Liquid Gold. Private vehicles are now barred from buying fuel at any pump in Kathmandu. petrol is selling for two hundred and fifty rupees (about 2.50 USD) on the black market. If you know the right person. I hope every parked bus and taxi has a locking gas cap. In USA, do the "preppers" learn how to siphon fuel?
If you really need to know exactly what the rules for rationing of petrol are, click here.
Surely you must have a Nepali friend who will translate this for you?
In Today's news from Kathmandu, a group of foreign
embassies wrote to the Government of Nepal asking for petrol for diplomatic vehicles. Everyone noticed that India was among them. The Twittersphere erupted with the hashtag #DonateOilToIndianEmbassy and a goal of 100 liters was set, with attendant glee. They presented the petrol at 3 PM Wednesday (now passed). A flourish of
dol drums and singing of
Nepali National Anthem. The hipsters hit upon a way to demonstrate an old saying about Nepali people - "They may not have much but they'll share half of it with you."
Narendra Modi
Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi is not popular in Nepal right now. Why, I am shocked, shocked! to read the bad things they are saying about him! Because this is an unofficial blockade, the editorial writers of Kathmandu have dissected every possible theory or justification or nuance of India politics, in an apparent effort to discredit Mr. Modi. 2015 is not the first petrol blockade in the history of Nepal-India relations. The one in 1989 lasted fourteen months
Behind-the-Scenes movement?
Nepal is still a land of wonderment and delight. Hop on an overcrowded bus with me, and we'll go look for those parts of the country that have such appeal to western tourists. Below is a piece of orange thread - is it a loose thread from Mr. Modi's jacket, perhaps? click on the "continue reading" button and we will follow it where it goes.....
Protests at Border
Meanwhile, the situation at the border "dry ports" is still tense, and there were protests between demonstrators using the "no man's land" and Nepali riot police from the Armed Police Force. (link is in Nepali).
Belahiya dry port customs point. Oct 7th. The petrol siege is enforced by protesters. The Armed Police Force is in riot gear. I'm trying to post fewer of these types of photos - but - you get the idea.
Dasain is a week away
part of Dasain. Fun for the young kids. "You need to get your feet off the ground, once a year."
For
Dasain, people are looking for supplies to make merry with family. The merchants do not have much to offer. Usually even the poortest of families will enjoy mutton (goat) stew, but the goats must be shipped in, requiring petrol. Here's
an article about the black market:
Civic-minded Nepalis were quick to offer free rides in their vehicles to those unable to get around because the fuel tanks of their motorbikes and cars were empty. But there were also plenty of Nepalis looking to make a fast buck by exploiting people's added vulnerability. There are no LPG cylinders available in the market, not necessarily because the retailers have run out of them. If you are ready to pay at least double the going rate, apparently there are still places in Kathmandu from where you can get a cylinder of cooking gas. Likewise, the price of fruits and vegetables, even the varieties grown locally, is inexplicably ticking up. The same with sugar and salt. On the Nepal-India border, petrol is being openly sold at considerable mark-up, right under the nose of the police. - See more at: http://myrepublica.com/...
Kunda Dixit photo for Nepali Times. see link to accompanying article. The mobile companies are having trouble repairing their antennas.
The
Nepali Times gives a report of difficulties maintaining mobile service since the quake.
Here's an editorial titled What Are Nepal's Options? that shows coming to grips with the blockade and the effect on Nepali nationalism.
The past two weeks have cleared many heads in Nepal. Even the woolly-headed among us who in recent days discovered a new hobby – burning or tearing to pieces the infant constitution that has every potential of growing up into something all of us can be reasonably proud of – have, hopefully, begun to see things as they really are.
The shocks and aftershocks of New Delhi’s unexpected blockade at the cost of whatever goodwill it had earned in the past year or so have made it abundantly clear which side of Nepal’s prevailing political divide the inhabitant of 7 Race Course Road – the official residence of Indian prime minister - cheerleads.
Loyalties of political forces inside Nepal have also become evident, educating all of us.
With global torchbearers of democracy and human rights preferring to stand mute witness to India muscling in on Nepal’s internal affairs, Nepalis have been forced to make painful but necessary adjustments to their understanding of how international relations are conducted by the powerful. We wonder whether this is the rule, or an aberration.
- See more at: http://setopati.net/...
