[From The Worker, #8, January 2003]
PRESS STATEMENT ON ROYAL TAKE-OVER
The so-called royal proclamation of last night is a naked step backwards towards feudalism, and amounts to a last-ditch attack on the achievements of the 1990 people's movement. The feudal palace has unveiled its autocratic, fascist character by attacking the fundamental rights of the people, wielding a sword of "royal authority" that it does not possess. Objectively this is neither unexpected nor unusual, as it is the logical consequence of the notorious royal damage of last year and of the well-planned reactionary steps taken in its aftermath. It is crystal clear to everyone that our Party has been pointing out the possible danger of retrogression following last year's royal massacre and has been appealing to all the political forces allied in the 1990 movement to launch a united struggle against this. Today the course of events has proved the truth of our analysis and conclusions.
This feudal autocracy, imposed through a so-called royal proclamation, will never be tolerated by the great Nepalese people of the 21" century. Already dissatisfied with the limited rights attained by the popular movement of 1990, they are now pushing ahead for greater rights and liberation. The Nepalese people have no choice but to sweep away the feudal autocracy forever by developing a storm of united struggle against this reactionary proclamation, which ignores the main issue facing the country - the civil war - and has no mention of the way out. The time has come to overthrow and dissolve the feudal palace on be half of the sovereign Nepalese people by rejecting the illegitimate decisions of the feudal palace. Our Party forcefully calls on all the pro-people forces of the country to shun the phrase mongering, enticements and threats of the feudal forces and advance together in the historic task of building a new Nepal.
5 October, 2002(Prachanda)
Chairman CPN (M)