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2015 Nepal blockade

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The 2015 Nepal fuel crisis is an economic blockade, which began on 23 September 2015 and crippled economic activity by running down crucial supplies including fuel and medicine. Normally, roughly 300 fuel related trucks enter a normal day, and this has dwindled to sporadic passage of 5–10 fuel trucks, though shipments of perishables like fruits and vegetables were allowed to pass.[1] The crisis resulted from blockage and backup of fuel and goods trucks along Nepal's long border with India on the Indian side, by express order of Indian border officials.[2] Nepal has accused India of outright treachery and an undeclared fuel blockade, meanwhile India has denied the allegations, stating that the blockade had been imposed by Madheshi protesters themselves and India had no role to play in it. The fuel crunch is severe and ongoing, despite reports of a few fuel and goods transits.

Background

Concerns about Nepal's constitution

On 20 September 2015, the long stalled (since before 2010) new Constitution of Nepal was passed with passed with 90% approval from the representatives. 66 members of Nepal's 598-strong Constituent Assembly (CA), belonging to these groups, abstained from voting in protest.[3] By 20 September, more than 40 people including 8 police officers had been killed in clashes between the protesters and the police.[2] The demonstrations were not limited to the Terai; a diverse group of minority groups took to protest and let their voice be heard on the new constitution by enforcing bandhs or attacks on Nepali police — including marginalized lower castes like Gurung, Chhepa, Sherpa, Limbu, Rai people, Raute, Thakali, etc. who constitute about 35 percent of the population.[4] As far as Madhesh, two ethnic groups in the border region with India – Tharus and Madhesi people had also been protesting for their rights, alleging that the new constitution marginalized them. There were also bandhs declared in the Terai, even before the constitutional passage, curtailing Terai business but otherwise not affecting the rest of the country.[5][6]

Indian demands

The same day in which the fuel blockade began, Indian Express newspaper reported that India had demanded specific changes to the new Nepali constitution. While the Indian Government denied this claim [7] the Indian Express reporter stood by his/her original report restating that "these ammendments/changes were communicated by New Delhi to Kathmandu". [8] In an Economic Times reporting, Indian Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel "confirmed that at least till the third week of September, they had orders from above to intercept fuel shipments to Nepal".[9] Nepali social media took to immediate protest against the alleged Indian interference with the hashtag #BackOffIndia as well as street agitation.[3] When news of the blockage of shipments reached the government, Kathmandu sent additional military forces to the border. Despite the suppression of the bandh, supplies had been blocked on the Indian side. Some Maoist leaders of various parties claimed India had infiltrated the Madhesh with Indians protesters, and Madheshi leaders have refuted the infiltration allegations, stating that the Madheshis should not be mistaken for Biharis or other Indians.[10]

Ties and border

Due to an open border treaty between Nepal and India, citizens of both countries can move freely, work, and live across borders without passports, making tracking the movement of people difficult.[11] Indian encroachment [12] had long been an issue straining Nepal-India relations. Madheshis share strong socio-cultural ties to the neighbouring Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.[3] India had expressed concerns over the violent protests, and had asked Nepal to take Madhesi interests into consideration.[13] The government of Nepal and the Nepalese media portrayed Madhesi movements as subversively backed by Indian infiltrators, and as an assault on their sovereignty, furthermore, Nepalis feel it is ultimately an attempt to absorb Nepal into India in whole or in part, citing the case of Nepali-dominated Sikkim.[14]

Connections to the 2015 Bihar elections

Some critics have tied India's actions to political interest in the Bihar Legislative Assembly election, 2015. Justice Markandey Katju claims that the blockade is ""directly connected" with the Bihar assembly elections," as Madhesis make up a significant percentage of the electorate in Bihar.[15] Likewise, General Ashok K. Mehta accuses the Indian Government of prioritizing an election victory in Bihar over Indian-Nepalese relations.[16]

Women and citizenship

The situation of Madhesi is complicated by Nepali law in both the old and the new Constitution, neither which allow for the children of Nepali women to obtain Nepali citizenship, presumably aimed at stoppage of Nepali women trafficked as brides, resulting in some stateless people.[17][18] The Nepalese accused India of trying to coerce them into accepting unfair demands of the Madheshi minority, such as representation in line with population, due to the bilateral treaty and the fear of Nepalis being swamped by a heavy influx of Indian settlers.[19] Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh bordering the Nepalese Terai have a combined population of over 303 million, whereas the entire population of Nepal is about 28 million. The open-border between Nepal and India, allows both Indians and Nepalese to freely enter each-other's countries.[20]

