South Asia News
Violence in south-east Nepal brings more towns under curfew (Roundup)
By DPA
Jan 25, 2007, 10:30 GMT

Kathmandu, - Violent protests in south-eastern Nepal over demands for equality by the ethnic Madhesi community spread to two major regional towns Thursday, prompting authorities to impose a day-long curfew.

Authorities clamped a curfew on Birgunj and Janakpur following violent clashes in the course of protests by supporters of the Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF).

Officials at the District Administration Office of Parsa said Birgunj, a major commercial border town about 90 kilometres south of the Nepalese capital, would be under eight-hour curfew Thursday beginning from 1 p.m.

The flare-up in violence came a day after Maoist leader Prachanda, whose real name is Pushpa Kamal Dahal, described the MPRF as a 'group with links to criminal organisations' and that there was point in holding talks with them.

The violence first flared up in the south-eastern town of Lahan, about 140 kilometres south-east of the capital, after Maoist activists shot dead a MPRF supporter.

The Maoists, after initially accepting involvement in the shooting, now reject the allegation, saying the protests are being infiltrated by 'royalist supporters bent on trying to destabilised constituent assembly elections' scheduled for mid-June.

Authorities also imposed a day-long curfew in the town of Janakpur, 125 kilometres south of the Nepalese capital, following clashes between supporters of MPRF, Maoists and police.

Reports said demonstrators set fire to several offices and shops in Janakpur town.

Meanwhile, the MPRF vowed to continue its protests until all their demands, including changes to the interim constitution, were met.

At least five people have died in the week long violence so far. All the deaths occurred in Lahan which has been under curfew for the seventh day.

The latest violence in two major towns are the clearest indication yet of the unrest spreading to large areas of southern and south-eastern Nepal where, there there are large numbers of ethnic Madhesi people of Indian origin.

Meanwhile, the MPRF has vowed to continue its protest programmes despite government offers of talks to defuse the crisis.

The MPRF said in a statement: 'The indefinite strike will continue until the constitution is changed to address our issues and concerns.'

The group is also calling for a public apology by the prime minister and the Maoist leader Prachanda as well as the resignation of the home minister over the violence in Lahan.

Political observers in the Nepalese capital say the situation is fast deteriorating in south-eastern Nepal and has the potential of assuming a communal dimensions if the issue is not addressed soon.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala called on the MPRF along with a Maoist splinter group Janatantrik Terai Muki Morcha (JTMM) for talks to end the crisis.