Thousands of Maoist activists block Nepal government offices
Updated
Riot police in the Nepali capital Kathmandu have used tear gas and batons to disperse thousands of Maoists demonstrating against the government. For almost two weeks there have been demonstrations almost daily across Nepal by the Maoists. They have been seeking to destabilise the coalition government which replaced a Maoist-led administration in May.
Presenter: Anna Walker
Speakers: Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal; Som Niroula, spokesman for the South Asia Forum on Human Rights in Nepal; Kiran Nepal, editor, Himal news magazine, Kathmandu
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WALKER: Chanting "Down with the puppet government" and waving red flags, the protesters surrounded the main administrative complex in the heart of Kathmandu, blocking off entrances to the area. The demonstrations were led by Maoist leader, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who quit as the country's prime minister in May over a clash with the president. He says demonstrations will continue until the current government steps down.
DAHAL: This protest is for the people, to restore people's rights and fight for people's sovereignty. We are getting increasing support from the people.
WALKER: The mass protests got underway on Thursday morning, and the Maoists said they expected up to 300,000 people to take part in the two-day blockade. Hundreds of riot police armed with batons and tear gas guarded the Singha Durbar area, which houses the government's main offices.
The Maoists fought a 10-year civil war against the state which ended in 2006. After entering mainstream politics, they won last year's landmark elections, and abolished the monarchy. But their government fell after just eight months, after the president - who also controls the military - overruled Mr Dahal's efforts to sack the army chief. The Maoists say the decision was unconstitutional and want the president and his government to resign. They say demonstrations will continue until that happens.
Som Niroula is a spokesman for the South Asia Forum on Human Rights in Nepal. He was close to those offices when the demonstration began.
NIROULA: There are a large number of security forces standing around and they are not allowing vehicles to go towards the Singha Durbar gates and there are a large number of Maoists also, raising their flags and slogans against the move of the president.
WALKER: The editor of the Himal news magazine, Kiran Nepal, also witnessed the beginning of the protest.
NEPAL: There was a small clash between the Maoist group and the police and the police, when the Maoists tried to cross the restricted area, the police fired several tear gas shells and to my knowledge the situation is quite under control.
WALKER: Som Niroula says the protests and strike actions are affecting the country's most vulnerable.
NIROULA They are saying it's peaceful but some of the places like in Dhankuta, one fellow has died inside of an ambulance because of the strikes. They did not allow the ambulance to move during the protest program. So, it's so fragile that anytime maybe break up the peace agreement between the government and maoists.
WALKER: And journalist Kiran Nepal says people across the country are frightened the situation could deteriorate into a return to civil war.
NEPAL: People's fear is whether it could turn into the government and Maoist clash or not, whether it will turn into a certain type of armed conflict or something like that...The Maoists main agenda is to capture the government so this is not very easy for them. It's not clear what will happen over the next few days.
