Gyanendra to face fresh probe into royal massacre

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Nepal’s Maoists said their new government will go for a fresh probe into the 2001 palace massacre and also investigate whether deposed king Gyanendra had any foreign bank account, a day after he quit the palace.

“After the formation of the Maoist-led government a probe commission will be formed to investigate the palace massacre as the Nepalese people want an independent body to enquire about the incident,” Communist Party of Nepal -Maoist (CPN-M) deputy leader Baburam Bhattarai said on Thursday.

The entire family of former King Birendra was killed in mysterious circumstances in the massacre after which Gyanendra became the monarch.

“The former king said in his statement Wednesday that he had no role in the massacre and if it was true, the probe commission will help him clear the accusation,” the Maoist second-in-command told reporters on Thursday.

The controversial report submitted by the official probe commission has held Crown Prince Dipendra responsible for the massacre on June 1, 2001, though its credibility has been questioned by many.

Bhattarai also said the new government will probe whether the deposed king has any foreign bank account.

Gyanendra has rejected the allegation that he has deposited money in foreign bank account while addressing a press conference before leaving the palace Wednesday.

The former rebel said the CPN-Maoist has welcomed the former king’s statement issued Wednesday in which he has expressed the Willingness to serve the country and work for national unity and welfare of the people.

Bhattarai rejected the allegation that the Maoists have any attachment with their weapons but claimed it was because of their arms that Gyanendra was forced to vacate the Narayanhiti palace so soon.

Meanwhile, Nepal Minister for Local Development Dev Gurung yesterday said that a new coalition government would be formed by June 18.

Inaugurating the opening of the district council of the District Development Committee (DDC) at Beni district headquarters in Myagdi, the Minister said, “We will try to form a coalition government by June 18, but if we don’t reach an agreement on it then the Maoists would go on to form a government of their own.”

“But if even that doesn’t happen then the Maoists would opt out of the government and would assist the Constituent Assembly and the government from outside,” he added.

In a meeting with Maoist party cadres in the district, Gurung said that party workers should exercise restraint and patience in the changed scenario of the country.

He asked them to engage in the party activities and not worry too much about the transitional period in the country, which he hoped would soon end.

On Thursday, Maoist Ministers had announced their resignation from the Koirala-led government and forwarded their joint resignation letter to party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepalnews reported.

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