Images from the Mass Actions in Nepal

Alastair Reith has been posting pictures from Nepal — and we will be offering them here as the new wave of popular resistance mounts this week in Kathmandu and other parts of the country. The Maoist revolutionaries have called for mass resistance to the reactionary government and the caste-ridden royalist army. We urge everyone to follow this closely and make sure all progressive people have a sense of these events and their importance.

Supporters of the Maoist revolutionary movement staging a torch rally on the first day of the second round of protests against the President’s move to overrule the erstwhile government’s decision to sack the then army chief in Kathmandu, Sunday, Nov 01 09. nepalnews.com/rh

Maoists begin second round of protests against President’s move Sunday, 01 November 2009 20:13

The Unified CPN (Maoist) has begun its second round of protests against the President’s move to overrule the erstwhile government’s decision to sack the erstwhile Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Rookmangud Katawal from Sunday.

more reporting and pix >>

Unified CPN (Maoist) cadres staging a torch rally on the first day of the second round of protests against the President’s move to overrule the erstwhile government’s decision to sack the then army chief in Kathmandu, Sunday, Nov 01 09. nepalnews.com/rhAs part of their protest programmes, UCPN (Maoist) organised torch rallies from various places in Kathmandu including Ratnapark, Jamal, Durbarmarg, New Road, and Bhaktapur and Lalitpur, Sunday evening.

Central leaders and CA members of the party participated in the rallies along with the party cadres. UCPN (Maoist) had issued circulars instructing all leaders present in the valley to compulsorily participate in the torch rallies.

Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal led the rally in Ratnapark, politburo member Pampha Bhusal led the rally in Lalitpur and politburo member Shakti Bahadur Basnet led the rally in Bhaktapur.

The rally in Kathmandu converged in New Road. Security had been heightened in Kathmandu during the torch rally.

Traffic as well has movement of pedestrians was adversely affected due to the rallies.

The Maoists have announced various protest programmes including sit-in protests, demonstrations, picketing of government offices, declaration of autonomous federal units and embargo in Kathmandu valley for 15 days beginning today.

The Maoists started the agitation after several rounds of talks with ruling parties Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) failed to reach any consensus. The Maoists had demanded that the President’s move be discussed at the parliament and be labeled ‘wrong’ in one or the other way.

However, NC and UML did not agree to the same saying the statutes and the Interim Constitution could be amended clarifying the jurisdiction of the President instead.

Maoist leaders have said they will continue efforts to resolve the dispute in a consensus through dialogues even during the agitation. Nepalnews.com

An overhead view of torch rally organised by UCPN (Maoist) in protest against the government in Kathmandu on Sunday, November 01, 2009.

REvolutionary cadre and supporters participating in a torch rally in Kathmandu on Sunday, November 01, 2009.

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UCPN-Maoist CA lawmaker Hari Lal Thapa Magar sustains injuries during the Singha Durbar gherao protest programme in Kathmandu on Sunday, November 1, 2009.

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Police baton charged the protest the bleeding CA member above was at, here’s another photo.