OTD 1 June 2001 Royal Massacre of Nepal
Following the royal families certainly is as a big circle of life. They have very
happy moments such as births and weddings but there are sad things too. One of the
most saddest moments in recent history was the Royal Massacre of Nepal, which
took place on 1 June 2001.
Then Crown Prince Dipendra opened fire at a house on the grounds of the
Narayanhity Royal Palace, the residence of the Nepalese Royal Family. At that
moment a party was being held.
Crown Prince Dipendra shot and killed his father, King Birendra, his mother,
Queen Aishwarya and seven other members of the royal family before shooting
himself in the head.
His motive for the murders is unknown but as always there are various theories.
One of them was the fact that Dipendra wanted to marry Devyani Rana, whom
he had met in the United Kingdom. However he had to give up his claim to the
throne in order to marry her (because she came from a lower-class of Indian
royal families).
Dipendra was proclaimed king while he was in a coma but he died soon
afterwards on 4 June 2001.
Gyanendra, the brother of King Birendra, was appointed first regent of Nepal
and then he ascended the throne.
On 11 June 2001 a ceremony was held to exorcise or banish the spirit of the
dead King from Nepal. Dipendra's residence also was razed to the ground.
King Birendra and his son Dipendra were very popular and well respected by
the Nepalese people. Gyanendra and his son Prince Paras were very unpopular
with the public.
After the Massacre the Maoist rebellion escalated and in October 2002,
the King temporally deposed the government and took complete control of it.
Nepal was very unstable because of the civil war.
On 1 February 2005, Gyanendra dismissed the entire government after he
declared a state of emergency. The Maoist politicians were placed under house
arrest. Freedom of press was severely curtailed.
In April 2006, strikes and street protests in Kathmandu forced the king to
reinstate the parliament. A coalition of 7 political parties resumed control of
the government and stripped the king of most of his powers.
On 28 May 2008, Nepal was declared a Federal Democratic Republic.
Source pictures: Wikipedia
happy moments such as births and weddings but there are sad things too. One of the
most saddest moments in recent history was the Royal Massacre of Nepal, which
took place on 1 June 2001.
Then Crown Prince Dipendra opened fire at a house on the grounds of the
Narayanhity Royal Palace, the residence of the Nepalese Royal Family. At that
moment a party was being held.
Crown Prince Dipendra shot and killed his father, King Birendra, his mother,
Queen Aishwarya and seven other members of the royal family before shooting
himself in the head.
King Birendra of Nepal
His motive for the murders is unknown but as always there are various theories.
One of them was the fact that Dipendra wanted to marry Devyani Rana, whom
he had met in the United Kingdom. However he had to give up his claim to the
throne in order to marry her (because she came from a lower-class of Indian
royal families).
Dipendra was proclaimed king while he was in a coma but he died soon
afterwards on 4 June 2001.
Gyanendra, the brother of King Birendra, was appointed first regent of Nepal
and then he ascended the throne.
On 11 June 2001 a ceremony was held to exorcise or banish the spirit of the
dead King from Nepal. Dipendra's residence also was razed to the ground.
King Birendra and his son Dipendra were very popular and well respected by
the Nepalese people. Gyanendra and his son Prince Paras were very unpopular
with the public.
After the Massacre the Maoist rebellion escalated and in October 2002,
the King temporally deposed the government and took complete control of it.
Nepal was very unstable because of the civil war.
On 1 February 2005, Gyanendra dismissed the entire government after he
declared a state of emergency. The Maoist politicians were placed under house
arrest. Freedom of press was severely curtailed.
In April 2006, strikes and street protests in Kathmandu forced the king to
reinstate the parliament. A coalition of 7 political parties resumed control of
the government and stripped the king of most of his powers.
On 28 May 2008, Nepal was declared a Federal Democratic Republic.
Source pictures: Wikipedia
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