The United States has condemned what it called “the decision by the King of Nepal” to detain political party leaders and civil society activists in advance of political demonstrations scheduled for Friday (January 20).

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack (Photo source : newsfromrussia.com)

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack (Photo source : newsfromrussia.com)
A statement issued by Sean McCormack, spokesman of the US Department of State in Washington D.C. on Thursday said these arrests and harassment of peaceful democratic forces was a violation of their civil and political rights.

“The United States calls on the King to release these activists. Dialogue between the King and the parties and a return to democracy are the only effective ways to address the Maoist insurgency in Nepal,” the statement said.

India, Japan and European Union have also expressed their “serious concerns” over arrests of over 100 political leaders and opposition activists in Nepal and have called upon the royal government to reach out to the political parties to find a solution to the decade-old armed conflict.

British Foreign Office Minister, Dr Kim Howells (Photo source : gnn.gov.uk)

British Foreign Office Minister, Dr Kim Howells (Photo source : gnn.gov.uk)
Meanwhile, responding to the arrest of political leaders and activists in Nepal on Thursday in advance of their planned demonstrations on 20 January, British Foreign Office Minister, Dr Kim Howells, said, ‘The UK is extremely concerned by the King’s actions, and we can see no grounds for these anti-democratic measures.’

The British government has also called on King Gyanendra to urgently release those arrested, and to find ways to resume dialogue with the political parties. Only by reaching out to the political parties to develop a common agenda will there be any prospect of a meaningful exercise in democracy,” the minister said.

”We will be making our profound concerns known to the Government of Nepal at the highest level,” he added.