India: Darjeeling unrest enters 50th day (West Bengal) /update 7

Event

Thursday, August 3, marks the 50th day of the strike (bandh) that has been ongoing since June in Darjeeling and other parts of the north Bengal hills. Protesters are demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland. The unrest has flushed out thousands of tourists and crippled the economy, with 87 tea gardens that produce some of the world’s most expensive tea shut down, leaving thousands of impoverished workers unemployed.

The ongoing shutdown has seen no reprieve or incidents of extreme violence. Government and private properties have been burnt and vandalized, including vehicles, office buildings, tourist lodges, five hydro power generations projects, and two railway stations (which are UNESCO World Heritage sites).

Local television channels are off the air and the internet remains shut down.

The state government has ruled out any concessions, suggesting that the strike is likely to continue and the violence to worsen.

Context

Unrest and strikes were triggered after the state government announcement that Bengali, the official state language, would become a compulsory subject in schools across the state, causing controversy among the ethnic Gorkha people. Gorkha leaders argue that they are not ethnically Bengali but Nepali, and should not be forced to speak Bengali. GJM activists have also called for the creation of a new state, Gorkhaland.

The Gorkhaland demand is more than a century old. Two such prolonged bandhs took place in 1988 (40 days) and 2013 (44 day). The 2017 unrest is the longest ever. Observers fear the movement will spiral out of control; between 1986 and 1988, over 1200 people died.

Advice

Some Western governments advise against all but compulsory travel to Darjeeling due to the current security context. Individuals present in the region are advised to monitor the situation, stay away from all demonstrations, and adhere to instructions issued by the local authorities.