Nepal Police Attack Journalists

BBC News

April 15, 2006

Police in Nepal have baton-charged a large group of protesting journalists, arresting nearly 20, as a general strike took hold in the country.

Several hundred gathered in Kathmandu demanding the restoration of press freedom and the release of journalists detained under King Gyanendra.

The protest came as political parties opposed to the king started to enforce a nationwide shutdown.

It is the tenth day of the strike, but many have ignored it in recent days.

On Saturday, however, the capital's streets were largely free of vehicles, as young opposition activists set out to enforce a ban.

Public transport was not running, although many shops remained open.

Protests vow

The demonstration by journalists was one of several taking place around Kathmandu, where a ban on public protests is in force.

Protest organisers told the Associated Press news agency at least seven people had been injured when police charged the group.

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

The opposition says it is incensed by a speech given on Friday by King Gyanendra, who seized direct power 14 months ago.

The king said he would open up a dialogue with the seven-party opposition and hold elections, but the opposition said the king's offer contained nothing new and protests would continue.

It has been campaigning for the immediate restoration of democracy and return of representative government.

Protests against the king erupted 10 days ago, but after four days of daylight curfews earlier in the week, most people had ignored the strike in their keenness to get back to normal life, the BBC's Charles Haviland in Kathmandu says.

International criticism

On Friday, tens of thousands of people attended the funeral in the southern district of Chitwan of one of four people shot dead by police in the latest round of protests.

The police have been accused of using excessive force against the protesters.

On Thursday, they opened fire on a group of lawyers protesting against the king, wounding three of them.

King Gyanendra has said he was forced to seize power in February 2005 because of the growing Maoist insurgency that has killed more than 10,000 people since 1996.

He has faced severe international criticism, from countries including the US and Nepal's neighbour India.