Maoist blockade affects public life

March 14, 2006
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The three-week-long blockade of capital, Kathmandu, and other district headquarters called by the CPN (Maoist), beginning Tuesday has sharply reduced number of vehicles moving in and out of Kathmandu.

According to Thankot police post—a major land transit to point to Kathmandu, very few vehicles have left the capital this morning. Similarly, number of vehicles entering the valley has drastically gone down.

According to police, over one thousand big vehicles leave and enter the capital valley on an average every day. A few private vehicles could be seen entering Kathmandu this morning while a number of people were awaiting for passenger buses at Kalanki to reach their destinations.

Talking to Nepalnews, Mohan Krishna Ghimire, a passenger, said he was awaiting a bus to Narayangadh for the last three hours since this morning but not a single passenger bus had left the Kathmandu bus park. “I wanted to join my family for the festival of ‘holi’ today and I don’t have money to stay back in Kathmandu,” he added.

A transport operator, Binod Chhetri, said the blockade would have adverse impact in their business. “Transport business is already on the verge of collapse due to insecurity and recent hike in the price of petroleum products. Now, the blockade and indefinite strike are likely to push us out of business,” he complained.

Sarala Giri, a housewife at Maitidevi, complained that there was already shortage of cooking gas and other essentials in the market though the Maoist-imposed blockade was just to begin. “Fresh vegetables are in short supply and prices of tomato and other vegetables have gone up,” she added.

Calling upon the people to bear with them during what they called the “decisive battle,” the Maoists said they have called for three-week-long blockade leading to indefinite nationwide strike in order to force the king to give up his direct rule.

But the seven party opposition alliance and rights groups have urged the rebels to withdraw their blockade and strikes saying that it will add to the woes of ordinary people.

The rebels had also called similar blockade of the capital in February last year immediately after the royal takeover. They, however, withdrew their blockade after one week.

Meanwhile, officials have said they have adequate supplies of essential goods and petroleum products to meet the requirements of the residents of the capital valley. They have also urged people not to resort to “panic buying” in the wake of the Maoist blockade.