Om Gurung

'We ought to keep our integrity intact'

Dr Om Gurung, who heads the Napal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NFIN), is an assistant professor of Central Department of Anthropology, Tribhuwan University. Dr Gurung holds PhD degree from Cornell University and loves to call himself a social activist, rather than assistant professor of TU. NFIN has begun to stage a peaceful protest since Saturday to exert pressure on the government for granting autonomy on the bases of language, ethnicity and geography. He says that this protest should not affect the holding of constituent assembly polls.

Dr Gurung spoke with Puran P Bista of The Kathmandu Post, shedding light on how the state should be restructured and ethnic groups and subgroups be empowered in this country.
Excerpts:

Q: Why has your organization been fighting for ethnic rights when the interim parliament has recently been amended to federalize the country?

Dr Om Gurung: In the current political process, we have given priority to ethnic rights. The rationale is that in the last 238-year long history, the rights of the ethnic groups have been denied by the state. The state never tried to address the problems of the ethnic groups. For example, tribes such as Tharu, Magar, Gurung, Rai, etc are the indigenous people but their stakes in state administration, judiciary and armed forces, as per the population, have been minimum. They have been suppressed, oppressed and marginalized. The state has limited their growth because of the denial of the socio-economic and political rights. The state continues to exclude them from all kinds of state welfare schemes. The state benefits directly go into the pockets of those who are in power. And I think you know who are benefiting from such state-run programs.

The ethnic groups became poorer. Their languages have been pushed toward extinction. The indigenous groups have endured the state suppression for long. We can no longer tolerate such practices. We want our rights to be guaranteed in the constitution to be drafted after the constituent assembly polls. The first thing is, the state must acknowledge this fact and restructure it to ensure the rights of indigenous communities. To do so, we must have stakes in all the decision-making bodies. In other words, our representation must be granted on the basis of population.

And we have adopted a peaceful means to exert pressure on the government.

Q: Could you be more specific on your demands?

Dr Gurung: The reality is that the state has failed to accommodate us and recognize our languages, culture and tradition. This is very clear. So long as the current policy of exclusion or discrimination lasts, the indigenous communities will continue to suffer. We think that the three aspects should be taken into account before we restructure the state: Language, communities and geography. Distinct communities settled in particular geographical areas have distinct languages. The state should be restructured on these bases. The theoretical objective is to have provisions of self-determination. We have been claiming “along with the provision of self-determination”, which means that an ethnic community does not enjoy the right to determine the fate of the area it dominates. There are differences between the “along with self-determination and the provision of self-determination”.

Q: What are the differences between “the along with self-determination and self-determination”.

Dr Durung: If we say the provision of self-determination, it can go to the extent of having a separate state. “Along with self-determination” means the autonomy granted to a unit that does not enjoy the right to be a separate state.

Q: Does your version of self-determination mean that any ethnic group enjoys no right to hold plebiscite on whether or not a unit can be part of Nepal?

Dr Gurung: “Along with self-determination” cannot be equated with the demand made by the Sri Lankan Tamils who have been fighting for a separate Tamil state. “Along with self-determination” means a separate geographical unit within the country. We have to take into account the country's integrity and social structure before restructuring it. We have stayed together for so long. Now, we cannot demand for a separate state. Secondly, if we look at the geo-political situation, it is very fragile. Our country has been wedged between two Asian giant countries—China and India. We have to learn from them and live together. If we demand separate states, there are chances of swallowing these states by either of these two Asian giants. So, we have to be careful and should not let the separatist groups have upper hands in deciding the fate of this country. We do need self-determination but not to the extent of granting the ethnic groups to opt for a separate state. It is impossible to think so both in theory and practice.

Q: But one of the demands made by Madhesi People's Rights Forum and Terai Janatrantric Mukti Morka is of provision for self-determination. Don't you think so?

Dr Gurung: We, too, have demanded self-determination. But it is absolutely different from that of MPRF or TJMM. We differ on this count with MPRF. MPRF wants a separate terai state stretching from Jhapa to Kanchanpur, where over a dozen ethnic communities are living. They speak different languages, practice different cultures and traditions. We never let terai be in the hands of a few feudal lords who want to rule the weak and poor.

A few groups want self-determination for a separate state. We have to grant autonomy on the basis of language, community and geography. It empowers every community and provides an opportunity to develop this country.

Q: That means the country does not need to be federalized. There are other political mechanisms as well, to empower the indigenous communities.

Dr Gurung: No, we are very much for federalism. The structure of the country should be federal.

Q: What kind of federalism you think will be suitable to this country? Do you see India as the best example?

Dr Gurung: Again, we define it on the basis of how we draw provisions for self-determination. We are not looking for a union sort of federalism as the Soviet Union had, nor a confederation. Grant autonomy to the unit and empower the local people. We need a loose and indivisible federal structure, where our sovereignty is kept intact.

Q: Don't you think that we got to look into the economic aspect as well, while federalizing this country? Is it possible to grant your kind of self- determination to 90 ethnic communities?

Dr Gurung: It should be based on ethnicity. The separate regions are dominated by separate ethnic communities. For example, Solukhumbu is dominated by Sherpas. If you visit Manang, you find Manages. In terai, Maithelis, Bhojpuris, Awadis, Tharus etc speak different languages. So, if it is possible to grant autonomy on the basis of language, then let us do so. But take for granted that it is not applicable to all parts of the country. Terai cannot be made a single unit citing Hindi as a binding language. We can grant autonomy to western and far-western regions on the basis of geography. Whether you call it Karnali Pradesh or Western Pradesh, we have to make it a separate unit on the basis of region rather than language. The rest can be split into different units on the basis of ethnicity. For example, Gandagi Pradesh is dominated by Gurungs, it should be made a separate unit. Similarly, let us have Magarat Pradesh for Magars.

Q: Economically, the curving of such Pradesh may not be possible as some of them, you just mentioned, lack adequate resource for sustaining themselves as separate units of this country.

Dr Gurung: Yes, we have to see into economic aspect as well. But how are you going to protect language, preserve culture and practice tradition? Many units could sustain and revenues generated by some of the units should be allocated to the weaker units.

Q: You have discussed on three aspects—language, ethnicity and geography. Granting autonomy or self-determination on these aspects may lead to ethnic cleansing as there would be several minorities living within each unit, and they may face the same sort of exclusion.

Dr Gurung: All forms of exploitation should not be based on ethnicity. Let us say that there are several subgroups within the group. The majority represents the unit but the minorities should also find space in decision-making bodies.

Q: How is it possible?

Dr Gurung: We have to make special arrangements for the subgroups to ensure that they find voice in all decision-making bodies.

Q: You mean introducing a reservation system as India has done so?

Dr Gurung: Yes, we can go for that. And let us not take only the backward and poor communities. Within the unit, there could be other communities as well, provided they fall in the category of minority groups. So, there is no question of ethnic cleansing. We must accommodate all the communities into the unit to address common problems. We cannot deny the basic rights and displace them simply because they happen to be subgroups living in a particular region.

Q: Such ethnic cleansing may not take place in Limbuwan, Khumbuwan or Gandak region. Can you rule out such possibility in other parts of the country?

Dr Gurung: I have a special reservation. I call it an ethnic violence. We have to dissociate from such ethnic division and those who promote violence. What is happening in terai is dangerous. It is gradually taking a shape of ethnic violence whatsoever the leaders of terai claim it.

Q: Why do you support MPRF then?

Dr Gurung: We have supported on certain issues only. The state exploited the Madhesi community. It suppressed the rights of the Madhesis for long. We support the organization that is genuinely fighting for the political rights. We have been unable to reach an understanding with MPRF because of this reason. First, MPRF talks of federal structure but on the basis of geography only. They want to have three federal units—terai, hills and mountains. How can the entire terai be a single unit only? At the most, they can compromise on a vertical division of the country into 14 zones and 54 districts only. We do not agree with such political agenda. Don't take that Madhesis alone are in terai. Second, our interpretation of Madhes is different from that of Madhesis. We want to know where Madhes is. We indigenous communities think that Madhesis are there in this country but there is no land called Madhes in Nepal. These Madhesis have come from Madhyadesh. It is a place between India's Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. So, we call them Madhesis. The rulers of this country brought them into Nepal. Now they are demanding a separate Madhes.

The third thing is that the Madhesis want the entire terai to be a separate state. There are several ethnic communities living in terai. MPRF must acknowledge this fact and seek our cooperation. Otherwise, we are not going to back the movement, no matter what they claim and demand.

MPRF talks of proportional representation of total terai. We have told them that proportional representation should be based on the population of ethnic communities. The intention of MPRF is to deny the rights of Tharus, Rajbansi, Shanthal and other minority groups living in terai. It will be dominated by Yadavs, Jhas, Shahs, Mishras, etc who have been wielding power.

