Nationwide protests continue despite government warning

Over half a million demonstrators took part in democratic rallies throughout Nepal on Saturday, despite severe restrictions imposed by the royal government to prevent any political demonstrations against King Gyanendra. For the past three days, the seven main opposition parties had been organising nationwide strikes and peaceful rallies to force the king to give up absolute control over the Himalayan kingdom, which he has been ruling directly with a handful of royalist ministers since 1 February 2005, after suspending the democratic government. Large numbers of security forces armed with guns were authorised to use force to control the peaceful demonstrators. According to local human rights groups, over 1,000 political activists have been arrested and hundreds more injured over the last three days. Meanwhile, some 18 human rights organisations and coalitions, along with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), which have been observing the demonstrations, expressed serious concern over the use of excessive force by the police and army against the demonstrators. “We demand for the respect for the right to peaceful protests granted by the Covenant on Civil and Political rights, and (government) to take stern action against the involved security personnel,” said prominent activist Subodh Raj Pyakhurel, who added that the state’s action against protestors was now getting out of hand - with security personnel using tear gas and bullets against the demonstrators. Also on Saturday, political activist Bhimsen Thapa was gunned down by a soldier in Pokhara, the country's second largest city, 200 km west of the capital. On Friday, two political activists also died from injuries after being severely beaten up by riot police, according to statement by Unified Marxist Lennist (UML), the country’s second largest party. In the capital, the Home Ministry imposed a day-long curfew and severed mobile telephone lines to foil a much anticipated mass meeting planned by the political opposition parties. Over 30 rights activists, teachers, medical workers and lawyers were arrested while defying the government orders earlier in the day, reported Nepalnews, a local news agency. Among those arrested were prominent human rights leaders Daman Nath Dhungana, Padma Ratna Tuladhar and Charan Prasai.