Nepalese gear up for tomorrow's protest

Kathmandu, Apr 24: Anti-King protestors were slowly gathering on the outskirts of the ring road encircling the capital as security personnel warily watched them, with both sides seeming to gird their strength for tomorrow when the leaders of the seven party alliance have announced they would personally lead the agitation.

Curfew was again imposed in Kathmandu from 1100 hours, while cell phone networks were again down for the third day running. However, UNI correspondents driving through various areas saw common residents moving freely in certain localities where some shops were also open, albeit with half-down shutters.

Security personnel appeared impervious to their presence, as residents of the city have been, so far, fairly indifferent to the ongoing struggle.

Most of the entry points into the city where demonstrators usually gather, were deserted with security personnel saying they expected sizeable crowds only by late afternoon. Chabahil, Koteswor, Gongabu, Maitighar and New Baneshwor were all deserted with only the security personnel -- both police and army -- present.

The only action was seen at the last where police personnel had stopped four people -- three pedestrians and a cyclist -- and made them do sit-ups as 'punishment' for violating the curfew.

However, at Kalanki, where demonstrators had succedded in breaching the security cordon yesterday though they were soon contained, there were some crowds milling but with no party flags or symbols of affiliation. A handbill, issued by the Joint Forum for Human Rights and Peace -- an umbrella group of 30 rights bodies and NGOs -- was being distributed to those present.

The handbill urged the political parties not to accept any solution which did not envisage the inclusion of the Maoists in the proposed interim government and announcement of elections to the Constituent Assembly.

Throwing down the gauntlet to King Gyanendra after rejecting his Friday announcement, the seven party alliance had yesterday announced that it would strive to collect 20 lakh people for tomorrow's demonstrations and leaders of the constituent parties would address rallies at various points.

According to information from the Joint People's Movement Central Coordinating Committee, Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala would adresss the rally at Maharajganj, CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal at Kalanki, NC (D) chief Sher Bahadur Deuba at Gongabu, People's Front chairman Amik Sherchan at Satdobado, Nepal Workers and Peasants' party chief Narayan Man Bijukchhe at Koteshwor, Nepal Sadbhavna party's Bharat Bimal Yadav at Sitapaila and United Left Front leader Bishnu Bahadur Manadhar at Chabahil.

Appealing to the all sections of society to take part in the rallies, parties have also decided to bring the entire Kathmandu Valley to a standstill today and announced a programme of torch-light rallies, effigy-burnings, mass meetings and marches in 1000 places in the valley. They have also decided to hold sit-ins at all main thoroughfares in the capital.

Reports said helicopters of the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) were being used for aerial surveillance of crowds and directing ground troops. Meanwhile, a report in the Kathmandu Post said Inspector General of Police Shyam Bhakta Thapa had given direct orders to all commanders not to allow protestors to assemble and if necessary, open fire. The order was said to be applicable everywhere, even outside the curfew zone.

Despite CPN-UML central committee member Ram Nath Dhakal urging security personnel to join the stir, the Army still appeared solid behind the King.

''The King is a symbol of the country...look at the fragmenting political parties...they cannot take over this state,'' an Army officer, in command at a major checkpoint, told UNI. The fairly high-ranking officer, who preferred to remain anonymous, said they were certain that Maoist cadres had infiltrated the protestors.

''The branches and twigs some of the protestors hold are an indication to us that they are from the 'forests,' i.e maoists. We can recognise them but since they are most probably not armed, we cannot proceed against them on the basis of our suspicion,'' he said. He dismissed reports of police going easy on protestors as a move of 'provocative elements' to drive a wedge betwen the security forces. However, reports say family members of policemen are also participating in the demonstrations.

Another RNA officer told UNI that though the security personnel were observing restraint, there were 'elements' in the gathering who resorted to ''provocative measures'' to increase the tension. ''At any checkpoint, it is always the civil police who are at the forefront, then the armed police, and then only are the troops,'' he said.

about tomorrow, he said though the protestors would like nothing better than to reach the Rajdurbar marg, leading to the Narayanhity palace, the security forces would stop them at the entry points on the Ring Road itself. Charging the political forces with inept handling of the country, he said that they were responsible for the Maoist problem.

''They proved themselves incapable of running the country. If you see recent events, it is only the King that has functioned according to the Constitution,''he said.

The agitation, which has entered its 19th day today, has hit common people hard in the Valley hard. Prices of vegetables, fruit and meat have sky-rocketed with tomatoes, onions, chicken, beef, mutton and other utility items going up seven to eight times.

Prices of cooking gas cylinders have also increased from Rs 900 to Rs 1500. Green chillies, which earlier cost Rs 10 to Rs 20 a kg, are now selling at Rs 250 for the same amount. The state-owned petroleum products supplier Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has only four days of oil stock left in the city.

UNI

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