Gaur: Prachanda's Reichstag Fire?

Reichstag fire - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Reichstag Fire allowed Hitler to accelerate the banning of the Communist Party and was used to confirm Nazi claims of a pending Communist revolution.
The Rise of Hitler - Feb. 27, 1933 The Reichstag Burns Adolf Hitler, the new Chancellor of Germany, had no intention of abiding by the rules of democracy. He intended only to use those rules to legally establish himself as dictator as quickly as possible then begin the Nazi revolution. .... Hitler's storm troopers were about to reach new heights of power of their own and begin a reign of terror that would last as long as the Reich. ..... President Hindenburg had fallen under Hitler's spell and was signing just about anything put in front of him. ..... He also ordered the police not to interfere with the SA and SS under any circumstances. This meant that anybody being harassed, beaten, or even murdered by Nazis, had nobody to turn to for help. ....... Göring set up an auxiliary police force of 50,000 men, composed mostly of members of the SA and SS. The vulgar, brawling, murderous Nazi storm troopers now had the power of police. ....... Göring and Goebbels, with Hitler's approval, then hatched a plan to cause panic by burning the Reichstag building and blaming the Communists. The Reichstag was the building in Berlin where the elected members of the republic met to conduct the daily business of government. ...... the elderly Hindenburg ..... "You are now witnessing the beginning of a great epoch in German history...This fire is the beginning," Hitler told a news reporter at the scene. ...... Chancellor Hitler demanded an emergency decree to overcome the crisis. He met little resistance from his largely non-Nazi cabinet. That evening, Hitler and Papen went to Hindenburg and the befuddled old man signed the decree "for the Protection of the people and the State." ....... truckloads of SA and SS roared through the streets ...... The Nazis now turned their attention to election day, March 5. ...... "The sacrifice we ask is easier to bear if you realize that the elections will certainly be the last for the next ten years, probably for the next hundred years," Göring told them. ...... With no money problems and the power of the State behind them, the Nazis campaigned furiously to get Hitler the majority he wanted. ..... On March 5, the last free elections were held. But the people denied Hitler his majority, giving the Nazis only 44 per cent of the total vote ...... the lack of the necessary two thirds majority in the Reichstag was an obstacle. For Hitler and his ruthless inner circle, it was obstacle that was soon to be overcome.
How Hitler Became a Dictator Hitler and his fellow members of the National Socialist (Nazi) Party, who were determined to bring down the republic and establish dictatorial rule in Germany, did everything they could to create chaos in the streets, including initiating political violence and murder. ...... The July 31, 1932, election produced a major victory for Hitler’s National Socialist Party. The party won 230 seats in the Reichstag, making it Germany’s largest political party, but it still fell short of a majority in the 608-member body. ...... intolerant, noisy and undisciplined. .... during extreme national emergencies, people are most scared and thus much more willing to surrender their liberties in return for “security.” And that’s exactly what happened during the Reichstag terrorist crisis. ....... the average non-Jewish German was pretty much unaffected by the new laws and decrees ....... The Nazi terror in the early years affected the lives of relatively few Germans and a newly arrived observer was somewhat surprised to see that the people of this country did not seem to feel that they were being cowed.
Sounds and Images of Adolf Hitler
BBC - History - Audio: Hitler and the Jews

Look at how Prachanda has reacted. The 28 dead bodies are to be taken to Kathmandu. And the Maoists have announced they will launch the "third" people's movement. Prachanda has asked that the MPRF be banned.

The parallels are too many. I am not suggesting Prachanda is Hitler, but what I am saying is his dictatorial tendencies have not subsided. A man who used to take pride in the words "I hate revisionism, I seriously hate revisionism" might not have intentions to transfrom after all. Let's face it, this guy wanted to dedicate his life to the establishment of a one party communist dictatorship. But we started doing business with him because we thought he has had a change of heart, and he has accepted the basics of multi-party democracy. 30,000 Maoist soldiers have enteted UN cantonments with 3,000 guns. And that sure is progress.

But the alarming signs are too many. As a Madhesi I have expressed my moral support to the MPRF's civil rights movement for Madhesi equality. But I have also consistently stated that this movement that has now grown to become a Madhesi Janajati Dalit Movement is the last stand by the masses against the Maoist menace. The democrats need to stop seeing the Maoists as their ally and start seeing the Madhesi Janajati Dalit Movement as their true ally.

Hitler saw the German Communist Party as his primary roadblock to power. Prachanda sees the MPRF, and the Madhesi Janajati Dalit Movement as the roadblock to his party becoming the largest in the constituent assembly. Hitler wanted to ban the communist party. Prachanda wants the MPRF banned. Those are dictatorial tendencies.

Hitler used the fire as a pretext to make a final push for total power. Prachanda is using Gaur as a pretext to launch the "third" movement. These are warning signs.

You hear regular news of Maoists' mass meetings. You don't hear news of Congress or UML mass meetings.

The Congress and UML workers have not exactly gone back to their homes. Unless cadres of all parties can freely work and campaign in all villages, all towns, is it possible to have free and fair elections to a constituent assembly?

Most of the Maoist guns might have been put away. But is it not more about the ideology, the culture inside the party? Small groups of organized Maoists without weapons who are willing to beat people up are as capable to maintaining the climate of fear in the country as are armed ones. And that is precisely what has been happening. The Maoist party has not transformed, people, wake up. You have little time.

Hitler had limitless money on his way to power. Noone knows how much money the Maoists have. They obviously act like they have more money than all other parties put together. They are the only ones conducting mass meeting after mass meeting after mass meeting.

At this point holding elections to the constituent assembly is akin to rubberstamping the dictatorial ways of the Maoists. They don't even have to gain a majority. All they have to do is become the largest party, and then how do you stop them? You can't stop them now. They work side by side with the police now. Wait until they command the Home Ministry all on their own.

I have been a strong proponent of peace talks with the Maoists. And I do think it is a huge achievement that the civil war has ended.

But now I am a strong proponent of an exhibition of strength by the democrats, political strength. We have to stop acting like we owe the Maoists an electoral victory, that if we don't allow them to emerge the largest party by hook or crook, they will go back to the jungle, and then what? We have to make it absolutely clear the only way we will accept them is as a political party. And we have to take a strong stand. We have to draw a line in the sand.

The abductions, extortions and beatings continue. Ceased property has not been returned. How have the Maoists changed? Prachanda is not accepting Girija's leadership, he is using the old man. Krishna Sitaula is not a peacemaker, he is an appeaser who lets the Maoists act like they were a parallel police force.

The Madhesi Janajati Dalit Movement is a friend of the democrats, it is not the Maoists. The sooner they realize that, the better. The Madhesi Janajati Dalit Movement is the final stand by the masses against the Maoist menace.

Vague calls for dialogue and peace are not helping. We have to get specific. The democrats have to agree to the three basic demands of the Madhesi Janajati Dalit Movement, and then form a federal republic electoral alliance against the Maoists for the constituent assembly elections.

1. Home Minister resign.
2. Form probe commission.
3. Hold proportional elections to the constituent assembly.

Gaur: The Madhesi Gongabu
PM, Defense, Finance: Congress, DPM, Home: UML, DPM: Maoist
Magar Event
Mainstreaming Maoist Tendencies In The Madhesh
Lawoti: Ethnic Or Administrative Federalism
Mainstreaming The Maoists: Various Scenarios
Madhesi, Janajati, Business Community
Three Parties: Congress, Communist, Sadbhavana
ANONYM: Association Of Nepali Organizations In New York Metro
Joint Movement
What Girija Could Have Done
Empowering Nepalis In New York City
Dipendra Jha: The Real Picture Of The Madhesi Movement
No Guns, Explosives, Weapons Outside Cantonments
MPRF: A Few Scenarios
It Is Tough For The Madhesi
Upendra Yadav: Madhesi Martin Luther King
New MJF Strategy: Hit The State, Not The People
Krishna Sitaula: Appeaser, Not Peacemaker
A Federal Republic Electoral Alliance Against The Maoists Needed
Sadist Koirala, Kans Sitaula, Pol Pot Prachanda
Further Compromise: Mixed Election With Reservations
5 Point Demand: Compromise Formula So Elections Can Be Held In June
MJF And NEFIN Must Become Political Parties
The Economist: Nepal's Ethnic Politics: The New Battlefront

Alliance for Democracy and Human Rights in Nepal,USA

Press Release
22nd March, 2007

New York

Alliance for Democracy & Human Rights in Nepal (ADHRN), USA is deeply saddened by the recent loss of 28 lives in a violent clash between Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF) and the Maoist-aligned Madhesi Rashtriya Mukti Morcha in Gaur, Rautahat. As Nepal is making slow and difficult strides towards achieving greater democracy and stability, such incidents can only have obvious detrimental effects on the process.

