The Maoist student wing, All Nepal National Independent Students´ Union-Revolutionary (ANNISU-R), has called a two-day shutdown in the city beginning Friday demanding that cases filed against their five student leaders be withdrawn. [break]
Some 50 mothers who marched through the city asking shopkeepers to open their shutters and managed to reopen several shops at Hallanchowk, but the shops were shut down again by the Maoist cadres.
Three months ago, five different mothers´ groups had declared the Lakeside area a banda-free zone.
Though the mothers tried to reopen all shops on Friday, majority of shop operators did not cooperate fearing reprisal from the Maoists. The mothers said they will ask shopkeepers to defy the banda on Saturday as well.
"No matter which political party or group enforces shutdowns, we will ask business operators to defy the shutdown," said Sushila Subedi, a member of the Annapurna Mothers´ Group. "None are serious about saving the motherland. The responsibility has fallen on the shoulders of mothers," she added.
Mothers associated with Annapurna, Jagadamba and Miteri groups asked people here to defy the banda on Friday.
This was the first shutdown the Lakeside area has seen after the area was declared free from bandas.
The mothers almost clashed with the Maoists at Hallanchowk. Maoist cadres, who were carrying sticks, alleged that the mothers were associated with rival political parties. This led to brief tension. Security personnel who were deployed in large numbers eventually took the situation under control.
While the mothers complained that tourism entrepreneurs did not cooperate with the defiance call, business operators said they welcome the initiative taken by the mothers and will support them.
The Pokhara Tourism Council said preparations are underway to ask businesses to cooperate and support the mothers´ groups.
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