Nepal government set to curtail king's powers

KATHMANDU: Nepal's new government is set to curtail King Gyanandra's powers with a proclamation limiting the monarch's role in politics and ending his control of the Army expected to be passed in the kingdom's Parliament on Thursday.

Nepal Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala will present the declaration in Parliament that would among other things strip the king of his title of the supreme commander-in-chief of the Army and his discretionary powers, cabinet sources said.

The proclamation was submitted at the seven-party alliance meeting and the Cabinet gave it a final touch on Wednesday.

It would severely curtail powers of the King, including bringing the Army under the control of the Parliament, ending the King's discretionary powers relating to royal succession and appointment of Royal Palace staff, which will be exercised by the Parliament itself.

The proclamation also intends to bring the King's income inside the tax net and the Royal Palace budget to be approved by the Parliament.

Other plans on card are changing the Royal Nepalese Army to Nepalese Army and changing His Majesty's Government to Nepal Government.

Meanwhile, the Kathmandu District administration has issued prohibitory orders banning any public meeting, demonstration and sit-in in certain areas of the capital to maintain law and order ahead of the proclamation.

The prohibitory orders will apply in sensitive areas such as streets surrounding the Royal Palace and Government Secretariat.