Days of rage

摘要

The scale and persistence of the antigovernment demonstrations that swept Nepal this week took many observers by surprise. Defying daytime curfew orders and police violence, thousands of protesters rallied and rioted in Kathmandu and other cities demanding an end to absolute monarchy. Among those caught off guard was the regime itself, which is divided between moderates calling for compromise with the opposition parties and a majority of hardliners, grouped around the home minister, Kamal Thapa, who are bent on retaining control at any cost. Attention was this week directed towards King Gyanendra's traditional speech on the Nepali new year, April 14th.