Nepal king releases political prisonersSigh. For the past 10 years or so Nepal has been suffering a civil war between the monarchy based in Kathmandu and the Maoist rebellion taking place practically everywhere else. After the old king and most of his immediate family was murdered by the Crown Prince, ol' Gyanendra took over. He's proven himself both ruthless at quelling democracy and utterly incapable to stopping the rebels, who now control at least half the country.
Two leading dissidents were freed from a Nepalese prison as King Gyanendra readies for negotiations with opponents.
But protests continue elsewhere in the country Wednesday as police brutally break up peaceful rallies against the monarchy.
Gyanendra took control of the democratically elected government last year, accusing it of not doing enough to quell the Maoist insurgency.
The Times of London reports at least two people were shot dead in Chandragadi and dozens were wounded by police.
Madhav Kumar Nepal of the Communist Party of Nepal and Ram Chandra Poudel of the Nepali Congress were released after three months in prison.
An envoy from India arrived in Nepal to meet with opposition forces before meting with Gyanendra in an attempt to break the stand off.
Nepal's government Wednesday imposed a daylong curfew in a western city and gave security forces shoot-at-sight orders for any violation.
The state-run radio announced that the curfew would be imposed in Pokhara, about 125 miles west of Kathmandu, on the 14th day of nationwide protests against the king.
Violators of the curfew would be shot, the Press Trust of India reports.
What His Highness fails to understand, it seems, is that people will only fight for your government if they feel they have a stake in it. The old 'divine right' bit doesn't play as well as it used to, especially when the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has shown a willingness to participate in parliamentary elections in the past, while continuing to so in the parts of Nepal under their control.
Now, is the CPN(M) going to keep up this veneer of civility if they actually gain power? I'm skeptical of their support for democracy, especially in light of their campaign of kidnapping and extortion, as well as some of their statements in which they propose banning 'immoral' Indian films from being shown in Nepal. But, most Nepalese don't go to the movies anyway, and at the moment the rebels they seem to be making their case better.
