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Huge strike brings Nepal to a standstill once again

Nepalese journalists argue with a riot policeman during a protest rally in Kathmandu yesterday. More than 200 journalists took part in the rally to demand press freedom. PHOTO: EPA

Baton-wielding police beat journalists who were protesting against a media clampdown in the Nepalese capital yesterday, as a general strike called by the opposition to demand the king's ouster shut down the Himalayan nation.

About 200 journalists marched through Kathmandu demanding restoration of press freedom and the release of dozens of journalists detained since King Gyanendra seized power over a year ago.

Police blocked the rally and charged at them with batons. Seven journalists were wounded and at least a dozen detained, protest organizers said.

"We condemn the crackdown on peaceful protests. We will continue to take out protests until all restrictions on the media are fully lifted,'' said Bishnu Nisthuri of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists.

A few more sporadic protests broke out in Kathmandu yesterday, a day after the political opposition rejected Gyanendra's plea for dialogue and vowed to continue their campaign to demand his ouster.

The seven main opposition parties opposed to the king's rule decided late on Friday that they would continue with a general strike and organize more protests.

"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," Subash Nemwang of the Communist Party of Nepal said yesterday. "Life will be brought to a standstill."

Traffic had picked up in Kathmandu, on Friday, with many stores open.

But few vehicles plied the streets yesterday. Only a handful of stores were open.

Activists trying to enforce the strike vandalized a taxi in Kathmandu yesterday, and blocked traffic on the city's outskirts.

Highways remained deserted in most parts of Nepal, where roads are the only way to transport food, fuel and other supplies.

Krishna Sitaula of the Nepali Congress party said the opposition is changing its strategy from mass rallies in Kathmandu to protests in other cities.

On Friday, Gyanendra broke his silence after more than a week of protests that left four dead. He called for dialogue with the country's seven major political parties and for a general election, but 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.
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