Dr.Teflon
28-05-2008, 20:00:19
Nepal abolishes its monarchy
Nepal's monarchy has been abolished and the country declared a republic
The decision came on Wednesday at a meeting of the Constituent Assembly, a body elected in April as part of a two-year peace process that ended decades of civil war.
The republican declaration states Nepal will be "an independent, indivisible, sovereign, secular and an inclusive democratic republic".
"Nepal has turned into a democratic republic, all the existing laws and administrative functions that contradicts this idea will be invalidated from today."
"All the privileges enjoyed by the king and royal family will automatically come to an end," the declarations says, noting that May 29 will from now on be celebrated as "Republic Day".
Public celebrations
Near the convention centre in the capital where the assembly met, thousands of demonstrators gathered, some chanting "Long live the republic".
While the celebrations were largely joyous and peaceful, police at one point used tear gas to disperse a crowd that gathered too close to the building.
Two small explosions hit Kathmandu on Wednesday and several other small-scale bombings have occurred over the past three days, as tensions mounted ahead of the vote.
The political parties had long made it clear that their first act would be to declare Nepal a republic and do away with the 239-year-old dynasty.
The Maoist group, which won the largest single bloc of seats in the assembly in elections in April, fought for 10 years to oust King Gyanendra and create a republic.
End of the monarchy
"We have a big responsibility now," Girija Prasad Koirala, Nepal's prime minister, said in a short address ahead of the vote to abolish the monarchy.
"We have come a long way, crossing lots of obstacles and hurdles to enter a new era. Our dream has come true, I think the nation's dream has come true," he said.
King Gyanendra has been generally unpopular with Nepal's public.
Already his face has been erased from Nepal's currency, and all his state allowances and benefits will be stopped from Wednesday.
"There is a sense of jubilation ... it's a very exciting moment for Nepal," Subina Shrestha,reporting for Al Jazeera from Kathmandu, said.
"From now on the monarchy are going to be normal citizens in Nepal."
Gyanendra is expected to leave his palace in Kathmandu soon after the vote, although he has made no comment as to his plans.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/0A9B5B1F-5BF2-4ACB-A159-700F21DAD3C4.htm
To bobo!:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:
Nepal's monarchy has been abolished and the country declared a republic
The decision came on Wednesday at a meeting of the Constituent Assembly, a body elected in April as part of a two-year peace process that ended decades of civil war.
The republican declaration states Nepal will be "an independent, indivisible, sovereign, secular and an inclusive democratic republic".
"Nepal has turned into a democratic republic, all the existing laws and administrative functions that contradicts this idea will be invalidated from today."
"All the privileges enjoyed by the king and royal family will automatically come to an end," the declarations says, noting that May 29 will from now on be celebrated as "Republic Day".
Public celebrations
Near the convention centre in the capital where the assembly met, thousands of demonstrators gathered, some chanting "Long live the republic".
While the celebrations were largely joyous and peaceful, police at one point used tear gas to disperse a crowd that gathered too close to the building.
Two small explosions hit Kathmandu on Wednesday and several other small-scale bombings have occurred over the past three days, as tensions mounted ahead of the vote.
The political parties had long made it clear that their first act would be to declare Nepal a republic and do away with the 239-year-old dynasty.
The Maoist group, which won the largest single bloc of seats in the assembly in elections in April, fought for 10 years to oust King Gyanendra and create a republic.
End of the monarchy
"We have a big responsibility now," Girija Prasad Koirala, Nepal's prime minister, said in a short address ahead of the vote to abolish the monarchy.
"We have come a long way, crossing lots of obstacles and hurdles to enter a new era. Our dream has come true, I think the nation's dream has come true," he said.
King Gyanendra has been generally unpopular with Nepal's public.
Already his face has been erased from Nepal's currency, and all his state allowances and benefits will be stopped from Wednesday.
"There is a sense of jubilation ... it's a very exciting moment for Nepal," Subina Shrestha,reporting for Al Jazeera from Kathmandu, said.
"From now on the monarchy are going to be normal citizens in Nepal."
Gyanendra is expected to leave his palace in Kathmandu soon after the vote, although he has made no comment as to his plans.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/0A9B5B1F-5BF2-4ACB-A159-700F21DAD3C4.htm
To bobo!:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: