Violent clashes erupt in Nepal over draft constitution

Protesters object to the government's failure to get input from opposition parties.

Kathmandu:  Nepalese police arrested over a dozen demonstrators on Tuesday for trying to enforce a nationwide Maoist-led strike to protest the ruling coalition's plan to push through a new constitution without opposition agreement.

The opposition has forced factories, schools and public transport to shut down across the Himalayan nation to protest government plans to hold a vote on disputed terms of the charter after failing to reach cross-party agreement.

Police said scores of security personnel had been deployed in Kathmandu as a 30-party opposition alliance headed by former Maoist rebels kicked off a three-day strike.

"We have arrested 13 cadres for intimidating shopkeepers into shutting down their businesses and for stopping vehicles," said spokesman Kamal Singh Bam.

"This morning, a parked taxi was set on fire. A few other vehicles have been attacked with stones, but no one has been injured yet."

Disagreement between the parties has led Nepal's politicians to miss a series of deadlines to draft a new national constitution.

The charter was designed to complete a peace process begun after Maoist guerrillas laid down arms in 2006, ending a decade-long insurgency.

"The ruling parties have forced us to call this strike," said Prem Bahadur Singh, opposition alliance spokesperson.

The new constitution has to be drafted on the basis of consensus, they cannot exploit their majority status to do what they want," Singh said.

A key sticking point concerns internal borders, with the opposition pushing for new provinces to be created along lines that could favor historically marginalized communities.

Other parties have attacked this model, calling it too divisive and a threat to national unity.

Source: AFP/UCAN