June 27, 2007
Nepal Palace Plans Gala Bash
for king's 'Diamond' Birthday By Sudeshna
Sarkar
Kathmandu
Ignoring calls by the prime minister to abdicate in favour of his
five-year-old grandson, Nepal's King Gyanendra is throwing a lavish
black-coat party in the palace next week to celebrate his "diamond"
birthday - just three months before the crucial election that could
abolish his more than two-century-old crown.
Invitations have been issued in the name of Queen Komal to around
1,000 guests - the who's who of Nepal. They include Prime Minister
Girija Prasad Koirala, who has asked the king and Crown Prince Paras
to abdicate in favour of Paras' son, Hridayendra, in a last-ditch
attempt to save the beleaguered crown.
The cocktail dinner, to be held at the Kaski hall of the Narayanhity
royal palace July 6, has foreign diplomats, ministers, top
politicians and industrialists on the invitation list. However, it
remains to be seen how many would attend the bash that could be
regarded as being politically incorrect.
Though the king turned 60 last year, a celebration was ruled out in
July 2006 since he had been forced to surrender the power he had
seized through a coup only two months before, due to a nationwide
revolt against his 15-month regime.
In the past, Nepal used to celebrate the birthday of its reigning
king as a national holiday. However, after King Gyanendra turned the
country against him through his direct rule, the new government that
came to power has power scrapped the holiday.
On July 7, the actual birthday, the palace gates will be opened to
the public in the morning in adherence to the old tradition of
allowing loyal subjects to come and pay their respects.
Despite the growing anti-monarchy feeling, royalists last year
managed to put up a credible show of allegiance.
The festivities will continue till July 8, when the king will hold a
reception in the palace.
As the palace gears up for the celebration, the government is
readying to hold a constituent assembly election on Nov 22, when
people will choose between monarchy and republic.
It will be the most expensive election Nepal has ever seen with the
Election Commission asking for a budget of NRS 2 billion.
However, royalists, who have formed several parties and have applied
to take part in the election, say they welcome the exercise that, if
held in a free and fair manner, will show that the majority still
want monarchy in Nepal.
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