Katmandu, Nepal – The crisis in this Himalayan nation deepened Sunday as angry crowds demanding the restoration of democracy took to the streets across Nepal in defiance of a daytime curfew, throwing stones at security forces and burning government offices.
With King Gyanendra and his swelling opposition both refusing to back down, the situation appeared to be reaching its most volatile point since he seized absolute power more than a year ago. The well-armed communist insurgency has allied itself with the political opposition, which vowed Sunday to continue demonstrations indefinitely. The government warned of harsher measures in response.
Security forces have killed three protesters, including one in Sunday’s gunfire, and thrown more than 800 in jail during four days of demonstrations that for the first time brought thousands of workers, professionals and businesspeople into the streets alongside students and political activists.
“Even the parties didn’t expect such a massive public participation across the country,” said Lok Raj Baral, executive chairman of the Nepal Centre for Contemporary Studies and a retired diplomat.
Across the country and throughout the day, Nepalis protested in defiance of a daylight curfew and official orders to shoot violators on sight.
There were protests in at least four parts of the capital, Katmandu. Some demonstrators threw stones at police before being forced back by tear gas. The private Kantipur television station broadcast footage of police shooting rubber-coated bullets, hitting at least one protester.
The station also showed protesters burning cars in Katmandu and looting city council buildings in a suburb.
The protests, part of a four- day nationwide strike, were to end Sunday, but instead the king’s opponents announced that they would continue, with no end in sight.
