Facing ouster, Nepal king urges people to vote

“It has always been our desire to build a prosperous and peaceful nation through a democratic polity in keeping with the verdict of the sovereign people,” he said in a statement.

“We call upon all adult citizens to exercise their democratic right in a free and fair environment.”

The irony is that when this dirt-poor Himalayan nation stages its first election in nine years on Thursday, hardly anyone will be sticking up for the king. Nor are Nepalis being given much of a chance to do so.

Maoist guerrillas fought a decade-long civil war to end the 240-year-old monarchy, but had promised a popular vote to elect an assembly that would decide the monarchy’s future.

But in the end, the decision to abolish it was taken behind closed doors last year by the country’s main political parties.

The elected assembly will now just rubber stamp that decision. In a recent interview with Japan’s Yomiuri newspaper, Gyanendra said that decision did not reflect the majority view of the people, and Nepalis had the right to decide on the monarchy’s future.

And although Gyanendra, who seized absolute power in 2005 and relinquished it the following year, is often described as the most unpopular man in Nepal, it is far from clear the monarchy would have lost in a referendum.

An opinion poll published in February found half the respondents supported the idea of at least a symbolic monarchy, but few supported the king himself.

“People want the monarchy, but they don’t want this king and they don’t want his son,” said Kunda Dixit, editor of the Nepali Times. “How do you reconcile that? For most people, including monarchists, it’s not worth the trouble.”

These days, it is tough to be a monarchist in Nepal.

Royalist parties say Maoists have even prevented them campaigning.

“Especially in rural areas, psychological Terror is still very strong,” said Kamal Thapa, head of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal and described by Dixit as the bravest man in the campaign.

“We are really finding it difficult to reach out to people,” Thapa said. He hopes his party will have at least a presence in the new 601-seat assembly, but admits it is weak.

Observers say royalists may get a few seats, but not many.

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