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| Monday, 12 April 2004 |
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Thousands defy ban to protest against Nepali king KATHMANDU, Sunday (Reuters) Nepali police fired tear gas to break up several thousand demonstrators pressing the king for democratic reforms, and held more than 500 people for defying a ban on protests, witnesses said. Nepal, already battling a Maoist insurgency, has seen some of the biggest rallies in almost 15 years as politicians press King Gyanendra to replace his appointed cabinet with an all-party government, and call elections. Opposition spokesmen said those detained in the protests near Gyanendra's palace included senior politicians. Riot police dragged away protesters, who threw stones and damaged vehicles as they were hauled off to makeshift detention centres. "Police fired teargas and arrested more than 500 protesters, who are being kept in inhuman conditions in a state warehouse," Nepali Congress party official Krishna Sitaula told Reuters. Foreign governments and rights groups say Nepal's twin crises are worsening as the rebels step up their offensive and Gyanendra fails to quell the political turmoil that is now crippling the nation of 24 million, one of the world's poorest. Analysts and diplomats say the country is headed for a dangerous showdown unless Gyanendra gives in to demands for an all-party government, enters talks with the Maoists and calls national elections, delayed since 2002. King Gyanendra gave security forces sweeping powers of arrest, officials said. State radio said the king renewed an ordinance that gives police and troops the right to detain people and search homes on suspicion of "terrorist" activities. The ordinance had just expired after being imposed by parliament for two years in April 2002. King Gyanendra, who dismissed the elected government six months later, extended it in the absence of a parliament. The measure was designed to help troops battle Maoist rebels, who have been fighting since 1996 to overthrow the monarchy. |
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