Probe body term extended

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KATHMANDU, June 10 - The tenure of the high level committee formed to investigate the Royal carnage of June 1 has been extended by four days, a statement issued today by the Principal Secretariat of His Majesty the King stated. The committee’s report, originally due today, is now expected on Thursday.

Chief Justice Keshab Prasad Upadhyay, who heads the probe committee, reportedly made a submission to the government seeking extension of the deadline of the committee today. His Majesty the King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev granted the extension by four days after the government recommended Upadhyay’s submission.

Upadhyay, in the submission stated that the committee had almost finished with the inquiry but awaited forensic reports and needed some more time to write the final report.

"The Committee needed some more time as the final reports of the forensic tests of the materials from the carnage site has not been received," said a high level government source.

Various objects and weapons from the carnage site inside the Narayanhiti Royal Palace have been sent to a lab in Khumaltar for forensic tests. The deadline of the committee now ends on June 14, Thursday.

The two members of the committee Chief Justice Upadhyay and Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament Taranath Ranabhat have also reportedly sought the eyewitness account of His Majesty the Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah from the Birendra Army Hospital in Chhauni.

His Majesty the Queen is admitted to the Army Hospital since June 1 after sustaining injuries in the same incident that took the lives of 10 royalties and royal relatives including Late King Birendra and Queen Aiswarya.

The probe committee initially had three members including the leader of the main opposition Madhav Kumar Nepal who was nominated by King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev on June 4, Monday. But the committee was crippled after the resignation of Nepal. Instead of Tuesday, as initially commanded, the committee started its work only from June 8, Friday.

Upper House elections on June 27

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KATHMANDU, June 10 – The Election Commission (EC) today announced the names of the election officials and the programme schedule for the National Assembly elections, slated to be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 27.

The Upper House elections will be held for 20 seats that fall vacant every two years. And in the upcoming elections, 11 members will be elected by the House of Representatives on the basis of the system of proportional representation, five will be chosen by the local bodies, while four will be nominated by His Majesty the King.

According to a press release issued here by the EC today, General Secretary at the Parliamentary Secretariat, Ishwor Prasad Upadhyaya, has been named as the Returning Officer (RO) for the elections that will elect members from the House of Representatives.

Likewise, Justice Nanda Raj Adhikari of Dhankuta Appellate Court, Justice Buddhi Kant Mainali of Patan Appellate Court and Justice Tahir Ali Ansari of Pokhara Appellate Court have been appointed as RO for Eastern, Central and Western development regions respectively. Similarly, Justice Tarka Raj Bhatta of Surkhet Appellate Court has been appointed RO for the Mid Western and Justice Damodar Purush Dhakal of Dipayal Appellate Court for the Far Western development region.

The program schedule released today states that the voters’ list will be first published at 11 a.m. on June 15, 2001. All applications for corrections and missed names are to be submitted immediately that very day and the amended voters’ list will be published at 4 p.m. on June 15 itself, the release states.

The release further states that all objections against any names in the voters’ list are to be lodged starting 10 a.m. on June 16, 2001.

Then, according to the schedule, the final voters’ list is to be published at 4 p.m. on June 16.

Likewise, the nomination papers for the election is to be filed at 10 a.m. on June 17. All objections against any nominations are to be filed at 4 p.m. on June 17 and the list of nominated members will be published at 3 p.m. on June 18, 2001.

Any withdrawals are to be made by 10 a.m. on June 19, and the final list of nominated members will be released at 10 a.m. on June 20, the release adds.

The election symbols will be provided to all members standing for elections by 3 p.m. on June 21, the release states.

Meanwhile, analysts say that the main opposition CPN-UML, which commands a majority in the local body nation wide, is likely to top NC by 4 seats, as 10 out of the 24 NC parliamentarians are preparing to retire. UML has 17 members in the National Assembly and, out of them, only 2 are retiring.

This way, the main opposition party is likely to emerge victorious with majority of seats on its side for the first time in the 11 years of the post-1990 era.

State Council faced dilemma after the Royal shootings

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KATHMANDU, June 10 – The constitutional process to fill the vacant throne after late King Birendra’s death on the night of June 1 started within hours after the Royal massacre, and not without some heated debate between various constitutional, medical and political personalities, highly placed sources say.

Speaking about that fateful night and the frenzied morning that followed, a source who witnessed the drama unfold, revealed today to The Kathmandu Post that, just hours after King Birendra’s untimely demise, political leaders and constitutional experts began the grave task of replacing the dead King with another one. The choice before them was then Crown Prince Dipendra, who too had gunshot wounds to his head and was in a coma.

