Democracy For Nepal

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Butchers, Stop The Killing, You Will Get Tried

If the Nepal Army and the Maoist Army are mobilized against the Madhesi people, nothing will stop the Madhesh from becoming a separate country after that. That will be a point of no return. And all the political leaders of the seven Pahadi parties are going to be declared state enemies of that new country, Madhesh. All atrocities committed during the Madhesi Movement will be tried by the future Madhesh government. They will be taken to international courts as necessary. The Madhesh would vow to never have any kind of diplomatic relations with Nepal ever after that.

Action Plan: 5 + 5
Gyane In April: 3 Speeches, Girija In Magh: How Many?
Inbox 5
Inbox 4
Inbox 3
सत्ताधारी सात पहाडी पार्टीको घैंटोमा अझै घाम लागेको छैन
Girija Koirala: Address To The Nation: Madhesi Movement Partial Victory
The Movement Will Not Stop, It Will Go To Step 2
Dragonfly Without A Wing Loses Hearing Capacity
Inbox 2
सरिता गिरी: अशान्त मधेस, नया नेपाल
Hamro Nepal Press Release: Only A Political Outlet To The Madhesi Movement
Inbox
माघे क्रान्ित, राजावादी र िहन्दु कट्टरपन्थीबारे
The Maoist Map Is A Pretty Good Map
Kamal Thapa Should Be Arrested, But Not For The Madhesi Movement
Madhesi Movement Invites The Dalit, The Janajati, The Mahila
The Ball Is In Girija's Court: A Response To Pramod Kantha
Gagan Thapa On The Terai
Anand Jha: Raising Dust At SEBS
Need For A Mahila Movement
ANTA Press Release: Stop The State Terror
Stop The Shooting, Give The Speech
Feedback, NSU, USA Canada Chapter Press Release
डटे रहो
Sahana Pradhan, Sarita Giri, Chitra Lekha Yadav, Pratibha Rana
Ram Sah, Ratan Jha, Lalit Jha, Pramod Kantha: Madhesi Diaspora, Pahadi Diaspora
Why Are The Pahadis Quiet?
B. K. Rana: Carter, Palestine and Apartheid
Girija, Give A Speech Like Gyane Did In April
Stop Shooting, Give Concession Speech, Calm Down The Streets
Brikhesh Chandra Lal: Who Will Take Responsibility?
Madhesh Is Burning
शान्ित वार्ता क्या, िवजय घोषणा करो
8 Parties Need To Declare 205 Constituencies Of Equal Population
Madhesi Movement Is April Revolution Part 2
Look Who Is Talking
Madhesi Movement: Write To The Media
बराबर जनसंख्याबाला २०५ सीट
मधेश जल रही है
Girija Koirala Is A Crook
205 Constituencies Based On Equal Population, And Reserved Seats
New Jersey Madhesi Gathering: Photos
Anand Jha: Slugging It Out At SEBS
Ram Manohar Sah: Madheshi Murmurings
Mihir Thakur: Paper On Madhesh Samasya 2051
Madhesi Gathering, New Jersey
Prabasi Madhesi Are With The Madhesi Movement In Nepal
My Role In The April Revolution: The Butterfly Effect
Typhoid And Typhoid Victims
Madhesi Alert, Nepalgunj Pahadi Attack On Madhesi, Raw Email, Video Footage
िफर से कह दो एक बार इन्िकलाब
पहाडी मधेशी दंगा, मधेशी जनजाित गठबंधन, र िनर्णायक, अिहंसात्मक अन्ितम अान्दोलनको खाँचो
सद्भावना रोडम्याप
नेपालमा दमजम अान्दोलनको अावश्यकता
नेपालमा संसारको नम्बर एक लोकतन्त्रको स्थापना हुन सक्छ
राजतन्त्र, बाहुनवाद र भर्ष्टाचार समाप्त पारौं
राजतन्त्र, बाहुनवाद र भर्ष्टाचार समाप्त पारौं
Transparent Party Finances: A Must In Interim Constitution
Nepali Organizations In New York City
Tackling Bahunbaad
प्रस्तािवत संिवधान

