April 10, 2006

Nepal Government cuts Cell Phone Network before Protests. In an effort to stop a pro-Democracy rally, the government of Nepal killed cell phone service nationwide and some internet mere hours before the protests were to begin. Cell phones have become integral to protest planning.

The protests are against King Gyanendra. This ruler came to power in an unusual way that you may recall: the former Crown Prince Dipendra slaughtered virtually his entire family in a drunken 'postal' spree. Rumours spread the killings may even have been some form of set-up for the unpopular Gyanendra to obtain the throne. He was one of the few to be spared that fateful night, being out of town, and his despised son, who was in the palace when the mass murder occurred, escaped injury entirely. Gyanendra quickly imposed an even more rigid rule than his late brother, who had not been a particularly liberal ruler himself, and put a tight reign on the media. The context for all this mayhem is the growing strength of the 'People's War', led by the Maoist Communist Party of Nepal. Until 1990, Nepal was ruled by a monarchy and all political parties were banned. Then after widespread unrest and protest, King Birendra was forced to institute a constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament. The new constitution gave the king supreme command of the Royal Nepal Army and the power to appoint the army commander in chief. The police forces, on the other hand, are under the command of the ruling government. This setup had made King Birendra the focus of much of the struggle over whether or not to mobilize the army against the Maoists. Gyanendra is an unknown quantity, however, and he is thought to be likely to get involved and order the army against the Maoists.

posted by Scary Corn Imp 18 years ago