April 18, 2006 |  |

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| Nepal opposition declares economic war, food and fuel scarce KATHMANDU (AFP) - Residents of Nepal's capital faced more hardship Monday as opposition parties declared economic war on King Gyanendra, with food and fuel shortages taking a toll after nearly two weeks of strikes and protests. Late Sunday, an alliance of seven major political parties called on citizens to halt tax and utility bill payments and avoid patronizing businesses run by the royal family, ahead of a mass protest in Kathmandu set for Thursday. The parties also asked countries to stop all aid to the kingdom and Nepalis working overseas to delay sending money home to their families -- an important source of income in Nepal, where annual per capita income is 240 dollars. "As a part of a non-cooperation movement against the autocratic royal government, we call upon the taxpayers not to pay any kind of taxes to the government and also for consumers not to pay anything for water, electricity, telephone or other services," the parties said in a statement. The program is aimed at crippling an economy already reeling from 12 days of non-stop strikes and protests along with a decade-old Maoist insurgency to force the king to restore democracy after 14 months of absolute rule. In response, vegetable markets were crowded early Monday, as people rushed to buy expensive stock as trade groups warned of severe shortages after deliveries of fresh produce were stopped. Private banks were closed Monday and a petrol and kerosene shortage loomed in the Kathmandu Valley, home to 1.7 million people. "I haven't been riding my motorcycle, but wanted to fill up because I heard there was a shortage," said Ravi Sharma, a 19-year-old student waiting in a long line at a petrol station in Kathmandu. Most shops in the capital remained shut Monday and few vehicles traveled the streets ahead of a mass pro-democracy protest called for Thursday. The strike has the backing of Maoist rebels, who entered a loose alliance with the Himalayan country's sidelined political parties last November. The rebels declared a ceasefire around the capital, but have continued attacks on Nepal's security services elsewhere. The latest crisis prompted the royal government to extend a ban on protests that is enforced by heavily-armed riot police using rubber bullets, tear gas and truncheons to disperse demonstrators throughout the capital, including the main tourist area of Thamel. Local independent media joined in the criticism of the king and splashed news of meetings between Gyanendra and ambassadors from the United States, India and China on the front page along with critical editorials. "Unfortunately, the government is still relying on force to deal with a crisis of unprecedented proportions in Nepal's history," said an editorial in the English-language Himalayan Times. An editorial in state-run media repeated a call for dialogue and national elections made by Gyanendra last week, along with a warning to the press. "By crossing the ethics of journalism some media persons are working against democratic norms and values. This must not be the case, as they must inform people impartially and without any other vested interest," the editorial in the state-run Rising Nepal newspaper said. When Gyanendra took over in February 2005, a state of emergency was declared for three months. Media freedom was severely curtailed, with soldiers in newsrooms censoring stories and some FM news stations taken off the air. Royal ministers have said that the latest protests had been infiltrated by Maoists, and that was why a harsh crackdown was needed. Since the Maoists began a "people's war" in 1996, at least 12,500 people have been killed.

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