Nepal

Monarchy ends today in historic vote

Article published on the 2008-05-28 Latest update 2008-05-29 18:19 TU

King Gyanendra
(Photo: Reuters)

Nepal's newly-elected Constituent Assembly abolished the monarchy as its first act Wednesday night. In firing King Gyanendra, the Maoist-dominated body ended the 240-year-old Shah dynasty and established a republic. The Maoists' youth movement is organising celebrations to follow the vote, while royalists have been accused of bombings earlier this week.

"I’m so happy, because the whole rule of the country will be in the hands of the people," student Dolraj Subadhi told RFI's French service. "The king will leave his palace and I think we’re going to turn it into a museum."

A senior member of the 601-member Constituent Assembly, Kul Bahadur Gurung, said 560 members voted in favour. Four opposed the move, and the remaining lawmakers were not present.

Two small bombs went off Wednesday afternoon, injuring one person.

Kathmandu was also hit by a string of bomb attacks this week. Police blamed royalists for the blasts.

Meetings have been banned in some parts of the capital Wednesday, including outside the royal palace, apparently to stop crowds dragging the king out by force.

The Maoists' Young Communist League says that it has started gathering 20,000 supporters to celebrate the vote.

"Whatever happens, the celebrations won’t last long," says Nicolas Vescovacci, who reported on the assembly election for RFI in French. 

"With an average annual income of 280 dollars a head, this small country is the poorest in Asia. What with fighting poverty and creating new government structures, the new régime led by Prachanda, whether as prime minister or president, faces enormous challenges."

Veteran commentator CK Lal told RFI that there are several contentious issues ahead for the assembly, including integrating Maoist fighters into the army and the Maoists' proposal of land redistribution.

“We are looking to a very tumultuous two-year schedule that has been given to Constituent Assembly to write the new Supreme Law of the land," he says.

The Maoists have told Gyanendra and his son, Crown Prince Paras, who is notorious for his playboy lifestyle, to bow out gracefully or face "strong punishment".

The king has said that he will not leave the country.