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==Background== |
==Background== |
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===Concerns about Nepal's constitution=== |
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there is no any media or government or police for Madhesi people [12 million people madhesi in Nepal] so STOP MAKING FOOL TO ANOTHER COUNTRY |
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On 20 September 2015, the long stalled [[Constitution of Nepal]] was passed with 90% approval from the representatives in Nepal's Constituent Assembly (CA). 66 members of Nepal's 598-strong Constituent Assembly, belonging to these groups, abstained from voting in protest.<ref name="Quint_Satish_back"/> By 20 September, more than 40 people including 8 police officers had been killed in clashes between the protesters and the police; not all constitution passage related protests, deaths, nor ''bandh'' were ordered by and took place among Madhesis or in the Madhesh, there is a smorgasboard of unresolved issues related to the multitude of races, political interests and castes in the diverse and [[least developed country]] touched off by the passage of the constitution.<ref name="aljaz">{{cite news |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/09/nepal-passes-constitution-protests-150920123704268.html |title=Nepal passes secular constitution amid protests |date=20 September 2015 |publisher=Al Jazeera }}</ref> Nevertheless the fuel crisis itself has direct relation to the Madhesh as its the transit point for the vast majority of imports, two ethnic groups in the border region with India – [[Tharu people|Tharus]] and [[Madhesi people]]- have also been protesting against human rights violations, alleging that the new constitution [[marginalization|marginalized]] them. There were also [[bandh]]s declared in the [[Terai]], even before the constitutional passage, curtailing Terai business but otherwise not affecting the rest of the country.<ref>http://www.eurasiareview.com/13092015-nepal-terai-agitation-and-the-constitution-making-process-analysis/ EurAsia Review Title"Nepal: Terai Agitation And The Constitution Making Process – Analysis" Sep 12 2015</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2015/09/unveiling-nepal-constitution-deadly-protests-150920102909569.html |title=Unveiling Nepal's constitution amid deadly protests |author=Gyanu Adhikari |date=20 September 2015 |publisher=Al Jazeera }}</ref> |
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===Indian concerns=== |
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#backoffindia |
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#backoffpahadiya |
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#backoffnepalmedia |
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#backoffnepalpolice |
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#stopkillingmadheshi |
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#jaymadhesh |
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The same day in which the fuel blockade began, ''[[Indian Express]]'' newspaper reported that India had demanded specific changes to the new Nepali constitution. While the Indian Government denied this claim <ref>http://thediplomat.com/2015/10/nepals-constitution-and-lessons-for-india/ The Diplomat Nepal’s Constitution and Lessons for India</ref> the Indian Express reporter stood by his/her original report restating that'' "these amendments/changes were communicated by New Delhi to Kathmandu"''. |
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#backoffindia |
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<ref>[http://indianexpress.com/article/world/neighbours/make-seven-changes-to-your-constitution-address-madhesi-concerns-india-to-nepal Make seven changes to your Constitution: India tells Nepal], Indian Express</ref> |
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#backoffpahadiya |
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In an Economic Times reporting, Indian Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel ''"confirmed that at least till the third week of September, they had orders from above to intercept fuel shipments to Nepal"''.<ref>http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/nepalese-thorn-will-only-get-worse-for-india/articleshow/49463714.cms The Economic Times Title:"Nepalese thorn will only get worse for India"</ref> |
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#backoffnepalmedia |
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Nepali [[social media]] took to immediate protest against the alleged Indian interference with the [[hashtag]] #BackOffIndia as well as street agitation.<ref name="Quint_Satish_back"/> When news of the blockage of shipments reached the government, Kathmandu sent additional military forces to the border. Despite the suppression of the bandh, supplies had been blocked on the Indian side. Some [[List of communist parties in Nepal|Maoist]] leaders of various parties claimed India had infiltrated the Madhesh with Indians protesters, and Madheshi leaders have refuted the infiltration allegations, stating that the Madheshis should not be mistaken for Biharis or other Indians.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2015-09-24/dont-mistake-madhesi-people-for-bihari-or-indian-says-mahanta-thakur.html|title=Don’t mistake Madhesi people for Bihari or Indian, says Mahanta Thakur |publisher=The Kathmandu Post|accessdate=1 October 2015}}</ref> |