ADHRN, in the strongest possible terms, reiterates the sheer unconstructiveness of violence in settling any disputes among any groups. Nepal has experienced enough share of violence in the past years, and this cycle of violence must end if we are to move forward.

As the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) is on the verge of entering the government, they must renounce, in totality, the culture of violence, intimidation and extortions. Similarly, any other groups aspiring to fulfill their genuine concerns must also proceed with utmost reliance on peaceful protests.

ADHRN also urges the current government, and the members of the civil society, to deviate from the tradition of playing blame games, take responsibility, and make sincere efforts towards addressing the genuine concerns of every Nepali citizen in creating a just a equitable society. Genuine peace can only be achieved by addressing the real concerns of the people with utmost sincerity.

At this hour of great uncertainty, we urge all sides to resort to maximum restraint, so as to ensure that the cycle of violence is ended, and that the road to further chaos is timely and decisively terminated.

ADHRN also take this opportunity to express our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims.

Sanjaya Parajuli

President

ADHRN

www.alliancenepal.org

Gaur: The Madhesi Gongabu

PM, Defense, Finance: Congress, DPM, Home: UML, DPM: Maoist
Magar Event
Mainstreaming Maoist Tendencies In The Madhesh
Lawoti: Ethnic Or Administrative Federalism
Mainstreaming The Maoists: Various Scenarios
Madhesi, Janajati, Business Community
Three Parties: Congress, Communist, Sadbhavana
ANONYM: Association Of Nepali Organizations In New York Metro

Prachanda has been relentlessly hostile to the MPRF. He has never talked of them as homegrown. He keeps repeating that the royalists in Nepal and the Hindu supremacists from India steer the MPRF ship.

MPRF mass meetings were disrupted by the Maoists in Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj.

Nepalgunj II: This Is A Repeat

In Gaur the MPRF had planned a mass meeting. The Maoists organized a mass meeting at the exact same venue later with the express goal to disrupt the MPRF mass meeting. To the MPRF people it was like, so they did this to us in Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj. And now they want to do this to us in Gaur. We are not that strong in Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj, but we are strong in the eastern Terai. This is our stronghold. We can't let this happen.

From the news reports I am guessing that was the mindset.

It is so obvious the police were not in any position to intervene. They did not even try. They just kept away. Let them kill each other, they thought. The Home Ministry could have seen the clash coming. They could have vollied a few rounds of tear gas once the violence started. They did not even look into that option. If the Madhesis are going to kill each other, the Pahadi police is going to stay away.

The MPRF is a non violent outfit. That is where they differ from the two JTMM factions, and the Madhesi Tigers. But all of them have had similar political concerns. After the 12 point agreement to the April Revolution, the Maoists kept offering the seven parties their gun. Similarly the JTMM factions seem to offer the gun to the MPRF, not in any formal way, but side by side.

Some reports claim the JTMM-Jwala has claimed responsibility for the gunshots. Did Jwala see what the Home Ministry did not, that after Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj, Gaur was going to be a flashpoint, and so they anticipated?

Another report has the UN claiming most of the dead were from head injuries from bamboo sticks.

There are many conflicting reports. So it is important that the incident be investigated. The facts need to come out.

This is a tragedy. This should never have happened. This must not be allowed to repeat.

Prachanda has continued with his tirades against the MPRF. The Gaur incident has just given him added fuel to continue with his prior demonizations of the MPRF. This is irresponsible.

There is a physical security aspect to this incident. And there is a political aspect to it.

The physical security aspect is that this should never have happened. This must not be allowed to repeat.

The political aspect is that the Maoists should not have organized their counter mass meeting with the express goal of disrupting the MPRF mass meeting. That was wrong in Gaur, just like that was wrong for them to have disrupted the MPRF mass meetings in Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj.

The bigger wrong is the disrespect the Bahuns in power have shown to the Madhesi Movement. Why have they not addressed the three demands of the now Madhesi Janajati Dalit Movement? (Joint Movement)

1. Home Minister resign.
2. Form probe commission.
3. Hold proportional elections to the constituent assembly.
   

A new government is about to be formed. Likely the UML will get Home. The sky will not fall if Sitaula resigns, except that he and his party mean disrespect.

Holding proportional elections might be the only technical option left by now if the country is still to have elections in June. There is too little time left. So why not go for it? Going for it will also be advantageous to the eight parties. The MPRF and NEFIN will less likely to become political parties and compete.

Girija's utter inflexibility has brought about a political paralysis in the country from which violent incidents like Gaur happen.

And if the eight parties will not meet these three demands, the MPRF, NEFIN, and the Dalit Mahasangh alliance has two options. (MPRF: A Few Scenarios, MJF And NEFIN Must Become Political Parties)

1. Organize a week long Nepal Band to disrupt the constituent assembly elections.
   
2. Become a political party and contest the constituent assembly elections.
   

Banning the MPRF is not an option. The Madhesi Movement has a political solution, a political outlet. If we can think of a political solution to the violent, decade long Maoist insurgency, we should be able to think of a political solution to the nonviolent Madhesi Movement.

Dr. Brian Cobb: Speech At Gongabu
Gongabu Massacre
Militarists, Maoists, Monotones, Dorambaites, Naxalites

In The News

Martin urges parties to act to end violence NepalNews
Prachanda asks govt to outlaw MJF; PLA men come out of camp He termed the Forum as a criminal gang. ..... also demanded immediate arrest of MJF leaders. .... Protesting the incident, the Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League organised rallies in Jhapa
Prachanda points at Indian Hindu extremists' hand in Gaur bloodshed conspiracy hatched by royalist reactionaries; Indian Hindu extremists and expansionists; and anti-peace regressive elements
MJF terms Prachanda's demand to ban it as 'undemocratic remark' Sita Nandan Raya ..... Raya also accused Maoists of using weapons at Gaur attack first. He said that after the Maoists used weapons, the people retaliated. ...... "We are a peaceful party. We do not have weapons," Raya said. He also rejected that MJF has any link with Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha – Jwala Singh.
Gaur bloodshed shocks UN rights commissioner, appeals for probe "Our teams confirmed, first hand, the killing of 25 individuals, most of whom died of severe head wounds apparently caused by beatings from bamboo sticks," she states. .... Arbour has said that only a small number of law enforcement personnel were deployed to the scene of the incidents.
NHRC, OHCHR-Nepal launch probe into Gaur incident OHCHR-Nepal chief Lena Sundh arrived in Gaur by a helicopter in the afternoon and inspected the incident site.
Leaders, HR activists reach Gaur Home minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula, UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, Maoist spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara ..... Daman Nath Dhungana, Padma Ratna Tuladhar, Subodh Pyakurel
Gaur toll climbs to 28, curfew continues At least 28 persons including five women .... Twelve bodies were found at the major clash site at the Rice Mills ground in Gaur while fifteen more bodies were discovered in Hajmaniya and Mudhbaliya VDCs - four kilometers away from Gaur city in Rautahat district. Another dead body was found at Sisruwa area of Gaur municipality. ...... In the afternoon, the MJF and Morcha had taken out separate rallies in Gaur city. After their rally entered the ground, the MJF activists vandalised the podium erected by Morcha ....... Later when Morcha activists entered the ground, they also vandalised the MJF's podium. Both podiums were some 100 meters apart. ..... after the Morcha activists started vandalising the MJF podium, fierce clash occurred and there was indiscriminate firing. Over 40 persons have been injured in the incident. Most of the dead and injured belong to Morcha ....... Jwala Singh faction of Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) has owned up responsibility for the shootout. ...... The MJF had planned to hold the meeting in the area a week ago while the Maoists later decided to hold their meeting in the same area. ...... MJF's vice president Kishore Kumar Bishwas has been quoted as saying that the incident occurred after the Maoist activists tried to disrupt their pre-planned programme.

