Newsletter 7.3 (24. Juni 2001)
3. Artikel aus dem nepalesischen Wochenmagazin Spotlight
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COVER STORY |
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ROYAL PALACE KILLINGS The report prepared by the high-level probe committee
has raised more questions than it could answer regarding the fateful
incident in the royal palace. Though people are pacified for now with
the details that have been provided to them, they will certainly look
for further in-depth study into the horrendous tragedy that engulfed the
Nepal's first family last fortnight By BHAGIRATH YOGI It would have gone unnoticed as a regular, restricted family
get-together within the tall walls of Narayanhity royal palace on June
1. Royal family members and relatives, including King Birendra, were
enjoying drinks as the fateful night progressed. Soldiers on duty of the
`fighting unit' of the Royal Military Guards, too, were enjoying 'Hijo
Aajka Kura,' a popular tele-serial being aired over the state-owned
Nepal Television. ADCs (aide de camps)óthe innermost tier in the
three-tier security system of the royal palaceótoo, were relaxing in
their own rooms after a hard day's work. But it did not. Somewhere in between 8:45 and 9:00 Crown Prince
Dipendra, dressed in camouflage combat fatigue, and carrying deadly
automatic weapons on his both shoulders entered the billiard hall where
his superiors were enjoying the evening. Without provocation, he first
fired a shot on the ceiling, said eyewitnesses.
As if in a high-action Hollywood movie, the Crown Prince then moved
back and came out of the billiard room, threw one of his guns out of the
hall, then entered the billiard room once again aiming the Colt M-16
rifle at King Birendra and other members of the family. He then moved
back to reach the door, and again advanced to fire indiscriminately a
third time hitting Princess Shruti and others. According to the report made public by the high-level probe committee
after a week-long investigation, Prince Nirajan and Queen Aishwarya
followed the Crown Prince and chased him. Shots were fired and Prince
Nirajan was found lying prone in an unconscious state. After the firing,
the royal ADCs sitting in the inner room of the ADC office heard the
sound of firing and an alarm and entered the billiard hall by breaking
the glass of the door and immediately started rescue work. Queen Aishwarya was said to have been lying after indiscriminate firing
at her at the seventh step of the inner staircase leading to the bed
chamber of the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince was found lying on his back and gurgling at the garden
in front of Tribhuvan Sadan. A 9 mm. Caliber Glock Ges. Pistol, that was
in the possession of the Crown Prince, and empty cartridges were found
in the water of the pond. The 300-plus page report, compiled and put together by a two-member
committee led by Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyay and Speaker
Taranath Ranabhat (leader of the main opposition Madhav Kumar Nepal
refused to become part of the committee citing his party's decision)
with the commendable support of more than two dozen parliament and
judicial officials, clearly indicated that then Crown Prince Dipendra
was solely responsible for the massacre of ten Nepali royal family
members and injuring four others. What was the Motive? The report, however, doesn't mention the motive behind the shooting but
indicated that it may have been because of a family feud related to the
marriage of the Crown Prince. According to reports, Queen Aishwarya and
other members of the royal family were dead against Crown Prince
Dipendra's choice -- Ms. Devyani Rana, daughter of former minister and
Rastriya Prajatantra Party leader Pashupati Shumsher Rana. While the
Crown Prince was courting Ms Rana for the last several years he was also
in close contact with another lady, Ms Supriya Shah.. The Probe Committee (PC)'s report records that on the fateful night,
Dipendra made two calls over his mobile to Devyani and also received a
phone call from her shortly before he allegedly went on the rampage. In
a recorded statement deposited to the Royal Nepalese ambassador in New
Delhi, Ms. Rana refused to give details of her talks with her
star-crossed lover. She, however, said the voice of the Crown Prince
Dipendra was slightly blurred that evening and that she had also
cautioned his ADCs in time to take care of the inebriated Crown Prince. Reports say late Queen Aishwarya, from the Judhha Shumsher clan of the
Rana dynasty, did not want her son to be married with a girl from
Chandra Shumsher clan because of historical reasons. Moreover, Devyani's
mother came from famous Scindia family of Gwalior, India whom the
Nepalese royal family saw as a junior clan in terms of social hierarchy.
