Curfew continues in the capital, people defy curfew orders
The government has imposed day-time curfew in parts of Kathmandu , Bhaktapur, Lalitpur and Kirtipur for the third day on Monday with a view to thwart opposition rallies and meetings. On Saturday, curfew was imposed between 10:00 in the morning till 9:00 in the evening. The opposition parties had planned a massive rally at Basantapur of Kathmandu on Saturday. On Sunday, curfew hours were extended by two hours (from 7:00 a. m. to 8:00 p. m.) On Monday, curfew has been reduced to seven hours (between 11:00 a. m. to 6:00 p. m.). Perhaps for the first time in the country’s history, thousands of people took to streets defying the curfew orders in the capital and other parts of the country. Opposition leaders, activists and common people organized demonstrations in various parts of the capital from Sunday defying curfew orders. Police resorted to baton-charging, fired tear gas shells and even fired rubber bullets to control the crowd in the capital. Hundreds of activists were arrested over the last two days while dozens others were injured during clashes. Compiled from reports.
Half a million people take part in pro-democracy rallies
At least half a million people took part in pro-democracy rallies across the country on Chaitra 26 (April 8) on Saturday calling for restoration of peace and democracy in the country. Huge rallies were taken out in nearly 50 out of 75 districts in the country including Bardiya, Dang, Dhanusha, Biratnagar, Udaypur, Kailali, Banke, Chitwan and Parsa. People chanted anti-king slogans and asked the royal government to resign. They were carrying flags of Nepali Congress, CPN (UML) and other parties of the seven party alliance that had called a four-day nationwide general strike (April 6-9) to push for its demand of “an end to autocratic monarchy” and restoration of total democracy. Employees of the state-owned corporations including those working in the public utilities joined in the pro-democracy movement across the country. The opposition has extended its general strike on Monday and has said the protest programmes would continue until people’s rights are restored in the country. Compiled from reports.
19 people killed in Maoist attacks in Butwal and Kapilvastu
At least 19 people, including three security personnel, fourteen rebels and two civilians, were killed during overnight Maoist attacks at key security installations at Butwal and Kapilvasu in the western region on Friday. According to the Ministry of Defense, rebels mounted attacks on the Ramnagar barrack of the army, Royal Nepalese Army training center, Ilaka Police office and Regional Police Training Center at Butwal and the district police office of Rupandehi. The rebels also attacked and destroyed several government offices including Land Revenue Office, District Forest Office, office of Taulihawa municipality, among others. The rebels set free over 100 inmates after attacking the district prison of Kapilvastu. Compiled from reports.
No. of domestic air travelers goes up: CAAN
The number of passengers traveling by domestic airlines has increased by 17 percent compared to last year, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN)—a regulatory body—said. Over one million passengers traveled by domestic air service while around 127,000 passengers traveled by international flight to and from the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in the first 11 months of 2005, CAAN said. CAAN was able to earn revenue worth Rs 1.40 billion from domestic airlines. Nepal has signed air service agreements with 35 countries after the adoption of the open sky policy of the government, officials said. RSS news agency reports.
24 killed in Malangawa clashes, army chopper crashes
At least six policemen, six rebels and two civilians were killed during overnight clashes at Malangawa—the district headquarter of Sarlahi on Wednesday. Thousands of rebels attacked the district headquarters and set on fire key government offices during their raid. They freed over 100 inmates from the district prison and took CDO Bodh Raj Adhikari and a number of security personnel into custody. The authorities say an Army chopper—that had been sent to aid the fighting security personnel—was found crashed two km west of Malangawa. They said the MI17 chopper – with ten security personnel on board- crashed due to `technical error.’ Reporters were denied to reach the site of the crash while the RNA said an investigation was underway. In a statement issued on Thursday, Maoist chairman Prachanda claimed that his guerrillas gunned down the chopper. He claimed that it was one of the most spectacular victory attained by the rebels in the decade-old insurgency. All ten RNA personnel including pilots died in the incident. Over a dozen policemen were injured during the overnight clashes. The situation is now under control, officials said. Compiled from reports.
Nepali economy to grow by around 2 percent: ADB
While developing Asia and South Asia is expected to grow at the rate of over 7 percent, the growth of Nepali economy is expected to slow down further to 2 percent in the year 2006, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said. According to the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) launched on Thursday, given the conflict, political instability, decline in paddy production, low industrial production, contraction of tourism and sluggish public and private investment, Nepal would continue to remain the exception in 2006 and 2007, the report said. Nepali economy may grow to around 3.4 percent in 2007, according to the Manila-based bank. “ Nepal has missed the pace itself with strong economic performances recorded in the region,” said Sultan Hafeez Rahman, country director of the ADB in Nepal . “ Nepal should formulate policies that will link the country with India and China , besides giving stronger focus to development, accelerating reforms and engaging more with donors and international community to turn the situation in its favour,” he added. Compiled from reports.
