Thousands rally in Nepali pro-monarchy protests
KATHMANDU: Thousands of Nepali royalists marched in the capital Kathmandu on Friday (May 30), demanding the restoration of the monarchy and chanting slogans in support of the king deposed 17 years ago.
The Hindu-majority nation became a secular republic in 2008 after parliament abolished the monarchy as part of a peace deal that ended a decade-long civil war in which more than 16,000 people were killed.
The protests are the latest in a string of rallies, as support for the restoration of the monarchy and a Hindu state has grown amid dissatisfaction over political instability, corruption and slow economic development.
"King, come and save the nation", the marchers shouted in unison, beating drums, blowing horns and waving Nepal's national flag.
"I am here to fight against this corrupt system," said Prem Bahadur Magar, 58. "We need a constitutional monarchy and a Hindu nation to preserve our national identity."
Magar travelled to Kathmandu for the rally from his home, about 200km away.
Riot police stood guard but there were no immediate reports of any violence.
"Seventeen years ago, I came to the streets to protest and overthrow the monarchy," he said. "But now, I feel sorry for that. Now I realise that the king was far better than these corrupt leaders."
"JUST A DAYDREAM"
The rally comes a day after the Communist Party of Nepal Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) – the party of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli – held marches to mark the Himalayan nation's Republic Day.
There were also royalist marches on Thursday.
CPN-UML party supporter Bijay Lama, 34, said the return of the king was "just a daydream", saying that most in the nation of some 30 million people wanted the republic to remain.
"If a few thousand people call for the return of the monarchy, this is simply not possible", Lama said, during the rally on Thursday.
In March, two people were killed and more than 100 arrested during pro-monarchy protests, with security forces using live fire and tear gas to disperse the rally.
The last king of Nepal, Gyanendra Shah, expressed sorrow at the violent demonstrations the following month – while lending tacit support.
Shah was crowned in 2001 after his elder brother king Birendra Bir Bikram Shah and his family were killed in a palace massacre. His coronation took place as a Maoist insurgency was raging in far-flung corners of Nepal.
Shah suspended the constitution and dissolved parliament in 2005, triggering protests in which the Maoists sided with Nepal's political establishment – leading to the eventual end of the war.
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Business Times
3 days ago
- Business Times
Thousands rally in Nepali pro-monarchy protests
[KATHMANDU] Thousands of Nepali royalists marched in the capital Kathmandu on Friday (May 30), demanding the restoration of the monarchy and chanting slogans in support of the king deposed 17 years ago. The Hindu-majority nation became a secular republic in 2008 after parliament abolished the monarchy as part of a peace deal that ended a decade-long civil war in which more than 16,000 people were killed. The protests are the latest in a string of rallies, as support for the restoration of the monarchy and a Hindu state has grown amid dissatisfaction over political instability, corruption and slow economic development. 'King, come and save the nation', the marchers shouted in unison, beating drums, blowing horns and waving Nepal's national flag. 'I am here to fight against this corrupt system,' said Prem Bahadur Magar, 58. 'We need a constitutional monarchy and a Hindu nation to preserve our national identity.' Magar travelled to Kathmandu for the rally from his home, about 200 km away. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Riot police stood guard but there were no immediate reports of any violence. 'Seventeen years ago, I came to the streets to protest and overthrow the monarchy,' he said. 'But now, I feel sorry for that. Now I realise that the king was far better than these corrupt leaders.' The rally comes a day after the Communist Party of Nepal Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) – the party of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli – held marches to mark the Himalayan nation's Republic Day. There were also royalist marches on Thursday. CPN-UML party supporter Bijay Lama, 34, said the return of the king was 'just a daydream', saying that most in the nation of some 30 million people wanted the republic to remain. 'If a few thousand people call for the return of the monarchy, this is simply not possible', Lama said, during the rally on Thursday. In March, two people were killed and more than 100 arrested during pro-monarchy protests, with security forces using live fire and tear gas to disperse the rally. The last king of Nepal, Gyanendra Shah, expressed sorrow at the violent demonstrations the following month – while lending tacit support. Shah was crowned in 2001 after his elder brother king Birendra Bir Bikram Shah and his family were killed in a palace massacre. His coronation took place as a Maoist insurgency was raging in far-flung corners of Nepal. Shah suspended the constitution and dissolved parliament in 2005, triggering protests in which the Maoists sided with Nepal's political establishment – leading to the eventual end of the war. AFP
