Nepal’s ex-king warns of ‘intolerable’ attacks on unity

Nepal’s former king has warned that national unity is under attack, making a rare public statement after protests sparked by proposed changes to new federal borders, reports AFP from Kathmandu. Gyanendra Shah, the last king of Nepal, was deposed eight years ago following a Maoist revolution and has since largely refrained from public comment on the country’s fractious politics. He broke his silence with a statement late on Wednesday in which he warned of growing divisions between the communities that inhabit the southern plains and the central hill areas of the Himalayan country over suggested changes to internal borders. “Social harmony among Nepali people is waning and efforts are being made to break the bonds of unity between the plains, the hills and the mountains,” Shah said in a statement.
Shah accused “temporary powers” who he said were “gaining strength under the influence of outside forces” of creating these divisions.
He did not say who he was referring to, but neighbouring India has made clear its displeasure over the federal borders laid out in Nepal’s new constitution, which many believe will disadvantage communities living in the plains with close cultural ties to India.
Gyanendra stepped down from the throne in June 2008 after parliament voted to abolish Nepal’s 240-year-old Hindu monarchy, transforming the country into a secular republic.
Commentators said the former king, whose reign was not popular, was likely using the current period of political instability in Nepal to reassert his authority.
“As the country faces political instability and protests on federal issues, the former king has taken a chance to show that he is active,” said Lok Raj Baral, chairman of the Nepal Centre for Contemporary Studies. “It is (due to) the weakness of the political leadership that the regressive forces want to raise their heads right now.” Nepal’s lawmakers began work on a new national constitution after the abolition of the monarchy and it was finally passed in September 2015 on a wave of national solidarity following a deadly earthquake. But the new federal borders proved highly controversial and led to violent protests in the south in which more than 50 people were killed.

 

Nepals ex-king warns of intolerable attacks on unity

Nepals former king has warned that national unity is under attack, making a rare public statement after protests sparked by proposed changes to new federal borders, reports AFP from Kathmandu. Gyanendra Shah, the last king of Nepal, was deposed eight years ago following a Maoist revolution and has since largely refrained from public comment on the countrys fractious politics. He broke his silence with a statement late on Wednesday in which he warned of growing divisions between the communities that inhabit the southern plains and the central hill areas of the Himalayan country over suggested changes to internal borders. Social harmony among Nepali people is waning and efforts are being made to break the bonds of unity between the plains, the hills and the mountains, Shah said in a statement. Shah accused temporary powers who he said were gaining strength under the influence of outside forces of creating these divisions. He did not say who he was referring to, but neighbouring India has made clear its displeasure over the federal borders laid out in Nepals new constitution, which many believe will disadvantage communities living in the plains with close cultural ties to India. Gyanendra stepped down from the throne in June 2008 after parliament voted to abolish Nepals 240-year-old Hindu monarchy, transforming the country into a secular republic. Commentators said the former king, whose reign was not popular, was likely using the current period of political instability in Nepal to reassert his authority. As the country faces political instability and protests on federal issues, the former king has taken a chance to show that he is active, said Lok Raj Baral, chairman of the Nepal Centre for Contemporary Studies. It is (due to) the weakness of the political leadership that the regressive forces want to raise their heads right now. Nepals lawmakers began work on a new national constitution after the abolition of the monarchy and it was finally passed in September 2015 on a wave of national solidarity following a deadly earthquake. But the new federal borders proved highly controversial and led to violent protests in the south in which more than 50 people were killed.