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Half in Nepal Want to Keep Monarchy
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many people in Nepal think the monarchy should remain a part of their country’s political landscape, according to a poll by Asia Foundation. 49.3 per cent of respondents think there should be a place for the monarchy in the future of Nepal, while 38 per cent think the country should scrap the institution altogether.
In June 2001, Crown Prince Dipendra killed nine members of the royal family—including King Birendra—after an alleged dispute over marriage plans. Following Dipendra’s death, his uncle Gyanendra took over as monarch.
In October 2002, King Gyanendra dismissed prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress Party - Democratic (NPC-D). In February 2005, Gyanendra dismissed the two houses of Parliament, and took absolute powers.
In April 2006, the Nepalese government quashed a series of public protests in Kathmandu. Gyanendra then announced a "return to democracy." In June, the Parliament scrapped the King’s right to veto legislation, and lowered his salary.
An election to a Constituent Assembly—which had been scheduled to take place last year—has been postponed until Apr. 10. The special body will be tasked with deciding if Nepal remains a monarchy or becomes a republic.
On Feb. 5, Shiv Shankar Mukherjee—India’s ambassador to Nepal—offered his views on the current state of affairs, saying, "Monarchy became irrelevant. It stood for something before. And because the way things unfolded in Nepal since (King Gyanendra) took over power, it made itself irrelevant."
Polling Data
Do you think there should be a place in Nepal for the institution of monarchy in the future, or do you believe the institution of the monarchy should be scrapped altogether?
|
There should be a place in Nepal for the institution of monarchy in the future |
49.3% |
|
The institution of the monarchy should be scrapped altogether |
38.0% |
|
Other answers / Undecided |
12.7% |
Source: Asia Foundation
Methodology: Interviews with 3,000 Nepalese adults in 30 of the country’s 75 districts, conducted in December 2007 and January 2008. No margin of error was provided.