Kathmandu, Aug 12 (Inditop.com) Nepal’s new government faced a fresh crisis Tuesday with the former guerrilla party, the Maoists, imposing an indefinite shutdown of high schools and announcing future general strikes in addition to the blockade of parliament started last week.
The student organisation of the largest party in Nepal called the indefinite closure of high schools countrywide to protest against the oldest university in the republic deciding to phase out examinations.
Over 1,500 high schools with nearly 400,000 students were hit by the new protests called by the `revolutionary’ students, whose leaders have also begun a hunger strike.
The protests began after the Tribhuvan University said it was phasing out the intermediate examinations it used to hold for high school students, who would now have to switch over to the new curriculum.
On Friday, the protesters have called a Kathmandu valley shutdown to be followed by a Nepal closure Aug 19.
If the university authorities do not revoke the phase-out, the student organisation has also warned it would slap down an indefinite closure of all educational institutions, including schools and colleges, from Monday.
The student protest comes even as the coalition government of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal is grappling with an indefinite siege on parliament called by the Maoist parliamentary party since last Friday over the old quarrel with the chief of the Nepal Army.
Though the controversial general, Rookmangud Katawal, went on leave this week and is to retire next month, the Maoists, who tried to sack him in May but failed, are seeking action against him, President Ram Baran Yadav who saved the general by reinstating him, and the government.
The new unrest comes ahead of the prime minister’s first official visit to India, scheduled Aug 18.
Maoist chief and former premier Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda has warned that the writing and promulgation of a new constitution by May 2010 would be derailed if the government fails to pacify his party and reach a consensus.
Though the Maoists ended their armed insurgency two years ago and signed a peace agreement, peace and stability have continued to elude the nascent republic due to the growing disagreements and distrust between the major parties.
rounak