News Update from Nepal – Extra edition April 25, 2006 King Gyanendra met all the demands of the Seven-Party-Alliance. On April 25 in a proclamation to the nation and the people, King Gyanendra said,“Convinced that the Source of State Authority and Sovereignty of the Kingdom of Nepal is inherent in the people of Nepal and cognizant of the spirit of the ongoing people’s movement as well as to resolve the ongoing violent conflict and other problems facing the country according to the road map of the agitating seven party alliance, we, through this Proclamation, reinstate the House of Representatives which was dissolved on 22 May, 2002 on the advise of the then prime Minister in accordance with the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990. We call upon the seven party alliance to bear the responsibility of taking the nation on the path to national unity and prosperity, while ensuring permanent peace and safeguarding multiparty democracy. We also summon the session of the reinstated House of Representatives at the Parliamentary House, Singh Durbar at 1 pm on Friday, 28 April 2006 … We are confident that the nation will forge ahead towards sustainable peace, progress, full-fledged democracy and national unity.” Most of the leaders of the seven-party alliance welcomed this statement and hoped that this will help the resolution of conflict. Today’s planned protest has been converted into a peace rally. It is said that one element of SPA- United People’s Front and CPN-(Maoist) have opposed this dispensation. On April 21 in his proclamation to the nation and the people King Gyanendra said, “You are all aware that, given the situation prevailing in the country then, we were compelled to take the decision of 1 February 2005 to set in motion a meaningful exercise in multiparty democracy by activating all elected bodies, ensuring peace and security and a corruption-free good governance through the collective wisdom, understanding and the united efforts of all Nepalese. By supporting our decision, the Nepalese people made amply clear their desire for peace and democracy and the civil servants demonstrated sincerity towards their duties. We are appreciative of this. We also have high regard for the dutifulness, valor and discipline displayed by the security personnel, upholding their glorious traditions. By visiting different parts of the country, we made honest endeavors to acquaint ourselves with the hopes and aspirations of our people, mitigate their hardships and boost their morale. We also called on the political parties to enter into a dialogue in the interest of the nation and people afflicted by violence and terrorism. However, this did not materialize. The ideals of democracy can be realized only through the active participation of political parties. In keeping with the traditions of the Shah Dynasty to reign in accordance with the popular will in the greater interest of the nation and people and our unflinching commitment towards Constitutional Monarchy and multiparty democracy, we, through this Proclamation, affirm that the Executive Power of the