National 2 (Spotlight Weekly)

A Noble Monarch

Three years after the mysterious assassination of King Birendra, he is still remembered as a noble monarch

By KESHAB POUDEL

Late King Birendra : Death of a legend

After the mysterious killings of nine members of King Birendra’s family on 1 June 2001, Nepal has been passing through a very critical phase in its history – amid the intensification of insurgency and political instability.

A few months after the royal massacre, then prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s resignation was sought when his confrontation with communist parties and other opposition stalled the parliament for 60 days. Following the resignation by the experienced prime minister Koirala, the political crisis was settled for a few months but it again began to get complicated.

Leader of the Congress parliamentary party Sher Bahadur Deuba was appointed as a prime minister by the new monarch King Gyanendra. Three months long ceasefire between the government and the Maoists broke down in November, 2001 and then the Royal Nepalese Army was mobilized to control the situation by declaring the state of emergency.

Following the differences in the party, Deuba dissolved the House of Representatives and called fresh polls for October 2002. Thanks to the recommendation for the postponement of the elections at the last minute by then prime minister Deuba, King Gyanendra dismissed his government and took over the executive authority. Lokendra Bahadur Chand and Surya Bahadur Thapa were then successively nominated as prime ministers by the King.

Death of an experienced and matured King was felt all around as the law and order situation deteriorated while confrontation between the monarch and the political parties intensified.

The country has already paid a heavy price in the absence of an experienced Monarch who had relentlessly supported the transition from active monarchy to constitutional monarchy. Even a few days before his assassination, King Birendra prevented then prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala from resigning paving the way for a visit of then Chinese prime minister Zhu Rongji. Koirala was also allowed to conclude his pre-scheduled visit to France.

In his first twelve years as a constitutional monarch, King Birendra perfectly worked under the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990 showing complete faith on the constitution. From dissolving the House of Representatives three times as per the recommendation of then Prime Ministers and reinstating the dissolved House of Representative as per the order of Supreme Court, King Birendra acted in accordance with the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal.

As usual, there were constant pressures on him to oust the elected government and take over power. But King Birendra - who was tired of experiencing such pressures during Panchayat days – avoided going beyond the constitution.

Despite continuous pressures by then prime minister Koirala to mobilize Royal Nepalese Army to quell the Maoists, late King Birendra – who knew consequences of mobilization of army - pursued political leaders taking reverse decision. For his cautious suggestions, King Birendra was criticized by then home minister Govinda Raj Joshi and Communication and Information Minister Jaya Prakash Gupta.

Although former prime minister Koirala opposed King Birendra’s suggestions, he did not find other alternatives. Inexperienced and ambitious, King Gyanendra reversed the course resulting in the intensification of Maoist activities, breaking up of constitutional process and igniting crisis of confidence among the country’s major political forces.

For his major contribution in strengthening constitutional monarchy as well as multi-party democracy, late King Birendra proved himself to be people’s King.

When King Birendra – then a young crown prince – was declared as the King of Nepal in 1972, he had inherited a party-less Panchayat system with centralization of authority. From declaring national referendum to giving new constitution, late King Birendra played important role in modernizing Nepalese political system and society. Whether during the cold war or after the cold war, late King Birendra tactfully handled the complicated relations with Nepal’s two neighbors.

“One of the most important contributions of King Birendra was that he preferred to handover his power to internal political forces rather than relying on external force,” said an analyst. “In 1990, King Birendra invited leaders of agitating parties and accepted all their conditions and demands, thereby restoring the multiparty democracy.”

The death of King Birendra on June 1, 2001 ended an era of relatively stable Nepal. From absolute monarch to constitutional monarch, late King Birendra had performed his role successfully.

When the country is observing his third death anniversary, the nation was running without any government for 22 days and with few knowing how his brother and successor King Gyanendra will chart the future course of this Himalayan nation.