Preeti Koirala And Mainstream Pahadi Prejudice

Nepal: From Frying Pan to the Fire The following weeks have been the most dirty, horrid and disastrous days for the country’s 300 years as an independent and unified nation. The whole of the terai is now burning with the slogan of “federal structure” or “autonomy” which we all know is just a step away from declaring total independence. ...... Those that grumble about the Nepal Army not recruiting Madhesi soldiers should first ask why the British and the Indian Armies don’t recruit the Nepali madhesis in their Gorkha brigades and every year choose youngsters only from a few selected communities? Those that claim that they are about to change the 300 years of feudal oppression by introducing a “new Nepal” must now answer to the people what kind of a new Nepal is this where there is daily curfew in almost 7 districts, the capital city has been starved of almost all essential commodities, and where the entire southern belt which is the most prosperous agricultural and industrial area of Nepal is demanding that the interim constitution be scrapped? ...... It took 10 years for Prachanda and Baburam Bhattarai to reach where they are today but for Jwala Singh and Upendra Yadav it has merely been 3 weeks and they are already seen as dangerous. ...... Similar type of insurrections could break out in the mid-hills where the people of the Magar-Gurung-Rai-Limbu community are in majority. It could happen in Kathmandu valley where the “Newa Republican Front”- a sister organization of the CPN (Maoist) just recently held its general convention and called for all Newars to be united against the Bramins and Chhetris. The federation of Janajati community likewise has only on Sunday expressed its solidarity with the ongoing movement of Madhesi community. ........ We will once again be reduced to 22 different principalities. ...... Prachanda calls the Jantantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) and the Madheshi Janaadhikar Forum (MJF) in the Terai “a horde of dacoits and thugs” that have no political reasoning whatsoever and that the government should not hold dialogues with its leaders. He should look at himself in the mirror ....... there is also little difference between the violent actions of the CPN (Maoists) and the MJF itself. ...... the people of the terai especially those that went from the hills have been victims of one of the worst types of harassment, loot, and brutality. ....... the recent government decision of ‘generously’ distributing citizenship certificates to about 3 million people has invited unwarranted stress, root of another source of conflict and even a danger of making the Nepalese people a minority race in their own rightful country ...... India, the largest democracy on earth, has been in no hurry to grant Indian citizenship to over 10 million Nepalese living in Assam, Darjeeling, Shillong, Kalimpong, Kurseong and other parts of India from the last hundred years or more. Bhutan kicked out 1 hundred thousand Bhutanese of Nepalese origin in 1991 precisely on the ground that they were not included in the census of 1985. ....... evokes memories of Sikkim where an independent, sovereign, peaceful Himalayan state was aggressively merged with the Indian union in 1975. ...... meddling around with silly concepts such as “federal structure” at this juncture will only put ghee to the fire ...... The proportional representation system with 3 million Indian voters will make the Constituent Assembly lopsided ........ Both Aceh and East Timor decided to part ways with Indonesia and yet the Indonesian Armed forces were not allowed to save its nation from disintegrating. Instead, protecting one’s territorial integrity was named as an “abuse of human rights”. ....... I would humbly propose that the government should now immediately impose a state of emergency and mobilize the Nepal Army in the affected areas of the terai. This is not a law and order problem to be left to the police force alone. It is a heinous crime against the state and no democratic country can sit and watch while voices of separatism based on ethnicity has been raised. It is also the fundamental responsibility of the Nepal Army to save its nation from tumbling apart. This is exactly what every soldier has taken oath before joining the army. The Indian Army has been massively deployed throughout the Northeast, the Sri Lankan Army has been fighting against the LTTE for over 2 decades precisely to save their country from disintegrating. ........ bring together all forces of the country against this terai revolt and start afresh the political process. ....... The Constituent Assembly elections have now become secondary. Controlling the terai riots is now the primary duty before us. To correct this, the government must hold dialogues with all sides and all forces without arrogance or prejudice. And with the backing of a broad national consensus, resolve this ghastly attack on the territorial integrity of our beloved motherland.

This article reminds me of why I am so utterly ashamed of the Pahadi diaspora.

If 40% of Nepal is Madhesi, there should be a 40% chance of some Madhesi becoming Prime Minister or President, there should be a 40% chance of some Madhesi becoming Speaker of the House, there should be a 40% chance of some Madhesi becoming Commander In Chief, there should be a 40% chance of some Madhesi becoming Chief Justice. That is what one person one vote democracy would mean.

This is a Madhesi Movement. This is not a "revolt," this is no "unrest." This is no "rebellion." This is not a law and order problem. This is a political movement with a political solution.

