Wednesday, September 05, 2007

MJF Is For Republic, Land Reform, Dalit, Muslim, Janajati, Mahila Rights, And Small Or No Army



The MJF Must Stay Intact
The MJF Dispute: Got To Seek Middle Ground

The Madhesi Janadhikar Forum is for a republic. It is okay with the country getting declared a republic right away, and it is okay with doing it after the elections.

The Madhesi Janadhikar Forum is for land reform, but it does not want to put the cart before the horse. First it wants to contest and win the constituent assembly elections. Then it wants to help write a new constitution for the country that will turn Nepal into a federal republic of state funded parties. Then, under that constitution when it will be time to contest elections for a new parliament, it will go to the people with a detailed land reform proposal. And it will implement that land reform proposal after victory in the elections.

The Maoists are not the party of the Dalits in the Terai. The Dalits in the Terai may go for whichever party they feel most empowers them, of course. But the MJF will compete with the Maoists for every single Dalit vote in the Terai. And it will do so by ensuring proportional representation for the Dalits in the party's list of candidates for the constituent assembly.

The MJF will likewise empower the Janajatis in the Terai, namely the Tharus, the Dhimals, Satars, Rajbanshis, and the rest.

A part born out of the Madhesi Kranti must be at the forefront of the women's rights movement in the Terai.

The MJF will empower the Muslims, the Yadavs. The MJF will empower the OBCs of the Terai.

The MJF will be home to the BhuRaBaL: Bhumihar, Rajput, Babhan, Lala.

The MJF will not allow the Maoists to act like a parallel state in the Terai. The MJF will not allow the Maoists to engage in extortions and abductions in the Terai. The MJF will not allow the Maoists to set up their kangaroo courts in the Terai.

उपेन्द्र यादव: सरकार र फोरमबीच सम्झौता
The Madhesi MPs And The Idea Of A New Party
तराई बन्द नहीं संगठन िवस्तार किरए
जयप्रकाश गुप्ता: मधेस आन्दोलनका आग्रह

Calling The Maoists' Bluff

The MJF has proven to the rest of Nepal and to the world that you don't have to be have an army, you don't even have to be in power to bring an end to the dictatorial ways of the Maoist party.

Why can't the UML and the Nepali Congress do the same in the hills? Why can't they stop complaining and start learning from the MJF?

