Nepal's King Gyanendra

'End violence' plea by Nepal king

KATHMANDU: Nepal's King Gyanendra, facing a deadly Maoist revolt and sustained street protests from political parties, called yesterday for unity among all Nepalis and an end to the country's "cycle of devastation"."In order to end this cycle of devastation, all peace-loving people who have faith in multiparty democracy must unite in earnest, with the nation's well-being as the focal point," the 57-year-old monarch said in a message read over state radio to mark the Dasain festival.

Dasain celebrates the Hindu god-king Ram's victory over the demon Ravan and is widely celebrated in Nepal, the world's only officially Hindu kingdom.

"Today, our nation and people are afflicted with violence and destructive activities. Such acts must be brought to an end without any further delay and an environment of peace restored in the country," King Gyanendra said.

Gyanendra, however, didn't offer any new proposals to revive peace talks with the rebels, which collapsed in August last year. The government has repeatedly urged rebels to return to the negotiating table, but to no avail.

Since they withdrew from peace talks, the rebels have grown increasingly bold in their attacks. In August, they isolated the capital, Kathmandu, by threatening to attack vehicles, as part of a campaign to pressure the government into releasing detained insurgents.

More than 10,000 people have died in the Himalayan nation since Maoist guerillas began a violent campaign in 1996 to overthrow the constitutional monarchy.

The revolt, aimed at setting up a Communist republic, has also left thousands injured, orphaned or displaced and wrecked one of the world's poorest economies by slowing foreign-funded projects and scaring away tourists.

Gyanendra, who plunged the troubled nation into political turmoil by firing elected Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba in 2002, has faced violent street protests from four political parties represented in the parliament he disbanded that year.

In June, he reappointed Deuba but failed to coax political parties - which accuse him of overstepping his role and want an all-party government - to join the current government.

Foreign donors, including neighbouring India, the United States and Britain, have stressed the need for a common front between the king and political parties against the Maoists.

Both the government and the rebels, who agreed to a temporary festival truce until next week, are under pressure from political parties and human rights activists to extend the ceasefire and reconvene peace talks that failed in 2003.

Deuba has offered talks on several occasions but the rebels have rejected dialogue unless the United Nations was involved.

However, the rebels and government troops have agreed to a temporary truce during the Dasain festival -during which many Nepalese travel home.

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