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Monday, May 19, 2008
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“Safety only if King makes peaceful exit”

Kathmandu: In a blunt warning to Nepal King Gyanendra, Maoist chief Prachanda has said he will guarantee the beleaguered monarch’s safety only if he quits the palace “peacefully.” He also opposes any move by the King to take shelter in India.

Mr. Prachanda, who is set to lead Nepal’s next government, said he would “guarantee the safety of Gyanendra and Prince Paras if he respects the verdict of the people and quits peacefully.”

“But if he would not quit voluntarily, then I cannot predict,” he said in an interview to Karan Thapar for CNN-IBN’s Devil’s Advocate programme.

“If he dares to defy the Constituent Assembly’s decision, then I cannot predict what will happen.”

Replying to a question, Mr. Prachanda said he did not favour any move by King Gyanendra to take shelter in India.

“Serve people”

“Gyanendra should stay in Nepal and he should not be in India or Britain,” the Maoist chief said, adding “he should serve the people, he can do his business here to develop this country.”

Asked whether there was a possibility of the King leaving the palace voluntarily, he said: “There is a 50 per cent chance. But there is also chance that he may play up when there are differences among the political parties.”

Mr. Prachanda said he did not want “to create a scenario for the monarch like facing people’s court, mob justice or the fate like that of French King who was beheaded in 1793,” and added “I want a dignified exit of the King.”

Asked why he gave the King an “ultimatum” to leave the palace by May 27 when he wanted a dignified exit for him, Mr. Prachanda said it was “a suggestion, not an ultimatum, that it would be better if he voluntarily retires before the Constituent Assembly declares republic abolishing the 240-year-old institution of monarchy.”

Replying to another question, the Maoist leader said millions of people would come out on streets on May 28, the day Nepal is to be declared a republic.

He, however, said he would not force the King to leave the palace before the May 28 Constituent Assembly meeting, adding he had the right to stay before that.

“He can even involve himself in politics by opening a party,” Mr. Prachanda said, adding, “He can even become the Prime Minister if the people choose him in case he comes into politics, setting a new example in the world history.”

Army’s role

To another question, Mr. Prachanda said there was no question of the army not supporting a Maoist-led government.

“Army chief Rukmangad Katuwal has time and again said that the army would support a democratically elected government,” he pointed out. “I don’t think that there will be any problem in controlling the situation.” —PTI

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