Nepal's first Republic Day is being observed Friday throughout the nation
with various programmes, exactly one year after the Constituent Assembly
declared Nepal a republic, ending the 240 years old monarchy.
The first sitting of CA had declared Nepal Federal Democratic Republic on
May 29, 2008, making the country the newest republic in the world. In 2006
April, a mass uprising for nineteen days had forced the last king of
Nepal, Gyanendra Shah, to relinquish power.
To mark the first Republic Day, a special function was organised at the
army pavilion in Tundikhel, Kathmandu, which was attended by President Dr
Ram Baran Yadav, Vice-President Parmananda Jha, Prime Minister Madhav
Kumar Nepal and other dignitaries including representatives of foreign
diplomatic missions.
The government had declared the day as a public holiday.
Meanwhile, in his message to the nation on the occasion, President Yadav
urged everyone to cooperate in reaching the goals and conceded the first
year of the republican order was not very easy.
"The chief goal for now is the completion of peace process and new
constitution," he said, "The Republican set up will be strong only after
we attain those goals."
Vice-president Jha, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and other political
leaders also issued messages to the nation on the occasion of the Republic
Day.
Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal in his message called for institutional
development of republicanism.
Meanwhile, PM Nepal has laid the foundation stone of the Republic monument
to be constructed at Ratna Park early Friday morning. A special function
is being organised at Tundikhel in the afternoon to commemorate the first
Republic day. Rallies are being taken out from Pradarshani Marg, Kalanki
and Putalisadak. nepalnews.com May 29 09
