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Maoists Call Off Shutdown
By KTM Metro Reporter in Kathmandu
May 8, 2010: speaking to the reporters at the late night on Friday, May 7, 2010, Chairman of UCPN-Maoist Prachanda has said that his party has called off the indefinite shutdown in view of the government creating a situation of fighting among the Nepalis, and the sufferings of Nepalis but not under the pressure of anybody.
After the lockup for six days at their homes, finally Nepalis could breath fresh air again. The central committee meeting of the UCPN-Maoist has decided to call off the indefinite shutdown of the country after locking up all Nepalis for six days; however, they say that they will continue with other protest programs such as blocking the government offices, state secretariat in Kathmandu and district administration offices at district headquarters in order to challenge the government. They also have said that if a new constitution does not come to light by the deadline of May 28, 2010 set for it then they will launch more serious protests than the previous protests.
Nepalis are jubilant to be free from practically the house arrest for six days. Professionals, economists, businessmen, industrialists, transporters, and farmers, all have thanked the UCPN-Maoist leaders for calling off the indefinite shutdown and opening the country for their regular businesses.
Political analysts say that the leaders taking the stand on the Maoists first calling off the indefinite shutdown for talking to them for consensus politics have to take up an initiative to break the current political deadlock.
Political analysts say that the UCPN-Maoist leaders have made their cadres very discipline and have transform them to be non-violent, and the six-day shutdown has been a great lesson for them to be peaceful and non-violent while holding political protests. During the six-day strike, unlike in the past this time, Nepalis don’t have the burning of tires on the streets and the protestors battling with the security personnel.
In a statement released on May 6, 2010, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O. Blake, Jr. has called on the UCPN-Maoist leaders for calling off the indefinite shutdown and on all other political leaders to work on the consensus politics in view of the deadline for promulgating a new constitution coming closer.