Similarly, a rule laid down by late King Mahendra too barred marital
links in India for the royal family. And, there are a couple of more
explanations to sell the proposition why the Queen was against her own
son's choice. With sister Sruti already married and younger brother Nirajan also
getting married shortly, the 29-year-old Crown Prince was reportedly
under tremendous pressure to decide about his own future. While he was
failing to convince his parents about his choice, he too was unwilling
to give up the crown for his love for obvious reasons. Add to that the
cocktail of alcohol and drugs and you will get a perfect platform set
for the regicide. "There have been cases of 'world suicide pact,' especially in
Europe and the US, when an extremely frustrated person kills his entire
family before committing suicide," senior neurosurgeon Dr. Upendra
Devkota told the investigation committee. Added Dr. Krishna Chandra Rajbhandari, chief of the neuro-psychiatric
department at the Kathmandu Medical College, "If a person fails to
face the problems confronting him and is consuming alcohol or drugs as
well, he may not be able to control his emotions and try to kill others
or may attempt suicide. If he is in a revenge mood, he might even commit
'murder suicide' (i. e. committing suicide after killing others whom one
hates). Common people, however, are unwilling to believe, even after a week of
the committee's report, that the Crown Prince was the culprit. "How
could a son kill his own parents and decimate his entire family over the
issue of marrying a girl?" asked Savitri Shrestha, a housewife at
Bhedasingh Security Lapses The report, however, doesn't mention anything about reported security
lapses within the palace leading to the unfortunate incident. While the
entire security set-up of the royal palace was oriented to prevent and
counter any outside offensive, it had not any working plan to deal with
any offensive against Their Majesties from the family right within the
palace. "The Royal Nepalese Army is not responsible for the
security within the royal palace," Chief of Army Staff General
Prajwolla Shumsher Rana told the PC. "Our job is to supply young
officers to the Royal Palace guards as demanded by the palace."
Brigadier Tika Dhamala, who has served for two decades in the royal
palace, told the PC that the entire security system of the palace was
outward oriented. According to him, the innermost security tier is that
of ADCs within the palace. Then there is military police and at the
outer layer is Royal Nepal Army. Nepal Police is only at the external
front. "There are public places and also private places where even
an ADC is not allowed," he said. Reports said Crown Prince Dipendra had been violating rules by keeping
automatic weapons with him. If it was correct, why did the security
officials within the palace did not take note of it in time? How was it
possible that Crown Prince could walk unrestricted to a family dinner
with guns on his shoulder where His Majesty the King was also present?
These are questions which need to be answered. "It seems that the security system in the royal palace served only
as a barrier between the palace and general public. The government must
seek clarification (from the army) about such serious lapses within the
palace," said Prof. Krishna Khanal, a political scientist. "In
such a situation, the popularly elected government should be pro-active
and responsible rather than a mute spectator." Though the deposition by ADCs on duty proves that the security system
within the palace is quite functional and up-to-date (the fighting team
assembled and rushed to the Tribhuvan Sadan with guns in their hands
within three minutes), all it had to do was to engage in rescue works
once it reached the site of the incident. As the billiard room was
bolted from inside, the soldiers had to break the glass to rescue the
royal family members. A secretary-level committee formed by the government to study the Probe
Committee's report has pointed toward serious lapses in the royal palace
security. A high-level task force headed by former Principal Military
Secretary to late King Birendra, Shanta Kumar Malla, is also conducting
a review of security apparatus within the palace.
