4-11-06, 9:08 am

With several protesters killed, hundreds wounded, and thousands jailed, opposition political parties in Nepal have extended a recently called general strike indefinitely. Public protests erupted this past week in response to repressive measure adopted by the government of King Gyanendra.

The royalist regime seized power more than one year ago by dismissing the elected government. In response to nationwide protests, the king ordered a crackdown on his political opponents, including mass arrests and the imposition of a curfew.

Thousands of people demonstrated in many towns across the country over the weekend. In the Kirtipur municipality, a large demonstration on Saturday saw a massive assault by police with rubber bullets and tear gas. Leaders of the protest associated with the seven party alliance were arrested.

More than 10,000 people also demonstrated in the Gongabu area in Kathmandu, according to media reports. Defying a curfew, the protesters met police forces that attacked the crowd with batons and rifles.

Several other demonstrations also defied curfews and suffered under police brutality.

This past Monday, 5,000 protesters defied the curfew and held a sit-in in a suburb of Kathmandu blocking the road and calling for the king to re-open talks with the opposition seven party alliance. Protesters were also critical of the government's failure to provide basic necessities such as water and electricity.

Other rallies across the country encountered police violence, and many protesters were beaten and arrested.

According to the Communist Party of Nepal, Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML), one of the seven major parties in opposition to the king's repression, the protests and general strike is gaining momentum and popularity. Amrit Kumar Bohara, the CPN-UML's acting general secretary, noted in a recent press release that 'the participation of not only political leaders and activists but also professionals, human rights activists and people of walks of life has been increasing.'

Accusing the royalist government of fascist and violent repression, Bohara described the crackdown as 'desperate moves of the defeated mentality of the government.'

Bohara appealed to the other opposition parties to keep up the struggle against the government's policies 'on the path of a united peaceful movement.'

Calling for the end of the monarchy, Kumar stated that no dictatorship has withstood a popular uprising against it. 'Nepal belongs to the Nepalis,' he added. 'It is not a private domain of any monarch. No one is ready to be a slave or subject of anyone in this 21st century.'

Kumar also appealed to the Maoist rebels to stop violent attacks. A decade-long civil war between Maoist insurgents and the government of Nepal has resulted in 13,000 deaths, according to human rights sources. 'I would like to appeal the Maoists to stop all kinds of violent activities and to declare a cease-fire immediately,' Kumar concluded.

The crackdown on political opposition has earned the Nepali monarch widespread criticism. According to press reports, the Swiss government has described the arrest of political opponents as 'arbitrary detention' and a violation of human rights.

A statement from the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) called on the government of India to pressure the Nepali king to end the brutality and open talks with the seven party alliance.

'The government of India,' read a statement by the CPI (M)'s leadership, 'should demand an end to all repressive actions by the King, failing which, steps should be taken to make the King realize that he cannot continue with his present course of action.'



--Joel Wendland is managing editor of Political Affairs and may be reached at