We have a one week window of opportunity. That is enough time. I hope there are no more street protests from anyone from now until the elections to the constituent assembly. But the onus rests on the government. This eight party coalition has to assure the people that the constituent assembly is going to "look" like Nepal in its ethnic and gender composition. As to how to achieve that, there are many good ideas out there. It is for the eight parties to show they can go for those ideas.
But the first step obviously is the Home Minister's resignation. This is about cultivating the right political culture in the country. After a 21 day shutdown, 29 martyrs, and more than 1,000 injured, I am surprised the entire government is not having to resign.
The Home Minister has to go. That is basic. That is Peacemaking 101 for you.
On the other hand, his replacement can be another Nepali Congress person. I recommend Aftab Alam. Noone in Nepal gets as many votes as him. And that new Home Minister has to promise all Madhesis will be issued citizenship papers before the elections, all of them will be on the voters' list. That is basic. Without that step, the constituent assembly is going to be illegitimate. Without that step, the elections themselves might get disrupted. And if that happens, that will be a huge waste of money on the state's part. It is much cheaper to solve the citizenship issue once and for all.
And the two JTMM factions have to be invited in for formal talks. Treat them like they were Maoists, which they apparently are. Give them the exact same treatment.
The UN verifies all their soldiers - I doubt there are more than a few hundred - and puts them into cantonments. Feeding them for a few months is much, much cheaper than waiting for the possibility that they might disrupt the assembly elections.
As to their demand of a Terai state, you tell them that they will have to get on their own by contesting elections.
The Madhesi Movement's gift to me has been that I have ditched my three state federalism: Koshi, Gandaki, Karnali. Now I am strongly for a Madhesh state. But that does not encompass all of the Terai. This Madhesi Movement itself has drawn the boundaries of the Madhesh state.
The Tharus of the western Terai want their own state, and that has to be respected.
I guess I like the Madhesh and Tharuwan designations on the Maoist map.
The two Sadbhavana factions, the MJF and the two JTMM factions have the option to draw up their proposal for a Madhesh state, and take it to the people. It is not for Girija or anyone else to give you a Madhesh state. It is for the Madhesi voters to do that.
But then I can't imagine the big seven parties going against the idea of a Madhesh state. If they do, defeat them at the polls. Boycott all their candidates en masse in the Terai.
िवजयकी सुगन्ध अा रही है
49% Seats For Terai In Constituent Assembly Is A Fair Deal
समानता अौर अिधकार पर्याप्त नहीं हैं, हमें तो शक्ित चािहए
Photos From Janakpur: Santosh Bhagat
Proposed Constitution
Why Krishna Sitaula Has To Go
Stage Two, Stage Three
Proportional Representation Might Work With DaMaJa Reservations
In The News
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Home Ministry faked number plate
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Government talks team invites two factions of JTMM for talks
Supply system bouncing back as Terai regains order
Life returning to normalcy in eastern Terai
PM Koirala in Biratnagar
Army chief reiterates NA's commitment towards democracy
Indian Power Ministry wants to tap Nepal's hydro potentials
India welcomes Prime Minister's address
Law ministry instructed to initiate efforts to amend constitution
Martin says he is delighted to work in Nepal
Govt. to initiate action against ex-officials
JTMM-Goit flays PM's address
Cabinet approves PM’s address NepalNews
MJF suspends protest programmes for 10 days, demands Home Minister's resignation it did not guarantee "full proportional electoral system" for the forthcoming constituent assembly election, which has been a key demand of the Forum. ...... a number of Madhesi demands were yet to be met. There should be equal participation of Madhesis, Dalits, women and indigenous people in all organs of the state .... the MJF had given 10-day 'ultimatum' to the government for creating "conducive atmosphere" for talks and added that his group was firm on its demand that the Home Minister resign by taking responsibility for the loss of lives during the agitations. ........ The MJF said bandhs, blockades and protest rallies have been called for ten days but peaceful rallies and public awareness programmes would continue. ...... At least 29 people lost their lives and hundreds others were injured in clashes during the MFJ-led protests across Terai for more than three weeks.
