NEPAL: MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY REFUSE TO TAKE PART IN INVESTIGATION INTO ROYAL MASSACRE.

Record ID: 584845

  • Title: NEPAL: MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY REFUSE TO TAKE PART IN INVESTIGATION INTO ROYAL MASSACRE.
  • Date: 6th June 2001
  • Summary: KATHMANDU, NEPAL (JUNE 6, 2001) (REUTERS) 1. GV: PEOPLE ON THE STREET (3 SHOTS) 0.08 2. CU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) MADHAV KUMAR NEPAL, LEADER OF THE MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY, THE UNIFIED MARXIST LENINIST PARTY, SAYING "There is a feeling that the time is too much short. So the time should be more. So if the commission demands more time, enough time for the investigation, people should then understand that okay, that the demanding for the appropriate time be allowed for the investigation." 0.24 3. GV: INTERVIEW IN PROGRESS 0.28 4. CU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) MADHAV KUMAR NEPAL SAYING "Anyone, either the jurisdiction commission, we will support that. If it is a two-man commission, we'll support that. If it is all-party commission, we'll support that, even though it is a non-political party commission, we'll also support that. Our co-operation will be there." 0.45 5. MCU: SOLDIER 0.50 6. CU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) MADHAV KUMAR NEPAL SAYING: "Our position is that the other parties as it is, should be included in that committee." 0.57 (U3)KATHMANDU, NEPAL (JUNE 6, 2001) (REUTERS) 7. GV/MV: MOURNERS (7 SHOTS) 1.28 8. CU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED MAN SAYING: "Lots of the time rumour is going around and lots of people are just going with the rumour. People don't know the truth, really what happened inside and people are really waiting to know the truth and you know I hope prime minister will help to get to know the truth" 1.43 KATHMANDU, NEPAL (JUNE 6, 2001) (REUTERS) 9. GV/MV: PEOPLE BUYING VEGETABLES IN A MARKET; KIOSK (4 SHOTS) 2.00 10. CU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN SAYING "Everything is uncertain. It's very difficult to live in Nepal right now." 2.07 11. GV/MV/CU: PEOPLE BUYING PETROL; MV PEOPLE WAITING TO PURCHASE BUS TICKETS (9 SHOTS) 2.35 12. CU: (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) UNIDENTIFIED MAN SAYING "There was a riot, and now there is a curfew, that is why I am leaving." 2.47 13. MV/GV: MORE OF PEOPLE WAITING (2 SHOTS) 2.54 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 21st June 2001 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: KATHMANDU, NEPAL
  • Country: Nepal
  • Reuters ID: LVA9AJFRMG6ABVHGC4C1BG13RLUF
  • Story Text: An investigation ordered by Nepal's new king into the
    apparent massacre of the royal family is in disarray, with the
    main opposition party refusing to take part. An increasing
    number of media reports say the Crown Prince murdered his
    relatives, then killed himself.



    A Nepali weekly on Wednesday (June 6) added to reports
    that Crown Prince Dipendra killed members of the royal family
    before turning the gun on himself.

    The Jana Aastha (People's Faith) newspaper quoted an
    uncle, Suraj Shumsher, as saying that relatives had told him
    that Dipendra was to blame.

    "The truth will come out in a few days, it cannot be
    hidden," Shumsher said.

    Nepal's opposition leader, who has refused a royal
    invitation to investigate the palace massacre, said on
    Wednesday he would take part if other political parties were
    involved.

    Madhav Kumar Nepal, leader of the main opposition
    communist United Marxist Leninist Party, said he was confident
    that an inquiry, if allowed to investigate freely, would
    reveal the truth.

    "If the committee gets the right to question all concerned
    people, to visit the relevant places, and to take the
    assistance of specialists then the committee would be able to
    find the facts," he told Reuters.

    New King Gyanendra's wife and sister were wounded in last
    Friday's bloodbath and are among witnesses who could be
    questioned about what happened.

    King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya and eight other royal
    family members were killed in the palace shooting.

    Opposition party leader Madhva Kuma Nepal said it would be
    better if the inquiry included other political parties,
    including the ruling Congress party led by Prime Minister
    Girija Prasad Koirala.

    "That will be better. The prime minister should take the
    initiative to end the impasse," he said.

    "Our party can be part of the committee if there is
    understanding among all political parties," said Nepal.

    A key question is whether the inquiry will be allowed to
    question royal survivors of the shooting. Royal affairs are
    traditionally kept secret in the Himalayan kingdom.

    As more mourners laid wreaths on Wednesday, one said
    people wanted an end to the rumours.

    Life has become increasingly difficult in Kathmandu since
    the deaths.

    More people than usual waited at the bus station in
    Kathmandu on Wednesday to get tickets put of the capital.




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