The King of Nepal

THE KING OF NEPAL

''I have decided to dissolve the government because it has failed to make necessary arrangements to hold elections by April and promote democracy, the sovereignty of the people and life and property,'' the king said in an address on state radio.

That's a lesson for you kids, if something doesn't work, don't bother trying to fix it, just kill it.



Here's the article:

Nepal King names new cabinet after sacking govt
By Gopal Sharma
Reuters

"KATHMANDU, Feb. 1 — Nepali King Gyanendra unveiled a 10-member cabinet for his new government on Wednesday, a day after he sacked the prime minister for failing to hold elections or to end an escalating civil war with Maoist rebels.

The new cabinet was formed as the rebellion-racked country remained virtually cut off a day after the king assumed power in place of sacked Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and put many politicians under house arrest, Indian television said.

The king's action to take power for the next three years has drawn condemnation from the United States and from neighbouring India. Among those appointed to the new cabinet were Home Minister Dan Bahadur Shahi and Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey as well as a new finance minister, New Delhi Television (NDTV) network said.

The king, who came to power after a palace massacre in 2001, has declared a state of emergency, the Press Trust of India (PTI) has reported, quoting Nepal's state-run television.

The Maoist rebels, who have been fighting to topple the constitutional monarchy since 1996, called for a three-day general strike from Wednesday to protest against the king's actions, PTI said.

The rebel leader, Prachanda, who uses one name, said the king's action smacked of ''medieval feudal autocracy.''

Nepal is locked in a bitter three-way struggle between the king, the rebels and bitterly divided political parties.

Sacked Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba was Nepal's 13th premier in 14 turbulent years as a constitutional monarchy. The country has had no parliament since 2002. Phone links with the impoverished country, snapped after the king's move, continued to be disrupted.

It was not clear if international air links would resume after a lone Nepali airline flight flew from Kathmandu to the Indian capital, New Delhi, and back late on Tuesday.

New Delhi, which has been watching with concern the bloody Maoist revolt in its landlocked neighbour, had tried to dissuade Gyanendra from a ''power-grab'' a few weeks ago, The Indian Express newspaper reported on Wednesday.


A CALCULATION

Indian officials had no comment on the report. ''Clearly, King Gyanendra has calculated when it comes to a choice between the monarchy and Maoists, India and the international community would have no option but to side with him,'' the newspaper said.

Around 11,000 people have been killed in the Maoist revolt, which erupted in 1996.

In Kathmandu, there was no sign of additional security on the roads and life on the streets seemed normal.

''I just don't know anything. I am just here like any other day,'' Meenakshi, a street sweeper wearing a purple shawl and brown sari, said outside the gates of the King's palace.

The king and his wife will attend a summit of South Asian leaders in Dhaka on Sunday, Bangladesh Foreign Minister M. Morshed Khan said on Tuesday.

Many people in Nepal still view the king as a reincarnation of the god Vishnu.

But the monarchy's reputation dived in 2001 when Crown Prince Dipendra killed his father, the popular King Birendra, and other royal family members before turning the gun on himself.

Gyanendra, Birendra's brother, was crowned king afterwards, but is frequently accused of overstepping his powers.

The king had reappointed Deuba last June, two years after sacking him for the same reasons he cited this time -- inability to tackle the Maoist revolt and failure to call an election.

In January, Deuba had promised to go ahead with the election despite the civil war and the Maoists' refusal to come to peace talks by a Jan. 13 deadline.

Many cabinet members believed the poll plan was unrealistic in a country where the rebels control much of the countryside.

The king had promised elections would begin by the Nepali new year in mid-April.

(Additional reporting by Kamil Zaheer in NEW DELHI)"