Satya Narayan Shah: Minimizing Conflict

Thought On Minimizing Madhesh's Current Conflicts

Janakpurdham - the heart of Madhesh or Terai is disturbed since last three weeks. The markets remain closed. No signs of activities are being observed in markets. Excepts the mass of political rallists only the stray dogs are visible even around the Janaki temple. People have started pouring in on roads on daily basis expressing different demands. In spite of such a big protests on daily basis it is highly pleasant to not that there has been no destructive attempts either to physical properties or with common people from the side of ralliests. Instead the local administration, particularly the police have beaten people mercilessly, fired guns on innocent observers, a insulted and assaulted the human rights commission representatives etc. So far more than 300 people have suffered from these brutual attacks of the local police. Out of these 300 about seven are in critical condition. One has been referred to PMCH-Patna, another to DMCH-Darbhanga of Bihar (India) and one is Teaching Hospital Kathmandu for special treatment. Some are still in zonal hospital Janakpur.

The on going revolt by the people is a sign of spill over effects of suppression faced by Madhesies during the past 200 years. This revolution would get calmed only after getting the full due rights as claimed by Madhesies. If the genuine demands of Madhesies are not addressed immediately Madhesh may go for a complete but independent state away from Nepal.

To conclude existing revolution is hovering around in following two demands.

The decision to reallocate national assembly seats on the basis of equal proportional representation of people.

On the basis of geographical consideration the separate state of Madesh with full rights for self determination except suzerainty, Foreign policy & Physical policy of the country.

The conflicts being observed in Madhesh at present is completely a political one. There is not a trace of truth in the rumor that the conflicts have been due to communal feelings or infused by any vested interest. In fact the Madhesies are awoken for their political, economic, human rights etc as per the established principles of democracy all over the world.

Suggestion:

Roughly 50 percent of the country's population is residing in Madhesh. Hence as per the essence of Millennium Goal of the UNO the Donor Agencies should think in contributing their resources at par in Madhesh to educate for social justice and ameliorate the economic condition of Madesh and Madheshies on a sustainable basis.

Satya Narayan Shah
Executive Director
SODEP

In The News

Police firing leaves 3 dead in Malangawa, 21 injured in Birgunj Kantipur
Jwala Singh led JTMM cadres kidnap 10 passengers from Rajbiraj
MPRF will sit for talks if Sitaula resigns: Raya
All-party meet on Terai unrest today All the legislator of the eight parties including the Maoists, members of the government talks team and the members of civil society, who recently visited the Terai region, among others are expected to participate in the meet being held at the parliamentary secretariat later today. .... the meeting would focus on the Terai violence and will prepare grounds for dialogue as well as make concrete decisions to resolve the unrest. ...... leaders of the civil society who had visited different parts of the strife-torn Terai region recently have concluded that the Terai unrest was spontaneous and urged the government not to suppress the demonstrations. ..... amidst the ongoing Madhesi movement, Speaker Nembang today urged the eight parties to formulate an interim constitution amendment proposal as soon as possible. ...... Nembang today made an appeal to the government to address the problems of the agitating Madhesi community. ....... Minister Oli, meanwhile, informed that as per the High Level Probe Commission (Raymajhi Commission) report, some names of those involved in suppressing the April movement have already been submitted to the Prime Minister. ...... Oli, who is presently undergoing treatment at T.U. Teaching Hospital for typhoid and jaundice, is leaving for Bangkok today for further treatment.
Silver lining still eludes Terai; curfew clamped in Sunsari, Biratnagar
MPRF cadres thrash journos in Biratnagar brutally beat up five journalists who had gone to cover a goodwill rally organized in Biratnagar. ..... the cadres surrounded the press men in a tight circle before proceeding to beat them up. ..... Binod Bhandary of the Kantipur National Daily, Mohan Manadhar of the Nepal Television, Shambhu Bhandary of Nepal-1, Bikram Luitel of the Samacharpatra Daily, and editor of Birat Darpan, Bijaya Pathak. ...... The forum members beat the reporters, alleging them of not writing news stories in the favor of the MPRF.
Petrol crisis deepens Petrol crisis deepened in the Kathmandu Valley as leading transits through which the product is imported remained closed for the 18th day on Saturday, due to the terai unrest. ........ In the absence of sufficient stock, the corporation this week pumped out 60,000 liters of petrol in average every day in the market, a mere one-third of the effective demand. Distribution of diesel and kerosene was still less. ...... the supply situation could worsen further if the unrest is not addressed soon ...... the corporation currently has enough stock of diesel and kerosene to meet demand for 10 days. ....... consumers in the Valley have already started feeling the shortage of cooking gas. Some one-dozen gas companies supplying cooking gas in the Valley have shut down refilling plants as they have run out of stock. ....... a sharp decline in the number of three-wheelers and micro-buses (operating with gas) plying on the streets.

