I am just wondering why Gynendra does not hail the interim constitution and legislature, as he was said to have done when Moists and the seven party made a pact earlier. Any good suggestions! He may have had heart-attack at this time!

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He is busy in packing Hiramotis..
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तर ज्ञानेन्द्रसँग त्यति सम्पत्ति छैन भन्छ नि त यो मान्छे!

Poor and powerless overnight

By Ameet Dhakal

KATHMANDU, Jan 16 - The Shah Kings, through royal decree, usurped power and amassed wealth umpteen times during the last 238 years. But today people have turned the tables on the monarchy: By proclaming a constitution invoking their sovereign rights the people have made the reigning king both poor and powerless overnight.

The king will no longer act as head of state - let alone exercise any political power. Significantly, the constitution has also snatched away a major chunk of the royal assets. According to the interim constitution, property belonging to the late King Birendra will go into a trust and the property inherited by King Gyanendra by virtue of ascending the throne will be nationalized. But the king will continue to enjoy his private property, including his businesses. How much does the king own in business? Contrary to popular perception, The Kathmandu Post investigation revealed that he owns "very little"
The common perception that the king is "super rich" comes from an assumption that he owns a majority share in the Soaltee Group, which does not exist any longer. However, the investigation also revealed that he owned only a "miniscule" share in the Group's businesses that expanded rapidly over last two decades. Before being dismantled in December 2005, the Group had nine business enterprises in its fold: Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd, Bhotekoshi Company Pvt Lt, Himal International Power Corporation, Sipradi Trading Pvt Ltd, Gorkha Lawrie Pvt Ltd, Himalaya Goodricke Pvt Ltd, Amaravati International Pvt Ltd, Maersk Nepal Pvt Ltd and Amaravati Travels Pvt Ltd. Out of these nine enterprises, Gorkha Lawrie was sold off in 2004.

Now a majority of these enterprises are owned and managed by Tara Management, which belongs to Prabhakar Sumsher Rana and his son, Siddhartha Rana. Records at the Office of the Company Registrar show that the king and his family own only 0.15 percent share in Himal International Power Corporation; 56 percent in Himal Goodricke, 40 percent in Soaltee Hotel and 10 percent in Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd.

But the king and his family have no share in Bhotekoshi Company Pvt Ltd, Sipradi Trading Pvt Ltd, Amaravati International Pvt Ltd, Amaravati Travels Pvt Ltd and Maersk Nepal Pvt Ltd.

Among the enterprises that the king has a share in, both Soaltee Hotel and Himal Goodricke are currently loss making ventures. While Soaltee Hotel, a public limited company, hasn't distributed any dividend for the last six years, Himal Goodricke has paid out about Rs 1.5 million as dividend during the last one decade. The only company that seems to be paying a significant dividend to the royal family is Surya Nepal. Last year it paid Rs 12.5 million to the family.

A source privy to King Gyanendra's financial situation said, "The income from his [king's] businesses is hardly enough to meet his expenses." The source also said the king often withdrew dividends from the companies in advance. This claim has a lot of credence since officials at the Kaushitosh Khana - the office that disburses state sanctioned funds to the royal palace - also said the palace used to withdraw all annual allocations within 48 hours of the budget announcement till last year.

The source also claimed that King Gyanendra was neck deep in debt by the time he ascended the throne in June 2001. "In 2002, he sold 10 percent of his stake in Surya Nepal to Indian Tobacco Company Ltd and used the proceeds to repay his huge debt."

In terms of share capital, the king and his family have Rs 80 million worth of share capital in Soaltee Hotel; Rs 6.5 million in Himal Goodrick; Rs 33.6 million in Surya Nepal and Rs 250 thousand in Himal International Power Corporation.

Posted on: 2007-01-15 22:24:00 (Server Time)

http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=97660

Swiss bank ma holani

Seems to me Ameet Dhakal is trying to generate some sympathy for the royals. I find it very hard to believe the King is poor... Is Ameet getting rich in the process ?

King and poor? I can bet that gyane has over 10 billion dollars worth of property

Jaelous creatures.

Here is one for you all.

"Mero bau ta pale thiyo arka sanga kina paisa hune?"

Yeah, swiss secrecy law will not permit us to know how much the king has stashed away in the legendary swiss bank. Ameet Dhakal probably painted our king as poorer than the stray dog of Kathmandu for pecuniary gains. Dhakal's gotta learn to have some respect for the king. The latter didn't ascend the throne - or the top of the Nepali food chain - to be poor. Did he?

What definition of "poor" is Ameet Dhakal using here? That the King's intake of daily calories is less than the minimum recommended by WHO? (Check out his fat-laden neck) Is he implying that the King leaves on USD 1 per day? (Minister Ram Sharan Mahat promised him around 3-4 milion USD in his last "peace budget" sppech) That he lives on a shack by the bank of the stinking Bagmati? (The last time I checked he lived in the poshest palace in the land). That he crosses a river by tieing himself to a "ghirling" like many poor of Nepal do? (He flies in and out on a chopper.) That he bicycles to work? (He's go tmercedez benzes and what work anyway?)