In the early morning hours of June 2, many members of the State Council, including the chairman Dr Keshar Jung Rayamajhi, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyay and other constitutional experts wrestled with a key dilemma: whether or not to declare the then Crown Prince the new King.

But the State Council had already been told by everyone who had survived the massacre that it was the Crown Prince himself who had pulled the trigger. The dilemma, therefore, was: should the Crown Prince Dipendra be declared the new King when all preliminary accounts pointed towards him as the perpetrator of the grim shootings inside the Palace?

"Not many people, including those in the State Council, were in favour of crowning Dipendra as King," said this source who was familiar with the goings-on that morning. "Many asked how could he be declared the King? Some even wanted the throne to go directly to his uncle."

But there was a problem. The Chief Justice and other legal-constitutional experts pointed out that, under Nepal’s constitution and succession rules, when the King dies, it is the Crown Prince who succeeds to the throne.

Had the Crown Prince also died immediately, the State Council would have been spared the dilemma. But since the medical experts at the Birendra Military Hospital had certified that he was not clinically dead, but only in a coma, the State Council’s options were limited. However, one small window did exist. The Crown Prince-should-succeed rules could be skirted if he could somehow be declared "mentally unfit to reign," as provided for in the constitution.

"There was some debate whether this provision should be exercised, but then the medical experts chipped in. They said that it was impossible to certify that because the Crown Prince had been of sound mental health up to the fateful hour, and after that time there was no way to examine his mental state because he was in a coma," said the source.

The argument was bolstered by the constitutional experts who pointed out that any declaration of "mental imbalance" would be indefensible in a court of law unless backed with hard evidence, which, at this point, was non-existent. "The lawyers basically were asking what was the basis, and there was none," the official said.

After debating the issue, the members of the State Council finally decided to declare the then Crown Prince the new King. "With very little option, there was nothing else one could do," said the official.

While the debate continued, the government’s communication machinery shut down. Radio Nepal, which usually airs its first news bulletin at 7 a.m., just continued to air mournful music which said little to the confused and bewildered nation. The official announcement of King Birendra’s death and the succession by his son came only during the afternoon on June 2. But by this time, rumours had spread like wildfire.

Government sources say, that some western diplomatic missions were furious at the crowning of Dipendra as King, whom they held responsible for the murder of the late monarch King Birendra.

Immediate release of journos demanded

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KATHMANDU, June 10 - Various political parties and other organizations have demanded for the immediate release of an editor, Managing Director and Director of the Kantipur Publications who were kept in police custody Wednesday.

Nepal Communist Party (United) today, issuing a press release, condemned the government’s move to detain the three media persons and asked the government for their immediate release.

The government, on Wednesday, had detained Editor of Kantipur daily Yubaraj Ghimire, Kantipur Publication’s Managing Director Kailash Sirohiya and Director Binod Raj Gyawali on charge of sedition against the state.

Federation of Nepalese Journalists of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur district today, issuing separate press releases, expressed their astonishment over the government still not releasing the detained media persons, despite protests from various political leaders, media persons, Human Rights activists and writers.

The release stated that they are staging protest program from June 12 for the release of the detainees.

Nepal Janjati Mahasangh, Citizens Concerns Society - Nepal, Legal Campaign Group, Backward Society Education (BASE), Nagarjun Sahityik Pratisthan and Raktim Sanskritik Abhiyan, issuing separate press releases, condemned the government’s move to arrest the media personnel and demanded for their immediate release.

Meanwhile, our Tansen-based correspondent has reported that journalists in Gorakhpur, India have expressed surprise and concern over the arrest of editor Yubaraj Ghimire, and directors of the Kantipur Publications. Issuing a press statement yesterday, president of the Press Club, Piyush Banka, deplored the government’s interference with the universally recognized freedom of the press, a move which he said was so timed as to undermine the prestige of the newly crowned monarch.

80,000 sign condolence book
Queue at Palace gate gets longer

By Bunu Dhungana

KATHMANDU, June 10 - Near about 80,000 people have signed the condolence book kept at the main entrance of the Narayanhiti Royal Palace till Sunday, as thousands of people stood in long queues with flowers and bouquets and incense sticks on the last day of signing their condolence message to the departed souls.

Meanwhile, the general public, young and old alike, converged at the Palace gate to pay their last tributes said that the timeframe was too short, and demanded that it be extended in view of the large number of people still thronging to the Palace gate to register their condolences.

