Maoists Blockade Kathmandu

[Gandalf]

SBS World News

Maoist rebels have cut off routes to Nepal's capital Kathmandu, in their first-ever blockade of the city since their insurgency to overthrow the constitutional monarchy began eight years ago.

Normally congested roads into the ancient temple-studded city of around 1.5 million people were mostly empty.

"No vehicle owners are prepared to put their vehicles into service because of fears of being attacked by the Maoists," said Hira Udas, chief of the Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs Federation.

"Security forces may protect vehicles for one or two days but after some time the Maoists take punitive action for defying their orders."

The Maoists, who have been fighting to overthrow the constitutional monarchy and install a communist republic, said they would keep up the blockade indefinitely until their demands are met.

"We are going to impose an effective a blockade from today (Wednesday) that will continue indefinitely," a Maoist statement to local media said.

The Maoists are seeking the release of jailed militants, details of the whereabouts of missing activists and an investigation into alleged custodial killings of Maoist rebels by security forces.

The blockade is being seen as a show of strength by the rebels who have become increasingly bold in attacking the capital.

They already control vast areas of countryside in the impoverished Himalayan nation wedged between India and China.

The rebels say they will stop food and other supplies reaching the city unless their conditions are met.

Officials say Kathmandu has a 10-week stockpile of vital goods such as food and fuel.

Security forces in the country are on high alert.

"The Maoist transport blockade in three districts has halted 2,000 vehicles coming and going out of Kathmandu every day," said Mr Udas.

Police at a checkpoint which all vehicles pass through to the capital said traffic had halted.

"Right from morning, no vehicles passed through the checkpoint. Normally hundreds of vehicles stream in and out," said a police official.

The blockade follows the suspension on Tuesday of operations by many top firms after the Maoists accused them of exploiting their employees.

On Monday, suspected rebels bombed a luxury hotel in the city but caused no injuries.

Around 9,000 people have died in violence since 1996 in the struggle between the rebels and security forces.

I find this interesting.

Does anyone think someone else might step in?

[Beowulf]

The US is slightly busy right now... I don't think anyone else has the balls to do it.

[Stormbringer]

China could be I'd be suprised if they did.

[J]

And that's why it's a good thing I'm not there anymore. It's been building up to this for some time and there's been an increase in both the number & intensity of attacks in recent months. The violence follows a roughly 2 year cycle of ups & downs, the last time there was widespread violence the Chinese government of all people offered to assist in putting down the rebellion. There were widespread battles in te countryside with hundreds of rebels killed by government forces, this time it could be just as messy. The government & the people won't tolerate this blockade for long, it's only a matter of time before they lock down the city and clean it out door to door if they have to.

[The Duchess of Zeon]

China could be I'd be suprised if they did.

Ah, but suppression of radicals would allow the Chinese to stay, liked by the people. One should remember that China is no longer a Maoist regime but rather a nationalistic one with aspirations to simply exercise hegemonic control over traditional Chinese lands--but depending on the interpetation, that area can be quite large indeed.

[Gil Hamilton]

Ah, but suppression of radicals would allow the Chinese to stay, liked by the people. One should remember that China is no longer a Maoist regime but rather a nationalistic one with aspirations to simply exercise hegemonic control over traditional Chinese lands--but depending on the interpetation, that area can be quite large indeed.

Well China is "All Under Heaven". That's quite alot nowadays.

[Sea Skimmer]

China could be I'd be suprised if they did.

If Chinese troops enter Nepal it would only be as an act of war. The Chinese have claimed all of Nepal as there own territory for decades, along with parts of India, and that has lead to many skirmish's and battles. Nepal would never allow Chinese troops to enter, and if they invaded India would probably start its own invasion to head them off. That would be messy but the Chinese aren't stupid enough to try it even if they'd just love for the Maoist rebels to take over the country.

Anyway, the situation is hardly one, which demands immediate foreign intervention, Nepal has a large army in the field and the Rebels are very deficient in heavy weapons. The goverment could probably use a lot more air transport to combat the rebels but their Army isn't that bad.

[J]

The main problem is funding, Nepal is a very poor country and the ongoing situation with the Maoist rebels is just sucking them dry. Tourism and foreign investments are the lifeblood of the country, and with armed rebels running amok it's not good for business.

Interesting thing is the Chinese once gave covert assistance to the rebels, but that stopped a few years ago when the rebels denouced the Chinese government for straying from the true path of communism. This led to the the chinese offering assistance to Nepal's government during the last major uprising a bit over 2 years ago, an offer which was turned down since it was seen as a ploy to gain control of the land and the trust of the villagers, that's what the offer was for. If the Chinese were invited in it opens up a lot of opportunities for them to subvert the country and makes it much harder for others to take action. The politics there are very messy, and many fear Nepal may go the way of Tibet.