National 3 (Spotlight Weekly)

Indefinite Blockade

Maoists calls indefinite blockade on Kathmandu-Tibet highway

By A CORRESPONDENT

Despite call from business communities and civil society members, the Maoists are yet to lift indefinite blockade imposed on the Kathmandu-Kodari highway - the only road which links Nepal and China.

Although more than two weeks have already passed, the government, major business organizations and civil society are yet to take any initiative to mediate with the Maoists on this issue.

Following the closure of the transport movements, Tatopani Customs Office has already lost revenues worth billions of rupees. Maoists had issued a decree three weeks ago to transporters and traders warning them not to operate in Totopani, a border town 100 miles east of capital till they lift the blockade. Maoists blocked the road demanding businessmen pay hefty money to them.

Nine different business organizations including transport workers association, Trans-Himalaya Business Association, China Town Market Complex and others associations have requested human rights groups and civil society to take the initiative to open the road.

Since becoming operational in 1971, this is for the first time when the road was blocked for more than a month. The road was built by Chinese government despite vehement opposition from India – which regards Kathmandu-Kodari road as a threat to its national security. Indian trade officials often accuse that this road is being used to dump cheap Chinese goods to Indian market.

Despite the pressures being put, the free flow of movement continued through this road for the last 40 years. With the opening of Tibet and expansion of development projects, Tatopani has turned into a major trading point for Nepal and the volume of goods coming through Kodari Highway has increased by many folds. Tatopani Customs office alone collected more than Rs 2 billion as annual revenue. Out of Nepal- China’s total trade of about Rs.10 billion, 70 percent is conducted via this road.

“When all other border points are open without disturbance, we don’t understand why vehicle movement in Kodari alone is often disturbed?” asked the ten different organizations, in an open press release recently. “We have been losing millions of rupees. Since most of the individual involved in the business through Kodari are middle level businessmen and low class people, it has affected our hand to mouth problem.”

Thanks to the more than two weeks of closure of the roads, the price of garlic and ginger has already increased by more than hundred percent. Nepal imports garlic and ginger mostly from the Tibetan autonomous region.

As monsoon has already set in, the landslides will also block the road even if the Maoists decide to lift the blockade now. “We want to request the concerned parties including civil society to take necessary steps to resume the business,” said president of Trans Himalaya Business Association.