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Kathmandu Wednesday May 30, 2001 Jestha 17, 2058.
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Thursday’s Nepal bandh withdrawn
Two more patients die due
to bandh
Post Report
KATHMANDU, May 29 - The general strike called by Maoist-supported Janjati
group have withdrawn their call slated for Thursday citing concerns for the public who
they say are not mentally prepared for another such bandh
just a day after three consecutive days of shutdown.
The bandh was in protest against the ruling of the Supreme
Court exactly two years ago ordering that Newari language could not be used as an optional
official language in Kathmandu Metropolitan City offices and Maithali language in Danusha
and Rajbiraj offices.
However organizers said the day would still be observed as
a "black day".
Meanwhile, the third and final day of the three-day bandh
called by the alliance of six left parties including the main opposition CPN-UML today
passed off without any major incidents of violence as compared to the last two days.
However, there have been more reports of local people
resisting the agitators trying to forcefully shut down the market places and that of local
people suffering due to the continuous three days of bandh.
Two deaths have been reported from Syangja due to
unavailability of vehicles due to the bandh. A 19-year-old pregnant woman and 51-year-old
injured woman died, as they could not be taken to the hospital in time.
At least 29 people were injured in police-protesters clash
in Chautara, Sindhupalchowk including eight policemen. The police lathi charged at the
protesters trying to force lock the main gate of the District Administration Office.
However, according to the Home Ministry only six people were injured in the incident.
In Taplejung, market places were sparsely open, as most of
the government offices and educational institutions remained closed. Til Kumar Myangbo,
elected Member of Parliament (MP) from the area warned that the main opposition party
would continue with its protest program until Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala
resigned.
In Banglung, regular examination of higher secondary level
could not be held for the third consecutive day.
Reports from Jumla, Dang, Myagdi, Deukhuri, Chitwan state
that the districts remained completely paralyzed due to the bandh today. No violence has
been reported from the districts.
Minor incidents of violence have been reported from
Pyuthan, Bara, Gaighat, Biratnagar and Pokhara. In Pyuthan the protesters barged into the
Electricity Authority Office in Bijubar and manhandled a staff working there. Likewise, in
Bara the protestors vandalized Land Revenue and Tax Offices. In Bhaktapur the agitators
pelted stones and broke windows of the Office of Finance Comptroller.
In Pokhara local people drove out a mob that tried to
vandalize and force close down the local Siddharth Art Gallery. One of the protesters was
badly beaten up by the locals. Likewise, in Biratnagar the police fired teargas shells
after the protestors and the locals were involved in a scuffle over the bandh issue.
Our correspondent from Fidim, Paachthar district reports
that the protestors barged into the local Squatters Problem Solution Commission office and
looted all the official papers. After the incident police arrested Ganesh Kumar Kambuang,
Secretary of CPN-UML ‘s District Committee who was squatting with his team in front
of the District Court.
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