Jun 1, 2007, 5:11 GMT
Kathmandu - A one-day general strike called by various ethnic groups in Nepal paralysed normal life across the Himalayan nation on Friday.
The strike, called by an umbrella body of ethnic groups, the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), is in protest at what it calls the 'black day' when the Nepalese Supreme Court handed down a ruling years ago that banned the use of ethnic languages in government works.
The president of NEFIN, Pasang Sherpa, said, 'The strike is also to press for an ethnicity based proportional representation system in the constituent assembly and annulment of provisions in the interim constitution that violate rights and interests of ethnic communities.'
The strike shut down schools, educational institutions, businesses, offices and markets. In the capital Kathmandu, the strike has been nearly complete, with not even motorcycles operating, and markets virtually deserted.
'No long-route buses are operating to and from Kathmandu. The strike has crippled all long-range transport,' said Hari Aryal, a ticketing agent for long-distance buses in Kathmandu.
Police said although they had not received any reports of violence, the strike had virtually paralysed life in much of the country.
A few people, mainly government employees, walked to their offices Friday morning.
The strike is the latest of several such actions to hit Nepal. On Sunday, a Maoist strike shut down Kathmandu.
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