King’s coterie in jail, service chiefs are suspended

This has, however, been condemned as an instance of vendetta by the pro-king group. ‘‘The commission is acting as a vindictive arm of the government. It proves that the government is authoritarian and unconstitutional, both,’’ a minister during the king’s regime who does not want to be quoted told The Indian Express.

The cabinet also put under suspension three security chiefs—Shyam Bhakta Thapa (Civil Police), Sahabir Thapa (Armed Police Force) and Deviram Sharma (Intelligence Chief) after a week-long internal debate that such a step would demoralise the force. The commission headed by former Supreme Court judge Krishna Jung Rayamajhi is also believed to have asked the National Security Council to decide on the case of of Army Chief Gen Pyar Jung Thapa.

The council consists of Prime Minister, Defense Minister (at the moment Koirala holds the defense portfolio as well) and the COAS himself, and there are indications that a decision on the issue could be delayed given its wide implications and the signal it might send down to the RNA (Royal Nepal Army) of 82,000.

Commission sources said the recommendation to suspend the three chiefs along with the arrest of five ministers was aimed at protecting evidences of excesses committed by the state during the royal regime, mainly during the 20 days of the movement beginning April 6 in which at least 19 people were killed and around 5,000 wounded.

Commission sources said it was also likely to recommend the arrest of former Chief of the Army Staff and member of the Royal Advisory Council, Sachet Shumsher Rana and Lt. Gen Bharat Keshar Simha, a life ADC to the king, for their role in the suppression of the movement.

The Seven Party Alliance which runs the government has already asked the government to abolish the council which had recommended to the king in November 2004 that he should take absolute power.

The king took over power on February 1 almost on the same lines. In fact, Foreign Affairs Minister Pandey had gone abroad at least 20 times during 14 months to solicit international support unsuccessfully, and publicly boasted that the royal regime had enhanced the image of the country the world over.

Thapa, who joined the government during its second half, had earned the reputation of being a votary of ruthless repression of the movement by force.

Sirish Rana and Tanka Dhakal, who headed the ministry for communication during the royal regime, were charged with distorting facts and projecting political parties in bad light. Niskhe Shumsher Rana, another minister and a royal relative, is accused of organising vigilante groups to suppress the movement.

The ministers are also accused of misusing huge funds from the state exchequer to suppress the movement at home, as well as for buying international support. Although Justice Rayamajh commands wide respect for his integrity and efficiency during his tenure as a judge of the Supreme Court, the composition of the five-member commission has attracted mixed reactions with critics saying its other members are selected not on merit or experience, but for their loyalty to the parties belonging to the SPA.

–yubaraj.ghimire@expressindia.com