A committee representing the former rebel fighters are demanding 25 percent reservation quota, unconditional release of the jailed combatants, packages of financial benefits and compensations and the a letter of appreciation from the government.[break]
Mausam Patak, Sunsari district chief of the committee, said the strike was an effort to put pressure on the government to meet their demands. “It´s a sad fact that our demands are still left in a limbo when the government is headed by own party,” said Patak. "We won´t back off until our demands are fulfilled.”
The strike affected normal life from early morning in Dharan, Itahari, Biratnagar and Damak as the main markets remained and long distance transport came to a grinding halt. Member of the committee posted in main areas of the towns and highways only allowed motorbikes, vehicles carrying milk, ambulances and fire trucks to operate.
During the peace process, United Nation´s Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) had disqualified 4,900 former combatants. They have been demanding equal benefits and facilities similar to those combatants who retired voluntarily.
Although the government had decided to provide Rs 200,000 to each disqualified combatants, the Supreme Court issued a stay order on the government´s decision.
“The unequal treatment shown by the government is unacceptable for us. But even facilities that the government announced for us was not implemented following the court order due to the conspiracies of CPN-UML and Nepali Congress Party,” said Patak.
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