Lesson 6: I'm with the Bandh
The past two weeks have seen a number of national bandhs (strikes). During these bandhs, mobs roam the streets, or gather in a specific area to ensure businesses remain closed and roads remain clear, which has meant that our school has had to close on Thursday and Friday of the previous two weeks. We are also likely to be closed the whole of this week. However it also means the air's alot cleaner.
These bandhs have been declared to make demands on the politicians during the constitution writing process. As the constitution is set to be complete by the 27th May, leaving less than 1 week; it is expected that bandhs will be declared for each day from now on and possibly beyond the deadline, there has even been talk of an enforced curfew.
The main discussion point these bandhs have been called for is whether the federal regions which Nepal will be split into, should be defined by the ethnic castes that are local to those regions (ie Gurkha, Sherpa, etc). Two weeks ago it was agreed in parliament that this should be the case, however this seemed to worry the Hindi (non-ethnic) castes.
The ethnic castes have always been viewed as second rate in the caste system, although not at the bottom, as this is reserved for Dalits (untouchables) and a couple of other castes. In contrast the Brahmin (priest caste) and Chetri (political/military caste) have always lorded it over all others. Therefore, when this decision was reached the Brahmin and Chetris called on other Hindi castes (including the Dalits) and declared Bandhs on the Thursday and Friday of two consecutive weeks, to demand that they are recognised as ethnic castes.
Whilst Bandhs can be very damaging and effect the people more than the government, they are an effective form of protest and therefore I generally support them. However, I could not find reason to support the idea that the Hindi castes should be listed as ethnic castes, simply because the Brahmins were scared of loosing some of their privilages. Unfortunately most of the ministers in office are either Brahmin or Chetri and unsurprisingly gave into this movement. They were not stupid enough to claim Hindi castes were ethnic, but they shelved the idea of giving Nepals new regions an identity based on the ethnic groups that stem from those areas.
This in turn has angered the Ethnic castes, who since Sunday have run a Bandh demanding the original state model is kept to, as they have been promised this for so long (A demand which the Maoists agree with). This has caused a stalemate situation in the constitution writing and is likely to prevent it from being completed, so this situation may continue for sometime.
The Hindi caste Bandhs involved large mobs roaming the streets and attacking any businesses they found to be open, I even witnessed them stealing the stock from a street vender, who was merely selling water, which is a pretty important service to keep running here (however, none of their violence seems to have been reported). In contrast to this; the Ethnic caste bandhs have involved gatherings at important intersections with just a few mobs roaming, this is partially due to the fact most traders seem to support them and remain closed even if no bandh supporters are in sight. However, on Sunday it was reported that one group had stopped an ambulance from passing and a number of groups had blocked and even attacked journalists, also 50 vehicles were set alight across the country that day.
Despite the violence on the first day, this bandh has allowed rubbish collection, water transportation and distribution to continue, pharmacies are allowed to run and with the exception of the one incident; ambulances have been let through the blockades. The bandh mobs have even transported pottable water to areas where they have held the bandhs, distributing it freely to locals.
However, today saw the end of that 3 day Bandh, but also saw the first day of another 3 day bandh from different group (as yet I dont know what their demands are). This group blocked the intersection of the ring road close to where I am staying and I went to see what they were doing, they had a stage set up and had a series of speakers addressing the crowd. I do not know much Nepali, but could make out a few words, especially one, which one speaker must have said about 20 or so times... Andolan (= War).
Sorry for the lecture, but hey... I am a teacher.
The past two weeks have seen a number of national bandhs (strikes). During these bandhs, mobs roam the streets, or gather in a specific area to ensure businesses remain closed and roads remain clear, which has meant that our school has had to close on Thursday and Friday of the previous two weeks. We are also likely to be closed the whole of this week. However it also means the air's alot cleaner.
 |
| The clean streets of Kathmandu |
These bandhs have been declared to make demands on the politicians during the constitution writing process. As the constitution is set to be complete by the 27th May, leaving less than 1 week; it is expected that bandhs will be declared for each day from now on and possibly beyond the deadline, there has even been talk of an enforced curfew.
The main discussion point these bandhs have been called for is whether the federal regions which Nepal will be split into, should be defined by the ethnic castes that are local to those regions (ie Gurkha, Sherpa, etc). Two weeks ago it was agreed in parliament that this should be the case, however this seemed to worry the Hindi (non-ethnic) castes.
 |
| Thamel - the tourist centre during bandh |
The ethnic castes have always been viewed as second rate in the caste system, although not at the bottom, as this is reserved for Dalits (untouchables) and a couple of other castes. In contrast the Brahmin (priest caste) and Chetri (political/military caste) have always lorded it over all others. Therefore, when this decision was reached the Brahmin and Chetris called on other Hindi castes (including the Dalits) and declared Bandhs on the Thursday and Friday of two consecutive weeks, to demand that they are recognised as ethnic castes.
Whilst Bandhs can be very damaging and effect the people more than the government, they are an effective form of protest and therefore I generally support them. However, I could not find reason to support the idea that the Hindi castes should be listed as ethnic castes, simply because the Brahmins were scared of loosing some of their privilages. Unfortunately most of the ministers in office are either Brahmin or Chetri and unsurprisingly gave into this movement. They were not stupid enough to claim Hindi castes were ethnic, but they shelved the idea of giving Nepals new regions an identity based on the ethnic groups that stem from those areas.
 |
| Kids make a game out of blockading the roads |
This in turn has angered the Ethnic castes, who since Sunday have run a Bandh demanding the original state model is kept to, as they have been promised this for so long (A demand which the Maoists agree with). This has caused a stalemate situation in the constitution writing and is likely to prevent it from being completed, so this situation may continue for sometime.
The Hindi caste Bandhs involved large mobs roaming the streets and attacking any businesses they found to be open, I even witnessed them stealing the stock from a street vender, who was merely selling water, which is a pretty important service to keep running here (however, none of their violence seems to have been reported). In contrast to this; the Ethnic caste bandhs have involved gatherings at important intersections with just a few mobs roaming, this is partially due to the fact most traders seem to support them and remain closed even if no bandh supporters are in sight. However, on Sunday it was reported that one group had stopped an ambulance from passing and a number of groups had blocked and even attacked journalists, also 50 vehicles were set alight across the country that day.
 |
| Damaged vehicles held in local police yard |
Despite the violence on the first day, this bandh has allowed rubbish collection, water transportation and distribution to continue, pharmacies are allowed to run and with the exception of the one incident; ambulances have been let through the blockades. The bandh mobs have even transported pottable water to areas where they have held the bandhs, distributing it freely to locals.
 |
| Water distribution at Swayanbu |
However, today saw the end of that 3 day Bandh, but also saw the first day of another 3 day bandh from different group (as yet I dont know what their demands are). This group blocked the intersection of the ring road close to where I am staying and I went to see what they were doing, they had a stage set up and had a series of speakers addressing the crowd. I do not know much Nepali, but could make out a few words, especially one, which one speaker must have said about 20 or so times... Andolan (= War).
Sorry for the lecture, but hey... I am a teacher.
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