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Kathmandu Sunday June 03, 2001 Jestha 21, 2058.
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King Birendra is no more
Crown Prince declared King, Prince
Gyanendra appointed Regent
Post Report
KATHMANDU, June 2 – Crown Prince Dipendra was declared
the new monarch of Nepal following untimely demise of his father, His Late Majesty King
Birendra. The decision was taken today at a meeting of the Raj Parishad (State Council)
which is charged with overseeing the succession to the throne.
Similarly, the Raj Parishad also appointed Prince Gyanendra
as the Regent of the Kingdom of Nepal. An announcement over Radio Nepal said that since
the new monarch King Dipendra was in critical condition and unable to discharge his
duties, the Regent would exercise the powers vested in the monarchy.
The announcement brings to an end hours of uncertainty
which began at about 9 pm Friday night as news of an unfortunate shooting incident inside
the Royal Palace began seeping out. In the absence of any formal announcement by the
government as to what actually happened in the Royal Palace Friday night, the entire
nation has been speculating as to the causes of the unfortunate incident.
According to various sources close to the Palace, the Crown
Prince wielded an automatic weapon and fired at his family members who had all gathered
for a weekend dinner.
The Raj Parishad Chairman Keshar Jung Rayamajhi said today
that King Birendra died at 9:15 pm last night, succumbing to his injuries. Queen
Aishwarya, Prince Nirajan, Princess Shruti, Princesses Sharada, Shanti and Jayanti as well
as Kumar Khadga Bikram Shah, who were also hit, all succumbed to their injuries. Deceased
King Birendra’s youngest brother Dhirendra and son-in-law Gorakh Shumsher however
have survived the shoot-out and are undergoing intensive medical treatment at the Birendra
Army Hospital in Chhauni.
Just hours after the Raj Parishad decision, the Late King
Birendra, Queen Aishwarya, Prince Nirajan, Princess Shruti and Princess Jayanti were
accorded a state funeral that wound slowly through the streets of the capital.
The funeral procession of the Royal dignitaries started at
6 p.m. after the Prime Minister and other ministers, heads of constitutional bodies and
high government officials and people paid homage to late King Birendra and other departed
members of the Royal Family.
Thousands of mournful citizens lined the streets to take a
last glimpse of their beloved King and Royal Family members.
Meanwhile, as is customary in such circumstances, the
government has declared a state mourning for 13 days. The flag will be flown at half-mast
throughout the 13 days, and all state machinery will shut down completely for five days.
And, in accordance with Hindu customs, it has also ordered high-ranking civil service
officials to shave their head and refrain from taking salt for three days as a mark of
respect to the departed souls.
Though the reason for the shooting inside the Palace will
never be known until the government or Palace officials make a formal announcement,
speculation has been rife that the Crown Prince began shooting at his family for refusing
to sanction his marriage to the woman he loved.
As a result, the nation woke up today with a sense of
uncertainty, and profound loss. The streets of Kathmandu were deserted, shops were closed,
and thousands of curious faces milled about in crowds around the military hospital at
Chhauni, the ancient Hanumandhoka Royal Palace and the offices of the Raj Parishad
Standing Committee.
Sources say, the Crown Prince then shot himself but was
immediately rushed to the military hospital at Chhauni where doctors have tried valiantly
to save his life. Various officials keeping a close watch on him over there say that new
King Dipendra is unconscious and is surviving with the aid of ventilator. His condition is
very critical, they say.
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and his entire Cabinet
also rushed to the military hospital at Chhauni as soon as the information reached them.
An emergency Cabinet meeting was held at the hospital premises early this morning.
Until the King regains consciousness and is able to rule by
himself, the royal powers of the monarch will be exercised by Prince Gyanendra, the newly
declared Regent of the Kingdom of Nepal.
The Raj Parishad arrived at the decision after lengthy
deliberations among its numerous members. According to the rules of succession, it is the
Raj Parishad that decides the succession issue.
As soon as official news of the succession was made public
over Radio Nepal, a spontaneous demonstration by a few hundred people took place just
outside the Raj Parishad offices at Kantipath.
The protestors chanted slogans decrying the killing of the
late King Birendra, and demanded action against the perpetrator(s) of the crime. Some of
the demonstrators also shouted slogans against Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.
Eyewitnesses said that police had to resort to lathi-charge to disperse the crowd of
protestors, numbering about 500.
Nearby, just outside the main gate of the Royal Palace, an
old woman wailed loudly at the untimely demise of King Birendra, a much beloved monarch.
The woman, Laxmi Shah of Bhaktapur she had come to find out what had happened to "my
father and mother", referring to the late King and the late Queen.
At the old Hanumandhoka Royal Palace, 66 year-old Ram Lal
Pariyar, sobbing, said: "I feel like crying. We will never get a king as beloved as
King Birendra."
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