Geography and China

Landlocked Nepal, due to Himalayan geography and extremely basic and fragile infrastructure depends on India for almost all its import needs. In 1989, India had closed 19 of the 21 border crossings, after a dispute over renegotiation of lapsed trade and transit treaties between the two countries. Nepal's increasing cooperation with China, including its purchase of Chinese weaponry, was seen as a major factor behind this blockade.[21] Nevertheless, India had warned against Nepal breaking the fuel stranglehold of India during the premiership of Girija Prasad Koirala.[22]

The blockade

The blockade has caused the only international airport to deny foreign carriers fuel,[23] contributing to isolating the landlocked nation from the outside world at a time when the country is still reeling from ongoing landslides blocking border trade with China following the devastating 2015 Nepal earthquake. Meanwhile, none of the $4 billion of internationally donated quake relief funds to the Nepali government have been dispersed to survivors even after many months, causing anger among Nepalis and international agencies alike.[24] The Nepali government has imposed a ban on fueling private automobiles including public transport and taxis.[25] Some 2,000 factories are shutdown as of 1 October.[26] The Nepal Oil Corporation alleged and sued Indian Oil Corporation for not allowing the majority of trucks to enter Nepal.[27] The Unofficial "Indian Blockade" has forced Nepalese to ride bikes and also carpooling.[28]

The Government of India denied imposing a blockade, stating that the truck drivers coming from India were not entering Nepal due to safety concerns resulting from the violent protests. India's Ministry of External Affairs stated that the border obstructions were a result of "unrest, protests and demonstrations on the Nepalese side, by sections of their population."[27] The Government of Nepal contested India's claim, stating that there were no major security concerns that would prevent the trucks from entering Nepal. Nepal's spokesperson Laxmi Prasad Dhakal argued that the Madheshi protests had been happening since past few months, and Indian trucks had been entering Nepal until Sept 23rd without any problems.[27]

On 1 October, Indian minister Sushma Swaraj officially denied Nepal's accusations. India's spokesperson Vikas Swarup pointed out that India had sent 4,310 trucks to the border, where they had been stranded. He argued that from there onwards, it was Nepal's responsibility to ensure that the trucks entered Nepal safely.[29] On the other hand, it is reported that the vehicles weren't allowed to enter Nepal by the Indian side thus resulting in long queues of Nepalese trucks stranded for days Inside the Indian border. The Indian Oil Corporation reportedly refused to fill the Nepalese trucks following instructions from higher authorities.

On 6 October, the Madheshi-centric Nepal Sadbhawana Party criticized the Nepali media reports blaming the blockade on India. Its President Rajendra Mahato stated that the blockade had been done by the Madheshi people, and that India had nothing to do with it.[30] The Indians alleged that the Maoists, who dominate the Nepali politics, were promoting a false propaganda against India.[31] An editorial in the Nepali Times has claimed the Indian blockade is no longer about the Madhes and the constitution, but rather that India also seems to be opposed to KP Oli replacing Sushil Koirala as prime minister, and has a whole host of demands on security and other issues that we haven’t even heard about.[32]

There is no gas, no vegetable supplies, no fuel for vehicles, no fuel for airlines, and life is about frozen. We don't want this type of friendship.(In reference to 1950 Indo-Nepal friendship treaty) —Khadga Prasad Oli UML Chair & Prime minister-designate of Nepal[33]

Nepal has lobbied the United Nations on the obstruction.[34]

On 28 October, the Nepal Oil Corporation and PetroChina signed an agreement to import fuel from China,[35] the first fuel agreement ever between the two nations.[36] China also pledged to donate 1,300,000 L (290,000 imp gal; 340,000 US gal) of fuel to Nepal. [36] Nepal is planning to import a third of its fuel from China.[37]

Cascading shortages

Nearly all sectors of the economy have taken a severe hit, from tourism to transport to domestic factories to agriculture. The once vigorous construction industry had already come to a standstill before the blockade due to quake fears, new enforcement of building code, and monsoon issues, most reconstruction work has been put off until after the monsoon. Tourism, a mainstay of hard currency, already saw 40% cancellation post-quake,[38] since then new advisories from Germany to US have been issued due to Madhesi related issues.,[39] many restaurants remain closed in tourist zones and transport remains at best a hack. Basic goods, mostly imported from India, remain in short supply. Some 14 Nepali pharmaceutical factories remain shut, causing widespread shortages in medicine, including for infectious diseases like Tuberculosis which of course do not respect borders, some 90 percent of raw and packaging materials usually enter from Birgunj customs point (India).[40] People have resorted to illegal imports of medicines from India, putting patients at risk. The most acute shortages of medicines in Kathmandu are for Intensive Care Unit such as high blood pressure, diabetes, anesthesia, injectable antibiotics, and hyperbaric oxygen.[41][42][43] In more remote areas zero supplies of medicines have come within 2 months, resulting in complete lack of medicines[44] including vaccines.[41] Rice paddy production was already forecast to shrink by 18-20 percent due to several factors. The poor South Asian monsoon and chemical fertilizer shortage, improper seeds from post-quake international donations not suited to climate account for some 10% of the expected crop (half of the crop failure), however due to the fuel crisis the figure is expected to worsen sharply as machinery and fertilizer are affected,[45] manpower is limited due to mass overseas migration of young males,[46] disproportionately leaving elderly and children behind to tend to farms.

