The Internet Service Providers Association of Nepal (ISPAN) has announced to close down internet services in the capital Kathmandu from 4 pm to 5 pm on Monday in protest against the attack on a businessman in Kathmandu last night by Maoist cadres.

The ISPAN announced to close down internet services to express solidarity to the protest of the business community against the Maoist intimidation of businessmen.

”While repeatedly showering words of support, the Government has done little to curb such vicious activities. It is the right of every
citizen to lead a free and safe life in the country and it is the responsibility of the government to provide a secure environment. In protesting the government’s failure to provide security to the private sector, and in solidarity with the rest of the private sector, the Internet Service Providers Association of Nepal (ISPAN) has decided to halt all Internet services from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM today, March 19, 2007,” an ISPAN press statement said.

The private sector, according to ISPAN, has repeatedly been the victim of atrocities, such as extortion, arson, abduction and brutal physical
assault by members of CPN Maoist cadres, a ISPAN press statement said.

”We hope that our activities in consort with the activities of the rest of the private sector will put pressure on the government to take up
its responsibility to ensure security to all citizens,” the association said and warned that it would be compelled to intensify protest with similar service outages in the coming days “if the government does not act responsibly”.