Nepal King calls for general elections
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, April 15, IRNA
Nepal-Election-King
Amid severe domestic and international criticism, Nepal King Gyanendra vowed to hold general elections in the country and invited all political parties to join in a dialogue process for the restoration of democracy.
"It is our desire that with the active participation of all the political parties committed to peace and democracy, a meaningful exercise in multi-party democracy be initiated through the exemplary democratic exercise like the general elections," the king said in his message to the nation on the occasion of the Nepali New Year 2063 in Kathmandu, media reports said here Friday.
Observing that there was no alternative to democracy in the 21st century and that the verdict of the ballot alone was legitimate, the King stressed the need to hold election. He stressed that all problems should be resolved through dialogues only.
Without directly referring to the ongoing demonstration throughout the country against the monarchy, King Gyanendra urged all political parties to join in a dialogue.
"We are in favour of sustainable peace and the people's right to vote. Democratic norms and values demand a commitment that the goals set forth by the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal-1990 can be achieved only through constitutional means."
He further condemned extremism and said it had no place in democracy.
The king had earlier ordered to hold the general election by April next year.
King Gyanendra sacked the government and took power in February last year, saying politicians had failed to tackle the insurgency.
More than 1,500 people were wounded in the capital during the week-long agitation.
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