Nepal's parliament opened for the first time in four years yesterday after weeks of street protests forced King Gyanendra to hand executive power back to the politicians.
"Welcome to all the members. We express our gratitude to those who died in the democracy struggle," said deputy speaker Chitra Lekha Yadav as she called a minute's silence.
"What we've achieved is really admirable -- to go on united is what we need," she said.
PHOTO: AP
"If we ever bring about such a political crisis again, not one of us would be left unpunished," she said.
Parliament was dissolved in May 2002 after political wrangling over extending emergency powers to tackle a Maoist insurgency that has claimed more than 12,500 lives since 1996.
The lower House of Representatives met under the close scrutiny of Maoists and protesters outside demanding reduction of the king's powers as the price for their support.
Before the reconvening of parliament, politicians said they would push for elections to a constituent assembly, a body that could redraw Nepal's 1990 Constitution and cut the powers of the king.
The speaker congratulated young protesters who had called for a republic and a constituent assembly during 19 days of demonstrations and said their actions had provided a "strong base" for political progress.
The new prime minister, Girija Prasad Koirala, 84, did not attend because of a bout of bronchitis from which he was recovering, his spokesman said. His morning oath-taking ceremony was also postponed due to his illness, his spokesman said.
Gyanendra formally appointed Koirala as prime minister late on Thursday after handing control of the country over to political parties.
"Doctors say he has greatly recovered," said Nepali Congress party spokesman Krishna Prasad Sitaula, adding a decision would be made later on when he could be sworn-in.
"It is not possible for him to go to the parliament today," he said.
Maoist rebel forces, who have fought a decade-long insurgency, announced a three-month ceasefire on Thursday to give the political parties an opportunity to bring calm to the troubled Himalayan kingdom.
The parliament was dissolved four years ago and Gyanendra seized absolute power for himself in February last year, blaming the failure of the government to quell the Maoist revolt.
But on Monday, Gyanendra agreed in a televised address to reinstate parliament, buckling after 19 days of protests on the streets of the capital and around the nation.
He had already asked the opposition to choose a new prime minister while crowds flooded the streets. A "people's victory" was declared in the struggle against the king and the capital Kathmandu began to return to normal.
The Maoist rebels at first rejected the king's offer to reconvene parliament after weeks of street protests, saying it did not go far enough after nearly 15 months of his absolute rule.
But in a statement early on Thursday, leader Prachanda said that the rebels would halt offensive operations after a decade of fighting that has left more than 12,500 dead.
"Our party once again declares a unilateral ceasefire, effective immediately, for three months," said Prachanda.
He said the move was designed to "motivate" political leaders to call elections for a constituent assembly, tasked with re-drafting the Constitution.
The developments were greeted euphorically in Kathmandu on Thursday as a series of political leaders gave speeches to a rapturous reception from the masses waving party flags and signs warning politicians they were being closely observed by the public.
"Do not repeat the past. Take the oath from the sovereign Nepalese, not the killer Gyanendra," was the message on one banner.
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