Kathmandu, Nepal | | Tuesday 4/7/2015 - 16:10 GMT |
Nepal's Maoist-led opposition withdrew plans to extend a nationwide strike late Tuesday after police fired tear gas and arrested dozens of demonstrators protesting the government's plan to push through a new constitution.
The former Maoist rebels forced factories, schools and public transport to shut down across the Himalayan nation in protest at plans to hold a vote on disputed terms of the charter after failing to reach cross-party agreement.
Although the 30-party opposition alliance had initially vowed to enforce the shutdown until Thursday, widespread frustration over the disruptions prompted the ex-guerrillas to withdraw the strike.
"After considering suggestions from the public and business community, we have decided to call off the strikes tomorrow and the day after," said Prem Bahadur Singh, an opposition alliance spokesperson.
"Our struggle against the ruling parties will continue, but we will discuss and come up with a new programme to take our agenda forward," Singh told AFP.
Tensions flared in Kathmandu as demonstrators tried to attack a police van carrying arrested protesters, local police official Bishwa Raj Pokharel told AFP.
Police arrested more than 50 demonstrators across the country for stopping vehicles, vandalising property and intimidating shopkeepers into shutting down their businesses.
"This morning, a parked taxi was set on fire. In total, 23 vehicles were vandalised, including seven in the capital," said police spokesperson Kamal Singh Bam.
Protestors also vandalised a municipality building in eastern Nepal, breaking furniture and smashing windows, Bam said.
Nepal's bickering lawmakers have missed a series of deadlines to draft a new national constitution and complete a peace process begun after Maoist guerrillas laid down their arms in 2006, ending a decade-long insurgency.
A key sticking point concerns internal borders, with the opposition pushing for new provinces to be created along lines that could favour historically marginalised communities.
Other parties have attacked this model, calling it too divisive and a threat to national unity.
Many Nepalis on the streets of Kathmandu on Tuesday said they were frustrated by the squabbling over the constitution, but opposed the strike which hurt their livelihoods.
"The politicians don't care about us and our suffering," labourer Maila Chettri, 41, told AFP.
"The rich can survive, but we need to work... now they have called a strike for three days, how will I eat?"
pm-amu/pdh
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