Is Nepal's Nero smoking as his nation burns?

[dArKeR]

By David Rohde
NY TIMES NEWS SERVICE , KATMANDU
Tuesday, Apr 27, 2004,Page 9

As an intensifying Maoist insurgency kills an average of nearly 10 Nepalis a day, King Gyanendra has spent most of his time in his palace chain-smoking, writing vague speeches and, Nepalese leaders and foreign diplomats say, keeping nearly everyone in his anguished kingdom guessing.

"Frankly, we don't know what he wants," said a senior Indian diplomat in Katmandu. "He has managed to create a two-front war for himself."

Nineteen months ago, the king dismissed the elected prime minister, took control of the government and promised to steady the nation after 13 years of erratic civilian democracy. Today Gyanendra, 56, an amateur poet and wildlife conservationist who receives tips on what books to read from Henry Kissinger, is being called a Himalayan Nero by opposition politicians.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2004/04/27/2003138307