In The News

PM’s address not enough to fulfill Madhesi demands: Prachanda NepalNews Prachanda said his party was supportive of Madhesi people’s struggle for proportional representation, federal system and right to self-determination. ..... proportional electoral system, federalism and republican set up were inter-linked ...... his party had acknowledged the wrongdoing of local party cadres in Lahan incident, which sparked angry protests by Madhesi groups, Prachanda pledged to investigate into the case and make the probe report public. ...... reiterated the claim that royalists and foreign elements had infiltrated into the agitation of the Madhesis to create communal strife and derail the peace process. .... would have no objection if the government reaches out to these groups including the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) and two factions of the Terai Janatantrik Mukti Morcha (JTMM) ..... revealed that there was discussion among the eight parties about jointly mobilising the army and the Maoist People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in Terai ...... such a option should be executed only after the eight-party consensus and the government decision
Three killed, 31 injured in Inaruwa; indefinite curfew in place at least three protesters were killed and 31 others injured when agitating activists of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) clashed with the police in Inaruwa, the district headquarters of Sunsari ..... two persons killed in the police firing have been identified as Hari Mehta and Shyam Mehta. Third person is yet to be identified.
OHCHR calls for urgent dialogue to end Terai unrest in order to prevent further violence and loss of life." ....... OHCHR-Nepal's teams deployed in the Terai are currently investigating 11 deaths, of which seven were allegedly as a result of police action. ...... "OHCHR-Nepal is also investigating allegations of excessive use of force in some places, with police reportedly aiming at the heads of demonstrators during lathi charges. It reiterates its call for thorough and independent investigations into all killings which have occurred as well as allegations of serious beatings by police" ...... On 30 January, OHCHR-Nepal teams visited several Madheshis in hospital in Biratnagar who had been severely mutilated by khukuri knives wielded by non-Madheshis during a clash. ...... the OHCHR-Nepal has also noted the arrest and preventive detention of four former government officials, Kamal Thapa and Salim Mia Ansari in Kathmandu, and Badri Prasad Mandal and Ballav Prasad Dahal in Morang District. ...... The OHCHR noted that the detention orders issued against the four under the Public Security Act (PSA) "fail to indicate specific actions allegedly taken by them which would constitute an immediate threat to the sovereignty, integrity or public peace and order of Nepal." It stated, "OHCHR-Nepal considers the detention of these four former government officials under the PSA based on such vaguely worded orders to be arbitrary and contrary to international human rights standards." ........ "Resorting to arbitrary detention is a backward step in the efforts to re-establish rule of law in Nepal after years of conflict and suppression of human rights" ....... "The continuing violence and loss of life in the Terai is very worrying. It is essential that a dialogue be established as soon as possible in order to prevent further violence"
Curfew in Birgunj; demonstrations continue in terai protestors started vandalizing government offices ..... Curfews are already in place in Biratnagar and Chandranighapur area of Rautahat district ..... Madhesi people have continued demonstrations in various districts of eastern terai on Thursday ..... a strike following the torching of the NC district office by an unidentified group Wednesday night. ..... In Siraha and Lahan, Madhesi activists carrying sticks took to the streets chanting slogans against the government. In Mahottari, the protestors padlocked all government offices. ..... demonstrations in Janakpur, Rajbiraj of Saptari, Malangawa of Sarlahi and various parts of Sunsari and Morang
PM's address incomplete says MJF; Indigenous community, too, dissatisfied Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP-Anandidevi), a partner in ruling coalition, too, has hinted that it is not happy with the address. ..... leaders of indigenous communities, too, have expressed dissatisfaction over the PM's address. "We indigenous communities have been demanding that election of Constituent Assembly be held on the basis of proportional representation system," said Pasang Sherpa, president of Nepal Indigenous/Janajati Federation. ..... Sherpa welcomed the PM's call for talks. "We accept the offer for talks but we will continue our peaceful struggle," he said.
AI urges investigation into killings in terai unrest
Curfew continues in Biratnagar; curfew in Rautahat
SC issues show cause notice on Rayamajhi report
The Politics of Representation

AI urges investigation into killings in terai unrest

Amnesty International (AI), the international rights watchdog, has expressed grave concern over the recent violence in the terai region and urged the authorities to ensure a prompt, independent, impartial and thorough investigation into the events.

