Parties press Maoists to end Nepal blockade

Female Nepalese workers carry sacks of produce at a vegetable market in the Kalimati District of Kathmandu yesterday on the fifth-day of blockage called by Maoist rebels. The price of vegetables and fruits in the Himalayan Kingdom has increased by between 10 to 25 percent as transportation organisers are charging more than double the normal rates. PHOTO: AFP

The blockade called by the anti-monarchy rebels, fighting to set up a communist state in the world's only Hindu nation, has left roads across Nepal nearly deserted since Tuesday.

Highways remained deserted yesterday and some towns reported shortages of perishable goods, as a Maoist-dictated strike hobbled Nepal for a fifth day.

The rebels ordered all vehicles to be kept off roads in and out of the capital, district headquarters and other towns in a bid to oust King Gyanendra, who sacked the government and seized direct control a year ago.

By lunchtime Saturday, only around 100 vehicles, had left the Kathmandu valley, home to 1.7 million people, said a police officer on condition of anonymity. Usually between 2,500 and 3,000 vehicles leave the valley daily.

Maoists also plan to follow it up with a general strike from April 3 to press King Gyanendra, who seized power last year, to end his rule.

But Nepal's seven main political parties, who have a loose alliance with the guerrillas against the king, have urged the Maoists to call off the blockade saying it was hurting ordinary people.

The parties also fear that the royalist government could use the blockade as an excuse to crack down on a peaceful anti-king rally they plan on April 8.

"That is why all seven parties have individually as well as collectively appealed to the Maoists to withdraw their protests," said Sushil Koirala, a top leader of the Nepali Congress party, the biggest of the seven groups.

"I am hopeful that the Maoists will respond to our appeal and call it off," he said.

The Maoists have mainly relied on fear to enforce the blockade.

But some media reports said they had also set up barriers in several places using rocks and logs to block roads, forcing vehicles to stay off and stranding thousands.

"The blockade has already disrupted movement of people and they are unable to attend our ongoing protests against the king in several places," Koirala said.