Sunday 15 November 2015

The blockade of Nepal.

I wrote this before the horrors of last Friday night in Paris. I've wondered several times whether to postpone posting it. But my point - that there are struggles in forgotten corners of the world we know almost nothing about - still stands. And so here it is. It doesn't mean I don't grieve for Paris too.

I wonder how many of you know about the blockade of Nepal's southern borders?

Why would you - it's relegated to footnotes in the western press. For two reasons, I think: Nepal has no resources, no oil or gold or uranium, and so the developed world forgets about her. Plus - we do not readily upset India: they are important trade partners, and losing their goodwill is unthinkable.

So let me tell you what has been happening.

As you may know, Nepal has a new Constitution, reached democratically after lengthy negotiations, and welcomed with fanfares and parties.

India was one of the few countries that didn't immediately welcome the changes. Why? Well, it's not quite clear. My friends in Nepal believe that India feels put out because Nepal has dared to make these decisions all by herself without asking permission from her bigger and more powerful neighbour. They also point out to significant unrest in India at the moment, to Modi's unpopularity, and diverting Indian attention away from internal difficulties suits the government right now.

But why blockade the border?

There is an ethnic group that straddles the Indian - Nepali border that has protested against the boundaries of provinces in the new Constitution. It is a common problem for minority groups around the world. Sometimes not everyone can get their own way - and those in power need to work to understand and ameliorate the worries of those who feel marginalised. Nepal has done her best to build in as many checks and balances as possible - and talks continue.

But there has been significant unrest in the south in the past. Demonstrations have got out of hand, and strikes have gone on for weeks.

India has claimed that this unrest - which is far less violent now than it has been at times in the past - makes life so dangerous for her lorries that they can no longer travel north.

But - this group doesn't occupy the whole southern border, yet India has closed all the border posts. This is illegal - there is an international agreement that land-locked countries have free access to the ports. But Nepal has no money to take this to an international Court.

China has opened border posts in the north - but cannot provide for everything Nepal needs, and roads through the mountains are treacherous.

So what is the international community doing? Not a lot. The level of hardship is such that UNICEF has talked of a humanitarian crisis. But the eyes of the world are elsewhere. And the people of Nepal are surviving, just, without fuel or cooking gas. (People are gathering wood from the forests and cooking on open fires in the street.) Medical supplies are running short. Only time will tell if China can stop the people starving.

This will end, of course, as these things do. India will find a way of climbing down without losing face. Fuel and cooking gas will reach the cities and villages. And few people in the west will have the faintest idea that this has ever happened.

10 comments:

  1. Oh Jo, this just adds to the list of horrible situations that go unremarked by the world. I too grieve for those who lost their lives in Paris. Such a devastating attack, but equally terrible things happen elsewhere without anyone knowing. I too did not know about this blockade. As if Nepal hasn't suffered enough. Is there anything to be done? That can be done without stirring up animosity from India!

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    1. Nepal has done all she legally can afford - asking for help from the UN etc. But no one, it seems, is willing to challenge India. But why would they? They make money in India - but none in Nepal.

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    2. All I can do is shake my head. Money. It really is behind almost everything that's going wrong in our world. For money, read corporate profit.

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    3. I send bits and pieces to a school in Nepal, can I repost your article please?

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    4. Please do - the more people who know about this the better. And thank you for asking and not just helping yourself (though given the subject matter I'd have forgiven you if you did.) If you attribute it to me and give a link, that would be extra wonderful.

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  2. Why are there so many disputes in the world? We've said this before, Jo, but why can't we all get along together?

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    1. I can't help thinking that if there were more women in power we'd spend far longer drinking tea and sorting it all out - we'd be far more reluctant to take bombing option.

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  3. Jo, this is so sad. I really appreciate the insight and information I get from your blog posts.

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    1. It is truly terrible, Karen - and so unnecessary!

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  4. Count me among those who are ashamed to say I knew nothing of this. How horrifying. It is hard to fathom the depth of cruelties one country is willing to inflict upon another. Money may buy might, but it certainly doesn't buy right.

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