Trouble in Kathmandu
The typical Nepalese only wishes for peace in their country. This is the ninth year of the Maoists revolution. Tourists, the only real industry, are now afraid of violence in Nepal. According to the local papers, gasoline tankers have been blown up, tourist buses burned, bridges destroyed, banks robbed in the ever escalating wave of violence. The local paper reports people, (a thousand taken to be reeducated on one day alone) kidnapped, tortured and killed by Maoists forces daily
Tires placed in streets fill the air. The police line is under the lit pedestrain overpass. Bricks and huge stones, chunks of cement litter the street. When the previous King was murdered in his palace, along with almost his entire family, his brother became King. The new King dismissed the elected officals. The public apathy was so much, the Prime Minister cried on tv, that no one cared. So the officals, dressed up, but without an office, after waiting to be reinstated for two or more years, now are also demonstrating, beside the Communists. Buses, and taxis, are stoned or burnt. Acrid smoke from burning tires fills the city
Young people hopng for better futures wave flags in the demonstrations. Iron fences are torn off foundatins, thrown into fires. The police use tear gas, plastic bullets, break bones and crack heads, to keep the demonstrators from crossing the line. Tear gas was even fired into the hospital. The police are lined up under the lit pedestrain overpass. They are keeping the demonstrators away from the King's palace. He is not home, but touring his country.
The Nepali police marching down the road towards the palace. They are in small groups all over the city, watching, waiting, walking up and down the streets waiting.
The Communist demonstrators travel around the city marching. On April 10, 2004, demonstrating was made illegal. 2000 demonstrators were rounded up, tata trucks borrowed by the police from owners, and the demonstrators hauled into whatever makeshift jails could be found.
Communists marching in Chhretapati.