Presbyterian Church in Ireland - Mission Overseas - NEPAL: May Day protest passes without major incident

1st May 2010

Today's mass protest in Kathamadu led by the Communist Party of Nepal appears to have gone off without major incident or violence, though the situation in the capital city remains tense ahead of a threatened country-wide strike of indefinite length, due to begin tomorrow, Sunday 2nd May.

Security was tight, with some 15,000 riot police deployed across the city to stop any potential violence.

The number of demonstrators is reported to have been around 150,000, much lower than the 500,000 people the Maoists claimed had gathered in the capital for today's protest.

Sunday's threatened strike will go ahead if the Prime Minister Kumar fails to give in to the Maoists' demand for his resgination and the immediate dissolution of the current government.

"If there is no agreement reached by Saturday, then we will be forced to impose an indefinite general strike from Sunday,'' Baburam Bhattarai, the deputy leader of the party, said.

In a speech to the nation, late today, Saturday 1st May, the Prime Minisiter rejected calls for his resignation, stressing that there is no alternative to consensual politics and calling on the Maoists to abandon their street protests and join in dialogue with the other parties to find a solution to the current political stalemate.

His resignation at this crucial stage, he said, would not help to bring calm to the country but rather would serve to add to the chaos and tension.

He also reiterated his commitment to resolve the country’s lingering political stand-off through discussion and dialogue according to established political and constitutional procedures, and to abide by any decisions that would come out of such talks.

Follow the links below for up-to-date reports on the situation in Nepal:

Al Jezeera English
Nepal Maoists stage mass protest
Nepal Maoists call general strike

Associated Press
Maoists rally in Nepal, announce general strike

BBC News - South Asia
Nepal Maoist May Day rally urges cabinet to stand down
Nepalese PM refuses to resign despite mass Maoist rally

Nepalnews.com
PM Nepal addresses the nation; says govt 'cannot step down in this critical situation'
UCPN (M)'s May Day demos conclude peacefully, Dahal describes protests as 'final push' [video 1:54 mins in Nepali]

The Himalayan Times
PM declines quit call, asks Maoists to pull out
Tens of thousands rally against Nepal government

Al Jazeera English | Associated Press | BBC News South Asia | Nepalnews.com | Himalayan Times

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