Emergency Services When critically injured King Birendra and other royal family members
were rushed to Birendra Military hospital Chhauni (instead of the well
equipped Bir hospital nearby), there was nobody at the duty room. The
ADCs had to shout to call the doctors. Doctors on duty arrived shortly
and chief of the hospital, royal surgeon Dr. Khagendra Bahadur Shrestha
also rushed in. After preliminary examinations, at 9:15 p. m. doctors
declared King Birendra as dead. The number of critically injured VVIPs
was ever increasing and the resources and manpower were quite limited
compared to the emergency. Senior royal doctors and doctors from
Tribhuvan Teaching and Bir hospital were called immediately. The team of
all the Nepalese doctors took the situation under control and operated
throughout the night in makeshift operation theaters even at the
corridors. They did not have even time to ask how did it all happen. By studying the PC's report, it can be gathered that the military
hospital named after the late King, was least prepared to tackle an
emergency of such a scale. The main problem was that of blood. Unlike
international practices where emergency blood reserves has to be
maintained for VVIPs, the hospital did not have even records of the
blood group of the royal family members. Access to Drugs and Arms Unrestricted access to drug and arms to young members of the royal
family is also a matter of serious concern. ADC Gajendra Bohara said
late Crown Prince was taking cigarettes filled with hashish and an
unidentified `black substance' (probably cocaine) for the last one year.
Even British newspapers had reported that the Crown Prince had fallen to
drug abuse during his days at Eton. Why did the Crown Prince resort
again to drug use remains unexplained. "It seems that even the
royal palace was not aloof from the growing attraction of Nepalese youth
toward arms and drugs. Similarly, the differences over the issue of
marriage of the crown prince within the royal family is also a
reflection of generation gap in the Nepali society," said Rajendra
Dahal, editor of Himal Khabarpatrika. "The open debate and analysis
of the royal palace incident will, hence, help redefine and explain our
changing societal and family relations." According to Dahal, the heavy report prepared by the Probe Committee
can serve as a basis for future investigations into the royal palace
tragedy. "It is not and should not be an end in itself. There must
be further investigation and analysis of the June 1 incident." Contradictory statements given by the eyewitnesses and Probe
Committee's failure to arrive at a conclusion citing the `terms of
reference' given to it also point toward the need of further
investigation. The Probe Committee was able to collect the materials and
other evidence from the site of incident only after a week. No
postmortem and other physical tests were conducted on late King Birendra,
Queen Aishwarya, King Dipendra and other royal family members. This will
hamper any serious investigation in the future, say experts. Unanswered Questions As the Probe Committee's report only compiles the statements by
eyewitnesses and concerned royal palace officials, there are a number of
unanswered questions to which people will seek reply. For example, even
if we assume that Crown Prince Dipendra was highly intoxicated and was
crawling how could he come back with heavy guns on his shoulder and kill
so many people without a miss. Besides Dipendra, Princess Sruti was a
black-belt in karate and Prince Nirajan too possessed his personal arms.
