A Singaporean woman reveals plans to enthrone 'baby king' in Nepal

Singapore based tabloid The New Paper which carried exclusive interviews with former crown prince of Nepal Paras Shah in three editions Sunday to Tuesday has run yet another sensational story - plans to revive monarchy of a Singaporean woman who claims to have high influences in Nepal's politics.

Angella Cheng, who claims former King Gyanendra Shah gave up his throne after she made a strategic call to the erstwhile Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, has revealed her plans to coax Prime Minister and the Maoist Supremo Prachanda to enthrone Hridayendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, the grandson of the former king and son of Paras Shah.

The New Paper reports, Ms Cheng, 45, plans to visit Nepal during Deepavali in October and seek an audience with prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (alias Prachanda), during which she will offer him a plan which she thinks will unite the country.

'I will propose that we reinstate the monarchy, with the grandson of King Gyanendra, 6-year-old Hridayendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, as king. He will not have executive power but will be more of a figurehead, and assigned the role of doing social work.'

Cheng said Hridayendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev-dubbed 'baby king' by some political leaders in Nepal would be a better choice to be the king compared to former Crown Prince Paras Shah as the latter is not popular with the people, having, as he himself has admitted, made too many mistakes to inherit the royal mantle.

Cheng plans to decoy Prachanda government with a package of infrastructural development in Nepal.

The Singaporean believes her suggestion will bear fruit as she has two bargaining chips to persuade the Prachanda government to accept the return of the monarchy.

One, the country is in dire need of infrastructural development. An architect by training and fluent in Nepali and Mandarin, she is accompanying the Prachanda government to China to have discussions with the Chinese government on starting a number of major infrastructural projects in Nepal.

Two, through some close contacts in the Japanese government, Ms Cheng is also trying to persuade Japan to undertake some similar infrastructural projects in Nepal.

Cheng, who is involved in various social works in Nepal and Singapore, has claimed she wants to rescue Nepal out of its difficult situation. Now, Nepal is facing perhaps its most difficult time. Revenue from tourism, its main income earner, is falling as visitors are staying away because of the global recession.

The country is also plagued by shortages of all sorts and daily blackouts.

Ms Cheng feels she has a new peace mission to play and intends to return to Nepal soon.

I have played many crucial roles in the country for the last 28 years, and the time has come for me to do my bit for the country again, Cheng says.

Cheng said she has been friends with Nepal's royalties and politicians for a long time and her influence is still strong.

I know most of the politicians, including Prime Minister Prachanda, the Maoist rebel leader turned politician, and members of the royal family since 1981, she said.

The report comes shortly after former King Gyanendra Shah's month-long visit to India, which the Maoist leaders described as a ploy to enthrone the 'baby king.'

Why Ms Angella Cheng opened up now or how credible her claims are is yet to be seen. nepalnews.com Apr 01 09