Rayamajhi panel found King Gyanendra guilty

The High-level Investigation Commission headed by former Supreme Court Justice Krishna Jung Rayamajhi has found King Gyanendra guilty of suppression and killing of people during Jana Andolan II. The commission has decided to urge the government and parliament to take necessary steps against the King as no law permits action against him.

The commission, which spent 184 days to complete its investigation, is to submit its report on Friday to Prime Minister GP Koirala.

“We have decided to recommend the parliament to take necessary steps against the King as we found him guilty,” a highly placed commission source told . He also added that they have said that though the King did not respond to the commission’s questionnaire, it does not mean he did no wrong. This is the first time in Nepal’s history that a commission has found a king guilty.

“Since he was the chairman of the council of ministers, we found him responsible for all the decisions taken by the cabinet,” the source added.

The commission specifically recommended the government to take strong action against the members of the King’s cabinet and the chiefs of the security agencies who had ordered use of excessive force to suppress Jana Andolan II.According to a member of the commission, Ram Prasad Shrestha, the report will be submitted to PM Girija Prasad Koirala on Friday.

It had quizzed 294 persons for violating human rights and misuse of national treasury.

It has named some security personnel for ordering the shooting of demonstrators and decided to recommend prosecution of them on charge of murder. “Around 150 persons were found guilty of killing and suppressing the people,” the source added.

The commission also held the then vice-chairmen of the council of ministers Dr Tulsi Giri and Kirtinidhi Bista, Home Minister Kamal Thapa and other ministers guilty of violating human rights. The commission will ask the government and the parliament to promulgate a law so that they can be prosecuted on charge of abusing human rights, as currently there is no specific law to prosecute anyone on charge of human rights abuse.

The commission named certain officials and recommended dismissal, demotion and departmental action against them.

Many ministers and regional administrators have been found guilty of misusing state treasury.
The commission has decided to recommend that they be prosecuted under Anti-corruption Act, 2002, a commission member said. It is also going to suggest prosecution under Muluki Ain 1963 of the security officials who had issued shoot orders on demonstrators.