Nepal’s Situation Update
Dear Partners,
Following a respite of some months, the political situation of Nepal has come to the fore again even as record breaking numbers of tourists travelled to Nepal to enjoy her many natural and manmade wonders.
The Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist has called for a series of protests against the coalition government headed by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
On November 1, 2009, the Maoists, began a 12-day nationwide protest by taking out torch-lit rallies in Kathmandu. This was followed by blockading of the offices of the Municipalities on the 2nd and by blockading the District Administration Offices on 4th and 5th of November respectively. If these actions fail to have the desired effect they will then proceed to ‘jump the gun’ on the Constitution writing process by declaring 13 or so Autonomous Regions and probably announcing some forms of a parallel administration on the 9th of November. The Federal Structure and the degree of autonomy to be enjoyed by such federal units is one of the issues that was to be decided by the Constituent Assembly which the Maoists have disrupted for more than months. This is to further escalate to a blockage of all access roads into the Capital on the 10th of November and to outdo even themselves, the Maoists have decided to picket the airport as well on that day. Then, they will resort to surround the Singha Durbar, a city centre colossus that houses the various Ministries and is the seat of government with a hundred thousand people.
It may be recalled that the present coalition was formed after the Maoists resigned from the Government in the face of the President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav’s reinstating the then Chief of Army Staff whom the Maoist government led by its Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ had decided to sack. Hurting from that episode the Maoists have decided that the President’s move was unconstitutional and that he should be censured in the Parliament. The other parties argue that the President’s move was justified as it was based upon a request made by the 22 parties who now have a proven majority in the Constituent Assembly (CA). Both parties to the dispute have made their stands clear. The Maoists have been railing that the Civilian Supremacy over the Army has been compromised by the President’s move and the Government insisting that it will not discuss the President’s move as that will bring the office of the President into controversy.
The Nepal Association of Tour Operators, its members and officers continue tot monitor the situation as it unfolds in Kathmandu and other parts of the country. NATO continues to engage with its member organizations and provides updates to its members and recommends future courses of action. Further NATO will be publishing regular updates to this bulletin and the situation in Nepal. We will keep you posted on any development that could affect tourists who are already in the country and those that are due to arrive in the coming days.
Sincerely Yours,
Basant Raj Mishra
President & Members
Nepal Association of Tour Operators
