Nepal committed to SAARC: King Gyanendra
His Majesty King Gyanendra has said Nepal is committed to the seven-member regional body, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
Responding to a query by Nepalnews during an exclusive interaction with the editors of Kathmandu-based broadsheet dailies and online news portals at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace Thursday, His Majesty King said Nepal believes that SAARC is an important forum. We are committed to the principle and charter of SAARC. It is a very useful regional forum which we would like to see strengthen for the benefit of the people of the entire region, His Majesty said.
Sadly, terrorism touches all the countries of the region. When we have taken a step against terrorism, why do our friends not help us, that is the question the Nepali people should ask, His Majesty said.
During the interaction, HM King Gyanendra looked determined and encouraged editors to raise questions. Dressed informally, he actively took part in over an hour-long discussions. Responding to a question on the role of the Royal Commission for Corruption Control (RCCC), His Majesty said corruption was an unacceptable thing now in Nepal.
For me, those who have responsibility and do not shoulder that responsibility are also corrupt, His Majesty said. The RCCC had to be set up since the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority could not be effective. But they should not in any way step on each other’s toes, he said.
At the same time, it has been told that (RCCC) should work on the basis of merit, not on an individual’s face. “I have also provisioned that there is a right to appeal for any individual who is not satisfied with the judgment (of the RCCC),” His Majesty said.
When asked what His Majesty expected from the political parties, the King said he wanted that the parties would put forward their clear views in front of the people on the issue of terrorism. Once peace is restored, my role would reduce and the parties would have a major role to play in the country. That is what is the democratic system, His Majesty added.
Saying that the Nepali press has a very responsible role to play in the furtherance of democracy and strengthening of peace efforts in the country, His Majesty said it was his belief that if the press were responsible and did not in any way strengthen the hands of terrorism, they should be free to report and write anything.
“A state of emergency is not business as usual. But I want to assure you that it is not our intention to give any pain to any law-abiding citizen,” His Majesty said.
His Majesty emphasized that there was democracy in the country and that it was there to stay. This is the system that people wanted and nobody can end this system, he asserted.
His Majesty further said he also had some compulsions and had to work within those compulsions. There is a need to establish that there is the rule of law in the country. If you don’t call a person simply because you don’t like his face, that is not a democratic system, he added.
His Majesty also advised the press to write in a responsible, constructive and productive way. We have no intention to curb press freedom. All we want is the press should work together with various organs of the state, he added.
nepalnews.com Bhagirath Yogi Feb 25 05
We want our friends to understand our resolve: HM The King (Nepalnews Special)
His Majesty King Gyanendra has said the nation itself has chosen an agenda that terrorism is no more accepted.
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| File Photo His Majesty King Gyanendra |
In the first-ever interaction with a select group of Nepali media at the Narayanhiti royal palace Thursday afternoon, His Majesty King Gyanendra said when we are fighting for democracy and against terrorism, Nepali people want to know what our friends are thinking. We want our friends to help us by word of mouth and by deed. If that is not the agenda they want to go along, then they should tell us what their agenda is, the King said.
Now, clearly the message is some of our friends have decided to suspend aid, that too the military aid, and Nepali people want to know what their message is. “Are they telling us that we should not fight against terrorism, that we should put our democracy into jeopardy?” His Majesty asked.
“When we have chosen to uphold democracy and fight against terrorism, why are they shying away from helping us? I can see one thing clearly emerging out of it. Our objectives are the same. We are going to meet somewhere. But we have chosen may be different paths in attaining that objective,” he added.
“We expect our friends to understand that we are moving in that path. We should not be surprised that some of our friends have expressed dissatisfaction with our move but some of our friends have welcomed it,” he added.
“They must say what they must say and we must do what we must do,” His Majesty said.
We will no more tolerate terrorism and we want that political parties, too, should come up with clear views on this issue, said His Majesty.
Nepalnews.com Bhagirath Yogi Feb 24 05
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Terrorism vs peace, no third force left: His Majesty
His Majesty King Gyanendra has said there are only two forces left in Nepal—those who pursue terrorism and those who believe in peace.
Talking to a group of Nepali journalists at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace Thursday, His Majesty said terrorism or terrorists could not be encouraged under any pretext.
