Gyanendra revives Parliament

YIELDING TO unrelenting pressure from pro-democracy protestors, King Gyanendra of Nepal tonight met a key demand of the Seven-Party Alliance by announcing that Parliament, which he had dissolved in 2002, had been revived. The embattled monarch said in a televised address to the nation that Parliament would meet on Friday. He was reviving Parliament in the interest of the people, he said.

Meets key demand of Seven-Party Alliance

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YIELDING TO unrelenting pressure from pro-democracy protestors, King Gyanendra of Nepal tonight met a key demand of the Seven-Party Alliance by announcing that Parliament, which he had dissolved in 2002, had been revived.

The embattled monarch said in a televised address to the nation that Parliament would meet on Friday. He was reviving Parliament in the interest of the people, he said.

The king’s announcement came hours before a massive rally was to be held here (on Tuesday). It was planned by the SPA, which had rejected his offer last week to relinquish executive power and his invitation that they choose a new prime minister. The SPA had instead demanded revival of Parliament, setting up of a constituent assembly and for the king to give up not only executive power but also the state power which gives him control of the army.

The king said Parliament (House of Representatives) had been reinstated in order to resolve the present political crisis, including resolution to the ten-year old armed conflict as per the road map presented by the Seven-Party Alliance.

The Seven-Party Alliance had earlier said that through reinstatement of Parliament it would form an all-party government and call the Maoists for dialogue and hold constituent assembly election to find a political solution to the ongoing crisis. The king also accepted the roadmap of the SPA to restore democracy and peace. He also expressed condolence for those who lost their lives in the nearly three-week pro-democracy agitation and wished speedy recovery to those who sustained injuries.

The king said Nepalese people are the source of sovereign power and the state authority also rests on them.

Meanwhile, welcoming King Gyanendra's announcement to reinstate Parliament in Nepal, Communist Party of Nepal (UML) leader Rajan Bhattarai said the first task of the House of Representatives would be to declare elections to the Constituent Assembly.