Kathmandu shut down after rebel strike

Kathmandu, the capital of the Asian country of Nepal, has been shut down after former Maoist rebels called a strike to protest to the alleged killing of one of their leaders.

Businesses, schools, and factories closed down on Monday, when members of the Young Communist League (YCL) entered city intersections to enforce the strike. Vehicles of drivers who have defied the strike have been torched and vandalised.

The protests and strikes come several days after local Maoist leader Rajendra Phuyal was found dead in the country’s capital on June 11. The rebels suspect that he had been killed, and want an investigation into the incident.

On this day June 1, 2001

Crown Prince Dipendra of Nepal killed King Birendra and several members of the Shah royal family in a shooting spree at the Narayanhity Royal Palace in Kathmandu.

Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah

As a result of the shooting, ten people died and five were wounded. The dead included King Birendra of Nepal and Queen Aiswarya, Dipendra’s father and mother. Prince Dipendra became de facto King of Nepal upon his father’s death and died whilst in a coma three days later.

Dipendra had been drinking heavily and had “misbehaved” with a guest, which resulted in his father, King Birendra, telling his son to leave the party.

The drunken Dipendra was taken to his room by his brother Prince Nirajan and cousin Prince Paras.

Nepal government names 6 year old girl Kumari

Nepal’s government has named Shreeya Bajracharya, a six year old, as the country’s new Kumari or “living goddess”, as part of a century old tradition.

In the past, Kumaris have been appointed by the country’s monarchy, which was abolished earlier this year and replaced with the recently elected Maoists. “Just because we are now a republic and no longer have a king or royal priest, does not mean we should end our traditions,” said Keshab Bahadur Shrestha, one of the officials who selected Shreeya.

2.7 million people affected by Kosi flood

Kosi River Bihar state

The Kosi River changed course one week ago to a path which it has not taken for over 100 years. While 900,000 people were evacuated by rescue workers, new data has revealed that 50,000 people, from the town of Saharsa, have refused to leave their homes.

Advertisements in local newspapers have been used to encourage the people who are still remaining in the area to leave soon. People are encouraged to go to one of many camps, which are funded by the government, to seek refuge from the continued flooding.

1.2 million people in India are affected by flooding

In Bihar, India, over 1.2 million people were affected by the Koshi River in the northern part of the state breaking its embankment and drowning towns and villages. Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to seek his help in dealing with the “catastrophe” caused by floods after the river Kosi suddenly changed its course in neighbouring Nepal.

The flood has destroyed several acres of standing crop as the river picked up a channel it had abandoned over 200 years ago. The worst affected districts included Madhepura, Bhagalpur, Araria and West Champaran. Relief work was carried with Indian Air Force helicopters dropping relief materials in the worst hit districts.

Prachanda is elected PM of Nepal

Maoist leader Prachanda प्रचण्ड is elected Prime Minister of Nepal, the first since the country’s transition from a monarchy to a republic. The Constituent Assembly elected Prachanda as Prime Minister on 15 August 2008.

Pushpa Kamal Dahal

Prachanda’s extension of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism to take specific account of Nepal’s situation is known as the Prachanda Path.

Following power-sharing discussions that lasted several months, Prachanda was elected as Prime Minister by the Constituent Assembly on August 15, 2008. The CPN (UML), the Madeshi People’s Rights Forum, and 18 other parties supported him, but the Nepali Congress supported Sher Bahadur Deuba. Prachanda received 464 votes, while Deuba received 113 votes.

2008 Nepalese presidential election

Ram Baran Yadav of the Nepali Congress party wins Nepal’s presidential election, defeating Ram Raja Prasad Singh of the Communist Party (Maoist).

An indirect presidential election was held in Nepal on 19 July 2008 with a presidential run-off set on 21 July. The Nepalese Constituent Assembly (CA) elected in April 2008 will elect a new President and Vice-President after the Fifth Amendment to the Interim Constitution was passed on July 14. This would be the first President to be elected after Nepal became a republic a few months earlier.

In the newly passed amendment, the majority party will form the government, the CA will elect the new President on the basis of majority and a new provision that the Opposition Leader will be a member of the Constitutional Council.

Nepal’s royal palace turns into museum

Royal palace in Kathmandu -Photo: Pavel Novak

Narayanhity Royal Palace, home to Nepal’s kings for over a century, was today converted into a public museum, further signifying the country’s recent transition from a monarchy to a republic.

At a brief ceremony, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala hoisted the national flag proclaiming the museum as belonging to the people, Koirala said, “Today the son of a common people has hoisted the country’s flag in this palace. Now Nepal has entered a new era.”

Nepal’s deposed king Gyanendra vacated the palace on Wednesday, after the newly elected Constituent Assembly voted to abolish the 239-year-old monarchy on May 28. He then moved to Nagarjuna Palace, a summer home on the outskirts of the capital Kathmandu, where he is now living as a civilian. However, this home is only a temporary one, and he will soon be asked by the government to leave it as well.

The process began around two years ago, when a national uprising forced the king to relinquish the absolute power he had installed and to reinstate the parliament. In late 2007, the parliament agreed to declare Nepal a republic, which was to be implemented after the April 2008 elections. The Maoists, who had been fighting against the monarchy for over 10 years, won the majority of seats, and the monarchy was officially ended in an overwhelming vote.