Butchers of Nepal

Members of the government's armed forces opened fire on Nepali Congress (Morang District) killing President Amrit Aryal, town president Kamaksha Parajuli, and political activists Umesh Thapa and Hurrilal Rana on February 8th during municipal polling. Another pro-democracy campaigner was also seriously injured on the same day.

The killings have been followed by concerted efforts to hide the evidence, acording to local activists. Nepal has been in a state of semi-civil war since February last year when 'King' Gyanedra seized power in a violent coup d'etat.
The dictator, who has subsequently cracked down on journalists, unionists and social activists using both official and unofficial violence, has been largely ignored by the international community despite widespread evidence of human rights violations including the systemic torture and murder of political opponents.

Around a thousand activists from around the country were rounded up as part of a drive to crack a Maoist and pro-democratic insurgency last year. The leftist opposition continues to receive widespread support from the general public, nearly half of whom live below the poverty line.

The self-proclaimed monarch has subsequently issued an official request to opposition groups to restart the ‘stalled democratic process, in the greater interest of the nation’.

His call follows a march attended by 3,000 people in the capital, Kathmandu, which saw the largely Maoist crowd calling for an end to his regime.

Rebels have called for a general strike from the 3rd April, which they said would be preceded by blockades on the country's major roads from mid-March.

"The regime is counting its final days," said a rebel statement.

"The time has come to make the final strike on the regime that has been isolated and defamed."