TMCnet News
Nepal parties reject king's message(UPI Top Stories Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)Leaders of Nepalese political parties have dubbed fruitless the king's new year's message to the nation and have rejected his offer to hold talks. Breaking his silence for the first time since a nationwide strike and protests began April 6, King Gyanendra, in a message broadcast at midnight Friday, called upon all political parties to join in a dialogue and work together to restore the multiparty democratic polity, Nepal News Online reported. Arjun Nurshing, leader of the Nepali Congress party, said the king's message failed to address the problems of the country. At a time when the country is in agitation and people are demanding early restoration of democracy, the traditional message of the king is fruitless to the people, he said. C.P. Mainali, general secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal, said the government should do more to create an environment that is conducive to talks and added that the king's message was not sensitive to the present situation of the country. The leaders of the opposition alliance said that they will continue their protests, demanding the complete restoration of democracy. In February 2005 the king dismissed his government and took control of the nation, curtailing many rights. |