticised 14-month period of authoritarian rule in April 2006, after massive nationwide protests jointly organised by the rebels and sidelined political parties.
Since then, he has had most of his powers, including his position as head of state, stripped. His supporters, however, still view him as the reincarnation of a Hindu deity.