Actualité Internationales
Vendredi 21 avril 2006
No - 15765

NEPAL
Protesters prepare to defy curfew

Tens of thousands of anti-monarchy protesters gathered outside the city limits of the Nepali capital Kathmandu yesterday preparing to defy a strict curfew imposed to block a pro-democracy rally, witnesses said.
Security forces have orders to shoot violators but activists said they would not be prevented from holding the rally to force King Gyanendra to restore multi-party democracy.
The city of 1.5 million people was deserted except for police and troops on patrol. But at various places on the outskirts, activists had gathered, shouting “Long live democracy, down with autocracy,” witnesses also said.
In the Maharajgunj suburb, riot police backed by soldiers armed with automatic rifles faced about 20,000 people singing revolutionary songs and chanting “What do the people want? We want a democratic republic”.
Women with children in their arms were in the crowd and residents were throwing water from balconies overhead to cool down the demonstrators on a hot sunny day. “The king is afraid of the people, that’s why he has imposed a curfew,” said Gaura Prasai, a 47 year-old housewife. “Unless we break the curfew, he is not going to give in. We will try to break it.”
The gates of Narayanhity Palace, the king’s city residence, were closed and an armoured car with a machine gun on top was on patrol. All shops on the usually busy Durbar Street leading to the palace were shuttered and guests were barred from leaving hotel premises.

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