Normal life across many parts of the country has been partially affected due to a Nepal Bandh, or general strike, called by the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), Friday.

Vehicular movement comes at a halt in Kathmandu due to the nationwide bandh (general strike) called by Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) in Kathmandu, Friday, 13 May 2011. nepalnews.com/rh

Vehicular movement comes at a halt in Kathmandu due to the nationwide bandh…
The strike has moderately affected capital Kathmandu with less traffic in the streets and the market partially open. Vehicles like ambulance, and those belonging to press and diplomatic mission have also been plying uninterrupted.

There were no reports of large rallies or protests as of filing this report (12:20 pm)

Educational institutions also remained mostly closed nationwide, but the last day of higher secondary (class 12) board examinations was held without any disruption.

Factories across the country also remained partially open while majority of employees went to their offices on foot as public transportation stayed off the road for fear of reprisal from protestors.

NEFIN imposed the bandh today demanding that republicanism, federalism and secularism should be guaranteed in the new constitution and that the proclamation of guarantee of the rights of the indigenous nationalities should be enshrined in the first draft of the constitution, among others.

Reports coming in say that police have arrested 35 people from Kalanki and Singha Durbar area of the capital today morning while they were staging protest and trying to enforce the bandh.

NEFIN has protested against police high-handedness during today’s strike, stating that 73 of its activists including Nepal Indigenous Students’ Federation vice-chairman Dozang Sherpa, secretary Arjun Yakkha and treasurer Dekendra Rai have been arrested while conducting peaceful protests.

Meanwhile, the strike seems to have little effect in the country’s terai belt. Vehicular movement is normal in Bara, Parsa and Rautahat districts with only long-route buses heading to hilly district off the road. Educational institutions, factories and main market places are also open as any other day in most of the Terai districts, reports said.

Similarly, the strike called by NEFIN, Tharu Kalyankarini Sabha, Khas Chhettri Samaj and Tharuhat Autonomous Province in far-western districts has entered day 2.

Life in the far-western districts like Mugu, Salyan, Kalikot has been paralysed due to the continuous strike by various ethnic grupos with the vehicular movement in East-West highway passing through these districts coming to a grinding halt and main market places, educational institutions closed.

Meanwhile, the British Department for International Development (DFID) on Tuesday notified the NEFIN of discontinuity of the regular funding, saying the Federation has been executing strike that paralyses life nationwide. nepalnews.com