- Title: NEPAL: ACTIVISTS HOLD ANTI-KING PROTEST DESPITE BAN
- Date: 12th February 2005
- Summary: (BN13)KATHMANDU, NEPAL (FEBRUARY 11, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. SLV POLICEMEN ARRESTING PROTESTORS; SLV POLICEMEN ARRESTING ACTIVISTS (8 SHOTS) 0.28 2. (SOUNDBITE) (Nepali) MAHESH BISTA, A PROTESTER, SAYING: "Now this is the beginning for the restoration of democracy. More than a strong protest. It is a protest against that royal proclamation. And the party also will move ahead in this manner." 0.44 3. MV POLICEMEN CHECKING BAGS; SLV POLICEMEN ARRESTING ACTIVISTS; MV POLICEMEN; SLV TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD (5 SHOTS) 1.07 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 27th February 2005 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: KATHMANDU, NEPAL
- Country: Nepal
- Reuters ID: LVA7GJ1SS86EWJWZ2CGHYLEQH040
- Story Text: Nepali activists hold anti-king protest despite ban.
Nepali political activists staged a protest for a
second straight day on Friday (February 11, 2005), demanding King
Gyanendra restore democracy and civil rights in the
troubled Himalayan kingdom.
Demonstrations against Gyanendra's decision to fire the
government, detain top political leaders and impose a state
of emergency, have been banned and authorities have crushed
any protest with a heavy hand.
About 20 members of the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML)
party, the largest constituent of the sacked government,
shouted anti-monarch slogans and threw pamphlets in the air
in a narrow alley in the old quarter of Kathmandu on Friday
before policemen swooped down on them.
At least three people were taken away in a police van.
Several other demonstrators slipped away into a maze of
by-lanes in the congested area.
"Now this is the beginning for the restoration of
democracy. More than a strong protest. It is a protest
against that royal proclamation. And the party also will
move ahead in this manner," said Mahesh Bista, a protester.
Gyanendra blamed the government for failing to tackle a
widening Maoist insurgency, which has killed more than
11,000 people and raised the spectre of Nepal as a failing
state.
Leaders of mainstream parties have either been put
under house arrest or detention.
Police on Thursday arrested a dozen people, mostly
human rights activists, after they tried to stage a black
flag protest near the seat of the Nepali government.
Demonstrations in support of the king's move have been
allowed across the country.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
