NEPAL: NATIONAL STRIKE ORDERED BY MAOIST GUERRILLAS BRINGS COUNTRY TO A STANDSTILL

Record ID: 342268

  • Title: NEPAL: NATIONAL STRIKE ORDERED BY MAOIST GUERRILLAS BRINGS COUNTRY TO A STANDSTILL
  • Date: 25th April 2002
  • Summary: (W3) KATHMANDU, NEPAL (APRIL 24, 2002) (REUTERS) 1. SLV STREET WITH ARMED SOLDIER IN FOREGROUND; SLV TOURISTS STROLLING THROUGH STREET; SLV TOURISTS STANDING BESIDE TOUR BUS (3 SHOTS) 0.24 2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE TOURIST SAYING "I've been very lucky, that I've been able to do all my sightseeing and all my shopping before the ban started, so I haven't really been inconvenienced at all but it must be very hard for all the people trying to make a living." 0.38 3. MV TOURISTS BESIDE TOUR BUS 0.40 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE TOURIST SAYING "Big time, I was going to do all my shopping on my last day in town. I couldn't do any shopping, so I wanted to contribute to the economy but I couldn't. 0.50 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED MALE TOURIST SAYING "We haven't really faced any difficulties. The only problem is that all the shops are closed so we're not able to spend our money. But there is no difficulty and we can get to the airport. They've put on buses for tourists, so we're not having any difficulties." 1.07 6. SLV TOURISTS IN STREET; SLV STREET STALL SELLING HATS; SLV RICKSHAW AND DRIVERS; MV TOURISTS AT STREET STALL; MV ARMED SOLDIER IN STREET; SLV TRAFFIC POLICEMAN IN STREET (5 SHOTS) 1.40 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 10th May 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: KATHMANDU, NEPAL
  • Country: Nepal
  • Reuters ID: LVA97FU06Y5TIG5O3W71GPOQ5LEF
  • Story Text: Nepal has come to a standstill after Maoist guerrillas
    ordered a five-day national strike.

    In the normally bustling Nepalese capital of Kathmandu
    the gateway to the Himalayas, shops and businesses were closed
    and shuttered on Wednesday, (April 24, 2002) and the streets were
    virtually empty of traffic.

    Soldiers toting assault rifles and wearing camouflage,
    backed by armed police, were posted along the streets and
    patrolled the city of 500,000 in the back of small pick-ups.

    But despite the government's attempt to provide a security
    blanket and encourage residents to defy the strike, most were
    too scared of retribution later by the Maoists.

    The government on Monday published wanted photos of 40
    guerrillas and slapped a US$60,000 reward, dead or alive, on
    the three top rebel leaders, with smaller rewards for lower
    leaders.

    It said 16 rebels were killed in clashes with security
    forces over the past 24 hours.

    The Maoists control about a quarter of the world's only
    Hindu kingdom and while the government controls main cities
    and towns, the rebels have a shadowy network of sympathisers
    there.

    The United States on Monday (April 22) issued a warning to
    its citizens on the increased dangers of travelling to Nepal.

    The country has been unbalanced since the mass killing of
    members of the royal family by the crown prince last June.

    For some in Kathmandu, however, the strike had posed few
    problems: "I've been very lucky, that I've been able to do all
    my sightseeing and all my shopping before the ban started, so
    I haven't really been inconvenienced at all but it must be
    very hard for all the people trying to make a living," said
    one woman tourist.

    "Big time, I was going to do all my shopping on my last day
    in town. I couldn't do any shopping, so I won't contribute to
    the economy but I couldn't," said another who had suffered as
    a result of the ban.

    Cycle rickshaws, allowed by the Maoists to operate, did a
    brisk trade at inflated prices for those wanting to move round
    the city.


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