Ban "criminal outfit" MPRF: Prachanda Kantipur Online, Nepal MPRF had been publicizing its mass meet at the said venue for the last two weeks while Maoists had also been campaigning to organize their mass meet at the same ground for the last couple of days. Both sides prepared their stages at a distance of about 100 meters from each other on the ground. The clash took a nasty turn after MPRF cadres wrecked a stage constructed by the Maoists for the program while the latter's rally was arriving at the venue. Shortly after the incident, both sides reportedly exchanged fire. ..... 12 of the deceased have already been identified as Maoist cadres. Maoists need lessons in democratic procedure: Nina Gill the team had shown particular interest regarding the issue of bringing down the escalating violence in the Terai. ... Koirala said that if a third country is interested to resettle Bhutanese refugees and the latter's show positive interest in that, there is no objection from Nepal
Rautahat still gripped by terror; Maoists say MPRF must be outlawed
Time For Some Soul-Searching the pro-Maoist students were defending Sunday’s beating of a hotelier by Maoist cadres ..... When the business community announced an indefinite strike (which was withdrawn on the third day) in protest of the “kidnapping and torture” of the above-mentioned hotelier by the Maoists “for refusing to cough up 10 million rupees in donation”, the pro-Maoist trade union took out protest rallies in the capital- in protest of the business community’s protests! The Maoist-affiliated hotel and restaurant workers’ union ordered workers to leave hotels in advance “as the hotel industry, too, was contemplating halting services for some time in support of the business community’s strike.” ...... if you question these unique reasons, then you are either “conspiring” against the Constituent Assembly elections by “blowing out of proportion something very trivial and unimportant,” or you are “against a democratic republic.” Or even you are a “royalist.”
Substantial numbers of minors registered at Maoist cantonments: Martin
Sitaula, Nepal, Mahara in Gaur for on-field inspection, death toll hits 28
Maoist combatants leave camps in protest of Gaur killings division commander Parwana demanded an immediate investigation of the Rautahat incident ....... The combatants, still in their uniforms, rallied around Arunkhola Bazaar on the Mahendra Highway, chanting slogans like "Hang the culprits", "Down with foreign interference", "Announce the republic" and "Hang the king". ...... Maoist combatants put a complete halt to vehicular movement on the Mahendra Highway, claiming that their fellow cadres had died in Rautahat due to the government's failure to provide adequate security.
Nothing will stop peace process: PM
Rice expresses concern over Nepal peace process, calls situation 'tenuous'
CPN-M, MPRF must end violence immediately: Sundh
UNMIN to get $88.8m
माओवादी-फोरम झडप, २७ को मृत्यु
मृत्यु भएका अधिकांश र्सवसाधारण ः मोर्चा मधेसी राष्ट्रिय मुक्ति मोर्चाका महासचिव प्रभु साहले रौतहट घटनामा मृत्यु भएकामा अधिकांश र्सवसाधारण रहेको दाबी गरेका छन् । .... योङ कम्युनिस्ट लिग -वाईसीएल) का ५ र मोर्चाका ७ कार्यकर्ता छन् .... आफ्नो मञ्च भत्काएपछि मोर्चाका कार्यकर्ता फोरमको मञ्चतिर जान खोज्दा एक्कासि गोली लागेर पा“च जनाको घटनास्थलमै मृत्यु भएको साहले बताए । ..... माओवादी नेता डा. बाबुराम भट्टर्राईले बताए । 'यो अर्को दोरम्बा हो । शान्ति भा“डेर माओवादी पुनः जंगल जाऊन् भन्ने प्रतिगामीहरूको षड्यन्त्र हो ।' ..... घटनाको राजनीतिक भण्डाफोर गरेर जाने डा. भट्टर्राईले बताए । एकै स्थानमा फोरमस“ग कार्यक्रम गर्नु मोर्चाको प्राविधिक कमजोरी भएको उनले बताए । 'प्राविधिक रूपमा साथीहरूको कमजोरी हो ।
बस्नेतले जग्गा मिचेको ठहर लोकगायक कुमार बस्नेतले झन्डै एक रोपनी र्सार्वजनिक जग्गा मिचेको पुष्टि भएको छ । नापी शाखाको अनुसार बस्नेतले बालुवाटार चोकको ११ आना १ दाम सरकारी जग्गा आफ्नो नाममा गराएको ठहर गरेको हो । उक्त जग्गा प्रतिआना २० लाखभन्दा बढी मूल्य पर्छ । .... ०२६ सालमा तत्कालीन मन्त्रिपरिषद्ले बस्नेतलाई बालुवाटारस्थित राष्ट्र बैंकको दक्षिणतर्फकिटानीसाथ २ रोपनी ११ आना २ पैसा जग्गा नन्दीकिशोरी गुठीको मोहीका रूपमा दिएको थियो । .... बस्नेतले ०३६ सालमा नक्सा बनाउ“दा सट्टाभर्ना पाएकामा बढाएर दूषित दर्ता गराएका हुन् ।
आक्रमण गर्ने योजनै रहेछ’ उक्त भीडमा ज्वाला सिंहका कार्यकर्तासमेत बन्दुक लिएर गोली हानेका रहेछन .... गोली नचलेको भए यतिका संख्यामा मृत्यु हु“दैनथ्यो
थारू नेता पुनः माओवादी प्रवेश ' प्रचण्डले तर्राईबाट माओवादीले बम र बारुद भित्र्याएको र यही“ छापामारहरूले तालिम लिएको बताउ“दै भने- 'तर्राई र थारूहरूको मागलाई पार्टर्ीी कसरी बिर्सन्छ -' माओवादीले थारू र मधेसलाई छुट्टाछुट्टै रूपमा हेरेको रोशनको आरोप थियो । 'थारू प्रदेशलाई मधेसमा गाभिनुहु“दैन' भनेर उनले व्रि्रोह गरेका थिए ।
जातीय भेदभाव उन्मूलन

25 Maoists Killed By MPRF In Rautahat INSN 10 workers were killed on the spot and 15 died at the Birgunj Hospital. In addition, more than 55 injured are at the Birganj hospital ..... Upendra Yadav, chief of MPRF, and Maoist parliament member Prabhu Shah were chief guests of their separate mass meetings. .... blamed the police administration for not addressing the attacks by MPRF. According to him, some gunners came from the Indian side .... The Eight Party meeting Wednesday afternoon in Kathmandu has shown deep concern about this incident. The meeting has decided to investigate this incident.

No More Corpse Politics, Maoists Stay Calm United We Blog It has become an undeniable fact that Maoists are using all sorts of measures to intimidate all branches of society. ...... Maoists have demanded that the MPRF be outlawed. It’s true that Maoists are the ones who can help government control the menace called MPRF but that should happen without declaring the outfit outlawed.

Madhesi Brothers, Stop Killing Each Other

-By Bijay Raut

(The following poem was inspired by the recent killings in Gaur. The author prays for the souls of those who lost their precious lives in this incident as well as in the past ones.)

Madhesi brothers, how are you?
Few months ago I heard you were rioted by Pahadis in Nepalgunj,
A month later bullets went through your hearts from government police all over,
Now you are killing each other in the name of Maoists and MJF clash,
All I have to say you for now,
Madhesi brothers, stop killing each other.
Was three dozens not enough from police bullets?
That you are adding a couple dozens through your own murder,
MJF kill Maoists, and Maoists kill MJF activists,
At the end of the day, you are the Madhesis who die in blunder,
Can you hear me from here brothers?
Madhesi brothers, stop killing each other.

In the old days of Ranas and Royals,
You were the ones who were suppressed despite being loyal,
Now that Nepal aspire to breathe some fresh air,
Yet your lives are still far from being dear,
You died in the old days,
You die now,
You were killed by others in old days,
Now you kill each other,
Madhesi brothers, stop killing each other.

I hear some mourning outside my door,
Is that you Madhesi brothers?
Your widows wailing in tears for the dear husbands,
Your mothers searching for the teenage sons,
Where would your sisters put the thread of Rakhi now?
Where would your old age fathers search for social security now?
You are dead and gone,
But can you take away the crying heart and tearful mourn?
May you lay in peace while we cry in tears,
Madhesi brothers, stop killing each other.

Your rights and dignity have been violated through centuries,
Now is the time to rise up and wake up for your human values,
But what can I say about your petty ignorance?
How can I preach the virtue of unity?
How can I talk about peace and humanity?
When you speak the language of your Maoist comrades,
With guns in your hands and grenades in your pockets,
Madhesi brothers, stop killing each other.

Do I have to remind that you belong to the land of glory?
The land of peaceful Buddha and justful Janak,
Yet you speak the language of guns and bullets,
Your inner fighting will only help your old oppressors,
If you knew this, you wouldn't be killing each other,
Dear Madhesi brothers, please stop killing each other.

(Based in California, USA, Bijay Raut is a Poet and Philosopher. He is also the President of the California Chapter of the Association of Nepali Teraian in America (ANTA). He can be reached at bijayraut@hotmail.com)

PM, Defense, Finance: Congress, DPM, Home: UML, DPM: Maoist

Home Minister: Bamdev Gautam (April 21, 2006)

It is very important to get Krishna Sitaula out of the Home Ministry. And it is not at all fair for Koirala to claim the PM and DPM positions as well as the three key ministries of Defense, Home and Finance for the Congress. The Congress does not have that many MPs in the interim parliament.

