News update from Nepal, August 14, 2005 (Democratic) suggested,“The king must bow before the parties in the present situation since he has missed several opportunities to join hands with the parties and has betrayed the people.” Ghanashayam Poudel of Samyukta Janamorcha Nepal also stated,“We will be talking to the Maoists to find out how they can help us in our fight to restore the rule of law.” He suggested that the alliance could set up the pressure on the government by forming“an alternative government in the street.” On August 6, two hundred CPN-UML affiliated youth leaders of All Nepal National Free Students’ Union(ANNFSU) demanded a special session of the party for restructuring the party organization and leadership. They concluded,“All parties including CPN-UML have deviated from their principal ground in the past 12 years and it must be rectified.” Protest against the NC leadership is going on in front of the party office against the manipulation of election results for national convention members. The student unions are protesting against the“nationalist education policy” and demanding the release of their leader Gagan Thapa from police custody. A three­member bench of judges permitted the police to detain him for seven days to investigate charges against him under the Offense Against State Act, 1989. Thapa was chanting“objectionable slogans” against the members of the royal family during a rally organized by the Civil Society. Amnesty International(AI) called Thapa“prisoner of conscience.” The mock session of parliament organized by seven-party alliance(on July 26) stressed the need for intensification of the agitation. It voted out the budget, denounced the Civil Service Ordinance and Social Welfare Council Ordinance and the ban on employees’ unions and NGOs activities, passed a proposal to hold talks with the Maoists, supported separate movements for democracy launched by professional organizations and civil society, denounced the government’s control on press and conspiracy to divide them, denounced the government’s protection to smugglers, the corrupt and defaulters, condemned police action against civil society members, demanded immediate release of former Premier Sher B. Deuba and ex-minister Prakash M. Singh and condemned“prejudiced action” against them and immediate dissolution of Royal Commission for Corruption Control (RCCC). The newly established Rastriya Janashakti Party(RJP) warned of further political crisis if constitutional forces do not patch up with the King soon. RJP leader S. N. Sukla said,“ The crisis was compounding since February 1” and added that his party had taken serious note of the unfolding scenarios in which the “distance between the monarch and parties was growing and thus causing frustration.” The joint-general secretary of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party(RPP), K.R. Pandit, urged the king to stop ruling alone and open talks with the political parties. He said,“All three political forces- the king, political parties and the Maoists-should give up their egos and seek a compromise.” Civil society’s Movement for Democracy and Peace Human rights activists and members of civil society have staged series of demonstrations in Kathmandu for the restoration of democracy.“Political parties 4