Stand Against Bandh
NEPAL has in recent years acquired the status
of being a nation of bandhs, But these closures have gained more and more vicious forms
with the Maoists calling for the same with increasing frequency and with wanton reprisals
against bandh-protestors. While closures in general greatly inconvenience the common
masses and affect trade and commerce, the Maoist-called bandhs, often of multi-day
duration, have been known to witness pure terror unleashed on hapless people. After a
widespread condemnation of a planned bandh from April 2-6 earlier this month, Maoists were
said to have withdrawn it on the eve of April 2. But for all practical purposes violence
and destruction by Maoists went on unabated during these days. Life particularly outside
the Kathmandu Valley was affected as the Maoists were engaged in hit-and-run tactics,
burning public transports and threatening people. When they "withdrew" the bandh
then, they actually announced that the bandh was shifted to April 23, which is next week.
If a proof was needed that Maoists are out to wreck havoc on the already badly-buffeted
economy of the country, this eloquently proves it. By calling for one more bandh within
the same month, they have treated with disdain the protest that Nepalese from the
cross-section of society have made against such bandhs, not least because the already
reeling Nepalese economy cannot afford an extended business closure and loss of
productivity.
So it was with a firmness of purpose to defeat the planned
bandh that representatives of all major political parties and others met on Monday to
express solidarity against the Maoists’ callous design to further hit at the Nepalese
economy. In one voice, they protested against the planned shut-down and committed
themselves to foil the Maoist scheme to undermine the Nepalese people’s right to
freedom of movement and live normal days without threats of harm. The common people can
perhaps take some heart from Minister for Physical Planning and Construction Chiranjibi
Wagle’s declaration that the government would do whatever it could to defy the bandh.
But it is only natural that protest against the closure must come from
all—intellectuals, teachers, students, journalists and the common citizens—in
order to neutralise this assault on people’s rights. If the government, security
personnel and common citizens join hands, the Maoists’ nefarious plan could be
effectively scuttled.
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