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#backoffnepalpolice |
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#stopkillingmadheshi |
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#jaymadhesh |
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===Ties and border=== |
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there is no any media or government or police for Madhesi people [12 million people madhesi in Nepal] so STOP MAKING FOOL TO ANOTHER COUNTRY |
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Due to an [[1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship|open border treaty]] between Nepal and India, citizens of both countries can move freely, work, and live across borders without passports, making tracking the movement of people difficult.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://openborders.info/blog/nepal-and-india-an-open-borders-case-study/|title=Nepal and India: an open borders case study|work=Open Borders: The Case|accessdate=1 October 2015}}</ref> Indian encroachment <ref>http://newsblaze.com/story/20051210073733nnnn.nb/topstory.html News Blaze: Title:Indian Encroachment Threatening Nepal's Sovereignty December 10, 2005</ref> had long been an issue straining [[Nepal-India relations]]. Madheshis share strong socio-cultural ties to the neighbouring Indian states of [[Bihar]] and [[Uttar Pradesh]].<ref name="Quint_Satish_back">{{cite web |url=http://www.thequint.com/world/2015/09/30/a-nepalese-student-explains-backoffindia |title=A Nepalese Student Explains #BackOffIndia |author=Satish Gurung |work=The Quint |accessdate=1 October 2015}}</ref> India had expressed concerns over the violent protests, and had asked Nepal to take Madhesi interests into consideration.<ref name="ie7">{{cite web |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/world/neighbours/make-seven-changes-to-your-constitution-address-madhesi-concerns-india-to-nepal/ |title=Make seven changes to your Constitution: India tells Nepal |date=23 September 2015 |work=The Indian Express |accessdate=1 October 2015}}</ref> The government of Nepal and the Nepalese media portrayed Madhesi movements as subversively backed by Indian infiltrators, and as an assault on their [[sovereignty]], furthermore, Nepalis feel it is ultimately an attempt to absorb Nepal into India in whole or in part, citing the case of Nepali-dominated [[Sikkim]].<ref>http://www.catchnews.com/india-news/india-s-spectacular-policy-failure-in-nepal-1443031577.html Catch News Title:"India's spectacular policy failure in Nepal" 23 Sept 2015</ref> |
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#backoffindia |
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#backoffpahadiya |
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#backoffnepalmedia |
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#backoffnepalpolice |
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#stopkillingmadheshi |
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#jaymadhesh |
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#backoffindia |
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#backoffpahadiya |
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#backoffnepalmedia |
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#backoffnepalpolice |
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#stopkillingmadheshi |
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#jaymadhesh |
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===Connections to the 2015 Bihar elections=== |
===Connections to the 2015 Bihar elections=== |
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Some critics have tied India's actions to political interest in the [[Bihar Legislative Assembly election, 2015]]. Justice [[Markandey Katju]] claims that the blockade is ""directly connected" with the Bihar assembly elections," as Madhesis make up a significant percentage of the electorate in Bihar.<ref name="Nepal blockade linked to Bihar votes, says Katju 2015">{{cite web|title=Nepal blockade linked to Bihar votes, says Katju|url=http://www.thestatesman.com/news/india/nepal-blockade-linked-to-bihar-votes-says-katju/101369.html|publisher=[[The Statesman]]|accessdate=3 November 2015|date=3 November 2015}}</ref> Likewise, General [[Ashok K. Mehta]] accuses the Indian Government of prioritizing an election victory in Bihar over Indian-Nepalese relations.<ref name="Mehta 2015">{{cite web|last1=Mehta|first1=Ashok K|title=As unrest continues, Nepal's Madhesis are outsiders in their own country|url=http://www.firstpost.com/world/as-unrest-continues-nepals-madhesis-are-outsiders-in-their-own-country-2493344.html|publisher=[[Firstpost]]|accessdate=3 November 2015|date=3 November 2015}}</ref> |