Nepal police fire on Madhesi protesters, two killed Reuters.uk, UK
Nepal police fire on Madhesi protesters, 5 wounded Reuters AlertNet
Clamour for Nepal minister's ouster, Terai toll rises RxPG NEWS
3 protesters killed in police firing in southern Nepal Zee News, India
1 killed, 12 injured in police firing in Nepal's Terai region Indian Muslims
1 killed, 12 injured in police firing in Nepal's Terai region Islamic Republic News Agency
Nepal violence continues Hindu
Nepal Trans Woman Gains Dual Sex Papers 365Gay.com
Nepal gives legal status to transgender for the first time Zee News
Nepal Issues First Citizenship ID For Transgender Persons 247gay.com
Nepali becomes both man and woman BBC News
India hopes peaceful solution in Nepal Kantipur Online, Nepal
Three more killed in Nepal violence, journalists attacked (Roundup) Monsters and Critics.com, UK
Protestors Attack Journalists In South East Nepal Playfuls.com
Protester killed in Nepal violence Gulf Times
More killed as violence escalates in southern Nepal PeaceJournalism.com
NEPAL: Journalists, aid workers and rights activists under threat Reuters AlertNet, UK
Nepal:FNJ seriously concerned over attacks on media PeaceJournalism.com
Journalists under attack in Nepal Guardian Unlimited
Press Freedom Gorkhapatra
Bihar CM asks people to resist from traveling to Nepal PeaceJournalism.com, Nepal
Bihar asks residents not to visit Nepal Times of India
10000 Nepali move to north India due to violence at home PeaceJournalism.com
ADB’s Programs in Nepal’s Development PeaceJournalism.com, Nepal
Nepal police fire on Madhesi protesters, two killed Reuters India, India
Nepal Issues First Citizenship Certificate For Transgendered Person All Headline News

2 Protesters Killed in Sarlahi, Over 20 Hurt in Birgunj Police Firing Himalayan Times
Janakpur Protester Succumbs to Injuries According to Rabindra Thakur, central member of MJF, Pawan Kumar Shah, 20, a resident of Janakpur municipality – 2 of Dhanusha district succumbed to injuries at a hospital in Patna. Thakur said that dead body was being brought to Janakpur.
India Hopes Nepal Problem will be Solved
Curfew in Four Terai Districts Continues
Protesters Attack Journalists, Ambulances in Biratnagar
Gajurel Warns against Delay in CA Polls
NSP (A) Behind Failure of 8-party Meet: CP Mainali Tuesday’s eight-party meeting ended inconclusively after Nepal Sadbhavana Party (Anandidevi) insisted on “decreasing” the number of electoral constituencies in the hills and adding the number of constituencies in the Terai. ...... “The NSP (A) did not sign the statement, insisting that the number of electoral constituencies in the hills be decreased,” Mainali, who came down heavily on the party for fiercely pursuing its demands, said at a programme here on Saturday. ....... Criticising the party leaders for making a “childish” decision to boycott all eight-party meetings in which Terai does not figure, Mainali urged the NSP (A) to stop branding people as the Madhesis or Pahadis. “I urge the party to keep in mind that we all are Nepalis first.” ....... “It will be unwise to even think that the interim constitution should only meet your party’s demands,” he added. He added that he smelt rat in the ongoing Terai movement, saying the same could be a conspiracy to disintegrate Nepal. Terming the electoral system proposed in the interim constitution discriminatory, NSP (A) general secretary Rajendra Mahato said the country had to go for a federal system of governance to avoid any untoward incident. Uma Kanta Chaudhary of the Nepali Congress (Democratic) suggested amendments in the interim constitution, saying that holding elections to constituent assembly would be “meaningless” if demands of the Madhesis were not met.
Maoist People’s Revolutionary Council Reshuffled The Joint Revolutionary People’s Council, a political front of the CPN-Maoist headed by Dr Baburam Bhattarai, has reshuffled its central committee with a view to fighting “feudalism and imperialism”. ...... a 33-member central committee of the council. ...... Dev Gurung has been appointed member-secretary of the council while KB Mahara, Dinanath Sharma, Matrika Yadav, Nanda Kishor Pun, Lekh Raj Bhatta, Khadga Bahadur BK, Shivraj Gautam, Tilak Pariyar and Jayapuri Gharti are secretariat members. ....... Chiefs of all sister and other fronts affiliated to the CPN-Maoist have been made members of the council. ...... Prachanda, decided to “expose the conspiracy of the royalists who are inciting violence in the name of the Madhesis, indigenous people and nationalities”, but decided to support the just demands of the Madhesis, indigenous people and the nationalities. ...... The party also reinforced the need to immediately declare the country a democratic republic, go for a proportionate representation in the constituent assembly polls and take action against those indicted by the Rayamajhi Commission
Thakur Renews Call for Talks on Terai Issues Convenor of the government talks team and Minister for Agriculture and Co-operatives Mahanta Thakur today called those actively involved in protest programmes in Terai region for talks to see a peaceful solution to the problems facing the region. ....... "A decade-long insurgency ended recently. This is an opportunity for a peaceful settlement of conflicts," he said, adding, "Terai unrest can also be settled through dialogue and the government has already formed a team for the same." ...... Speaking at a programme organised by the Nepal Youth Society, Thakur said the team would proceed with talks once the agitating party come for dialogue. "Through dialogue we can attain what we cannot gain through violent means," he said.
Terai Unrest May Force Postponement of NSU Meets

