Calls for King of Nepal to give up throne

Nepal’s prime minister suggested King Gyanendra, who has been stripped of all his authorities and remains a powerless monarch, should give up his throne, it was reported today.

“If the king abdicates the throne now it would create a new environment,” the Kantipur newspaper quoted Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala as saying at his hometown of Biratnagar in east Nepal.

Koirala did not elaborate on what he meant by the “new environment” but criticised the recent statement by the king.

“It would have been wise for both the king and crown prince if they had stepped down. That did not happen instead there was increase in other activities,” Koirala said.

The king had issued a statement last month defending his decision to dismiss Nepal’s government and assume direct power in 2005 – a move that eventually led to mass demonstrations that stripped him of all powers.

In a traditional “Democracy Day” message to the public, the king said he was compelled to seize power because the government had failed to conduct elections and provide public security. The king’s statement was widely criticised.

Parliament passed a motion asking the government to take action against the king for his remarks.