Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 6, 1990 TAG: 9004061084
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: KATMANDU, NEPAL LENGTH: Medium
At least nine people were killed during demonstrations in other parts of the country today, witnesses said.
The violence occurred immediately after King Birendra dismissed the government and promised talks with pro-democracy activists, who launched a campaign about two months ago demanding a multiparty political system.
In Katmandu, the capital, bands of angry protesters calling for greater democracy in this Himalayan monarchy tried to set fire to government buildings and the houses of politicians loyal to King Birendra.
Gunshots and automatic weapons fire echoed throughout the city.
At sundown, the city was plunged into darkness as a government-planned blackout took effect.
One witness contacted by telephone from New Delhi said troops had moved into the city. The witness, speaking from a hotel in the city's center, said he saw 35 corpses at Bir Hospital, the city's largest.
"There are hundreds more wounded. It's a bloody mess," said the witness, speaking on condition of anonymity.
An attorney, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said about 40 people were killed.
Police opened fire on the huge crowd about 500 yards from the royal palace, said witnesses, speaking on condition of anonymity. The demonstrators waved flags and chanted slogans against the government.
Another witness contacted by telephone said that he saw 30 young men gunned down as he watched the demonstration from a hotel window.
"The people were unarmed and the government just started shooting," he said. "A whole line of demonstrators fell."
He said security forces carried away some of the wounded but others were left lying in the street. It was not known whether any of these men died.
King Birendra said on state-run radio today that a new government will be formed by Lokendra Bahadur Chand, a former prime minister regarded as more moderate toward political opposition than former Prime Minister Marich Man Singh Shrestha.
Prior to today's violence at least 16 people had been killed in clashes between demonstrators and the police since the banned Nepali Congress party and a coalition of left-wing groups began the protests on Feb. 18.
Hundreds of people have been arrested, and human rights activists have charged that many detainees have been tortured.
Birenda said Shrestha's government had failed to maintain law and order during the 47-day-old campaign for multiparty democracy and he promised that the new government would "consult people holding different political views."
by CNB