Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 12:

Leading lights of the major political parties today lamented that the 100 days of the government headed by King Gyanendra was the darkest period for democracy, rights and press freedom and that the nation was regressing towards authoritarianism and centralisation of power.

Speaking at a programme organised by the Reporters’ Club, NC CWC member Dr Ram Sharan Mahat said the King had claimed that he had seized power to restore peace and bringing the democratic process back on track.

“But these 100 days of the government have failed to achieve the goals set by the King,” Mahat said, adding that the government was moving towards autocracy and centralisation of power. The formation of “extra-constitutional” and “unlawful institutions”, like the Royal Commission for Corruption Control and the appointment of zonal and regional administrators and district monitoring committees had proved that the government was moving back towards the Panchayat era.

Mahat quoted US Assistant Secretary for South Asian Affairs Christina Rocca as telling the leaders that “the security situation has become worse since the royal takeover”. Mahat said the foreign donor agencies were withdrawing from the Melamchi Drinking Water Project. Subhash Nembang of the CPN-UML rapped the government for adopting double standards on the domestic and international fronts.

“On the domestic front, the government boasts of having pushed the Maoists to the wall. On international front, it requests foreign diplomats to resume arms supply,” Nembang said.

Dr Sundar Mani Dixt said the international community was not convinced that the February 1 move would restore peace. Security expert Dr Indrajit Rai claimed there had been noticeable progress in the security situation across the country in the past 100 days. He, however, added that the army had a lot more to do on rights front.