Kathmandu, June 13, 2007

For the first time in the history of Nepal, the Parliament today adopted a provision in the Constitution that will allow the House to remove the king if he is found to be conspiring against the Constituent Assembly elections.

Inserting the provision in Article 159 of the Interim Constitution of Nepal 2007, the parliament passed the Interim Constitution second amendment bill today. This is the first time in the 238-year history of modern Nepal that the parliament has assumed a power that can even abolish monarchy.

As per the provision, a two-thirds majority of parliamentarians can decide on removing the king in case he tries to scuttle the CA polls. The Council of Ministers would bring in such a proposal in the Parliament. However, one-fourth strength of the parliament cannot initiate action against the king on its own. The government has to forward the proposal first. Several MPs had proposed amendments in the provision.

Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula said he is ready to accept the amendment. MPs today questioned why the government does not want to take action against the king on other grounds — for going against the spirit of the Constitution, people’s wish or loktantra. “We can remove him (king) if he acts against the the Constitution, if he assumes executive powers unconstitutionally and against the will of the people,” Speaker Subas Nembang said.

Lawmaker Radheshyam Adhikari said the new parliamentary power is a “sword on the king’s head” and that it would stop monarchy from going against the people.

Four hurt as NC-D, Maoist cadres clash

Ramechhap, June 13, 2007

Four persons were injured in a clash between activists of the Nepali Congress-Democratic (NC-D) and the CPN-Maoist in Ramechhap’s district headquarters, Manthali, today.

Three NC-D activists — Pasang Lama, Puskar Lama and Bir Bahadur Lama — and Maoist cadre Dil Bahadur Shrestha of Rakathum Village Development Committee (VDC) were injured when they clashed over two village councils’ proposals submitted to the District Development Committee (DDC).

The quartet is undergoing treatment in Tamakoshi Cooperative Hospital in Manthali. All the injured have sustained head injuries from the batons, iron rods and stones they used in the clash.

Bir Bahadur Lama is the convention representative of the NC-D. Two other separate clashes between other NC-D and Maoist cadres also took place at Manthali bazaar after the first one ended. Following the clashes, a large number of security personnel has been deployed in the area.

Tempers had started fraying after the Rakathum VDC secretary convened a village council twice and submitted proposals and suggestions of the meeting to the Ramechhap District Development Committee.