Gyanendra expresses dissatisfaction with the decision of interim parliament to abolish monarchy; Rival camps accuse the other of trying to upset CA polls; EU urges cessation of violence for smooth conduct of polls; Exit permits issued to Bhutanese refug
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    • King Gyanendra in a statement on February 6 expressed dissatisfaction with the decision of the interim parliament to abolish the monarchy, asserting that the move was not in tune with “democracy.” Emphasizing that people have a right to choose the fate of the monarchy, he pointed to a survey which reflected that forty-nine percent of respondents favored the monarchy1.

    Meanwhile, the verbal war between the leaders of the opposing camps continued, with the Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai publicly accusing the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML of trying to upset the CA polls2. The CPN-UML on its part has accused the Maoists of “high handedness” and that such attitudes could jeopardize SPA unity. Criticism was also raised against the CPN for reviving the Maoist Revolutionary People’s Council3. The revival of the council has also drawn flak from the UN Mission in Nepal, which asserted that the development was contrary to the spirit of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement4. The E.U observation team to Nepal, which has agreed to deploy an observation team at the behest of the Elections Commission, has stressed on the need to stop all acts of violence as a primary pre-condition for conducting fair elections5.

    In another development, the three Madhesi parties — Madhesi People’s Rights Forum, Terai-Madhes Democratic Party and Sadbhawana Party have formed a United Madhesi Democratic Front. They have proposed a six-point charter of demands – including an autonomous Madhesi state, right to self-determination, annulment of the current election law, proportional representation of Madhesis, women and Dalits in all organs of the state and declaration as martyrs those killed during the Madhesi movement in 20076.

    The Nepalese government has issued exit permits to refugees in eastern Nepal to enable
    their resettlement in a third country. Reports suggested that the United States and Canada had offered to resettle 60,000 and 5,000 Bhutanese refuges respectively7.

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