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ANNISU-R enforces nationwide closure of educational institutions

Most educational institutions in Kathmandu and other parts of the country remained closed or ran classes furtively Sunday after the Maoist affiliated All Nepal National Independent Students Union- Revolutionary (ANNISU-R) went ahead with its previously announced indefinite strike in educational institutions across the country.

The pro-Maoist students said it was compelled to resort to this extreme measure to apply pressure on the government for the release of some 54 of its activists arrested from various parts of the city during clashes with students of rival groups.

ANNISU-R general secretary Himal Sharma said the strike would continue until the government agrees to all their demands, which include release of all ANNISU-R cadres arrested after the scuffle with rival students at Thapathali Campus, Kathmandu, and in the following days and treatment of those injured in it.

Due to last week’s violent clashes between ANNISU-R and Nepal Students Union (NSU) classes in many educational institutions and colleges in Kathmandu and few other districts had been disrupted for many days.

The Metropolitan Police Range Office, Kathmandu, has already filed public offence cases against four ANNISU-R cadres arrested from Thapathali Campus for beating up NSU activists and the college principal. Likewise, another 54 Young Communist League (YCL) and ANNISU-R activists arrested last week on various charges are facing trial at the Kathmandu District Court.

The pro-Maoist students had announced closure of all engineering campuses on Thursday and all campuses across the country the following day after talks with NSU to allay the rising tension between them were cancelled. nepalnews.com ag Aug 19 07