2004 Nepal riots

Date| 31 August 2004
Location|

Various places in Nepal

Caused by| Nepal hostage crisis
Methods| Rioting, looting, arson, assault
Resulted in|

* Mosques, homes, vehicles destroyed
* National day of mourning observed

Casualties
Death(s)| At least 2 people[1]

The 2004 Nepal riots were a series of riots between 31 August to 6 September 2004. Thousands of people rioted in cities and towns across Nepal, which saw looting, arson, as well as imposed curfew and the deaths of two people.

The protests started in Kathmandu, Nepal, following the Nepal hostage crisis. On 19 August 2004, twelve Nepalis were kidnapped in Iraq by Jamaat Ansar al-Sunna, and on 31 August, it was confirmed that the twelve Nepalis were murdered. Several violent clashes with police followed the crisis, along with vandalism of Kantipur Publications, Kantipur Television, Space Time Network, and Channel Nepal. The Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies was reported to have lost about billions of Nepali Rupees (NPR), and various companies also lost about 750 million NPR in damages.

## Background

[edit]

Main article: Nepal hostage crisis

On 19 August 2004, the Jamaat Ansar al-Sunna website posted that they had taken twelve Nepalis hostage in Iraq and the group did not mention any demands nor gave any schedule for negotiations.[2] The next day, the website showed a video of the Nepalis begging for their lives and they blamed, Pralhad Giri of Moonlight Consultants, for their abduction; the media was aired by various Nepali channels.[2] On 23 August, the Government of Nepal made a plead via the Al Jazeera television channel, however, Nepali diplomats were unable to contact the kidnappers.[2] The Nepali government also wrote to the Iraqi government, nevertheless, on 31 August at 6 pm, television channels broadcast pictures of the dead bodies of 12 Nepalis.[2] This was later confirmed by the Qatari Government.[2]

## Riots

[edit]

The first demonstrations began shortly after television channels broadcast pictures of the dead bodies.[2] At 6 pm, 20 people showed up at Maitidevi, Kathmandu, and they started to knock down signs of "labour recruitment agencies".[2] Later at Ghanta Ghar, the protester threw rocks at a mosque, later the rioters grew more than 150 people.[2][3]

On 1 September, rioters appeared in various areas including, Kathmandu, and Lalitpur.[2] The same day at 7:30 am, about 100 people shouted a rallying cry against "Islamic terrorists" and threw rocks at a mosque near Ghanta Ghar, and some protesters climbed to the roof, but, deployed police force took control of the place.[2] The rioters also targeted Kantipur Publications, Kantipur Television, Space Time Network, and Channel Nepal; their employees were harassed, attacked by rocks, and their vehicles were burned.[2][4] Jame Masjid in Kathmandu was tried to set on fire however this was intervened by the police.[5] More than hundreds of copies of the Koran, an Islamic holy book, were "thrown on to the street and burnt".[6] International airlines from Islamic countries were also vandalised, including Qatar Airways, Saudia, Kuwait Airways, and Pakistan International Airlines.[7]

At noon, the government announced it would impose a curfew around the Ring Road, Butwal, and Birtamod from 2:00 pm.[8][9] At 1 pm, the protestors clash with the security guards near the Egyptian Embassy, Pulchok, and one is killed and three injured after they open fire.[2][10] Half an hour later, near Ratna Park, three people were injured and one later dies at the hospital.[2] The riots cool down after the curfew was deployed at 2 pm.[2] It was estimated that there were more than 20,000 rioters on 1 September.[11] Areas outside of the capital saw huge protests including in Birtamod, and Butwal.[12]

On 2 September, Home Ministry reported that the situation was under control.[13] On 4 September, the curfew was eased and many people were seen outside shopping for food and essential goods.[14] The curfew was officially ended on Monday, 6 September.[15]

## Effects

[edit]

The Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies was criticised and vandalized by rioters for failing to "protect hundreds of manpower agencies during the rampage".[11] It was estimated that vandalism cost them billions of Nepali rupees as the protesters destroyed more than 300,000 passports "deposited with manpower agencies".[11] The company told the government that they would not send anyone aboard for work until the government provides them with compensation and guaranteed the security of its employees.[11] International airlines including Qatar Airways, Pakistan International Airlines, and Air Sahara stopped their flights to Kathmandu due to riots.[11][16] Nepali Times estimated that various companies lost 750 million Nepalese rupees (NPR) in damages.[17]

## Reactions

[edit]

King Gyanendra and Queen Komal expressed their "condolences to the family and relatives of the people killed by Iraqi militants".[11] It was reported that they were "shocked and grieved" by the cruel acts made by Jamaat Ansar al-Sunna.[11] On 1 September, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba gave a nationwide speech on Radio Nepal and he called for "restraint".[18] Deuba stated he would also provide 1 million Nepalese rupees to victims' family, and proclaimed 2 September to be a national day of mourning.[11]

It was also condemned by Indian Prime Minister: Manmohan Singh, United States Secretary of State: Colin Powell, Minister of External Affairs: Natwar Singh, Jack Straw, Pope John Paul II, governments of Bangladesh and Japan.[11] The Kathmandu Post called the militants "terrorists who have camouflaged themselves in the masks of Islam".[18]

## See also

[edit]

* Foreign hostages in Iraq

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Two killed in Kathmandu Valley". Kantipur Online. 2 September 2004. Archived from the original on 2 September 2004. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "1 September, 2004". Nepali Times. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
3. ^ Shrestha, Deepesh Das (8 September 2004). "Country in doldrums". Kantipur Online. Archived from the original on 8 September 2004. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
4. ^ "Refworld | Attacks on the Press in 2004 – Nepal". Refworld. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
5. ^ "Protesters stone Nepal mosque after Iraq killings". China Daily. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
6. ^ "Nepal: Himalayan Tranquillity Shattered By Religious Violence". Inter Press Service. 3 September 2004. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
7. ^ Adhikary, Dhruba; Rohde, David (2 September 2004). "Nepalese Attack a Mosque and Muslims in Katmandu". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 31 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
8. ^ "Shame" (PDF). Nation Weekly. 21: 14–16. 12 September 2004. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021 - via Digital Himalaya.
9. ^ "Indefinite curfew imposed in Kathmandu, Lalitpur". Kantipur Online. 1 September 2004. Archived from the original on 2 September 2004. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
10. ^ "One dies in Nepal protest against Iraq killings". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2 September 2004. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
11. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Shame" (PDF). Nation Weekly. 21: 14–16. 12 September 2004. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021 - via Digital Himalaya.
12. ^ "Enter the monster- Nepali Times". archive.nepalitimes.com. Archived from the original on 31 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
13. ^ "Widespread protests in Nepal over killings 2 killed in firing; curfew in Butawal". The Tribune. 2 September 2004. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
14. ^ "Nepal urges citizens to quit Iraq". BBC. 4 September 2004. Archived from the original on 31 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
15. ^ "Curfew to be lifted from Kathmandu, Lalitpur on Monday". Kantipur Online. 5 September 2004. Archived from the original on 6 September 2004. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
16. ^ "Nepal hostage body found in Iraq". BBC. 3 September 2004. Archived from the original on 31 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
17. ^ "All in a day's work". Nepali Times. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
18. ^ a b "Appeal for calm after Nepal riots". BBC. 1 September 2004. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.