Nepal will soon be a republic

2008-05-12 19:09

Kathmandu - Nepal's government announced on Monday that its new constitution-drafting body would meet for the first time on May 28 when it is due to formally abolish the monarchy and declare the country a republic.

The Maoists, who scored a surprise victory in landmark elections last month, vowed that the monarchy would be scrapped during the first sitting of the assembly.

The ex-rebels overturned all predictions in the April polls, winning 220 of the 601 seats in the constitutional assembly - more than twice the number of their nearest rivals and pre-election favourites, the Nepali Congress.

"The prime minister has sent letters to all the participating political parties calling for the first meeting of the constituent assembly on May 28," Aditya Baral, adviser to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, told AFP.

End of world's only Hindu monarchy

King Gyanendra's fall from power would mark the end of the world's only Hindu monarchy, which had been on the throne for 240 years.

Gyanendra, who was seen by supporters as a reincarnation of the Hindu protector Vishnu, endured a traumatic and short reign.

He took the throne in 2001 after a drunk and drugged crown prince massacred nine members of the royal family and then killed himself, after being forbidden from marrying the woman he loved.

Already unpopular, Gyanendra's popularity hit rock bottom when he sacked the government and took direct control of the impoverished nation in February 2005.

The move pushed Nepal's mainstream political parties into an alliance with their former foes, the Maoist insurgents, and resulted in the 2006 peace pact that ended a civil war in which more than 13 000 people died.

Maoists 'are excited'

The Maoists welcomed the announced date of the constitutional assembly's first meeting.

"We have received the letter from the prime minister and we are excited about the day," said senior Maoist leader Dinanath Sharma.

"Nepal will formally be declared a federal democratic country and we will get rid of the 240-year-old institution of monarchy.

"It will be a historic day for the country. This date will in future always be known as Republic Day."

Possible coalition government

He added that his party was still holding meetings with other groups over the formation of a new coalition government under the Maoists' leadership.

"This might take place before or after the first assembly meeting," he said.

Debate raged in the mainstream parties about whether to join a coalition led by the Maoists.

- AFP