UDMF to allow Tarai schools to open

Kathmandu, November 19

The United Democratic Madhesi Front, which has been agitating in Madhes for more than three months, today decided to allow schools to open and let medicine-laden vehicles, oxygen cylinders and health related equipment pass through Biratnagar-Jogbani border entry point during day time.

The schools will, however, have to open in the morning, stated a press release issued by the UDMF. This decision was taken in a meeting of the front here.

The UDMF also said that it would also help assist the movement of medicines, oxygen cylinders and health equipment.

Sadbhawana Party General Secretary Manish Kumar Suman said the front took the decision to open schools in the Tarai and allow the passage of medicine-carrying vehicles from the border entry point keeping in mind the requests made by national and international community, including the general public and parents of the schoolchildren.

He said the front decided to allow just one border entry point for the transport of medicines, oxygen and health equipment so that the people’s lives are not at risk and the UDMF would also be able to mount pressure on the government through the blockade of other border entry points.

The UDMF, however, stated in its release that it would intensify its stir, as the government and the three major parties the Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML and Unified CPN-Maoist were not serious about addressing its demands.

The front has put forth 11-point charter of demands, including amendment in the constitution regarding provincial boundaries and delineation of election constituencies on the basis of population.

The front decided to continue to shut down markets, transport, industries, border entry points and disrupt movement on the East-West Highway from November 21.

It also decided to organise torch rallies on November 22 in major cities and observe five minutes of silence on November 23 to pay homage ‘to the martyrs’ across the Tarai.