Nepal Hit By Unrest

Anyone planning a trekking or climbing trip to Nepal this spring might want to keep an eye on current unrest in the Himalayan state, which has left Kathmandu short of fuel.

The situation is down to demonstrations and pressure from the people of the southern plain area who believe that they are badly treated by the government. As a result of strikes, protests and alleged threats by activists, fuel tanker drivers from India are refusing to travel creating the fuel shortages in the capital where a firsthand witness says that power is now available only 40 per-cent of the time.

In response to the blockades, the government has declared a day-time curfew along the main road from India to Kathmandu and is providing armed escorts for fuel tankers. It has also, reportedly, opened talks with the main Madheshi party in the area in an effort to convince them that their grievances are being addressed.

Nepal relies heavily on tourism for foreign currency and with the pre-monsoon climbing and trekking season approaching fast, will be looking to alleviate the situation as soon as possible. However with an election scheduled for 10 April, the worry is that the build-up will heighten the unrest further.

The election should signal the end of Nepal's monarchy with power to be in the hands of a democratically elected constituent assembly, which will devise a new constitution for the country.

The situation is a major concern for the Nepalese tourism industry which was significantly damaged by the Maoist insurgency which ended in 2006.

More details at news.bbc.co.uk. New direct from Nepal at www.nepalnews.com.np.