HEADLINE NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

Public anger makes Bandh a failure
Peace marches, motorcycle rallies organised

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 27:Enough is enough, and people said it with actions. Buses and minibuses, taxis, three-wheelers and other vehicles that came out of the garage, peace marchers and motorcycle rallies, shops that remained open and people going about their daily businesses made the so-called bandh (general strike) a complete failure throughout the country.

All those, who ran vehicles, opened shops and businesses and people, who braved the bandh, despite danger of violence and bombs of the bandh perpetrators, deserve appreciation. A taxi and a minibus were damaged by the terrorists, posing as passengers and sneaking in with explosives that injured the drivers and passengers. But this failed to deter others - much to the dismay of the terrorists.

It was the first time in the last 12 years and after more than 70 bandhs that people stood up to challenge, and they succeeded. All these indicate that people are no longer willing to sit back and cower against the closures now and in the future.

The success came with the active cooperation of the common people, the security forces and the government. Round-the-clock vigilance by security personnel and the government’s prompt compensation for damages gave people a sense of security, which is so vital to infuse confidence among the people.

The successful defiance of the 5-day bandh has given people the courage and a big slap to the Maoist terrorists, who have been perpetrating violence for six years.

The Maoist terrorists had refused calls from common people, business communities and political parties to take back their strike. This showed their total neglect and disrespect to the concern and the interest of the people. By doing so, they failed to gauge the determination of the people to rise and foil their intentions of bringing the country to a halt.

When it became certain that their bandh was going to receive a beating the Maoists resorted to more violence and destruction. They continued killing innocent civilians, political party workers, destroying communication towers and other development infrastructure.

The looting of foodgrains meant for the poorest people in Mugu and Jajarkot under the food-for-work programme is just another example of the Maoists’ atrocity against the most vulnerable section of the society.

This only showed their desperation in the face of increasing defeat at the hands of the security forces and growing rejection by the people. This proved the Maoists are now totally alienated from the people who are convinced that the Maoists’ activities would bring only destruction and suffering to the common masses.

It has been proved that it is the poorest people, daily wagers, peasants and those at the bottom rung of the economy who are the biggest sufferers. Any bandh no matter how unsuccessful it might be has its effects. This time also transportation was hampered to some extent. Trade and industry sector did not function as smoothly as in normal times and the country suffered hundreds of million rupees in terms of loss in production, marketing and others.

But the role of the political parties, their organisations and the leaders were far from satisfactory. When the common people were spontaneously coming out against the bandh, the political parties and the leaders lagged behind. People had expected them to join them and their supporters to come out openly but they limited themselves to verbal statements. This is not enough if the fight against the violence, wave of destruction and lawlessness the terrorists have unleashed in the country.

In Mahottari, no adverse impact has been seen in Mahottari district in the fifth consecutive day of Nepal bandh called by the Maoist terrorists. Life of the local people remained normal and unaffected.

Local markets at Jaleshwar, Matihani and Pipara have been open fully and buses and mini-buses were seen plying to and fro Janakpur, Jaleshwar and Bhittamod.

According to Mahottari district administration office, railway services on Janakpur-Bijalpura route was in operation in a smooth manner.

Meanwhile, in Ilam, Eastern Taxi Entrepreneurs’ Association, Ilam took out a taxi rally in protest against the repeatedly called Nepal bandh, a nation-wide strike and against murder and violence bogging the country.

Some 25 motorcycles and 40 taxis plied in a queue in the rally that commenced from Biblyante Bazaar.

In Janakpurdham, an all-party peace rally was organised here against the Nepal bandh called by the Maoists as well as the murder and violence in rural areas of Dhanusha district.

A peace rally started from the Mulabari Health Post at Yagyabhumi VDC travelled eight kms passing through Bhimanchowk, Dharapani, Kumahara, Kisanpur and Bhagwanpur VDCs and converged into a meeting at Bhanu Secondary School.

The participants carried placards with slogans ‘Stop terror and violence’, ‘End the Nepal bandh’, and ‘Stop destruction of national property’.

At the concluding function, Heramba Bahadur Thapa of Nepali Congress, Kedar Adhikari of CPN-UML, Palsang Lama of RPP, Asarphy Minwar of SJM and Bhagat Bahadur Lama called for solidarity against murder and violence.

Vehicles were plying normally but as today was a public holiday, less number of people were seen in the streets.

At Balaju Park, where a fair was held today because of the Chaitra Shukla Purnima, devotees congregated in large numbers.

No untoward incident has been reported from anywhere in the valley till evening, according to the valley police office.

Siraha: Nepal Tarun Dal district working committee and Democratic National Youth Association took out an all-party motorbike rally at Lahan Bazaar today.

The rally that began from the compound from the Pashupati High School concluded on reaching the same place.

Charikot: All the shops at Charikot, the headquaters of Dolakha district, remained open today, the fifth day of the five-day Nepal bandh called by the Maoist terrorists.

The bridges on Bhankkhola and Halhalkhola streams damaged by the terrorists is not motorable.

Likewise, the terrorists have damaged the Mudey sub-station of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and disrupted the power supply in the headquarters.

Gorakha: The final day of the bandh at the call of the Maoist terrorists evoked no response here today.

No untoward incident has been reported from anywhere of the district so far.

Kalaiya: There was no impact of the Nepal bandh here as the security system was good. The shops were opened in response to the request of the local administration and the traders.

However, as the long distance buses were off the road, the price of the vegetables soared in the local market.

Chitwan: The local market remained open while the the short distance vehicles plied as usual.

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