Maoist affiliated ANHWU closes Pokhara hotels, restaurants indefinitely

Fraternal organization of Maoists All Nepal Hotel Workers Union (ANHWU) forcibly shut down all hotels and restaurants in the tourist town of Pokhara indefinitely from Friday.

Maoist affiliated workers have forced hotel and restaurant owners of the lake side area to down their shutters, reports said.

According to entrepreneurs, 400 hotels and 300 restaurants have been closed due to the strike called by the pro-Maoist labour union.

President of Restaurant and Bar Association of Nepal, Pokhara Chapter, Shree Lal Subedi said that the strike caused loss of over 10 million rupees per day.

The ANHWU called strike demanding appointment letters and identity cards along with a minimum monthly salary of 5,500 rupees. The protestors warned that they will not stop the strike until their 16-point demands are fulfilled.

However hoteliers said that they were ready to provide the standard pay and perks set by the government. "We are ready to provide monthly salary of Rs 3,300, set by the government."

Rounds of talks between the two sides held until late night on Thursday failed to reach into consensus.

The Maoist move came ahead of the New Year and at a time when the tourism industry of the country is getting a sign of relief following the decade long insurgency. nepalnews.com pb Dec 23 06