Says position of kings in Thailand, Nepal incomparable; coup unlikely in Nepal
Kathmandu, September 20:

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today downplayed the fears of a possible military coup in Nepal, saying the positions of kings in Thailand and Nepal were incomparable. He said this while reacting to the situation in Thailand where the army staged a coup last evening overthrowing the popularly elected government, with Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra stranded in New York. Koirala, who appeared unruffled by the development, also said that the people of Nepal have worked to establish democracy firmly with the powers enjoyed so far by the King now. 

“Of course, the coup itself is unfortunate in Thailand. But Nepal now has sovereign people. I can never believe such a thing can happen in Nepal,” Koirala said, dismissing the initial fears. He was also of the view that Nepal has a bright future and the political parties in the field, too, were responsible in themselves, something which rules out Thailand-like wrangling and squabbling which encouraged the army to take over. 

Koirala also said that the time was coming when the seven party alliance would be holding talks with Maoists to leave behind all uncertainty over the interim constitution and legislature. “Preliminary talks are going on. We are expecting definite agreement in due course,” Koirala said reassuringly. The report of coup in Thailand has, meanwhile, attracted widespread reaction from political parties, with all of them drawing attention to the need to have a “surefire safeguard” against such an eventuality in Nepal.