Some critics have tied India's actions to political interest in the [[Bihar Legislative Assembly election, 2015]]. Justice [[Markandey Katju]] claims that the blockade is ""directly connected" with the Bihar assembly elections," as Madhesis make up a significant percentage of the electorate in Bihar.<ref name="Nepal blockade linked to Bihar votes, says Katju 2015">{{cite web|title=Nepal blockade linked to Bihar votes, says Katju|url=http://www.thestatesman.com/news/india/nepal-blockade-linked-to-bihar-votes-says-katju/101369.html|publisher=[[The Statesman]]|accessdate=3 November 2015|date=3 November 2015}}</ref> Likewise, General [[Ashok K. Mehta]] accuses the Indian Government of prioritizing an election victory in Bihar over Indian-Nepalese relations.<ref name="Mehta 2015">{{cite web|last1=Mehta|first1=Ashok K|title=As unrest continues, Nepal's Madhesis are outsiders in their own country|url=http://www.firstpost.com/world/as-unrest-continues-nepals-madhesis-are-outsiders-in-their-own-country-2493344.html|publisher=[[Firstpost]]|accessdate=3 November 2015|date=3 November 2015}}</ref> |
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===Women and citizenship=== |
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there is no any media or government or police for Madhesi people [12 million people madhesi in Nepal] so STOP MAKING FOOL TO ANOTHER COUNTRY |
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{{see also|Constitution of Nepal#Controversy over 2015 Constitution}} |
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#backoffindia |
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#backoffpahadiya |
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#backoffnepalmedia |
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#backoffnepalpolice |
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#stopkillingmadheshi |
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#jaymadhesh |
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The situation of Madhesi was complicated by Nepali law in both the old and the new ''draft'' Constitution, neither which allow for the children of Nepali women to obtain Nepali citizenship, presumably aimed at stoppage of Nepali women [[human trafficking|trafficked]] as brides, resulting in some [[Statelessness|stateless]] people.<ref>http://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/citizenship-provisions-discriminate-against-women/ Himalayan Times: Title:Citizenship provisions discriminate against women September 21, 2015</ref><ref>http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2014/09/nepal-citizenship-law-biased-against-women-201491112653358704.html Al Jazeera Title:Nepal citizenship law 'biased' against women |
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#backoffindia |
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Draft provision in Constituent Assembly requires both parents to be Nepalese to be a citizen, impacting single mothers 12 Sep 2014</ref> |
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#backoffpahadiya |
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The Nepalese accused India of trying to coerce them into accepting unfair demands of the Madheshi minority, such as representation in line with population, due to the bilateral treaty and the fear of Nepalis being swamped by a heavy influx of Indian settlers.<ref name="CSM_Bikash">{{cite news |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-South-Central/2015/0928/Nepal-accuses-India-of-an-economic-blockade-as-border-trade-freezes-up |title=Nepal accuses India of an economic blockade as border trade freezes up |author=Bikash Sangraula |newspaper=The Christian Science Monitor |date=28 September 2015 }}</ref> (Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh bordering the Nepalese Terai have a combined population of over 300 million, whereas the entire population of Nepal is about 28 million). Nevertheless, this provision requiring both parents being Nepali for children to gain citizenship did not make it into the final 2015 Nepal Constitution. The open-border between Nepal and India, allows both Indians and Nepalese to freely enter each-other's countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nepaldemocracy.org/documents/treaties_agreements/nep_india_open_border.htm |title=Nepal-India Open Border: Prospects, Problems and Challenges|author=Vidya Bir Singh Kansakar}}</ref> |
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#backoffnepalmedia |
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#backoffnepalpolice |
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#stopkillingmadheshi |
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#jaymadhesh |
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===Geography and China=== |
===Geography and China=== |
Revision as of 07:11, 27 November 2015
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Line_of_gas_cylinder_2.jpg/220px-Line_of_gas_cylinder_2.jpg)
The 2015 Nepal fuel crisis, which began on 23 September 2015, is an economic and humanitarian crisis which has severely affected Nepal and its economy. As a landlocked nation, Nepal imports all of its petroleum supplies from India. Roughly 300 fuel trucks enter from India on a normal day, but this has dwindled to a sporadic passage of 5–10 fuel trucks daily since the start of the crisis, though shipments of perishables like fruits and vegetables have generally been allowed to pass.[1]
The government of Nepal has accused India of imposing an undeclared blockade. India has denied the allegations, stating the supply shortages have been imposed by Madheshi protesters within Nepal, and that India has no role in it.
