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Date : 2006-02-17
Nepal King plans exile: US Embassy expected to evacuate
By D. Michael Vandeveer – Reporting from Nepal
Kathmandu, 17 February, (Asiantribunbe.com): Nepal remains tense as the 7-Party agitation against the Monarchy gains strength and the Maoist continue to have success on the battle-field. Sources within the Palace report the King and his family are preparing for exile.
The recent municipal elections proved to be a rebuff to the Nepalese King Gyanendra and have been denounced by the 7-Party Alliance, the Maoist, the UN and the international community as un-democratic.
US Ambassador James Moriarty in a "Town Hall Meeting" for the American community stressed, "the need for maps to everyone’s homes", and promised GPS readings for all homes of US citizens by February 20th.
"Things are going to get worse in the coming months so please have your 'go-bag' ready so that you can evacuate in a minutes notice", the Ambassador warned and described the situation in Nepal as , "a mess and getting worse".
"The Maoist may take advantage of there being no government, and come in and take it over", cautioned the US Ambassador.
The Ambassador said the Maoist are threatening Nepalese employees of the US Government, as well as Nepalese in US funded projects.
On February-1, 2005, King Gyanendra suspended all civil and democratic rights in Nepal and has ruled with an iron-fist from the throne.
Journalist, peace and trade union activist, representatives of civil-society, and members and supporters of the 7-Party Alliance have been beaten, arrested, brutalized on a daily basis.
Human-Rights Organizations and the UN have condemned the Nepalese King and the RNA (Royal Nepalese Army) for crimes against humanity and demanded a return to ‘Constitutional Democracy.’
The US, a major arms supplier, and trainer of the RNA have steadfastly condemned any peace-talks between the Maoist insurgents and the 7-Party Alliance, while paying lip-service to peace.
A Senior US military advisor, retired Army Lieutenant General Edwin P. Smith, President of the Honolulu-based Asian Pacific Center for Security Studies was rushed to Kathmandu last month to assess the deteriorating situation. Without US arms and aid the Kingdom would be bankrupt by now. Economist estimated that after June 2006, there will be no possibility of paying monthly salaries to civil-servants and to the 150,000 strong RNA and police.
The Maoist has threatened the King with execution for, "crimes against the Nepali people".
It is not if, but when King Bir Bikhram Shah will leave the Himalayan Kingdom for exile, the major question is, will the Rana controlled RNA support the New Republic and allow the Maoist to lay down their arms and join the 7-Party Alliance in democratic elections, or will the RNA continue to suppress the democratic aspirations of the Napali people ?
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