Amnesty International Expresses Concern Over Increase Violence
Amnesty International today urged the government to rein in the security forces, saying it feared an increase in violence over coming days. “Rather than justifying the use of excessive force, the government should be ensuring that the police and army act within the law to protect people’s lives," said Purna Sen, Asia-Pacific Director at Amnesty International. "Restricting peaceful demonstrations by ban orders and curfews and arbitrarily arresting hundreds of people only enflames an already volatile situation."
Three people were killed and many more were injured by members of the security forces over the weekend in attempts to control the sometimes violent demonstrations; and the Home Minister has made a veiled threat warning that the government could take stronger action against protestors. Observers in the country noted that the number of protesters and security forces out on the streets appears to be growing, and that both sides are increasingly resorting to violence..
“The government must order immediate and impartial investigations into all allegations of the misuse of force or firearms by the security forces,” said Purna Sen. “Victims and their families deserve justice and compensation.”
Six Security Men Killed In Maoist Ambush
Six security personnel including five soldiers of Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) were killed when a vehicle they were traveling in fell into an ambush laid by the Maoists in Surunga of Jhapa district. They were transporting School Leaving Certificate (SLC) questions papers to the schools there. Two security personnel and two civilians were also injured in the attack. The SLC tests were later resumed in schools in Surunga after four hours of delay. In Sindhupalchowk, an RNA soldier was killed and seven others injured in a clash with Maoists at Ek Kilo of Lamosanghu-Jiri road section. Leading dailies report.
Buses Stopped From Coming To Kathmandu
Thousands of passengers were stranded after police stopped buses from traveling to Kathmandu from places such as Pokhara, Narayangadh, Baglung, Syangja, Udayapur and so on. Around 100 buses that were bound to Kathmandu from Itahari were told to go back where they came from. Earlier, the Home Ministry had appealed to people to avoid/postpone unnecessary travel to Kathmandu in view of general strike and agitation. Leading dailies report.
Koirala Appeals For Participation In Agitation
On the eve of the four day general strike by the seven parties, Nepali Congress (NC) president Girija Prasad Koirala issued an appeal urging people to take active part in the agitation. He has said that the agitation is aimed at ending autocracy and establishing the supremacy of people. He urged people to take part in agitation despite possible repression by the government.Leading dailies report.
Maoists Warn Actress Manisha Of Physical Action
Concluding that her recent campaigning in the municipal polls proved that she is anti-people, the Maoists have warned ‘physical action’ against Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala – the niece of Nepali Congress (NC) president Girija Prasad Koirala and daughter of incumbent minister Prakash Koirala. The sister wing of Maoists called All Nepal People’s Cultural Organization has threatened Manisha of action if she does not correct herself. “This time we are only warning her. If she does not agree, we will be forced to take physical action,” said Ganesh Bhandari, central member of the organization and the president of the organization’s Bheri-Karnali regional committee. Bhandari added that they would take action against Manisha in Mumbai , India – where Manisha is based – itself. Speaking at a press meet in a village in Bardiya, Bhandari said that the committee has banned all films acted by Manisha. In a statement issued after the press meet, the Maoists have said they would confiscate reels or CDs of movies of Manisha from video parlors if they keep it. Bhandari said that although this decision (to boycott her films) applies only to Bheri-Karnali area, they would make it nationwide soon. They have also asked cable companies to stop broadcasting materials featuring Manisha. The renowned Bollywood actress Koirala had campaigned in favor of election during the February municipal polls. Nepal Samacharpatra daily reports.
US Calls for Restoration of Democracy
The spokesman of U.S. Department of State Sean McCormack in his recent statement said, as a friend of Nepal , we must state that King Gyanendra's decision fourteen months ago to impose direct palace rule in Nepal has failed in every regard. The demonstrations, deaths, arrests, and Maoist attacks in the past few days have shown there is more insecurity, not less. The King's continuing failure to bring the parties back into a process to restore democracy has compounded the problem. The United States calls upon the King to restore democracy immediately and to begin a dialogue with Nepal 's constitutional political parties. It is time the King recognizes that this is the best way to deal with the Maoist insurgency and to return peace and prosperity to Nepal .
