King loses powers as proclamation is endorsed

Kathmandu, May 18: A ''historic'' political proclamation unanimously endorsed by Nepal's House of Representatives today made the King completely powerless, placing him under the supremacy of the parliament.

With the approval of proclamation, presented by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, the Army has also come under the control of the parliament.

Further, the control of the palace over the Royal Nepal Army has been removed completely, the parliament has been bestowed with the power to decide the heir to the throne and the royal palace employees will be replaced by the civil servants decided by the parliament.

The name of the government has also been changed from His Majesty's government to the Nepal government while Raj Parishad, an advisory body of the King and the title of Supreme Commander of the Army of the King been scrapped.

The King will have no any role in state affairs, and the right of calling of a meeting of the parliament will now vest in the Prime Minister.

The proclamation was read out by Nepal Speaker of the House, Subash Chandra Nemwang, on behalf of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, who is ailing.

The national anthem, which used to be in the praise of monarchy, will be changed and the security forces will be under the control of the Council of Ministers, which will appoint the Chief of Army Staff. According to the proclamation, Parliament will decide the Royal palace expenditures and other facilities. Private property and income of the King will be taxed as per the existing laws, it added.

Questions can be raised in parliament and in a court of law against the King's unconstitutional and illegal actions, the proclamation read. The Council of Ministers will decide the security arrangement of the Royal Palace.

The provisions of the 1990 Constitution and other laws, which contravene the House Proclamation, will be null and void to the extent of such contravention, it said.

The King was forced to reinstate the House at the height of the peoples' movement last month.

Thousands of people came to the streets last month at the call of seven political parties -- supported by Maoists -- and demanded the end of autocratic rule of King who first sacked the elected government in October 2002 and took complete control of the state on February 1 last year.

The role of army was always controversial as it directly worked at the instructions of King and against democracy, the leaders said.

''This is the historic decision in the history of Nepal,'' said Mr Nemwang.

UNI