Panel to send king questions next week

The High Level Probe Commission (HLPC) re-opened its office Thursday although the official Dashain holidays continue through Saturday, to draft questions to be sent to the king, sources said.

HLPC is rushing to draft written questions for King Gyanendra as early as possible as the deadline for finalizing its report is only 22 days away.

"We are working on a war footing for collecting clarifications from the king regarding his role in state atrocities and misuse of national coffers. We are sending written questions soon after the Dashain holidays," said an HLPC official who seeks anonymity.

According to sources, the commission has completed a preliminary draft of the questions, and is finalizing them within this week. The questions will be focused mainly on the atrocities and misuse of state funds during the 14-month direct rule from February 1, 2005 to April 24, 2006. The questions will be sent to the king in his capacity as chairman of the then government, not as the head of state, sources said.

HLPC Chairman Krishna Jung Rayamajhi and members Ram Kumar Shrestha and Ram Prasad Shrestha held discussions on the questions Thursday. King Gyanendra will have to reply to the questions within seven days.

Chairman Rayamajhi and members of the commission have long been claiming publicly that they will not exempt the king for alleged atrocities and misuse of state coffers during his direct rule. However, they have taken a long enough time sending the questions to the king. HLPC has already interrogated over 200 people for their roles during the king's direct rule.

"We had asked the palace last month regarding possible modalities for collecting statements from the king. We have waited to date but to no avail. So, we have now decided to send a set of written questions to the monarch," the source said justifying the delay in collecting statements from the palace.The five-member panel formed to probe atrocities and state fund misuse during the direct rule has now three jobs left to do - collect statements from the king, prepare the final report of its investigations, and interrogate people if deemed necessary in the process of analyzing statements that HLPC has collected to date. Though commission officials have claimed they will finish the job by October 27, experts say the plethora of remaining tasks might force them to seek a third extension, by at least 15 days.