Nepal's former king "concerned" over state of nation

Jul 7, 2009, 6:54 GMT

   Kathmandu - Nepal's former king Gyanendra Tuesday expressed concern over recent events in the country in his first public comments since he was deposed nearly a year ago.

   His statement coincided with his 63rd birthday, and just over a year after Nepalese politicians voted overwhelmingly to abolish the monarchy in the Himalayan nation and declared it a republic.

   In his statement, Gyanendra said he had left the royal palace with the hope and expectation that peace and law and order would improve, but he had been disappointed.

   'Even in this changed context, there has been no improvement in the lot of my beloved fellow citizens, my brothers and sisters, I am very perturbed, very troubled and very anguished,' Gyanendra said.

   Gyanendra's comments came amid a widening rift between the main political parties which united in 2006 to overthrow the monarchy.

   In the latest crisis, the Maoist-led government collapsed over a power struggle with the president which has threatened to derail the peace process with Maoist guerrillas.

   The Maoist-led government was succeeded by another coalition government led by the Communist Party of Nepal - Unified Marxist Leninist, but the Maoists have virtually brought Nepalese politics to a standstill with their protests.

   There is also a growing separatist movement in the southern Nepalese plains, known as Terai, affecting the country's economy.

   'My request to all is that never any consent be given to break the Nepalese garland of the Himalayas, the hills and the Terai,' Gyanendra said.

   Gyanendra also repeated his position that he would not leave the country and seek refuge elsewhere.

   'It is with a pure heart that within this fascinating environment, my posterity and I wish to remain, along with my fellow compatriots,' Gyanendra said.

   Gyanendra became the last king to rule Nepal, and his departure ended nearly 240 year rule of the Shah Dynasty that rose from a small principality of Gorkha in western Nepal and extended the country's borders to much of modern Nepal.