- Title: Kathmandu riot police scuffle with anti-constitution protesters
- Date: 16th May 2016
- Summary: KATHMANDU, NEPAL (MAY 16, 2016) (REUTERS) ANTI-CONSTITUTION PROTESTERS MARCH DOWN STREET CARRYING FLAGS, BANNERS PROTESTERS HITTING RIOT POLICE WITH WOODEN FLAG POLES RIOT POLICE HUDDLED TOGETHER RIOT POLICE STANDING IN LINE PROTESTERS RUNNING OVER TO TAXI / PROTESTER HITTING TAXI VARIOUS OF SCUFFLES BETWEEN RIOT POLICE AND PROTESTERS PROTESTER SHOUTING PROTESTERS CARRYING FLAGS, SHOUTING (SOUNDBITE) (Nepali) PROTESTER, MOHAMMED SHARIF GADDI, SAYING: "We are seeking equality in this constitution, our protest will continue until we get equality." PROTESTERS DRAGGING AWAY BARRICADE MOTORBIKE ON STREET, PROTESTERS WALKING AROUND
- Embargoed: 31st May 2016 09:40
- Keywords: Nepal Madheshi protests clashes constitution
- Location: KATHMANDU, NEPAL
- City: KATHMANDU, NEPAL
- Country: Nepal
- Reuters ID: LVA0014I23PZ9
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Protesters from southern Nepal scuffled with riot police in Kathmandu on Monday (May 16) for a second day as they campaigned against the country's new constitution.
Supporters of Federal Alliance, a coalition of Madhes-based parties and other ethnic political parties and organizations, tried to break through the barricade as they clashed with riot police near Singha Durbar office complex that houses the Prime Minister's office and other ministries.
A similar scuffle broke out yesterday in the capital.
More than 50 people have been killed in eight months of protests in the south where the minority Mashesi oppose a plan to divide their fertile plains bordering India into parts of several provinces.
"We are seeking equality in this constitution, our protest will continue until we get equality," said Mohammed Sharif Gaddi, a protester.
The unrest, which has caused fuel shortages in Kathmandu as the Madhesis blocked imports of essential goods from India, is a threat to Prime Minister K.P. Oli, who survived an attempt by the opposition to topple his fractious coalition early this month.
The constitution, put in place in September, was the final part of a peace deal between the government and Maoist rebels which ended a decade-long rebellion in 2006.
But many Madhesis want their region, home to half of the country's 28 million people, to become an autonomous state within Nepal and not broken up as envisaged in the new constitution.
Covering 23 percent of landlocked Nepal, the region is the country's bread basket, where rice and wheat are grown, and is home to industries producing jute and sugar. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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