Kathmandu - A one-day general strike called by the Maoists
Monday disrupted normal life in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu and in
several districts in west Nepal.
The Maoists called the general strike in Kathmandu to protest the
alleged murder of their local leader and demanded action against
those involved.
Maoist supporters manned the main intersections of the capital,
stopping vehicles and enforcing their strike.
The main markets, financial and educational institutions and shops
remained shut in all three cities of Kathmandu valley.
Public transport ground to a halt, forcing thousands to walk.
Police said there had been sporadic violence, with Maoist
supporters smashing up five motor vehicles and setting a motorcycle
on fire in Kathmandu.
In western Nepal, normal life in seven districts was disrupted by
a Maoist strike to pressure the government to sack the army chief
Rukmangat Katuwal.
Media reports said long-distance bus services and private
transport had been affected across the region and factories, shops
and schools shut down.
The Maoist strike in western Nepal was part of their campaign
against President Ram Baran Yadav for reinstating the army chief
sacked by the Maoist-led government in early May.
The president's move resulted in the fall of the Maoist government
after its coalition partners withdrew their support.
The Maoists have since organized daily strikes across the country,
alleging the president's decision was an 'attack on civilian
supremacy.'
They have vowed to continue their protests until the government
removes the army chief and the president publicly apologizes.
After a decade-long insurgency to establish a communist republic
in the Himalayan nation, the Maoists gave up fighting after signing a
peace deal with the government in November 2006.
They emerged as the single largest party in the 2008 elections to
choose Constituent Assembly members but fell well short of a majority
in the 601-seat assembly.
The continuing differences among the main political parties has
threatened to derail the peace process and is proving a major
obstacle to drafting a new constitution, one of the main points of
the peace agreement.
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