Upendra Yadav Book 2
Upendra Yadav Book 1
The Maoist Confusion Is Unnecessary

In The News

NC Mahasamiti to decide on republic; NC-D wants unification as per ‘previous understanding’ NepalNews meeting of the Mahasamiti (general council) Sept 23-24 to endorse the party’s election manifesto, which will specifically clarify whether the party will go for 'democratic republic' after the constituent assembly polls. ...... The election manifesto will be finalised by the Mahasamiti meeting,” said Dr Ram Baran Yadav, co-general secretary of the party. ..... the NC was least likely to go for some form of monarchy .... “The 11th general convention has already removed the term ‘monarchy’ form the party statute. The interim constitution also does not give any space for the King.” ..... has adopted 'federal republic' as the main election agenda of the party. ..... “We are worried that the unification process is taking so much time. Today’s meeting has decided to unite the two parties according to the agreement between the two presidents,” senior NC-D leader Bimalendra Nidhi said.
Maoists will be out of govt by Sept 18 if republic is not announced, says Ananta we will then hold roundtable conference and go for peaceful street agitation .... Nepali Congress (NC) central member Sujata Koirala warned that any force – either Maoists or monarchists – would be wiped out if they choose to avoid CA election. Likewise, NC-Democratic leader and Minister of State for Labour and Transport Management Ramesh Lekhak stressed the need to institutionalise republic through a democratic mechanism of CA election.
NASeA-ANMA joint convention held Nepalis Association in Southeast America (NASeA) and the Association of Nepalis in Midwest America (ANMA) .... co-hosted by the Association of Nepali Teraian in America (ANTA). ... Nepali Women's Global Network forum on domestic violence, a forum on depression, a session on NAPAC, an organization interested in Nepali-American issues and an International Nepalese Literary Society activities. ..... Sunday's session, inaugurated by Madhu Raman Acharya ..... the embassy is registering all Nepalis in North America ..... Dr. Ambika Adhikari, President of the Nepali Americas Council and a key note speaker ...... exhorting the assemblage to go to Nepal for the October NRN Conference ... A forum devoted to the Terai issue ..... the first-ever general discussion meeting to establish the American Society of Nepali Engineers
Constituent Assembly Election and Madhesh Turmoil the Madheshi movement (now called the Janandolan III). .... the Terai, which contains 49% of Nepal’s 26 million population, 23% land area and 20 of the 75 districts .... the right to self-determination; proportional representation in the constituent assembly; restructuring the constituencies based on population; federal system with regional autonomy; and elimination of all forms of discrimination practiced by the state mechanism. ...... the movement has been successful in maintaining its momentum ...... the perseverance and firmness of the MJF .... The Government-MJF ultimately reached a 22-point agreement, which includes compensation to those killed during the Terai movement, guarantee of inclusion of Madheshis and other marginalized groups in the constituent assembly, autonomy to the states in the federal system to be designed by the constituent assembly, among others. ....... The MJF has gained positive credibility in due course of the movement and has been elevated as a powerful political force in the country. ..... Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (Goit), JTMM (Jwala Singh), JTMM (Bishfot Singh), Madheshi Mukti Morcha, Madheshi Tiger, Terai Cobra Group, Madhesh Mukti Force, Terai Tiger, Terai Army, AASK Group, Tharu Mukti Morcha, Chure Bhawar Pradesh Ekta Samaj, Janajati Mahasangh, TM Don Group, Young Communist League etc. ...... the unity expressed by Madheshis around the globe. ...... Following the movement, the media has been overwhelmed with news and views on Madheshi movement; there have been discussions and debates on the peaceful resolution of Madhesh issue ....... The electoral seats for CA election are 497, of which 240 would be elected directly, 240 by proportional election, and 17 would be nominated. Presuming that the election is held fairly under the mixed system, 164 Madheshi people would be represented including 38 women. ...... for the major political parties such as NC, UML, CPN-Maoists and NC (D), it might mean having to lose many seats in the CA election ...... the deteriorating law and order situation in the country, particularly the Terai region ...... security, management of cantonments and spreading themselves out to the villages and towns to interact with people about the CA polls ...... the Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League (YCL), which is widely involved in terrorizing people ..... the government aims to recruit 80,000 temporary security personnel ..... The Nepali media has been biased in tone, depiction and revelation while highlighting the unfolding events of the movement, many at times disregarding the Code of Conduct for Journalists. ........ the problem of intolerance and ethnic prejudice that has for centuries plagued the nation. .......structural discrimination can have solution only through systemic reform guided by the principalities of equality, integration, representation and redistribution ..... The ‘hegemonic control’ of the age-old ideology of domination of one caste, one language, one culture, one colour, one region, one religion… can and has to change

MJF takes out 'victory rally' in Birgunj NepalNews People had come in large numbers to Birgunj, the district headquarter of Parsa to take part in the rally. The victory rally, that started from Ghantaghar with people playing musical instruments and their faces smeared with vermilion, toured around the town and turned into a mass assembly at the end. Saying that the government, through the agreement, has pledged to fulfill all demands of the Madheshi people, the district level leaders asked all the people of Terai to be aware of elements against the constituent assembly. Meanwhile, speaking in Sunsari, MJF chairman Upendra Yadav has stressed upon the need of “improving the security arrangement” to hold the CA election successfully. Saying that the serial bomb blasts took place in the capital city because the security situation was very weak and it was all done to disrupt the upcoming election, Yadav asked the government not to make compromise on security matters.
Prachanda demands special session of the parliament to declare republic
Possibility of army mobilisation can’t be ruled out, says Minister
JTMM dissidents ‘expel’ Goit
Upendra Yadav urges people to join election campaign

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

The MJF Must Stay Intact

The MJF must stay intact as one party. The MJF leaders owe it to all their party members, now more than 100,000 strong. The MJF owes it to the Madhesi people. The MJF owes it to the almost 40 martyrs and over 800 injured of the Madhesi Kranti who gave birth to the political party called MJF to continue as one party.

Breaking the party is not an option. And it is highly unnecessary.

The deal reached with the government gained official respect for the Madhesi Kranti. And it left room for the MJF to keep pressing for completely proportional elections to the constituent assembly.

The shape and form of federalism can not be decided now. That is what the constituent assembly is for. Poudel Bahun does not have and should not have the powers to decide on the shape and form of a Terai state right now. That power rests with the Madhesi people who will exercise that power at the ballot box. That is the only legitimate way.

