How Gyanendra Is Protecting the People of Nepal

Gyanendra got crazy and appeared in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday (February 1, 2005) to announce the dismissal of the government and the suspension of constitutional rights to freedom of speech and assembly, the rights to privacy and property and the right against preventive detentions.He gave the Royal Nepal Army, which operates under his direct command, greater powers to control the media, communication and people’s lives.He mobilized troops into newspaper, television and radio offices to direct news coverage and ban criticism on the palace. Editors were summoned to the palace and given a warning against any negative reporting – a threat of “disappearance” by the security forces should he fail to comply. Military surrounded houses of politicians, placing them under house arrest while some are taken away to unknown places as numbers of student leaders and political activists are being rounded up. The greed with a name – Gyanendra – has made the lives of the Nepalese people far worse. This he made real after the massacre of King Birendra’s whole family. Many times the parliament was dissolved, the government officials replaced. Many times he placed the powers in his bloodied hands.

If we think seriously, there were a lot of possible motives behind of king Gyanendra: He said by television he is doing this to save the sovereignty of the Nepalese people. We say, every dictator has said this in the past. No military can save people’s democracy except the people themselves. So, how can Gyanendra save peoples sovereignty through his military? If we see the budget of Nepal, can this prove that he is indeed protecting people? i. Has he ever thought of the people in Karnali Zone, for example, scrimping for food while he lavishes on his own feasts?
ii. Does he think about those people without shoes while he flies around with his own helicopters?
iii. Does it bother him people die of cold as they have not enough clothes while he revels at the sight of jewelry on his bodice?
iv. Has he remembered the growing number of out-of-school youth while his son receives British education in London? v. Does he even care about schools closing down as his own military for his security expands?
vi. Has it ever occurred to him, or is he just denying the fact, that what he is actually spending is the people’s money, and not his?
Gyanendra - his ideas of protecting and securing people’s lives and livelihood are not to the latter’s benefit.

Talk about sweet words from the crocodile who sheds tears.