By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS
Kathmandu : More than a year after King Gyanendra was stripped of his powers as punishment for trying to impose direct rule, his kin is paying for the monarch’s ambition.
The king’s daughter, Princess Prerana, has become the latest victim of a retribution drive though she is probably the least controversial member of the royal family.
The married princess is regarded as a docile housewife unlike her brother, controversial Crown Prince Paras, who has a reputation for being ready to fly with his fists. Despite that, she became the latest target of the Maoist guerrillas, who are now waging a war on royalist ministers and officials.
Though Prerana, who does not live in the royal palace with her parents and apparently had no role in the bloodless, army-backed coup two years ago that made King Gyanendra the head of the government, she lost a large plot of land in Kathmandu Valley Wednesday.
The Young Communist League (YCL), the youth wing of the Maoists who four days ago began an “anti-corruption campaign” targeting royalists, forcibly took over 14 ropani of land belonging to the princess.
The ropani is a traditional unit of land area still used in Nepal. One ropani is equal to about 508.72 sq m.
YCL cadres planted black flags in the plot measuring over 7,000 sq m to signify they had taken it over.
The princess, who is regarded as a victim of domestic violence, was dragged into politics by her father after he became the head of government. As the absolute ruler of Nepal, the king began taking over property belonging to the daughters of his slain younger brother Dhirandra, who was among those killed in the infamous palace massacre in 2001.
The king transferred some of the property in Prerana’s name, apparently thinking it was safer than giving it to his uncontrollable son who has expensive tastes.
Maoist cadres Wednesday also let off dogs and calves in the princess’ land. The animals had festoons tied to their bodies that read “I am corrupt”.
The princess is the first member of the royal family to be targeted by the Maoists in their campaign.
The Maoists are defending their drive, saying they were forced to do it after the new government failed to punish the guilty.
Soon after the king’s ouster, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala formed a judicial commission to determine who were guilty of abetting the royal regime and suggest appropriate action against them.
Though the Rayamajhi Commission headed by a former Supreme Court judge recommended action against over 200 people, including the king, the government did not implement the recommendations.
Now, for the last three days, it has been impassively watching the Maoists go on a rampage.
It came under the censure of the international community for failing to uphold the rule of law with the European Union Wednesday expressing concern at the harassment of royalists.
The Carter Centre, former US president Jimmy Carter’s non-profit organisation that is monitoring the November election, also came down heavily on the government, warning that it would lose its legitimacy if it failed to stop the rampage.