NEPAL: Fuel and food prices rise on 12th day of Kathmandu general strike. Police beat anti-monarchist protesters in tourist district

Record ID: 872735

  • Title: NEPAL: Fuel and food prices rise on 12th day of Kathmandu general strike. Police beat anti-monarchist protesters in tourist district
  • Date: 17th April 2006
  • Summary: PEOPLE WALKING PAST SHOPS IN MARKET
  • Embargoed: 2nd May 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nepal
  • City:
  • Country: Nepal
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA9WS5KQ3K26LOPZZAOOP00RM0A
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Normality was returning to Nepal's capital Kathmandu on Monday (April 17) as residents pumped petrol and bought groceries even as police patrolled the streets and beat up anti-monarchy protesters in the tourist district.
    Fuel and food were becoming scarce as the city underwent the 12th day of a general strike called by the opposition against King Gyanendra's rule in the world's only Hindu kingdom.
    Maoists and a seven-party alliance called the strike to force the king to return to democracy after the king sacked the government in February 2005 for failing to crush a Maoist insurgency in the Himalayan state.
    Motorists queued up for petrol after petrol stations closed over the past few days. People also waited in queues for kerosene for their cooking needs.
    In vegetable markets across Kathmandu, buyers haggled with traders who have jacked up prices as blockades around Kathmandu have dried up supplies.
    "The price has been rising because of the people's movement. It has caused all these hikes," housewife Pratima Manandhar said.
    Dealers said vegetables and other essential supplies are running short in the city.
    "Since there is no stock, it is understandable that the prices will increase. The dealers themselves will hike up the prices," spice trader Triratna said.
    A second day of rare protests also rocked Kathmandu's Thamel tourist district just one kilometre from King Gyanendra's Narayanhity Palace as riot police baton-charged the demontrators.
    Several were arrested in front of tourists shopping for souvenirs and trekking expedetions at the maze of alleys that make up Thamel.
    Police are patrolling the district in large numbers due to its proximity to the palace.
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