NEPAL: Government cuts off mobile telephone service

Government suspends mobile telephone services for second time since royal takeover

Nepal News
Thursday, January 19, 2006

AsiaMedia Editor's Note: Reports are unclear as to whether the lifting of the state of emergency on April 30 allows for press freedom, and thus Nepalnews may still be operating under the directives of King Gyanendra.

The government suspended mobile telephone service from Thursday ahead of the mass meeting of the seven political parties.

Seven political parties are organizing mass meeting in the capital on Friday.

This is the second time the mobile service has been disrupted following the February 1 royal takeover. The government suspended telephone and mobile service immediately after the February 1 royal takeover.

However landline telephone services resumed at 8:30 a.m. Landlines and mobile phones went dead early this morning. On Monday, the government imposed curfew in Kathmandu and Lalitpur and prohibited rallies and mass movement inside the Ring Road.

However the political parties have vowed to continue the agitation despite the government's prohibition.

Date Posted: 1/19/2006