For the last two months the streets of Kathmandu and several other cities have been full of protesters and riots. Now the King has begun hosting meetings with the leaders of these protests in an effort of quelling the violence. Despite the peaceful gesture things have not calmed down. This week the country was shut down for another three days by a strike called by the Maoists. During the strike the government announced that they had given orders to their soldiers and the police to kill anyone who looked suspicious. I am not sure what the criteria is for looking suspicious but I cannot imagine what this will do to the already volatile situation.
The streets are very tense. People continue trying to go about their lives but it is hard not to pay attention to the tension that permeates the crowds on the streets. Now the already bad traffic problem has to compete with tanks plying up and down the roadways throughout the city. There are soldiers on every corner and armored personnel carriers on patrol.
Despite all this show of force there were still many incidents between the Maoists and the security forces. The streets are lined with burned out buses, bombed taxis, and burning tires left behind by the agitators who continued dealing with people they saw as enemies.
Many analysts agree that the next few weeks, as we begin the monsoon season, will be critical in terms of the ongoing insurgency. The Maoists are trying to force the government into peace talks and they will use whatever means they have to in order to get their attention. Bomb incidents have increased, over 1000 school children were abducted last week, and several villages were attacked in an effort to show the government that they want to be taken seriously.
Please pray for these next few weeks as we wait and see what will happen.
The Himalayan Times
KATHMANDU, MAY 18, 2004, Jestha 5, 2061
Insurgency: Shoot-to-kill to quell bandh violence
Rekha Shrestha
Kathmandu, May 17:
Security throughout the country has been beefed up to counter the Maoist
call for three-day Nepal bandh beginning tomorrow. Security forces have
received "shoot-to-kill" orders if they sight anyone suspicious. Armoured
Personnel Carriers (APCs), Ferret Cars and Mine Protected Vehicles will be
on duty with special security arrangement in the Valley. Security agencies
held meeting at the Valley Command Division today to chalk plans for better
coordination deal with the crisis, as the five-agitating political parties
too will continue their "anti-regression" programme. "No one can guarantee
that anyone carrying party's flag and participating in rallies and
demonstrations belongs to political parties. He/she can be a terrorist, as
the three-day bandh is on Maoist call," said senior defence official on
condition of anonymity.
He confirmed, "Anyone trying to jeopardise the Valley security will be
treated as a Maoist and if anything goes wrong under five-parties' umbrella
the concerned parties will be held responsible." In today's meeting, senior
police officials complained of not receiving "clear orders" from the
concerned body and "lack of coordination" between agencies. Perhaps that's
the reason why the Home Ministry has given firm orders to the police force
for sing "ultimate power" according to the Local Administration Act -
opening fire to contain unruly elements - during the bandh. A senior police
official argued, "Should the responsible political parties continue their
protest when the Maoists have called the bandh?"
Stating that the "anti-regression" programme will be limited to
sit-in-protest, major party leaders insisted that their programme would be
peaceful and disciplined. Added a senior leader of CPN-UML, "No rally will
be organised during Maoist bandh." A Home Ministry official said the
riot-police normally disperses crowd by means of water, tear gas shells and
lathi charge but during the bandh they have been ordered to use "ultimate
power". According to the Valley Division of the police, 212 policemen,
including six deputy superintendents of police, 22 inspectors, four
sub-inspectors, seven assistant sub-inspectors, 20 head constables and 108
constables were injured in the last 47 days of five-party agitation.
"Forty-five of the injured still can't perform their duty, while two of
them have lost their eyesight," said the officials. Over 11,000 people were
detained, though released later. Eighteen of the detained were civil
servants. As many 113 vehicles - 105 in Kathmandu, five in Bhaktapur and
three in Lalitpur - were damaged. Unlike last time when the Chief Secretary
used traffic police vehicles during bandh, Valley Division is firm not to
provide traffic vehicles to high-ranking government officials to implement
government's circular for making sure that more vehicles ply on the street.
Airport intruder shot dead
Kathmandu: Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) soldier in sentry duty shot dead an
unidentified person trying to enter the security perimeter on the northern
side of Tribhuvan International Airport early Monday morning. According to
RNA Headquarters, a person with dark complexion believed to be in his
mid-twenties, after crossing the wire obstacles, was approaching the sentry
box before he was warned twice and shot dead on the spot at around 1:00 am.
"The soldier shot the person dead suspecting him to be a terrorist, when
the intruder started running after throwing his bag," said an army
official. The police are investigating the incident.
After a long frustrating wait it appears that our VISA has been signed by the government and we are expected in Nepal on or around the first of November. Our flight arrangements have not been made yet so we do not know when exactly we will be leaving. This is very good news but it is also sad news. It means that we only have about three weeks left with our friends and families. It means I have to say goodbye to my faithful dog Toby. It means our kids have to say goodbye to all their friends at Church and in school. It is the close to life as we know and enjoy it here in the US.
Next month will be a month of transition. We will be learning to live in a new environment. Cook in a different way. Eat different foods. Sleep in different beds. We will have to watch a curfew that is in effect while the war is going on. Anyone caught out after 9pm is subject to be shot on sight! The gravity of this sunk in last night as I walked my dog and realized how safe it was here and how much I took for granted being able to take a walk.
These are exciting times. Please try and spend some time with us before we leave. Thanks for your continued prayers.
So what is the current political situation like in Nepal?????
In 2001 a civil war or "Peoples War" began between a rebel group known as the "Maoists" and the National Police Force. The Maoists made several demands including a constitutional assembly that were not met by the government. The Maoists responded with violent clashes with the police. There have been over 7,000 people killed since the wars inception.
In January 2003 a cease fire was declared by the Maoists and peace talks began between the Maoists leaders and the government. Their demands for a constitutional assembly were still not met and the cease fire was terminated in August 2003. Since then the Maoists have attacked police posts in Eastern Nepal and there are concerns of strategic bombings and attacks in the capital city of Kathmandu.
Please pray for a return to peace talks between the Maoists and the government officials. For more information please see the link to information on Nepal.