- Title: NEPAL: KING GYANENDRA SAYS HE WANTS ELECTIONS TO FURTHER DEMOCRACY IN NEPAL.
- Date: 28th May 2005
- Summary: (W3) KATHMANDU, NEPAL (MAY 27, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. GV: KING GYANENDRA OF NEPAL IN SEMINAR AT UNIVERSITY 0.04 2. MV.CU: PEOPLE SITTING (2 SHOTS) 0.14 3. (SOUNDBITE) (Nepali) GYANENDRA, NEPALESE KING, SAYING: "We wish to see political parties becoming popular and effective, engaging in exercise of a mature multiparty democracy, dedicated to the welfare of the nation and people and to peace and good governance in accordance with the people's aspirations. In a democracy, the people's confidence cannot be gained by infringing upon the constitution or by encouraging offers to breach it." 0.57 4. GV: DELEGATES SITTING (2 SHOTS) 1.07 5. (SOUNDBITE) (Nepali) GYANENDRA, SAYING: "Violence is not any means of reaching any agreement. The people yearn for a corruption free, pro-people, democratic form of governance. We, therefore call on political parties having faith in democracy to commit themselves to safeguard democracy from terrorism, curb corruption and bring to an end misuse of public property. We also call on them to shoulder the responsibility of making all democratic institutions effective through free and fair elections." 1.23 6. MV: WOMEN DELEGATES 1,26 7. GV: PEOPLE SITTING 1.29 8. (SOUNDBITE) (Nepali) GYANENDRA SAYING: "We have constantly held discussions with everyone in the interest of the nation, people and democracy and we will continue to do so in future." 2.08 9. MV: MORE OF DELEGATES SITTING (2 SHOTS) 2.31 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 12th June 2005 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: KATHMANDU, NEPAL
- Country: Nepal
- Reuters ID: LVA6CEPL7ZNWPRH1K0CS9H2VLPF0
- Story Text: Nepal's King Gyanendra says he wants to hold polls
in stages to further democracy in the country.
Nepal's King Gyanendra, who seized power in
February, said he planned to hold polls in phases to all
elected bodies in the revolt-torn nation, but set no dates.
The monarch's comments on Friday (May 27) came more
than one month after he unveiled plans to hold elections to
58 municipal assemblies by April 2006.
There has been no parliament in Nepal for the past
three years and Gyanendra, who drew widespread global flak
for his move to fire the government on February 1, rules
the impoverished Himalayan nation through an un-elected
council.
"We wish to see political parties becoming popular and
effective, engaging in exercise of a mature multiparty
democracy, dedicated to the welfare of the nation and
people and to peace and good governance in accordance with
the people's aspirations. In a democracy, the people's
confidence cannot be gained by infringing upon the
constitution or by encouraging offers to breach it," the
57-year-old king said late on Friday in an address to
Nepal's oldest university
"Violence is not any means of reaching any agreement.
The people yearn for a corruption free, pro-people,
democratic form of governance. We, therefore call on
political parties having faith in democracy to commit
themselves to safeguard democracy from terrorism, curb
corruption and bring to an end misuse of public property.
We also call on them to shoulder the responsibility of
making all democratic institutions effective through free
and fair elections," Gyanendra said.
Analysts said Gyanendra's latest comments signalled
that municipal elections would mark the start of a phased
vote, ultimately leading to national polls.
The king's decision to take power plunged Nepal into
political turmoil as he jailed politicians and suspended
civil liberties, saying he was acting to control a raging
anti-monarchy Maoist insurgency which has killed 12,000
people since 1996.
"We have constantly held discussions with everyone in
the interest of the nation, people and democracy and we
will continue to do so in future," he added.
Hours before Gyanendra's speech, seven of Nepal's main
political parties organised a pro-democracy rally in
Kathmandu, the second in a week.
About 5,000 people marched through the capital
demanding the restoration of civil liberties. Police
watched but did not intervene.
Political parties have vowed to continue street
protests to force King Gyanendra to restore the dissolved
parliament.
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