[lkarren]

coped from: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stori...287764/1/.html

Nepal to slash king's cash
Posted: 12 July 2007 2024 hrs


King Gyanendra

KATHMANDU: Nepal's government said Thursday it would slash the allowance given to King Gyanendra, in yet another blow to an unpopular monarch who appears to be on the brink of getting the boot.

A senior finance ministry said the king was becoming irrelevant, and that an annual budget to be presented to parliament later in the day would leave him with even less money from the impoverished Himalayan country's state coffers.

"The king has been stripped of almost all power and has no role, so the government has decided to slash his allowance," the official, who asked not to be named, told AFP.

In last year's budget, the royal household allowance was cut from 10.6 million dollars a year to around three million dollars.

"It will be cut further this year," said the official, without revealing a figure.

The government, which now includes fiercely republican former Maoist rebels following a peace deal last year, has already said it intends to downsize the monarchy by reassigning half of the 700 people who work at the palace.

"The government had announced that they planned to transfer palace staff into other government ministries several months ago, but it has not yet been implemented," said a palace official, who also asked not to be named.

Gyanendra came to the throne in 2001 in tragic and bizarre circumstances after an apparently drunk and drugged Crown Prince Dipendra killed most of his family, including the king and queen, and then himself.

Although viewed by supporters as the reincarnation of a Hindu deity, King Gyanendra -- the brother of the slain king -- lost public support in February 2005 when he sacked the government and assumed direct control of the nation.

He claimed the government was corrupt and had failed to end the Maoists' decade-long "People's War."

A 14-month period of dictatorial rule ended in April last year after massive protests organised by sidelined political parties and Maoists rocked the country and left at least 19 people dead.

Since then, the Maoists have entered Kathmandu -- as well as parliament and the government -- and the king has been stripped of his status as head of the army and head of state. He has been keeping a low profile in the capital.

Gyanendra's fate is set to be decided after polls in November that will elect a body to rewrite Nepal's constitution.

The Maoists and other left-wing parties are pushing hard for a total abolition of the 238-year-old monarchy, although some politicians would like to keep some kind of ceremonial role for the palace -- albeit without Gyanendra.

Local media reported that this year's total budget would be 2.6 billion dollars with a 15 percent raise for government employees expected.

Landlocked and impoverished, Nepal relies heavily on international grants and loans for its budget.

Additional costs this year include the expense of holding the November vote.

- AFP/ir

[genzo2106]

well it sure is a big cut of the allowance