King Gyanendra

A cabinet meeting chaired by King Gyanendra adopted a 21-point socio-economic program focused on "good governance and economic growth," state-run radio announced.

"Property amassed through abuse of authority, smuggling, tax evasion, illegal contract and commission will be seized and nationalized," it said, announcing the decisions of the Cabinet.

Gyanendra on Feb. 1 fired the government led by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba for failing to organize elections or quell the insurgency by Maoists, who want to topple the constitutional monarchy and install a communist republic.

He named a loyalist cabinet under his "chairmanship," declared a state of emergency and pledged to restore multiparty democracy in three years.

State-run English daily The Rising Nepal on Feb. 5 outlined other measures the new government plans to take to ensure better governance in the world's only Hindu kingdom.

After seizing power Feb. 1, Gyanendra called on the Maoist rebels to engage in peace talks to end the insurgency. But Maoist leader Prachanda denounced him as a "national betrayer" and called for a broad political front with those opposing "feudal autocracy."

(King's action on Page 4)

The Japan Times Weekly: Feb. 12, 2005
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