Kathmandu based European missions call for an end to bandh culture, say such action ‘demean’ politics Kathmandu-based missions of the European Union (EU) including Norway and Switzerland have expressed their serious objection to the day-long strike enforced by poll-opposing 33-party alliance led by CPN-Maoist on Thursday, and urged all to renounce the use of bandhs, in the interests of the people, and not to call any more such actions. A statement issued by EU Missions (Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the EU Delegation) Norway and Switzerland on Thursday said, “Once again today the people of Kathmandu and other parts of Nepal are having their lives disrupted by a “bandh” called by a political party. Once again children will not be able to go to school, daily-wage based workers, shopkeepers and sellers of all kinds will be unable to earn their living.” They said nearly all political parties at one time or another have “used this tactic, which hits the ordinary people whose rights and interests they are supposed to champion.” The Ambassadors of the European Union in Nepal and Norway and Switzerland further said they deplore the use of bandhs by any political party or interest group whatsoever, and called on everyone to stop them. “They are not only anti-social, but where they involve the use of intimidation or the threat or use of violence, they are also illegal, and the government and law and order authorities will have our full backing in addressing the breach of the law. Bandhs also undermine our joint development efforts and Nepal’s investment perspectives,” the EU Ambassadors said, adding that they fully support the right of expression and assembly, including the right to peaceful protest and lawful strikes but condemns bandhs, which “demean the name of politics and politicians in Nepal."
Posted on: Sat, 14 Sep 2013 03:01:30 +0000
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