Word: gyanendra
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...Nepalis who switched on their television sets found cultural shows and patriotic songs. At 10 a.m., King Gyanendra appeared, flanked by the Nepalese flag and his own royal standard, and announced his "historic decision," declaring: "Nepal's bitter experiences over the past few years tend to show that democracy and progress contradict one another ... In pursuit of liberalism, we should never overlook an important aspect of our conduct, namely discipline." As he spoke, telephone lines and Internet connections across Nepal went dead. The airport closed. Armored cars and soldiers with riot shields began patrolling Kathmandu's narrow alleys...
...faith in the monarchy has also plummeted since the palace slaughter of 2001, in which Crown Prince Dipendra killed King Birendra (Gyanendra's brother) and eight other royals before turning his revolver fatally on himself. King Gyanendra is nowhere near as popular as his predecessor?and by seizing power he could be playing into the hands of the Maoists, who want to topple the monarchy and form a communist republic. The rebels wasted no time in reacting. Maoist leader Prachanda denounced the "genocidal, corrupted national betrayer Gyanendra...
...dire threat for a country where the average annual income is just $240 and where 42% of the population lives below the poverty line. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour, who has accused the Nepalese army of torturing and murdering people with impunity, expressed outrage that Gyanendra had pledged to her "his unequivocal commitment to human rights, democracy and multiparty rule" when she visited Nepal the previous week, even as he planned his takeover...
...While the palace drummed up poorly attended rallies in support of the King, political leaders under house arrest smuggled out fearful notes to reporters. "If enough pressure is not exerted on Gyanendra, he may go to the extreme, [taking] dictatorial steps against the political parties, the leaders and the people," wrote Madhav Nepal, leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist), who had been widely regarded as a Prime Minister-in-waiting. Still, even he agreed that the country's political leaders have let down democracy's cause. "The performance and delivery of the parties, especially in power...
When King Gyanendra suspended Nepal's democracy last week, he incurred the wrath of the United Nations, India and several other countries. But most democracies, from the Philippines to Colombia, have failed to quell domestic rebellions democratically. With much of Nepal now controlled or dominated by Maoist insurgents, strong and centralized leadership is a stark necessity, although Gyanendra will need to somehow forge a national consensus to contain and ultimately end the insurgency...