Kathmandu, February 3:

A British diplomat today said they were hoping to see the monarch translate his words concerning democracy into practice and thus live up to the commitment related to restoration of meaningful democracy.

Second secretary at the British Embassy, Jemina Gordon-Duff, also said “we were extremely disappointed” at the instance of the government not reciprocating with the ceasefire initiatives coming from the rebels. She said that the government must release all those who have been rounded up by the government recently.

“We condemn the use of force on demonstrators. Freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful demonstration should be honored,” Gordon-Duff, said while speaking at a function organised by the Political Science Students Association (PSSA) in the capital today.

She also condemned the Maoists’ Tuesday night’s attack on Tansen and attack on electorate candidates. CPN-UML standing committee member K P Oli said that monarchs cannot be expected to give up power until and unless there is tremendous pressure on them from the people. “This incidentally is the case now,” he said.

“No one gives up power easily, including Kings. In fact, this holds good in case of the political parties also” Oli said criticising the government for cracking down on peaceful demonstrators. “This clearly indicates the current situation and the stance of the government,” he said.

Oli also said that the peaceful demonstration would continue unless the democratic rights and people’s sovereign rights are fully restored. He stressed on the “effective role” of students and youths in the process of consolidation of democracy.

Former justice Laxman Aryal said the students have a vital role in bringing back democracy and to save the nation. “People say Nepal would be a failed state if the situation continued, but I have to say that Nepal is already a failed state after the King took over the country,” he said.