09-19-2009, 03:17 AM
Protesters demonstrate in Nepal to demand referendum on return of monarchy, Hindu state
By Binaj Gurubacharya (CP) â 9 hours ago
KATMANDU, Nepal â About 1,000 supporters of Nepal's deposed king demonstrated in the capital Friday to demand a referendum on the reinstatement of the monarchy and the country's return to being a Hindu state.
The protest was organized by the National Democratic Party Nepal, the only party to openly support former king Gyanendra, who was dethroned last year. It was the largest public rally by pro-monarchy supporters.
"We want a referendum. Let the people decide," the protesters chanted as they marched through Kathmandu.
The communist-dominated Constituent Assembly voted in May 2008 to abolish the centuries-old monarchy and declared it a republic and a secular state.
"We have gathered signatures of more than 2 million people who want the monarchy reinstated and Nepal be once again declared a Hindu nation," said Raja Ram, a spokesman for the party. The nation was officially Hindu under the monarchy.
The protesters held long pieces of white cloth that they said listed signatures of people supporting the monarchy's return.
Police monitored the demonstration but there were no immediate reports of violence.
Past rallies by the group have been disrupted by supporters of other political parties who oppose the monarchy.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianp...fvTUUtXKkJmYThg
By Binaj Gurubacharya (CP) â 9 hours ago
KATMANDU, Nepal â About 1,000 supporters of Nepal's deposed king demonstrated in the capital Friday to demand a referendum on the reinstatement of the monarchy and the country's return to being a Hindu state.
The protest was organized by the National Democratic Party Nepal, the only party to openly support former king Gyanendra, who was dethroned last year. It was the largest public rally by pro-monarchy supporters.
"We want a referendum. Let the people decide," the protesters chanted as they marched through Kathmandu.
The communist-dominated Constituent Assembly voted in May 2008 to abolish the centuries-old monarchy and declared it a republic and a secular state.
"We have gathered signatures of more than 2 million people who want the monarchy reinstated and Nepal be once again declared a Hindu nation," said Raja Ram, a spokesman for the party. The nation was officially Hindu under the monarchy.
The protesters held long pieces of white cloth that they said listed signatures of people supporting the monarchy's return.
Police monitored the demonstration but there were no immediate reports of violence.
Past rallies by the group have been disrupted by supporters of other political parties who oppose the monarchy.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianp...fvTUUtXKkJmYThg