I will have to interrupt the gorgeous sandy beaches and ultra modern roads of Malaysia for an update back in Kathmandu.
For six days now, the Maoists have locked down the city. Supposedly disenchanted with the opposition and the Prime Minister, they have pulled out all stops and are forcing the government's hand. Maoists from strongholds in the country have assembled here, and they don't intend to leave anytime soon. This means that the Ring Road has been blocked for a long time now, and no compromise seems pending.
This means no work for us, and no school for the kids. More importantly, it means what a bhand usually means: the crippling of the city's economy for as long as they please.
I walked down the Ring Road many times now this past year, and it is the usual sight during a bhand: hundreds of people walking down the only quality street of the city, like refugees on a road to nowhere. At the chowks (intersections) you will still hear the Nepali folk music, you will have eager Maoists erect a stage and dance to their hearts' desire and much to the annoyance of Kathmandu residents. The Maoists' flags are defiantly tied high in the trees, a symbol of occupation, in this case of all major intersections of the city.
What now? The Maoists are still in negotiations, but if they break down, who knows? At each chowk you will find a squadron of armed police, eager to crack heads at the drop of a hat. But exactly how long do they hold their fire, or shall we say, their batons? Will the Maoists try to provoke an attack? Could this become a full fledge civil war? Nobody knows.
What we know is that we have run out of water, and the transportation options are not helping. We need to conserve, conserve, conserve, which also goes for the power. Suppose the city power is cut off? Just another variable in this perpetual struggle for power (pun not intended).
Best case scenario: the parties come to an agreement and the Maoists go back home.
Worst case: Full blown civil war with nothing short of an evacuation as a result.
Then we need to figure who will bear the brunt of this conflict. Kathmandu itself is battered as it is, but it appears the city was almost built for abuse. The Maoists have never disappointed in that regard. The people, of course, need to make a living, a fact the Maoists are blissfully aware of. But in the end, I think we can agree that everybody will suffer. Now let's hope it won't be from blood loss.
For six days now, the Maoists have locked down the city. Supposedly disenchanted with the opposition and the Prime Minister, they have pulled out all stops and are forcing the government's hand. Maoists from strongholds in the country have assembled here, and they don't intend to leave anytime soon. This means that the Ring Road has been blocked for a long time now, and no compromise seems pending.
This means no work for us, and no school for the kids. More importantly, it means what a bhand usually means: the crippling of the city's economy for as long as they please.
I walked down the Ring Road many times now this past year, and it is the usual sight during a bhand: hundreds of people walking down the only quality street of the city, like refugees on a road to nowhere. At the chowks (intersections) you will still hear the Nepali folk music, you will have eager Maoists erect a stage and dance to their hearts' desire and much to the annoyance of Kathmandu residents. The Maoists' flags are defiantly tied high in the trees, a symbol of occupation, in this case of all major intersections of the city.
What now? The Maoists are still in negotiations, but if they break down, who knows? At each chowk you will find a squadron of armed police, eager to crack heads at the drop of a hat. But exactly how long do they hold their fire, or shall we say, their batons? Will the Maoists try to provoke an attack? Could this become a full fledge civil war? Nobody knows.
What we know is that we have run out of water, and the transportation options are not helping. We need to conserve, conserve, conserve, which also goes for the power. Suppose the city power is cut off? Just another variable in this perpetual struggle for power (pun not intended).
Best case scenario: the parties come to an agreement and the Maoists go back home.
Worst case: Full blown civil war with nothing short of an evacuation as a result.
Then we need to figure who will bear the brunt of this conflict. Kathmandu itself is battered as it is, but it appears the city was almost built for abuse. The Maoists have never disappointed in that regard. The people, of course, need to make a living, a fact the Maoists are blissfully aware of. But in the end, I think we can agree that everybody will suffer. Now let's hope it won't be from blood loss.
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