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King's action a "setback to reconciliation"

KATHMANDU: Nepal's King Gyanendra on Friday appointed a dozen loyalists to an expanded Cabinet, in a setback for chances of political reconciliation between the monarch and the country's political parties.

The appointments announced by the royal palace were the King's third overhaul of his Cabinet since he seized absolute power in February, ousting a previous government and imposing tight controls on dissidence.

The King had asked the main political parties to offer candidates to join his Cabinet.

But the parties all refused because they oppose his direct control over the Government and instead organised street protests to demand that he restore democracy.

The 12 new Ministers and junior Ministers announced Friday are all known supporters of the King. ``This indicates the King is going to do what he pleases, and he will not try to reconcile with the political parties,'' said Arjun Narsingh, Nepali Congress party spokesman.

The Ministers include people who were key players in trying to crush a popular movement in 1990 that forced the previous King to establish parliamentary democracy, said Raghuji Pant of the Communist Party of Nepal.

``The King is trying to show that he will not bow down to pressure. It shows that the King is going to force through with his direct rule,'' Mr. Pant said.

Parties form alliance

Nepali Congress, the Communist Party of Nepal and five other major parties have formed an alliance to try force the King to roll back his takeover of the Government in this Himalayan country.

The King said he needed the expanded authority to fight the Maoist insurgency and control corruption among the politicians. Among the newly named Cabinet members are former Home Minister Niranjan Thapa, who played a key role in trying to put down the deadly 1990 revolt. He was named the Law and Justice Minister.

Prakash Koirala, who was expelled from Nepali Congress party for his open support for the King, was given the post of Minister for Environment, Science and Technology. Other party defectors have been included in the royal government. — AP

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