Demands of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum: Some Highlights United We Blog, Nepal The Madhesi Janadhakar Forum’s behavior starkly differs from the list of demands they have put forward. The behavior is inflammatory and aims at disrupting communal harmony. ...... The Prime Ministerial Address of expressing acceptance of federal governance structure intent and earlier arrest of main actors of ‘regressive elements’ will subdue the Madhesi movement has belied the expectations. However, strict enforcement of curfew in some of the affected areas since few days have given a hope that anger will pacify in time. At the same time, widespread arson, destruction of public property and vandalism has continued abetted in some of the affected areas. ........ Madhesi Peoples’ Rights Forum (MPRF)], which had initiated the movement, had completely lost control over the movement. ....... attractive list of carefully worded demands such as: (1) federal democratic republic; (2) proportionate electorate system; (3) autonomy to Madhes region; (4) end of internal colonization; (5) regional autonomous governance system that includes right to self-determination; (6) rights on the land, natural resources and biological diversity of madhes; (7) racial and regional discrimination; (8) provide citizenship certificates to all madhesis without discrimination. ......... The concluding speeches at the end of the demonstrations (aam shabhas) are invariably in Hindi whereas they could have had spoken in native Maithili or Bhojpuri. Maithili are spoken about 13% of the population, Bhojpuri by about 8% as mother language whereas Hindi is spoken merely by 0.47% (as mother tongue) according to the Population Census, 2001. Maithili and Bhojpuri are similar and there is no difficulty in comprehension. ........ None of Hill-origin Terai communities have participated in this movement because the MJF already excluded these communities by their slogans and labeling them ‘pahadiya’. ...... Maithili communities such as Jha, Mishra (who are considered aboriginal) or other aboriginal communities such as Tharus, Rajbhansis, Dhimals, Jhagars have not shown any inclination to participate in this movement. In fact, Tharu community (6.8% of the total population) has already informed through press-release that it does not consider itself madhesi community. None of the Terai-based Dalit communities such as Mushar, Dom, Chamar, Harijan etc have found reasonable existence within the MJF. .......... The central committee membership and its activists belong to Yadav, Mahato, Mehta, Gupta, Kamath, Sah, Das communities. Unfortunately, it has now become community-based politics instead for Terai region. In comparison, the Maoists had more diversified ethical participation than the MJF. ...... Geographically, Terai is at advantageous position because of plain and fertile land with maximum of economic activity concentrated in that area. The entire transport network linking whole nation is based in Terai. In other words, the resources of the entire nation are in Terai. And, if it decides to segregate, then rest of Nepal will be landlocked doubly – first by India and then by independent Terai country. Aspirations for autonomous regions with right to self-determination such as Limbuwan, Magarat, etc will have nothing to gain and can merely exist on its own in economically integrated world if Terai segregates. The situation can be most unfortunate with huge disadvantages. ........ Second fatal demand is the stoppage of internal colonization. ........ MJF is signaling at a condition wherein commercial transactions such as buying land and setting up of businesses will be legally closed to other communities (as in J&K, Arunachal in India) and these activities can be only undertaken by madhesis as defined by MJF. ......... the blame squarely lies in the shoulder of the Maoists who during their people’s war had sowed the seeds of communal hatred. Many cadres were lured to support the people’s war with a promise of ethical autonomy and political division on the basis of ethnicity.
Doing Justice Right Nepalnews.com, Nepal those born with silver spoons in their mouth just by the virtue of being hill- dwellers or the Pahadis, but also for the Madhesis for whom honor, human worth and dignity has been a far-fetched dream. ....... the most awaited interim constitution that everybody hoped would be fair and inclusive, appeared a sham - the final straw that broke the camel's back. ....... The demands of the Madhesis are simple and humble- 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. Yet, the response have been high-and-mighty: the news about casualties and violence against the Madhesis have been suppressed to keep the world unaware of such incidents; Madhesis have been killed, looted, attacked, vandalised and their houses have been burnt with the support of and backed by Nepal police; curfews have been imposed in Madhesi towns and their basic rights suspended to choke-off their voices; peaceful protesters are hurled into custody and tortured without any legal basis... and the torment continues. According to different sources, at least 10 Madhesis have already been shot dead, about 350-400 injured and dozens of them in serious condition, and the numbers are mounting each passing day. ....... the Prime Minister's address to the nation on January 31 st turned out a poem full of ambiguities. That “the federal structure of the nation will be created during the formation of new constitution after the election to the constituent assembly” is hard to pin one's faith on. Moreover, to say that constituencies will be added based on population increase seems to be merely an attempt to mislead Madhesi people. ........ In all this topsy-turvy and the circumstances where cards seem stacked against the Madhesis, one thing that seems intact and bound is the unity of Madhesis all over the globe. ...... Observing the Madhesi unity and the solidarity shown by some empathetic Pahadis, Madhesis can hope for light at the end of the tunnel.

