Once again today the people of Kathmandu and other parts of Nepal are having their lives disrupted by a “bandh” called by a political party.  Once again children will not be able to go to school, daily-wage based workers, shopkeepers and sellers of all kinds will be unable to earn their living.  Nearly all political parties at one time or another have used this tactic, which hits the ordinary people whose rights and interests they are supposed to champion. 

In a statement issued by the Missions of the European Union in Nepal (Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the EU Delegation) and Norway and Switzerland, they deplored the Bandhas

We, the Ambassadors of the European Union in Nepal (Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the UK and the EU Delegation) and Norway and Switzerland, deplore the use of bandhs by any political party or interest group whatsoever, and call on everyone to stop them.  They are not only anti-social, but where they involve the use of intimidation or the threat or use of violence, they are also illegal, and the government and law and order authorities will have our full backing in addressing the breach of the law. Bandhs also undermine our joint development efforts and Nepal’s investment perspectives.

The EU fully supports the right of expression and assembly, including the right to peaceful protest and lawful strikes but condemns bandhs, which demean the name of politics and politicians in Nepal. We therefore ask all those who aspire to lead this nation to renounce the use of bandhs, in the interests of the people, and not to call any more such actions.