A Voice For the Voiceless

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The Advocacy Project seeks to help community-based advocates produce, disseminate and use information, and so become more effective advocates for human rights and social justice

Bulletin #39: Thousands in Nepal Hold Demonstrations

Source: BBC News

Thousands of people have taken part in demonstrations in Nepal - the first since King Gyanendra lifted a state of emergency on Saturday.

The protesters called for the speedy restoration of democracy and the release of all political detainees.

The king dismissed the government on 1 February, saying it had failed to deal with Nepal’s Maoist insurgency.

Although the state of emergency has been lifted, the king still retains direct power.

Mixed reaction

An estimated 8,000 people took part in a demonstration in the capital, Kathmandu.

The protesters shouted slogans against the royal takeover.

There were reports of similar rallies in other parts of the country.

The lifting of the state of emergency has been welcomed by India which, like the US and Britain, has suspended arms supplies to Nepal.

But there has been a mixed reaction from Nepal’s opposition parties and legal experts.

Opposition parties have pledged to launch a joint agitation soon to demand for restoration of democracy and freeing of hundreds of politicians who have been jailed.

INSN is the International Nepal Solidarity Network, which has activists in over a dozen countries around the world who are working to bring democracy to Nepal. Visit their website for regular updates related to the Nepal crisis.