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| Indefinite Curfew Imposed After Riots in Nepal |
| Dissatisfaction with the interim constitution expressed |
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Umesh Shrestha (Salokya)  |
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Published 2006-12-27 11:05 (KST) |
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One person was killed and dozens of others injured in riots on Tuesday in Nepalgunj, southwestern Nepal. In the aftermath, authorities have imposed an indefinite shoot-on-sight curfew after a 6-hour-long curfew failed to control the situation.
This is the first time the government of Nepal has imposed a curfew since the April protests, which ended King Gyanendra's autocratic rule.
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FROM THE SECTION |
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| Private television channels showed footage of Madhesis youths (from the Terai plain) and Pahadiya youths (from hilly regions) protesting despite the curfew order.
Nepal has not faced this type of regional riot before.
The trouble began when a small party in the ruling alliance, Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandadevi) (NSP-A), called for a regional strike on Monday over their dissatisfaction with the proposed interim constitution, which they say fails to meet the demands of Madhesis.
Madhesis, who live in an area bordering India, have been facing caste-based discrimination for a long time. Around four million Madhesis have yet to receive a citizenship card. Recently, parliament approved a bill that granted them citizenship.
The government's slogan following the April protests was inclusive democracy is rising. The Madhesis are demanding that they be "included" in state decisions. The NSP-A is demanding that constituencies for the upcoming constituent assembly elections be determined on the basis of population. The proposed interim constitution adopted the old regional-based constituencies.
During the strike, alleged NSP-A activists burned vehicles and vandalized properties. On Tuesday, a small debate between NSP-A activists and local residents gradually turned into a riot between Madhesis and Pahadiya.
The government has called for restraint, adding that these types of incidents could hinder the constituent assembly election. Local and national leaders from all parties including the Maoists have called on the residents of Nepalgunj to show restraint and to keep a vigil against all kinds of conspiracies that seek to disturb communal unity.
Meanwhile, the NSP-A blamed "reactionary elements" for the incident.
According to news reports, all the parties are preparing to hold a peace rally after the indefinite curfew is lifted.
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©2006 OhmyNews
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1. <UserText
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apupeos , 2007-03-16 21:43
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