PM, fine, let that be Koirala.

But the UML needs to continue to get the DPM slot. It is wrong for Koirala to suggest he will give a DPM slot to the UML if Oli gets to continue as DPM. It is not for Koirala to decide who the UML makes its DPM candidate. Koirala seems to be wary a strong personality like Bamdev Gautam might show up.

Just like there was no provision whatsoever in the 1990 constitution for the king to become Chairperson of the Council of Ministers, the idea of a Senior Deputy Prime Minister is ridiculous. For one, the title is so long it sounds like the title of some monarch. I thought we were trying to get rid of the monarchy.

Amik Sherchan out, Krishna Mahara in. Let the guy be the second DPM.

There is great danger in creating a Senior Deputy Prime Minister position. Should a Maoist hold that seat, and should something happen to Koirala - say one morning he does not wake up at all - then you are looking at a Maoist Prime Minister for the country, however temporary that might be. Maoist misbehavior on the ground is alarming. That can not be allowed to happen.

If Koirala likes Krishna Sitaula so much, let him have him as Defense Minister, although I feel Krishna Sitaula is singularly disqualified for that particular ministry. The guy lacks basic spine. His ways are too appeasing.

I like the idea of the UML wanting to bring in a new team on its part into the government.

Bamdev Gautam has spine. He will be a much better Home Minister than Krishna Sitaula has been. He will be much less likely to get bullied around by the Maoists.

But the weirdest part is how the eight parties are acting like the Madhesi-Janajati-Dalit Movement is over, that they have managed to brush it aside. The insensitivity on their part is so overwhelming.

Girija's style is to be as little accomodative as possible. He wants to take no prisoners. He is not a consensus seeker like Bill Clinton. He just does not have the smarts, the energy. When organized groups make demands, they speak for the people. Someone of democratic charater would want to respond. But Girija does not. He wants to snuff it out, he wants to disrespect it. He totally has disrespected a major mass movement, and so the seeds of discontent have been sown all over the Terai.

I hope the MJF and NEFIN look into all options and go for one final push, or go for the electoral option with gusto. In a democracy, you go to the people. I guess what these groups are saying is we are not big like the political parties, but our grievances are genuine. They both have wanted to be a civil rights movement rather than political parties. Circumstances might lead them to change that mindset. It will be sweet to watch the Congress getting decimated at the pollig booths across the Madhesh.

A skillful politician with a democratic bent would have wanted to use the opportunity for a new government as a way to meet the Madhesi Movement's key demand of the Home Minister's removal, but Girija is not giving ground. With that attitude, his party will hold ground for a while, and then the ground will shift beneath its feet. The downslide will be swift. In a democracy people catch up with you fast.


Magar Event
Mainstreaming Maoist Tendencies In The Madhesh
Lawoti: Ethnic Or Administrative Federalism
Mainstreaming The Maoists: Various Scenarios
Madhesi, Janajati, Business Community
Three Parties: Congress, Communist, Sadbhavana
ANONYM: Association Of Nepali Organizations In New York Metro
Joint Movement
What Girija Could Have Done
Empowering Nepalis In New York City
Dipendra Jha: The Real Picture Of The Madhesi Movement
No Guns, Explosives, Weapons Outside Cantonments
MPRF: A Few Scenarios
It Is Tough For The Madhesi
Upendra Yadav: Madhesi Martin Luther King
New MJF Strategy: Hit The State, Not The People
Krishna Sitaula: Appeaser, Not Peacemaker
A Federal Republic Electoral Alliance Against The Maoists Needed
Sadist Koirala, Kans Sitaula, Pol Pot Prachanda
Further Compromise: Mixed Election With Reservations
5 Point Demand: Compromise Formula So Elections Can Be Held In June
MJF And NEFIN Must Become Political Parties
The Economist: Nepal's Ethnic Politics: The New Battlefront
Brikhesh Chandra Lal: Suspicion Emanating From The Message
Should The MJF Indefinite Strike Continue? Yes
Girija Bahun Baje Dumbass
Madhesi Janajati Kranti: Victory Scenarios
Ensuring Ethnic And Gender Representation In The Constituent Assembly
Madhesi Janajati Kranti: Confusion, Clarity
Madhesi Janajati Kranti: A Few Scenarios

होला त जेठमा चुनाव - वर्तमान परिस्थितिमा जेठमा चुनाव हुनसक्ने प्राविधिक अवस् था बिथोलि“दै गए पनि नेताहरू इमानदारीपर्ूवक यो कुरा स्वीकार्न तयार देखि“दैनन् सकेसम्म अन्य साझेदार दलहरूलाई महत्त्वपर्ूण्ा मन्त्रालय नदिने प्रधानमन्त्रीको अडान ...... प्रचण्ड र नेपालस“गको भेटमा प्रधानमन्त्रीले वरष्िठ उपप्रधानमन्त्री, गृह, रक्ष्ँा र अर्थ मन्त्रालय काङ्ग्रेसकै भागमा पर्नुपर्ने दाबी गरेको ..... "मेरो अवस्था तपाईंहरूलाई थाहा छ“दैछ, वरष्िठ उपप्रधानमन्त्री, गृह र रक्षा । यी मन्त्रालय तपाईंहरू दाबी गर्दै नगर्नुस्" ....... एमालेले उपप्रधानमन्त्रीसहित गृहको समेत दाबी गर्‍यो ...... घुमाउरो पारामा कोइरालाले वामदेव गौतमलाई उपप्रधान र गृहमन्त्री बनाउन आफू कुनै हालतमा तयार नभएको जनाएका थिए ..... संविधानसभाको मिति तत्काल घोषणा हुनुपर्ने, अन्तरमि सरकारको आचारसंहिता तत्काल बनाउनुपर्ने, मन्त्रालय बा“डफा“टमा ठूला पार्टर्ीीबीच तत्काल सहमति हुनुपर्ने अनि मात्र प्रधानमन्त्रीको चयन मात्र नभई, पर्ूण्ा मन्त्रिमण्डल नै गठन गरनिुपर्ने अडान राख्ने निर्ण्र्ााएमालेले गर्‍यो । ....... कोइरालाको स्वास् थ्यस्थितिमा अपेक्षाकृत सुधार आएको छ ..... मधेशको समस्या आइलाग्नेबित्तिकै मन्त्री पदबाट राजीनामा दिएर आन्दोलनको आगो सल्काउन सद्भावना पार्टर्ीी खेलेको भूमिकाले निश्चय पनि संविधानसभाको निर्वाचनलाई मद्दत गरेन । ...... माओवादीहरूको आचरणमा सुधार खोज्ने तर आफै“ लुटेराहरूको आचरणबाट मुक्त हुन नसक्ने नेपाली काङ्ग्रेसका नेताहरूको व्यवहार ...... सुजाता कोइरालाको नाम भ्रष्ट आर्थिक गतिविधिहरूस“ग जोडिनु ...... नेपालका राजनीतिक दलका नेताहरूमा ठूलो परविर्तन थेग्नसक्ने क्षमता नै छैन ....... "००७ सालदेखि ०१५ सालसम्म संविधानसभाकै नाममा राजाले खेलेर बिताए । अब अहिले सात दलका नेताहरू त्यही कुरालाई दोहोर्‍याएर आफ्नो सत्ता लम्ब्याउने फिराकमा छन् । ...... कोइरालाले विराटनगरमा टिप्पणी गर्नु भयो, "सबै हतियार कसैले पनि बुझाउ“दैन । हामीले पनि बुझाएनौ“ । सबैभन्दा महत्त्वपर्ूण्ा कुरा विश्वास हो ।" ..... कसैले पनि दलीय स् वार्थभन्दा बाहिर निस्किएर दलित, जनजाति र अढाइ सय वर्षम्म राज्यपद्धतिमा समावेश नगरएिका नागरकिहरूको चिन्ता गरेका छैनन् । प्रभावका हिसाबले पनि, राजनीतिक दलहरू सा“घुर“िदै गएका छन् । जनजाति र दलितहरूमा दलहरूमाथिको अविश्वास बढ्दै गएको छ । मधेशमा जसरी आन्दोलन उठ्यो ... त्यसबाट दलहरूले आफ्नो प्रभावको विस्तार गर्न नसकेको स्पष्ट देखिएको छ । ....... जेठमा चुनाव हुन नसके पृथ्वी नै पग्लिन सक्ने आशङ् काले सात दलका नेताहरू मात्र होइन, माओवादी नेताहरू पनि आक्रान्त छन् । ...... चैत २ गतेको एमाले स् थायी समितिको बैठकले चाहि“ अन्तरमि सरकार गठनमा नेपाली काङ्ग्रेसको भूमिका बाधक बनेको निष्कर्षनिकाल्यो ..... प्रधानमन्त्री र गृहमन्त्री एउटै दलको हुन नहुने निष्कर्षएमाले स्थायी कमिटी बैठकको छ ....... काङ्ग्रेसका रामचन्द्र पौडेल, एमालेका भीम रावल, माओवादीका डा बाबुराम भट्टर्राई र काङ्गे्रस -प्रजातान्त्रिक) का डा प्रकाशशरण महत .... शर्ीष्ा नेताहरूको बैठकबाट अपराह्न बाहिरएिर खुलामञ्चको कार्यक्रमलाई सम्बोधन गर्न पुगेका माओवादी अध्यक्ष्ँ प्रचण्डले भनेका थिए, "सरकार गठन गर्न त्यति सजिलो छैन ।" ..... यसअघि भएका बैठकहरूमा भने माओवादीको व्यवहार मुख्य मुद्दा बन्दै आएको थियो ।

