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Speaker, Oppn leader
say 'no' to probe panel

Speaker of Parliament Taranath Ranabhat and opposition leader Madhav Kumar Nepal Tuesday refused to be part of an inquiry committee, headed by Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyay, following the massacre of many members of the royal family in Nepal.

The panel, appointed by King Gyanendra, was to have presented its report within three days. The report was to have been made public, too.

Both the political nominees of the three-member commission indicated to the chairman of the commission, the chief justice of Nepal, that they would not like to be associated with it, fearing popular backlash and objecting to the announcement of the commission by the king.

While Madhav Nepal has nominated another senior member of his party to be a member of the commission, the speaker has not suggested any nominee. The opposition leader has suggested Bharat Mohan Adhikary, chief whip of Communist Party of Nepal (UML) in the national assembly.

The chief justice summoned both leaders to his residence, and was trying to persuade the two not to disassociate themselves from the commission. Both commission members have yet not officially conveyed their reluctance, sources said.

The political figures believe that the king has no right to appoint a commission under the Constitution of Nepal. "Only the cabinet can appoint a commission," a member of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML), headed by Madhav Nepal, told rediff.com.

The speaker too has cited similar reasons.

There is also fear in political circles that if the commission comes out with findings that are not acceptable to public psyche, it may backfire on the parties.

In fact, political groups believe that the commission would only iterate the accepted theory that it was Crown Prince Dipendra who shot dead the entire royalty.

"But people don't believe that," said a political leader. He pointed out that the mass feeling was that there was a conspiracy behind the massacre and those who have finally gained from the developments are behind it.

The crowds accuse, to a little extent, King Gyanendra and to a larger extent his son Prince Paras, of having a role in the conspiracy.

Meanwhile, Dhirendra Shah, the youngest brother of the late King Birendra, died on Monday evening after struggling for his life for three days. His elder brother Gyanendra is the new King of Nepal.

Dhirendra Shah had sustained a bullet injury on his neck, during the Friday night shootout at the royal palace.

The killing was allegedly carried out by the late King Dipendra, who was said to have shot all of them dead and then shot himself.

Dhirendra Shah is the only immediate member of the royal family who had renounced his princely title. In 1989, he gave it up after he married a foreigner, after divorcing his first wife Princess Prekshya Shah.

According to hospital officials, the new Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah, who was also injured in the shootout, is recovering satisfactorily. She is the wife of King Gyanendra.

Hospital sources said Princess Shobha Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah too was improving. Another victim of the shoot out, Ketki Chester was supposed to undergo reconstructive surgery to cover up the tissue loss in her left shoulder.

All victims of the shootout have been admitted to the Birendra Army Hospital at Chhauni in Kathmandu.

EARLIER REPORT
Opposition leader refuses to be part of probe panel

Death of a Monarch: The Complete Coverage

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