This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/6293062.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Nepal royal allowance is scrapped | Nepal royal allowance is scrapped |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Nepal's government has stopped paying an allowance to King Gyanendra and other members of the Royal Family. | Nepal's government has stopped paying an allowance to King Gyanendra and other members of the Royal Family. |
| Last year they received about $500,000 (£250,000). | Last year they received about $500,000 (£250,000). |
| But the king has lost popularity and political support since he was forced by mass demonstrations in 2006 to give up his executive powers. | But the king has lost popularity and political support since he was forced by mass demonstrations in 2006 to give up his executive powers. |
| Nepal's government is determined to further reduce King Gyanendra's influence and status, and has made him pay tax for the first time. | Nepal's government is determined to further reduce King Gyanendra's influence and status, and has made him pay tax for the first time. |
| There was simply no mention in this year's budget to his family's annual allowance. It has been unceremoniously scrapped. | There was simply no mention in this year's budget to his family's annual allowance. It has been unceremoniously scrapped. |
| Instead the finance minister, Ram Sharan Mahat, preferred to focus his speech on putting money into the organisation of elections for a national assembly planned for November. | Instead the finance minister, Ram Sharan Mahat, preferred to focus his speech on putting money into the organisation of elections for a national assembly planned for November. |
| Anti-monarchy feelings | Anti-monarchy feelings |
| Its members will have the job of deciding the fate of the king. | Its members will have the job of deciding the fate of the king. |
| Popular protests swept Nepal last spring | Popular protests swept Nepal last spring |
| Many government leaders want to abolish the 240-year-old monarchy for good, not least the former Maoist rebels, who continually accuse royalists of trying to sabotage last year's peace agreement which saw them abandon their decade-long armed struggle. | Many government leaders want to abolish the 240-year-old monarchy for good, not least the former Maoist rebels, who continually accuse royalists of trying to sabotage last year's peace agreement which saw them abandon their decade-long armed struggle. |
| It has been a bad week for the king, who turned 60 on Saturday. Young communists, some armed with sharpened sticks, scared many of his supporters from attending the party, and the government told foreign diplomats to turn down their invitations. | It has been a bad week for the king, who turned 60 on Saturday. Young communists, some armed with sharpened sticks, scared many of his supporters from attending the party, and the government told foreign diplomats to turn down their invitations. |
| Since massive street protests forced King Gyanendra to withdraw from politics last year, he is no longer head of state or head of the army. | Since massive street protests forced King Gyanendra to withdraw from politics last year, he is no longer head of state or head of the army. |
| He is being forced to pay tax for the first time on his substantial private wealth, and the government also plans to nationalise the royal parks and palaces. | |
| But Nepal is a traditional country and many people still revere the man, and the monarchy. | But Nepal is a traditional country and many people still revere the man, and the monarchy. |