Police action against the protesters

On November 2, Nepalese police moved in to clear out the protesters in Birgunj.[47]. The video footage of Indian man killed during protest is going viral now.[48]. Despite police actions, the protesters managed to return and continue the blockade.[47] Protesters attacked a Nepalese police station with petrol bombs and stones.[47] In retaliation, the police opened fire, killing one person, Ashish Kumar Ram, an Indian citizen.[47] Six Nepalese police officers were injured in the attack and more than 25 protesters and civilians were injured (Many with Bullet).Since then Curfew is imposed in Birgunj.[47]

International reactions

International reactions have been coming slowly. Among them are:

  •  United Nations: 3 October, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon called for protesting parties to talk with the Nepali government.[49]
  •  Bangladesh: 18 October, Tofail Ahmed, Minister of Commerce, Bangladesh, a supporter of India's South Asia trade policies, urged an end to the blockade and commented that such blockades hit at agreements like the BBIN.[50]
  •  European Union: 24 October, Jean Lambert MEP and Chair of the European Parliament Delegation to South Asia,[51] stated the unofficial 'blockade' at the Nepali border only serves to hurt the Nepali people who are still recovering from the devastating earthquakes earlier this year.[52]
  •  USA November 5: United States has expressed deep concern over the critical shortages of essential supplies in Nepal resulting from a volatile situation along the Nepal-India border.[53]

Indian Political parties reactions

  • (5 Nov). Stop bullying Nepal, CPI-M tells Modi government. [54]

