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Protests against King spread to Nepal districts

Palace hints at replacing the democratic Constitution

KATHMANDU: Over 200 protestors of the seven-party Movement for Restoration of Democracy were arrested on Tuesday as they held demonstrations outside the Nepalese capital for the first time, amid speculation that King Gyanendra may consolidate his power by going further from his takeover.

``The seven agitating parties held simultaneous protests in districts outside Kathmandu for the first time'' on Tuesday, Nepalese Congress leader Shobhakar Parajuli said in a statement, adding the police arrested over 200 demonstrators and their leaders in most of the districts. In all, protests were held in 72 of the 75 districts.

Call to intensify stir

Meanwhile, leading human rights activists and civil society members have called political parties to intensify their movement after the King said that foreign money was fuelling ``unwanted activity'' in Kathmandu, apparently referring to the seven-party agitation which is centred in the capital.

``Since people were already moving forward in a peaceful movement for democratic republic, political parties should not launch their movement in a feeble-minded way,'' leading human rights activist Krishna Pahari told a massive gathering of 20,000 people near here on Monday.

Challenging the King to give proof about foreign money playing any role in the on-going agitation, Mr. Pahari demanded that all money deposited in foreign banks be made public and brought back to the country. He said the King's remarks were nothing but grumbling against the national and international communities which have not supported the royal takeover.

Urging political parties to launch aggressive programmes, civil society activist Devendra Raj Pandey warned parties against signing any agreement with the King undermining the people's interest.

Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Durga Shrestha has said that the King was set to move forward and not retract his February 1 takeover. While giving directives to office chiefs in Parsa district, Shrestha on Sunday asked them to carry out their works confidently as the King was not likely to retract. There is also speculation that the present democratic Constitution might be replaced by an autocratic one, providing more power to the King.

The King's Deputy Tulsi Giri said last week that the present Constitution is an obstacle for the King in achieving his objectives. He said the Government could not take action against certain newspapers writing against it because of the Constitution.

Hundreds kidnapped

Communist rebels have abducted hundreds of villagers, students and teachers, apparently hauling them off for a few days to attend rallies and indoctrination sessions in remote areas of the mountain kingdom, the army said on Tuesday.

The fate of those abducted was not clear, but victims of such kidnappings are usually released after spending a few days being lectured about the rebels' struggle to overthrow the monarchy.

— PTI, AP

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