Thursday, July 13, 2006

Rayamaji Panel May Record King's Statement

Chairman of the High Level Investigation Commission Krishna Jung Rayamajhi on Wednesday indicated that the commission may not summon King Gyanendra, but will investigate his role in the suppression of the people.

"The King is under our scanner but we are yet to decide whether to summon him or to record his statement meeting him at the royal palace," Rayamajhi said.

Rayamajhi said the commission might take his statement but currently he cannot reveal how.

"Definitely, we will investigate his role in suppressing the people as he was the chairman of the council of ministers during his direct rule, but I cannot reveal the whole process of the investigation."

Rayamajhi added that the King is still the head of the state and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala was sworn in by the King and that makes it difficult for a commission to summon the King. "It is not suitable to summon the King like other ministers and officials since he is the head of state," Rayamajhi clarified.

Citing the declaration of the House of Representatives passed on May 18 and the Supreme Court verdict on RCCC case that allowed a court of law to test the King's action, Rayamajhi said that the commission would respect the limitation. "The King cannot be interrogated like other people," he said.

"People have been demanding action against the King, but I have some limitation given by the Constitution, Law, and the mandate given to the Commission," he added.

Another member of the Commission, Harihar Birahi, also said the commission would investigate the role of the King during his direct rule. Birahi told newsmen that the Commission would summon the Chief of the Army Staff Pyar Jung Thapa soon to record his statement.

Meanwhile, suspended chief of the Armed Police Force Sahabir Thapa told the commission the police had no hand in suppressing the people. Since they had worked under the command of the army, the army should take responsibility, he said. The commission has summoned former Home Minister Kamal Thapa and former Chief Secretary of the government Lokman Singh Karki on Friday to record their statements.

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