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Saturday, February 24, 2007
Maoists, ethnic groups clash in Nepal; 14 held http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/7598_1936756,000500020003.htm
Agence France-Presse
Kathmandu, February 24, 2007
Police arrested at least 14 people after violence broke out on Saturday between Maoists and supporters of ethnic groups in southern Nepal, officials said.
The former rebels clashed with activists of the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities, who called a general strike in Chitwan district, 200 kms southwest of Kathmandu.
"Police arrested 12 people following clashes between the Maoists and supporters of the ethnic group. Several people were injured," said top district official Netra Rawal.
Trouble started after the Maoists tried to open a highway that was blocked by the group, which represents minorities from the hills of southern Nepal. The situation was now under control, Rawal said.
The group plans more protests to demand increased government representation and proportional representation in elections due before mid-June.
In Nawalparasi town, 250 kilometres southeast of the capital, two people were arrested after a scuffle between the Maoists and activists of the Mahadeshi Janadhikar (People's Right) Forum, police said.
The ethnic body, whose pro-autonomy protests earlier this year left 29 dead, imposed a one-day general strike in the region demanding the release of dozens of their activists who were kidnapped by the ex-rebels on Friday. "The strike has brought traffic to standstill and all the shops and markets remained shut," said police officer Ashok Thapa.
The group plans to resume a blockade of the capital Kathmandu on Monday and close customs offices along the border with India followed by an indefinite general strike from March 6.
The Mahadhesis, who live in the impoverished Terai plains bordering India, represent around one-third of Nepal's population of 27 million people. Their protests have led to pledges from Nepal's prime minister to turn the country into a federal state and increase electoral seats for them, and have also sparked activism by other ethnic minorities.
The violence has cast a cloud over a peace process which ended a deadly decade-long civil war and brought Nepal's Maoists into parliament.
HT Media Ltd. 2006.