Nepal's king targets corruption

Nepal's new government, led by King Gyanendra, has vowed to crack down on corruption and speed up land reform.
King Gyanendra sacked the government on Tuesday, saying it had failed to tackle the Maoist rebel uprising.

It has emerged at least five ex-prime ministers and many other politicians are under house arrest, says the BBC's Charles Haviland in Kathmandu.

The daily newspaper, quoting a "highly placed security source", said some of the arrested leaders might be released.

But they would first have to promise not to pose a "threat" to the security situation.

Detention orders have been handed over for dozens of senior politicians, says the government.

King Gyanendra declared a state of emergency and imposed media censorship when he sacked the government on Tuesday.

Our correspondent says that, with phone lines cut for a lot of the time and media censorship, there has been almost no flow of information.

He said details of the new cabinet's meeting only came through two days later, on Friday.

Planned protests

The cabinet agreed to adopt a 21-point programme focusing on "good governance and economic growth", state-run radio announced.

A royal commission would be set up to investigate corruption, and to seize and nationalise property amassed through abuse of authority and smuggling.

NEPAL IN CRISIS
June 2001 - Gyanendra is crowned king following royal massacre
July 2001 - Sher Bahadur Deuba becomes prime minister following Maoist violence
Oct 2002 - King Gyanendra sacks Deuba and assumes executive power
June 2004 - Deuba reappointed prime minister in place of Surya Bahadur Thapa
Feb 2005 - Deuba sacked, king assumes direct power

Tougher action on bribery and favouritism was also promised.

And, in a possible appeal to the poor, the cabinet also said it would speed up land distribution and bring in positive discrimination for the lowest castes, women and indigenous people.

Previous governments have made similar promises about corruption but it remains widespread, says our correspondent.

The new Foreign Minister, Ramesh Nath Pandey, said on Friday elections would not be held until the Maoist rebellion was ended - and predicted it could take three years before multi-party democracy could be reintroduced.

"We have learnt the lessons after paying a heavy price, that without restoring peace and security, we cannot hold elections," he said.

as long as country remains poor, there will always be corruption.

If royal family is not corrupt, how on the earth they either OWN or have have a SHARE in every major companie/industries in NEPAL?

Personally, the only thing that I regret is that netas, and we including public took Late King Birendra's kindness as his weakness. These bloody netas were too busy hawking "kurchi" than working together to build a nation.

Sojoketa,

IT's JUST NETAS FAULT or we are responsible at some point too just trusting those netas blindly and do whatever they are saying.....

ANY THOUGHTS ???

Both..... Life in it simplest form, is built around trust. Look no further than our own family. Public are at their fault for trusting netas and netas are to be blamed for misutilizing their trust. However, if the k ing , who has setout to wipe corruption, then it should start with him. If he wants to play a fair game, then he and his members to start paying taxes...well Q of UK pays taxes.... isn't that is all what we have been fighting for....eQuility and fair treatment.

what do ya think KK??
.... by the way thanks for posting that news.....justread that 4 more netas havebeen caught..... hope them get fair trial and if convicted, hope they get long term sentences rather than just a6 months...which is usually the case.

all the neta's should be jailed for life...
all the corrupt should be exiled...
all the maoists must be shot...
and the f*king must be castrated so that he wont have other sons like paras.