Background
Concerns about Nepal's constitution
On 20 September 2015, the long stalled Constitution of Nepal was passed with 90% approval from the representatives in Nepal's Constituent Assembly (CA). 66 members of Nepal's 598-strong Constituent Assembly, belonging to these groups, abstained from voting in protest.[2] By 20 September, more than 40 people including 8 police officers had been killed in clashes between the protesters and the police; not all constitution passage related protests, deaths, nor bandh were ordered by and took place among Madhesis or in the Madhesh, there is a smorgasboard of unresolved issues related to the multitude of races, political interests and castes in the diverse and least developed country touched off by the passage of the constitution.[3] Nevertheless the fuel crisis itself has direct relation to the Madhesh as its the transit point for the vast majority of imports, two ethnic groups in the border region with India – Tharus and Madhesi people- have also been protesting against human rights violations, alleging that the new constitution marginalized them. There were also bandhs declared in the Terai, even before the constitutional passage, curtailing Terai business but otherwise not affecting the rest of the country.[4][5]
Indian concerns
The same day in which the fuel blockade began, Indian Express newspaper reported that India had demanded specific changes to the new Nepali constitution. While the Indian Government denied this claim [6] the Indian Express reporter stood by his/her original report restating that "these amendments/changes were communicated by New Delhi to Kathmandu". [7] In an Economic Times reporting, Indian Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel "confirmed that at least till the third week of September, they had orders from above to intercept fuel shipments to Nepal".[8] Nepali social media took to immediate protest against the alleged Indian interference with the hashtag #BackOffIndia as well as street agitation.[2] When news of the blockage of shipments reached the government, Kathmandu sent additional military forces to the border. Despite the suppression of the bandh, supplies had been blocked on the Indian side. Some Maoist leaders of various parties claimed India had infiltrated the Madhesh with Indians protesters, and Madheshi leaders have refuted the infiltration allegations, stating that the Madheshis should not be mistaken for Biharis or other Indians.[9]
Ties and border
Due to an open border treaty between Nepal and India, citizens of both countries can move freely, work, and live across borders without passports, making tracking the movement of people difficult.[10] Indian encroachment [11] had long been an issue straining Nepal-India relations. Madheshis share strong socio-cultural ties to the neighbouring Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.[2] India had expressed concerns over the violent protests, and had asked Nepal to take Madhesi interests into consideration.[12] The government of Nepal and the Nepalese media portrayed Madhesi movements as subversively backed by Indian infiltrators, and as an assault on their sovereignty, furthermore, Nepalis feel it is ultimately an attempt to absorb Nepal into India in whole or in part, citing the case of Nepali-dominated Sikkim.[13]
Connections to the 2015 Bihar elections
Some critics have tied India's actions to political interest in the Bihar Legislative Assembly election, 2015. Justice Markandey Katju claims that the blockade is ""directly connected" with the Bihar assembly elections," as Madhesis make up a significant percentage of the electorate in Bihar.[14] Likewise, General Ashok K. Mehta accuses the Indian Government of prioritizing an election victory in Bihar over Indian-Nepalese relations.[15]
Women and citizenship
The situation of Madhesi was complicated by Nepali law in both the old and the new draft Constitution, neither which allow for the children of Nepali women to obtain Nepali citizenship, presumably aimed at stoppage of Nepali women trafficked as brides, resulting in some stateless people.[16][17] The Nepalese accused India of trying to coerce them into accepting unfair demands of the Madheshi minority, such as representation in line with population, due to the bilateral treaty and the fear of Nepalis being swamped by a heavy influx of Indian settlers.[18] (Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh bordering the Nepalese Terai have a combined population of over 300 million, whereas the entire population of Nepal is about 28 million). Nevertheless, this provision requiring both parents being Nepali for children to gain citizenship did not make it into the final 2015 Nepal Constitution. The open-border between Nepal and India, allows both Indians and Nepalese to freely enter each-other's countries.[19]
Geography and China
Landlocked Nepal, due to Himalayan geography and extremely basic and fragile infrastructure depends on India for almost all its import needs. In 1989, India had closed 19 of the 21 border crossings, after a dispute over renegotiation of lapsed trade and transit treaties between the two countries. Nepal's increasing cooperation with China, including its purchase of Chinese weaponry, was seen as a major factor behind this blockade.[20] Nevertheless, India had warned against Nepal breaking the fuel stranglehold of India during the premiership of Girija Prasad Koirala.[21]
The blockade
