Nepal traders shut down against Maoists

In a rare show of solidarity, industries and business houses in Kathmandu declared an indefinite ‘shut-down’ to protest against growing Maoists atrocities and extortion.

The decision to go for an indefinite, but peaceful, shut-down was sparked by Prime Minister G P Koirala’s refusal to meet a delegation of the community yesterday, who wanted to narrate how their two members were abducted by the Maoists for their refusing to pay ransom. “The strike will continue until the government and the eight parties including the Maoists give us an undertaking that guilty for the assault on two businessmen Hari Shrestha and Suresh Malla will be punished and such incidents would not be repeated”, Suraj Vaidya said on behalf of the Chamber of the business community of Kathmandu.