KATHMANDU: As bandhs and strikes slowly seem to become an integral part of Nepali political culture, statistics with The Himalayan Times show that the year 2009 outdid 2008 in the number of bandhs. One part or the other in Nepal remained closed for a whopping 298 days, up from the 254 days in 2008. For bandh organisers, holding the people hostage has invariably proved to be an effective tool to press for their various demands. The strikes and bandhs, often politically motivated, mean that roads are blocked and movement from one place to another is restricted, sometimes in the middle of a journey. Although the new year 2010 was greeted with four bandhs paralysing most parts of the country, the country saw a significant drop in the number of incidents this month, as compared to January 2009. Parts of the country closed for a total of 25 days and there were a total of 47 bandhs this month. In January 2009, however, one part or the other closed throughout the month and the number of bandhs added up to 122. The closures particularly affected people living in remote areas. For example, locals of Taplejung and Panchthar districts faced shortage of daily commodities throughout the month as the UCPN-Maoist called a bandh for more than two weeks. People suffered not just in these two districts of the eastern hills, but in different parts of the country. The frequent strikes and shutdowns have adversely affected business activities, according to lawmaker and industrialist Binod Chaudhary. “It is estimated that between $7 and $14 million is lost in revenues every bandh day. It has become impossible to end the bandh culture as long as it enjoys the political encouragement.” Constituent assembly member and industrialist Rajendra Khetan echoed Chaudhary. “The common people are the main victims of the so many bandhs,” he said. This month, the UCPN-Maoist called 18 bandhs, while traders and transporters organised three. The Rastriya Jana Morcha and other groups called 13 strike/bandhs in January, while the Nepali Congress and local community groups shared four and 13 respectively. Tourism entrepreneurs sound no less worried about the bandh culture as they brace up to observe 2011 as Nepal Tourism Year. “The bandh or strike culture will turn potential tourists away from Nepal even as the country has recently been listed by the New York Times as one of the 31 places to go in 2010,” tourism entrepreneur Ashok Pokharel said. Political commitment is a must to end the bandhs, according to Chaudhary and Khetan. Virtually all walks of life — businesses and markets, schools and hospitals, municipalities and government offices, to mention a few — continue to come under the spell of shutdowns called by different groups and political organisations. None can and should violate other’s rights in the name of exercising his/her rights, according to the Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Bishal Khanal.

Organisers Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Total UCPN-Maoist 10 5 7 8 17 22 10 4 8 9 19 22 141 NC 2 0 5 3 3 2 3 0 1 0 1 0 20 CPN-UML 4 1 8 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 19 MJF/TMDP/NSP 1 7 0 0 0 2 4 2 0 0 0 1 17 Traders/transports 35 33 7 7 5 5 25 8 5 5 8 9 152 Locals 32 40 33 45 9 16 30 21 3 3 13 4 249 Tarai groups/others 38 17 33 35 12 10 8 4 4 8 23 31 223 Total 122 103 93 102 46 57 80 39 21 25 64 69 821 Bandh days 31 28 29 30 21 29 25 25 13 14 27 26 298