|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Wednesday, 16 February 2005 |
 |
|
 |
World | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Nepal bristles at criticism, says fights terrorism KATHMANDU, Tuesday (Reuters) Nepal rejected on Tuesday international criticism of King Gyanendra's decision to assume full power, saying the step was crucial to fight Maoist rebels. Tulsi Giri, a former royalist premier who Gyanendra named on Monday as one of his deputies on a ruling council, said it was unfortunate that India and the United States had criticised the king for trying to stop Nepal's slide into chaos. "There is a compulsion. There is a chaotic law and order situation in the country because of terrorism," said Giri, who was brought out of decades of political obscurity by the king. "What are we expected to do? Will you allow killings to go on?" he asked Reuters. King Gyanendra sacked the government on Feb 1, blaming it for failing to tackle the Maoists. He assumed direct charge, setting aside multi-party democracy that was introduced in 1990 and suspended civil liberties including press freedom. Giri described the Maoist rebels as terrorists and said in fighting terrorism, Nepal was just trying to do what other countries around the world were doing. More than 11,000 have been killed in the nine-year-old revolt by the rebels, who are battling to replace what they see as a feudalistic, autocratic monarchy with one-party communist rule in one of the world's poorest countries. Giri's comments came a day after the United States, Britain and France recalled their ambassadors and Washington demanded the restoration of civil liberties. Giant neighbour India also summoned its envoy back to New Delhi for consultations and urged Kathmandu to release political leaders, journalists and activists, who were detained after the king seized power, and restore multi-party democracy. Political wrangling and the insurgency in landlocked Nepal, wedged between India and China, have raised concern about its stability and fears that foreign militants could take advantage of the chaos and set up hideouts there. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
