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Nepal in the news: Communications blackout and international reactions
Feb 4, 2005 09: 51 EST
Nepal’s king Gyanendra, who sacked the government and took the power last Tuesday, named a 10-member cabinet of handpicked ministers and administrators the next day.
Communications blackout
The King has cut communications in the country and controls the media. Foreign correspondents are using sat-phones to contact their headquarters, reporting on politicians and Human Rights activists being arrested. Returning tourists report to have been left alone. Meanwhile, the international community condems the King’s takeover.
Airport open, army in the streets
Kathmandu airport is working, at least partially, and the scarce reports show the situation in the capitol city is relatively calm, although there is a heavy presence of army troops patrolling the streets.
The most remarkable fact is the absolute close down of the county’s communication system. Internet is down and telephone lines are still cut.
Absolute censorship – Maoist’s bandh ignored
The king has put dozens of political leaders and human rights activists under arrest and the country's vibrant press is being censored. International phone lines and the internet remain cut, a move many think is an attempt to contain dissent, reports Financial Times. Armed military control every sentence broadcasted and every line printed in the country’s media.
The Maoists, who have waged a civil war since 1996 called a three-day nationwide strike in response to the King’s coup. However, the communications blackout meant most people remained ignorant of the call. Yesterday shops and schools were opened in KTM, as “no one had a clue that there was a call for a bandh (strike)”.
Rumors of shootings in Pokhara
Most of the news from Nepal are currently published in Indian papers, whose correspondents call their headquarters through satellite-phones.
Therefore, India’s Hindustan Times quoted sources in Kathmandu as saying that helicopters from the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) had fired on student protesters in the town of Pokhara.
The newspaper said the reports were confirmed by a spokesperson for Nepal’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).Although described as reliable, the source offered not first-hand information.
Pokhara is the second biggest town of Nepal, and one of the main tourist spots, as it marks the start and finish point for those trekking or climbing the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs. Many climbers plan to travel there in a few weeks time.
Foreign tourists not disturbed
There is a number of foreign tourists currently in Nepal. Several travel agencies report that the situation is calm and foreigners are protected.
"According to the returning tourists' description, the situation in Nepal has remained peaceful," reports Taipei Times on the Taiwanese citizens currently in the Himalayan Kindom.
"Armed soldiers were guarding most of the roads in Nepal's main cities and checking all passing vehicles, but they did not bother foreign tourists," a returning tourist told reporters at Taipei International Airport yesterday.
International community condemns the measures
The king's actions have drawn international condemnation. Neighbouring India, the US the UK and Kofi Annan, secretary-general of the United Nations, have called on him to restore democratic freedoms and institutions, according to Financial Times.
Washington has called for immediate restoration of multi-party democratic institutions under a constitutional monarchy, reports the Times of India. Making its first contact with the new administration, US ambassador to Nepal James Moriarty met the newly-appointed Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey in Kathmandu and "reiterated with him privately our position we have stated publicly.
"European Union is “deeply concerned” as well, according to Hindustani Times: "This represents a serious setback to multiparty democracy. The EU has consistently supported multiparty democracy and constitutional monarchy in Nepal. In the present situation, the EU sees no alternative to a broad-based government," said the current Luxembourg Presidency of the 25-member European bloc.
India, the US and UK have armed and trained Nepal's army but this support may be reviewed following the king's takeover.
Nepal's people only want peace
Meanwhile, the real burden of the situation is put on Nepal’s people. As the new Kerala points out, “Torn by years of violent rebellion, Nepal's people say that they only want peace and care little about the ongoing political crisis sparked after King Gyanendra assumed power after sacking the prime minister for failing to hold elections or end an escalating civil war with Maoist rebels.”
Image of the City of Pokhara, courtesy of Pokharacity.com
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