Kathmandu, January 6:

Human rights activist and an expert on constitution Daman Nath Dhungana today said an international guaranteer is essential even if the King agrees to an election for a constituent assembly.

“There is no other way but an election to a constituent assembly for a minimum solution to the present political crisis, but this should not be taken as a panacea,” he said.

Addressing a discussion organised by the Freedom Forum, he said both the King and the political parties need a sincere and credible guaranteer to ensure preparation as well as the election for a constituent assembly takes place in a free and fair manner.

“It is possible that the King may dissolve the assembly if its result is against him and for this involvement of a third party must to ensure an impartial and fair result of the election,” he said.

“The question is not whether to have a constituent assembly or not. Rather, we should now think whether to let a constituent assembly form or look forward to a political system where the King may not have any room at all,” he said.

Dhungana said the Scandinavian model of monarchy could be a model for Nepal.

“Now the King has a choice - either to be a ceremonial monarch or bid farewell,” he said.

He also criticised the political parties for not being open and committed to the election to a constituent assembly.

Nepali citizens could not utilise and amend the constitution of 1990 in the last decade because the Maoists took up arms too early, the King refused to stay within the frame of the constitution and the parties overlooked the constitution, Dhungana said.

Prof Krishna Khanal, a political analyst, said autocracy cannot be uprooted till monarchy remains.

“We have given chances to four kings in the past 50 years, after Nepal was freed from the Ranas, but all of them only betrayed us,” he said.

“Democracy with King is not going to give any solution now. When we drafted the constitution of 1990, we thought the King had came under the constitution but lately we found that the King took the constitution under him,” he said.

Khanal added that federalism fits Nepal’s condition the most.