Maoists seizing Gyanendra's land

KATHMANDU: Blaming the government for failing to fulfill its commitment to nationalise the properties of Gyanendra, Nepal Maoists have begun seizing 'royal properties' in Kathmandu, even as four political parties led by loyalists of Gyanendra have applied for official recognition with the election commission that would allow them to take part in the constituent assembly polls. "The parliament has failed to formulate laws on capturing land belonging to the king, as such the Young Communist League (YCL) will now capture all such land and use it for the public," central committee member of the CPN-Maoist Hitman Shakya said.

Already under fire for engaging in extra-constitutional activities like holding courts, policing and abductions, the Maoist-affiliated YCL has now announced a fresh campaign of seizing 'royal properties.' The YCL cadres announced that they had "nationalised" 99 ropanis of royal land in Bhaktapur's Sallaghari area on Saturday. Shakya, Coordinator of 'New Kathmandu Valley Campaign', announced the launch of their drive by planting a tree-sapling on the land, said to be in the name of late prince Nirajan. Shakya said they were taking the initiative since the government has been unable to fulfill its commitment to nationalise the royal properties. It is the first time the Maoists have declared the seizure of a royal property in the Kathmandu valley, the Nepal News online said on Sunday.

Meanwhile the Rastriya Prajatantra Party of Nepal led by Rabindra Nath Sharma, Nepal Sadbhavana Party (Mandal) led by Badri Prasad Mandal, Samajbadi Party led by Salim Miyan Ansari and Janamukti Party led by MS Thapa submitted their applications with 10 thousand signatures that are required for registration of a new political party. Mandal and Ansari, who were ministers in the erstwhile royal cabinet, have been charged with brutal suppression of last year's mass protests against the 14-month absolute rule of the monarch by the high-level probe commission. RPP (Nepal) chairman Sharma and Kamal Thapa, who held the home portfolio in the royal cabinet, were accompanied by dozens of party supporters who chanted slogans in favour of Gyanendra. Members of Sharma's party, which advocates a constitutional monarchy, have been attacked several times by the activists of the eight parties during party meetings.

Source: The Times of India, April 22, 2007