Why could a `strongman' like Prince Paras and Captain Dr. Rajiv Shahi
not control or attempt to control the Prince? Eyewitnesses say King
Birendra was shot at first while the story was that it was Queen
Aishwarya who was opposed to Dipendra's marriage to Devyani. Similarly, nobody has seen Crown Prince Dipendra shooting his own
mother and brother nor has anybody seen him committing suicide. The
tendency of eyewitnesses speaking to foreign media even before they
spoke to the Probe Committee also gave room for suspicion. Most
importantly, people still find it very difficult to believe that the
entire clan of King Birendra was killed ruthlessly at one go over some
family feud. The impact of the Narayanhity killings will be felt in almost all
spheres of Nepalese life for several years to come. Different conspiracy
theories will continue to make rounds unless the public gets
satisfactory answers to such questions. Unlike fears of widespread
violence, people behaved in a very mature way in the aftermath of the
publishing of the report. But they would still like so many things to
know related to the Narayanhity massacre. Moreover, they also want a
foolproof and people-friendly security system at the royal palace to
ensure that no such tragedy is repeated in Nepalese history. Highlights
Of The Committee's Report Crown Prince Dipendra at 7:30 p. m. (on June 1), played billiards by
himself for some time at the billiard room at Tribhuvan Sadan and in the
course drank one or two pegs of Famous Grouse whisky neat, according to
his ADC and two other royal relatives. A little before King Birendra
arrived, four individuals including Prince Nirajan, Prince Paras, Kumar
Gorakh (husband of Princess Sruti)) and Dr. Rajeev Shahi saw the Crown
Prince swaying, unable to hold himself upright, and took him to his bed
chamber inside Tribhuvan Sadan. While in the billiard room, Crown Prince Dipendra had ordered his ADC
Gajendra Bohara to fetch cigarettes. The latter brought a special kind
of cigarette prepared with a mixture of hashish and another unnamed
black substance and handed it over to Prince Paras (to be delivered to
the Crown Prince). Crown Prince Dipendra talked to Ms Devyani Rana for 1 min. 14 seconds
on his mobile phone no. 981021513 at 8.12 p. m. on June 1, 2001 through
mobile no. 981024339 of the latter. For the second time, he talked to
Devyani at 8.39 pm for 42 seconds. Devyani called Crown Prince back at
his mobile and talked for 4 min. 14 seconds. Ms. Devyani also called ADCs to Crown Prince and asked them to take
care of him saying that he did not sound well over the phone. After the phone contact with Devyani, the Crown Prince put on army
combat dress and came out of his 'bed chamber' with weapons. Armed on both sides with rifle and revolver, the Crown Prince then
proceeded toward the billiard hall and fired at ceiling and west wall
with a 9 mm Caliber MP-5K automatic sub-machine gun and then fired at
King Birendra. The Crown Prince moved back and came out of the billiard
room, threw one of his out of the hall, then entered the billiard room
once again aiming the Colt M-16 rifle at King Birendra and other members
of the family. He then moved back to reach the door, and again advanced
to fire indiscriminately a third time hitting Princess Sruti and others.
Prince Nirajan and Queen Aishwarya followed the Crown Prince and chased
him. Shots were fired and Prince Nirajan was found lying prone in an
unconscious state. After the firing, the royal ADCs sitting in the inner room of the ADC
office heard the sound of firing and an alarm and entered the billiard
hall by breaking the glass of the door and immediately started rescue
work. Queen Aishwarya was said to have been lying after indiscriminate firing
at her at the seventh step of the inner staircase leading to the bed
chamber of the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince was found lying on his back and gurgling at the garden
in front of Tribhuvan Sadan. A 9 mm. Caliber Glock Ges. Pistol, that was
in the possession of the Crown Prince, and empty cartridges were found
in the water of the pond. The Birendra Military hospital gave details about the arrival of the
injured or dead royal family members. No information regarding the death of anyone in the incident other than
the 10 people including Their Majesties King Birendra and Queen
Aishwarya has been received. According to medical reports, Queen Komal, Princess Shobha, Kumar
Gorakh Shumsher and Mrs. Ketaki Chester, all victims of the incident,
had sustained serious injuries. Details of the cartridges recovered from the site of the incident have
been given in the report. How
Did These People Know Of The Incident? Girija Prasad Koirala, Prime Minister and Minister
for Royal Palace Affairs It was ten minutes to eleven at night when Chairman of the Royal
Council Dr. Rayamajhi called me to say that His Majesty had been
hospitalized after suffering from a serious heart attack. He told me to
come to the hospital and said he was also going there. As I was about to
change my clothes, I received a call from Pashupati Bhakta Maharjan, the
principal secretary at the palace. He said he was coming to my place
immediately. When he came to my place, he didnít say much. He just said
that His Majesty received gun-shot wounds. We both then proceeded to the
royal palace. The palace military secretary briefed us a little.
Immediately after learning that His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the
Queen were in hospital in a serious condition after receiving gun-shots,
we, myself and Maharjan, went to the hospital. Dr. Rayamajhi was there.
