Nepal arrests politicians ahead of protest

Policemen arrested Arjun Narsingh K.C., a senior leader of the centrist Nepali Congress party that has planned peaceful protests on Friday to force the king to restore democracy.

Police arrested Arjun when he came to the party office in a Kathmandu suburb for the first time since the king clamped a state of emergency and banned protests, detained key party leaders and suspended fundamental rights.

The King justified his seizure of power on Feb. 1, saying that squabbling parties had failed to crush a violent Maoist revolt aimed at overthrowing the constitutional monarchy and establishing a communist republic.

"We are going to launch a movement, a peaceful movement, from February 18 and urge all political parties who are against the takeover to join," Arjun told reporters a half hour before being driven away in an iron-meshed blue police van.

Minutes later, Meena Pandey, chief of the party's women's wing, was hauled out by police and put into a pick-up van.

AMBASSADORS RECALLED

Political activists have attempted to organise small protests against the King's power grab but heavy security in and around the temple-studded capital has foiled most protests.

Authorities have allowed rallies in support of the King.

Party officials said hundreds of people, including political activists, student leaders, trade union representatives and human rights workers, have been detained or put under house arrest across the country since the king's move.

Gyanendra's power grab, which has curtailed press freedom, has been condemned across the world, including by the United States, neighbouring India and Britain.

Washington, Paris and London recalled their ambassadors this week and New Delhi has summoned its envoy to the world's only official Hindu nation for consultations.

Though some politicians have been freed, the chiefs of main political parties who are seen as capable of organising popular protests remain under house arrest or detention.

Arjun said his party would fight for the restoration of democracy but would not join hands with the Maoists.

"We can't align ourselves with the Maoist violence," Arjun said. More than 11,000 people have been killed in impoverished Nepal in the revolt which began in 1996.

Maoist rebels, who hold sway over large parts of the country, have launched a nationwide transport strike since the weekend, crippling local trade to protest against the king's move.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/B666925.htm

He came, saw, was dragged away

KATHMANDU: A few journalists have been called for Nepal's first-ever press conference by a political party after King Gyanendra's take over on February 1. The Nepali Congress has decided to speak out and a news-starved media is smiling. "Finally, we can quote someone and take his picture," an excited reporter says.

Reporters quickly gather at about 1.30 pm on Wednesday near the NC's office at Sanepa, a suburb on the outskirts of the capital. "It is not a formal media briefing, just an informal gathering," NC party spokesman Arjun Narasingh KC, says. He will be addressing the media. As he is the first leader who has stepped out of the shadows and decided to speak about the situation in his country, cameras are out and mikes are hovering in the air.

Soon, Narasingh, who has had his legs broken earlier by the king's forces, states: "Protests will begin on Friday — launched jointly by many mainstream parties. We are working out the modalities... All of us are against the same forces." Outside, soldiers have gathered. A couple of them sneak in and report back to their officer. "We cannot keep silent any longer," he says. "We were quiet so far because most of our top leaders were under house arrest. No communication was possible with them. It still isn't."

Soldiers are now in the hall. "Please come with us," one of them orders Narasingh." The conference is over. The army has arrested Narasingh. He has just joined the 500 NC leaders who are captive.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1023156.cms

Nepali police have arrested two senior politicians, two days before planned protests by their party against King Gyanendra's assumption of complete power in the Himalayan kingdom.

Policemen on Wednesday arrested Arjun Narsingh K C, a senior leader of the Nepali Congress party that had planned peaceful protests on Friday to force the king to restore democracy.

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