nepali journalist condems the abrogation of democracy. Nepal scribes' group condemns coup Agence France-Presse Kathmandu, February 6, 2005|15:57 IST From Nepal with fear ? Nepal's journalist federation on Thursday condemned King Gyanendra's seizure of power as a "coup against democracy", defying a ban on criticism of the monarch's move. The Federation of Nepalese Journalists said in the statement hand-delivered to news agencies that Tuesday's sacking of the Government and its replacement by a Cabinet of loyalists "has destroyed all the remaining structures of democracy". Landline and mobile phone links and the Internet remained cut for a third day, a move seen as aimed at stifling dissent following the imposition of emergency rule that suspended free speech, assembly and other rights. Gyanendra has said he dismissed the Government of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba for failing to hold elections or to bring peace to the Himalayan nation, racked by an increasingly deadly Maoist revolt. The journalists' statement came as state-run Nepali-language daily Gorkhapatra warned in a front-page notice that any "writing or opposition to the royal proclamation ... has been prohibited for six months". The monarch, vaulted to the throne four years ago by a palace massacre that wiped out most of the royal family, has pledged to reinstate democratic rule and law and order in the poverty-stricken country in the next three years. "It would be against all norms and values of modern civilisation to believe such a course of action would help restore democracy in the country," the federation said. The state-run English-language newspaper, Rising Nepal, on Thursday quoted Tanka Dhakal, Minister for Information and Communications, as saying that "the media should not be afraid of the latest events". "Peace was a prerequisite at the moment and the media should also work to establish peace in the country," he said. "The present arrangement is only temporary and the Government is also for the freedom of the press." The information minister promised that communications systems would be re-established as soon as possible without giving a date.