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UNITED FRONT-A DELICATE BALANCING ACT (IEO NewsDesk)

Magar Event

Mainstreaming Maoist Tendencies In The Madhesh

25 feared killed in clash between Maoists and MJF activists in Gaur; curfew clamped NepalNews a shootout between the Maoists and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) activists in Gaur ...... Jwala Singh faction of Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) has owned up responsibility for the shootout. ..... three dozen others were injured in the shootout. ..... the Maoist-affiliated Madhesi Mukti Morcha and the MJF had planned their mass meetings in the area at the same time. Maoist lawmaker Prabhu Shah and MJF chairman Upendra Yadav were to address their respective mass meetings. ...... some victims died as a result of head injuries caused by beatings with bamboo batons

These 25 deaths in Gaur are in the same category as the 13,000 deaths during the decade long civil war. Two Maoist factions - both Madhesi - clashed. This is sad. This is tragic. This is unnecessary.

Where does the responsibility lie?

The 38 deaths during the 21 day Madhesi Movement were in the same category as the 21 deaths during the April Revolution. But these 25 deaths are in the power-through-barrel-of-gun category.

Where does the responsibility lie?

(1) The Government

The breakaway Maoist factions, how are they different from the Maoists? If you can put 30,000 Maoists into cantonments, why can't you put a few hundred Madhesi fighters also into cantonments? The armed Maoist groups are as much in control of the mainstream Madhesi parties and groups as the Maoists were under the control of the Congress or the UML. We will be lucky to mainstream them now when they are small. Otherwise we could very well go down the Sri Lanka slope, and no Madhesi shouting however loud for Madhesi rights today will matter much once the cycle of violence gains momentum. The soldiers of non-violence will get sidelined. That will be bad for the Madhesh, and bad for the country. Armed political action in the Terai are the single biggest threat to the elections scheduled for June.

You create conditions for talks, and then you talk. The government's attitude is that these armed Madhesi groups are not really that big, so why worry? They are not that big, but they are growing bigger by the day. And how is it bad news that they are not big? The Maoists also started small in 1996. And ethnic civil wars tend to be more complicated than class wars. We have to put out the fire now when it is small.

A civil war in the Terai, if it were to start, will be way more complicated. There is an open border. Let these 25 deaths be the last of its kind.

How do you create conditions for talks? Curiously, the armed groups are not any more demanding than the MPRF. Get the Home Minister to resign. Involve the UN. Do a repeat of what has been done to the Maoists. Tackle politically their various demands. The idea should be to get them to participate in the constituent assembly elections.

The disrespect the eight party government has shown to the 21 day Madhesi Movement has been the fuel to the fire. That disrespect has discredited the Madhesis who believe in non-violent protests. The violent ones have found new currency. This is not okay.

The political leadership in Nepal is prejudiced and it is failing the Madhesi. If the country slides into a civil war, Girija's decision to not sack Krishna Sitaula will have been the starting point in the political arena that pushed the country towards it.

That guy spent 10 years in jail. Something died inside of him. He is so unfeeling.

(2) Maoist Leadership

The Maoist party has been no different than say the Nepali Congress, or the UML, or the RPP and all the other Pahadi parties when it has come to Madhesi participation in its ranks. How many Madhesis are on the Maoist central committee? That anti-Madhesi prejudice has continued.

And now the attitude is that as long it is Madhesi Maoists fighting the breakaway Madhesi Maoists, the Maoist leadership can claim it is not anti-Madhesi prejudice at work. That is a dangerous game to be playing.

The Maoists are going to have to stop trying to disrupt the MPRF mass meetings. That leads to violence. That is not democratic competition. That is not the way to free and fair elections.

(3) The UML, Sadbhavana (Anandi)

The UML is for proportional elections, but it is not siding with the Madhesi-Janajati-Dalit Movement that has the exact same demand. The Sadbhavana (Anandi) claims to have been at the forefront of the fight for Madhesi rights. But it has not joined the call for the Home Minister's resignation. That has created much confusion and disaffection. A lot of Madhesis are feeling abandoned.

(4) Madhesi Mukti Morcha, JTMM Factions

These rival armed Madhesi groups need to wake up. The Pahadi armed rebels are in cantonments. Somebody needs to tell them the civil war is over. Stop fighting. You are getting Madhesis killed on both sides.

The Madhesi Mukti Morcha has got to align itself with the Madhesi Movement and ask for the Home Minister's resignation. It has got to ask that the 38 dead during the 21 days be declared martyrs. It has got to ask for proportional elections.

The JTMM factions have got to see the light. They are beyond the reach of all non-violent Madhesi groups. The goal has to be to reach the milestones for Madhesi rights through proportional elections to the constituent assembly.

The black on black violence in America is not proof that racism does not exist since blacks are killing each other. That is proof racism has its mirror image: internalized racism. Black on black violence is double proof racism exists.

(5) MPRF

The MPRF has to resist the temptation to counter the Maoist violence with violence. If the MPRF changes from being a nonviolent group to being a violent one, then that is a bad sign for the Madhesi Movement. People power is enough. Nonviolence is enough. Nonviolence is the more potent tool.

(6) Pahadi Media

There is such obvious bias. This is but one example.

25 Maoists killed in MPRF- Maoist crossfire Kantipur .... None of the deceased has yet been identified

If there was a crossfire, how is it possible all 25 deaths were on the same side? And how do you know the 25 dead were Maoists when the same news report says the dead have not been identified yet? There is talk the JTMM was involved. Why has that not been reported? Is it possible this was a JTMM-Maoist clash? The MPRF is a political organization. Its cadres do not carry guns, although it is entirely possible a fight broke out, and people got violent and used whatever they could get hold of, sticks, knives.

In The News

25 feared killed in clash between Maoists and MJF activists in Gaur; curfew clamped NepalNews
Business community suspends their indefinite strike the business community – led by FNCCI, CNI and NCC – .... strike in the private schools announced by Maoist-affiliated student wing has also been revoked ..... end threats, intimidation, extortion and abductions.
Parties express commitment to ensure conducive business atmosphere
Prachanda pledges safe environment for private businesses
ANNFSU-R to close down schools
Rana obstructed from entering his home district
US Senator introduces bill aimed at providing duty free access to LDCs seeking duty-free access facilities to the products from Nepal and 13 other Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to American market. .... these LDCs where unemployment is as high as 70 percent. ..... Senator Gordon Smith .... co-sponsored by Senator Feinstein, Senator Craig and Senator Sununu ..... It is also not clear if the readymade garments will qualify for the duty free access. Readymade garments constitute the single largest export product of Nepal to the United States.

