SOS
04-11-2006, 04:43 AM
Deccan Herald (http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/apr112006/foreign1615132006410.asp)
Maoists rule the roost in Nepal
From Sudeshna Sarkar DH News Service Kathmandu:
The two leaders said their banned party would also prevent payment of taxes and other government dues and take action against administration officials and people supporting them.
The coveted royal throne threatens to become the proverbial hot seat for Nepal’s King Gyanendra as in addition to facing a snowballing nationwide agitation for his ouster, he has now been threatened with fresh attacks by the Maoists, who have vowed to capture the kingdom’s highways.
Issuing a statement from hiding on Sunday night, Maoist supremo Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, and his deputy, Dr Baburam Bhattarai, said they were supporting the decision by the parties to extend their general strike indefinitely and would start taking the highways under their control. If translated into action, it would mean a virtual blockade again, the second time this year, and catch the government in a pincer attack.
The two leaders said their banned party would also prevent payment of taxes and other government dues and take action against administration officials and people supporting them. In what is intended to be a direct attack on the institution of monarchy, they have also warned to remove statues of the royal family, present and past and signboards marked “His Majesty’s government” and support protesters’ attempts in the past four days to declare areas of the kingdom “liberated zones”.
Kathmandu valley continued to remain paralysed on Monday, on one hand by day-time curfew extended for the third day by the government, and on the other, an indefinite strike called by the opposition for the fifth day. Clamped from 11am to 6 pm, curfew closed down the capital’s dozens of shopping malls, restaurants, offices and industries and even most diplomatic missions. The offices of the UN and European Union, kept open through bundhs, remained closed. Only protesters continued to erupt on the streets, defying rubber bullets, tear gas shells and lathi-wielding security forces throughout the day.
Security forces were seen beating up unarmed demonstrators and kicking them. Women and children, lying in blood-soaked bandages in the city hospitals recounted how they had been attacked mercilessly even when they were mere bystanders. People also complained security forces had forced their way into their homes, intimidating, arresting people and even looting.
“We will continue the strike and protests till our demands are met and the government lifts its repressive measures,” Arjun Narsingh KC, former spokesman of the Nepali Congress party said. “Neither the threat of emergency nor bullets can stop us. ”
While apologising to the people for causing them hardship, the leader added, “Everybody had to pay a price for freedom and liberty. We ask everyone to make a small sacrifice for the greater cause.”
Nepal is between China and India...
Maoists rule the roost in Nepal
From Sudeshna Sarkar DH News Service Kathmandu:
The two leaders said their banned party would also prevent payment of taxes and other government dues and take action against administration officials and people supporting them.
The coveted royal throne threatens to become the proverbial hot seat for Nepal’s King Gyanendra as in addition to facing a snowballing nationwide agitation for his ouster, he has now been threatened with fresh attacks by the Maoists, who have vowed to capture the kingdom’s highways.
Issuing a statement from hiding on Sunday night, Maoist supremo Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, and his deputy, Dr Baburam Bhattarai, said they were supporting the decision by the parties to extend their general strike indefinitely and would start taking the highways under their control. If translated into action, it would mean a virtual blockade again, the second time this year, and catch the government in a pincer attack.
The two leaders said their banned party would also prevent payment of taxes and other government dues and take action against administration officials and people supporting them. In what is intended to be a direct attack on the institution of monarchy, they have also warned to remove statues of the royal family, present and past and signboards marked “His Majesty’s government” and support protesters’ attempts in the past four days to declare areas of the kingdom “liberated zones”.
Kathmandu valley continued to remain paralysed on Monday, on one hand by day-time curfew extended for the third day by the government, and on the other, an indefinite strike called by the opposition for the fifth day. Clamped from 11am to 6 pm, curfew closed down the capital’s dozens of shopping malls, restaurants, offices and industries and even most diplomatic missions. The offices of the UN and European Union, kept open through bundhs, remained closed. Only protesters continued to erupt on the streets, defying rubber bullets, tear gas shells and lathi-wielding security forces throughout the day.
Security forces were seen beating up unarmed demonstrators and kicking them. Women and children, lying in blood-soaked bandages in the city hospitals recounted how they had been attacked mercilessly even when they were mere bystanders. People also complained security forces had forced their way into their homes, intimidating, arresting people and even looting.
“We will continue the strike and protests till our demands are met and the government lifts its repressive measures,” Arjun Narsingh KC, former spokesman of the Nepali Congress party said. “Neither the threat of emergency nor bullets can stop us. ”
While apologising to the people for causing them hardship, the leader added, “Everybody had to pay a price for freedom and liberty. We ask everyone to make a small sacrifice for the greater cause.”
Nepal is between China and India...