A Nepali man celebrates the end of
monarchy outside the convention hall where Nepal's newly elected
Constituent Assembly (CA) is meeting, in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal, on
May 28, 2008. The first meeting of CA was held on Wednesday to declare
Nepal a federal democratic republic. (Xinhua/Bimal Gautam) Photo Gallery>>>
KATHMANDU, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The first meeting of
Constituent Assembly that sat late at Wednesday night, at the International
Conference Center (ICC) of capital Kathmandu has declared Nepal a federal
democratic republic.
The much awaited first CA meeting, although was scheduled
for Wednesday morning, was delayed by more than 10 hours as top political
party leaders at Baluwatar, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's official
residence in Nepali capital Kathmandu, failed to reach consensus over the
issues of power sharing, nomination of 26 CA members and power segregation of
the president and the prime minister.
While the intense talks was going on, hundreds of CA
members gathered for the first meeting had to desperately wait in the ICC
premises. Although there were supposed to be 601 CA members for the meeting, 26
of them are yet to be finalized from the recommendation procedure and
interestingly, most of them were seen busy on their mobile phones, trying to
reach their fellow party leaders to learn about the latest development in
Baluwatar.
Thousands of Nepali people gathered in front of ICC,
to pressurize the parties to end the talks conclusively at the earliest and sit
for the first CA meeting. Chanting slogans of victory and demanding an immediate
declaration of Nepal a republication, many party cadres with their respective
flags desperately waited in front of ICC for hours.
Nepali men celebrate the end of monarchy
outside the convention hall where Nepal's newly elected Constituent
Assembly (CA) is meeting, in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal, on May 28, 2008.
The first meeting of the CA was held on Wednesday to declare Nepal a
federal democratic republic. (Xinhua/Bimal Gautam) Photo Gallery>>>
"It's a big day for every Nepalese and a victorious
moment. We feel that our contributions have finally paid off. We are very
excited yet annoyed," says Rabindra Bhandari, a member of Young Communist League
(YCL) on Wednesday afternoon.
"It's been more than six hours waiting in front of
ICC and yet no sign of meeting has come ahead. The parties should immediately
reach an agreement and sit for the CA meeting. We are not going home unless we
hear that Nepal has been declared a federal republic," he said.
Similarly, Bhagat Magar, 29, claimed that it was the
first stepmaking of a New Nepal and that he expects a true patriotic approach
from all the leaders towards the nation.
"When we vote the leaders, we expect something in
return from them and mostly they cannot meet our expectations. Previously we
have gathered many bitter experiences where the public have been largely
deceived. But this time we want the leaders to be honest and work for the nation
building rather than working for themselves and party interests," says Magar.
Like Mager, the whole nation has welcomed the change,
believing that a permanent peace would prevail in the country and that rapid
development process would propel ahead. Numerous victory rallies hit the streets
through out the day and night in celebration of the historic achievement.
Nepali people celebrate the end of
monarchy outside the convention hall where Nepal's newly elected
Constituent Assembly (CA) is meeting, in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal, on
May 28, 2008. The first meeting of the CA was held on Wednesday to declare
Nepal a federal democratic republic. (Xinhua/Bimal Gautam) Photo Gallery>>>
The first CA meeting has given the King 15 days of
ultimatum to leave the palace. The pro-king parties had also staged rally in New
Road in Kathmandu downtown, demanding not to abolish the monarchy system from
Nepal.
Security was tightened in the ICC area for possible
violence. Two persons were injured during a scuffle between police personnel and
demonstrators at Baneshor in Nepali capital Kathmandu Wednesday evening. Also
two bombs blasted at the ICC gate at around 20:15 local time (1430 GMT) when
Prime Minister Koirala and Chairman Prachanda of the Communist Party of Nepal
(Maoist) was talking inside the venue ahead of the first meeting.
KATHMANDU, May 28 (Xinhua) -- After a nearly
10-and-a-half-hourdelay, the much-anticipated first Constituent Assembly (CA)
kicked off at the Birendra International Convention Center in Nepali capital
Kathmandu Wednesday night.
The eldest member of CA, and senior leader of Nepali
Congress Kul Bahadur Gurung chaired the meeting. Full story
WASHINGTON, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The United States withheld
comments on Nepal's political transition on Wednesday by ambiguously calling for
political developments in the country. Full story
