Without Comment

In the past one week, we found the following different voices coming from the King and vice chairman of Council of Ministers:

‘Talks Should Lead To A Durable Peace:” King Gyanendra

King Gyanendra has said that Nepali people aspire to live in peace and harmony and in an environment where they can have two square meals a day in peace. In an interview given to Sky News of Britain in Suparitar of Makwanpur on Friday (September 16), the King said: “This is what we continue to endeavor to do.” About the Maoist insurgency, the King said: “We don’t believe that the use of force is the only solution. We believe in dialogue.” He added: “Dialogue is necessary, but at the same time we also believe that talks should lead to a durable peace.” The King further said, “Peace at any cost is not the solution either; that is why we insist that if any dialogue takes place, it must be something which has sustainability. We welcome any initiative towards the same.” In response to a query on the ongoing demonstrations in the streets of Kathmandu and the opposition parties coming together, the King noted that these things take place in a democracy. “What is going on in Kathmandu does not reflect the rest of the country,” the King said. He also said that all constitutional forces who believe in the Constitution of Nepal and who want to function within it should join hands and solve the problem facing the country today. Leading newspapers September 17.

Giri Finds Constitution As Obstruction

Vice chairperson of the Council of Ministers Dr. Tulsi Giri has said that the objectives of the royal proclamation of February 1 cannot be fulfilled till the constitution is in force. Addressing the public meeting of officials of District Development Committees (DDCs) of eastern region in Biratnagar on September 19, Dr. Giri said that it was not necessary for the government alone to embrace this constitution when political parties like Nepali Congress (NC) and the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) have abandoned their faith in constitutional monarchy. Dr. Giri, however, repeatedly said that these were his personal opinions. Dr. Giri said that it was due to this constitution that the government was unable to take action against newspapers or persons speaking against the King. He also said that the problem of terrorism cannot be resolved through negotiations. Dr. Giri said there could be no talks with the political parties because their agitation was being organized under foreign guidance. Earlier, when Dr. Giri arrived in Biratnagar, student activists waved black flags in protest. Kantipur daily September 20.