Govind Shah: Peaceful Resolution

DIALOGUE FOR PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF MADHESHI MOVEMENT
Shree Govind Shah
3 February 2007

Madheshi people staged protests and demonstrations since 19 January 2007 primarily under the guidance and leadership of Madheshi Jan Adhikar Forum. Other political organizations such as Sadbhavana Party (A) and Jantantrik Mukti Morcha were also involved in Madheshi movement, which is seen by many people and civil societies as ANDOLAN III. People from rural areas and women in large numbers are taking part in this mass movement, never seen in the history of Madhesh. If such a mass movement would have been taken place in Kathmandu, the government would have been either changed or removed by the people. Government mechanism does not seem to be very serious and people from Tarai have no faith on the present government. This would invariably affect democratic movement in the country.

Madheshi people are fighting for their NATURAL RIGHTS and survival in Nepal; equal rights and opportunities in all aspects of social, political, and economic life. The demands are as follows:
a) Federal system of governance and regional autonomy with rights to self determination,
b) Proportional representation according to population in the Constituent Assembly,
c) Redelineation of the Constituencies, and
d) Representation of Madheshi people in State organs and programmes during the transition period

These demands are genuine, very rational and legitimate.

Movement got support from Human Rights organizations, UN Mission, and the international community in Nepal. The State used police force brutally and 19 Madheshi people were killed and more than 550 people were injured till 3 February 2007. Some of the injured persons are in critical stage.

The State was put under pressure and the Prime Minister on 31 January expressed commitment for a federal system of governance and some increment to the number of electoral constituencies in Tarai region. He made a provision for forming a committee to hold dialogue with the groups staging protests and demonstrations. Most political parties such as UML, NC (P), CP Maoist, Prajatantra Party and Madheshi Jan Adhikar Forum as well as Human Rights organizations and Civil Societies have felt that the Prime Minister’s commitment could not address the basic political issues raised by Madheshi people. However, the PM’s address has opened door for dialogue, which has been accepted by some of the groups staging protests.

On 2 February, government formed a 3-member “Talk Team” led by Mr. Mahant Thakur, Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives to hold dialogue with the agitating parties in Tarai, the other members being Gyanendra Bahadur Karki (NC-Democratic) and Rajendra Pande (UML). The affected Tarai political groups are still working on forming a cohesive “Talk Team”.

