A COALITION of 12 independent Nepali citizens has called on the international community including the United Nations to help remove an economic blockade on Nepal virtually imposed by India causing an intense humanitarian crisis across the Himalayan country. In a joint statement on Thursday as news reports said they blamed India for interfering in Nepal’s internal politics taking side with Madhesis people who live in Nepal’s Terai region on Indian border. The blockade now in force for more than two months is crippling the economy of the landlocked Himalayan nation bringing fear of such interventions to other smaller neighbours.
The eminent citizens said the blockade has virtually choked Nepal as the key entry points had been shut since September 20 by the Madhesis; which run through their region. The blockade prevented essential supplies, including fuel oil, from entering into Nepal from India. Nepalese people believe that the blockade would not have been effective without Indian government’s support. In fact India is using it to force Nepal to bring changes in the new Constitution to give greater autonomy to Madhesis people who are more in friendly term with India across the border.
The Nepalese elders held the view that the action of the Indian government goes against the spirit of regional cooperation already mooted out under SAARC and BIMSTEC framework. It also violates the internationally recognized rights of land-locked countries and India’s obligations under the bilateral transit treaty. The shutting of the border is not only disrupting trade and economy of Nepal, its social services like healthcare and schooling are taking the biggest brunt of the sanction. Hospitals have run out of drugs and supplies and more than 1.6 million children have stopped attending school for shortage of fuel. The blockade is also disrupting food supply. The Nepalese government is trying to win cooperation of Delhi but so far it did not work. They are trying to bring in emergency supply of food and fuel from China.
There is no doubt Nepal is facing a paternalistic attitude of the Indian government to force it to agree to resolve its domestic political problems to Dehli’s satisfaction. In doing so it remains defiant to the spirit of regional cooperation and existing bilateral and multilateral agreements.
In our view India must switch to diplomatic ways of resolving issues while showing respect to Nepal’s sovereignty and independence. Because, punishing Nepal is passing bad signals to other smaller neighbours to create the bigger problem of trust. A genuine friend or even a big brother has the right to admonish but never hurt neighbours too big to destroy the basis of trust. We hope Nepal will be able to overcome its perils soon.