Curfew in Nepal town after 25 killed in clash Washington Post, DC Including Wednesday's deaths, the highest toll on a single occasion, at least 56 people have been killed in protests organized by Madhesi activists over the past three months. ..... forum supporters demolished a podium set up by Maoists for a public meeting, close to where the Madhesis were organizing a rival meeting. .... Upendra Yadav, chief of the Madhesi group, said his supporters were attacked first by the Maoists. ..... Madhesi activists say the community faces widespread discrimination by Nepal's political elite and is under-represented in government, politics, police and the army. ..... "What happened in Gaur reflects the Terai mindset that it is the Maoists (who are) not allowing the government to get them into dialogue," said Yubaraj Ghimire
Gaur Killing: Sign of Civil War in Nepal? United We Blog the single largest case of killing since Maoists announced cease fire last year ...... Maoists were not armed ..... widely believed in the democratic circle that MJF was created by regressive force ..... If this killing spreads and turns into the ethnic clash, we might see genocide in Nepal. A senior journalist who recently visited Nepalgunj told us that the western town was on the verge of plunging into a full fledged ethnic fighting. ...... We understand their pain and we express sorrow over the brutal killings of their cadres in Gaur ..... At least 25 Maoists were killed in crossfire between the activists of the Maoist affiliated Madheshi Mukti Morcha and the agitating Madhesi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF) today afternoon in Rautahat headquarters Gaur. District Police Office Rautahat confirmed that the people were killed in the exchange of fire
Maoists, ethnic activists fight in southern Nepal San Diego Union Tribune, CA 25 people dead and 35 wounded. ..... The two sides argued over who had the right to use the land, and fighting quickly broke out .... “Shots were fired and they were fighting with each other using everything from sticks to knives” ........ Violence spread to surrounding areas
Fresh round of violence leaves 25 dead in Nepal Times of India, India
Curfew in Nepal town after 25 killed in clash Reuters
25 people killed in Nepal clash Hindu, India
Curfew in Nepal town after seven killed in clash San Diego Union Tribune, CA
Nepal Maoists clash with ethnic group, five killed Reuters India, India
Eight killed in Maoist-Madhesi clashes in Nepal DailyIndia.com, FL
ROUNDUP: Death Toll In Southern Nepal Gun Battle At Least 25 Playfuls.com, Romania
12 die in Terai clashes, indefinite curfew clamped India eNews.com, India
Death Toll Rises In Battle Between Rival Groups In Nepal Playfuls.com, Romania
Indefinite curfew after five die in Terai India eNews.com, India
8 people killed in clash between CPN-M and MPRF PeaceJournalism.com, Nepal
At least five killed in fresh Terai violence Indian Muslims, CA
Curfew in Nepal town after 25 killed Irish Times, Ireland
Violence rocks southern Nepal Aljazeera.net, Qatar
At least 25 killed in Nepal PRESS TV, Iran
Death Toll in Rautahat Clash Reaches 25; Curfew Imposed Himalayan Times, Nepal
Only 26 percent have bank account in Nepal: survey Earthtimes.org
UN to start verification of CPN-M soldiers in Nepal ReliefWeb (press release), Switzerland

Leaders learn federalism, restructuring Kantipur Altogether 32 participants including Koirala and four others from the NC, Dina Nath Sharma and three others from the Maoists, Ishwor Pokharel and two others from the CPN-UML, four including Bimalendra Nidhi from NC-D, Lila Mani Pokharel and two others from People's Front Nepal, Parshu Ram Khapung and two others from Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Anil Jha from Nepal Sadbhabana Party (A), and experts and facilitators have been taking part.
होला त जेठमा चुनाव - वर्तमान परिस्थितिमा जेठमा चुनाव हुनसक्ने प्राविधिक अवस् था बिथोलि“दै गए पनि नेताहरू इमानदारीपर्ूवक यो कुरा स्वीकार्न तयार देखि“दैनन् सकेसम्म अन्य साझेदार दलहरूलाई महत्त्वपर्ूण्ा मन्त्रालय नदिने प्रधानमन्त्रीको अडान ...... प्रचण्ड र नेपालस“गको भेटमा प्रधानमन्त्रीले वरष्िठ उपप्रधानमन्त्री, गृह, रक्ष्ँा र अर्थ मन्त्रालय काङ्ग्रेसकै भागमा पर्नुपर्ने दाबी गरेको ..... "मेरो अवस्था तपाईंहरूलाई थाहा छ“दैछ, वरष्िठ उपप्रधानमन्त्री, गृह र रक्षा । यी मन्त्रालय तपाईंहरू दाबी गर्दै नगर्नुस्" ....... एमालेले उपप्रधानमन्त्रीसहित गृहको समेत दाबी गर्‍यो ...... घुमाउरो पारामा कोइरालाले वामदेव गौतमलाई उपप्रधान र गृहमन्त्री बनाउन आफू कुनै हालतमा तयार नभएको जनाएका थिए ..... संविधानसभाको मिति तत्काल घोषणा हुनुपर्ने, अन्तरमि सरकारको आचारसंहिता तत्काल बनाउनुपर्ने, मन्त्रालय बा“डफा“टमा ठूला पार्टर्ीीबीच तत्काल सहमति हुनुपर्ने अनि मात्र प्रधानमन्त्रीको चयन मात्र नभई, पर्ूण्ा मन्त्रिमण्डल नै गठन गरनिुपर्ने अडान राख्ने निर्ण्र्ााएमालेले गर्‍यो । ....... कोइरालाको स्वास् थ्यस्थितिमा अपेक्षाकृत सुधार आएको छ ..... मधेशको समस्या आइलाग्नेबित्तिकै मन्त्री पदबाट राजीनामा दिएर आन्दोलनको आगो सल्काउन सद्भावना पार्टर्ीी खेलेको भूमिकाले निश्चय पनि संविधानसभाको निर्वाचनलाई मद्दत गरेन । ...... माओवादीहरूको आचरणमा सुधार खोज्ने तर आफै“ लुटेराहरूको आचरणबाट मुक्त हुन नसक्ने नेपाली काङ्ग्रेसका नेताहरूको व्यवहार ...... सुजाता कोइरालाको नाम भ्रष्ट आर्थिक गतिविधिहरूस“ग जोडिनु ...... नेपालका राजनीतिक दलका नेताहरूमा ठूलो परविर्तन थेग्नसक्ने क्षमता नै छैन ....... "००७ सालदेखि ०१५ सालसम्म संविधानसभाकै नाममा राजाले खेलेर बिताए । अब अहिले सात दलका नेताहरू त्यही कुरालाई दोहोर्‍याएर आफ्नो सत्ता लम्ब्याउने फिराकमा छन् । ...... कोइरालाले विराटनगरमा टिप्पणी गर्नु भयो, "सबै हतियार कसैले पनि बुझाउ“दैन । हामीले पनि बुझाएनौ“ । सबैभन्दा महत्त्वपर्ूण्ा कुरा विश्वास हो ।" ..... कसैले पनि दलीय स् वार्थभन्दा बाहिर निस्किएर दलित, जनजाति र अढाइ सय वर्षम्म राज्यपद्धतिमा समावेश नगरएिका नागरकिहरूको चिन्ता गरेका छैनन् । प्रभावका हिसाबले पनि, राजनीतिक दलहरू सा“घुर“िदै गएका छन् । जनजाति र दलितहरूमा दलहरूमाथिको अविश्वास बढ्दै गएको छ । मधेशमा जसरी आन्दोलन उठ्यो ... त्यसबाट दलहरूले आफ्नो प्रभावको विस्तार गर्न नसकेको स्पष्ट देखिएको छ । ....... जेठमा चुनाव हुन नसके पृथ्वी नै पग्लिन सक्ने आशङ् काले सात दलका नेताहरू मात्र होइन, माओवादी नेताहरू पनि आक्रान्त छन् । ...... चैत २ गतेको एमाले स् थायी समितिको बैठकले चाहि“ अन्तरमि सरकार गठनमा नेपाली काङ्ग्रेसको भूमिका बाधक बनेको निष्कर्षनिकाल्यो ..... प्रधानमन्त्री र गृहमन्त्री एउटै दलको हुन नहुने निष्कर्षएमाले स्थायी कमिटी बैठकको छ ....... काङ्ग्रेसका रामचन्द्र पौडेल, एमालेका भीम रावल, माओवादीका डा बाबुराम भट्टर्राई र काङ्गे्रस -प्रजातान्त्रिक) का डा प्रकाशशरण महत .... शर्ीष्ा नेताहरूको बैठकबाट अपराह्न बाहिरएिर खुलामञ्चको कार्यक्रमलाई सम्बोधन गर्न पुगेका माओवादी अध्यक्ष्ँ प्रचण्डले भनेका थिए, "सरकार गठन गर्न त्यति सजिलो छैन ।" ..... यसअघि भएका बैठकहरूमा भने माओवादीको व्यवहार मुख्य मुद्दा बन्दै आएको थियो ।
अब राजाले डेरा सरे हुन्छ’ नरहरि आचार्य जनस्तरमा पार्टर्ीीई पुग्न र आफ्ना कुरा भन्न नेतृत्व तहका साथीहरूलाई गाह्रो भइरहेको छ । .... लोकतन्त्र भनेको राजतन्त्रलाई 'रिप्लेस' गरेर आएको पद्धति हो । .... राजा महेन्द्र र वीरेन्द्रलाई बम हान्ने नेपाली काङ्गे्रस नै हो । यति त माओवादीले पनि गरेनन् । ..... वीरेन्द्र पनि ०४७ को संविधानबाट असन्तुष्ट नै थिए । बारम्बार मेरो भूमिका खोइ भनिरहन्थे । ...... नेतृत्वमा हुन नसकेको आन्तरिक लोकतान्त्रीकरणको कमीले पनि ०४७ सालको संविधानले काम गर्न सकेन । ..... नेपाली जनताको मनस्थितिलाई पार्टर्ीीेतृत्वले कहिल्यै पनि बुझ्न सकेन । .... आन्दोलन पार्टर्ीीे निर्धारणभन्दा बाहिर थियो । आन्दोलनको मानसिकतालाई पनि गहिराइमा बुझेको थिएन नेतृत्वले । मैले त यतिसम्म सुनेको छु वैशाख ८ को राजाको वक्तव्यलाई केही पार्टर्ीी सकारात्मक कदम मानिसकेका थिए । तर, नेपाली जनताले जसरी आफूलाई प्रस्तुत गरे, त्यसमा अनुमानको कुनै गुञ्जाइस रहेन । ........ ०४७ सालमा ७५ जनाले शहादत प्राप्त गरेपछि मात्रै वीरेन्द्र टसमस भए । तर, ज्ञानेन्द्रले २५ जना नमर्दै र्समर्पण गर्नुपर्‍यो । ..... स्वयम्सेवी रूपमा नारायणहिटी छोडेर 'डेरा सरे“ र नागरिक भए“' भन्ने हो भने सामान्य जीवन जिउने परिस्थिति बन्नसक्छ । किनभने, विश्वमा यस्तो उदाहरण नै छैन । राजतन्त्र समाप्त भएपछि राजाहरू या त भौतिक रूपमा समाप्त भएका छन् या त देश छोडेर भागेका छन् । ..... माओवादीले बोलीमा लोकतान्त्रिक भने पनि व्यवहार, क्रियाकलाप, अभ्यास हर्ेदा मान्छेेहरूमा आशङ्का छ ..... कतिपय सरकारले हतियार दिन खोज्दा त्यहा“का जनताले गोली पनि बेच्न मानेनन् राजाको सत्तालाई । ..... जेठमा नभए असोजमा हुन्छ ..... १५ दिनमा बनाउने भनेको अन्तरिम संविधान बनाउन पा“च महिना लाग्यो । कतिपय चुनाव गराउन चाहिने ऐन पारित भएका छैनन् । मतदाता नामावली सङ्कलन जारी छ । यस् ता प्राविधिक कुरा नै बा“की छन् भने जेठमा कसरी होला त - तर, भएन भने के चाहि“ हुन्छ भने नेतृत्वको सान्दर्भिकतामा प्रश्न उठ्छ, संविधानसभाको चुनावको सान्दर्भिकतामा होइन । ...... नेपाली काङ्ग्रेस एकाङ्गी छ । अहिले पार्टर्ीीेतृत्वको शैली परम्परागत ढा“चा र मनोगत शैलीमा चलेको छ । .... 'तपाईंलाई नीतिगत रूपले र्समर्थन गछौर्ं तर गिरिजाबाबुलाई अर्कोपटक भोट दिन पाइन्न होला तर्सथ उहा“लाई नै भोट दिन्छौ“' भन्ने साथीहरूको सङ्ख्या बाक्लो थियो ।

