EU warns will raise Nepal situation at UN

Kathmandu, April 12 (UNI) Urging King Gyanendra to enter into meaningful dialogue with opposition parties and Maoist rebels, a senior European Union official warned that the deteriorating conditions in the country could lead it to raising the issue at the United Nations.

Neena Gill, Chair of the European Parliament Delegation to South Asia, said the situation in Nepal could not be allowed to degenerate further.

''Too many lives have already been lost. Something has got to give,'' she said in a statement.

Urging King Gyanendra to work out a compromise with the opposition, Ms Gill warned that if ''the EU's appeals to the King to stop the bloodshed fall on deaf ears, then we will push the UN to take action.'' ''How can we justify using forces that oppress their own people to help stabilise other countries?. It is evident that the current policy of strict oppression is just making matters worse,'' she said, referring to Nepal's contribution to UN peacekeeping missions.

Referring to rigid attitude of the King, she noted that his policy of repression was turning the situation ''more inflammable,'' and represented a shift way from democracy.

The US has also given a clear message to King Gyanendra, saying that his rule has failed.

Despite the harsh measures pursued by the security forces to deal with the ongoing agitation, demonstrations against the King have intensified in the last one week with thousands of people across the country taking to the streets demanding the end of autocratic rule.

UNI XC SB ND1002