Nepal's king vows democracy, rebels raid town
KATHMANDU, Feb 1 (Reuters) - A year after he seized power, Nepal's king vowed on Wednesday to hold national elections by 2007, as Maoist rebels raided a western town killing three soldiers and leaving dozens missing.
King Gyanendra, who sacked the government and took control of the poor Himalayan kingdom on Feb. 1 last year promising to bring peace and prosperity, reiterated his call to the communist guerrillas to shun violence and join the mainstream.
"Representative bodies at all levels will be activated by April next year," the king, looking grim, said in an address to the nation on state radio and TV as political parties planned nationwide protests to mark the anniversary.
"Let us unite to establish a meaningful democracy by burying bitter differences of the past," he said, speaking in Nepali. "All Nepalis want lasting peace and ... this is possible only through peaceful and constructive efforts."
Hours before his speech, Maoist guerrillas fighting to topple the monarchy and establish communist rule, raided Palpa town, targeting army barracks, police posts and government buildings, an army officer said.
At least three soldiers were killed and one wounded in the fighting that lasted all night in the hill town located about 300 km (190 miles) west of Kathmandu, he said.
Authorities also said that a few dozen soldiers and government officials were missing after the raid.
The independent Kantipur radio station said prisoners from a nearby jail had been freed by the guerrillas while communication links to the region were cut off.
King Gyanendra threw Nepal into turmoil on Feb. 1 last year when he fired the government, jailed politicians and suspended civil liberties, triggering widespread protests at home and drawing strong international criticism.
The king justified his takeover saying it was needed to crush the Maoist insurgency that has left more than 13,000 people dead since 1996.
NATIONWIDE PROTESTS PLANNED
The monarch, who wore a black formal jacket and a traditional Nepali cap during his 20-minute speech, did not directly refer to a campaign for democracy by political parties or mention any possibility of negotiating with them.
Although he said rebel violence had fallen and was limited to scattered incidents under his rule, official figures this week showed more people had been killed in 2005 than the average annual deaths in previous years.
Nepal's seven mainstream political parties, citizens' groups and professional organisations have planned nationwide rallies to mark Wednesday as "black day".
Political parties also plan to hoist black flags and burn effigies and there are fears of violence if activists try to defy a ban on rallies in the heart of Kathmandu.
Hundreds of activists were detained across the country on the eve of the anniversary in an apparent bid to thwart demonstrations, politicians said.
"The people's movement will intensify. Though it will be a hard battle, the outcome will be rewarding," Bam Dev Gautam, a leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML).
Although some of the king's tough curbs have been eased, analysts say he is nowhere close to fulfilling his promises to crush the Maoists, bring peace and good governance, and then restore democracy within three years.
The king has called municipal elections for Feb. 8 in what his ministers say is a first step towards restoring democracy.
But the political parties, who were not consulted about the plan and will boycott the vote, see the elections as another confrontational gesture designed to sideline them and have formed a loose alliance with the rebels against the king.
King Gyanendra, who sacked the government and took control of the poor Himalayan kingdom on Feb. 1 last year promising to bring peace and prosperity, reiterated his call to the communist guerrillas to shun violence and join the mainstream.
"Representative bodies at all levels will be activated by April next year," the king, looking grim, said in an address to the nation on state radio and TV as political parties planned nationwide protests to mark the anniversary.
"Let us unite to establish a meaningful democracy by burying bitter differences of the past," he said, speaking in Nepali. "All Nepalis want lasting peace and ... this is possible only through peaceful and constructive efforts."
Hours before his speech, Maoist guerrillas fighting to topple the monarchy and establish communist rule, raided Palpa town, targeting army barracks, police posts and government buildings, an army officer said.
At least three soldiers were killed and one wounded in the fighting that lasted all night in the hill town located about 300 km (190 miles) west of Kathmandu, he said.
Authorities also said that a few dozen soldiers and government officials were missing after the raid.
The independent Kantipur radio station said prisoners from a nearby jail had been freed by the guerrillas while communication links to the region were cut off.
King Gyanendra threw Nepal into turmoil on Feb. 1 last year when he fired the government, jailed politicians and suspended civil liberties, triggering widespread protests at home and drawing strong international criticism.
The king justified his takeover saying it was needed to crush the Maoist insurgency that has left more than 13,000 people dead since 1996.
NATIONWIDE PROTESTS PLANNED
The monarch, who wore a black formal jacket and a traditional Nepali cap during his 20-minute speech, did not directly refer to a campaign for democracy by political parties or mention any possibility of negotiating with them.
Although he said rebel violence had fallen and was limited to scattered incidents under his rule, official figures this week showed more people had been killed in 2005 than the average annual deaths in previous years.
Nepal's seven mainstream political parties, citizens' groups and professional organisations have planned nationwide rallies to mark Wednesday as "black day".
Political parties also plan to hoist black flags and burn effigies and there are fears of violence if activists try to defy a ban on rallies in the heart of Kathmandu.
Hundreds of activists were detained across the country on the eve of the anniversary in an apparent bid to thwart demonstrations, politicians said.
"The people's movement will intensify. Though it will be a hard battle, the outcome will be rewarding," Bam Dev Gautam, a leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML).
Although some of the king's tough curbs have been eased, analysts say he is nowhere close to fulfilling his promises to crush the Maoists, bring peace and good governance, and then restore democracy within three years.
The king has called municipal elections for Feb. 8 in what his ministers say is a first step towards restoring democracy.
But the political parties, who were not consulted about the plan and will boycott the vote, see the elections as another confrontational gesture designed to sideline them and have formed a loose alliance with the rebels against the king.
posted by Marko at 2/01/2006 12:06:00 AM
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