Nepal bans protests

Riot police kick a student (C) upon arrest during an anti-king rally in Kathmandu yesterday demanding the restoration of democracy in the country. At least 12 students were arrested in clashes with riot police while supporting the seven alliance political parties call for a 4-day anti-royal strike from April 6 to 9. PHOTO: AFP

Nepal's royal government yesterday banned all public gatherings in the capital, including a mass pro-democracy protest planned for Saturday, but political parties vowed to defy the order.

"The local administration in Kathmandu and (the suburb of) Lalitpur has announced a ban on public gatherings within the ring road, effective from Wednesday, in order to maintain peace and security," government-owned Radio Nepal said Tuesday announcing the ban.

Seven opposition parties ousted by King Gyanendra when he seized power 13 months ago have called for four-day nationwide general strike from Thursday, and a mass demonstration in the capital Saturday.

Political parties vowed go ahead with the strike and peaceful protest.

"We will defy the ban. What the government has done is wrong," said Minendra Rijal, spokesman for the Nepali Congress (Democratic) party.

A leader from the Nepal Communist Party (Unified Marxist-Leninist) was equally defiant.

"The ban has violated the basic rights of the people to organize peaceful assembly. We will defy the government ban order," said Khardav Prasad Oli.

Earlier Tuesday riot police fired tear gas, used batons and arrested at least 12 students during clashes on two college campuses in the capital.

Security forces moved in to disperse demonstrations and an AFP reporter saw students throwing rocks at police at one of the protests.

"At least a dozen students were detained and several others injured in clashes with riot police," Mahendra Sharma, president of the Nepal Students Union, told AFP.

Students have begun demonstrating to show their support for the strike and protest programme, said Sharma.

In January the government disrupted a planned anti-royal protest by banning public meetings, detaining hundreds of political and human rights activists, imposing a curfew and cutting mobile phone lines.

The crackdown resulted in a wave of international criticism for Nepal.

Maoist rebels have announced a unilateral ceasefire in the Kathmandu valley ahead of the mass protest.

Opposition politicians, who have a loose agreement with the rebels to oppose the royal takeover and jointly work to restore democracy, welcomed the move but said it should apply nationwide.