Blogging the democratic revolution
Since the emergency can only constitutionally last for three months though, it’s kind of by default. KATHMANDU, April 30 (Reuters) – Nepal’s king ended a state of emergency two days early, the Palace said on Saturday, but the sudden midnight proclamation does not reduce extraordinary powers he seized in February’s royal coup. Politicians said it was a positive move but advised caution and urged the king to hold talks with political parties. Constitutionally, the three-month state of emergency granting the military extra powers of search, arrest and curfew had to end or be formally extended by midnight on Sunday. King…
The government is still clamping down in Nepal, arresting over 500 protestors in light of planned pro-democracy rallies of several thousand. KATHMANDU (Reuters) – Nepali soldiers killed at least 50 Maoist rebels in a deadly overnight clash, the army said on Friday, as around 500 political activists were reported arrested by police during pro-democracy rallies in the kingdom. … The new violence came as police in Kathmandu arrested about 50 political activists, including some former ministers, who were demonstrating against King Gyanendra’s move on Feb. 1 to declare emergency, sack the multi-party government and seize power. “Down with the proclamation…
The monarchy’s coup in Nepal continues, with demonstrators being arrested. Police in Nepal have arrested at least 120 anti-government activists across the country who defied a ban on protests to show their anger at King Gyanendra’s seizure of absolute power last month. In the capital, Kathmandu, police detained more than 40 protesters who gathered near the Central Secretariat building, shouting slogans such as “Down with autocracy, we want democracy.” The rest of the people were detained in similar demonstrations in nine other cities across the Himalayan kingdom. Monday’s protest in the capital was the largest since February first, when the…
“Kathmandu” from Radio Free Nepal is updating on the situation there. Things are still looking bad, but the U.S. and India are working to restore democracy as soon as possible. In another encouraging note, USA and India have told they are coordinating for early restoration of multi-party democracy in Nepal. Visiting US secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh said that after their meeting. “We are in complete agreement that it (return of Nepal’s democracy) must happen and it needs to happen very very soon,” Rice told the conference. Personally, RFN thanks India and USA for…
While the opposition has attempted to step up protests against the monarch, he has been relentless in cracking down. Some pictures are posted at Radio Free Nepal that I’ll reproduce here.
That’s the title of a new report by Amnesty International concerning Nepal. The government of Nepal should restore fundamental human rights, open a peace process based on justice and respect for human rights, protect human rights defenders and end the impunity of the security forces. The Maoists should commit themselves to respect international human rights and humanitarian law. The US, UK and India play a critical role as major allies of Nepal and key providers of military aid. AI calls on them to suspend all military assistance to the government of Nepal as a means of pressurising it to change…
Reporters Without Borders has the report: Reporters Without Borders has renewed an appeal for the release of 11 journalists currently being held in prisons in Nepal. Six of those being held were among at least 16 journalists security forces picked up after King Gyanendra seized power on 1 February and declared a state of emergency. Nepal was already holding five journalists before the royal coup, making it, after China, Cuba and Eritrea, the world’s fourth largest prison for journalists. “Until they are released we will continue to urge the international community, particularly the European Union, to apply political and economic…
Virtually one of the only good sources of news that I can find, Radio Free Nepal has a roundup of the latest stories coming out of the country. And pictures. And the emergence of yet another Nepali blogger! I think we will start to see more and more of these as the crisis goes on. UPDATE: Even more! One Nepali blogger notes that the tide may be turning against the monarchy. Just look at this. I am giving King G a few more weeks. With India, US, and UK united, China is not going to even think of meddling. So…
I have been telling you all about Radio Free Nepal the past few days, and they have been an invaluable source of information. And like any good source of information, they have pictures: Arrests made during the democracy protest earlier. It is so hard to get a good idea of what is going on in other parts of the world until you can actually see it. A picture is not only worth a thousand words, but amplifies the impact of a given situation by that much. The Advocacy Project is also telling the story out of Nepal, and are posting…
Courtesy: RFN Radio Free Nepal has a roundup of news out of the country for today. The King has, again, cut the lines of communication, though it seems that service is coming back sporadically. The protests for Democracy Day have also been thwarted. The situation doesn’t look to be getting better soon.
Radio Free Nepal has a piece up regarding the tactics that news publications are using to get the word out. After a fortnight of the Royal Coup, I would like to comment on the media and their ???????bravery???????? in publishing or not publishing about the coup. Himal, a fortnightly newsmagazine that never failed to criticize the King????????s role in the past, came up in the bravest way. The first issue after the coup was published two days ago and ran a full page advertisement and a note by editor to tell the readers that the magazine has been censored and…
Illegally blogging from his home country, the new Radio Free Nepal blog is doing news roundups and commentary on the situation there. Definitely one of the few sources of information available from there!
The front page news isn’t bringing it to you, but Transition Trends is: The recall of US, UK, French and Indian ambassadors from Kathmandu yesterday was a very welcome sign of co-ordinated international action to protest the royal coup there on 1 February. It’s especially welcome from the US, which seemed less than engaged on the issue recently. Recalling an ambassador “for consultations” is not the same as serious pressure like a threat to military assistance and other aid would be, but it’s a start. By the way, I’ve heard through the grapevine that the US has told the king…
Transitions Trends posts statements by the State Department that makes them look like they just don’t care. From the State Department: I don’t have anything new to say about Nepal from what we’ve said previously, which is, obviously, that the actions of the King, in summarily dismissing the government and declaring a state of emergency and taking repressive measures such as banning media and jailing political opponents, is something that we view with the greatest concern. This is what Transition Trends has to say about it: “Greatest concern”? As India is seriously threatening to suspend military aid to Nepal, all…
SFGate put together a timeline of events for Nepal over the past 4 years, and The Independent put together a little biography of King Gyanendra. It gives you a pretty good idea of where this country has come from. UPDATE: Transition Trends has some detailed followup as well. Now, disturbing reports are leaking out of the central town of Pokhara, where on Tuesday evening a student protest was followed by a brutal attack by the army. From reports I’ve seen, the BBC’s account is only half the story. Apparently, when the army raided the student hostels in Pokhara, they went…
The Asia Centre for Human Rights has this overview of the situation in Nepal since yesterday. Here’s its suggestions: International community must act more decisively and swiftly, NOW, by freezing all assistance including military assistance to Nepal unless His Majesty King Gyanendra: – Lifts emergency and restores all democratic freedoms and institutions including the immediate release of all those who are detained following the dismissal of the Deuba government, restoration of communication lines, including mobile, internet, long distance calls, and opening of the Kathmandu International Airport and lifting ban on press freedoms; – Creates a national consensus process involving all…
I was taking a nap and woke up to images on the television of people rioting in the streets; behind the broadcaster’s words that “King Gyanendra of Nepal has just sacked the democratic government for failing to hold parliamentary elections and fight rebels.” Maybe it’s just years of training my fine intuition, but that just doesn’t seem like the right answer. Nepal was thrown into a dramatic crisis yesterday as King Gyanendra sacked the entire government, put the Prime Minister under house arrest and announced he was taking direct power into his own hands. Already reeling from a Maoist insurgency…