Maoist ethnic wings close down western districts

Magar Rastriya Mukti Morcha (MRMM), an ethnic wing of Unified CPN (Maoist), has shut down nine districts in mid-western region falling under its Magarat Autonomous Province.

Normal life in Palpa, Argakhachi, Baglung, Gulmi, Rolpa, Pyuthan, Rukum, Salyan and Myagdi districts were badly affected due to the general strike called by MRMM in these districts.

Reports say that MRMM activists including other Maoist cadres started staging protests in most of the affected districts since early today morning.

Markets, academic institutions, offices and industries have been closed in the districts due to the strike while vehicles have mostly stayed off the streets fearing reprisals from the protesters.

This is the fourth day in a row that Maoist affiliated ethnic outfits have imposed shut down strike in various parts of the country protesting against the rejection of the party's resolution motion (which instructs the President to withdraw his 'unconstitutional' move of reinstating Chief of Army Staff Rookmangud Katawal and uphold civilian supremacy ) in the parliament for discussion.

On Thursday, the Maoist affiliated Madhesi Mukti Morcha had imposed a general strike in more than a dozen Terai districts in protest against the rejection of the motion.

The Maoist cadres burnt few vehicles and vandalized public property during the strike.

Similarly, normal life in various parts of the eastern region had been badly affected due to shutdown strike called by a Maoist affiliated ethnic outfits on Tuesday and Wednesday. nepalnews.com June 12 09