The writer goes on to discuss the downside of capitulation. Until I read this, I was unaware of the "fast track bidding" of a new highway, proposed to be built by an Indian construction company. He concludes by discussing ways to diversify Nepal's energy portfolio, including hydro development.
Honey Hunters of Nepal?
When my kids were little, we watched the Nature show on PBS "The Honey Humters of Nepal." We were simply enthralled, and a few days later to our delight, bought some comb honey at the grocery store. It turns out that film was made by a guy named Eric Valli, working for National Geographic. He in in Kathmandu and gave an interview.
Honey Hunters of Nepal is a wonderful documentary. My focus on these diaries has been to cover the petrol shortage and issues related to the rapidly-urbanizing population of Nepal. The bits and pieces of Nepal culture that bring me wonderment and delight are still there, and this is among them. My own aspiration for Nepal is that it will be a better country when it moves to the next phase as a democratic republic. My own two books show a different side of Nepal.
It begins with:
You were recently honored with NATTA Sagarmatha Award for promoting Nepal's tourism industry through your works. What do you plan to do further for the promotion of tourism in Nepal?
What I want to make clear is that I have never promoted Nepal. I have fallen in love with this country and it's a love story for me. I am in love with the beauty of architecture and landscape of villages, as well as tradition, culture, coolness and openness of people living here. - See more at: http://myrepublica.com/...
The Terai, the flat part of the country where the protests are taking place, there are no cliffs. The bees make their hives on tall buildings. Here's a hive just outside the Operating Theatre of Universal College of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital in Bhairawaha, Nepal. I think of my kids - now grown. The folks at UCMS told me they never harvest the honey.
and ends with:
What message do you want to give to Nepal and Nepalis?
They should stand on their ground and be proud of being a Nepali because it's a beautiful country with rich culture that no one else has. I wish that political parties are not be affected by bigger countries. The government should make a plan, make a slogan like other countries, film and document its tourism attractions and become stronger so that tourists can come and see incredible culture, tradition and natural beauty. When I come back again I want Nepal to be more peaceful. - See more at: http://myrepublica.com/...
In India, the
Nepal Embassy released a statement clarifying and defending the new Constitution. Read the full text of the statement
here.
During the meeting held at Parliament Secretariat in Singha Durbar on Monday, the Morcha put forth a 35-point proposal including delineation of state borders, proportional and inclusive representation, electoral constituencies based on population, among others, for amending the constitution.
Sadhbhawana Party Vice Chairman Laxman Lal Karna informed that the meeting ended without entering the political topic. The government talks team has agreed to table a concrete proposal regarding the demands of the Morcha at tomorrow’s meeting, said Karna.
The government talks team had urged the Morcha leaders to call off their protests. But Madhesi leaders rejected this idea saying they would continue their protests until their demands were met.
The word is,
nothing was decided on Wednesday. Recall that Nepal is on the other side of the International Date Line. Note, the link shows the 35-points under discussion, in Nepali language.
In the meeting held at the office of the State Affairs Committee, the government floated the proposal to settle the dispute related to state restructuring through the political consensus based on the report of the federal commission, said talks team member of the government side Narayan Kaji Shrestha.
But the UDMF held that the issue of delineation of provinces should be settled immediately. "UDMF floated the proposal to delineate the provinces at once," said Shrestha talking to journalists, "We have proposed to settle the issue based on the report to be submitted by the federal commission based on political consensus." - See more at: http://myrepublica.com/...
New US Ambassador
Embassy photo. Ms. Alaina B. Teplitz presented her credentials to the Honorable Ram Baran Yadav, President of Nepal, Oct 7th, 2015
Let's all welcome the new USA Ambassador,
Alaina B. Teplitz. today was her first day on the job and @USAmbNepal sent a tweet:
Namaste! Honored to represent the US and @BarackObama to partner with #Nepal to enhance prosperity and support the democratic process.
Ms. Teplitz is a career Foreign Service Officer with long experience in South Asia.
Finally
The news of the day omits the 800,000 people at risk of food insecurity due to the earthquake in a country that has the highest rate of child malnourishment in Asia, as I wrote in a previous blog. Aid money pledged by foreign governments, is unspent. Fifty per cent of the population lives in The Terai, and they have been shut down for sixty days. Industry is suffering, including tourist hotels. Winter is coming.