Nepal royalists rally for monarchy

AFP Posted online: Wednesday, January 09, 2008 at 0000 hrs

KATHMANDU, january 8 : Two thousand pro-royal demonstrators massed in Nepal’s capital in the first major protest against a decision by Parliament to abolish monarchy and create a republic.

“Long live the constitutional monarchy,” shouted the protesters as they marched through the centre of the ancient capital, led by the pro-royalist Rastriya Prajantantra Party (Nepal).

The protest marked the first major demonstration against Parliament’s decision last month to end the 293-year-old monarchy and declare the country a republic — one of the key demands of former Maoist rebels.

“For a long time we remained silent and were spectators to political developments, but now we’re forced to take to the streets to save the nation,” party leader Kamal Thapa told the crowd.

The Maoists quit the Government in September in a row over the future of the monarchy and other issues, but returned late last month after lawmakers agreed to abolish the institution.
The ultra-Leftists, who waged a bloody decade-long revolt to topple the monarchy, formally ended their insurgency in late 2006 when they concluded a landmark peace deal with Nepal’s mainstream parties.

King Gyanendra has already been stripped of most of his powers. He was forced to end 14 months of direct rule in April 2006, following mass street protests staged by mainstream parties and the Maoists.