Press Release
February 3, 2007
The Nepalese Democratic Youth Council in USA (NDYCUSA) has been closely watching the latest political development in Nepal and our attention has seriously been drawn to the ongoing demonstrations and unrest in the Terai region of Nepal . As one of the leading Diaspora organizations continuously working for the restoration of democracy and peace in Nepal since October 2002, the NDYCUSA is strongly concerned over delay in addressing the genuine demands raised by our Madeshi sisters and brothers for creating a new Nepal with an inclusive, representative and participatory democracy. Our Madhesi sisters and brothers have been marginalized and deprived by the state for a long-time and we strongly urge the government of Nepal to ensure that the interim constitution provides equal rights and opportunities for Madeshi people as well as all other marginalized and underrepresented groups of Nepali society.
We urge the government of Nepal to immediately start dialogue with the agitating parties including The Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) and address the issues of federalism, proportional representation, and equal opportunities. We would also like to urge all agitating parties to immediately hold dialogue with the high-level government committee recently formed by Nepal government to initiate talks with agitators.
With the promulgation of interim constitution, Nepal is at the historic crossroads. Anything that derails Nepal ’s peace process and delays the constituent assembly elections will have a huge negative impact on creating a new democratic and prosperous Nepal . Thus, in order to ensure Nepal ’s new-found peace and a true democracy, all problems should be sorted out by dialogue and through non-violent means. The NDYCUSA is seriously concerned about the increased violence and unrest in Terai and believes that if the issues raised by ongoing Madesh movement are not addressed immediately, the violence may spiral out of control and the regressive forces will surely try to fish in the troubled water. We strongly believe that as the Terai unrest lingers, the regressive forces will be emboldened, the peace process with the Maoists will be derailed, and there will be delay in holding constituent assembly elections, which is the major achievement of April revolution and the main aspiration of Nepali people. Thus, we urge upon all agitating parties to come for talks with the government without any reservations and preconditions.
We would also like to urge the seven-party alliance of Nepal and the Maoists to rise above the partisan politics by not manipulating Terai issues in their party favor and pressurize the agitating parties and the government to hold dialogue immediately. Moreover, the seven-party alliance and the Maoists should develop a culture of a good coalition in order to stir the country from this transition, counter and defeat all ploys of the regressive forces, and hold constituent assembly elections timely and peacefully. We urge the seven-party alliance and the Maoists to further consolidate their alliance and sort out all the difference in the eight party meetings.
Anand Bist
President
The Nepalese Democratic Youth Council in USA (NDYCUSA)
Anand Bist, Troublemaker (January 10, 2006)
September 16 Protest Rally (September 16, 2005)
Chitralekha
The Accurately Named Krishna Pahadi
Girija Has Proven To Be A Cruel Joke Upon Nepal
Pahadi Bias Colors Global Media
Butchers, Stop The Killing, You Will Get Tried
Action Plan: 5 + 5
Gagan Thapa On The Terai
On surface this press release looks good. It even looks progressive. It has been released. It talks of equality and inclusion. It talks of peace, democracy and constituent assembly elections.
But this press release is fundamentally wrong. Why?
It is too late coming. Anand Bist takes pride in starting work for the democracy movement in Nepal right after Deuba dissolved the House in 2002. He was "early." But he sees the Madhesi Movement only today when close to 20 nonviolent soldiers of the Madhesi Movement have already been mowed down by Sitaula's police. Was he this late during the April Revolution. I stayed overnight at his place on day three of the April Revolution. That camaraderie has not been extended to the Madhesi Movement.
This release parrots Girija Koirala's cruel speech to the nation. Dialogue? What dialogue? This is a movement. You meet the basic demands of the movement. That is the only resolution.
The press release studiously stays away from the basic demands of the Madhesi Movement. That is how Pahadi prejudice seems to get expressed these days.
The Home Minister has to resign immediately. Why is that not mentioned in the press release? That has to be the departure point of any resolution.
NDYCUSA prides itself in being affiliated with the Nepali Congress, and there is nothing wrong with that, except right now that seems to ask for a fundamental dishonor of the Madhesi Movement.
That Nepali Congress is going to be swept out of the Madhesh during the constituent assembly elections. Girija Koirala ko Biratnagar ma jamanat jabt hunchha. Krishna Situala le chunav ladne kura na sonche pani hunchha.
- Krishna Situala has to resign.
- Girija Koirala has to go on TV.
- He has to address the nation saying he has agreed to declare a federal republic now, and that federal republic has Madhesh as a state.
Nepalese diaspora express concern over Terai unrest
Kantipur Report
KATHMANDU, Feb 4 - The Nepalese Democratic Youth Council in USA (NDYCUSA) has expressed its concern over the ongoing demonstrations and unrest in Terai.Issuing a statement on Saturday, the NDYCUSA said, "The Nepalese Democratic Youth Council in USA (NDYCUSA) has been closely watching the latest political development in Nepal and our attention has seriously been drawn to the ongoing demonstrations and unrest in the Terai region of Nepal," adding that it is concerned over delay in addressing the demands raised by the Madeshi community.
"Our Madhesi sisters and brothers have been marginalized and deprived by the state for a long-time therefore it is the government’s duty to ensure that the interim constitution provides equal rights and opportunities to them as well as other marginalized and underrepresented groups of Nepali society," council president Anand Bist said in the statement.
Likewise, the NDYCUSA has also urged the government of Nepal to immediately start dialogue with the agitating parties including The Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) and address the issues of federalism, proportional representation, and equal opportunities.
"In order to ensure Nepal 's new-found peace and a true democracy, all problems should be sorted out by dialogue and through non-violent means".
Meanwhile, the Association of Nepalis in the Americas (ANA) has also expressed its concern over the ongoing Terai unrest.
Issuing a statement, the ANA expressed its apprehension regarding the deteriorating law and order situation, loss of lives and property, surging communal discord and the possibility of another protracted conflict in the nation.
"ANA urges the government of Nepal to address the grievances of Madhesi people and work for negotiated settlement among all conflicting fractions and parties involved to bring a peaceful solution," the statement read, "The ANA also urges the protesters to put an end to all violent means in strongest terms and join a process of settlement with the government".
Likewise, the ANA has also appealed to the protesters to put an end to all violent activities.
"ANA also condemns the use of excessive force and reaffirms its support and solidarity in the development of Nepal. As always, we are ready to assist in any way possible," the statement read.
