Nepal's new parliament curbs king's powers

Nepal's new parliament approved a landmark 10-point plan on May 18 to curb the monarch's powers and take away the title of supreme commander-in-chief of the military from King Gyanendra. The move came less than a month after mass protests across the Himalayan nation led to the king reinstating parliament and handing power back to a multiparty government. The landmark resolution was approved by deputies in the 205-member house by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala. "The people have the supreme authority now and the whole nation will rise against anyone creating obstacles to our declaration," said Koirala during a speech in parliament in the capital, Kathmandu. The decision brings the Royal Nepalese Army under the authority of parliament, and the military will be known simply as the Nepalese Army from now on. Finance minister Ram Sharan Mahat said the government had canceled the purchase of new military aircraft and helicopters ordered by the king. In addition, plans by the monarchy to expand the army have been shelved. The declaration places the monarchy under the control of parliament, which will legislate on royal expenditure and privileges. From being close to a revered god in Nepalese society, from now on the king will be treated as a normal citizen, subject to taxes and the rule of law. "This is an historic move by the people of Nepal and it will help us enter into a new chapter in our history," said Ram Chandra Poudel, a senior leader of the Nepali Congress, the country's largest party. King Gyanendra plunged Nepal into political turmoil when he sacked the government and assumed power last year, saying it had failed to quell a decade-long anti-monarchy Maoist revolt that has killed more than 13,000 people. The new government has reciprocated a rebel truce, and the Maoists have agreed to talks ahead of elections to a new assembly to draft a new constitution.