Nepali parties vow to defy protest ban

Nepalese students defy King Gyanendra's ban on protests in Katahmandu yesterday. Opposition parties in Nepal said they would defy a government ban on protests and will go ahead with a demonstration against King Gyanendra's rule as planned this week. PHOTO: AFP

The seven parties plan the protest to oppose next month's municipal elections and to press King Gyanendra to hand back power to an all-party government.

But on Monday, the government banned rallies anywhere in the capital, saying anti-monarchy Maoist guerrillas could infiltrate such gatherings and spark trouble.

Rallies in the heart of the capital were banned last year.

"It is our right to protest peacefully ... We are not going to be cowed down," said Ram Chandra Poudel, a leader of the biggest party, Nepali Congress.

The parties say the municipal polls are aimed at legitimising the King's absolute power. The rebels -- fighting for a single-party communist republic -- say they will stop the vote.

Last week, the seven parties gathered more than 100,000 people in the southeastern town of Janakpur in the biggest pro-democracy rally since King Gyanendra sacked the government, suspended civil liberties and curbed media freedom last February.

Poudel said thousands were expected to attend Friday's rally.

"The ban shows that the government is nervous with the rising tide of our peaceful protests against the King," Poudel said, speaking for all seven parties.

"We'll not call it off and we are prepared to be arrested."