To celebrate the popular uprising of last April dubbed as - Jana Aandolan II, People across the nation are celebrating the first anniversary the first Loktantra (democracy) day throughout the country with festivities for three days starting Monday.
To mark the Democracy Day (Loktantra Diwas) Tuesday, three-day-long celebrations will have various programmes organized throughout the country by the organizing committees in the respective regions.
Last year on this very day, the April uprising was at its height, which forced King Gynendra to bend knees to the people power. The following day – April 24, 2006 – people succeeded in gaining back the sovereignty, freedom and democracy that were seized by King Gyanendra on Feb 1, 2005.
The main Democracy Day Celebrations Organizing Committee has urged people across the nation to light celebratory lamps at their residences to mark the historic day.
The committee has also urged people to participate in the celebratory programme to be organized at the Tundikhel on Tuesday where a helicopter of Nepal army will shower flowers.
On Tuesday, the health ministry is organising a free health camp for children and old people in orphanages and old-age homes.
Radio Nepal, Nepal TV and private electronic media would hold talk shows. Nepal TV would telecast a documentary on Loktantra. Nepal Army will also host programmes at Tundikhel to mark the first democracy day.
The Prime minister will also give a message on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, programmes would be held to remember the martyrs and felicitate those injured during the people's movement last year.
In districts, democracy day celebration committees have been constituted under the chairmanship of Chief District Officers.
On April 24, the civil society activists plan to take out Loktantra Day Citizen's Rally (starting from Kalanki at 12 noon) and hold an Assembly (starts from 2 pm at Basantapur Dabali).
The Seven Party Alliance-steered April uprising last year saw a sea of people, not only in the capital, but also across the country in the streets demanding democracy in the country, which was snatched away by the king to start an autocratic regime.
Last year's pro-democracy movement was launched on the foundation of the 12-point understanding signed between the Seven Party Alliance and the CPN (Maoist) in December 2005.
With the beginning of 2006, the political parties had already unleashed fresh rounds of struggle, but it reached a peak on February 8 last year ahead of the king-announced municipal elections, which was boycotted by the SPA and the Maoists.
SPA called for a four-day nationwide general strike on April 5. The Maoists announced a cease-fire. With the general strike gaining momentum, the erstwhile royal regime clamped curfew on April 8 with a shoot-to-kill order.
On April 9, SPA announced continuation of the stir across the nation. The then government stepped up its enforcement claiming that the Maoists had infiltrated the protests.
The awestricken world witnessed people taking to the streets defying a shoot-to-kill curfew and chanting slogans against the direct rule. The crowds increased to sizes the following days estimated at 100,000 to 200,000 in Kathmandu. On April 21, about half a million people took part in the protest programmes in Kathmandu.
Following mounting pressure on him, the king on April 24 capitulated before the people power.
Admitting that he was convinced that the source of State Authority and Sovereignty of the Nepal was inherent in the people of Nepal, the king, through his proclamation, reinstated the then House of Representatives giving back all power to the people seized by him on May 22, 2002.
At least 19 people were killed, more than 5,000 were injured and 1,000 were jailed during the 19-day long democratic movement.
|
Set as homepage 
|
Add to favorites 
|
