3 killed, over 100 injured in Kathmandu demonstrations; protests continue nationwide

April 20, 2006
4 MIN READ
A
A+
A-

At least three persons were killed and over 50 injured when security personnel opened fire at pro-democracy activists demonstrating in Kalanki area, Kathmandu, defying curfew orders while massive protests snowballed across the country Thursday.

Over 50 thousand protesters poured into the street and defied curfew in Kalanki, demanding end to autocratic rule. Three persons who were shot by the security personnel were pronounced dead by doctors at Kathmandu Model Hospital, Bagbazaar. More than 50 others were badly injured in government clampdown in demonstrations in Kalanki.

Police fired several live rounds, rubber bullets and teargas shells to disperse the agitators and charged batons. Human rights monitors on the scene told Nepalnews that security personnel also barred Red Cross volunteers from treating the injured persons on the spot.

Dozens of injured activists were taken to medicine shops outside Ring Road area for treatment. Most of those injured have head injuries, according to them.

Most of the injured people have been taken to Kathmandu Model Hospital for treatment. Condition of at least six injured persons is critical, according to hospital sources.

The identities of the dead are not known yet. Hospital sources also said police forcefully took away the dead bodies in the evening.

Similarly, police shot and injured over 70 at protesters at Satdobato this afternoon. Dozens of political activists including NC (D) central leader Dr Prakash Saran Mahat were injured in police beating in Gongabu area. Likewise, over three dozen protestors were injured in Patan when they clashed with riot police.

A press statement issued by Nepali Congress said tens of thousands of people took to the streets in various parts of the capital including Kritipur, Sitapaila, Gongabu, Jadibuti, Koteshwore, Sukedhara, Suryavinayak, Balkhu, Dhumbarahi, Sundarijal, Kamalvinayak, Ghattekulo, Dhobighat and Bouddha.

Security personnel barred nearly five thousand pro-democracy activists coming from Dhading district at Thankot, NC said.

According to CPN (UML), police arrested Standing Committee member Keshav Badal from a demonstration in Chabhil. Tens of thousands of people also took to the street in Bhaktapur.

Similarly, over seven thousand people defied curfew order in Bansbari area and reached the Ring Road, chanting anti-government slogans. Police fired teargas to disperse the protesters.

Meanwhile, in a statement, Kieran Dwyer, spokesperson of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal (OHCHR) said they were not issued curfew passes on Thursday to monitor the human rights situation in Kathmandu.

OHCHR representatives, along with media organisations, embassies and other diplomatic agencies, were not issued curfew passes Thursday.

‘We have been denied curfew passes, thus obstructing our ability to monitor the human rights situation as we have in previous situations of curfew, said Dwyer.

‘This obstruction is a clear violation of the agreement between the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the government of Nepal setting out the mandate of our office, which provides that OHCHR shall have freedom of movement throughout Nepal,’ Dwyer added.

Likewise, the parties said that massive demonstrations were held in almost all major cities and towns around the country including Damak in Jhapa, Pokhara, Palpa’s Tansen, Baglung Bazaar, Myagdi’s Beni, Rajbiraj, Chitwan, Dang, Bardia, Dhanusa, Pokhara, Chitwan, Butwal, Jhapa, Kalaiya, Kavre, Sindhupalchowk and Nepalgunj.

Many places saw the biggest demonstrations carried in course of the nationwide general strike called by the seven-party alliance (SPA). Thursday marked the 15th day of the nationwide general strike called by the SPA.

Reports from various districts said hundreds of people were injured in clashes with the security forces while hundreds others were taken into custody in different places.

The seven parties enforced half an hour blackout in the Kathmandu Valley from 8 in the evening and carried out torch rallies to protest against the government clampdown on their movement.

A press release issued after a meeting of the Central People’s Movement Coordination Committee stated that the movement would be further intensified on Friday and that it would go on for an indefinite period. nepalnews.com mk/pb Apr 20 06