Nepal King Orders Protesters Shot on Sight

Houston Chronicle ^ | April 8, 2006 | BINAJ GURUBACHARYA Associated Press Writer

[sagar]

KATMANDU, Nepal — Protesters demanding a return to democracy postponed a rally that had been expected to draw thousands on Saturday, after the king imposed an all-day curfew and ordered violators shot on sight.

Khadga Prasad Oli, deputy leader of the Communist Party of Nepal, called the curfew "unnecessary, illegal and illogical" and said the protesters would try to hold the rally on Sunday.

Seven main political parties organized the rally as the high point of a four-day general strike that has shut down the capital Katmandu, where King Gyanendra's refusal to give up absolute rule has led to growing unrest.

Protesters clashed with police in Katmandu and surrounding areas on Thursday and Friday. Hundreds of people were arrested and dozens were injured.

The protesters have the backing of communist rebels, who are separately fighting against the king's rule and formed a loose alliance with the political parties in December.

Gyanendra dismissed the prime minister in February last year, saying he needed full powers to check the growing communist insurgency, which has killed some 13,000 people since 1996.

The rebels battled government troops in two southwest towns Friday. Details were sketchy, but government buildings were reportedly bombed and the jail attacked in one town.

Officials said the curfew was in response to information that the rebels would try to infiltrate the rallies and wage terror attacks against government targets.

The curfew began at 10 a.m. Saturday and was to continue until 9 p.m. in Katmandu and two suburbs, the government announced on state-run Radio Nepal. Violators would be shot, it said.

"We strongly oppose this," Oli said, adding that the protest would be postponed until Sunday, the last day of the strike.

Authorities have cracked down forcefully on the protests. On Friday, police used batons and tear gas to beat back hundreds of demonstrators in Katmandu, many of whom who were throwing rocks.

A post office in Katmandu was set on fire Friday, and students at the capital's Tribhuwan University ransacked the dean's office and briefly held several officers hostage.

The students were joined by workers, professionals and business owners, in what the opposition said was a sign of building momentum against the king.

Protest organizers said the curfew order and other restrictions show the government is nervous.

"It proves that we have been able to startle the government. We have not decided how we are going to respond to the curfew order but we will not be deterred by the government using these means to try quash our movement for democracy," Subash Nemwang, another communist party member.

Of the more than 750 people arrested the past three days, 115 were sent to prison under a tough public safety law that allows authorities to jail people without charge for 90 days, Home Minister Kamal Thapa said.

"The government is using minimum force to control the situation," Thapa told reporters.

The rebels have promised not to carry out attacks in Katmandu during the strike, but have stepped up attacks elsewhere.

Gyanendra called for calm in a speech live Friday on national radio and television.

"Let us all pledge today to devote time for establishing permanent peace," he said. "It is the need of today to establish permanent peace."

The remarks were the king's first public comments on the daily protests and the escalating violence.

___

Associated Press writer Neelesh Misra contributed to this story.

[sagar]

"I was last in Pokara just as the Maoists were starting up (1996), and I met a few of them running my hotel, they were obviously in sympathy."

Yes, Pokhara was one of the starting points for Maoism.

"The basic beef at the time was that the royals were stealing everything they could get their hands on (in particular foreign aid);"

Interesting. Politicians are thought as corrupt in Kathmandu(where I lived). The king has hardly any control over foreign aid. They go directly to the ministries and that are run by senior ministers, junior ministers, and co-ministers. For example, the Road Department alone had 6 ministers at one time. One was the senior minister, 2 junior ministers, and 3 co-ministers from other departments. My dad was working as an engineer and used to say that whenever there was the influx of foreign aid, all the money would go to the ministers. There, they'd divide it... and pick their cronies(usually sons or son in laws) as "contractors". Then, the contractors would hire laborers and buy materials.

Laborers were paid peanuts and materials were never up to the standard. My dad had to "sign" all papers, so he would be technically responsible for the quality of the highway under his supervision. I remember him getting mad whenever there was the influx of foreign aid or new ministers being added to the department. He had to make those elected bastards with no education happy just to keep his engineering job.

"that they ran the country like a serfdom (hard to argue with that); and that they provided absolutely nothing to the people, especially outside Kathmandu."

King lost all his power after 1990 revolution. He remained only the figurehead. I doubt the dire economic situation was due to him. Of course, the king could care less, but I don't think he was directly responsible.

"At the time I argued that Maoism and communism had recently fallen apart everywhere throughout the world, and they reluctantly agreed, except that "We are a poor country, and this is where we have to start." We continued a bit, then they appeared angry, and I changed hotels the next day."

Yeah, that was the feeling. I was in the 8th grade in 1996, but grew up in a politically charged household. So I was kept up to date with all political news and events. Half in my extended family were monarchists(mostly mom's side), a quarter had political hopes(Nepali Congress), and a whole quarter were commies(of non-Maoist, but Marxist brand).

[Alexander Rubin]

Yeah, your pictures of home are gorgeous. And for what it's worth, I think most of us support the monarchy in Nepal as well.

Do you think that, realistically, there's a chance that the Maoist rebels could be put down permanently?

Or that an alliance with India could be formed?

[Dudoight]

This is the King who was a second son and he shot his older brother, the then king, younger brother, their wives and children so he could be king. He was nuts long before this.

That he could become king after that is amazing.

[sagar]

"This is the King who was a second son and he shot his older brother, the then king, younger brother, their wives and children so he could be king. He was nuts long before this."

Well, he could not have shot it, because he was outside of the city. His son was present in the palace with his cousin(then crown prince). Both apparently were high on drugs.

The crown prince, according to the official story, was unhappy at his mother for rejecting his girlfriend(a princess from another royal house). Mad and high on drugs, he shot everybody before/after dinner. The cousin was spared and allegedly tried to convince the crown prince not to kill the family members.

After killing almost all family members, the crown prince either shot himself or was shot by palace guards.

I personally don't think there was a conspiracy.

[ovrtaxt]

Communists are now 'pro-democracy'?

The MSM never ceases to amaze me.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Besides, didn't this king make it into power by blowing away the rest of his family?

Close. The official story was that the Crown Prince went nuts and blew his family away and then committed suicide.

[Caipirabob]

The protesters have the backing of communist rebels, who are separately fighting against the king's rule and formed a loose alliance with the political parties in December. Gyanendra dismissed the prime minister in February last year, saying he needed full powers to check the growing communist insurgency, which has killed some 13,000 people since 1996.

I agree with the king. Communists are in need of immediate execution. Their influence is a danger to all free people and nations.

If communists began threatening trouble on these shores, I would advocate the same policy. In fact I think this nation may be closer to implementing it than most Dims are aware.

[Dudoight]

However, this king is not exactly a benevolent monarch. The people are in bad shape economically. That provides the breeding ground for the commies.

[Caipirabob]

You're right. He stinks as a King, any chance we can get him to run for the Senate? *grin*

[little jeremiah]

Interesting connection between names - Machupuchre in Nepal, and Machu Pichu in Peru. Have you read "Prrof of World Vedic Culture's Global Existence" by Stephen Knapp? There are many linguistic connections between South America and Sanskrit, as well as cultural.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Thanks for the ping. Family going back there before too long...

[freepatriot32]

i didnt know nepal passed the patriot act :-)

[little jeremiah]

There, got your name right.

[Gengis Khan]

Thanks for the ping! Good to hear from you!

[little jeremiah]

Been really busy lately.... Not much time for FRing.

Will ping you to an article soon!