KATHMANDU: Two days of closures have left Nepal in a split. Some local businesses are frustrated at the continued closures, while ethnic groups and caste-affiliated organizations are pushing ahead on Saturday with the strike, or banda, in an effort to force politicians to change their tactics toward a constitution to be finalized later this month. “I don't know. Part of me supports the action, but I have to make money to feed my family and pay my employees,” one cafe owner in the tourist area of Thamel in the capital told Bikyamasr.com. “I know what they are trying to do, but it might be too much.” Factions of the Joint Struggle Committee, which launched the strike on Thursday, urged for the continuance of the action on Saturday as talks with the top political parties did not end with any conclusive agreement. But two of the Committee's affiliates, Brahman Samaj and Dashnami Samaj, have said they will not call for the banda's continuation, citing humanitarian worries for the people. The vast majority of Nepalis live on less than $2 per day, and with shops closed, it makes life tough for the population. On Thursday and Friday, shops, schools and other establishments across the country were closed, in a rare emptiness of the streets. “People should understand that this is a way to have our voices heard,” said one female activist, who participated in assisting the forced closures of all private business over the past two days. Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel and CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal held talks with 14 representatives of the 7 committee affiliates, the strike organizers, at the Peace and Reconstruction Ministry, The Himalayan Times reported. They were discussing possible reconciliation efforts to increase their voice as leaders in the country draft a constitution four years in the making. The seven organizations — Chhetri Samaj, Brahman Samaj, Thakuri Samaj, Dashnami Samaj, Dalit Janajagaran Sewa Sangh, Bibedh Mukti Pragatishil Samaj and the Federation of Marginalized Groups — have been protesting against ethnic federalism and for their constitutional recognition as Adibasis. “The talks ended on an inconclusive note as the major parties did not make any concrete commitment towards our demands. Paying no heed to our concerns, the top leaders undermined our movement, compelling us to go with the bandh tomorrow as well,” said Kumar Khadka, spokesperson for the struggle committee and general secretary of the Chhetri Samaj, in a statement issued to local media. But Kiran Giri, vice-chairman of the Dashnami Samaj, said, “Although the talks were inconclusive, we, the Brahman Samaj and Dashnami Samaj, decided not to support tomorrow's banda.” According to Giri, the two organizations boycotted today's meeting of the struggle committee, held after talks with the parties and the government. “We boycotted the meeting after five organizations did not agree with our proposal to discontinue the banda,” Giri said. Khadka, however, said all 7 organizations would support Saturday's closure.
