NEPAL: Nepal police open fire on pro-democracy protesters in Kathmandu, protestors turn on plain-clothes soldier in retaliation

Record ID: 858134

  • Title: NEPAL: Nepal police open fire on pro-democracy protesters in Kathmandu, protestors turn on plain-clothes soldier in retaliation
  • Date: 12th April 2006
  • Summary: POLICE FIRING AT PROTESTERS IN A BUILDING POLICEMEN CLIMBING THE STAIRS TO FLUSH OUT PROTESTERS, PROTESTERS JUMPING OUT OF THE BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 27th April 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nepal
  • City:
  • Country: Nepal
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAC2670LZZLZVBZ5Q19EMY4WHJC
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Nepali troops opened fire on protesters on Tuesday, wounding several, after they burned tyres, chanted slogans and clashed with police in defiance of a curfew in the sixth day of mass protests against the king.
    The violence came as international pressure increased on King Gyanendra to end his crackdown on the protests, in which three people have been killed and hundreds wounded.
    The street campaign is the most intense since the 58-year-old monarch sacked the government and seized power 14 months ago.
    Some analysts say it is only a matter of time before the king runs out of options. They say the protests and clashes, including in places where shoot-on-sight curfews were in force, showed more ordinary people were coming out openly against him.
    But sources close to the palace said the king, whom some analysts describe as a stubborn ruler, was unlikely to relent.
    Troops baton charged, tear gassed and then opened fire to disperse more than 500 slogan-shouting demonstrators in the Kathmandu suburb of Gongabu, wounding at least 50 protesters, a Reuters reporter at the scene said.
    It was the first time troops opened fire in the capital during the latest anti-king campaign. Emergency medical workers said several among the 50 wounded had sustained bullet injuries.
    Tension flared in the area after the shooting as the activists returned soon and the army took position and gun fire could be heard again.
    Angry protesters took out their fury on a plain-clothed soldier as he tried to fire at the mob. The soldier, who was badly beaten, denied firing at the crowd.
    "I only came here four minutes ago. Those who actually fired have been here for some time. I swear to God that I did not fire any gunshots."
    Troops also opened fire at a meeting called in the western tourist resort town of Pokhara to mourn a protester shot dead by the army there on Saturday, wounding two people, witnesses said.
    In another Kathmandu suburb, about 500 youths burned tyres on the road, chanting "We want Democracy" and "Gyanendra leave the country". Riot police charged at them with batons and beat them up, wounding at least two people before the crowd was dispersed.
    The latest series of demonstrations and a nation-wide general strike began last Thursday in an attempt to force Gyanendra to step down and hand power to an all-party government.
    The campaign, backed by Maoist insurgents, had been due to end on Sunday but was extended indefinitely as stringent security measures prevented big rallies against the king.
    On Tuesday, the government said it would search houses in Kathmandu for Maoist rebels who it says have infiltrated the protests and sparked violence.
    So far, more than 300 people have been wounded and about 1,500 protesters detained during protests, the parties said.
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