Nepal rights activists to lead first public protest against king's takeover

Nepal government bans criticism of security forces; threatens house arrest
01:56 PM EST Feb 07

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) - Nepal's new royal government on Monday banned criticism of security forces as they fight a communist insurgency in the countryside, and warned that violators could be put under house arrest.

The government also banned political activities by public servants and said authorities could seize private property when necessary, part of tight new controls since King Gyanendra sacked Nepal's previous leaders and imposed emergency rule last week.

Dozens of opposition politicians have been detained or put under house arrest, and world leaders have decried the king's power grab as a setback for democracy.

The government's notice broadcast Monday on state-run Media banned any public comments "made directly or indirectly" about the security forces "that is likely to have negative impact on their morale." Violators could be placed under arrest, it said.

The notice said the security forces could monitor telephones, radio, fax and e-mail and other forms of electronic communication and block them when necessary. It gave no elaboration on when private property could be seized by the government.

Gyanendra last week sacked an interim government led by former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba for failing to control the insurgency or to conduct parliamentary elections.

Nepal has been without a working legislature for nearly three years since Gyanendra fired Deuba for the first time in 2002. The move sparked mass street protests, and the king reinstated Deuba last year.

The rebels, who say they are inspired by the late Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong, have been trying since 1996 to overthrow the government and establish a socialist state in a conflict that has claimed 10,500 lives.

They now control much of the countryside.

The government's notice Monday eased a ban on gatherings imposed as part of the emergency declared Feb. 1, but placed strict controls on them.

Residents may hold workshops, meetings and conferences only with permission and "without undermining the kingdom's sovereignty and integrity, and without disturbing the law and order of the country that could have adverse effect on the current state of emergency," the notice said.

The government already has taken privately run news broadcasts off the air and issued strict guidelines for local newspapers, proscribing any content critical of the government.

© The Canadian Press, 2005


Nepal rights activists to lead first public protest against king's takeover
Liza Hall at 11:15 AM

[JURIST] In the wake of last week's government takeover [JURIST report] by Nepalese King Gyanendra [BBC profile] and his subsequent controversial decrees, including a ban [BBC report] on "directly or indirectly" criticizing security forces and a statement that the government can seize private property and monitor all forms of electronic communication, Nepali human rights activists have announced that they will hold a public protest in the capital Thursday. Krishna Pahadi [Front Line profile], founder of the Human Rights and Peace Society [advocacy website], said "We would like to fill the jails of Nepal for the sake of democracy, human rights and the peace." Last Tuesday Gyanendra fired an interim government led by former Prime Minister SherBahadur Deuba [BBC report] for failing to conduct parliamentary elections or control the country's Maoist insurgency, which has been trying to overthrow the country's constitutional monarchy since 1996 in a fight that has cost over 10,000 lives. King Gyanendra's takeover has included imposing house arrest on rights workers, journalists and political leaders, largely shutting down communications between Nepal and the outside world, and deploying troops in the streets of the capital. His actions have been heavily criticized by foreign rights groups and political leaders. For background on the crisis, see the BBC FAQ.

© jurist