Kathmandu, May 15:

The All Nepal People’s Cultural Federation (ANPCF) at a programme today announced that they would stage a phase-wise protest programme if their demands were not met within May 24.

Addressing a press meet, Ishwor Chandra Gyawali, president of the ANPCF, said: “We had already submitted a 20-point charter of demands relating to cultural transformation to the prime minister on January 29, but those demands have not been addressed.” He added that if the government does not address the demands within May 24, the ANPCF would start its first phase of protest from May 25.

According to a press statement issued by the ANPCF at the programme, the first phase of protest programme of the ANPCF would include burning the effigy of the monarch on May 25, cultural programmes on May 27, central and district level sit-in programmes on May 30, presentation of street drama on nationality and republic on June 3, workshop on republic and nationality on June 5 and padlocking of all related ‘cultural areas’.

The 20-point charter of demands put forth by the ANPCF includes the restructuring of the Nepal Academy, Shaja Prakashan, Radio Nepal in loktantrik process, to end corruption in the religious centres and conserve them as archaeological importance. Among other demands are that the royalty of the creator of any literature should be preserved and that those who plagiarise should be punished; also people from different groups and areas should be given equal opportunity to develop.