Video Strike, police presence, violence, pro-democracy protest

Central Katmandu

1. Wide shot of people and bicycles in streets with no vehicles

2. Mid shot police standing by, teargas gun at the ready

3. Wide shot of the shops closed, and police security

4. Truck full of police posted at intersection

5. Crowd gathered

6. Mid shot man is arrested, dragged away shouting by police

7. Cutaway close up teargas gun

8. Shouting man is dragged away by group of police while police hit him with truncheon and kick him


Baneshor, Katmandu

9. Police running towards group of protesters

10. Various of police with youths up against wall, hitting them with truncheons

11. Close up man being hit by police with truncheons

12. Close up men running, chased by baton wielding police

13. Man (wearing jacket which says on the back "Human Rights Defender") comforting crying boy (he was caught up in the police baton charge)

14. Close up crying boy

15. SOUNDBITE: (English) Subodh Pakural, human rights activist:

"This is the intention of the current regime, to terrorise the people. They don't care about the rule of law so they have instructed the police to be most brutal."

16. Riot police slowly walking down street

17. Side shot close up rank of riot police in helmets and masks with riot shields

18. Large group of riot police advancing down road


Baburmahal, Katmandu

19. Various of protesters marching and chanting (protest organised by the seven political parties who are against the monarchy and want democracy restored)

20. Man addressed assembled protesters

21. Wide shot crowds gathered, flags in foreground

22. SOUNDBITE: (English) Srijana Adhikari, National Congress student wing:

"And I am very much confident, we all in the street, people are united together and all Nepali people are together for the sake of democracy, and I'm so optimistic very soon we are getting democracy back."

23. Wide shot demonstrators gathered, applaud a speech


STORYLINE


The streets of Katmandu were almost deserted on Thursday as the result of a general strike called by dissidents to protest next month's municipal elections.


Nepal's Maoist rebels and a coalition of the seven top political parties oppose the royalist government's plans for local elections on February 8, arguing they will legitimise King Gyanendra's seizure of direct control over the central government a year ago.


The political parties, which plan to boycott the elections, called a general strike for Thursday, and the rebels have warned candidates they could face violence if they register to run for office.


The one-day registration of candidates for the elections drew only a trickle of candidates.


In Katmandu, a dozen people filed for candidacy during the first three hours after Nepal's Elections Commission opened the field for nominations under tight security.


Security forces were posted at all major intersections, and no private vehicles were allowed on the roads.


Police in riot gear stood guard at buildings and prominent places, and there were several incidents of apparent police brutality against members of the public.


Elsewhere in the capital, about 2,000 pro-democracy demonstrators took to the streets.


The protest was organised by the seven political parties who are against the monarchy and want democracy restored.


Hundreds of police kept close watch on the rally but did not intervene.


In Pokhara, a resort town 200 kilometres (125 miles) west of Katmandu, police used tear gas and batons to disperse several groups of protesters.


The police later opened fire, injuring a bystander, according to witnesses.




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