home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- <text id=90TT0922>
- <title>
- Apr. 16, 1990: World Notes:Nepal
- </title>
- <history>
- TIME--The Weekly Newsmagazine--1990
- Apr. 16, 1990 Colossal Colliders:Smash!
- </history>
- <article>
- <source>Time Magazine</source>
- <hdr>
- WORLD, Page 37
- World Notes
- NEPAL
- Battle Royal In Katmandu
- </hdr>
- <body>
- <p> King Birendra Shah has ruled Nepal since 1972 without much
- of a nod to democracy. Political parties are outlawed, and the
- King effectively controls the parliament. Last week, as he
- confronted an increasingly militant popular movement for
- democracy, the monarch decided to appear conciliatory. He
- dismissed his hard-line Cabinet and promised to create a new
- government that would "consult people holding different
- political views."
- </p>
- <p> Rather than ease tensions, Birendra's move sparked the worst
- violence and the most serious threat to his authority since
- pro-democracy forces took to the streets two months ago. As
- 200,000 demonstrators marched toward the royal palace in
- Katmandu, the capital, police started firing. Dozens of people
- were killed, and some witnesses claim the toll was much higher.
- Opposition leaders vowed to continue seeking a multiparty
- government and limits on Birendra's sweeping powers.
- </p>
-
- </body>
- </article>
- </text>
-
-