Daily Times - Site Edition | Thursday, April 13, 2006

Nepal relaxes curfew, fresh protests break out

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s government said on Wednesday it was relaxing a daytime curfew in the capital for the first time in five days as violent pro-democracy protests flare across the country.
The restrictions had been imposed for several hours a day since Saturday in a bid to quell protests called by Nepal’s seven main political parties against King Gyanendra’s power grab 14 months ago. But state television said the curfew would not be imposed on Wednesday, without citing any reason for the move.
Demonstrators calling for the restoration of democracy took to the streets, with about two dozen activists defying a ban on protests in the heart of Kathmandu.
They shouted slogans and waved party flags before being stopped by riot police. About half-a-dozen were arrested, while the others were chased away by police waving batons and protected by riot shieds. “Long live the democratic republic!” and “Down with autocracy”, they had shouted before police moved in.
Earlier, Tirtha Ram Dangol, a leader of the Nepali Congress party, told protesters: “You will not run away. You will not throw stones. This will be a non-violent protest.” Witnesses said 30 journalists who had joined the protests were arrested on Wednesday morning.
Businessmen, doctors and lawyers also vowed to join the pro-democracy campaign, but despite the protests, there were no immediate indications of the king trying to defuse the crisis beyond the curfew relaxation. Instead, the royalist government has only hardened its position and promised tough action against demonstrators, accusing them of colluding with Maoist rebels and attacking government forces.
Hospitals overflowing: The campaign, backed by Maoist insurgents, had been due to end on Sunday but was extended indefinitely as stringent security measures prevented big rallies against the king. Professional groups have protested against the king in the past but they have rarely joined hands to demonstrate together. Their plans to unite showed that opposition to the king was growing, analysts said.
Protests were also staged in towns and districts outside Kathmandu and residents reached by phone said thousands of people had taken to the streets against the king, ignoring curfews in several places.
Doctors said hospitals were flooded with patients, some needing treatment for bullet wounds.
On Tuesday, troops shot at activists, wounding many, after they burned tyres, chanted slogans and clashed with police in Gongabu, a Kathmandu suburb.
It was the first time troops had opened fire in the capital during the latest anti-king campaign and some of the wounded were feared dead, Nepali newspaper Kantipur reported. The report could not be confirmed immediately. Three people have died so far since the latest round of protests began on Thursday, all of them outside of the capital.
Reuters reporters who visited one Kathmandu hospital late on Tuesday where activists wounded in Gongabu had been brought, saw 39 people being treated in an overflowing emergency hall.
Political parties say hundreds of protesters have been injured in the crackdown on the latest demonstrations so far and more than 1,500 detained.
A government notice published in state-run Rising Nepal newspaper on Wednesday said the authorities had banned strikes in 15 sectors including banking, insurance, telecommunications, hospitals, hotels, electricity and water supply. Reuters

Home | Foreign