civil war

We smile because we must

/ Neesha / Leave a comment
As Nepal prepares for its first election since 2008 military presence on the streets is increasing as tensions rise across the country. One candidate has already been murdered by a rival in the Terai district and through out Nepal conflict between rival political cadres is increasing. The outcome of the Nov 19 election is uncertain with speculation of country wide bandas ( general strikes) before polling day. Copyright Neesha ( Alexandra) Bremner 2013

As Nepal prepares for its first election since 2008, the second since the civil war ended in 2006, military presence on the streets of Kathmandu is increasing as tensions rise across the country. One candidate has already been murdered by a rival in the Terai district and through out Nepal conflict between rival political cadres is increasing.
The outcome of the Nov 19 election is uncertain with speculation of country-wide bandas ( general strikes) before polling day.
Copyright Neesha ( Alexandra) Bremner 2013

Deadline day looms

/ Neesha / 1 Comment

Tomorrow – May 28th – is the deadline for Nepal’s constitution.

Differing political blocks (of the 20 plus political parties involved including the Maoists)have been scrambling to get an extension of the deadline but with little success. Parliament is closed today and will reconvene for the deadline.. Rival factions have started to have photo ops with the media of their paramilitary groups according to the Himalayan Times and Kathmandu Post. There is no finalised constitution. Nepal is amazing but rife with problems inflicted from external and internal sources – development issues, economic uncertainty, political instability, lack of access to clean water, food supply costs, load shedding, pollution, competing INGO’s and NGO’s, homelessness, land seizures, drugs…

But this country deserves a bright future.

The people are tenacious even after years of political instability and civil war. They are open-hearted, funny  and intelligent. The country is beautiful and despite its issues Nepal gets under your skin. I miss living there. I love Nepal and I am fearful about her future if things go badly after the deadline passes.

Here are some links if you wish to follow what is happening more closely.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2010/05/2010525101847265629.html

http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/

http://epaper.ekantipur.com/ktpost/epaperhome.aspx?issue=2752010

http://blog.com.np/

http://www.nepalnews.com/main/index.php/news-archive/2-political/5142-maoist-ethnic-group-forms-paramilitary-wing.html

To my friends and family in Nepal be safe – my thoughts are with you.

Please contact me if needed or you have information about what is happening you would like to share.