Protests Against King Swell in Nepal

[Gabbal]

Protests Against King Swell in Nepal

 

 

By BINAJ GURUBACHARYA, Associated Press Writer Fri Apr 7, 7:21 PM ET

 

KATMANDU, Nepal - Police using batons and tear gas Friday beat back stone-throwing students who are demanding that King Gyanendra give up total power, while Maoist rebels attacked sites in the south.

 

For the first time, students were joined in protests in the capital by workers, professionals and business owners — a sign, the opposition said, of growing momentum against the monarch in the Himalayan kingdom of 27 million people.

 

The second day of a four-day strike called by opposition parties_ and supported by the guerrillas — shut down public transport, shops and schools in the capital, Katmandu.

 

Hundreds of students emerged from the capital's alleyways, throwing bricks and stones. They burned a post office and forced police to retreat. Other students ransacked the dean's office at Tribhuwan University.

 

Across Katmandu, police battled protesters in rallies organized by the alliance of seven political parties that called the strike to force the king to restore parliamentary rule.

 

Home Minister Kamal Thapa said 751 people were arrested the past three days and warned that authorities would declare emergency rule or impose curfews if needed.

 

Gyanendra took total power Feb. 1, 2005, by dismissing the government of interim Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, saying it was unable to quell a Maoist insurgency that had killed 13,000 since 1996. But the insurgency has worsened and the economy has faltered since.

 

Gyanendra called for calm Friday in a speech broadcast live on national radio and television from Birgunj, about 125 miles south of Katmandu, saying "it is the need of today to establish permanent peace."

 

In New Delhi, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia, Richard Boucher, called Gyanendra's assumption of absolute power "a travesty."

 

"There is no reason to support the king," he said. "The only thing he needs to do is restore democracy."

 

Japan said it regretted the arrests, and called for peaceful protests. Neighboring India also called for the immediate release of political detainees.

 

The rebels promised not to wage attacks in Katmandu during the strike, but have stepped up attacks elsewhere, raiding two army camps and a police station in a southern Nepal town Friday night.

 

Days before the strike, Gyanendra's government banned all forms of public protest in Katmandu — a decision condemned by the

European Union — and Friday's demonstrations were the first that drew ordinary workers, professionals and business people onto the streets.

 

"This is very encouraging for us. People from all walks of life and groups have emerged in to the streets to join our protest, which is going to make sure our movement will continue and force the government down," said Krishna Sitaula of the Nepali Congress, the largest party.

 

Widespread protests in 1990 that forced the previous king to establish parliamentary democracy only gained momentum only when thousands of common citizens poured into the streets.

 

___

 

Associated Press writer Neelesh Misra contributed to this story.