A press release issued by the AI said it was gravely concerned about the outburst of violence in the terai region in southern Nepal and demanded prosecution of anyone suspected of human rights abuses in proceedings that fully respect international fair trial standards.

At least eight people have been killed and scores of people injured in clashes between protestors and police in the recent unrest there.

The AI statement quoted some reports which said that demonstrators attacked buses and lorries. Dozens of people have reportedly been injured during these attacks.

The AI also expressed concern over the reports of the demonstrators attacking journalists and offices of newspapers or radio stations and threats to human rights defenders in the affected area, including delegations from the National Human Rights Commission and the NGO HimRights whose staff were attacked during monitoring visits to assess the unrest.

“Amnesty International acknowledges the responsibility of the authorities to maintain law and order but is concerned that some of the killings may be a result of the possible use of excessive force by police,” the statement added.

The demonstrators are members of the Madhesi community demanding proportional representation in the forthcoming elections to ensure better representation of the community in the constituent assembly. nepalnews.com pb Feb 01 07

Indian fundamentalists abetting Nepal riots: Prachanda DailyIndia.com, FL For the first time since the 18-year-old student was killed in Maoist firing during a clash in Lahan town last month, the Maoist chief expressed regret, saying it was a 'mistake and weakness' and action was being taken against those involved. However, he said people should not try to take advantage of the error and malign his party. .... The Maoists Thursday joined the Madhes movement - of the Madhesis who are of Indian origin and live in the Terai plains - staging a peace march in Janakpur town. ..... 'Our party has always supported the Madhes cause,' Prachada said. 'Our three key demands are for a federal government, proportional electoral representation and a democratic republic.'
The Interim Constitution; the Madhesi Turmoil Kantipur Online, Nepal Dr Bal Gopal Shrestha ..... Right from the time the seven-party alliance (SPA) and the Maoists agreed to proclaim this constitution we felt something was wrong with it, as the Nepal Sadbhavana Party, one of the constituents of the seven-party alliance had to write a note of dissent. However, the SPA and the Maoists leaders failed to realize the gravity of the matter. Especially, the four big constituents, namely the Nepali Congress, the Communist Party of Nepal (UML), Nepali Congress (Democratic) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) appeared unprepared to understand the genuine demands of the Madhesi community and the indigenous nationalities. ...... shows the leaders of these parties are not ready to change their mindset to give up the privileges that they had been enjoying. This is the root cause that sparked the fire in the Terai ..... the genuine demands put forward by the Madhesi community for equal rights. We must admit the fact that for centuries, people of Madhesi origin and all other nationalities remained exploited under the hands of the Shah ruler and their cliques- the hill people, the Khasa or the Brahmin and Chetris. After the April 2006 revolution, there were lots of discussions on restructuring of the state, but the ruling Brahmin and Chetris managed to secure a safe haven for themselves by denying any clear commitments to oppressed nationalities, Madhesi and low caste people. ...... article 5 of the interim constitution terms only Khasa as Nepali and made it a single official language, which is a clear sign of the continuation of the Panchayat era mentality that the leaders of these parties inherited. Although it says there is no prohibition in using other languages in local bodies, it is unclear if they can also be used in higher administrative bodies. Similarly, article 17 of the constitution says, each community is entitled to receive education in one’s own mother tongue, but it is not clear how it will be implemented, as it says it will be done according to the law, which does not exist. ....... Article 33 (gha) of the constitution states to end discriminations based on class, ethnicity, lingual, gender, cultural, religion and region and to deconstruct the present centralized and unitary structure of the state to reconstruct it into an inclusive, democratic and forward looking one by addressing women, low caste (dalit), indigenous nationalities, Madhesi, oppressed, neglected, minority communities and backward regions. However, it is totally uncertain how the discriminations based on class, ethnicity, lingual, gender, cultural, religion and region will be ended. ...... article 63 of the constitution has proposed a gigantic unicameral constituent assembly with 425 members but failed to address the heart of the matter, how women, low caste (dalit), indigenous nationalities, Madhesi, oppressed, neglected and minority communities will be represented in it. ........ even 204 seats proposed through the proportional electoral system cleverly avoided clarity to bring in representation from these neglected sections of the society ...... ethnic nationalities (janajati), Madheshi, women, and Dalit are to depend on the mercy of the political parties. This makes it clear that the leaders of all the parties, including the revolutionary Maoists are not sincere about their earlier promises regarding rights to ethnic nationalities (janajati), Madheshi, women, and Dalit. ....... their slogans in favour of oppressed nationalities appeared only to gain cheap popularity and to deceive the people. ..... the Madhesis as well as all other indigenous oppressed nationalities lamented this constitution and rightly the Madhesi population in the Terai began their protests, since the leaders of these parties preferred to ignore their grievances. Similarly, the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), an umbrella organization of more than fifty nationalities has also announced protest programmes .... the leaders of the CPN (UML) and Congress are trying their best to justify their failure. ...... (The author is assistant professor at the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Leiden, the Netherlands)
'Three killed' in Nepal violence BBC News, UK At least 13 people have now been killed in clashes which have swept the south, where members of the Madheshi community say they are discriminated against. ... "The prime minister failed to completely address the problems of Madheshi people," said Upendra Yadav, chief of the Madheshi People's Rights Forum....... "We will continue our protests." ...... The group has been leading protests in the plains of Nepal - known as the Terai - since 19 January. .... Maoist leader Prachanda said that while he did not support violence that had flared in the south, the Madheshis had "genuine demands" which must be addressed. ...... He said that his party would launch a "peace agitation campaign" unless the government stuck to its timetable for holding elections in June.

