Restive Muslim community declares Nepal closure March 15

The United Muslim Struggle Alliance (UMSA) comprising of 14 Muslim associations have declared various struggle programs including Kathmandu Valley Closure forwarding various demands.

The Kathmandu valley closure has been set for March 15, 2009.

The United Muslim Struggle Alliance had on Wednesday, March 11, 2009, separated itself from the Tharu United Struggle Alliance (TUSA) led by Laxman Tharu- a former Maoists’ leader.

The Tharu Welfare Society led by Raj Kumar Lekhi, the UMSA and some ethnic groups have jointly demanded amendments in the interim constitution, reservation for Muslim Community, fresh census for finding out exact population of the Tharus, Janajati and Muslims of Nepal and finally, and the formation of a Muslim Commission.

The Alliance on Thursday carried out a torch rally in Kathmandu. Similarly, on Friday March 13, 2009, the alliance will organize a protest rally and mass meeting and on Sunday March 15, 2009, it has declared a Kathmandu Valley closure program.

Mr. Taj Mohammad Miyan, the coordinator of the alliance, talking to journalists in Kathmandu on Thursday, March 12, 2009, said that the alliance has declared Eastern Region Closure for March 21, Western Region Closure for March 23, Mid- Western Region Closure for March 25 and Far Western Closure for March 27, 2009.

To add, The Tharu agitation has already reached 11^th consecutive days which saw the entire Terai closure for all these days.

The East-West Highway closure has created food shortages in the Hilly areas, Fuel crisis in the Capital Kathmandu and making lives of the normal people difficult in the Tarai itself.

In the meantime, the agitating TUSA leaders and the Government representatives were not involved in talks on Thursday after the Wednesday talk ended inconclusive.

It is reported quoting government sources that since the TUSA leaders had gone to Chitwan District to attend the funeral ceremony of the two Tharus killed during the Tharu agitation, the talks could not be held. However Tharu leaders claim that the government is ignoring the Tharu demands.

 

 

 

 

 

The major ruling partners in the Maoists led coalition has agreed to address the Tharu demands by making needed amendments in the Interim Constitution.

A meeting held at the UML headquarters in Balkhu Kathmandu On Thursday March 12, 2009 between the UML and the United Maoists Party leaders had decided to address the Tharu demands.

“Including the interim constitution, if need be other laws and by-laws could be amended to address the Tharu demands”, told Mr. Narayan Kaji Shrestha, the leader of the United Maoists’ Party talking to journalists.

“We took this decision as per an agreement reached between the Seven Parties”, added Mr. Prakash.

A meeting was held on Wednesday, March 11, 2009, between the leaders of Nepali Congress, United Marxist Leninists, United Maoists, Tarai Madhesh Loktantrik Party, Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum, and Sadvawana in Sigh durbar Kathmandu.

The meeting had decided to address the Tharu demands at the earliest. 

“While addressing the Tharu demands, the government will not ignore the identities of other ethnic groups of the Tarai, the meeting decided”, said Mr. Prakash.

Posted on : 2009-03-13 08:38:12

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