Civil society leaders denounce King's message A number of prominent civil society activists have denounced the democracy day message by King Gyanendra terming it as "an ill-intentioned attempt to justify his autocratic takeover of 1 February 2005." "The statement goes directly against the people's desires for lasting peace through the free and fair conduct of the constituent assembly elections," states a statement issued jointly by leading civil society activists including senior leftist politician Nilambar Acharya, human rights activist Sushil Pyakurel, politician Nabindra Raj Joshi and senior journalist Kanak Mani Dixit. Adding to the voices raised by political parties pointing out to the unconstitutionality and inappropriateness of the King's message, the activists, too, have denounced it and demanded that the legislature and seven party government remove the King from the government residence at Narayanhiti; immediately wrest the title of 'King' from him and forbid all public actions, statements and travel by the King. The statement adds that the Nepali public recognises King Gyanendra as an autocrat who does not believe in constitutional rule. "Having already shown his malicious intent by defying the 1990 Constitution, he has once again stepped on the Interim Constitution adopted after the restoration of democracy. We believe that the responsibility for taking action against the king for his statement falls upon the Government of Nepal and the Interim Legislature which has the overwhelming participation of the eight parties." "At a time when the prime minister holds the responsibilities of head-of-state and the king has been denied any role or power under the Interim Constitution, we find the king grossly irresponsible for having issued the statement. Such an ill-intentioned action by the king has made more tenuous the already-fluid transitional political situation in the country," the statement adds. nepalnews.com sd Feb 19 07