|
|
|
| Sunday, 09 April 2006 |
 |
|
 |
World |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Nepal imposes curfew to thwart protests, warns violators could be shot by Sam Taylor Nepal's government slapped a daytime curfew on the capital Saturday and warned violators could be shot in a bid to thwart anti-royal protests as the army said clashes with Maoist rebels left at least 14 dead in the west of the kingdom. Authorities cut mobile telephone services and imposed the curfew from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. (0415 GMT-1515 GMT) in Kathmandu, neighbouring Patan city and surrounding areas, Nepal Television reported. "People should not come out of their houses during the curfew time. Security forces may shoot those who try to leave their houses during the curfew time," a news reader said on state-controlled television. Twenty-five students were arrested in the capital, police said, the latest in a wave of detentions this week aimed at derailing the protets. Home Minister Kamal Thapa said Friday 751 people had been arrested since Monday and the government might tackle the protests by imposing a state of emergency. Local media reported running street battles between police and curfew breakers in the alleys of Patan. There were no vehicles on Kathmandu's streets as hundreds of soldiers and police patrolled the roads after the start of the daytime curfew on the third day of a four-day anti-royal general strike called by opposition parties. The opposition parties, who have the support of Maoist rebels, vowed to press ahead with a big protest set for later Saturday against King Gyanendra's seizure of power in February 2005 despite mass arrests. But a similar demonstration was derailed in January when the royal government rounded up hundreds of activists, banned protests, cut mobile telephone services and imposed curfews. "We will go ahead with our protest despite the curfew," Kashinath Adhikari, of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist), told AFP. Meanwhile, the army reported 11 Maoist rebels and three security men were killed in clashes late Friday and early Saturday in the west of the insurgency-racked kingdom. "Thousands of terrorists simultaneously attacked various security bases and government offices in Rupandehi and Kapilbastu district headquarters," an army statement said. Kathmandu residents, meanwhile, were waiting for a government announcement on whether a night-time curfew imposed Wednesday would be extended. It was not known how long the daytime curfew would last. This week, the royal government has arrested prominent political leaders, lawyers and activists, banned protests and arrested hundreds of civilians for defying a protest ban. In an address broadcast nationwide late Friday, the king told Hindu sages at a religious meeting there was a need "to devote time for establishing permanent peace" but did not directly refer to the turmoil gripping the nation. The general strike has brought Nepal to a virtual halt with businesses, shops and schools closed. Many residents had stockpiled food ahead. The international community has denounced the crackdown, with the United States, the United Nations, the European Union, India and Japan calling for an end to arrests and release of those detained. The opposition parties have the support of the Maoists who formed a loose alliance with political leaders last November to restore democracy in the impoverished Himalayan kingdom. King Gyanendra has justified his power grab by saying politicians failed to quell the insurgency which has raged since 1996 and left 12,500 people dead. Saturday marks the 16th anniversary of Nepal's "people's movement day". On April 8, 1990, late King Birendra lifted a ban on political parties,
leading the next year to the first elected government in nearly 50 years. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
