Birgunj, August 14, 2006

The indefinite Narayani zone transportation strike was withdrawn this evening after the transport workers and local administration reached an agreement today.

The Nepal Transport Free Workers’ Union (NTFWU) had called the strike to protest against the death of a Nepali bus driver at Rakshaul Bazaar in India on Saturday. Bus driver Ram Bahadur Tamang, 49, of Chitwan Bhandara-8, was allegedly beaten to death at Rakshaul by the Indian Police at the custom office.

The NTFWU withdrew all protest programmes after a five-point agreement was reached with the Parsa District Administration Office after seven-hour-long talks.

The agreement includes a compensation of Rs 500,000 to Tamang’s family. The money would be deposited at the Rastriya Banijya Bank, Chitwan branch, and will be used for Tamang’s son’s schooling.

It was also agreed that a member of Tamang’s family would be given a job and Rs 10,000 would be immediately given to perform tamang’s funeral rites, Parsa Chief District Officer, Nabin Kumar Ghimire, said.

It was also agreed that a report about action against the culprits and compensation for the Tamang family will be made public in seven days.

Earlier in the day, transport workers staged a sit-in at the office of the Indian Consulate General here along with Tamang’s body and demanded appropriate compensation for the victim’s family and action against the culprits.

No vehicles plied on Birgunj roads and passengers bound for the capital were stranded. Even air passengers could not reach Simara airport due to the blockade.

NC, NC-D merger before Dashain: PM

Stating that the Nepali Congress (NC) and the Nepali Congress-Democratic (NC-D) would merge before Dashain, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today said he would give a respectable place to the NC-D in his party.

Koirala today arrived in his hometown of Biratnagar to take rest for three days. His stay may, however, be extended for a few days more, said NC secretary (Morang), Pitambar Dahal. Addressing journalists, Koirala said he has been working for the two parties’ unification.

“I do not discriminate one from the other. I will give them (NC-D) a respectable place in my party,” he said, adding that the two parties would merge before Dashain. On elections to a Constituent Assembly, Koirala said: “I cannot give the exact date for the elections.

What I can say is that they will be held once all the processes are complete.” The prime minister added that all the processes of the elections would be complete after the issue of an interim constitution is settled.

Koirala, however, refused to comment on Maoist chairperson Prachanda’s remarks in Bhadrapur (Jhapa) yesterday. “I don’t want to comment on statements made behind my back,” he said.