King powerless? Relatively powerless, Yes.

King poor? Hell no!

If Ameet calls the King of Nepal poor, that should be taken as a grave insult to the poor people of Nepal from koshi to mahakali.

When I read that title on kantipur, I thought exactly like MillionDollars dude did. I've never heard of this journalist, and now on will keep an eye on him.

i dont care how rich or poor the king is.

but i do want king in nepal, 230 yrs of effort from shah dynasty to put the country together cannot be and should not be forgotton by what gyanendra did, i dont even think he did anything wrong, its the freaking media, that caused all the uproar.

MANSION ...CANNOT AGREE MORE THAN YOU!!!

NEPAL EXISTS BECAUSE OF SHAH DYNASTY..GANENDRA MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE MOST STUPID KING OF ALL TIME BUT NEPAL IS UNITED ONLY BECAUSE THEIR WAS SOMETHING TO BE UNITED ..NOW I DON'T SEE NEPAL BEING UNITED AFTER NEPAL DECLARES REPULIC AND THAT WILL BE LAST STRAW WHEN IT DECLARED FEDRAL REPULIC IN LINES OF RACE.


IF YOU THINK IN JUST MIDDLE GROUND AND DO NOT SUPPORT LEFT OR RIGHT FORCE.TRUST ME WHEN I SAY THIS :LET KING BE POWERLESS BUT LET IT BE THERE.BAD OR GOOD IT HAS BEEN SYMBOL OF UNITED NEPAL.

I KNOW THERE ARE FEW PEOPLE WHO CANNOT SEE KING ANYMORE , UNLESS YOU ARE PURE LEFT ...THINK CALMLY .!!!THINK !!!THINK !!!!AND THINK AGAIN !!!THINK FROM MIDDLE GROUND!!!!

IS THE KING ONLY ONE REPONSIBLE FOR THE STATE WHERE NEPAL IS?
WHY PEOPLE ARE MAKING THIS STUPID KING SCAPE GOAT?
WHO IS GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE SITUATION?

Of course maoist are taking advantage of this whole damn situation ImI ..dont act so ignorant dude...

NO KING PLS.

Imi you piece of crap still going on about your royals. just been away for a while and returned this crap is still holding his royalty and wants us to believe he's a democratic person. wow!!!!!!!!!!

NEPAL EXISTS BECAUSE OF SHAH DYNASTY..GANENDRA MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE MOST STUPID KING OF ALL TIME BUT NEPAL IS UNITED ONLY BECAUSE THEIR WAS SOMETHING TO BE UNITED ..NOW I DON'T SEE NEPAL BEING UNITED AFTER NEPAL DECLARES REPULIC AND THAT WILL BE LAST STRAW WHEN IT DECLARED FEDRAL REPULIC IN LINES OF RACE.

nope Nepal exist because of Nepalese. in a country take the citizen out and see if your valuable king still holds the country together or not. all the shah king were stupid and cruel from kulmardan khan to gyane shah . nepal isn't united because of the king it was united because of the lives of the people who were forced to believe king was god and you should be happy dying for him just like in japan in second world war. you see every Nepalese have rights not only you or your family who has a lavish life in kathmandu. everybody has to be treated equally if you don't than nobody will take your crap anymore. malupulating race and religion has always been the game of the kings and it's being done now since it's a last straw that your king thinks he can hold to get out of the problem he has created. but in vein!!!

IS THE KING ONLY ONE REPONSIBLE FOR THE STATE WHERE NEPAL IS?
WHY PEOPLE ARE MAKING THIS STUPID KING SCAPE GOAT?
WHO IS GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE SITUATION?


Nope he and his panches are responsible for all the mess of the country. oviously if king can enjoy his lavish life by making nepalese citizen a scape goat through all the wars being fought than it's time for us to show him where he actually stands. you me everybody (oops not you) will take advantage of this situation, we'll build a better nepal a good nepal where everybody can roam talk think and choose religion freely.

Democratic is true, i guess

Could the gallows ropes used to hang Saddam and his literally partners in crime be available on Ebay for sale?Please let me know if anyone comes across them. They could be usefull in the near future.

Amen!

Democratic Dude..u piece of $hit ..i told u to think calmly not talk Like you.

You are just not getting what i am trying to point.You have too much of hate inside.I said think and mind it if you are too to the left i have nothing to say to you .Good luck seeing Nepal getting disintegrated .I can bet on that.We will still be alive to see it .Mark what i am saying.Just remember this after 10 years ok!!!

Yes , Citizens make the country but as any country king no matter how cruel they are they win the land ,they unite people by force or by anymeans.This is how civilization starts.And our history and culture get united .Now when people start doubting the same foundation .Then room falls .Foundation should be strong.There are live examples around the world .Just open your eyes.

There are many people just waiting to take advantage of the situation and all of us know who they are .NOT only Maoist.

Choose your religion freely ...hahaha,...oh i see the grudge ..Just because i advocate for Hindu country .I never advocated to make king a god ..haha..You Thinking is too small to understand what i say .Be happy .Ignorance is bliss should apply to you and your new nepal(if it exists withing the same boundary as of today)