Action Plan: 5 + 5

To: Girija, And The Pahadi Parties

Step 1: Krishna Sitaula resign. Declare all those who have died during the course of the Madhesi Movement martyrs.

Step 2: Declare there will be 205 constituencies of equal population.

Step 3: Declare federalism now. If all eight parties are for it, why wait three and a half years to get it? Adopt the Maoist map. Now. Declare a republic. Now.

Step 4: Declare all Madhesis will be issued citizenship papers before the constituent assembly elections. There will be no cap at 33 lakh. The estimated number is more like 60 lakh.

Step 5: Organize a fair census before the constituent assembly elections. It will be a first in Nepal's history. Allow people to register three primary identities. One, male female. Two, Madhesi, Janajati, Dalit, etc. Three, caste and subcaste based, etc.

To: The Madhesi Movement

(1) Stick to these five basic demands. Do not budge. No talks unless these demands are met.

(2) Stick to non-violence. This is not a Pahadi-Madhesi ethnic riot. This is a non-violent movement for Madhesi equality. The struggle is with the state, and it is agenda-based. Invite progressive Pahadis to join the movement. Invite the Janajati to join. Keep the country shut down unless these demands are met.

(3) If there is brutal police/military repression, the agenda of a separate country can legitimately appear and we can attain it nonviolently. But otherwise we do not want to become a separate country. The world is moving towards political and economic integration, towards globalization. Why would we go in the other direction?

(4) Turn Madhesi Janadhikar Forum into a political party now. Expand organizationally into all wards in all towns, into all villages in the Madhesh. Turn it into the largest party in the Madhesh. All Madhesis who are now in the Pahadi parties should abandon those parties and join this new party. Call it Janata Dal. Expand ad hoc now. We will host the first convention after the Madhesi Movement attains victory.

(5) Let's become our own media. We need to get the world community on our side. We need to put a ton of photos online, and we need to put a ton of video online. Expose all acts of police brutality. Use Flickr, use YouTube. Tag: madhesi. Do it in all Terai towns. Document all street action.