I asked him what happened and how it happened. He didnít know. There
was nobody I could ask from. People were running around. Doctors were
busy upstairs. I just stood there. I couldnít figure out what was going
on. I then inquired about the whereabouts of His Royal Highness Prince
Gyanendra and was told a helicopter had been dispatched to bring him
from Pokhara. Dr. Keshar Jung Rayamajhi, Chairman of the Royal
Council Standing Committee After having dinner I was going to my room when my phone rang at around
9:45, maybe five-ten minutes before or after. I was only told to remain
on stand-by. I was wondering what had happened in the country and
changed my clothes. Sometime after, I got another news that there had
been a terrible accident and all have been taken to army hospital. I
though I should tell this to the Prime Minister before leaving for the
hospital and I did so. When I reached there I was in a state of
confusion. I went inside and saw His Majesty lying at one side and Her
Majesty on the other side. Doctors were working. I couldnít control
myself and wept bitterly. What is this, I thought? I went out of that
room and saw other bodies maybe they were those of Prince Nirajan and
Princess Sruti. I met the army chief and we went outside. We talked
about it. And then I asked where Prince Gyanendra was. Just then Prime
Minister arrived. Prajwal SJB Rana, Chief of Army Staff, Royal Nepalese
Army It was around 9:45 pm on that Friday and I was preparing to sleep.
Suddenly I got a call from ADC Captain Prafulla Bikram Shah. He told me
that His Majesty had been taken to the hospital after suffering from
gun-wounds. Immediately, I rushed to the hospital in normal dress. It
was about 10:10 when I reached the hospital. I reached there in about 20
minutes. I didnít know what happened and how it happened at that time.
In my mind, I was wondering why His Majesty played with weapon at night.
I guessed he might have been wounded accidentally. As I reached the
trauma hall of the hospital, I encountered the Queen Mother who asked me
to take care of the things. Bibek Shah, Military Secretary, Royal Palace I left the secretariat that day at 6:00 pm as my duty ended. I waited
for my friend who had told me he would come to meet me at around 6:30 pm
at the north gate. He came at around 7:30 pm and we both left the palace.
Then, I went to another friendís place in Thamel. At around 9:15 pm, I
received a call at my mobile from my home. I was told to phone the ADC
office at the palace immediately. When I called the office, I was told
there had been firing at the Tribhuwan Sadan. I, then, called the
Annapurna ADC office. Nobody picked up the phone. I was preparing to go
back to the palace when I received another call from my home asking me
to immediately head for the hospital. I reached the hospital at around
9:45 pm. Pashupati Bhakta Maharjan, Principal Secretary at the
Royal Palace I received a call from the military secretary at around ten and was
told to come to the palace immediately. I went there on my motorcycle.
When I reached there the secretary had already left for the hospital. I
contacted him on his mobile whereupon he said something had happened to
His Majesty and asked me to inform the Prime Minister. I went to Prime
Ministerís place. After telling him something had happened in the
palace, I returned to palace on his car. We then proceeded towards the
hospital. I saw Queen Mother there and took the Prime Minister there.
Dr. Rayamajhi was also there. At around 12:30 pm it was decided to
dispatch a helicopter to bring back Prince Gyanendra. At around 3 to
3:30 in the morning, the Prime Minister returned to his residence. I
then phoned the Chief Justice, Speaker, National Assembly Chairman and
others. I couldnít reach the leader of the opposition. Prince Gyanendra
arrived at around 6:30 in the morning. Pradip SJB Rana, Inspector General of Nepal Police That day I received a call at 9:15 from the royal palace ADC office
asking to keep the police on alert. Upon knowing that there had been an
accident in the royal palace, I went to the hospital. It was only after
reaching there that I came to know of the incident. (Excerpt translations from the depositions given by various persons to
the high level committee formed to probe the palace killings) |
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