"The time period to pay tribute to our beloved King and his family is not sufficient " said the majority of the people gathered in front of the Palace, Sunday. They were looking disappointed and said they had a lot of questions in their mind. Some said, they were still not in a position to believe that King Birendra and his family members passed away.

Asked to some small kids why they were there? some just shied away while some said that our King was dead that’s why they were here. Twelve years old Subodh Budhathoki said that he came to pay tribute to his beloved departed King and Queen.

Not only Kathmanduites, people from different parts of country too converged at the Palace gate to show their love and respect to Late King and his family. Forty-four years old Nirmala Devi came all the way from Biratnagar. "I wanted to pay homage to my King at the place where he died", said Devi. Similarly, Mukunda Prasad Dhital from Kavre said " Its different feeling to come here and pay tribute to Late King and Queen".

Some youngsters dressed in school uniform clutching flowers in their hand with their satchels slung over their shoulder were also seen queuing at the Palace gate. They said that they came directly from school as today was the last day to offer condolence there. Seventeen years old Astha Rizal who had come with her friends said that they had come to pay their respect to the King.

Even the scorching summer sun was not able to deter the beeline, thanks partly to the refreshing water provided free by The Lions Club of Kathmandu Rajdhani. The club has been providing water since last Sunday.

" Water is the most essential thing for the people", said Sushil Monata the Director of Lions Club of Kathmandu Rajdhani. At this particular situation its even a noble work," he said. "I guess this is the best way to pay tribute to Late King and his family" he added.

Even the flower vendors who were doing brisk business were seen visibly upset over the Royal Carnage. Bishal Bhandari a flower vendor beside the Royal Palace said, " We also remain saddened by the event," but that did not deter him to shy away from the daily sale fetching an income of Rs 4000-5000. The flower sale even reached Rs 7000 last Sunday.

Census underway in 30 districts

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KATHMANDU, June 10 - The second phase of the tenth National Census began today in over 30 districts of Nepal.

"I can’t tell you the exact number of districts but CBS has been reported that the second phase of Census 2001 has begun in 40 per cent of the total districts without any hindrances," said Deputy Director of Central Bureau of Statistics, CBS Radha Krishna G.C.

However, he said that the detail is not available but will reach CBS by Sunday. " Due to the tragic and untimely demise of His Majesty King and his family, the communication with different districts was impossible to establish. Hence, CBS has not been able to acquire the detail."

Over 20,000 enumerators have been selected for the purpose. The training for the enumerators was postponed by the ‘unfortunate’ death of His Majesty King Birendra and his family. CBS assured that the second phase of the Census will begin from June 14 onwards in the remaining districts.

In the Maoists affected districts, the rebels themselves have begun to collect data on population and have opposed the Census being carried out by the CBS. According to our district correspondents, which are affected by the Insurgency, the supervisors and enumerators were prevented from collecting data and were forced to leave districts.

The second phase has been considered as relatively more important than the first one since data on population will be collected during this phase. The first phase of the Census basically focused on family listings. Over 5000 supervisors were used for the first phase.

Meanwhile in Rajbiraj, group of people vandalized the Census office for using unfair means to select the enumerators. The incident took place after the result of the enumerators was published by the office.

Chitwan elephants arrive to carry Brahmans away

By Subodh Gautam

KATHMANDU, June 10 - Two Asiatic elephants arrived here from Royal Chitwan National Park Saturday evening. The pachyderms will carry on their backs two Hindu priests (Brahmans), who consume ‘Katto’ (special meal prepared on the 11th day ritual of His Late Majesty King Birendra and Dipendra), and take them away from Kathmandu Valley.

Traditionally, the Brahmans are not allowed to return, and the residents of the Valley would not even "see their faces" again.

The tradition is being followed according to Vedic tradition since time immemorial, and the Hindu Brahmans who consume ‘Katto’ on Monday and Wednesday shall not return to the Valley. The 11th day rituals of His Late Majesty King Birendra are scheduled to take place on Monday while that of Late King Dipendra will take place on Wednesday.

Two domesticated Asiatic elephants - Nirajan Prasad (named after late Prince Nirajan) and Moti Prasad (Kha) - walked their way into the Valley Saturday evening covering a distance of 130 kilometers from Chitwan Park, south of the Valley.

Sources at the Royal Palace said one of the animals would leave the Valley either through Lele or Thankot, along with a Brahman, Monday afternoon. And necessary preparations are currently underway at Bhairabsthan temple in Pachalighat, Teku, where the farewell ceremony is scheduled to take place.

