King of Nepal Stripped of Power
No Comments »19th May, 2006; Category: Nepal
Changes are happening in Nepal to bring about a solution to this troubled nation. Today the newly convened parliament has voted to curb King Gyanendra’s power. It has removed his power over the armed forces.
It will also tax the royal family and will even give Parliament the right to decide on the royal succession. The king’s unpopular rule over recent times has caused many demonstrations over the last month or so.
You can read about my adventures in Nepal last January by going to the Archives section of this blog.
More protests in Nepal
Yesterday there were more protests in Kathmandu Nepal. The demonstrations were in protest against the delays by the newly reconvened parliament in curbing King Gyanendra’s powers. Many hundreds of demonstrators burned tyres, uprooted barriers and blocked roads.
Government leaders encouraged the people to remain calm and to be patient because the new parliament will curb the king’s rule within the next few days.
When I visited Nepal in January there was general unease and very limited protests. I saw nothing like the violent demonstrations that have occured over the last month or so.
To read about my adventures, including trekking in the Everest region, go to the Archives section of this blog.
Double amputee conquers Everest
New Zealand climber Mark Inglis has successfully become the first double amputee to reach the summit of Mt Everest in Nepal. Mark had both legs amputated below the knee in 1982. This was the result of frostbite while climbing Mt Cook in NZ. Mark used specially adapted carbon fibre legs in his climbing attempt. It was 53 years ago this month that his famous compatriot Sir Edmund Hillary was first successful in climbing Everest.
Mark’s efforts far out strip my own “attempt” on Everest back in January of this year. I joined a trekking group that walked from Lukla to Tengboche, barely half way to the summit. Read my blog of this trek by going to the Archives section on the right.
Ceasefire in Nepal
The newly convened government in Nepal has declared a ceasefire in the deadlock with the Maoists which has caused almost constant conflict in the beautiful Himalayan nation. Over the last decade this conflict has seen about 13,000 deaths.
I hope that this is a lasting ceasefire and that the government is able to get on with restoring peace and democracy in this troubled nation.
Go to the Archives section of this blog to read about my adventures in Nepal in January of this year.
To read the full story go to ABC News Online by clicking here.
Parliament opens in Nepal
Today the Nepalese Parliament met for the first time in nearly four years. This is after massive protests and riots over many weeks turned the tide of opinion against the ruling king. Unfortunately, the desigated Prime Minister was too ill to attend this special sitting of parliament. The problem now is to deal with the urgent call for elections and for a new constitution to be written.
To read more go to the ABC News Online page here.
To read of my adventures in Nepal in January of this year go to the Archives section of this blog.