Posted: Apr 24, 2006 03:18 am EDT
(MountEverest.net) Nepal's government has imposed a 7-hour long day-time curfew in Kathmandu valley today. Climbing teams still in Kathmandu wait in their hotels until they can leave town in hired choppers.

Orders: Shoot to kill

Issuing separate public notices, local authorities in Kathmandu and Lalitpur districts clamped shoot-to-kill curfew orders from 11 a.m. to 6p.m. on Monday, according to Nepal News. This is the fifth consecutive day the local authorities issued day-time curfew in the valley.

US embassy closing down

The US embassy in Kathmandu closed its visa operations and ordered the families of its diplomats to leave Nepal on Monday. The embassy also released the following statement: “American citizens are reminded that during government-imposed curfews, they must stay indoors and off the streets. Given security situation, embassy encourages American citizens to consider departing Nepal. Demonstrations have turned violent in even tourist areas such as Thamel.”

Similar statements can be found in most countries’ Foreign Affairs department’s websites.

DCXP team hiring chopper

DCXP-Project Himalaya Everest team reported from Kathmandu yesterday, confirming they were OK and about to fly in a chopper to the Tibetan border.

“Yesterday there was some large protests around the Palace and actually a large protest marched close to our hotel,” leader Scott Woolums reported. “But these have been very non-violent except near the Palace and in the center of town. For us, it is more inconvenient than risky. So no worries, the team is really doing fine. We have secured a charter helicopter to fly to the border of Tibet this morning, but the flight was delayed until this as there is a large demand right now for the helicopters. Most of the roads are shut down with the strike going.”

“There has been another curfew set for 9am this morning, which closes all the shops for the day. So mostly we have been in the hotel, catching up with things that need done.”

Two million protestors expected tomorrow

The seven-party alliance has called for definitive series of protests tomorrow: They bow to bring together 2 million people in Kathmandu in peaceful demonstrations and protest rallies Tuesday. The demonstrations will be carried out from interior parts of the city and along the stretch of Ring Road from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

King Gyanendra in the royal proclamation on Friday said he had returned the executive power to the people, and asked the agitating seven-party alliance to recommend a name for the Prime Minister. However the alliance termed the proclamation as a ploy of the King to weaken the opposition leaders and thus decided to continue the ongoing pro-democracy movement.

Maoist attacks in rural areas – foreigners suggested leaving Nepal

Taking advantage of the chaos, Maoists troops are hardening their attacks in rural areas. On Sunday night hundreds of rebels attacked a police station, district administration office, telecommunications tower and a jail at Chautara, about 100 km (60 miles) east of Kathmandu, according to Reuters.

Nepal's King Gyanendra took absolute power in February 1, 2005. Since then, opposition has grown among off-parliament parties, who have formed a Seven Party Alliance against the monarch. The Alliance organized a series of protests and called for a general strike three weeks ago. The king tried to minimize the effect of protests by establishing intermittent curfews and using force against demonstrators.

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