"The first elephant will be decorated traditionally, just like the Brahman who readies himself to consume the ‘Katto’ will be decorated like the late King," a Palace source said.

The outbound elephant and the Brahman will be accompanied by a procession of porters and horses, which will carry all the basic daily necessities, including necessary luxuries, for the Brahman. "The tradition was followed after the death of Late King Mahendra and his father Late King Tribhuvan as well," said Dr Raja Ram Subedi, Assistant Professor of History at the Tribhuvan University.

"Katto is something impure, so one who consumes it is considered unholy," he said. "That is why the Brahmans do not return; they settle somewhere outside the Valley, if not the country, and the Valley residents would not even want to see their faces."

The tradition dates back to the times of ancient Hindu Kings, while this particular tradition dates back to the times of Rana rulers, who belonged to the 104-year-old Ranarchy which was overthrown in 1950, according to Dr Subedi.

During the autocratic Rana Regime, such Brahmans were hired (to feed ‘Kattos’) even at the deaths of the then Generals and Colonels of the Royal Nepal Army (RNA), according to the Palace official.

The two elephants were brought up at the Department of National Parks-owned stable at Royal Chitwan National Park, one of the finest parks of Asia. The elephants will be donated to the Brahmans. Donations will also be offered to the other Brahmans - such as those who carried the bodies of the Late Kings, and those who lit the funeral pyres, according to the Palace sources.

UML for journos' immediate release

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KATHMANDU, June 10 - The main opposition Communist Party of Nepal (UML) has once again reiterated its demand today on the government for immediate release of an editor and publishers of Kantipur Publications and to withdraw the charges of treason against state on them.

"The interference by the government upon Kantipur daily is against the essence of the Constitution and is an effort to weaken the achievements of the 1990 people’s movement," states a release issued here today. "The government move is also against the people’s right to information."

"The government has not yet released them despite barrage of protests against the arrest in the country and abroad," the release adds.

Editor of Kantipur daily, Yubaraj Ghimire, Kantipur Publications Managing Director Kailash Sirohiya and Director Binod Raj Gyawali are still in police custody at Hanuman Dhoka District Police Office since Wednesday, when they were arrested for printing an article by Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai on the opinion page of their newspaper.

Likewise, the CPN-UML central committee that met today has also condemned the government move to black-out information regarding the Royal massacre on June 1. "They have even adopted undemocratic means by suppressing the people by declaring curfew and firing upon innocent people...Those dead or injured during the firing should be duly compensated," it states.

Similarly, CPN-UML has also demanded that adequate relief materials be immediately dispatched to those affected by torrential rainfall last Wednesday at Patibhara and Pawakhola VDC in Sankhuwasabha district. At least 13 people lost their lives in the landslide.

Interest in vegetarian food on rise

By Ganesh Raj Acharya

KATHMANDU, June 10 - The West has always been puzzled over the Orientals, especially the people of Indian sub-continent, obsession with vegetarianism. But the last quarter of century has seen the trend getting more popular acceptance and even vigorous advocacy.

"Since last one decade, westerners have adopted an abrupt change in the food and eating pattern and tendency towards vegetarian food is on increase", says Dr. Laxmi Kant Pandey, a Naturopath in Kathmandu.

"More than 250 types of zoonotic diseases are reported to be transmitted to human through animal flesh. In Nepal, the quality of meat and meat-product is questionable and there is no denying that transmission of such diseases is not prevalent", Dr. Pandey further says.

Vegetarian food widely known as Shakahari Bhojan is a Sub-continental phenomenon. Vegetarianism was given wide publicity by eminent vegetarians like Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, and glamorized it.

"May it be for religious reason or health concern, adopting vegetarian food is one attribute of the Hindus. Ahimsa (non violence) is the spirit of almost all Indian philosophy which is portrayed through consumption of vegetarian food", says Shaligram Sharma, a Mahendra Sanskrit University graduate.

"There is a direct relationship between non-violence and vegetarian food. Vegetarian food is the foundation of our religion and has been in practice since the Vedic days," Sharma further clarifies.

According to Vegetarian Science Research Center - Nepal (VSRC-Nepal), vegetarian food has all the required ingredients, minerals and vitamins needed to keep us all in good health. It also claims that vegetarian food has more immunity power compared to meat products. VSRC-Nepal is an association actively involved in promoting vegetarian food since last three years.