I am for completely proportional elections to the constituent assembly. And the best way to get that would be for the UML and the Maoists to exploit the arithmetic of the interim parliament to get it. But the Maoists have not made any open attempts to seek such an agreement with the UML. Instead it has beat up UML workers in various parts of the country. The way to achieve completely proportional elections to the constituent assembly would have been to build a relationship with the UML. But that the Maoists did not go for that option shows they are not honest when they say they are for completely proportional elections to the constituent assembly.

I am for completely proportional elections to the constituent assembly but that is not the central agenda of the Madhesi Movement.

Disrupting the November 22 polls is not in the interests of the Madhesi Movement. The first choice would have been to seek and get completely proportional elections for November 22. When that might not be possible, the second best choice is to contest the polls based on the existing mixed arrangement. Then the focus shifts to sweeping the polls. It can be done. Organizing street agitation to force the government to give completely proportional elections to the constituent assembly makes little sense. If you can perform a repeat of the Madhesi Kranti to that end, is it not more fruitful to instead get those people to vote for you? That would be more meaningful.

All the MJF demands the government did not agree to, turn them into election issues. Go to the people. In a democracy power rests with the people.

I understand many Madhesi leaders and cadres are radicalized. And they are impatient. It is good that the Madhesi people are finally awake. But we have to properly channel that new awakening into ballot power, into electoral power.

Right now I urge all Madhesi leaders, MPs, parties, organizations and armed groups to get behind this: The Madhesi MPs And The Idea Of A New Party. Sweep the election. No more strikes and street agitations. No more Terai Band. Unilateral ceasefire by the armed groups. Full scale election campaign. Ek Madhesh, Ek Pradesh.


The MJF Dispute: Got To Seek Middle Ground
No To Terrorism: Terai Army Is A Criminal Outfit
उपेन्द्र यादव: सरकार र फोरमबीच सम्झौता
The Madhesi MPs And The Idea Of A New Party
तराई बन्द नहीं संगठन िवस्तार किरए
जयप्रकाश गुप्ता: मधेस आन्दोलनका आग्रह
An Open Letter To NAC
Goal Has To Be To Stay As One Country
Not UML-Maoist Unification Or Unity, But A One Point Agreement On PR Election
Baburam Bhattarai Is Right About UML-Maoist Unity
एक मात्र िमलनिवन्दु: पुर्ण समानुपाितक िनर्वाचन

