Nepal's King Gyanendra appealed yesterday to political parties for reconciliation but the main opposition alliance rejected the call and proceeded with a planned rally to protest the monarch's year-old authoritarian rule over this Himalayan nation.
Gyanendra said he "calls on all willing political parties to come forth to fully activate, at the earliest, the stalled democratic process in the greater interest of the nation."
"Let us listen to others, put across our views, do away with discord and enhance mutual understanding. Let us consolidate peace and democracy," he said in a message to the nation yesterday.
The appeal came in the king's traditional address to the nation on Democracy Day, which marks the anniversary of a popular movement that forced the previous monarch to establish multiparty democracy in 1990.
Opposition parties rejected the king's appeal, saying it was meaningless, and vowed to continue protests until the king complies to their demand of restoring democracy.
"It is an artificial appeal that does not mean anything for us. If he is really serious about resolving the problems then he should have directly approached us and not made such a vague appeal," said Khadga Prasad Oli, deputy leader of the Communist Party of Nepal.
Others said the king appeared to show that he has retreated a little but in reality he is still determined to hold on to power.
"There is no need to be excited or encouraged by the appeal," said Mahesh Acharya of the Nepali Congress party that leads an alliance of seven major parties pushing for democracy.
The king's appeal preceded a mass rally planned by the opposition alliance.
More than 10,000 protesters were expected to attend the rally, that was being held amid tight security in the capital, Kathmandu.
Hundreds of riot police patrolled the city's streets and gun-totting policemen took position at key locations. Officials said security forces were deployed to prevent violence, but they won't stop the rally if protesters remain peaceful and do not enter restricted areas.
Protest rallies are banned in parts of the capital near the city center, the royal palace and major government offices.
Gyanendra seized power in February last year, saying it would help quell a communist insurgency and clean up corruption in the government. But fighting between the Maoist rebels and security forces has since escalated since then and the king is facing growing criticism both at home and abroad.
The rebels have announced an indefinite nationwide strike from April 3 which would be preceded by a series of blockades on the highways leading to the capital, Kathmandu, and other main cities and towns starting on March 14.
A statement issued on Saturday by rebel leaders Prachanda and Baburam Bhattarai said schools and businesses will be forced to close, and transportation disrupted during the strike.
"The [royal] regime is counting its final days," the rebel statement said. "Time has come to make the final strike on the regime that has been isolated and defamed."
The rebels, who say they are inspired by former Chinese Communist Party chairman Mao Zedong (
The Maoist insurgency has claimed nearly 13,000 lives in the past decade.
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