Popular struggles in nepal and bolivia

In this module, we will learn about popular struggle and movements in Nepal and Bolivia

Popular struggles in Nepal and Bolivia

Nepal

Bolivia

Nepal witnessed an extraordinary popular movement in April 2006.The movement aimed at restoring democracy; it was aimed at regaining

popular control over govt. from the king.History

Democracy struggle in Nepal

Nepal a third wave country, had won democracy in 1990.--King was formally the head of the state but the real power was excerised by the elected representatives.--The king Birendra, was the one who accepted this transition from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy, he and his family was massacred in 2001..

The king Birendra


--King Gyanendra the new king of Nepal was not prepared to accept democratic rule, on February 2005 he dismissed the Prime minister and dissolved the popularly elected Parliament.

King Gyanendra


Events during the popular revolt

.All the political parties in the parliament formed an alliance--Seven party alliances--SPA and called for four day strike in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.

The protests turned into indefinite strike in which Maoist and various organizations joined hands.

People defied curfews and took to streets.

More than lakhs of people gathered almost everyday to demand restoration of democracy, on 21 April they served an ultimatum to the king and the leaders rejected the halfhearted concessions given by the king and struck to their Demands.


Events during the popular revolt

5. Their main demands were--a) restoration of parliament,b) Power to an all party govt.c) New constituent assembly.

Maoists: - Communists who believe in the ideology of Mao, leader of Chinese revolution – seek to overthrow the govt. by a series of armed revolution to establish rule of peasants and workers.

24th April ,06– Girja Prasad Koirala – new PM, powers of king taken, Maoists – understanding about how the new constituent assembly was to be elected --- Nepal's 2nd movement for democracy.


Bolivia's water war

Bolivia is a country located in the heart of South America. During 15 years in Bolivia were privatized nearly all the companies and services: electricity, air transportation, hydrocarbons, mining, forest resources, telecommunications, etc. Until the Water War, Bolivia was an example for the World Bank and the IMF.

Bolivia's water war

WHAT HAPPEND THE YEAR 2000A great social conflict in the city of Cochabamba and other big battle in September of that year in La Paz stopped the privatization processes: The contract that privatized in favor of the Bechtel the water public service in Cochabamba was broken. The Bechtel is one of the biggest American Water Company. It was modified substantially the law of drinking water and sanitary sewer.The drinking water service returned to the municipality of Cochabamba. Another project of water law that wanted to privatize all uses of water was withdrawn.

Bolivia's water war

Bolivia's water war revolt

Why the water awoke Bolivia?If a person can't travel by plane, he travels by bus, if a person can't pay the electrical light he uses a sail, if a person can't eat meat, he just eats simple soup, but what happens if one loses the access to water? He die's! "The water is life and nobody can be taken out from life". This is the force of water.

Which were the causes of the conflicts?1. The privatization of the public service of drinking water in

Cochabamba and the authorization to raise tariffs in an order from 40% to 300%.

2. The attempt to expropriate hundreds of small suburban system of drinking water in order to assure the monopoly to the big Corporation.

3. The intention to give to the transnational the water resources of the peasant communities.

Bolivia's water war

The sectors that reacted were:1. The people that were opposed to the tariffs increase.2. The inhabitants of the neighborhoods that were afraid to lose

their small water systems because the monopoly rights were given to the Transnational Company.

3. The peasants, the coca producer and the communities that wanted to defend their water resources to which they had have access for centuries.

THE SOCIAL COST OF THE WATER WAR The social conflicts in April and September 2.000 had the result of 9 dead and a hundred of injured some very serious, dozens of prisoners and confined and a state of siege that lasted just a few days because of the protest strength. Because of the destruction of highways and roads during the blockades the Country lost $90 million dollars and another $ 70 million dollars were lost in goods that couldn't be sold because of the blockades.

Bolivia's water war

Bolivia water war facts

Bolivia's water war http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTKn17uZRAE

In January 2006 a new alliance of labour, human rights and community leaders organised a successful strike for four days in the city and the govt. agreed to negotiate but nothing happened. Police resorted to brutal repression when the agitation was started again in

February.--Another strike was there in April and govt. imposed martial law.--But the power people forced the officials of MNC to flee the city

and made govt. to concede to all demands of the protesters.--The contract with MNC was cancelled and water supply was

resorted to municipality at old rates.This was known as Bolivia’s water war.

Bolivia's water war

DEMOCRACY AND POPULAR STRUGGLES OF NEPAL & BOLIVIA

Similarities between the two incidents

1. In both cases political conflict led to the popular struggles.2. Both the cases involved mass mobilization.3. Both instances involved critical role of political organization.

Differences between the two incidents

• Nepal was struggling to establish democracy while in Bolivia the struggle involved claims on the elected govt.

• In Bolivia struggle was about one specific policy, while struggle in Nepal was about the foundations of the country’s politics.

MOBILISATION AND ORGANISATIONS.Q. Which were the major organizations involved in

mobilization of the masses in Nepal & Bloivia?In Nepal:

a) SPA-Seven party alliance of big parties.b) Nepalese Communist Party—Maoist.

c) All major labour unions and their federationsd) Organizations like organization of indigenous people, teachers,

lawyers & human right groups extended their support.In Bolivia:

There was no political party but it was led by ,a) A n organization-FEDECOR-it comprised of local professions,

engineers &environmentalists.b) Ffederation of farmers.

c) Confederation of factory workers uniond) Middle class students and city’ growing population of homeless

children.


Lets summarize what you have learnt in this module :

1. Political situation and history in Nepal.2. Power transformation from Monarchy to democracy.3. Popular events that took place during revolt.4. Critical lives of Bolivians that leads them to set war

against government and privatization.5. Similarities and differences between both incidents.6. Mobilization and Organization.


Thank You!Jagriti Gupta

Popular struggles in nepal and bolivia

Education

Transcript of Popular struggles in nepal and bolivia