Maoist strike disrupts life in Kathmandu and west Nepal

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.