We spent a couple days in Kathmandu and noticed a few changes. The earthquake relief tents are gone. New buildings are going up. Temples are missing. And transportation was hard to find!
The constitution has officially and finally and, really, miraculously passed. Even though supported by nearly all other countries and most Nepalis are very happy to finally have a constitution after 10 years without one, unrest at the India-Nepal border is causing major issues for Nepal. Almost every Nepali and the Nepali newspapers say that India is implementing unofficial blockades to show its disappointment regarding certain aspects of the constitution. Although an Indian newspaper reported that the Indian government gave 7 or 8 specific changes that they wanted in the Nepali constitution, the Indian government responded to say that the report was untrue. The Indian government denies responsibility for the blockades and blames the Madhesi people group of southern Nepal for the disruptions, saying it is the Madhesi people causing violence in southern Nepal and making it unsafe for India to allow trucks to pass into Nepal.
One reason India might be causing the blockades is that they are not happy that the constitution declared Nepal as a secular rather than Hindu nation. India may have also been supporting people in the Terai region (southern Nepal, which borders with India), specifically the Madhesi people, hoping to provide them with their own country or to have the region join India. This would have a hugely negative impact on Nepal because the Terai is the most productive region of the country. It is flat for crops and livestock, it has weather that allows crops and livestock to grow, and it houses most of the country’s factories. Most other areas of Nepal are not conducive to such things due to the terrain.
The reason the Madhesi are causing unrest is that they feel they were not listened to during the creation of the constitution. The new district boundaries may provide less than fair power to the Madhesi and a few other people groups. Or perhaps they really are in cahoots with India to break off from Nepal, allowing them to become quite wealthy. Killings and injuries continue to happen in multiple areas of the country by people other than the Madhesi, although it seems to be at a lesser rate. (Things are mostly peaceful in the middle of the country, where we are, although tonight we went to the Tansen bazaar and witnessed chanting and burning of a statue of the Indian Prime Minister Modi. The police were arriving as we were leaving, and they seemed quite calm. We thought of taking a photo for you but decided to leave quickly.)
Whatever the true cause is, the border is almost entirely closed. Two days ago only 4 fuel tanks were allowed to cross from India to Nepal; normally 300-400 tanks cross. Nearly 2,000 trucks and their drivers are sitting at the border, waiting to bring in many goods that are vital to Nepal's economy. India is Nepal’s only source of fuel, so there are now strict rations on fuel. Each vehicle has a token and is only allowed a specified amount of fuel each week. In addition, odd numbered license plates may only drive on odd numbered dates, and even numbered plates on even numbered dates. Fuel stations in India say they have been ordered by the government not to supply fuel to vehicles with Nepali plates; the Indian government denies this.
As a result, taxis are scarce and expensive. The “vans” and tuk-tuks that many use as buses are also quite scarce. There are lines for fuel that reach well over a mile long made up of empty cars and motorcycles while the owners stand and chat next to the non-moving line. Check out this video taken by some friends driving on the central road through south Kathmandu:
On our last night in Kathmandu, we took a (hard-to-catch and hard-to-bargain) taxi to our hotel and drove by hordes of people overflowing into the dark streets; they were all waiting for the vans and tuk-tuks in order to get home. I stood in those crowds daily during language learning, my eyes peeled for the next van, planning how to get in front of the person next to me to claim any available space (there is no such thing as a line other than for fuel), only to fear being thrown out the side of the van while driving because the space was so small, finally getting off at my stop, Jack and I sweaty and cramped and thankful to be a bit closer to home. I’ve also walked home with Jack on my front and backpack on my back when it seemed hopeless to nab a spot on a van. But the crowds this last night in Kathmandu were much larger than I have ever seen. Schools in Kathmandu are unable to maintain attendance: the school buses have not been receiving fuel to pick up students, and families with cars/motorcycles do not have fuel to take students to school. (Many live too far to walk.)
The blockades have also resulted in higher prices on everything from salt to tomatoes. I don’t know how much the blockades are affecting the Nepali government, but they are certainly impacting the Nepali individuals in a negative and hurtful way. I learned that India previously did this for 18 months in 1989! Even the “wealthy” in Nepal returned to cooking over firewood at that time because there simply was no gas. Nobody knows how long the blockades will last, but most Nepalis seem to think it will end soon.
We previously asked for prayer regarding religion in the constitution, and your prayer made a difference! At the last minute, much to India’s disappointment, the constitution dropped labeling Nepal as a Hindu nation. Instead it is a “secular” nation, defined as, “Protection of religion and culture,” and, “Religious and cultural freedom.”
Another section is less clear. It states that, “Each person shall be free to profess, practice, and preserve his/her religion according to his/her faith.” It then goes on to say that no one may act in a way that might, “Convert a person of one religion to another religion, or disturb the religion of other people. Such an act shall be punishable by law.” This makes it a little less clear what is intended for people like us since this could be interpreted loosely or very strictly, as has occurred in Nepal’s recent history. Just as in the US, we are careful to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit when talking about Christ, so we will trust in His sovereignty.
Please join us in praying for Nepal, particularly for its people who are suffering due to further political unrest despite the miraculous passing of the constitution. Pray for peace. Pray for provision. Pray for hearts to know the One True God.
