KATMANDU, Nepal — A government commission investigating Nepal’s bloody crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators blamed the violence on King Gyanendra and recommended punishing him, officials said yesterday.
The findings by the panel investigating the crackdown are a further blow for the king, who has seen his status plummet since the uprising forced him to give up absolute power, and an ominous portent for the centuries-old institution of the monarchy in this Himalayan nation.
After receiving the commission’s report, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala vowed to punish those held culpable for the crackdown, in which hundreds were injured and hundreds detained, with some claiming torture.
Commission member Harihar Birahi said that as chairman of the Cabinet at the time of the crackdown, the king was responsible for the harsh treatment of the protesters, who eventually forced Gyanendra to cede power and reinstate parliament after 14 months of direct rule by the monarch.
Holding Gyanendra guilty thrusts the future of the Nepalese monarchy back under the spotlight. The landmark case marked the first time a monarch faced investigation in this country where kings — thought by tradition to be reincarnations of the Hindu god Lord Vishnu — have held near-absolute power.
The commission did not recommend a punishment, and Nepal has no laws addressing crimes committed by a king.
A yet-to-be elected constituent assembly is expected to decide the monarchy’s fate. Centrist parties favor a constitutional monarchy with a ceremonial role for the king, while the Maoist rebels — who are in peace talks with the government — want to abolish the monarchy.
Gyanendra has already been stripped of his powers, command over the army and his immunity from prosecution.
Several people who worked under the king during the period of direct rule that ended in April were interrogated by the commission.
The commission also sent written questions to Gyanendra, but the king did not respond.
Besides Gyanendra, the commission also found 201 officials in the king’s administration responsible for the bloody crackdown. They included the chiefs of police and the armed forces.
Gyanendra’s reign has been filled with turmoil that began on his ascent to power in 2001, after the death of his brother, King Birendra, in a bizarre palace massacre.
After becoming king, he remained unpopular with the people. Taking direct control of the government in 2005 eroded most of his remaining support.
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