Mixed reaction to PM's address on ground; indigenous community up in arms Biratnagar remained under 8-hour curfew from 10 am on Thursday despite the address by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on Wednesday night conceding to all the demands put forth by Terai agitators. .... peaceful demonstrations continue to be held in places like Bara and Gaur. In Janakpur and Birgunj, shops are still closed and transport remains paralysed. ...... in Kathmandu, Nepal Indigenous Community (Adivasi/Janjati) Federation held a street demonstration in Maitighar claiming that the PM's address is not adequate to address their grievances. The federation has been demanding federal state based on ethnic groups along with right to self determination; change in national animal; national colour and so on. ....... Tharu Kalyankari Sabha (Tharu Welfare Assembly) – an organisation of Tharu community – has announced Terai bandh on Thursday demanding Tharu autonomous region. Particularly, the western Terai districts like Dang, Banke, Kailali, Bardiya and Kanchanpur have been affected by their strike call.
Life returning to normalcy in Terai districts There have been no reports of violent protests in eastern Terai district on Thursday. .... local administration imposed day-time curfew in Biratnagar .... Bazaars and shops in different Terai districts that had remained closed for the past three weeks have started to open following the latest development. Some vehicles are also started plying in the streets. ..... life in Rajbiraj, Saptari is returning to normalcy as well. .... the meeting of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF), which is leading the violent protest in terai region, has decided to refrain from violent protest programmes and call off all the bandhs and protest programmes announced by the forum. ..... decided to continue its peaceful protest programme until its demands are fulfilled. .... 29 people were killed in recent unrest of the Terai region. ...... Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandidevi) also called off all its protest programme stating that the Prime Minster's address has addressed all the demands raised by Madhesi people. ..... The party however warned that it will again organise protest programm
NA writes to Defence Ministry for action against Brigadier Rana
CEC appeals to Maoists not to disrupt the voters' registration process
Speaker Nemwang says PM address has paved way for solution
Eight parties seal the deal; PM urges protesters to withdraw agitation 
Maoists demand legal action against Brigadier General Rana
Backward communities, indigenous people, others continue protests Kantipur Members of the Indigenous Nationalities Association, Indegenous Nationalities Joint Struggle Committee, Indegenous Nationalities Students' Union, Nationality Journalists' Union and Nepal Backward Community Association organised an hour long sit-in this morning around the Singhadurbar obstructing traffic...... Pasang Sherpa, chairman of the Indigenous Nationalities Association, said that the PM's address could not address its demands for a federal set up based on the principle of the right to self-determination and regional, language- and caste- based autonomy. ...... Nepal Backward Community Association, which is also involved in the protests, stated that the backward communities should be provided shelter in the population-based CA elections in the Terai region.
Agitating Madhesi Forum suspends protests for 10 days
Strife-torn Terai breathes again the locals are still in a state of confusion as the official reaction from Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF) has yet to come. ....... Tharu Kalyankarini Sabha complained that the PM's address could not include the demands of the Tharu community. It said that since there is a majority of Tharus in 12 districts of the country, the Interim Constitution should be amended immediately ...... Janakpur bazaar however remained partially open today. The forum members forced some of the shopkeepers to keep their shops shut.
Maoists demand legal action against Brigadier General RanaBackward communities, indigenous people, others continue protests Kantipur Members of the Indigenous Nationalities Association, Indegenous Nationalities Joint Struggle Committee, Indegenous Nationalities Students' Union, Nationality Journalists' Union and Nepal Backward Community Association organised an hour long sit-in this morning around the Singhadurbar obstructing traffic...... Pasang Sherpa, chairman of the Indigenous Nationalities Association, said that the PM's address could not address its demands for a federal set up based on the principle of the right to self-determination and regional, language- and caste- based autonomy. ...... Nepal Backward Community Association, which is also involved in the protests, stated that the backward communities should be provided shelter in the population-based CA elections in the Terai region.
Agitating Madhesi Forum suspends protests for 10 days
Strife-torn Terai breathes again the locals are still in a state of confusion as the official reaction from Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF) has yet to come. ....... Tharu Kalyankarini Sabha complained that the PM's address could not include the demands of the Tharu community. It said that since there is a majority of Tharus in 12 districts of the country, the Interim Constitution should be amended immediately ...... Janakpur bazaar however remained partially open today. The forum members forced some of the shopkeepers to keep their shops shut.
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