LOCAL NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

'Bandh will leave economy in shambles'

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 22: The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has demanded the withdrawal of the five-day Bandh programme called by the outlawed Maoists.

"We recognise that the Bandh programme that has been called for five days beginning tomorrow until April 27 will further leave the national economy in shambles," the apex body of the Nepalese business community, said in its press statement today.

"We have been time and again raising our voice against Bandh programmes called by any party," the press release further stated. Meanwhile, the meeting of Nepal Bar Association, executive council here on Sunday have strongly demanded that the Maoists immediately stop the murder, violence and kidnapping and other incident of human rights violations carried out by the Maoist side since a very a long time, halt the destruction of development structures and also withdraw the Nepal Bandh programme.

Requesting the state also to immediately stop violation of human rights, the meeting urged all sectors concerned to initiate political measures for a peaceful resolution of the ongoing problem and guarantee civic rights.

A demand was also made by the meeting for the immediate release of all legal practitioners under the custody of the security forces.

The Bar Association is organising a grand peace rally in the valley today.

In Chitwan, a peace march was organised in Narayangadh, the main town in Chitwan district, today.

Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, United People's Front and other political party cadres, representatives of institutions and social organisations, employees, journalists, industrialists, businessmen and office-bearers and members of various professional organisations took part in the peace rally.

At the end of the peace rally, various persons, including Nepali Congress district president Krishna Lal Sapkota, DDC chairman Bishnu Ghimire, CPN-UML district secretary Devi Prasad Gyawali, Badri Timilsina of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Ranendra Barali of the United People's Front and others called on the Maoists to stop violence and join peace talks.

In other report the central region Bus Entrepreneurs' Association says that the 500 night service buses which have been operating in different places of the country have been moved today service until further arrangement is made as per a decision of His Majesty's Government.

The association has also called on the Bandh organisers to withdraw the five-day Bandh programme starting tomorrow noting that the so-called Bandh will deprive the consumers of public transportation services.

It further stated that 95 per cent transport entrepreneurs of the country are operating transportation services for their livelihood and for the sake of their families and children, with the means of public transportation that they have purchased by depositing their land and properties at banks and finance companies as collateral.

In Siraha, leaders of the major political parties and general public in Siraha district have decided to thwart the so-called Nepal Bandh nationwide general strike called by the Maoist terrorists from April 23 to April 27.

An all-party meeting convened Friday by the District Administration Office, Siraha, has decided that all means of public transport will operate, shopkeepers will keep their stores open and industries and businesses will open as usual throughout the so-called Bandh period.

Presiding over the meeting, chief district officer Dr. Tikaram Sharma said that the civil society and people from all professions should cooperate in foiling the Nepal Bandh programme as the government has mobilised all the security agencies to ensure security of public life and property.

Nepali Congress Siraha district president Mrs Sitadevi Yadav said that the concern shown by the civil society regarding thwarting the Nepal Bandh should be seen positively by all.

MP Krishna Charan Shrestha stressed that all the political party leaders and cadres should unite in foiling the Nepal Bandh.

DDC chairman Bishweshwar Prasad Marwaita, DDC vice-chairman Lilanath Shrestha, Lahan Municipality Mayor Muni Saha and leaders of all the political parties represented in Parliament and representatives of social institutions and organisations urged all the political parties to join hands in foiling the Nepal Bandh programme called by the Maoist terrorists.

Meanwhile in Chautara, property worth crores of rupees was destroyed when the Maoist terrorists set fire on Saturday to the District Water Supply Office, Sindhupalchowk.

A group of around 50 to 60 armed terrorists took control of the office peons Yagya Dahal and Rup Bahadur Ghale, and then set ablaze the office building and polythene water pipes inside it by sprinkling kerosene, said an official of the office.

The fire was still burning till Sunday morning, said the local residents.

It has also been learnt that the Maoist terrorists made off with gi pipes from the office.

On the same night, the terrorists also set ablaze and caused damage to the Sunkoshi Hydel Centre's sub-station in Mudhe, the tripper and loader of magnesite and the office of the potato development firm.

In Dailekh, a group of Maoist terrorists on Sunday chopped down trees alongside the road obstructing transportation in the 67 kilometer section of the Surkhet-Dailekh road.

All passengers buses are currently stranded at Dugeswor Bazaar after the terrorists dug the road and chopped down trees on the road, located some 40 kilometer from Surkhet, it is learnt.

The terrorists have been stopping buses heading towards Dailekh at Dungeswar and coming from Surkhet at Jalukeni and letting them go only after examining papers and documents carried by the passengers, said a passenger who arrived to the district headquarters by foot from the affected area.

Following the incident, a large number of people including elderly, disabled and children heading for Surkhet, Nepalgunj and Kathmandu from the district headquarters have been stranded.

Passengers returning back from the area say that it will take four to five days to renovate the damaged road.

Meanwhile, a band of armed terrorists looted the house of Radio Nepal reporter in Surkhet Netra Kumar K.C. at ward No-2 of Lalikanda VDC.

In Dailekh, a consensus has been reached between the political parties, businessmen, social workers, teachers, intellectuals, mediapersons and general public on extending cooperation to foil the five-day Nepal Bandh called by the CPN-Maoist from Tuesday.

The meeting held under the chairmanship of CDO Baburam Lamichhane decided that all businessmen should open their shops and should coordinate if security is needed during the Bandh.

Present on the occasion were Dailekh DDC chairman Tek Bahadur Khand, Narayan Municipality Mayor Rabindra Raj Sharma, the heads of security bodies and the representatives of social organisations.

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