CNA
3 days ago
- CNA
Thousands rally in Nepali pro-monarchy protests
KATHMANDU: Thousands of Nepali royalists marched in the capital Kathmandu on Friday (May 30), demanding the restoration of the monarchy and chanting slogans in support of the king deposed 17 years ago. The Hindu-majority nation became a secular republic in 2008 after parliament abolished the monarchy as part of a peace deal that ended a decade-long civil war in which more than 16,000 people were killed. The protests are the latest in a string of rallies, as support for the restoration of the monarchy and a Hindu state has grown amid dissatisfaction over political instability, corruption and slow economic development. "King, come and save the nation", the marchers shouted in unison, beating drums, blowing horns and waving Nepal's national flag. "I am here to fight against this corrupt system," said Prem Bahadur Magar, 58. "We need a constitutional monarchy and a Hindu nation to preserve our national identity." Magar travelled to Kathmandu for the rally from his home, about 200km away. Riot police stood guard but there were no immediate reports of any violence. "Seventeen years ago, I came to the streets to protest and overthrow the monarchy," he said. "But now, I feel sorry for that. Now I realise that the king was far better than these corrupt leaders." "JUST A DAYDREAM" The rally comes a day after the Communist Party of Nepal Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) – the party of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli – held marches to mark the Himalayan nation's Republic Day. There were also royalist marches on Thursday. CPN-UML party supporter Bijay Lama, 34, said the return of the king was "just a daydream", saying that most in the nation of some 30 million people wanted the republic to remain. "If a few thousand people call for the return of the monarchy, this is simply not possible", Lama said, during the rally on Thursday. In March, two people were killed and more than 100 arrested during pro-monarchy protests, with security forces using live fire and tear gas to disperse the rally. The last king of Nepal, Gyanendra Shah, expressed sorrow at the violent demonstrations the following month – while lending tacit support. Shah was crowned in 2001 after his elder brother king Birendra Bir Bikram Shah and his family were killed in a palace massacre. His coronation took place as a Maoist insurgency was raging in far-flung corners of Nepal. Shah suspended the constitution and dissolved parliament in 2005, triggering protests in which the Maoists sided with Nepal's political establishment – leading to the eventual end of the war.
CNA
4 days ago
- CNA
Nepal's royalists demand restoration of monarchy dumped 17 years ago
KATHMANDU: Thousands of supporters of Nepal's former king rallied in the capital Kathmandu on Thursday (May 29), calling for the restoration of the constitutional monarchy that was abolished 17 years ago, amid rising unhappiness with successive elected governments. Flag-waving protesters marched into the city centre from different directions shouting: 'Our king is dearer than lives ... king come back and save the country,' as riot police stood guard but did not intervene. At a similar rally in March, two people were killed and several injured. The 239-year-old monarchy was voted out in 2008 following weeks of bloody street protests. The last king of the Himalayan nation, 77-year-old Gyanendra, has lived with his family in a private house in Kathmandu as a commoner since being toppled. He has not commented on Thursday's demonstration but expressed sorrow at the violence that killed two people in March. Demonstrators are also calling for the country of 30 million people, wedged between China and India, to become a Hindu state again, a status it lost with the monarchy. 'Governments formed in the last 17 years have failed to deliver on their promises of development, creation of jobs and improvement of the living conditions of people,' said 35-year-old street vendor Rajendra Tamang. 'Thousands of young people are forced to leave the country in search of work as they see no hope here,' he said. Millions of young Nepalis are working in the Middle East, South Korea and Malaysia, mainly at construction sites, and the money they send home is a key source of income for Nepal. Supporters of the government staged a separate but smaller rally nearby in support of the republican system that replaced the monarchy. The three major political parties that jointly control nearly 200 of the 275 seats in parliament say the monarchy was consigned to history and cannot be restored. All three jointly campaigned against the monarchy and voted it out in 2008 and say their faith in the republican system was unshakeable. The Rastriya Prajatantra Party, which is campaigning for the monarchy, holds only 13 seats in parliament. A two-thirds majority or 184 lawmakers is needed to change the constitution, which was adopted in 2015, turning Nepal into a federal democratic republic.
