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Nepal Parliament restored and royal powers cut Royal power succumbed to a combination of political pressure and public protests aided by communist insurrection. During the last week of April the king returned power he had seized from the legislature in May 2002 and ended his autocratic rule in effect since 1 February 2005. Within weeks of restored parliamentary power when there was talk about abolishing the monarchy altogether—an avowed aim of the communist rebels—the role of King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev (born 6 July 1947) had shrunk to that of a ceremonial figurehead. His decrees were annulled, appointments canceled, some ministers arrested, old opposition politicians reinstalled. The king’s attempt to defeat the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) which had launched its guerrilla “people’s war” against monarchy and government in February 1996 relied mainly on army and police. These efforts foundered when he failed to unite political and public leaders behind him and began suppressing criticism, banning protests, and jailing journalists and politicians. In addition to rising casualties from the insurgency, an estimated 13,000, reports began to spread about disappearances of critics and torture by security forces. When political parties made common cause with the CPN-M demanding restoration of parliamentary democracy as it had existed before May 2002, military and police were no longer enough to rule successfully. It remains doubtful that the CPN-M has given up on abolishing the monarchy and there is some non-communist support for this demand. But today the insurgents are interested in participating in the government and drafting a new constitution. Keeping in mind the problems existing for governments when coalition partners have their own armed formations, such as in Iraq and Palestine, restoration of civil power could be severely hampered unless the insurgents agree to disarm.
Recent developments King promised reinstallation of the House of Representatives on 21 April and announced the transfer of executive power to the seven political parties. In a televised announcement on 24 April, the king agreed to end direct rule and restore the legislature. The opposition canceled a mass demonstration scheduled for the next day. CPN-M offered a three-month unilateral ceasefire in its “people’s war” against the government on 26 April and agreed to lift the blockade of the capital. The king appointed Girija Prasad Koirala (NC) (born 1921) Prime Minister, After four years, the House of Representatives held its first session on 28 April. On the next day, a number of lawmakers demanded that the king be stripped of command over the royal army. The House agreed to hold elections for a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution. The prime minister urged the CPN-M to renounce violence and join peace talks. The new prime minister assumed his office on 30 April. One of the leaders of the CPN-M said on 1 May that it would respect the decisions of the constituent assembly if it were elected “free and fair.” The prime minister named the first six ministers of his cabinet on 2 May after all parties reached agreement. The government declared a ceasefire on 3 May and the CPN-M on the following day welcomed the action and agreed to hold peace talks. On 7 May, the new cabinet annulled all royal appointments and two days later cancelled several controversial royal decrees which restricted the work of non-governmental organizations and press freedom. Five members of the former royal cabinet were arrested on 12 May. The legislature approved on 18 May the limited ceremonial role of the king and withdrew his command over the military and ended his tax-free status. The prime minister added 11 ministers from several parties on 22 May. Representatives of government and CPN-M held the first round of peace talks on 26 May. The Supreme Court on 4 June ordered the release of the arrested royal ministers. The cabinet rescinded several laws against terrorism on 12 June. The monarchy will stay, said the prime minister on 14 June since its abolition could lead to a serious political crisis, The minister of interior announced on 16 June that government and CPN-M had agreed to end the civil war, dissolve the legislature, and form an interim government which will include the CPN-M and which would draft the next constitution. (June 2006)
Bhutan Crown prince assumes more duties before elections in 2008 Parliamentary democracy will replace the participatory monarchy according to the wishes of King Jigme Singye Wangchuk, 55. He announced his abdication in 2008 and plans on 18 December in a rural setting away from the capital. Crown Prince Dasho Jigme Gesar Namgyal Wangchuk, 25, is assuming more responsibilities and will succeed the king upon his abdication. Under current plans, the 152-member National Assembly will be replaced by a two-house parliament. The country’s first national election is also scheduled for 2008. (Jan. 2006) India BJP changes leaders Atal Bihari Vajpayee (BJP), 81, the previous Prime Minister (1999-2004), while visiting Mumbai on 29 December announced his retirement from active politics. After losing the general election in 2004 and resigning as prime minister, Vajpayee also turned over presidency of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to Deputy Leader Lal Krishna Advani who also just retired. BJP supporters were stunned by the latest decision and are hoping that Vajpayee will reconsider which is unlikely. Former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Rajnath Singh, 54, was elected President of the party on 30 December and assumed his office on 2 January after the earlier resignation of Lal Krishna Advani, 78. (Jan. 2006) Pakistan Half of the Senate retired by draw Fifty senators or one-half of the total membership was retired on 1 January by draw and the vacancies will be filled by election during the first week of March. The governing coalition retained 27 seats and the opposition 19 until the next elections in March 2009. For the coming election, each province is allotted 11 seats, Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) 4, and the Federal Capital two. (Jan. 2006)
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