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India backs Nepal opposition in blow for king
INDIA has in effect washed its hands of Nepal's embattled monarch as the Nepalese democracy movement called for a final push to remove King Gyanendra.
India, regarded as the most powerful outside force in Nepalese politics, at first welcomed the limited compromise King Gyanendra offered to anti-monarchy protesters on Friday. But when about 300,000 marchers rejected the offer and took to the streets of Kathmandu on Saturday, defying a shoot-to-kill ban on public rallies, in an attempt to reach the palace, New Delhi quickly adjusted its position.
On Sunday security forces placed the capital under an 11am-6pm movement ban for the fifth straight day.
Opposition parties said they planned only small gatherings for yesterday before a massive anti-king protest today on the ring road that circles Kathmandu.
Hundreds of thousands have joined protests across the country calling on the king - who dissolved parliament and seized control of the country 14 months ago - to relinquish power.
"We support the view of the [seven-party opposition] alliance that restoration of peace and multiparty democracy in Nepal is the need of the hour," said Shyam Saran, the official in charge of Indian foreign policy.
Five rebels and one government soldier died in fighting after Maoist guerillas attacked security bases and government buildings yesterday in the north-central town of Chautara, an army official said.
The main demand of the opposition is a new constitution, part of a road map for peace with the powerful Maoist rebels. Few people expect that the monarchy would survive under a new constitution.
King Gyanendra has consistently refused to consider one and tried unsuccessfully to appease his opponents by inviting them to appoint a prime minister while he retained control of the army.
India was not the only country to be wrong-footed by the king's offer. Britain, America and other countries gave it guarded welcomes, provoking a flurry of angry statements from pro-democracy and anti-monarchy campaign groups.
On Sunday, violent clashes continued between the security forces and protesters in several parts of Kathmandu, despite a renewed daytime ban in which mobile phone networks were shut down. Several people were injured by plastic bullets and police baton charges. Yet the protests were smaller than on recent days.
For days the city's outer ring road has been blocked by rubble, concrete blocks and trees felled to prevent the movement of security forces. Overhead, an effigy representing the king hung by a rope around its neck. The police did not bother to remove it.
http://smh.com.au/news/world/india-backs-opposition-in-blow-for-king/2006/04/24/1145861289785.html
On Sunday security forces placed the capital under an 11am-6pm movement ban for the fifth straight day.
Opposition parties said they planned only small gatherings for yesterday before a massive anti-king protest today on the ring road that circles Kathmandu.
Hundreds of thousands have joined protests across the country calling on the king - who dissolved parliament and seized control of the country 14 months ago - to relinquish power.
"We support the view of the [seven-party opposition] alliance that restoration of peace and multiparty democracy in Nepal is the need of the hour," said Shyam Saran, the official in charge of Indian foreign policy.
Five rebels and one government soldier died in fighting after Maoist guerillas attacked security bases and government buildings yesterday in the north-central town of Chautara, an army official said.
The main demand of the opposition is a new constitution, part of a road map for peace with the powerful Maoist rebels. Few people expect that the monarchy would survive under a new constitution.
King Gyanendra has consistently refused to consider one and tried unsuccessfully to appease his opponents by inviting them to appoint a prime minister while he retained control of the army.
India was not the only country to be wrong-footed by the king's offer. Britain, America and other countries gave it guarded welcomes, provoking a flurry of angry statements from pro-democracy and anti-monarchy campaign groups.
On Sunday, violent clashes continued between the security forces and protesters in several parts of Kathmandu, despite a renewed daytime ban in which mobile phone networks were shut down. Several people were injured by plastic bullets and police baton charges. Yet the protests were smaller than on recent days.
For days the city's outer ring road has been blocked by rubble, concrete blocks and trees felled to prevent the movement of security forces. Overhead, an effigy representing the king hung by a rope around its neck. The police did not bother to remove it.
http://smh.com.au/news/world/india-backs-opposition-in-blow-for-king/2006/04/24/1145861289785.html
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While Nepal's parties, the people and the country's third political force - the Maoists - rejected the king's offer as a ploy to defuse the anti-king agitation, the statement from New Delhi Friday said, 'This action by the King should now pave the way for the restoration of political stability and economic recovery of the country.'
India's newly appointed special envoy to Nepal, Karan Singh, who had met King Gyanendra in Kathmandu Thursday, was reported by BBC Nepali service as saying he welcomed the king's move, a report that stoked the suspicions in Nepal that Singh had been sent to save the king and not the country.
'We are stunned that India. Nepal's closest neighbour, doesn't understand the feelings of Nepalis,' said Arjun Narsingh KC, former spokesman of the Nepali Congress, the biggest opposition party.
'When Karan Singh met us, we told him clearly that we would continue our agitation unless the king reinstated parliament, an interim government was formed and began dialogue with the Maoists, leading to constituent assembly elections,' he added.
More
http://www.dailyindia.com/show/19756.php/Indian_statements_create_confusion_in_Nepal
Speculation is rife here that India advised Gyanendra to give up his sweeping powers, restore democracy by opting for a titular monarchy, or else face unspecified consequences.
Many fear India could take firm steps to restore democracy, for fear that the continuing violence could lead to a mass exodus of Nepalese into Indian territory.
The landlocked Himalayan country depends on India for major economic, financial, agricultural and shipping concessions for its survival.
The Indian Army has been on a state of alert at the Nepal border for the last several weeks, also to check any infiltration of criminal elements. Nepal is a major center of narcotics, sex and arms trafficking in Asia.
India fears that Nepal's Maoist rebels, if left unchecked, could play havoc on its northern border and destabilize the region.
"India has consistently been plagued with cross border terrorism from the western frontiers [with Pakistan]," said Lakshman Kuchi of the Hindustan Times.
"Obviously, another porous border would be a disaster as Maoists are not afraid to use violence to establish a communist rule."
This is not the first time that India has flexed its muscles in the region. In 1971, India helped create Bangladesh out of territory formerly known as East Pakistan.
Pakistan's military rulers were engaged in a struggle against Bengali-speaking Muslims demanding the transfer of power to their elected leaders. More than a million refugees spilling into India, which responded by sending armed forces into East Pakistan.
India defeated Pakistani army and Bangladesh was created.
At the time, the U.S. criticized India for transgressing international borders.
But a former Indian diplomat who was posted in New York, S. S. Gupta, believes India's veiled threat to Nepal this time enjoys full U.S. support. Relations between Washington and Delhi have strengthened since the recent signing of a civilian nuclear cooperation treaty.
"Despite its undoubted status as a major power, India is averse to hegemony," Gupta said. "So there is no fear of a negative fallout of this moderate arm twisting as India enjoys considerable respect for its policy of peaceful co-existence."
U.S. Ambassador to Kathmandu, James Moriarty, bluntly warned Gyanendra that he could be removed unless he agrees to a quick compromise that could end the crisis.
"His time is running out," the envoy was quoted as telling reporters. "Ultimately the king will have to leave if he doesn't compromise. And by 'ultimately' I mean sooner rather than later."
...
http://www.townhall.com/news/ext_wire.html?rowid=46977