There has been a two-day strike (Bandh) called by the Maoists following an attack north of us. The Maoists are the Nepali rebels fighting against the Royal Military-following the Maoist political philosophy of Communism. During the attack-apparently Maoist on Military, five police officers were killed. The Maoist called the strike in protest of the disappearances of their cadre and general dissatisfaction with the Nepali Monarchy. By not closing down, businesses and schools risk reprisals. Nepal is a Hindu Kingdom with an elected or appointed Parliament that may or may not be dissolved on any given day-depending on the mood of the King.
From our perspective, the strike has been uneventful. The kids were dressed in their uniforms and heading out the door to go have breakfast when a student arrived to tell us that there was a strike and the school would be closed for 2 days. They were only too happy to get out of their uniform and play badminton in the front lane-the cricket match grew steadily throughout the day, but we’ve yet to join in. The stores are closed, their corrugated metal grate pulled down and locked. The traffic is only private cars (few), bicycles, and roaming cows. No public transport is running. But the thriving market economy takes place down the alleyways. The internet café is open from the back but the power has been out off-and-on. The vegetables sellers arrive from their day picking in the fields to lay out there fresh produce for the night market. And the butcher shops (there are 4 in a row-chicken, goat, buffalo, and fish) open their wooden flaps from the red painted wooden shacks for an hour (and everyone seems to know which hour that is going to be) to do brisk business. Schools are closed. Banks and Government offices are closed. But where we are, there are only occasional visits from an entourage of military police. It is mercifully quiet and the Valley could benefit in a decrease in smog from the two day break. It actually feels like a ‘snow day’ with an edge.
The hospital is running for emergency cases and deliveries only. And staff arrive by bicycle or on foot-or don’t show, depending on how far away they live. All the surgery booked in the brand new OR has to be delayed until the strike is over. But construction keeps going-apparently, guys carrying loads of brick up stairs are exempt from any Maoist retaliation.
