Nepal
2008: Facts on the Conflict
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Nepal
Situation Update: Crisis in the Terai
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February
2008 (OCHA)
Key
points:
- Curfew declared in five districts
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Explosions cause damage in state offices
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Clashes between security forces and protesters result in death, injuries
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Food and fuel supplies dwindling
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UN, I/NGO programmes suspended in several districts
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Education services affected and schools closed
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Sub-health posts functions impaired, District Health facilities operating
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Government offices targeted, many closed
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Humanitarian and Development actors face access challenges
CONTEXT
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On
13 February, the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) called an indefinite
bandh/strike until the government meets their demands. The UDMF is comprised
of three groups, namely the Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF), the Nepal
Sadbhavana Party (Mahato), and the Terai-Madhes Loktantrik Morcha (TMDP),
who joined to lead the Madhesi protest movement. UDMF demands include declaration
of an autonomous federal Madhesi state, adjustments to the existing quota
system for the election, and greater representation of Madhesis
and other marginalised groups in state institutions. |
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A
new alliance of Tharu groups has emerged in the western Terai and demanded,
among other things, a provision for an autonomous Tharu state before the
Constituent Assembly (CA) elections. This group also launched an indefinite
strike from 13 February.
In
eastern Nepal, the Federal Limbuwan State Council continued with their
strike, demanding release of activists who had been arrested. On 18 February,
Tamsiling State Council, a group previously associated with the CPN-Maoist,
called an indefinite bandh in the northern districts of the Central Region.
This bandh was reported to be effective in Ramechhap, Rasuwa and Kavre
districts. Bandh/strikes have affected many sectors adversely and led to
closure of most offices, including those of I/NGOs in the affected districts.
Security
According
to human rights and media reports, the strike called by UDMF had the greatest
impact and affected 14 districts in the southern belt (Terai). Following
clashes in several districts between protestors and security personnel
that led to the death of two people (Siraha and Nepalgunj) the government
imposed curfews in Morang, Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Bara,
Parsa, and Banke district headquarters.
Curfews
were lifted briefly in some of these districts, but as of 22 February,
remained in place most of the day in Nepalgunj (Banke district) and Biratnagar
(Morang district). In Dhanusha district, the election office was burnt
down on 20 February. In Sunsari district, a pressure cooker bomb exploded
at the District Administration Offices (DAO), partially damaging the offices
and forcing the DAO office to be relocated.
On
20 February, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
issued a press release calling on all sides in the Terai protest to end
violence and excessive use of force. The press release urged the Nepal
police and Armed Police Force ( APF) to exercise restraint in response
to protests but also called upon the protesting groups to use only peaceful
means. Citing examples of excessive use of force and live ammunition after
the declaration of a curfew in Nepalgunj when one person was shot
dead and 11 hospitalised, OHCHR called upon the police to avoid using firearms
in non-life threatening situations. The press release further deplored
numerous incidents where both protestors and the police have attacked journalists.
United
Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) has directed UN agencies
to limit their movement in affected areas to essential missions only. A
number of UN and I/NGO offices remain closed in areas where the curfew
was declared, with many staff working from home.
Humanitarian
Access
On
19 February, following the vandalizing of a Red Cross Ambulance while taking
injured people to hospital and the manhandling of the Red Cross first aid
teams attending to the injured people in Mahotari and Dhanusha districts,
the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) issued a press release
calling upon demonstrators and security personnel to respect medical personnel
and transportation means at all times and to allow medical staff, ambulances
and humanitarian workers to carry out their tasks during strikes and demonstrations.
In
Biratnagar on 19 February, youths opposed to an ongoing protest verbally
and physically threatened four OHCHR staff members who were monitoring
the situation and threatened to damage an OHCHR vehicle. Police deployed
nearby when the incident occurred failed to intervene. As a consequence
of these threats, human rights defenders, including OHCHR, were unable
to effectively monitor the events.
On
two occasions UN vehicles have been struck by rocks during demonstrations
and at roadblocks.
Due
to the strike, a number of UN and I/NGOs programmes planned from 13 February
have been suspended.
Food
Increasing
fuel prices, fuel shortages and transportation strikes coupled with a ban
on export of non-basmati rice put in place by India a few months ago, are
already showing their impact on the food security situation across Nepal,
including the seven refugee camps that require approximately 400MT of food
per week. The World Food Programme (WFP) reported that due to the strike,
it was becoming extremely difficult to ensure that Bhutanese refugees in
camps in Jhapa district receive their complete food baskets on time.