In The News

UML forms panel to select CA polls candidates Kantipur
Five Liberation of Terai Ilam cadres arrested in Janakpur Police Tuesday arrested five Liberation of Terai Ilam (LTI) cadres including its leader from Janakpour in Dhanusha district. ..... Swamiji, the LTI leader of the breakaway faction of Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha-Goit, and other four were arrested from Jamun Goit’s house at Wakiltole in Janakpur Municipility .... Ramlochan Yadav alias Swamiji
Second stage of PLA arms and weapons verification begins in Surkhet
Prachanda asks Maoist-aligned students to be ready for ‘next revolt’
Security situation will improve as CA election comes closer: Home Minister Sitaula
We are not against CA polls: Madhesi Tigers A leader of the Madhesi Mukti Tigers (MMT), a group which has been leading an armed movement in the Terai region, Tuesday said that the group was not against the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections slated for November 22. Speaking at a programme in Saptari district today, MMT spokesperson “Pratatp” said that the group has, however, been struggling for a fully proportional electoral system in the upcoming CA to ensure the proportional representation of the Madhesi people. ..... warned that the MMT would resort to “strong retaliation” if the government tried to hold the elections based on a mixed electoral system. ...... Pratap also clarified that the MMT would lay down arms and take part in the CA elections if the government agreed for a proportional electoral system. ..... Revealing that an informal dialogue had taken place between Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula and an MMT central leader sometime back, Pratap however said that the government had not responded since then. .... Pratap also said that unlike the factions of the Jantantrik Tearai Mukti Morcha (JTMM), the MMT was not in favour of a separate Terai. ..... “MMT is not trying to disintegrate the nation,” said Pratap. ..... the MMT was in favour of an autonomous Madhesh under a federal democratic republic.
चुनावमा जुट्न फोरमको आह्वान 'अब हाम्रो एकमात्र ध्यान संविधानसभा चुनाव हो ।' यादवले सोमबारै विज्ञप्ति जारी गरी निर्वाचन तयारीमा लाग्न कार्यकर्तालाई निर्देशन दिएका छन् । विज्ञप्तिमा फोरम महाधिवेशन तयारी समितिका चार सदस्य लोकतन्त्र र संविधानसभाविरुद्ध षड्यन्त्रमा लागेको आरोप छ । ...... यसैबीच भाग्यनाथ गुप्ताको संयोजकत्वमा रहेको फोरमले सोमबार वीरगन्जमा पत्रकार सम्मेलन गरी सरकारसँगको सम्झौताको विरोध गर्दै अध्यक्ष यादवलाई निलम्बन गरेको दाबी दोहोर्‍याएको छ । गुप्ताले उक्त सम्झौताको विरोध गरेलगत्तै सरकारले आफूहरूविरुद्ध सुरक्षाकर्मी परिचालन गरेको बताए । सोमबार राजधानीमा आफूहरू बसेको इम्पेरियर होटलमा सुरक्षाकर्मी आएर आफूहरूलाई एक घन्टा हाउस एरेस्टमा राखेको र राष्ट्रसंघलगायत निकायमा खबर गरेपछि मात्र छाडिएको दाबी गरे
गणतन्त्र आठै दलको मुद्दा हुनुपर्छ’
बागलुङ-जोमसोम मार्ग निर्माण सुचारु
नयाँ नेपालका लागि नयाँ कांग्रेस ख्याल गर्नुपर्ने के हो भने एकता गर्दाखेरि पार्टीको पुनसर्ंरचनाको माग छुटाउनु हुँदैन । नारामा मात्र नभई व्यवहारमा पनि समावेशी र आन्तरिक लोकतन्त्रसहितको कांग्रेस आवश्यकता हो । ...... लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्रको आवाज बुलन्द गर्ने कांग्रेसभित्र आन्तरिक लोकतन्त्र सुनिश्चित हुनुपर्छ ...... कांग्रेसबाट संघात्मक, समावेशी, लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्रप्रतिको प्रतिबद्धता संविधानसभा निर्वाचनअगावै आओस् भन्ने जनताको चाहना छ । यसलाई ढिलो नगरे निर्वाचनमा अन्य दलका लागि कांग्रेसभन्दा अग्रगामी र समयसापेक्ष एजेन्डा रहनेछैन । ....... संविधानसभाको माग कांग्रेसले ००७ सालतिरै उठाएको हो ...... ५० वर्षअघि भइसक्ने संविधानसभा निकै पछि धकेलियो
गुल्मीका सबै गाविसमा फोन

Upendra Yadav urges people to join election campaign NepalNews Snubbing the move by dissidents to remove him as chief of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF), Upendra Yadav has appealed to the people of Madhes to prepare for the election of Constituent Assembly (CA). "Madhesi community is in favor of CA election. Nobody can confuse them," he said addressing a programme in Inaruwa of Sunsari district on Monday. Terming the recent deal between the government and MJF as a victory for Madhesi people, Yadav urged his party workers and all the people to start preparing for the election campaign. Yadav accused the dissidents as being royalists. He also urged all the agitating organisations in Terai to join the dialogue process. Following the 22 point deal, four central leaders of MJF revolted and even announced that they have removed Yadav from his position. The dissident faction led by Bhagyanath Gupta has reiterated that they have removed Yadav from MJF while talking to journalists in Birgunj on Monday.
UML believes criminal elements were behind Sunday blasts
Prachanda directs Maoist students for protests ahead of polls
Report on 9/2 bomb blasts by evening: Sitaula
Krishna Janmastami observed across the country, PM visits Krishna Mandir
Maoist deputy commanders submit 6-point memo to PM Koirala
Police make around half a dozen arrests related with Sunday's triple blasts
Do not suspend polls in the face of blasts, says UML general secy

Risks of Postponing the CA Election NepalNews none of the political parties have gone out to do voter education with their vote banks, and none of them have laid out a clear agenda about what is it that their party is laying on the line in this upcoming CA elections ........ they are afraid of having a no show with their party results after the elections .... the Nepali Congress, may be afraid that it may lose the status of being the single largest party ..... Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) has already gained so much leverage without contesting the election that they have is a lot to lose if they go into the elections. ....... The democratic right parties are afraid that the communist left parties will get their act together and contest in a united front and hence gain a majority. ....... if the CA elections are not held in November. .... The interim government will also lose all credibility within the nation ..... No matter how the government takes into consideration the agitating Terai groups, if their demands cannot be met through the CA, it would be anybody’s guess how their activities would be directed in the future. ...... The Maoists have already intensified their movement in the road, parliament and cabinet. The vandalism by YCL in recent times is worsening the security situation ...... the parties must rise above their vested interests and hold CA election on time