Industrialists announce entire industry closure across the nation

Accusing the government of failing to manage security, all the industrialists have shut down their industries from 2.00 pm Monday. The industrialists have been demanding that government should create conducive environment to operate the business securely

Earlier on Monday, the representatives from business and industrial communities had staged sit in protest at the official residence of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.

Surendra Bir Malakar, Chairman of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Industry informed that they announced closure of entire business operated by private sector including industries, hotels, airlines, banks and schools.

The closure was jointly announced by the representatives of Federation of Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI), Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), Nepal's Bankers Association, Departmental Stores, Grocery Traders Association, and Private Schools among others.

The industrialists and traders have been emphasizing that entire business has been witnessing a downfall pursuing bandas and strikes organized frequently by different organizations and groups.

The industrialists have already informed the government that they would not pay the revenue, interest of bank loan and communication and electricity bill during the period of banda and strike until the government created conducive situation to run the business.

Meeting with Subhas Nembang, speaker of Interim legislature- Parliament, Home Minister Krisna Prasad Sitaula, Minister for Tourism Culture and Civil Aviation Pradip Gyawali at the secretariat of parliament, they had demanded the compensation of the business and industries closure. They had also submitted a seven point demands to the speaker.

In their seven points demand, industrialists had demanded that business and industrial sectors should be declared  strike prohibited zone, the programs like strike, banda and chakkajam should be prohibited along highways and sub highways, educational sector should be declared peace zone and concession should be provided in telephone and electricity charge during banda period.

Similarly, they had said that industry management should not be pressured to pay salary and allowance to the workers during banda period. Other demands included withdrawal of the interest of bank loan during the period of April movement as per the previous decision, rescheduling the installment period and compensation of the damages made during strikes.

Businessmen descend to street against Maoist intimidation

Hundreds of businessmen on the same day took to the streets in Kathmandu protesting the Maoists' intimidation. The protest program was jointly organized by the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) and Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI).

Proprietors of the industries, hoteliers, and travel and tour operators among others organized a protest rally in Durbarmarg against the Maoists after the cadres Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League (YCL) which beat up two businessmen after abducting them from Kathmandu two days ago.

Speaking at the protest program, industrialist Binod Kumar Chaudhary and Chandi Raj Dhakal and among others condemned the Maoist atrocities and urged the government for security flaying the government of 'not paying serious heed to their demands.'