Gyanendra likely to quit palace Friday

Kantipur Report

KATHMANDU, June 5 - Deposed king Gyanendra, who was given Nagarjun Palace as his new residence Wednesday, is likely to vacate Narayanhiti Palace Friday, according to sources.

"He [Gyanendra] is likely to go to Nagarjun Palace Friday morning," said a police source. "It is highly likely he will be provided adequate security during his departure to avoid any untoward incident."

The ousted monarch has already received an eviction letter from the government as per the decision of the Constituent Assembly. He has to leave the palace by June 11.

In the meantime, the government has decided to meet Gyanendra's request for Nagarjun Palace as his residence after he leaves Narayanhiti.

A cabinet meeting Wednesday decided to allow Gyanendra the use of Nagarjun as his residence for the time being. Nationalized last August, Nagarjun palace is located some eight kilometers north-west of downtown Kathmandu and was used by the royals as a retreat. The cabinet, however, did not discuss a request by Gyanendra for Mahendra Manjil for use by his mother Ratna. She is currently living at the Manjil, which is inside Narayanhiti Palace premises.

"The cabinet considered the request for Nagarjun as Gyanendra is a former head of state. But it did not entertain the request for Mahendra Manjil," said a cabinet source.

Meanwhile, the Task Force on Palace Security completed its reports Wednesday. However, it could not submit it to Home Minister Krishna

Prasad Sitaula due to the latter's busy schedule.

Talking to the Post, Joint Secretary Mod Raj Dotel, coordinator of a committee for making recommendations for the security of nationalized palaces and properties, said a detailed report in this connection will be presented at the Constituent Assembly Thursday by Home Minister Sitaula. "We have made certain recommendations for the security arrangement for the former king.

But the number of security personnel will be determined at the political level," he said.

He also said that the security arrangement proposed for the former king will be similar to that for former presidents in future.
Though there is a demand to give full responsibility for the former king's security to Armed Police Force (APF) personnel, a highly-placed government source said there is a high chance Nepal Army (NA) personnel will also be deployed for the purpose. "This is because the police are not trained for specialized security. And we cannot neglect the role that Nepal Army personnel have been playing in VVIP security," added the source.

The source also said that the number of security personnel to be deployed for the safety of the former king would be around 60.

Posted on: 2008-06-04