A Peace Trap?

by Ken Ohashi

Peace is the singular goal of the day in Nepal. The political actors have shown much willingness to find compromises on contentious issues to move the peace process far. This is impressive. There is, however, a danger in this. Government leaders are acting as though there were walking on the eggshell, and bending backward to avoid causing any stir in the system that, in their view, may jeopardize the delicate political process. The problem is this extraordinary caution could lead to a situation in which a more solid peace is achieved formally but not much else happens. The expectations for peace dividends are high, but if few materialized, will the peace be lasting?

Peace dividends have to come in two forms: more jobs and better public services. Creating jobs require a better environment for private investment. Better public services require both improvements in the delivery system and more public resources. Even before the conflict intensified in 2001, Nepal was not doing terribly well on either front. Although some reforms have taken place since then, both the economic system and the governmental system still suffer from many problems. Therefore, peace by itself is unlikely to lead to rapid generation of new jobs or much better public services.

If anything, the thinking that this is not the time to take on difficult reforms has led to deeply worrying compromises. For instance, recognizing that overly rigid labor laws are a critical impediment to economic growth, there had been efforts to introduce greater flexibility in the labor laws and make Nepal a more attractive place for investment. But, this process has been all but suspended for the fear that trade unions may cause problems for the government. The lack of transparency in the Revenue Department in regard to corporate tax collection has been another important problem. The government has not taken any bold action to address it, perhaps because civil servants too can cause problems. Under these circumstances, it is hard to believe that the Nepali economy is poised to take off.

The government has also given in to many demands made by special interest groups. Recently, it has promised to make 16,000 temporary teachers permanent. Such compromises will limit the system’s ability to hire most qualified personnel for many years to come; it also limits the government’s ability to fund other priorities. Even bank defaulters are demanding lenient treatment. I am sure some businesses deserve sympathy because the intense political turmoil was not entirely anticipated. But, many were over-ambitious investments to begin with, and deserve no special treatments. The loans that are not recovered by the two largest banks, RBB and NBL, will likely have to be covered by the government, to protect the depositors. By delaying strong actions against defaulters, the government is limiting its future ability to finance development needs. Further, an environment that tolerates willful defaulters is hardly an attractive place for honest business people to invest. Many other important reforms that would make public services more effective are also stalled.

For these reasons, I see a danger of Nepal finding itself in a ‘peace trap.’ The ship Nepal may get through the political storm and find calm waters, but it may also find itself dead in the water. You can see the new destination on the distant shore, but the ship has little power to move forward… This is not where Nepal would want to find itself.

So, how can Nepal ready itself to reap the peace dividends that everyone is hoping for? Many things need to be done, but let me suggest a few ideas. This is not an exhaustive list. It is meant only to highlight obvious areas of priority and provoke more thinking.

Growth and creation of jobs: First, labor, employers, and government should agree on the critical importance of job creation and introducing more flexibility in the labor law. Trade unions argue they are all for it as long as there are adequate safety nets. It is a reasonable argument, certainly for the small number of existing workers. But, what about many who are unemployed? They have neither jobs (even insecure ones) nor safety nets. The situation demands greater pragmatism and rapid action. Labor can agree on introducing employment flexibility in a limited way without affecting the existing workers, e.g., in an Export Processing Zone, even while the longer-term issue of safety nets is being addressed. In return, employers can agree to some targets on the number of new jobs to be created. The government can promise more effective inspection of these new jobs so that the greater employment flexibility is not abused. Second, the government should make urgent efforts to make tax administration transparent. Third, the government should put in place the implementation arrangements for two important new legislations: the Secured Transactions Act and the Insolvency Act. They can make a big difference in business efficiency. Last but not least, Nepal must accelerate investments in basic infrastructure, power and transport in particular.

Better public service delivery: There are numerous important tasks. But, I would suggest focusing on two key areas: basic education and health care. In education, the government should reinvigorate the transfer of schools to community management. Evidence is overwhelming that communities generally manage schools far better than the government. Giving the communities the opportunity to be directly involved in improvement of the most important public service will be a peace dividend in itself. Another key issue would be to redeploy an estimated 16,000 surplus teachers to schools that have serious teacher shortages. In health, two obvious things should be done. Make sure all the positions for doctors (1,300) and nurses (2,000) are filled, and the personnel are actually present. These are not huge numbers. If the government cannot show the ingenuity to come up with an effective approach to make this happen, what credibility would it have as a public service provider? The government should also give the positions of auxiliary nurse midwives to about 1,000 women who have been properly trained and certified now. If the government is willing to consider making 16,000 temporary teachers permanent without open competition, surely it can give highly qualified women the positions they deserve.

Protecting and government resources and policy flexibility: First and foremost, the government should not willy-nilly give out benefits that are going to constrain its fiscal ability or agree to policy compromises that limit the scope for policy reforms in the future. Reviewing with utmost rigor any demand from interest groups for special benefits is central to this. Needless to say, it should also get tough on recovering loans from willful defaulters, and improve its revenue efforts.

I do not wish to minimize the political difficulties that Nepal’s leaders face. But, surely reaching any peace is not a satisfactory objective. The goal must be to reach a sustainable peace. For that, Nepali leaders have to look past the immediate political milestones, such as constituent assembly elections, and take some bold actions so that Nepal will be ready to deliver peace dividends. It may upset the existing order here and there and it may seem politically risky. If explained, however, I think the Nepali people will understand such needs. They will provide the real ‘people power’ to support the changes the new future demands.

Mr. Ohashi id the World Bank Country Director for Nepal