ネパール王制、２４０年の歴史に幕 制憲議会が決議へ

ネパール王制、２４０年の歴史に幕　制憲議会が決議へ

2008年05月28日19時59分

　【カトマンズ＝小暮哲夫】ネパールで２８日、新憲法を起草する制憲議会が、王制の廃止と共和制移行を決議する。王制が民主的な手続きをへて廃止されるのは世界的に珍しい。１７６９年以来続いたシャー王朝の歴史は、民主主義を求める民意に追い込まれる形で、ついに幕を閉じる。

議場近くであった王制廃止を祝うラジオ番組の生中継の現場に集まり、盛り上がる市民ら＝カトマンズ、小暮写す

　王制廃止を受け、政府はギャネンドラ国王（６０）の廃位と、王宮からの退去を求める予定だ。

　王制廃止の機運が広がったのは、国王が０５年２月に強権的な直接統治を始めてからだ。国民の間に不満が高まり、０６年４月には大規模な抗議運動が起きた。国王は下院を復活させたが、新政権は国軍の統帥権など旧憲法上の国王の特権を廃止した。

　今年４月の制憲議会選挙では、王制廃止急先鋒（きゅうせんぽう）の共産党毛沢東主義派（毛派）が５７５議席中２２０議席を取って第１党となるなど、ほとんどの政党が共和制への移行を主張。王制維持を主張した政党は４議席にとどまった。

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Nepal prepares to become republic
Nepalese celebrate imminent change to a republic - photo 28 May

Nepal is due to become a republic and end 240 years of royal rule.

A newly-elected assembly is to meet in the capital, Kathmandu, to abolish the monarchy but its key vote has been postponed for a few hours.

As the assembly was being sworn in on Tuesday a bomb explosion in the capital injured two people.

Meanwhile thousands of people have gathered on the streets of the capital and near the assembly in support of "republic day".

"This is the people's victory - with today's declaration of a republic we have achieved what we fought for"
Kamal Dahal
Former Maoist guerrilla

"Let's celebrate the dawn of a republic in a grand manner," a voice blared from one loudspeaker, Reuters news agency says.

"This is the people's victory," former Maoist Kamal Dahal, 22, told Reuters news agency.

"With today's declaration of a republic we have achieved what we fought for."

Some 1,500 police, some with body armour and shields, ringed the conference centre where the assembly was meeting.

It has also been enclosed by a ring of razor wire.

Nepal stands on the brink of huge change, says the BBC's Charles Haviland in the capital Kathmandu.

The Maoists, who emerged as the largest party in last month's elections, are committed to removing the monarchy.

They entered the political arena after signing a peace deal in 2006 ending a decade-long insurgency.

Leave the palace

The assembly is huge and Tuesday's ceremony, performed by an older member of the newly-elected body, saw 575 men and women being sworn in.

NEPAL'S MONARCHY

* Has ruled for 238 years
* Monarchs seen as incarnations of the Hindu God Vishnu
* King Birendra killed in 2001 palace massacre by Crown Prince Dipendra, after which Birendra's brother Gyanendra becomes king
* Oct 2002: King Gyanendra dismisses elected government, then a year later declares state of emergency
* Feb 2005: Assumes complete control
* April 2006: Mass demonstrations lead to end of direct palace rule

Q&A: Nepal's future

Profile: King Gyanendra

King Gyanendra

Many wore traditional clothing and used their mother tongues for the occasion in this ethnically mixed country.

The assembly has been given the initial task of rubber-stamping the abolition of the monarchy.

But a senior politician told the BBC the vote had been postponed for a few hours.

The Maoists and the other main parties are trying to settle differences about whether the presidency should be a purely ceremonial role and how much power the prime minister should have in the current interim arrangements. They are also arguing about who should hold these posts.

Even if that was not agreed on Wednesday the republic would still be voted in, the politician said.

The assembly then has two years to come up with permanent arrangements for a new constitution.

Hindu militants

Reports said King Gyanendra and Queen Komal were seen driving out of the royal palace on Tuesday afternoon, but it was not clear where they were going or for how long they would be gone.

HAVE YOUR SAY
" I don't know what is going to happen but I don't see a smooth road"
Anu, Kathmandu
Send us your comments
Officials say they will be given 15 days to vacate the palace.

Exactly how a republic will be voted in is still not clear.

Nepal's progress towards becoming the world's newest republic has been marred by bombs being planted in the capital for two days running this week.

On Tuesday, two explosive devices were left in a city centre park, but police said only one exploded, slightly injuring two people.

As before, pamphlets were found in the name of a little-known hardline Hindu group.

Some militant pro-Hindu and pro-royal factions are campaigning violently against Nepal's shedding of its royal - and its officially Hindu - status.

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Head to head: Nepal's monarchy

As Nepal's newly-elected assembly prepares to declare the country a republic, two Nepalis debate whether the country should abolish the monarchy.

AMAR RAJKARNIKAR

"Amar Rajkarnikar I think that the monarchy in Nepal is more relevant and important than ever today.

I fear that neighbouring countries are interfering in our government and domestic affairs.

At such moments, the nationalist parties should be united. This is not the time to be divided.

The institution of the king has a very long history in Nepal. More than 250 years have passed since the unification of Nepal under the current dynasty - by the forefathers of the current king.

If it hadn't been for this dynasty, we may not have seen our country on the map. So Nepal owes its existence to the monarchy and to this dynasty.

And the monarch has been a force in Nepal for centuries.

I believe the king should stay for the moment - if only to help with drafting the constitution. There is a power void and we need the appropriate power to steer the drafting of this important document - and for this - the monarch should be retained.

Indeed the abolition of our monarchy should be put to a referendum. It should be decided by the people of Nepal.

King Gyanendra has some culpability for the current situation. In the days when he waded into national politics it was purely because of in-fighting between politicians. He had to interfere. But he was working very much as a constitutional monarch.

For the last two years we have seen him very silent.

I think he is a very charismatic king, he is a good writer and he is independent-minded. As a king and as a leader, he is a very good person. We don't have any other good leaders at the moment.

I believe there could be dangers once the monarchy is abolished. So many people in the army still respect the king. I can foresee problems because he commands their loyalty.

The king is considered a symbol of Hindu unity. There is real emotional feeling when we talk about our religion.

The abolition of the monarchy will have a real impact on Nepal's cultural identity. We are the only Hindu kingdom. A large part of our culture is embodied in the king. "

DIPENDRA TAMANG,

" Dipendra Tamang I support the abolition of the monarch because he is no longer a symbol of unity for Nepal.

A lot has changed in the last few years. Our previous king, Birendra, was liked by a lot of Nepalis. But his sudden death changed a lot.

When King Gyanendra, the current monarch, came to power he was not well-liked. But he did nothing to change the perception people had of him. He took way too much power into his own hands and he was too active in running the country.

Are we objecting to this particular monarch or the idea of monarchy? That is a question asked a lot.

Most political parties prefer the idea of a republic. It is not just prejudice against this particular king. His son and heir is not liked by the people either.

We are going through tremendous changes right now. We have to come up with a new form of identity. We have to find something which really unites us all. Nepal is a really diverse country with over 100 dialects and languages - finding a common uniting factor might be hard, but it's not impossible.

All of us Nepalis will have to work together to formulate a common uniting factor in the coming years.

The king lost the argument with all his political interference. On the other hand the Maoists have been successful in elections and in bringing about change.

This is a chance for them to prove themselves as a mainstream political party and not just an underground army or insurgency movement.

The king should just move out. He doesn't have to leave Nepal. He is a big businessman as well. He should be treated just like the rest of us with the rights and responsibilities of a common citizen. "