राजावादी, सामन्तवादी भनेको बाहुनवाद हो, िहन्दु कट्टरपन्थी भनेको बाहुनवाद हो।

पिवत्र मधेशी अान्दोलनलाई बाहुनहरूले राजावादी चालखेल, िहन्दु कट्टरपन्थी चालखेल भन्िदएका छन्। यो त उल्टे चोर कोतवालको डाँटे भने जस्तो हो। सामन्तवादको इितहास केही सय वर्षको हो। शाहहरू राजस्थानबाट भागेर अाएको कित नै भएको छ र? तर बाहुनवाद भनेको त दश हजार वर्ष पुरानो रोग हो। बाहुनवाद भनेको सामन्तवादको बाप हो।

मैले अिहलेसम्म िजन्दगी भर पर्खेर बसेको यसै मधेशी अान्दोलनलाई हो। िजसका मुझे था इन्तजार, वो घडी अा गयी, अा गयी, अा गयी।

Gyane In April: 3 Speeches, Girija In Magh: How Many?
Inbox 5
Inbox 4
Inbox 3
सत्ताधारी सात पहाडी पार्टीको घैंटोमा अझै घाम लागेको छैन
Girija Koirala: Address To The Nation: Madhesi Movement Partial Victory
The Movement Will Not Stop, It Will Go To Step 2
Dragonfly Without A Wing Loses Hearing Capacity
Inbox 2
सरिता गिरी: अशान्त मधेस, नया नेपाल
Hamro Nepal Press Release: Only A Political Outlet To The Madhesi Movement
Inbox
माघे क्रान्ित, राजावादी र िहन्दु कट्टरपन्थीबारे
The Maoist Map Is A Pretty Good Map
Kamal Thapa Should Be Arrested, But Not For The Madhesi Movement
Madhesi Movement Invites The Dalit, The Janajati, The Mahila
The Ball Is In Girija's Court: A Response To Pramod Kantha
Gagan Thapa On The Terai
Anand Jha: Raising Dust At SEBS
Need For A Mahila Movement
ANTA Press Release: Stop The State Terror
Stop The Shooting, Give The Speech
Feedback, NSU, USA Canada Chapter Press Release
डटे रहो
Sahana Pradhan, Sarita Giri, Chitra Lekha Yadav, Pratibha Rana
Ram Sah, Ratan Jha, Lalit Jha, Pramod Kantha: Madhesi Diaspora, Pahadi Diaspora
Why Are The Pahadis Quiet?
B. K. Rana: Carter, Palestine and Apartheid
Girija, Give A Speech Like Gyane Did In April
Stop Shooting, Give Concession Speech, Calm Down The Streets
Brikhesh Chandra Lal: Who Will Take Responsibility?
Madhesh Is Burning
शान्ित वार्ता क्या, िवजय घोषणा करो
8 Parties Need To Declare 205 Constituencies Of Equal Population
Madhesi Movement Is April Revolution Part 2
Look Who Is Talking
Madhesi Movement: Write To The Media
बराबर जनसंख्याबाला २०५ सीट
मधेश जल रही है
Girija Koirala Is A Crook
205 Constituencies Based On Equal Population, And Reserved Seats
New Jersey Madhesi Gathering: Photos
Anand Jha: Slugging It Out At SEBS
Ram Manohar Sah: Madheshi Murmurings
Mihir Thakur: Paper On Madhesh Samasya 2051
Madhesi Gathering, New Jersey
Prabasi Madhesi Are With The Madhesi Movement In Nepal
My Role In The April Revolution: The Butterfly Effect
Typhoid And Typhoid Victims
Madhesi Alert, Nepalgunj Pahadi Attack On Madhesi, Raw Email, Video Footage
िफर से कह दो एक बार इन्िकलाब
पहाडी मधेशी दंगा, मधेशी जनजाित गठबंधन, र िनर्णायक, अिहंसात्मक अन्ितम अान्दोलनको खाँचो
सद्भावना रोडम्याप
नेपालमा दमजम अान्दोलनको अावश्यकता
नेपालमा संसारको नम्बर एक लोकतन्त्रको स्थापना हुन सक्छ
राजतन्त्र, बाहुनवाद र भर्ष्टाचार समाप्त पारौं
राजतन्त्र, बाहुनवाद र भर्ष्टाचार समाप्त पारौं
Transparent Party Finances: A Must In Interim Constitution
Nepali Organizations In New York City
Tackling Bahunbaad
प्रस्तािवत संिवधान

