Nepal: The Royal Tragedy 2001 Nepal prime minister calls for calm Details Dipendra named king, Girendra regent

Feelings are running high throughout Nepal following the murders Nepali Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has appealed for calm in the wake of the mass killing at the royal palace which left the king and queen dead, along with at least seven other members of their family. He has also asked the people of the country to pray during a five- day period of official mourning. The plea came soon after Saturday's funerals, at which leading politicians were booed by sections of crowds who swarmed onto the streets of the capital, Kathmandu.

Tens of thousands lined the route of the funeral procession, as it wound its way for 12km (seven miles) through the city to the banks of the Bagmati river for cremation. It is widely believed in Nepal that the killer of The Former Royal Family is Crown Prince Dipendra, who is in a coma and a critical condition from a self-inflicted bullet wound to the head.

There are reports that he started firing at his relatives during an argument about his choice of bride.

Deep uncertainty
Despite his condition, Crown Prince Dipendra has been named king, as the Nepalese constitution demands, plunging the country into a period of deep uncertainty. It is thought that the Privy Council that monitors the succession had no choice but to appoint him as monarch. In the meantime the authorities have appointed his uncle, Prince Gyanendra, as regent. Prince Gyanendra, is a soft-spoken conservationist who has long shunned the royal spotlight.

On life support
His first duty was the grim task of leading the funeral procession for his brother, King Birendra, and other royal family members. If Prince Dipendra dies Prince Gyanendra will be made king. Sources said Prince Dipendra had been declared clinically dead, but was being kept alive on a respirator. A decision on continuing life support could fall to Prince Gyanendra.

Mystery still surrounds the precise circumstances of the murders.
In his statement Mr Koirala expressed his deep shock at the killings but failed to clarify the precise circumstances. "The truth about the whole thing will be known to all soon," he said, adding that Nepal was strong and would pass through its current woes.

Tight security
The loss of so many members of The Former Royal Family in such horrible circumstances, and the thought that the new king was involved in killing has added to the sense of crisis. Public life will cease completely during the five-day mourning period. Security will have to be tight, due to fears that people might be more inclined to take part in unrest or violence while normal life is suspended. It is expected that there will be a heavy police and possibly army presence in the streets of Nepal's cities in the coming days.

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Details of King's cremation Regent Prince Gyanendra and brother-in-law Kumar Mohan Bikram Shahi of assassinated King Birendra attended the state funeral for King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya Saturday at the burning ghats of Pashupatinath temple. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, whose effigy was burnt during the funeral procession, was also present at the cremation site.

The government announced a five-day public holiday and national mourning for 13 days. King Dipendra is in critical condition at a hospital in the capital.

Feelings are running high throughout Nepal following the murders Nepali Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has appealed for calm in the wake of the mass killing at the royal palace which left the king and queen dead, along with at least seven other members of their family. He has also asked the people of the country to pray during a five- day period of official mourning. The plea came soon after Saturday's funerals, at which leading politicians were booed by sections of crowds who swarmed onto the streets of the capital, Kathmandu.

Tens of thousands lined the route of the funeral procession, as it wound its way for 12km (seven miles) through the city to the banks of the Bagmati river for cremation. It is widely believed in
Nepal that the killer of The Former Royal Family is Crown Prince Dipendra, who is in a coma and a critical condition from a self-inflicted bullet wound to the head.

There are reports that he started firing at his relatives during an argument about his choice of bride.

Deep uncertainty

Despite his condition, Crown Prince Dipendra has been named king, as the Nepalese constitution demands, plunging the country into a period of deep uncertainty. It is thought that the Privy Council that monitors the succession had no choice but to appoint him as monarch. In the meantime the authorities have appointed his uncle, Prince Gyanendra, as regent. Prince Gyanendra, is a soft-spoken conservationist who has long shunned the royal spotlight.

On life support
His first duty was the grim task of leading the funeral procession for his brother, King Birendra, and other royal family members. If Prince Dipendra dies Prince Gyanendra will be made king. Sources said Prince Dipendra had been declared clinically dead, but was being kept alive on a respirator. A decision on continuing life support could fall to Prince Gyanendra.

