Rayamajhi commission sends questionnaire to King

The high-level probe commission headed by former Supreme Court justice Krishna Jung Rayamajhi sent its questionnaire to King Gyanendra on Thursday, inquiring about his role in the clampdown on the Jana Aandolan-II in April this year.

Commission spokesperson Dilli Raman Acharya told reporters that the questionnaire “has reached the royal palace today”. He, however, did not reveal the questions posed to the King.

“The questionnaire has been sent to the King as he chaired the then government,” he said.

The palace administration has not commented on the questioning of the King being done by the probe commission.

According to the source, the questionnaire seeks king’s clarification regarding his role in the suppression and killings as the head of the then Council of Ministers.

Yesterday, a member of the commission, Ram Prasad Shrestha, said that they had agreed to send the questionnaire to the king. He said since the members the cabinet and the then chiefs of the security agencies claimed that the erstwhile cabinet should take responsibility for suppression of the movement, and as the King was the chairman of the cabinet, the commission decided to record king’s statement.

The probe panel has already interrogated 274 individuals including the ministers of the then royal government, former and incumbent security chiefs while 610 witnesses have recorded their statement, Archaya informed.

It has also gathered information from 61 injured persons about human rights violations committed by the erstwhile royal government during the pro-democracy movement.

At least 21 persons lost their lives and over 4000 persons were injured around the country in clampdown on the movement.

The commission’s deadline to complete its investigation and submit a report to the government ends on October 27. Archaya said the commission was prepared to complete its works and submit the findings with the deadline.