In
a number of Hill districts, basic food, fresh fruits and vegetables are
becoming scarce in areas where these items are not locally produced. In
Eastern Region's hill district of Ilam and Terhathum, shortage of essential
food supplies like rice and cooking oil was reported as markets remained
closed. Prices of vegetables have increased due to the rise in transportation
costs and shortages. In Kathmandu the fruit and vegetable markets are only
receiving about one third of the normal daily requirement for fruit and
vegetables. The impact of the strike on food supplies was reportedly being
felt in Dailekh and Rukum districts. Closure of markets in Bardiya, Banke
and Dang since 13 February has also broken the supply chain and led to
shortage of some essential commodities in these districts.
Water
The
water situation in major urban centres outside the Terai had been problematic
even before the strike. The imposition of electricity load shedding for
eight hours per day in Kathmandu and other irregular electricity disruptions
has made the situation worse. The Nepal Drinking Water Corporation had
only been able to supply one quarter of the city's water requirements and
this situation has now been further exacerbated by the general strike.
Some water suppliers have been making deliveries during the early mornings
and evening times; however this has become increasingly difficult due to
the ongoing transportation difficulties. Many private water distributors
are either not operating regularly or are closed due to power and diesel
shortages. Water prices have increased due to increased demand and increased
transportation costs.
Health
A
number of districts where the bandh is effective reported that there was
no scarcity of medical personnel or medicine at district headquarters.
Similarly, the outpatients department of major health outlets in most districts
remained open except Dhanusha and Mahottari where demonstrators are reported
to have locked out health personnel from their offices since 17 February.
Further reports indicate that except for emergency units, there is a significant
decrease in the number of patients accessing major health facilities in
the affected districts. Reports indicate that available medical personnel
were not able to visit a number of health posts and health facilities outside
the affected district headquarters due to transport problems. Medical supplies
and delivery of heath services to these outlets could be seriously affected
if the strike continues. A number of health programmes, including a health
camp organised by UNFPA targeting 250 patients in Saptari district, was
called off due to the strike.
Education
According
to UNICEF, the strike has seriously affected educational institutions across
the country. In Eastern region, most schools and other educational institutions
have remained closed since 13 February in Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, Siraha,
Jhapa, Udayapur and Terhathum. Only the majority of schools in Ilam district
are reportedly functioning. In Central Region, the Terai districts were
the most affected, but a number of hill district educational institutions
that rely on public transport, including Kathmandu based schools faced
difficulties in running education programmes due to fuel shortages. In
Mid Western Region, Nepalgunj of Banke District has been most affected,
with schools remaining closed due to curfew which has only been intermittently
been lifted since 17 February.
Transportation/
fuel shortage
Transport
services continued to be disrupted in almost all the 20 Terai districts
and a number of hill districts for both public and private vehicles. The
general strike has resulted in almost no vehicle movement in most parts
of the country except Kathmandu with private entrepreneurs generally choosing
not to travel due to fear of retaliation or fuel shortage. On a number
of occasions demonstrators have burnt or vandalized public buses, milk
trucks and private vehicles that have ventured on to the major highways.
The government provide police escort to a number of fuel tankers transporting
fuel from Birgunj in Parsa district to Kathmandu. Shortages of gas, including
cooking fuel and kerosene for lanterns, continue to be reported in many
districts across the country.
In
Kathmandu taxis, tempos, buses and privately owned motor cycles have not
been operating due to severe shortage of fuel, instead spending the several
hours in long lines in fuel outlets in different parts of the town. Public
transport is difficult to find with the numbers of taxis, tempos and public
buses either off the road or in lung queues at gas stations.
The
information in this report is consolidated from media, UN, NGO, and other
humanitarian partners. This report is subject to availability of data.
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Refugees
in Nepal: Bacchu Rokaya and her children at an IDP camp in Rajhena of Nepalgunj
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Source:OCHA
2008
Copyright
© UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA 2008
Madhesi
factbox |
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Nepal's largest
ethnic group; make up about one third of Nepal's 27 million people
Concentrated
in the lowland Terai region, southern Nepal, the country's industrial and
agricultural heartland
Traditionally,
their main ethnic rivals are the politically dominant hill people known
as Pahades
Comprised
of various sub-groups with several different languages and dialects and
have only recently developed a political consciousness and unity of purpose
Campaign
for regional autonomy for the Terai, a federal Nepal, and greater representation
in parliament
Militant
factions such as the Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF) and the Janatantrik
Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) have carried out violent acts
Not
allied in any way to the Maoists who have separate political goals
Include
some of the most impoverished and disadvantaged castes in Nepal such as
Badis (traditional sex workers) and Kamaiyas (bonded labourers)
According
to rights activists, Maoist leaders are unable to control their supporters. |
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