| Username |
Post |
| midwestdude |
Posted
on 31-Dec-02 04:37 PM
My doors are open for all: King Gyanendra
DILEEP PADGAONKAR
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2002 06:32:51 PM ]
KATHMANDU: Even as he waits "with a great deal of patience" for the political parties to get their act together, and indeed asserts that his "doors are open to them to come forward to tackle the awesome national challenges facing the nation", King Gyanendra appears to be perplexed by their conduct. He leaves no one in doubt that from the moment he fired the "incompetent" Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba he has throughout acted in the light of the letter and spirit of the constitution and that he intends to do so in the future.
The parties were consulted at every step. However, instead of holding rallies against the Maoists, their sole preoccupation was to indulge in king-bashing. Instead of looking to him as a facilitator, as someone who believes in a constructive monarchy and not as an activist one, they have targeted the Palace.
During a 70-minute audience with this writer, the monarch merely smiled when it was suggested to him that perhaps the reason why he cannot get his message across to the parties - why his actions continue to arouse suspicions - is that he speaks a language which the parties are not used to: a language which is shorn of platitudes and ambiguities, one which is upfront, transparent, modern. And he smiled yet again when it was hinted that the parties are not quite accustomed to his pace to get on with the job of crushing the Maoist insurgency, speeding up economic and social development and strengthening democratic practices at the grass-roots.
King Gyanendra can well afford to smile. Recent opinion polls place him well above leaders of all political parties in public esteem. But he is too shrewd not to realize that this popularity can rapidly wane if he cannot restore peace and stability in the kingdom. And for this he needs to work with the parties. The Maoist insurgency cannot be curbed within a matter of months. The army has so far played a largely ceremonial role. It needs to be retrained and equipped with the latest weaponry. He knows too that Nepal's neighbours, especially India, are getting jittery over the situation in the country.
The exodus of Nepalis fleeing Maoist-controlled zones is burgeoning by the week. Maoists can bring all activity in the kingdom to a standstill at will. All these are compelling reasons for him to bend over backwards to get the parties to cooperate with him. Ironically, across the political spectrum here, which is otherwise suspicious of New Delhi, the one hope that is expressed is that New Delhi can persuade the major players to sink their differences to bring peace back to Nepal and, by and by, give democracy another lease of life. The monarch himself appears to be very satisfied with the cooperation between Kathmandu and New Delhi to contain the Maoist insurgency and hopes that such a cooperation will be increased at all levels including at the border where there is so much trade and other activities undertaken by the people of the two countries.
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| safasaja |
Posted
on 31-Dec-02 05:08 PM
Yes, I saw that in timesofindia.com. Seems like King G is open minded and at the same time knows what is right for the nation.
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| dongolg |
Posted
on 01-Jan-03 10:24 AM
I think political leaders compelled the police to carry guns instead of just the sticks. I could hardly see a policeman carrying a gun some 15 years ago. The army was satisfied with the age old rifles. Now the policemen carry guns. The army needs sofisticated arms and ammunitions. Who brought all these changes? I think the king is right political leaders failed to get their act together. They are the culprits making too much noise in the name of democracy. They knows how to talk only and cheat the people to get their votes. Cheating is not democracy. Soon after we got so called democracy and Giri-ja became PM, the policeman became armyman carrying rifles. Is this what people expected from a democracy? All the development resources has to be funnelled into security. Now we can't even travel to the places we like as before in Nepal. The country is in the mids of civil war. Where is our peaceful Nepal? Yes there can be SHANTI CHHETRI in NUWAKOT but SHANTI CHHETRA NEPAL is nowhere to be seen.
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| taha cha |
Posted
on 01-Jan-03 03:11 PM
It is indeed time for all parties to work together, fight for the nation not for power, be aware that there are dangers facing that has crippled the economy and has taken the nation towards chaos. The golden day in Nepal will come as soon as the people realize that we need to work together and not let the elected representatives cripple the fate of the country, rather be responsive towards the people then their own self.
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| safasaja |
Posted
on 01-Jan-03 05:41 PM
Dongolog:
I agree with you 100 percent. Where are all the wishes those netas promised? Sure they got what they want. But what did public get? You cannot even visit your own village in your own country. Chaos everywhere. Young people have to flee and go abroad to look for employment. What the hell went wrong?
When they lost a power, once again they are making a big deal in the name of democracy and people.I dont think people will ever support those bastards again. No matter how loud durm they beat, people will just ignore them.
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| Vision |
Posted
on 01-Jan-03 05:54 PM
Dongolg, thaha cha and safa,
Count my vote too...
Dongolg...that Shanti Chetri thing is totally hystetical.:))))
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| bajai |
Posted
on 02-Jan-03 10:29 AM
the kantipur daily recently published GP's speech at a rally where he pointedly stated that 'the janapriya king birendra' was 'murdered' at the palace and challenged the move by king G. soon after, he headed towards india where he met with the indian defence minister and the indian pm.
what appalls me most is that, when king birendra died, GP himself was the prime minister. infact, when king G took the 'baggi ride' to hanuman dhoka to be declared king, girija was sitting on the same carriage, and after the ceremony was over, he was caught smiling with king G, much to the horror and dismay of all NTV viewers.
i have mentioned in another thread as well, that the days following the death of king birendra and family are indescribable in words; exacerbated by the fact that what followed was total silence- silence of the media, silence from the PM's office, bas, complete silence. only after repeated airing of the news by foreign news channels as to why and how it might all have taken place, GP mentioned the death of king b. soon after, even the foreign channels were shut down...
now, to put it simply, if there ever was any hope of credibility left from him, it's over. but then, what defies any logic is why people still listen to this empty vessel!
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| Vision |
Posted
on 02-Jan-03 02:04 PM
Bajai ji,
Very thought provoking views....a man with two faces.
I say we find 'Shanti Chettri' in Nuwakot and put her on soptlight. :))))
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| taha cha |
Posted
on 02-Jan-03 03:45 PM
I have heard rumors that GPK is in alliance with the Maobadis!
There is no doubt that he is a double standard SOB.
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| safasaja |
Posted
on 02-Jan-03 08:34 PM
Mr GPK is drumming hard to make a loud noise. I wonder if people are taking it seriously. Is it a wrong time? Why is the noise getting louder? Is it worth listening?
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