Nepal royal family massacre to come under fresh probe?
Times of India
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Kathmandu: Activists in Nepal are demanding a fresh probe into the mysterious shootout in Narayanhity Palace in 2001 that killed 10 members of the royal family, including the king, queen and crown prince.
"Members of civil society, human rights activists and Maoists are demanding a new commission to find out what really happened at the palace on June 1, 2001," says Birendra Jhapali, a civil activist with close links to the rebels.
With King Gyanendra being forced to relinquish absolute power and the government headed by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala saying the Maoists would be asked to participate in an interim government, Jhapali says the rebels are going to ask for a new investigation.
Nepal, tucked out of sight between giant neighbours China and India, found itself catapulted into world attention five years ago when then king Birendra, his wife Aishwarya, son Dipendra and two younger children, princess Shruti and prince Nirajan were shot fatally along with five other relatives while attending a dinner in the palace. At first, the government said a gun had gone off accidentally, causing the casualties.
However, later the authorities changed their story and blamed Dipendra, said to be high on hashish and alcohol, as having run berserk and shot the others before turning the gun on himself.
With all the male members in Birendra's immediate family being killed, his younger brother Gyanendra was sworn in the new king.
May 06, 2006
Times of India
__________
Kathmandu: Activists in Nepal are demanding a fresh probe into the mysterious shootout in Narayanhity Palace in 2001 that killed 10 members of the royal family, including the king, queen and crown prince.
"Members of civil society, human rights activists and Maoists are demanding a new commission to find out what really happened at the palace on June 1, 2001," says Birendra Jhapali, a civil activist with close links to the rebels.
With King Gyanendra being forced to relinquish absolute power and the government headed by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala saying the Maoists would be asked to participate in an interim government, Jhapali says the rebels are going to ask for a new investigation.
Nepal, tucked out of sight between giant neighbours China and India, found itself catapulted into world attention five years ago when then king Birendra, his wife Aishwarya, son Dipendra and two younger children, princess Shruti and prince Nirajan were shot fatally along with five other relatives while attending a dinner in the palace. At first, the government said a gun had gone off accidentally, causing the casualties.
However, later the authorities changed their story and blamed Dipendra, said to be high on hashish and alcohol, as having run berserk and shot the others before turning the gun on himself.
With all the male members in Birendra's immediate family being killed, his younger brother Gyanendra was sworn in the new king.
May 06, 2006
