Radisson MD attacked
KATHMANDU, MAR 16 -
Members of a trade union belonging to the UCPN (Maoist) attacked Radisson Hotel Managing Director BK Shrestha at Bhanimandal in Jawalakhel on Friday morning.
Shrestha, also the vice-president of the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), was on his way from his residence at Bhaisapeti to his hotel at Lazimpat when the incident occurred.
Shrestha, who also chairs the Tourism and Aviation Committee of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), however, sustained no injuries, though his car was smashed by the workers belonging to the All Nepal Hotel, Restaurants and Casino Workers’ Association.
Condemning the attack, the FNCCI and HAN demanded stern action against the attackers at the earliest. Both the organisations on Friday met Inspector General of Police Kuber Singh Rana and demanded action against the attackers. “The government must take serious action against the culprits,” said FNCCI President Suraj Vaidya. “In the name of threatening the private sector, a bigger game is being played here,” he said.
According to Shrestha, he had been receiving repeated threats from people affiliated to the All Nepal Hotel, Restaurants and Casino Workers’ Association. “The trade union officials were unhappy with the hotel management’s decision to suspend three workers from the hotel for three months,” Shrestha told a press meet at the FNCCI office. “They were suspended for their unruly behaviour and disturbing the working environment at the hotel.”
Following the trade union’s demand to reinstate the employees at the earliest, the hotel management had been holding discussions with the union officials. “However, all of a sudden, a group of six masked people attacked me this morning,” Shrestha said.
“I managed to escape unhurt as the attack happened in an area that was crowded with people,” he added. According to HAN President Shyam Sundar Lal Kakshapati, Madhav Pandey, the vice-chairman of the All Nepal Hotel, Restaurants and Casino Workers’ Association (UCPN Maoist) telephoned him and owned up the assault on Shrestha.
The attack on Shrestha comes two months after an attack on Nepal Bankers Association President Rajan Singh Bhandari, who was attacked in Bhaisepati on Janaury 7 while returning home from his office.
The FNCCI has said that there are ‘similarities’ in the two attacks, but that the police has not been able to find the attackers so far.
The private sector is worried if this trend escalates. “The fact that the trade union belonging to the UCPN (Maoist) has taken the responsibility (for the attack) has made us think seriously,” said Vaidya.
Meanwhile, Shaligram Jamarkattel, the chief of the All Nepal Trade Union Federation, denied that workers associated with his trade union was involved in the attack. “We are not involved in any such incident as our trade union does not have the policy of attacking anybody physically,” he said. He said that despite several attempts, he and his association have not been able to resolve the matter. He further accused the hotel management of not cooperating with them.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
