Nepalese authorities Wednesday arrested almost 150 politicians and demonstrators and imposed a curfew in a crackdown aimed at thwarting planned pro-democracy mass protests this week, activists said.
Seven opposition parties ousted when King Gyanendra sacked the government and seized power 14 months ago have called for a four-day general strike starting Thursday and a mass demonstration in the capital Saturday.
Forty-four politicians were arrested in their homes at dawn Wednesday by plain-clothes police, activists said. Scores of protesters were arrested later in the day at anti-royal protests in the capital held in defiance of a ban on public meetings.
"We have arrested around 100 people from various demonstrations," said a police officer on condition of anonymity.
Of the 44 political leaders detained, nine were released Wednesday afternoon, said Minendra Rijal who was held before dawn and released in the afternoon.
"No matter what the royal government does, we will stick to our plans for a peaceful demonstration, and we strongly believe that it will be non-violent," said Rijal, spokesman for the Nepali Congress (Democratic) party. "The king must realise that he cannot keep on holding power by following repressive methods. The question is how long the government will survive by taking undemocratic steps. The harder you press a ball, the more it will bounce," said Gopal Man Shrestha, the party's acting president.
The United Nations human rights body is monitoring the situation and will be visiting arrested leaders and protesters, a spokesman said Wednesday. It has urged the royal government to allow peaceful protests.
Local officials in the capital announced the night curfew.
"The curfew will come into effect from 11:00 pm Wednesday until 3 am Thursday," Sushil Ghimire, chief district administrator of Kathmandu, told AFP. "The curfew has been imposed for security reasons," said Ghimire, declining to elaborate.
In January the government launched a similar crackdown that successfully stymied planing were in defiant mood.
"We know that this is banned but we are supporting the seven-party movement and we will defy the restrictions," said Shambu Thapa, president of the Nepal Bar Association, just before being detained.
Around 150 professionals gathered for the protest but 47 of them were detained before it got under way, eyewitnesses said.
"Among those arrested were 13 journalists, five college professors, 13 lawyers and three doctors," said Balaram Baniya, secretary of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, who spoke to AFP from police custody.
The strike and Saturday's planned protest will go ahead despite the arrests, said Shovakar Parajuli, a secretary of the Nepali Congress Party.
"Our plan will go ahead as scheduled and we won't be rattled by the government's crackdown," he said.
Maoist rebels have said they will cease hostilities around the capital while the political parties hold their protests. Elsewhere in the country a clash between the rebels and troops Wednesday morning left one policeman and five soldiers dead in Jhapa district, 600 kilometres (375 miles) east of Kathmandu.
Since the rebels began their "people's war" in 1996, at least 12,500 people have been killed. The Maoists have now formed a loose alliance with the parties against the king.
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