Strike shuts down Nepal to pressure lawmakers

KATMANDU: A strike to pressure lawmakers to complete Nepal’s new constitution closed schools and markets and left highways deserted Friday in the Himalayan nation.
An ethnic rights group, the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities, called the general strike. Police said they detained more than three dozen supporters of the group who were forcing vehicles off the streets and attempting to attack vehicles that defied the strike.
Ethnic minorities are expected to get greater rights under the new constitution, but the May 28 deadline is unlikely to be met as political parties are still arguing over several issues to be included.
The strike organizer is demanding the Constitution Assembly publish the new constitution by the deadline. The government on Thursday decided to seek an extension of the assembly to complete it. The assembly was elected in 2008 with a two-year deadline but extended by one year.
On Friday, only emergency and security vehicles were on the streets, and most people were walking to their destinations. Schools, shops, factories and businesses were closed. Buses and other public transportation were not running.
Police said the only international airport in Katmandu was open and flights were operating on schedule. Buses escorted by police took tourists to hotels.
The embassies of the United States, Britain, Germany, Australia, Denmark and European Union issued a joint statement saying threats of violence that restrict people’s freedom of movement cannot be approved of or supported by the international community.
The federation that called the strike is an umbrella body of ethnic minority groups in Nepal.