The blockade has caused the only international airport to deny foreign carriers fuel,[22] contributing to isolating the landlocked nation from the outside world at a time when the country is still reeling from ongoing landslides blocking border trade with China following the devastating 2015 Nepal earthquake. Meanwhile, none of the $4 billion of internationally donated quake relief funds to the Nepali government have been dispersed to survivors even after many months, causing anger among Nepalis and international agencies alike.[23] The Nepali government has imposed a ban on fueling private automobiles including public transport and taxis.[24] Some 2,000 factories are shutdown as of 1 October.[25] The Nepal Oil Corporation alleged and sued Indian Oil Corporation for not allowing the majority of trucks to enter Nepal.[26] The Unofficial "Indian Blockade" has forced Nepalese to ride bikes and also carpooling.[27]
The Government of India denied imposing a blockade, stating that the truck drivers coming from India were not entering Nepal due to safety concerns resulting from the violent protests. India's Ministry of External Affairs stated that the border obstructions were a result of "unrest, protests and demonstrations on the Nepalese side, by sections of their population."[26] The Government of Nepal contested India's claim, stating that there were no major security concerns that would prevent the trucks from entering Nepal. Nepal's spokesperson Laxmi Prasad Dhakal argued that the Madheshi protests had been happening since past few months, and Indian trucks had been entering Nepal until Sept 23rd without any problems.[26]
On 1 October, Indian minister Sushma Swaraj officially denied Nepal's accusations. India's spokesperson Vikas Swarup pointed out that India had sent 4,310 trucks to the border, where they had been stranded. He argued that from there onwards, it was Nepal's responsibility to ensure that the trucks entered Nepal safely.[28] On the other hand, it is reported that the vehicles weren't allowed to enter Nepal by the Indian side thus resulting in long queues of Nepalese trucks stranded for days Inside the Indian border. The Indian Oil Corporation reportedly refused to fill the Nepalese trucks following instructions from higher authorities.
On 6 October, the Madheshi-centric Nepal Sadbhawana Party criticized the Nepali media reports blaming the blockade on India. Its President Rajendra Mahato stated that the blockade had been done by the Madheshi people, and that India had nothing to do with it.[29] The Indians alleged that the Maoists, who dominate the Nepali politics, were promoting a false propaganda against India.[30] An editorial in the Nepali Times has claimed the Indian blockade is no longer about the Madhes and the constitution, but rather that India also seems to be opposed to KP Oli replacing Sushil Koirala as prime minister, and has a whole host of demands on security and other issues that we haven’t even heard about.[31]
There is no gas, no vegetable supplies, no fuel for vehicles, no fuel for airlines, and life is about frozen. We don't want this type of friendship.(In reference to 1950 Indo-Nepal friendship treaty) —Khadga Prasad Oli UML Chair & Prime minister-designate of Nepal[32]
Nepal has lobbied the United Nations on the obstruction.[33]
On 28 October, the Nepal Oil Corporation and PetroChina signed an agreement to import fuel from China,[34] the first fuel agreement ever between the two nations.[35] China also pledged to donate 1,300,000 L (290,000 imp gal; 340,000 US gal) of fuel to Nepal. [35] Nepal is planning to import a third of its fuel from China.[36]
Cascading shortages
Nearly all sectors of the economy have taken a severe hit, from tourism to transport to domestic factories to agriculture. The once vigorous construction industry had already come to a standstill before the blockade due to quake fears, new enforcement of building code, and monsoon issues, most reconstruction work has been put off until after the monsoon. Tourism, a mainstay of hard currency, already saw 40% cancellation post-quake,[37] since then new advisories from Germany to US have been issued due to Madhesi related issues.,[38] many restaurants remain closed in tourist zones and transport remains at best a hack. Basic goods, mostly imported from India, remain in short supply. Some 14 Nepali pharmaceutical factories remain shut, causing widespread shortages in medicine, including for infectious diseases like Tuberculosis which of course do not respect borders, some 90 percent of raw and packaging materials usually enter from Birgunj customs point (India).[39] People have resorted to illegal imports of medicines from India, putting patients at risk. The most acute shortages of medicines in Kathmandu are for Intensive Care Unit such as high blood pressure, diabetes, anesthesia, injectable antibiotics, and hyperbaric oxygen.[40][41][42] In more remote areas zero supplies of medicines have come within 2 months, resulting in complete lack of medicines[43] including vaccines[40] and Oxygen.[44] Rice paddy production was already forecast to shrink by 18-20 percent due to several factors. The poor South Asian monsoon and chemical fertilizer shortage, improper seeds from post-quake international donations not suited to climate account for some 10% of the expected crop (half of the crop failure), however due to the fuel crisis the figure is expected to worsen sharply as machinery and fertilizer are affected,[45] manpower is limited due to mass overseas migration of young males,[46] disproportionately leaving elderly and children behind to tend to farms.
