Rebel blockade affects civilians

Millions of Nepalis have been affected by a 20-day nationwide blockade of towns and cities organised by Maoist rebels who have been waging an armed rebellion against the state for more than a decade. In the capital Kathmandu, from where nearly 600-700 buses and taxis leave every day to reach other towns and cities throughout the Himalayan kingdom, tens of thousands of Nepalese were left stranded, many unsure if and when they would be able to travel outside the capital. But the situation in other Nepalese cities and towns was much the same, with the primary concern being how long basic supplies would last. In Nepal each urban area and town generally depends on the other for the supply and transport of necessary commodities, including petrol, kerosene, cooking gas, and food supplies. “Since yesterday [Tuesday], I haven’t seen a single truck or long distance bus,” noted a soldier near Thankot, the capital’s border check-post area where the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) are now on full alert against the threat of Maoist attacks. “The civilians are again caught in the middle and are the worst victims of such action by the rebels,” commented human rights activist Bhajan Chaudhary in the city of Nepalganj, 500 km southwest of the capital, particularly concerned over villagers who were sick and unable to travel for medical assistance. “Even private cars and taxis have stopped moving,” Chaudhary reported, adding that so far, only ambulances were being allowed to move, but in limited numbers. The rebel blockade has created a sense of fear among public transport owners following the destruction of a bridge in eastern Nepal and the abduction of a local bus driver and his helper. According to a report by local human rights group, Insec, the bus was also set aflame.