Demonstrations deluge Baneshwor, elsewhere

BY THIRA L BHUSAL / KOSH RAJ KOIRALA
KATHMANDU, May 28

Rallies and celebrations marked Kathmandu throughout Wednesday to welcome the dawn of Republican Nepal.

Thousands of cadres affiliated to various political parties, including CPN (Maoist), CPN (UML) and Nepali Congress, came on to the streets in various parts of the capital city early morning today to celebrate the beginning of New Nepal sans the 240-year old institution of monarchy. They chanted slogans against monarchy and walked through the city hoisting their party flags and banners welcoming the republic.

Several groups of civil society leaders, artistes and people from different walks of life inundated the areas around International Convention Centre (ICC), New Baneshwor, the venue of Constituent Assembly (CA), pressing the ruling parties to declare implementation of federal democratic republic without delay. They sang songs, recited poems and chanted slogans in favor of republic. Earlier in the morning, they held a mass rally from Basantapur Durbar Square to New Baneshwor to mark the glorious day.

UML leaders and cadres led by senior UML leader Bamdev Gautam took out a huge rally from Maitighar and arrived outside ICC. Likewise, Maoist cadres also gathered there from several places.

As political party cadres gathered in front of ICC, dozens of media persons and ordinary public reached to the main entrance of Narayanhiti Palace in a bid to capture the historic moment of king Gyanendra leaving the palace once and for all. But they had to return empty-handed as the first CA failed to convene on time.

Keeping in view possible untoward incidents during the CA meeting, local administration deployed huge number of Nepal Police and Armed Police Force (APF) personnel in and around BICC, Narayanhiti royal Palace and Singha Durbar. Likewise, the administration barred vehicles from plying on different road sections in the capital to beef up security. A large number of Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League (YCL) cadres were also mobilized keeping in view the possibility of untoward incident.

The public, who had spontaneously gathered around BICC and several other places with expectant faces to celebrate the arrival of the new era, were seemingly frustrated as political parties failed to declare republic even hours after the scheduled time.

Meanwhile, pro-royalist group staged rally in New Road Area Wednesday afternoon. Addressing a corner meeting, Jagat Gauchan, a staunch royalist, said they will fight until death against the decision to remove the institution of monarchy through CA meeting.

What the public waiting outside ICC said?

Pavitra Parajuli Bagle, daughter of late Chhaya Devi Parajuli, a noted democracy fighter during the April uprising, said as generations of Nepalis fought against the king's regime, power should not be centralized on a single person once again. "Be it any President or Prime Minister, power must not accumulate in a single person. It must go to the people," she said.
Chhaya Devi, who established herself as a committed democratic fighter even in her eighties, died two years ago.

Beduram Neupane, Bachelor level student of Ratna Rajya Campus, TU, described it as very important moment as the country's total power that was centered on a single person has ultimately come to the people.

Neupane, who hails from Anguri VDC of Arghakhanchi district, said this situation should be further stabilized and focus must be given to development activities in the days to come.
Neupane's friend Rudra Dev Pandey, who hails from Thulapokhara of Arghakhanchi, said the governing system of the country should be based on equality among all castes and communities.
Ice cream vendor Maiya Karki, 35, from Sindhuli district, hoped the political change would bring meaningful changes for poor people as well.

Likewise, 36 year-old Man Kaji Shivakoti from Sunakhari VDC of Dolakha district, who was selling water-melon in front of ICC hall, said political parties should give priority to providing employment opportunities to the people.

THE KATHMANDU POST
Posted on: 2008-05-28 18:09:42 (Server Time)