Nepal: Govt blames King for protests crackdown
A Nepalese government commission has found King Gyanendra responsible for a deadly crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in April that left at least 19 dead and several hundred injured, officials said today.
The commission handed the report to prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala, who said those found guilty in the report would be punished.
Commission member Harihar Birahi said as chairman of the Cabinet at the time of the crackdown, the king was responsible for the crackdown on pro-democracy protests, which eventually forced the monarch to cede power and reinstate parliament after 14 months of direct rule.
Parliament then quickly stripped Gyanendra of his powers, his command over the army and his immunity from prosecution.
Several people who worked under the King during the period of direct rule that ended in April were interrogated by the commission. It also questioned several other ministers and top government and security officials.
The commission also sent written questions to Gyanendra, but the King did not respond, giving no reason.
Birahi said the investigation focused on official misuse of power, state funds and human rights abuses during the King’s authoritarian rule.
Hundreds of pro-democracy activists were also detained during the April crackdown, and some said they were tortured.
