Nepal: Abdication talks and the provocative CD · Global Voices
Ujjwal Acharya

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s suggestion that King Gyanendra and Crown Prince Paras should abdicate created the loudest buzz in Nepal. Amid talks of going into republic after the king assumed the executive powers in Feb 1, 2005 and then lost it due to April 2006 Uprising – a people’s movement, Koirala, despite being soft to monarchy, talked like he favored republic. Bloggers welcomed it as United We Blog!
Prime Minister Koirala has changed the tone on monarchy which is a welcome move… This is very crucial and we applaud Koirala whatever he spoke today in his hometown Biratnagar. The time for celebrations hasn’t come yet but all roads are leading us to that direction. Koirala said that the nation was heading down the path of republic because of King Gyanendra.
Maila Baje of Nepali Net Book applauded the ‘inevitable u-turn’ adding that ‘Koirala is not a friend to Monarchy.’ KP Dhungana of Hamro Blog believes after the person who is leading the Nepal through a new phase speaking against monarchy, the republic is now ensured.
The bloggers believe Koirala has suggested a safe way out for the king. The Radiant Star writes:
If I am put into King Gyanendra’s position, of course, and if I am finished with my pack of options, I will not hesitate choosing abdication than waiting for the decision on republic. That way, he will not only earn some praise and a respectful retirement but it will also help to prove him what he did by taking up the executive power in Feb 1, 2005 is because of need of the time.
Apart from Koirala, the most talked issue was a CD. The Maoists accused the Palace of distributing CDs that contained provocative materials against them, and the bloggers jumped to find out what’s in the CD, and for most, it contained nothing.
Nepal Diary wrote:
हिजो मात्र कृष्ण बहादुर महाराले ठुल ठुलो स्वर मा पत्रकार सङ भनेछन् — हामीले राजा र पारष ले सडयन्त्र को ताना बाना बुनेको प्रमाण रहेको सी डी फेला पारेको छौ । तर के के न भेटियो भनेर ठुलो हल्ला खल्ला का साथ प्रचार प्रसार गरेपनि पारशको सडयन्त्र छ भनिएको सी डि मा खासै केहि भेटिएन। माओबादी सङ सम्बन्धित समचार का केहि कट्टिङ् हरु स्कयानिङ् गरेर राखेको मात्र पाइयो।
Umesh Shrestha of My Sansar has uploaded the video of the content of the CD.