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| Nepal: The Shah Dynasty's Uncertain Future |
| Constituent Assembly elections will decide the fate of the crown |
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Bishnu K.C. (bishnuji)  |
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Published 2007-01-09 09:15 (KST) |
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Until Nepal's April movement and the signing of a peace accord between the government and the Maoists, the Shah Dynasty had ruled the country for over two centuries. Now the Maoists have stepped forward into mainstream politics. As the result, the sun is setting on the Shah Dynasty, as the multiparty government and the former rebels have agreed to implement a new constitution on Jan. 15.
The king has already been stripped of most powers. After the implementation of the interim constitution, the king will lose his position as head of state to the prime minister.
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FROM THE SECTION |
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| The Maoists chief, Prachanda, threatened the government last week saying that he would begin a new agitation if the government failed to promulgate the interim statute and form an interim legislature before Jan. 14. He claimed the government planned to make the unpopular king a ceremonial figurehead.
On Sunday, Prachanda met with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala. On Monday, an all-party meeting was held at the prime minister's official residence. At that meeting, a decision was made to implement the interim constitution on Jan. 15 through the House of Representatives.
Different political elites, including Prachanda, had opined that the interim constitution was not complete. Koirala, too, had earlier revealed that the finalization of the statute had been delayed mainly because of his reservations about the powers being conferred to the office of the prime minister.
Against this backdrop, the minister for home affairs announced that the interim constitution would be promulgated by Jan. 15. The government had agreed to the date on the understanding that the monitoring of the arms of the Maoists by United Nations officials would have begun. It began Monday.
On the day that the interim constitution comes into effect, the reinstated House of Representatives will be dissolved and a 330-member interim Parliament will be formed in which the Maoists will have 73 seats.
However, the interim government will be formed only after the arms management process is completed.
Now both the Maoists and the government are in a bid to hold the Constituent Assembly (CA) election by mid June. The Maoists hope to establish a republic after the CA election while the head party, the Nepali Congress, has not yet displayed a clear opinion about the monarchy. But some leaders have gone for the republican setup.
A recent survey by rights activists in the far eastern and western areas of Nepal clearly indicated that the nation is heading toward a republican setup. But it is the CA election that will determine the future of the monarchy.
Until then the 238-year institution of monarchy will remain in suspension. When the future of the crown is put to a vote, a special electoral college will decide if Nepal should remain a kingdom or become a republic.
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©2007 OhmyNews
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 Comments Note: Kindly refrain from personal attacks and profanity. |
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1. brain
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ram shah , 2007-01-09 16:44
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