Without naming the Maoists, His Majesty said they have given a lot of pain to the common people. “They are engaged in kidnapping, abduction and rape. This is something, which cannot be accepted by a civilized society. If their agenda is one party communist type of rule, it is unacceptable and we want our friends to give serious thought to this aspect of this issue,” said His Majesty.
His Majesty the King further said democracy must flourish, but we must pursue a democratic dispensation that is suited to the genius of the people of Nepal and the soil of Nepal. “We all value democratic norms, democratic values. What do we understand by this. We understand features like open society, transparency, mass participation, mass communicating of ideas. But we have to Nepalise them. We need to make it suit for this country and for the people of Nepal,” His Majesty said.
When asked what made him to take a drastic move like that of February 1, HM King Gyanendra said there were many factors that had joined in to bring forth a situation that was of such gravity. “We felt that the nation was also in a process of fragmentation, not the physical fragmentation. But the harmony among ethnic communities that we as Nepalis have always enjoyed, the unity that we had among ourselves was definitely shattered and the sad part was that no one was doing anything about it even as everyone knew that this prevailed,” His Majesty said.
“The efforts after February 1 is for all to see. When you identify your objective it becomes so much clearer and easier to pursue that objective. We have now identified (fighting) terrorism as our objective. So, we are going to pursue it,” His Majesty said.
When asked how long it would take to restore peace in the country, HM King Gyanendra said, “Three years that is the maximum I have asked for. My effort would definitely be to shorten that period.”
“When a house catches fire, it takes sometime to put it out. All the resources, knowledge and wisdom will have to be mobilized to put that out. At the beginning, when it was a disease it was allowed to fester now it has become gangrenous. When there is a foreign element in your body, you would like to (perform a) surgery on it and get rid of it,” His Majesty added.
“We still believe alongside a concerted effort that is militarily prepared, negotiations also must take place. Otherwise, I would not have talked about it in my proclamation. I have given them an olive branch. I have tried them to show a way. I have not left out those who are roaming around in the jungles. Now it’s up to them to respond, if you like, sincerely,” His Majesty said.
“We have heard too often in the past that they are willing to talk. But you (the media) have reported that it is only a tactical move. (If that is so) that is not sincerity. The state cannot deal with a group that behaves like this,” His Majesty further said.
When asked what he felt like after the Feb. 1 move, His Majesty said it was too early for him to say that he was happy. “There is so much work to be done and that work has to be done together,” he added. nepalnews.com by Feb 24 05
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Maoists must disarm and join the national mainstream: King
King Gyanendra said Monday the Maoists must disarm and join the national mainstream. "The objective of the army is not meant to kill but to disarm the Maoists who must lay down their arms and join the mainstream of national life," King Gyanendra told Bhola Rana of Nepalnews in an exclusive 90-minute interview.
"The action should be brief, purposeful and complete. As a King, I do not want my subjects to fight each other," he said. "The army is not on the offensive but on the defensive They have been told to hold on to their positions."
The King said the government has received international support for the emergency declaration and the army action. "Friends have given their support and understand our compulsions. I call this practical friendship. In this way, our friendship is much closer," the King said.
Nepal is receiving international military support, he confirmed. "But they must not give me more than I can utilize and sustain," he said. "India has been very co-operative. They understand it is not in their interest to have a destabilized Nepal."
The King talked about the June 1 Narayanhiti Royal Palace massacre, the family, Crown Prince and a host of other subjects. "Crown Prince is much more dutiful. He understands the load he has to bear now. He is taking it very well and responsibly," the King said.
The reduced members of the royal family after the June1 shoot-out are helping each other. "We are now but a few. We try to help each other. I do not have anybody to talk to. I lost my brothers. We were very close. We discussed everything. I now get solace from my mother. She is a fortress of strength for me," the King said.
Fourteen royal family members and relatives were killed or injured in the shoot-out started by Crown Prince Dipendra. The King said he could not cry when he was crowned on June 4. "Who knew what I was feeling when I was being crowned? I could not shed one tear," he said.
The King said he will not travel abroad until a self-imposed one-year mourning period for his brother, King Birendra. "I will not travel abroad for one year. It will not be appreciated. The healing process takes time after such tragic happenings," the King said.
"I would still like to be in the jungle that I love. I did not conspire to become king," he said. nepalnews.com br Dec.11 2001
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