From: "Stasi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Peoples War] Nepal: Strike meets partial response - BBC Friday, 7 December, 2001, 09:38 GMT Nepal strike meets partial response ======================== http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/south_asia/newsid_1697000/1697032.stm The army seeks to reassure Kathmandu residents By the BBC's Sushil Sharma in Kathmandu Heavy security is in place across Nepal in response to a general strike called by Maoist rebels. The strike comes two weeks after the rebels unilaterally broke a cease-fire and pulled out of peace talks to end a six-year insurgency. The rebels have demanded that a constituent assembly be set up to frame a new constitution, which they say will clear the way for a republican regime in place of the monarchy. The government has refused to scrap the present constitution which provides for constitutional monarchy and multi party parliamentary democracy. Army protection Security forces have been patrolling the streets of the capital, Kathmandu, and major towns across the country. Government offices and public property are being protected by the army and armed police. The authorities have urged the people to carry on with their business as normal and appear to have met with a positive response. Unlike during previous strikes called by the rebels, this time normal life in the country has not been totally paralysed. Shops, schools and factories have been partially closed because of fears of rebel attacks, after the Maoists recently carried out their heaviest attacks on government targets leading to the deaths of hundreds of people including security personnel and rebels. The attacks, which followed the break-down of peace talks, led the government to impose a state of emergency. The Maoist rebels have been branded terrorists by the government which has launched a massive military operation to crush them. The authorities say the offensive has been successful but there have been no reactions from the rebel as yet. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