We assume that the Tarai Talk Team would discuss the above mentioned four demands in the in the dialogue with the government Team thoroughly and concisely. However, they would need technical support from intellectual groups and civil societies during the dialogue process. We have to make the Tarai Talk Team ‘Do it for people’.

The components of the four major issues are discussed here, which would help the groups in the dialogue process. This is not complete and I request your input to finalise it. This will be given to the Talk Team and widely circulated for knowledge and information. We would not be in the Talk Team and but we can press both the Talk Teams during dialogue; we have to influence them for acceptable outcomes.

Working Paper on Demands by Madheshi Movement

TALKS MODALITY

The first and the foremost thing is the Talk Modality. All the concerned groups involved in protests and demonstrations are to be included in all forms of dialogue. This should include:

a) Concerned groups involved in Madheshi Movement such as Madheshi Jan Adhikar Forum, Jantantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha, Sadbhavna Party (A)
b) Representatives from Civil Societies
c) Observers: International IDEA Sweden (Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance) - working in the area of constituency, democracy etc; technical assistance; UN system – assistance for peace process.

Federal system of governance,

Demand I: Establishment of Federal System of Governance and Regional Autonomy with Rights to Self Determination

We can seek advice from various national and international bodies.

The following components of Demand – 1 are to be discussed and agreed by both government and Tarai groups.

1. Establishment of central government at national level and a number of provincial governments of common nationality.

2. A “Madhesh Pradesh” in the Tarai ecological region extending from Mechi River in the east to Mahakali River in the west will be established as a province under the federal system of governance in Nepal.

3. Distribution of powers is an essential feature of federalism. The central national government would exercise power over some issues and the provincial governments would exercise power over other issues. Powers among the three branches of government – legislative, executive, and judicial are to be separated between national government and provincial governments. Both the Central and Provincial governments shall have three independent branches of government: Legislative, Judiciary and Executive. The framework has to be discussed and agreed by both the Teams. Some of the framework examples are given in Table 1.

Table 1. Powers distribution between national and provincial governments
(This Table is not complete)

SN National government Provincial government
A. Legislative
The Legislative body at Central and Provincial level shall function independently.
Defence, national security, and foreign policy Legislative shall function independently except in matters related to defence and foreign policy
Provincial government shall participate in the administration of all sectors of governance except foreign affairs and defence.
B. Executive
The executive bodies at central and provincial level shall function independently, but with necessary inter-linkages and coordination between them.
1 National fiscal policy Provincial fiscal policy
2. National economic policy; National Planning Provincial economic policy; provincial planning; regional autonomous policy
3. National policy on natural and cultural resources; water management for hydropower generation, river basin transfer Use and management of natural and cultural resources; water for irrigation; land management for increasing agriculture production; forest management; authority to negotiate with other provinces, and bilateral and multilateral agencies.
4. National education policy Provincial education policy
5. National Public service commission Provincial public service commission
6. Revenue collection and management
Joint Revenue Commission to be established to work on modalities for provincial and national distribution and management of revenue including hydropower and mining
7. National transport and communication, and civil aviation Provincial transport and communication
8. Policy on industry and commerce Actions on provincial industrial and commerce development
9. National and provincial commissions on police management, judicial management, public service, education, anti-corruption and good governance, indigenous, dalit and disadvantaged communities

B. Judicial
The judicial body at Central and Provincial level shall function independently.
1. Establishment of constitutional court at the national level to interpret constitutional arrangements regarding provinces and central government Provincial judicial Council/Commission will have jurisdiction over provincial court of Appeal, zonal court and district courts and other administrative bodies in the province
2. Management of High courts and Supreme courts Control over lower courts
3. Independent commission on the relationship with the national government and other provinces

Structure of Provinces

1. Each province will have few zones made up of a group of districts. Zones shall be formed based on language, geography and population.

2. The administrative boundaries of all the existing districts shall be reviewed and realigned on the basis of geography, ecology, topography, population and linguistic characteristics.

Structure of Madhesh Pradesh

1. The Madhesh Pradesh will comprise of five administrative zones, established on the basis of language, geography and population (Table 2). Each zone will have a total population in the range of 2.0 – 2.5 million, and will consist of a group of administrative districts.