Humanitarian crisis
The US embassy has sounded the warning of a humanitarian crisis brewing in the nation, echoing non-governmental organizations. The issue of post-quake vulnerability is itself becoming lost in the increasingly vocal information war between Kathmandu and New Delhi, which has seen public denouncements at various United Nations offices.[47] UNICEF has followed with a warning echoing US embassy statements.[48] A major humanitarian problem being overlooked by all governments—Nepali Indian or international—is that the most ignored communities, in the most inaccessible regions of Nepal and clinging to high mountain passes have yet to see any quake aid from Kathmandu, and while Kathmandu focuses on the immediate needs of people in the vicinity of cities, sadly the hardest-hit areas of Nepal by the earthquake, such as Solukhumbu District and Khotang District, the former where 90% of houses were destroyed, are likely to suffer most as Kathmandu has historically shown very little interest in them and transport is by mule in treacherous mountainous terrain as no roads exist.[49] While possible historic neglect could spontaneously reverse, there is little political motivation in Kathmandu to take action to save these minority groups, even with a potentially brutal winter approaching. In particular Tamang and Chepang children were before the fuel crisis already were suffering from severe malnutrition.[50] In total, an estimated 600,000 homes were destroyed in the quake (with no donated money reaching any survivors as of Nov.9).[51] These and similar predominately Mongoloid groups that inhabit high mountain homelands are known to international tourists and trekkers through trekking circuits, where the experiences of their sharing their homes and hospitality are an integral part of the trekking experience, yet these very same people are the most vulnerable within Nepal due to their remoteness, post-quake effects, weak political representation, low caste, and the altitude and climate.[49] Despite the first politically unified government since before the Nepalese Civil War, no action has been taken in the month since Cabinet endorsed an action plan for releasing grant assistance meant for houses destroyed by the April 25 earthquake. On Nov 26th, some 600 children in Gorkha District have additionally been diagnosed with malnutrition.[52]
Protest against blockade
Nepalese residing in UK demonstrated against the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 10 Downing Street, London during his visit on November 12, 2015.[53] On 17 November Non-Resident Nepali Association USA protested against Indian Government’s Economic Blockade to Nepal in front of United Nations Headquarters in New York.[54]
Police action against the protesters
On 2 November, Nepalese police moved in to clear out the protesters in Birgunj.[55] Despite police actions, the protesters managed to return and continue the blockade.[55] Protesters attacked a Nepalese police station with petrol bombs and stones.[55] In retaliation, the police opened fire, killing one person, Ashish Kumar Ram, who was later identified as an Indian citizen, which raised concerns over involvement of Indians in the Madhesh protests.[55][56] Six Nepalese police officers were injured in the attack and more than 25 protesters and civilians were injured. Since then, a curfew has been imposed in Birgunj.[55]
On 21 November, Nepalese policed clashed with protesters led by Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) in the district of Saptari who were blocking vehicles from entering Nepal.[57] Around 5,000 protesters were involved.[57] Nepalese police shot and killed three protesters at Bhardaha, Rupani and Rajbiraj.[57] Another protester was killed on 22 November in Rajbiraj.[57] Afterwards, a curfew was imposed on all three towns.[57]
Indian border police action
On 25 November, Indian Sashastra Seema Bal border police shot four Nepali youths at the border.[58] According to Nepali officials, the youths were trying to bring food and fertilizer into Nepal, and the shooting took place at Bhantabari, Sunsari District on the Nepalese side of the border.[58] The SSB denied this, stating that the shooting took place in the Indian territory facing Nepal's Haripur village. The SSB also claimed that the people shot at were smuggling prohibited materials, and attacked its personnel when stopped.[59] Nepalese government quickly responded with 1 million rupees in compensation to 4 victims' families dispensed within 2 days.[60]
