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- By Parinda News Bureau, April 15, 2005, 13:41 IST
Kathmandu : Rejecting King Gyanendra's offer of dialogue, Nepal 's opposition alliance asked people from all walks of life to actively participate in its anti-monarchy agitation.
The agitatation which entered the ninth day on Friday with tens of thousands of protestors demanding restoration of democracy and police arresting 14 people.
The participation of broad masses of people, including professionals, media persons, teachers, doctors, industrialists and human rights workers, have made the movement for restoration of democracy widespread, a joint statement issued by the seven-party alliance said, urging people to keep actively participating in the agitation in coming days.
A day after the King called for general elections and dialogue with the opposition, the parties rejected the monarch's offer and said "we vehemently condemn the brutal repression and killings by the autocratic regime and express our high respect to the immortal martyrs of the movement."
There can be no permanent peace in the country unless autocracy ended and full-fledged democracy established, the statement said.
Recalling the 12-point understanding the seven parties reached with Maoists recently, the statement said the move was aimed at bringing about permanent peace and restoring democracy in the country ending the present conflict.
The parties' statement came as over one lakh people demonstrated against the King's direct rule in Pokhara and Chitawan and also held condolence meetings for the two activists killed there during the past one week in Army firing on protestors, witnesses said.
Those who signed the statement included Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala, Nepal Communist Party-UML acting General Secretary Amrit Kumar Bohara, Nepali Congress (Democratic) President Sher Bahadur Deuba, United Peoples Front President Amik Serchan, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party President Narayanman Bijukchhe and Nepal Sadbhavana Party (A) Vice President Bharat Bimal Yadav.
The royal regime is using security forces to protect itself, the parties said in the statement, cautioning that records will be kept regarding those who resorted to brutal suppression and stern action shall be taken against them after restoration of democracy.
"We are fully confident that the aim of ending autocracy and establishing democracy can be achieved through peaceful joint movement," the statement said.
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