How dare you Preeti Koirala? How dare you suggest because the Bhutani Nepalis were kicked out of Bhutan that makes them similar to the "Indians" in the Terai? How dare you justify the total Madhesi exclusion in the Nepal Army? How dare you refer to federalism as disintegration?
The Nepalis in America are powerless, no voting rights, no nothing. The Nepalis in New York City are powerless: they are Madhesi. And so they mentally migrate to the mini Nepals in their minds as often as they can so as to escape their immediate predicament. And often that means finding a warm nest in the prejudices they accumulated growing up from their shameful families.

And the Pahadi media in Kathmandu loves them for it. Prejudice with an American stamp on it looks legit.

America is not that far away from Nepal. It is not even separate from Nepal. The prejudice that I see in Preeti Koirala's person is the prejudice the Madhesis in Nepal face on a daily basis. Preeti Koirala and the likes of her are the source of "a thousand little indignities" for the Madhesis in Nepal.

Preeti Koirala gives ample proof why the 33% reservations for women can not be blanket. At least two thirds of those have to be for the Dalit, Madhesi and Janajati women. Preeti Koirala is a female version of the prejudiced Pahadi Bahuns in power. For her a Madhesi is Madhesi, it does not matter if the Madhesi is male or female.

Preeti Koirala is proof there is no correlation between education and open mindedness. More education merely means you become more articulate in expressing your prejudices. And the only way really to counter prejudice is through political action, through organizing, and, yes, through street action like that of the Madhesi Movement now. There is no other way.

The Madhesi Intifada is right on the mark. We have to take it to a whole new level. We have to intensify it.

I am giving a 10 minute talk at the New School on Saturday here in New York City. What I am basically saying to the predominantly Pahadi audience is, you are going to play ball with me. Noone is remotely close active in the Democratic Party circles in NYC. You need me to earn your voting rights in the city. And you are going to play ball with me on the Madhesi question in the Nepali context. You are going to play ball because you need me to empower you in New York City. We are going to conduct some business.

February 10: New School: The Madhesi Question

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The Accurately Named Krishna Pahadi
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In The News

Eight party meeting to discuss terai unrest begins NepalNews The meeting is likely to endorse the agreement reached between the four political parties on Monday. ..... Madhesi people have been protesting demanding amendment in the interim constitution to ensure a federal setup of the state and formation of electoral constituencies according to the population and proportional electoral system. ...... Koirala will brief the press about the agreement between ruling seven party alliance and the Maoists after the meeting
Brigadier Rana will face action for his comments, army chief tells parliament Nepal Army (NA) chief General Rukmangad Katawal today said the statement of the Western Division chief Brigadier Dilip SJB Rana regarding possible army mobilisation to defuse the tension in Terai did not represent the position of the Army and pledged action to Rana for his comment that has been widely panned for its political connotations. ..... Expressing serious concern over the “political comment” of Brigadier Rana, Speaker Subash Nemwang had summoned army chief Katuwal before a panel of parliamentarians in Singha Durbar to clarify the Army’s position regarding the controversy.
MJF releases Maoist lawmaker, others
Curfew in Biratnagar, Malangawa life in the eastern Terai region is returning to normalcy gradually ..... the situation in other districts of eastern Terai regions was normal till noon today. However peaceful protests are being carried out in some places.
European Commission to launch election exploratory mission
JTMM cadres abduct five in Saptari
Home Minister rules out resignation he conceded that he could resign if that helps the Prime Minister. ..... Sitaula has been facing criticism from both the MJF and his own party for the suppression against Madhesi people.
Home Minister’s resignation a pre-condition for talks: MJF
Maoists reveal countrywide public mobilisation campaign
Army General's remarks spark controversy He also urged NA officials to become physically and mentally ready to cope with possible new situation, particularly under the concept of Aid to Civil Authority. ..... Rana also said that there were still some possibilities that the Maoists could yet again return to violence if the Constituent Assembly elections is not held on time or if its results do not suit them. ...... deputy Prime Minister Amik Sherchan told BBC Nepali Service that it is for the government and not military officials to talk about such matters. ...... the remarks showed inability to embrace the political change ..... Brigadier General Ananta Thebe, spokesperson of the NA, said that Rana's remarks are his personal opinions and do not reflect the NA's position. He said the NA will carry out tasks as instructed by the government. He added that though he has not read the complete text of Rana's remarks, he could face action if he had spoken anything that went against the army's policy and position. "Nepali Army is the national army, which lives on people's taxes. Let there be no doubt that NA will do as per the government order and nothing else," Thebe said. ....... Rana's remarks have come days after Maoist chairman Prachanda indicated the possibility of deploying NA and Maoist army to quell Terai unrest. Prachanda had said that any such deployment has to be preceded by agreement among eight parties.