The constitution has officially and finally and, really, miraculously passed. Even though supported by nearly all other countries and most Nepalis are very happy to finally have a constitution after 10 years without one, unrest at the India-Nepal border is causing major issues for Nepal. Almost every Nepali and the Nepali newspapers say that India is implementing unofficial blockades to show its disappointment regarding certain aspects of the constitution. Although an Indian newspaper reported that the Indian government gave 7 or 8 specific changes that they wanted in the Nepali constitution, the Indian government responded to say that the report was untrue. The Indian government denies responsibility for the blockades and blames the Madhesi people group of southern Nepal for the disruptions, saying it is the Madhesi people causing violence in southern Nepal and making it unsafe for India to allow trucks to pass into Nepal.
One reason India might be causing the blockades is that they are not happy that the constitution declared Nepal as a secular rather than Hindu nation. India may have also been supporting people in the Terai region (southern Nepal, which borders with India), specifically the Madhesi people, hoping to provide them with their own country or to have the region join India. This would have a hugely negative impact on Nepal because the Terai is the most productive region of the country. It is flat for crops and livestock, it has weather that allows crops and livestock to grow, and it houses most of the country’s factories. Most other areas of Nepal are not conducive to such things due to the terrain.
The reason the Madhesi are causing unrest is that they feel they were not listened to during the creation of the constitution. The new district boundaries may provide less than fair power to the Madhesi and a few other people groups. Or perhaps they really are in cahoots with India to break off from Nepal, allowing them to become quite wealthy. Killings and injuries continue to happen in multiple areas of the country by people other than the Madhesi, although it seems to be at a lesser rate. (Things are mostly peaceful in the middle of the country, where we are, although tonight we went to the Tansen bazaar and witnessed chanting and burning of a statue of the Indian Prime Minister Modi. The police were arriving as we were leaving, and they seemed quite calm. We thought of taking a photo for you but decided to leave quickly.)
Whatever the true cause is, the border is almost entirely closed. Two days ago only 4 fuel tanks were allowed to cross from India to Nepal; normally 300-400 tanks cross. Nearly 2,000 trucks and their drivers are sitting at the border, waiting to bring in many goods that are vital to Nepal's economy. India is Nepal’s only source of fuel, so there are now strict rations on fuel. Each vehicle has a token and is only allowed a specified amount of fuel each week. In addition, odd numbered license plates may only drive on odd numbered dates, and even numbered plates on even numbered dates. Fuel stations in India say they have been ordered by the government not to supply fuel to vehicles with Nepali plates; the Indian government denies this.
As a result, taxis are scarce and expensive. The “vans” and tuk-tuks that many use as buses are also quite scarce. There are lines for fuel that reach well over a mile long made up of empty cars and motorcycles while the owners stand and chat next to the non-moving line. Check out this video taken by some friends driving on the central road through south Kathmandu:
Back in Nepal in time for a major fuel crisis. No tankers are being allowed to cross the border from India and the county is almost out of fuel. This is just one of the MANY REALLY LONG LINES we saw today in the vicinity of gas stations. Most of the vehicles don't even have drivers in them... They are simply holding a place in line.
Posted by Kimberly Benedict on Tuesday, September 29, 2015
On our last night in Kathmandu, we took a (hard-to-catch and hard-to-bargain) taxi to our hotel and drove by hordes of people overflowing into the dark streets; they were all waiting for the vans and tuk-tuks in order to get home. I stood in those crowds daily during language learning, my eyes peeled for the next van, planning how to get in front of the person next to me to claim any available space (there is no such thing as a line other than for fuel), only to fear being thrown out the side of the van while driving because the space was so small, finally getting off at my stop, Jack and I sweaty and cramped and thankful to be a bit closer to home. I’ve also walked home with Jack on my front and backpack on my back when it seemed hopeless to nab a spot on a van. But the crowds this last night in Kathmandu were much larger than I have ever seen. Schools in Kathmandu are unable to maintain attendance: the school buses have not been receiving fuel to pick up students, and families with cars/motorcycles do not have fuel to take students to school. (Many live too far to walk.)
The blockades have also resulted in higher prices on everything from salt to tomatoes. I don’t know how much the blockades are affecting the Nepali government, but they are certainly impacting the Nepali individuals in a negative and hurtful way. I learned that India previously did this for 18 months in 1989! Even the “wealthy” in Nepal returned to cooking over firewood at that time because there simply was no gas. Nobody knows how long the blockades will last, but most Nepalis seem to think it will end soon.
We previously asked for prayer regarding religion in the constitution, and your prayer made a difference! At the last minute, much to India’s disappointment, the constitution dropped labeling Nepal as a Hindu nation. Instead it is a “secular” nation, defined as, “Protection of religion and culture,” and, “Religious and cultural freedom.”
Another section is less clear. It states that, “Each person shall be free to profess, practice, and preserve his/her religion according to his/her faith.” It then goes on to say that no one may act in a way that might, “Convert a person of one religion to another religion, or disturb the religion of other people. Such an act shall be punishable by law.” This makes it a little less clear what is intended for people like us since this could be interpreted loosely or very strictly, as has occurred in Nepal’s recent history. Just as in the US, we are careful to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit when talking about Christ, so we will trust in His sovereignty.
Please join us in praying for Nepal, particularly for its people who are suffering due to further political unrest despite the miraculous passing of the constitution. Pray for peace. Pray for provision. Pray for hearts to know the One True God.
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