By IANS
Kathmandu : With the election postponed indefinitely to appease the Maoists and King Gyanendra’s fate to be decided in parliament in six days, it is speculated that Nepal’s government could be fearing a fresh revolt by soldiers still royal to the palace.
In a surprise move Friday, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, who is also the defence minister, ordered that the cavalrymen who are part of the royal household be removed from the Narayanhity royal palace. They have been told to be under the principal secretariat in the Singh Durbar, the heart of the government where the prime minister’s office, key ministries and parliament are located.
About 500 cavalrymen have been recalled from the palace, which has over 3,000 soldiers to provide security.
The action follows a decision by Koirala last week to slash by half the number of Nepal Army personnel stationed in the palace after he was angered by the king’s attending a religious festival without informing him.
The king last week went to worship Kumari, Nepal’s living goddess and the protector of the royal dynasty, with a military escort, causing the furious prime minister to summon the army chief Gen. Rukmangud Katuwal, and order him to reduce the number of royal guards.
The government’s fear and distrust of the army has been increasing, all the more so since it has singularly failed to punish the generals who plotted with the king two years ago to seize absolute power.
The agreement with the Maoists to merge the rebels’ People’s Liberation Army with the state army has also angered the army, who think such a union would be impossible.
Now the pact between Koirala and the Maoists to postpone the constituent assembly indefinitely from the scheduled date of Nov 22 and seal the king’s fate in parliament is bound to stoke further resentment among the army old guard.
Instead of allowing the election to decide if Nepal should remain a monarchy or become a republic, Koirala has called a special session of parliament on Oct 11 when a vote by MPs will take the crucial decision.
If two-thirds of the 327 legislators vote against monarchy, the 238-year-old Shah dynasty will become extinct.
Though there is doubt whether the Maoists will be able to muster the support of two-thirds of the MPs, the number needed to see the proposal through, if by some chance it comes through, the royal family’s reaction remains to be seen.
The election would have provided a lifeline to the cornered king with several royalist parties joining the fray to save their beloved crown.
Also, with Nepal’s security situation deteriorating continuously, it was always doubtful if the election would be held at all.
But now the sword is hovering lower and lower over the king’s head.
The Maoists have threatened a fresh protest programme if the monarchy wins Thursday’s vote. So the royal family will continue to have sleepless nights.