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Eight police officers killed in Nepal constitution protests Eight police officers killed in Nepal constitution protests
(about 1 hour later)
Demonstrators armed with spears and axes have killed eight police officers in western Nepal during escalating protests against a proposed new constitution, officials said.Demonstrators armed with spears and axes have killed eight police officers in western Nepal during escalating protests against a proposed new constitution, officials said.
The government announced a curfew and plans to send in the army to Kailali district in the country’s remote far west, where authorities said there were reports that three demonstrators may have also died. The government announced a indefinite curfew on Monday and plans to send in the army to Kailali district in the country’s remote far west, where authorities said there were reports that three demonstrators may have also died.
“So far I can confirm that eight members of our security forces have been killed, including two paramilitary personnel,” the home ministry spokesman, Laxmi Prasad Dhakal, said. “An indefinite curfew has been imposed in the area from 4pm today.” “So far I can confirm that eight members of our security forces have been killed, including two paramilitary personnel,” said the home ministry spokesman, Laxmi Prasad Dhakal.
Anger has been building for weeks in Nepal’s western and southern plains after legislators struck a breakthrough deal on the long-awaited charter in June, spurred by April’s devastating earthquake.Anger has been building for weeks in Nepal’s western and southern plains after legislators struck a breakthrough deal on the long-awaited charter in June, spurred by April’s devastating earthquake.
The charter was meant to draw a line under centuries of inequality but its plan to divide the country into seven provinces in a draft presented in parliament on Sunday has sparked fury among marginalised communities, who say the new borders will limit their political representation. The charter was meant to draw a line under centuries of inequality, but its plan to divide the country into seven provinces in a draft presented in parliament on Sunday sparked fury among marginalised communities, who say the new borders will limit their political representation.
Monday’s violence erupted as police attempted to prevent protesters from entering restricted areas and from vandalising government offices in the town of Tikapur, 260 miles west of Kathmandu, the home minister, Bam Dev Gautam, told parliament. “All of a sudden protesters encircled the police and attacked them with knives, axes, sickles and spears,” he said. Monday’s violence erupted as police attempted to prevent protesters from entering restricted areas and from vandalising government offices in the town of Tikapur, 260 miles west of Kathmandu, home minister Bam Dev Gautam told parliament. “All of a sudden protesters encircled the police and attacked them with knives, axes, sickles and spears,” he said.
Demonstrators also set fire to one of the paramilitary officers, Guatam added, although it was unclear if the officer survived the attack. Demonstrators also set fire to one of the paramilitary officers, said Guatam, although it was unclear if the officer survived the attack.
Nepal has seen a string of protests in recent weeks, organised by members of historically marginalised communities including the Tharu ethnic minority, which has struggled to overcome decades spent as bonded slaves to high-caste landowners.Nepal has seen a string of protests in recent weeks, organised by members of historically marginalised communities including the Tharu ethnic minority, which has struggled to overcome decades spent as bonded slaves to high-caste landowners.
The latest clashes broke out when Tharu activists held a protest to demand their own separate province.The latest clashes broke out when Tharu activists held a protest to demand their own separate province.
A Tharu legislator, Ganga Chaudhary, who staged a torch rally in Kathmandu two weeks ago, blamed the authorities for the escalation of protests. “Tharus are a peaceful community and we have been putting our demands for an undivided Tharu province peacefully, but our voices were not heard,” she said. “This violence is an unfortunate consequence of the rage that has been brewing … if the government listens to Tharus, the situation could calm down.”A Tharu legislator, Ganga Chaudhary, who staged a torch rally in Kathmandu two weeks ago, blamed the authorities for the escalation of protests. “Tharus are a peaceful community and we have been putting our demands for an undivided Tharu province peacefully, but our voices were not heard,” she said. “This violence is an unfortunate consequence of the rage that has been brewing … if the government listens to Tharus, the situation could calm down.”
Regional parties have long pushed for new provinces to be created along lines that could favour historically marginalised communities, but other legislators have opposed such proposals, saying it would be divisive and threaten national unity.Regional parties have long pushed for new provinces to be created along lines that could favour historically marginalised communities, but other legislators have opposed such proposals, saying it would be divisive and threaten national unity.
Work on a new national constitution began in 2008, two years after the end of a Maoist insurgency that left an estimated 16,000 people dead and brought down the 240-year-old Hindu monarchy.Work on a new national constitution began in 2008, two years after the end of a Maoist insurgency that left an estimated 16,000 people dead and brought down the 240-year-old Hindu monarchy.