King owns up to role in Nepal woes

But he clearly made a clear distinction between the political parties and the people and offered his prescription for the success of democracy. “In order to consolidate multi-party democracy, elected represenative bodies must be installed taking into account the grievances, aspirations and sentiments of the Nepalese people to the satisfaction of all”, he said. King Gyanendra, however, hinted at his support for the ongoing agitation in Terai and various other parts of the country and also for more devolution and empowerment of the people of the region. He said that Nepal’s sovereignty and integrity remained safeguarded because the Nepalese accepted and abided by the reality that the country is a kaleidoscope of diverse people. Giving an account of how even after the dissolution of Parliament, the government failed to hold an election within a stipulated constitutional framework, the Gyanendra said that he tookover under compelling political situation.

Earlier, Prime Minister G P Koirala said that inclusion of the former Maoist rebels in the interim cabinet will take place only after the rebels’ arms management process concludes. The assertion comes a day after Maoist Chief Prachanda’s statement that Maoists’ inclusion in the interim cabinet within a week was a pre-condition for holding election to the constituent assembly as scheduled in June.

Koirala told a visiting German parliamentary delegation that while he is eager to have the Maoists in the interim government at the earliest, that will follow completion of the arms management process.

Dr Suresh Chalise, Foreign Affairs advisor to the prime Minister, told ENS that Koirala also reiterated his commitment to hold the elections as scheduled.

The process registration of arms and Maoist guerrillas in seven different cantonments — carried by the United Nation team headed by Ian Martin — is over.

But, as per the agreement between the Maoists, Government and the United Nations, the process of registration will follow verification of arms and combatants, and installation of monitoring systems in the seven camps and 21 satellite camps in which the guerrillas will be housed.

Victims of Maoist warfare and other political groups were critical of Prachanda’s statement on Saturday. They believe as long as Maoists’ private arms are in safe deposit, elections can not take place in an atmosphere free from intimidation. The arrest of two Maoist cadres — both security guards of prominent Maoist parliamentarians, K B Mahara and Deb Gurung from inside parliament House on Thursday — has further instilled the notion that arms under possession of Maoists in the name of protecting their leaders by the People’s Liberation Army’ will vitiate the atmosphere for election.