In earlier days, Sakahari Bhojan was practiced in Indian and Nepali societies only. But, lately, the westerners have also begun to adopt vegetarian food claiming it to be superior.

Harprit Sharma, a 19 year old certificate level laments, "Poor me, my parents are vegetarian, and try to impose upon me their fixed ritualistic dogmas. For me, it’s simply impossible to abstain from eating meat." Many teen-agers claim that adopting vegetarian food is a tough as it is difficult to abstain from eating meat.

"Many teenagers pretend to be vegetarians. But, it is more to show off than a sincere commitment", Sharma says.

The western society got to know of vegetarian practices when Swami Vivekananda gave his discourse at the Chicago conference about a hundred years ago. His subsequent visit to Britain and other countries on spiritual realization roused the people’s interest on vegetarian food in the West.

"We have to respect the life of all creatures. It is completely wrong to be content with the brutal murder of any living being. I don’t trust religion that kills any creatures", writes Amichandra Sharma, a famous north Indian poet-saint.

VSRC-Nepal is fully committed to declare Baisakh Purnima, the birth and enlightened day of Lord Buddha as an ‘International Vegetarian Day’, says Hari Bahadur Singh, president of the VSRC-Nepal.

"We have a long term mission of establishing college, library and information center for the dissemination and extension of our objectives", says Singh.

Valley residents continue to mourn

By Razen Manandhar

KATHMANDU, June 10 - Thousands of local go to the historic Royal Palace, Hanumandhoka Durbar, everyday to condole the untimely demise of Late King Birendra, Late King Dipendra and other members of the Royal Family.

This condolence visit to the Royal Palace has been a tradition far older than the present Shah dynasty.

The mass of people, who consider kings and queens as their guardians, go to the palace voluntarily to console the remaining family members and to pray to the God to insure a place in Heaven for the departed souls.

This age-old tradition of the Newars, generally practised when a family member dies, is called "Bichhaa Hayekegu", roughly meaning to console and take care the dead family, who forget even to eat and dress well.

In front of the historic gate of the palace, Mayor of Lalitpur Buddhi Raj Bajracharya today asked the royal priest: "We heard that our beloved majesties had left this world. Is it true?"

The mayor was representing his Lalitpur Baudha Bihar Association with around 50 monasteries, as members, behind him.

The priest or Rajguruju Puspa Ratna Bajracharya replied, "Yes. Unfortunately he left all of us. That was the wish of the Almighty. And the new king thanks you all for your kind condolence."

Like the mayor, thousands of people - personally or being members of guthi or traditional associations, pay visit to the palace to offer their condolence. They offer flowers, edibles like salt or ginger and fruit in the name of the Royal Family. Many of them also take clay pots, called "mahri kashi", with sweets in it.

And the priest announces the same notice after every five or ten minutes, standing on a stone step.

Apart from that, some Bajrayani Buddhist associations chant prayers "Durgati Parishodhan Dharani", which is believed to purify the dead souls and make their path to heavenly abode Sukhabati Bhuwan hassle less, the visitors said.

The palace staff said that the "Bichaa Hayekegu" has been going on since June 7 and will continue till June 11 "We have received over 2,251 organisations till Sunday evening," said Tej Ratna Tamrakar, the chief of the Hanumandhoka Palace Protection Office.

He added that the stock of sweets and other edibles are stored in a palace room, which will be distributed among the priests and the poor.

Visitors from Dhulikhel, Banepa, Panauti, Bhaktapur, Kirtipur and other areas were also recorded.

Cultural expert Baladev Juju said this tradition started with the establishment of monarchy centuries ago. Quoting the Shastras, he said that it has been our tradition to consider kings as the eldest family member and even as an incarnation of God.

"In the days when there were no means of mass communication, visiting the palace was the only means of getting the true information and also to pay their tribute to the departed ones," said Juju, explaining the cultural and practical significance.

The priest Bajracharya has witnessed the tradition of Bichaa Hayekegu of four kings: King Tribhuwan, King Mahendra, King Birendra and King Dipendra.

He said that it has been a tradition that the people come and seek assurance about the death from the Rajguruju and also ask if all possible means to save the King had been ensued or not till the end.

Still, the palace could not provide the visitors with facilities like in previous times. He said that they used to have carpets stretching from one end to another of the palace where thousands of people could sit. Only some plastic chairs were made available this time for the visitors.

The Rajguruju said, "The flow of the visitors is increasing each time and devotion to kings has never reduced to a single ounce in the past several decades."