Nepal: New curfew hits pro-democracy protests

Nepal’s royal government imposed a new curfew today in the capital Kathmandu and surrounding areas where clashes between security forces and tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters a day earlier left at least three dead.

The 9am-8pm curfew would cover Kathmandu and the suburbs of Lilitpur and Bhaktapur, the notice over state-run Radio Nepal said.

A 25-hour curfew was imposed in Kathmandu yesterday, which lasted until 3am today.

Another notice said a day curfew would also be imposed in Pokhara, a resort town 125 miles west of Kathmandu.

The notices warned people to stay indoors during the curfew hours and said those who broke the curfew order would be shot. They said the curfews were imposed “to protect the people, property and peace”.

A separate notice also asked government workers to report to work before the curfew began.

A government official said the curfew was necessary to stop possible protests which could be similar to yesterday’s when tens of thousands of protesters marched from surrounding areas and tried to break inside the curfew area in Kathmandu.

Residents in Kathmandu rushed to the markets to get food and supplies before today’s curfew. Some stores were open and selling their stock.

Shortages of fresh food and cooking fuel continued in Kathmandu because of the general strike enforced by the opposition political parties since April 6.

Diplomats, journalists and human rights monitors were not issued passes allowing them onto the streets apparently to keep them from seeing what was going on.

Meanwhile, a protester shot by security forces during a rally in south-west Nepal died today.

The man was among 26 protesters shot by security forces when they opened fire on protesters at Gulariya, 310 miles south west of Kathmandu, yesterday, a government official said.

Two weeks of often violent protests and a general strike against palace rule have paralysed the Himalayan country, leaving cities short of food and fuel and Nepal at its most volatile since King Gyanendra seized power 14 months ago.

The royal government has responded harshly, claiming that communist rebels - now allied with the opposition – have infiltrated rallies to instigate violence. Police have beaten, tear gassed and arrested thousands of protesters.