International reactions
United Nations – On 11 November, Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon reiterated his "concern over the obstruction of essential supplies on the Nepal-India border. Acute shortages in fuel supplies continue to impede planned deliveries to earthquake-affected villages in Nepal," said spokesman Stephane Dujarric. "The Secretary-General underlines Nepal's right of free transit, as a landlocked nation as well as for humanitarian reasons, and calls on all sides to lift the obstructions without further delay." [61][62][63][64]
Bangladesh – On 18 October, Tofail Ahmed, Minister of Commerce, Bangladesh, a supporter of India's South Asia trade policies, urged an end to the blockade and commented that such blockades hit at agreements like the BBIN.[65]
European Union – On 24 October, Jean Lambert, MEP and Chair of the European Parliament Delegation to South Asia,[66] stated the unofficial 'blockade' at the Nepali border only serves to hurt the Nepali people who are still recovering from the devastating earthquakes earlier this year.[67]
United States – On 5 November, the US has expressed deep concern over the critical shortages of essential supplies in Nepal resulting from a volatile situation along the Nepal-India border.[68]
United Nations – On 26 November, United Nations Development Programme Resident Senior Economist Basudeb Guha-Khasnobis stated What could have been transient poverty is turning out to be structural poverty due to delay in reconstruction works.[69]
References
- ^ http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2015-10-05/ioc-refuses-to-provide-fuel-despite-assurances.html Kathmandu Post Title"IOC refuses to provide fuel despite assurances" Oct 4, 2015
- ^ a b c Satish Gurung. "A Nepalese Student Explains #BackOffIndia". The Quint. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
- ^ "Nepal passes secular constitution amid protests". Al Jazeera. 20 September 2015.
- ^ http://www.eurasiareview.com/13092015-nepal-terai-agitation-and-the-constitution-making-process-analysis/ EurAsia Review Title"Nepal: Terai Agitation And The Constitution Making Process – Analysis" Sep 12 2015
- ^ Gyanu Adhikari (20 September 2015). "Unveiling Nepal's constitution amid deadly protests". Al Jazeera.
- ^ http://thediplomat.com/2015/10/nepals-constitution-and-lessons-for-india/ The Diplomat Nepal’s Constitution and Lessons for India
- ^ Make seven changes to your Constitution: India tells Nepal, Indian Express
- ^ http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/nepalese-thorn-will-only-get-worse-for-india/articleshow/49463714.cms The Economic Times Title:"Nepalese thorn will only get worse for India"
- ^ "Don't mistake Madhesi people for Bihari or Indian, says Mahanta Thakur". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
- ^ "Nepal and India: an open borders case study". Open Borders: The Case. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
- ^ http://newsblaze.com/story/20051210073733nnnn.nb/topstory.html News Blaze: Title:Indian Encroachment Threatening Nepal's Sovereignty December 10, 2005
- ^ "Make seven changes to your Constitution: India tells Nepal". The Indian Express. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
- ^ http://www.catchnews.com/india-news/india-s-spectacular-policy-failure-in-nepal-1443031577.html Catch News Title:"India's spectacular policy failure in Nepal" 23 Sept 2015
- ^ "Nepal blockade linked to Bihar votes, says Katju". The Statesman. 3 November 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
- ^ Mehta, Ashok K (3 November 2015). "As unrest continues, Nepal's Madhesis are outsiders in their own country". Firstpost. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
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value (help) - ^ "Memorandum submitted to UN against India's blockade http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2015-11-18/memorandum-submitted-to-un-against-indias-blockade.html". The Kathmandu Post.
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