Is this good or not??

[shappa]

Is this a good thing or what? I don't know enough of the overall pic...
What affect will it have on the shops?

KATHMANDU, Nepal (CNN) -- The king of Nepal has dissolved parliament leaving Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to rule by decree until new elections are held in November.

State-run television said King Gyanendra disbanded the 205-member house of representatives at the recommendation of Deuba.

"The prime minister asked the king to dissolve the parliament and call for mid-term polls on November 13," state radio and television said.

Deuba recommended that the parliament be dissolved after the ruling party ordered him not to seek a six-month extension of a state of emergency due to lapse on Saturday.

The country has been under that state of emergency because of attacks by Maoist rebels.


A statement issued by the Royal Palace just before midnight local time (18.30 Wednesday GMT) said the king acted on the recommendation of Prime Minister Deuba.

edit: The above is from CNN and is not the full article.

Knife content...I don't own a kukri, yet. But it sure is fun seeing you guys collect and enjoy yours in the meantime.

 

[Walosi]

Not especially good, but probably necessary under the circumstances. There is more than meets the eye. The combined communist parties had decided to vote against another"extension of the emergency". The ex-prime minister, and now president of the ruling party, had been talking truce to the Maoists on the side (and denying it). When Deuba called for another session and vote without prior approval of his party, this was used as a excuse to turn their vote around. It's all a little bit comic opera, but the king could not have held any sort of government together under the circumstances. The in-fighting is almost as fast and furious as the fighting in the districts. My read is that however corrupt or venal, one side is going for complete eradication of the Maoists, and has gained international support. Other factions, who are now out of power but want to get back in, have joined to make a try, using the Maoist "truce" as a rallying point. The army is wholly with Dueba and the king, and wants to be turned loose completely. There could be more than just Maoists eradicated before this thing is settled. The final outcome could rid the country of some of the graft and corruption, or just exchange "their" graft and corruption for "our" G&C. It was made very clear to Deuba, during his trip to get aid, that no more siphoning of aid funds would be tolerated - an "Our way, or the highway" edict. Maybe, just maybe, this is a first step.

 

[Berkley]

BBC News
Thursday, 23 May, 2002, 13:06 GMT
Nepal political crisis deepens

Nepal's ruling Congress party has suspended Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, a day after King Gyanendra dissolved parliament and called fresh general elections.
Mr Deuba had recommended the dissolution in defiance of the party, three of whose ministers resigned from his cabinet earlier on Thursday in protest at the move.
The king's call came just hours before MPs were to debate extending the state of emergency imposed to fight Maoist rebels - a motion which looked set to be defeated and which Congress opposed.
This is the first time in 12 years of parliamentary democracy that a Nepalese PM has been suspended from his own party, and the move has plunged the kingdom into deep constitutional uncertainty.
Correspondents say emergency rule, which is due to expire on Saturday, now could be extended by the king.
Mr Deuba will make a televised address to the nation on Friday to explain his decision.
In a statement, the Congress party said Mr Deuba could face expulsion if he did not give a satisfactory explanation for his actions within three days.
Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala, himself four times former prime minister, said Mr Deuba's move was a conspiracy aimed at derailing the country's young democracy.

 

[Ferrous Wheel]

Shappa and Berkley. Ominous tidings. We'll see what we can see.

Keith

 

[Bill Martino]

It's a power (and money) struggle from all quarters. Where it'll end I have no idea. It may not be business as usual but it's going to be business of some kind. No business, no money, no money, no food, no food and the natives get very restless, indeed.