People continue to defy curfew orders; Police fire rubber bullets, Dozens arrested

Pro-democracy activists continue to defy curfew orders on Sunday in the capital, Kathmandu, and adjoining areas and continue their protests against the royal regime.

At least one student was injured when police fired rubber bullet on a group of demonstrators at Ghattekulo in Kathmandu this morning, radio reports said. Demonstrations are going on at Sorakhutte, Gongabu and other areas around Ring Road.

According to latest reports, thousands of local people and students have gathered at Kirtipur on the outskirts of the capital and have been demonstrating in support of the on-going pro-democracy movement launched by the seven party alliance (SPA).

In Lalitpur, thousands of people took part in a protest rally chanting anti-king slogans and demanding the resignation of the royal government. At least ten student activists, including pro-UML student leader Ram Kumari Jhankri and Madhusudan Poudel, were arrested from Patan this morning.

Police have taken into custody UML affiliated student leader Ram Kumar Basnet and his colleagues as they defied curfew orders and protested against shooting of a UML activist in Pokhara on Saturday.

King Gyanendra is currently in Pokhara as part of his unofficial visit to the western region.

There are reports of more demonstrations in Madhyapur Thimi municipality on Sunday morning defying curfew orders.

Meanwhile, the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) has condemned the government’s act of denying curfew passes to private and independent press since late Saturday. “It is an act on part of the desperate government to suppress the peaceful popular government,” said FNJ president Bishnu Nisthuri in a statement.

Kantipur—a leading Nepali language daily-- reported Sunday that the authorities refused to provide curfew passes to its vehicles for Saturday night. “The press materials could be sent to the printers only on Sunday morning after the curfew was lifted,” the newspaper said. nepalnews.com by Apr 09 06

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