Mystery still surrounds the precise circumstances of the murders.
In his statement Mr Koirala expressed his deep shock at the killings but failed to clarify the precise circumstances. "The truth about the whole thing will be known to all soon," he said, adding that Nepal was strong and would pass through its current woes.

Tight security
The loss of so many members of The Former Royal Family in such horrible circumstances, and the thought that the new king was involved in killing has added to the sense of crisis. Public life will cease completely during the five-day mourning period. Security will have to be tight, due to fears that people might be more inclined to take part in unrest or violence while normal life is suspended. It is expected that there will be a heavy police and possibly army presence in the streets of Nepal's cities in the coming days.

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Dipendra is King, Raj Parishad appoints Prince Gyanendra Regent

A short announcement by the chairman of the Royal Privy Council, Keshar Jung Rayamajhi over Radio Nepal and Nepal Television was the first time that the shocked citizens of Nepal heard that their King and Queen were dead - almost 17 hours after a massacre in the royal palace. At least seven other members of The Former Royal Family were also killed or wounded.

Royal funeral

Pall bearers carried the bodies of King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya, Princess Sruti and Prince Nirajanfrom the Birendra Military Hospital at Chhaunito Pashupatinath for cremation accompanied by a procession estimated at more than 20,000. Teary eyed people, many weeping openly, stood alongside the streets of the capital as the procession passed showering flowers vermilion, water, and khatas. Queen Aishwarya was carried in a palanquin, while those of the others were carried in simple bamboo poles. By the time the procession reached Arya Ghat, night had fallen and it would bepast midnight before all the four pyres were finished.

The band played the national anthem by the banks of the Bagmati anda 22 gun salute reverberated across Kathmandu Valley as the pyres were lit. Thousands watched from the teraces on the other side of the Bagmati as the fires consumed the pyres. Earlier, crowds overcome with emotion shouted pro-King slogans, and as the funeral passed Swayambhunath also slogans against Prime Minister Girija Koirala. Police had to fire in the air to quell the crowd. Radio Nepal and Nepal Television carried the funeral procession and the cremation live, and most dwellers inurban Nepal watched it late into the night. The government has announced five days of national mourning and has asked civil servants to shave their heads as a sign o frespect. Messages of condolence are pouring in from foreign countries. Neighboring India announced a three-day mourning. King Birendra was cremated at 9.46 PM Nepal time Saturday with full state honors at Pashupatinath temple. Sahibju Dipak Bikram Shah lit the funeral pyre.

Gyanendra de facto King
Prince Regent Gyanendra is the de facto King as King Dipendra is in critical condition at a hospital inthe capital with gunshot wounds as he assassinated his parents, brother and sister Friday night at a weekend party. Gyanendra, an environmentalist and Chairman of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation, is the second brother of King Birendra. Youngest brother of the King, Dhirendra, who lost his royal title after marrying a foreigner, was also injured in the shoot-out, family sources said.

Gyanendra was appointed King by the then Rana prime ministers as his grandfather and father, Tribhuvan and Mahendra, fled to India to overthrow the Rana oligarchy in 1950. Birendra married Aishwarya in February 1970 and had three children.

Birendra ascended the throne on January 31,1972 after the death of King Mahendra. Nepal heads towards another periodof instability after King Birendra's death. " King Birendra was a known personality. He helped institunalize democracy in the last ten years.

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Since the king passed away, the Council declared Crown Prince Dipendra as the King of Nepal. But, since the Crown Prince is in the hospital and is mentally and physically unsuitable to carry out his duties , the State Council appoints Prince Gyanendra as assistant to the crown. Sources in Nepal said allegations against Crown Prince Dipendra would not have any bearing against the law of succession. Unless it is proved that he had shot dead his parents and other royal family members, he will remain the king. May be at a later stage if he is found to be guilty, the privvy council may decide to remove him.

There is a general state of shock and disbelief across Nepal. Eye witness accounts from Nepal said people have gathered in street corners in small groups. But, no further untoward incident has been reported. At this stage, there is no political manouvre to replace the Nepalese royal family. Neither the Nepali Congress or the main opposition party United Marxist Leninist have made any moves to indicate this. The moodis too sombre for such things.

Pashupathinath