The second day (April 7, 2006) of the 4 day long general strike called by Seven Party Alliance (SPA) in Nepal continued with demonstrations and huge clashes between the police force and demonstrators all round the country. There has also been arrest of hundreds of demonstrators and party activists across the country. According to the government source 146 demonstrators were arrested in Kathmandu alone.
All the shops, business houses, vehicles, factories were affected from the general strike. Staffs of government owned Nepal Telecom, Electricity Authority, Nepal Rastriya Bank, Nepal Banijya Bank, Nepal Bank Ltd. did not work in their office supporting the general strike. Doctors and staffs of medical colleges of Nepal also protested against the autocratic royal regime.

It has been analyzed that this is the first time after restoration of democracy in 1990 that people from every sectors have shown their solidarity in movement.

In the capital city Kathmandu, vehicles of press, human right defenders, hospitals, foreign diplomats and police were only seen which were also very less in number. None of the vehicle entered Kathmandu from any of the entry point.

All the highways round the country were silent. Few motor-cycles were torched and few taxis, private and government vehicles were vandalized in Kathmandu. Tires and logs were seen burning all over the road and demonstrators demonstrating against the royal regime of Nepal. Demonstrators also set fire to the post office of Patan, Lalitpur. Slogans pointing King Gyanendra, his son Paras and home minister Kamal Thapa were heard at most of the places.

Demonstrators took hold of Kritipur metropolitan city and declared it as police free zone. Police force was seen escaping after the students of Tribhuvan University of Kirtipur and local residents demonstrated in huge mass.

Student protestors vandalized the office of the vice-chancellor of the Tribhuvan University. Nearly two-dozen protestors were injured in a clash between students and police following the incident.

Kalanki, Kalimati, Baneswor, Samakhusi, Chabahil, Naya Bazar, Ason, Nardevi, Sorha Khutte, Gongabu Chok, Maitidevi were some of the major places in Kathmandu where demonstrations took place and clashes between the police and demonstrators took place whole the day.

During the observation it was also found that police has used vigilantes to get hold of demonstrators. Some police officers in civil dress were also found beating and catching the demonstrators within Kathmandu. Several rounds of tear gas were also shot. Police have not spared hitting the general public of the local area and have also injured several children.

While writing this report, government today on 8 April has imposed curfew within ring road of Kathmandu valley, lalitpur and Bhaktapur from morning 10 am until 9 pm. Regular curfew from 11 pm to 3 am has also not been informed of released. From the morning 7 am today, connection of all mobile services have been cut down but landlines still working.

It was 8th April 1990 when the democracy was restored in Nepal. So, in the remembrance of the historical day as well as part of ongoing general strike, today it was planned to have huge mass rally and demonstration in the Basntapur of Kathmandu.

This curfew imposed by the autocratic government is meant to disrupt the mass movement targeted for today. But the political parties and civil society organizations are planning to break this curfew today.

Report by Pratik Pande, Jagaran Media Center