NEFIN chakkajam hits life

Himalayan News Service

KATHMANDU: The nationwide transport strike called by Nepal Federation of Indigenous

Nationalities (NEFIN) — the umbrella organisation of the country’s indigenous nationalities — crippled life throughout the county today.

With an objective to pressure the parties for drafting new constitution in time, NEFIN has been organising a month-long protest programmes.

Today’s transportation strike was the final protest against the parties’ inability to continue the constitution drafting process even months after extending the tenure of Constituent Assembly.

According to NEFIN, around 200 protestors were arrested from different parties of the Valley. They include NEFIN vice-chairmen Norbu Ghale and Indira Jimmi Yakkha, general secretary Aang Kaji Sherpa, secretary Kumar Blon, treasurer Dandu Sherpa, chairperson of Nepal Indigenous Women Federation Chandra Kala Gurung, chairman of Nepal Indigenous Students Federation Nabin Limbu, Vice-chairman Rohit Gurung, chairman of Nepal Tamang Ghedung Dhan Bahadur Tamang and general secretary of Gurung National Council Resham Gurung. Many of the arrested have been released.

Only a few motorbikes and vehicles were seen plying in the Valley. A large number of people had reached to their destinations on foot. Most of the schools and colleges of the Valley remained closed, while students appearing in the supplementary SLC examination had to bear the brunt of the transport strike.

Issuing a press statement, NEFIN chairman Raj Kumar Lekhi condemned the government’s action against the indigenous people who were staging peaceful protests. He demanded immediate and unconditional release of all arrested during today’s strike. The federation has also demanded treatment to those injured in the protests.

Addressing the gathering at Tinkune to mark the conclusion of the day’s strike, Lekhi said the government had suppressed the peaceful protest of indigenous people and misbehaved with women protesters. NEFIN would continue its protest programmes, said Lekhi. He said the parties had been staging a drama to elect prime minister at a time when they had to focus on drafting the new constitution. “This proves that the parties do not want the constitution,” he said.

Lekhi added that the meeting of NEFIN along with the chiefs of all the ethnic organisations scheduled for tomorrow morning would come up with strident protest plans.

Former IGP detained during strike

Kathmandu: Former IGP Hem Bahadur Gurung and his wife were detained from Machhapokhari for obstructing roads as a part of Chakkajam (transport strike) today called by Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), said Metropolitan Police Range, Hanumandhoka.

They were kept in the custody in Metropolitan Police Sector, Balaju, for four hours and released after NEFIN announced the strike was over at 5 pm.

The daylong Chakkajam evoked partial effects and a few cases of violence were reported in the Kathmandu Valley, said the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Source: http://thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=NEFIN+chakkajam+hits+life+&NewsID=253876