In The News

PM's address incomplete says MJF; Indigenous community, too, dissatisfied NepalNews
SC issues show cause notice on Rayamajhi report
Eight parties will address demands of Madhesi people: Prachanda
Police Sub-inspector, protester killed in Biratnagar
Bandh hits normal life in eastern districts normal life has been hit once again in some eastern districts due to the three-day bandh (general strike) called by the Limbuwan Liberation Front. ...... Marketplaces, industries and educational institutions remain closed due to the strike. ..... Vehicles remained off the road from early morning in all major towns in the eastern region. Only ambulances could be seen plying on the roads. ..... The Front called bandh in Mechi, Koshi and Sagarmatha zones from Wednesday, demanding proportional electoral system and regional autonomy, among others. ..... Organisers padlocked all the government offices and education institutions operating in Ilam district for defying the bandh call.
NRN-A concerned over terai unrest
Eight-party meeting yet to start
Biratnagar still under curfew
RPP also wants amendments in interim constitution
Nine student organisations lend their support to Terai agitation

Federal state after elections: Nepal PM Peninsula On-line, Qatar
Death toll rises as Nepal PM promises federal state ReliefWeb (press release)
Nepal: Death Toll Climbs to 10 OhmyNews International, South Korea
Nepal: Eight Die as Protests Continue OhmyNews International
Nepal: Confusion And Finding Scapegoats Scoop.co.nz (press release), New Zealand
Koirala pledges federal Nepal Indian Express, India

We are ready for talks: MPRF Kantipur Chairman of the Madeshi Peoples' Rights Forum (MPRF) Upendra Yadav said the forum is ready to sit for dialogue with the government. .... he said protests in the Terai region would continue until the government prepares proper environment for them to sit for dialogue. ..... their demands of federal republic, proportional representation on the basis of population, the Terai as an autonomous region haven't yet been addressed ....... An emergency meeting of the forum today evening also condemned the recent attack on journalists during protests in the Terai region. "I appeal to all Madeshi brothers to maintain restraint, and stop targeting journalists," he said. "We will continue our peaceful protests." ....... the indigenous groups took the PM's call for dialogue positively, but said the remarks couldn't address the real issues of the indigenous, Dalit and marginalized people. .... "We had demanded guarantee of our representation in the interim constitution," said Pasang Sherpa, chairman of Nepal Indigenous Nationalities' Federation. ...... Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi Devi) charged that the PM's address came out without its consent. The party has called its national task-force committee to make public tomorrow, its position regarding the PM's address. ..... Nepal Sadbhawana Party, one of the protesting parties, has also taken the PM's call for dialogue quite positively. But, the party, in a statement issued today said the address didn't tackle issues of the Terai people "As the Terai communities were demanding amendment in the interim constitution by including federal state structure, special national census and structure of constituencies on the basis of population, the PM's address hasn't clearly addressed them ...... Madhesi National Liberation Front (MNLF), a Terai front of the CPN-Maoist, led by its central member Matrika Prasad Yadav, however strongly condemned the PM's address and said it decided to launch protest programs from today. ....... "The PM couldn't scientifically address the genuine demands of the Madhesi communities rather it stoked the movement ...... We want the declaration of federal structure of republic, proportional representation on the basis of population ..... CPN-UML said the PM's address has rightfully addressed the issues raised by the Madhesi communities.
PM addresses nation; calls for dialogue
Madhesi activists kill policeman in Biratnagar
PM's address draws mixed reactions in Terai
Seven parties, NSP at odds over electoral constituencies
Ethnic organizations shut down eastern Nepal
Terai agitation cripples industries

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