power Tuesday, February 1, in a move that was expected to confirm fears within the embattled Christianminority that he had ended his Himalayan outpost’s brief flirtation with some religious and political rights, BosNewsLife established.
Speaking on national radio and television, the King said he had "dissolved the government in the larger interests of the people," of Nepal, the worlds’ only Hindu kingdom. The king announced he had declared a state of emergency because the leaders "failed" to impose security amid the Maoist rebellion which is believed to have claimed over 11,000 lives since 1996.
Several sources said several government officials and other politicians were put under house arrest, while security was increased around the capital, Kathmandu. Attempts were made to close down Nepalese news websites and several telephone connections were down, reports said.
International flights were turned back from Kathmandu airport, although road links with India remained open, Indian media reported.
News of the crackdown, comes just over a month after the government reportedly agreed to allow Christians to launch a decree course for higher Theological education as part of efforts to somewhat improve religious rights.
The three and a half year study for a Bachelor of Divinity degree was to be coordinated by the Association for Theological Education (ATH), which was established in 1993 by nearly 30 church groups, missions and societies to bring a standard to Bible education, the Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) said.
The organization is lead by Ramesh Khatry, a doctorate degree holder in divinity from Oxford, who was imprisoned in 1984 along with 13 Christians for running a one-month Bible school in western Nepal.
POOR HISTORY
While it was not clear how the latest developments would effect the Christians, analysts say the monarchy has a poor history of allowing Christian activities. Historians say that in 1760, King Prithvi Narayan Shah banished priests and for nearly 150 years the state frowned upon Christianity-related activities. Human rights groups have also expressed concern about Hundu extremism.
Last year members of a rapidly growing house church in northern Nepal were reportedly attacked by Buddhist and Hindu villagers on July 26 after they allegedly refused to obey orders from local authorities to give up their Christian faith.
Earlier in mid June, a Nepali evangelist witnessed an attack on a newly built church in Jhapa district, Beldangi, said the well informed Compass Direct news agency, which investigates the plight of persecuted Christians. “There were about 100 believers there, but when the Hindus saw that the church had been built, they came with almost 1,000 people to break down the church. The police also came and took everything away and arrested the three church leaders,” he was quoted as saying.
CHURCH GROWTH
Despite persecution, researchers say the church in Nepal has seen huge growth in recent years, with its numbers doubling to up to half a million Christians in 3,000 or more congregations. While the first group was reportedly formed in 1959 with 29 Christians, they are believed to make up currently two percent of Nepal’s estimated 26
million strong population.
On Tuesday, February 1, British, Indian and United Nations officials were among those urging the king to restore democratic institutions to all people and religions of Nepal.
In London Foreign Office Minister Douglas Alexander reportedly summoned the Nepalese ambassador Prabal Rana to convey the British government’s "grave concerns" about the developments.
"This action will increase the risk of instability in Nepal, undermining the institutions of democracy and constitutional monarchy in the country," he reportedly told journalists after the meeting.
INDIA CONCERNED
Neighboring India also expressed concern saying that the developments "constitute a serious setback" to the cause of democracy in Nepal. The United Nations rights chief, who last week held talks with the king, urged him to restore the democratic institutions promptly and keep his promises of respecting democratic values, the Reuters news agency said.
"I now look to His Majesty to live up to his stated commitment to these fundamental principles, and ensure that the democratic institutions of the state are reinstalled without delay," U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour was quoted as saying.
In Nepal, dismissed prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who was also sacked by the king in 2002, accused the king of "a flagrant violation of the constitution of Nepal," news reports said. King Gyanendra took the throne in June 2001 after his brother King Birendra and most of the royal family were shot dead by the former crown prince, who was apparently high on drink and drugs.
After what became known as the palace massacre, the crown prince also killed himself. Analysts say the current king lacks the popularity to be easily accepted by the people.
(With BosNewsLife News Center, Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent, news reports from insight Nepal and neighboring India)
