April 23, 2005
NO SOUTH AFRICA, THEY:
India presses Nepal on democracy (BBC, 4/23/05)
India has told King Gyanendra of Nepal to lift a state of emergency and free detainees held after his February coup.Foreign Minister Natwar Singh met the king on Friday on the sidelines of an Asian-African summit in Indonesia.
It was India's first high-level contact with the king since he seized power. Earlier on Friday a former deputy PM and 60 others were freed in Nepal.
They can be a hugely important voice and force for democratization. Posted by Orrin Judd at April 23, 2005 8:28 AM
What "February coup"? King Gyanendra declared a state of emergency and took over executive powers of state. Did he seize power, yes perhaps, but the nation is facing a violent, Maoist-led insurrection. Are the king's motives for seizing power suspect? I would say highly so, given what I read on the situation. Does some democratization need to happen in Nepal? Yes, and India can "be a hughly important voice and force" for it. BTW, Gyanendra became king in 2001 when his brother King Birenda was killed by his nephew (King Birenda's son). VERY SLOPPY, BBC!
Posted by: at April 23, 2005 1:34 PM