References

  1. ^ http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2015-10-05/ioc-refuses-to-provide-fuel-despite-assurances.html Kathmandu Post Title"IOC refuses to provide fuel despite assurances" Oct 4, 2015
  2. ^ a b "Nepal passes secular constitution amid protests". Al Jazeera. 20 September 2015.
  3. ^ a b c Satish Gurung. "A Nepalese Student Explains #BackOffIndia". The Quint. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  4. ^ http://www.thedailystar.net/op-ed/politics/nepal-confrontations-over-constitution-142522 Daily Star Nepal: Confrontations over Constitution
  5. ^ http://www.eurasiareview.com/13092015-nepal-terai-agitation-and-the-constitution-making-process-analysis/ EurAsia Review Title"Nepal: Terai Agitation And The Constitution Making Process – Analysis" Sep 12 2015
  6. ^ Gyanu Adhikari (20 September 2015). "Unveiling Nepal's constitution amid deadly protests". Al Jazeera.
  7. ^ http://thediplomat.com/2015/10/nepals-constitution-and-lessons-for-india/ The Diplomat Nepal’s Constitution and Lessons for India
  8. ^ Make seven changes to your Constitution: India tells Nepal, Indian Express
  9. ^ http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/nepalese-thorn-will-only-get-worse-for-india/articleshow/49463714.cms The Economic Times Title:"Nepalese thorn will only get worse for India"
  10. ^ "Don't mistake Madhesi people for Bihari or Indian, says Mahanta Thakur". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  11. ^ "Nepal and India: an open borders case study". Open Borders: The Case. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  12. ^ http://newsblaze.com/story/20051210073733nnnn.nb/topstory.html News Blaze: Title:Indian Encroachment Threatening Nepal's Sovereignty December 10, 2005
  13. ^ "Make seven changes to your Constitution: India tells Nepal". The Indian Express. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  14. ^ http://www.catchnews.com/india-news/india-s-spectacular-policy-failure-in-nepal-1443031577.html Catch News Title:"India's spectacular policy failure in Nepal" 23 Sept 2015
  15. ^ "Nepal blockade linked to Bihar votes, says Katju". The Statesman. 3 November 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  16. ^ Mehta, Ashok K (3 November 2015). "As unrest continues, Nepal's Madhesis are outsiders in their own country". Firstpost. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  17. ^ http://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/citizenship-provisions-discriminate-against-women/ Himalayan Times: Title:Citizenship provisions discriminate against women September 21, 2015
  18. ^ http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2014/09/nepal-citizenship-law-biased-against-women-201491112653358704.html Al Jazeera Title:Nepal citizenship law 'biased' against women Draft provision in Constituent Assembly requires both parents to be Nepalese to be a citizen, impacting single mothers 12 Sep 2014
  19. ^ Bikash Sangraula (28 September 2015). "Nepal accuses India of an economic blockade as border trade freezes up". The Christian Science Monitor.
  20. ^ Vidya Bir Singh Kansakar. "Nepal-India Open Border: Prospects, Problems and Challenges".
  21. ^ Barbara Crossette (11 April 1989). "Nepal's Economy Is Gasping as India, a Huge Neighbor, Squeezes It Hard". The New York Times.
  22. ^ http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2015-10-01/bijukche-recalls-indian-envoys-threat-that-revoked-nepal-china-oil-pact.html Kathmandu Post Title:"Warning from Indian envoy derailed Nepal-China oil pact in the past : Bijukche Oct 1 2015
  23. ^ "The Kathmandu Post :: Govt weighing options to airlift aviation fuel". ekantipur.com. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  24. ^ Omar Havana via Getty Images (3 September 2015). "Nepal Hasn't Spent Any Of The $4 Billion In Donations Since Earthquake". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  25. ^ "The Kathmandu Post :: Govt not to distribute fuel to pvt vehicles from Thursday". ekantipur.com. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  26. ^ "The Kathmandu Post :: 2,000 factories remain shut due to Tarai unrest". ekantipur.com. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  27. ^ a b c Sugam Pokharel (3 October 2015). "Nepal accuses India of 'trade blockade' amid fuel crisis". CNN.
  28. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/10/03/world/asia/ap-as-nepal-braving-blockade.html
  29. ^ "Sushma denies Nepal blockade". The Telegraph. 1 October 2015.
  30. ^ "Wrong to blame India for blockade on the border: NPS". The Times of India. 6 October 2015.
  31. ^ M. Sharma (6 October 2015). "Nepal burning – The real problem at hand".
  32. ^ http://nepalitimes.com/article/editorial/editorial-proxy-war-blockade-is-not-about-the-constitution-anymore,2637 Nepali Times Title:"The Indian blockade is no longer about the Madhes and the constitution"Oct 9 2015
  33. ^ "Nepali party leader blames India for blocking vital supplies". PressTV. 30 September 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  34. ^ "Nepal turns to UN over 'obstruction' of trade point with India". The Indian Express. 3 October 2015.
  35. ^ Sharma, Kiran (31 October 2015). "China deal ends an Indian monopoly in Nepal". Nikkei Asian Review. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  36. ^ a b Krishnan, Ananth (29 October 2015). "China says will support Nepal 'sovereignty' after landmark fuel deal". India Today. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  37. ^ Mandhana, Niharika (29 October 2015). "Nepal Signs Fuel Deal With China Amid Supply Disruptions". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  38. ^ "Unrest Challenges Nepal's Post-Earthquake Tourism Recovery". Skift. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  39. ^ "The Kathmandu Post :: Come back, tourists". Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  40. ^ "The Kathmandu Post :: Dearth of medicine hits health services". Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  41. ^ a b "The Kathmandu Post :: Shortage of drugs hits patients in several districts". Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  42. ^ "The Kathmandu Post :: Dearth of essential drugs hits Sarlahi". Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  43. ^ "The Kathmandu Post :: Inhuman blockade". Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  44. ^ http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4317901&Itemid=1
  45. ^ "The Kathmandu Post :: Paddy output to fall sharply; may hurt econ, farm income". Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  46. ^ Anup Kaphle (24 March 2014). "Nepal, once known for farming, now exports people; migrants earn big but face risks". Washington Post. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  47. ^ a b c d e Gurubacharya, Binaj (2 November 2015). "Police in south Nepal fire at protesters; Indian man killed". Washington Post. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  48. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcKy2Fatk1g
  49. ^ http://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/un-secretary-general-calls-protesting-nepal-parties-to-heed-govt-call-for-talks/ UN Secretary General calls protesting Nepal parties to heed govt call for talks Oct 3 2015
  50. ^ Kallol Bhattacherjee. "Bangladesh Minister pitches for end to Nepal blockade". The Hindu. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  51. ^ "Jean Lambert". European Parliament. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  52. ^ Review Nepal. "European Union calls on India to ensure essential supplies to Nepal". Review Nepal News. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  53. ^ "U.S. Embassy Nepal on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  54. ^ http://www.economylead.com/politics/stop-bullying-nepal-cpi-m-tells-modi-government-96945
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