Nepal's monarchists launch drive to save king
KATHMANDU (AFP) — Pro-monarchists in Nepal launched an election manifesto Tuesday ahead of April 10 polls vowing to save the embattled monarchy from abolition by holding a referendum.
King Gyanendra looks set to be the last in his 239-year-old line after the government agreed last year that the monarchy will be scrapped in the first meeting of the assembly elected to rewrite the constitution.
"Parliamentary democracy with constitutional monarchy is the only reliable alternative for Nepal," said Kamal Thapa, chairman of the Rastriya Prajantantra Party-Nepal (RPP-Nepal) at the launch of its manifesto.
Thapa -- who was home minister during 14 months of direct rule by the king that ended after huge protests in April 2006 -- told journalists the decision to abolish the monarchy was not one the interim government could take.
"The decision by the seven parties to abolish monarchy is unconstitutional and contradictory," Thapa said, referring to the six mainstream parties and the former rebel Maoists who make up Nepal's caretaker government.
"We are of the view that the final decision about monarchy should be taken by holding a public referendum," Thapa said.
The polls will elect a body to rewrite the constitution and the RPP-Nepal is fielding 542 candidates among a total of around 8,000 people registered from 55 political parties, Thapa said.
The fiercely republican Maoists ended their insurrection in late 2006 and have since been given positions in government. In return they have confined the "People's Liberation Army" to United Nation's-monitored camps.
Since being forced to halt direct rule, Gyanendra has kept a low profile and been stripped of most of his powers, including his role as head of state and chief of army staff.
