Date:17/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/04/17/stories/2006041705281400.htm

International

Nepal parties intensify agitation

Kathmandu: Instensifying their agitation against King Gyanendra, Nepal's Opposition on Sunday launched a ``non-cooperation movement'' and asked people not to pay taxes to the Royal government, as police fired at protesters in various parts of the Himalayan Kingdom, injuring at least 18. Amid calls to the King by international community to end his direct rule and pave way for multi-party democracy, Indian envoy Shivshankar Mukherjee met the King at his Narayanhity palace and discussed the situation.

The coordination committee of the seven-party alliance for restoration of democracy appealed people not to pay taxes .

``As part of a non-cooperation movement against the autocratic royal government, we call upon the taxpayers not to pay any kind of taxes to the Government and also for consumers not to pay anything for water, electricity, telephone or other services,'' it said in a statement. — PTI