AP News, July 7th, 2007
Nepal's king celebrated his 60th birthday Saturday with a lavish ceremony at his palace that set off protests in the streets of Katmandu.
Calling the king a criminal, some 10,000 demonstrators demanded the abolition of the monarchy at a demonstration organized by youth and student groups affiliated with major political parties.
King Gyanendra angered many Nepalese when he seized absolute power in February 2005 and fired an interim government. He was forced to give up his authoritarian rule in April 2006 following months of pro-democracy protests and remains deeply unpopular.
He also has been stripped of his powers and command over the army. His fate will be decided by a special assembly to be elected in November. Its purpose would be to decide whether to do away with the monarchy in Nepal.
Hundreds of police, some in riot gear, kept the protesters from approaching the palace where the king marked his birthday with a private ceremony.
The celebrations were spread over three days beginning with a dinner on Friday. Another party is planned for Sunday.
"The king is a criminal who is yet to be punished, and he is celebrating his birthday spending millions of the people's money," said Sagar, a local communist leader who goes by one name.
The rally took place about a half-mile from the palace, where a few hundred of the king's supporters lined up to wish him well and present him with flowers.
The protesters say the king's birthday celebrations are part of a conspiracy to block the return to democracy and disrupt coming national elections. They say the gathering is an attempt to show that the king has support.
Hundreds of people who have been invited to attend the weekend celebrations, but government ministers and key foreign envoys in Nepal from the United States, European Union and India have boycotted the event.
Gyanendra became king in 2001 after his elder brother, Birendra, and eight royal family members were killed in a palace massacre.
