Curfew lifted, Nepal faces more protests
KATHMANDU, Tuesday (AFP) Nepal's capital was facing another mass
rally against King Gyanendra on Tuesday as authorities lifted a week-old
night curfew and a ban on public protests in the capital Kathmandu after
days of violent clashes.
A mobile phone blackout was also partially lifted as the royal
government called for dialogue with opposition parties following a
four-day crackdown that resulted in hundreds of arrests.
Kathmandu has seen days of running battles between protesters and
police breaking up demonstrations against the king, who threw out the
elected government last February.
Gyanendra said his power seizure was necessary to deal with a bloody
insurgency by Maoist rebels, whose latest clash with armed forces left
23 dead on Sunday.
State television announced late Monday that the night curfew and a
ban on public protests slapped on Kathmandu on Monday last week had been
lifted. The curfew would remain in the neighbouring city of Bhaktapur,
it said.
The curbs were announced following the deaths of at least 12 police
in clashes with Maoist rebels near the capital and ahead of the
announcement by political parties of a programme of anti-king protests.
On Monday, Home Minister Kamal Thapa called on opposition parties behind
the protests to enter into dialogue "with a clear agenda".
But he said there was no question of delaying local elections billed
as part of the king's 'roadmap' to democracy but dismissed by critics as
a sham.
"The government has no plans to defer polls. The election will be
held as scheduled," Thapa said. Student groups and opposition parties
meanwhile pledged to continue their protests, including a rally here on
Tuesday and a nationwide strike on Thursday.
"Eight student unions in a meeting today have decided to mobilize
students to help the seven opposition parties' protest programme for the
next three days," Indra Karki, secretary of Nepal Students Union told
AFP Monday.
The students will be "actively involved in making Thursday's
nationwide general strike successful," Karki said. Former Prime Minister
Girija Prasad Koirala, who was placed under house arrest over the
weekend, ruled out making a deal with the king.
"There is no question of compromising with the king, who has
sabotaged the people's rule and imposed his direct rule," said Koirala,
president of the Nepali Congress party.
"The current wave of movement will go ahead with more vigour in the
days ahead to fight to end autocratic monarchy and to restore
democracy," he said in a statement.
Thursday marks the first day of candidate registration for the
controversial local polls. Authorities reported Monday that Maoists had
already shot and killed one candidate from a pro-royal party. The
seven-party opposition have vowed to boycott the elections, and rebel
Maoists have said that they will disrupt the voting. |