Kathmandu, April 24:

Detained human rights activists and representatives of civil society in a letter to the international community, including the European Union, said the welcome response to King Gyanendra’s Friday address is a “misperception” of the country’s political situation. The international community, according to them, has misread the royal address.

The international community’s positive reaction to the address, according to them, “has needlessly delayed a peaceful transition in the country at a critical hour, when millions of Nepalis are on the streets agitating for an immediate return to democracy.” They said that people’s solidarity explicit in the nationwide demonstrations, including the Kathmandu Valley, deserves more respect than has been “accorded” it by the international community.

The statement was issued by activists including Padma Ratna Tuladhar, Daman Nath Dhungana, Charan Prasai, former justice Laxman Aryal and senior journalist Kanak Mani Dixit, currently held at Duwakot Armed Police barracks. “Those who welcomed the royal address seem to believe that the King has unequivocally conceded sovereignty to the Nepali people. The King refers to the state power remaining with the people as part of listing the terms of reference of the government to be formed. This phrase is included only in passing, and does not amount to the King conceding sovereignty as residing in the people,” the statement said.

It, however, lauded the recent announcement by the Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Sharan of respecting the will of the people of Nepal and urged the international community to emulate India’s corrective statement. “We believe that there is a sleight of hand involved here, by a royal palace intent on misleading embassies. The King is not prepared to transfer sovereign power,” the statement said. The statement hinted that the palace would intervene in the workings of the new executive body.

It urged the international community to be “more alert against royal machinations” and to support the political parties in the ongoing movement. The statement hoped that the political parties would make a “pro-active announcement” in a bid to prevent anarchy and dangerous collapse of state structures. “For this, the political parties should unilaterally declare restoration of the third Parliament and/or announce a parallel government. Thereafter, they should consult the Maoist rebels who have credibly indicated their intention to enter open politics, and announce elections to an unconditional constituent assembly,” the statement said. “We hope that the international community will come forward with immediate recognition of such a unilateral declaration, required to prevent Nepal from sinking into the pit of one kind of extremism or another. In such an evolution, we see no role for the king other than as a mute spectator,” the statement said.