Police beat journalists in Nepal protest
Baton-wielding police beat journalists who were protesting against a media clampdown in the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu today, as a general strike called by the opposition to demand the king’s departure shut down the Himalayan nation.
About 200 journalists marched through the capital demanding the restoration of press freedom and the release of dozens of journalists who have been detained since King Gyanendra seized power over a year ago.
Police blocked the rally and charged at them with batons. Seven journalists were injured and at least a dozen detained, protest organisers said.
Bishnu Nisthuri of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists said: “We condemn the crackdown on peaceful protests. We will continue to take out protests until all restrictions on the media are fully lifted.”
A few more sporadic protests broke out in the capital today, a day after the political opposition rejected Gyanendra’s plea for dialogue and vowed to continue the campaign for to oust him.
The seven main opposition parties opposed to the king’s rule decided late last night that they would continue with a general strike and organise more protests.
Subash Nemwang of the Communist Party of Nepal said today: “We have decided to strictly enforce the general strike.
“The strike appeared to be relaxed over the last two days, but that will change from today. Life will be brought to a standstill.”
Traffic had picked up in Kathmandu yesterday, with many stores open, but few vehicles plied the streets today, and only a few stores, mostly selling food, were open.
Highways remained deserted in most parts of the Himalayan nation, where roads are the only way to transport food, fuel and other supplies.
Krishna Sitaula of the Nepali Congress Party said the opposition was changing its strategy from mass rallies in Kathmandu to protests in other cities.
Yesterday, Gyanendra broke his silence after more than a week of protests that left four dead, by calling for dialogue with the country’s seven major political parties and for a general election, for which he did not specify a date.
He did not mention the protests or the communist insurgency that has killed nearly 13,000 people in the past decade.
Opposition parties said the king failed to address the protests and the movement for democracy and was offering dialogue to try prolong his rule.
The king’s call for elections is in line with a plan for a return to democracy he announced shortly after seizing power in February 2005.
The opposition and communist insurgents argue that any elections held under Gyanendra would not be free or fair.
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