March 4, 2005
Nepalese learn life without cell phones
Cell phones aren't ringing these days in this Himalayan nation: Small businessmen can't take orders, children can't phone their parents and political activists can't call around to organize a decent-sized protest, reports USA Today.
For the past month, since King Gyanendra seized power and ordered communications links switched off, Nepalese have been learning to live without their cell phones.
About a third of Nepal's telephone lines are cellular, and while landline phones and Internet links were restored a week after the king's surprise announcement, there's no sign that cell phones — the communications method of choice for government opponents — will be working anytime soon.
Gyanendra, a constitutional monarch, seized power Feb. 1, imposed emergency rule and suspended civil liberties. He said he had to act because of the Maoist insurgency that has taken over much of the mountainous countryside. He has ignored repeated calls from the international community to restore democracy.
Government officials say the phones were shut down to prevent opposition supporters from organizing protest rallies — now illegal under the state of emergency. With cell phones, it was easier for activists to coordinate with each other and communicate their moves far from the police, who sweep down to disrupt protests.
But the shutdown had hurt plenty of regular Nepalese."
Related articles:
-- Did Nepal violate Vienna Convention?
-- Limited two-way phone service in Nepal
-- Nepal remains cut off from the world
The Permanent Link to this page is: http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/2005/03/007382.htm