2. New administrative districts shall be established by realigning the boundaries of the existing districts based on geography, ecology, topography, population and linguistic characteristics. The hill and mountain area in the existing 20 administrative Tarai districts shall be excluded, and made part of other provinces. Similarly, Tarai ecological area of other districts will be included in the realigned Madhesh districts e.g. Udaypur district.

3. The local government at district level shall be based on decentralized principles of governance, similar to the existing provisions of the Local Governance Act 2058 BS (2002).

Table 2: Proposed Zone and Districts of the Madhesh Pradesh
Population figures in ‘000

Zone No. Districts 1/ Population 2/
(‘000) Total Area 3/
(‘000ha) Siwalik hills and mountain areas (‘000ha)
I. 1. Jhapa 688.2 156.9 10.3 (6.6%)
2. Morang 843.2 184.7 35.4 (19.2%)
3. Sunsari 625.6 127.1 11.3 (8.9%)
Sub Total 2,157.0 468.7 57.0 (27.1%)
II 4. Saptari 570.3 135.9 31.6 (23.3%)
5. Siraha 572.4 122.8 27.8 (22.6%)
6. Dhanusha 671.4 121.8 31.8 (26.1%)
7. Mahottari 553.5 98.8 15.6 (15.8%)
Sub Total 2,367.7 479.3 106.8 (22.3%)
III 8. Sarlahi 635.7 126.3 17.6 (13.9%)
9. Rauthat 545.1 103.7 7.8 (7.5%)
10. Bara 559.1 129.6 17.5 (13.5%)
11. Parsa 497.2 139.0 48.5 (34.9%)
12. Chitwan 472.1 219.5 113.0 (51.5%)
Sub Total 2,709.2 718.1 204.4 (28.5%)
IV 13. Nawalparasi 562.9 201.6 156.3 (77.5%)
14. Rupandehi 708.4 141.4 22.4 (15.1%)
15. Kapilvastu 482.0 175.7 28.4 (16.2%)
16. Deukhuri Dang 462.4 297.3 194.0 (65.2%)
Sub Total 2,215.7 816.0 401.1 (49.2%)
V. 17. Banke 385.8 236.0 119.8 (50.8%)
18. Bardiya 382.7 203.6 63.6 (31.2%)
19. Kailali 616.7 324.8 132.0 (31.6%)
20. Kanchanpur 377.9 163.7 19.5 (11.9%)
Sub Total 1,763.1 928.1 334.9 (36.1)
TOTAL 11,200.9 3,410.2 1,104.2 (32.4%)
Source: Shah (2006)
1/ Currently, there are 20 administrative districts in the Tarai region
2/ Population as per 2001 census
3/ ISR&RC District Development Profile of Nepal

Demand 2: Proportional representation according to population in the Constituent Assembly

1. Both the government and the Madheshi movement groups should agree on proportional representation system based on population in the forthcoming Constituent Assembly election.

2. Consideration could be made to elect one person each from the six Himal districts such as Manag, Mustang, Dolpa, Humla, Mugu and Rasuwa for the Constituent Assembly; these districts are primarily the habitat of Janjati ethnic community. These districts had population ranging from 9,587 (Manag) to 43, 937 (Mugu) in 2001.

Demand 3: Redelineation of the Constituencies

1. Currently, the average population per constituency in mountain districts and Tarai districts is about 73,000 and 127,500 respectively. This drastically reduces the number of parliamentarians from Tarai administrative districts. As about 48% of the country’s total population live in 20 Tarai districts, 48% of the total constituent assembly members should be from Tarai districts.

2. Both the government and the Madheshi movement groups should agree on Redelineation of the constituencies based on population for the forthcoming Constituent Assembly election. About 70,000 population should be considered for each constituency. About 300-310 constituencies could be delineated.

3. Ethnic communities e.g. indigenous Janjati, Dalits and Muslim should be represented in the Constituent Assembly on the basis of their population.

Demand 4: Representation of Madheshi people in State organs and programmes during the transition period

1. Madheshi people including Janjati, Dalit, and Muslim have been, in practice, excluded in the socio-economic, political governance, decision-making and policy planning processes, and in major state organs. Similarly, the donors and the international agencies/ organisations have mostly excluded development activities in areas where Madheshi people have majority.
There would be a transition period of about 3 years before the provinces under the federal system would start functioning. Both the government and the Madhesh Movement groups should agree on including Madheshi people in all state organs and activities.

2. Madheshi should be explicitly included in the exclusionary group. Currently, government’s commitment is only to Janjati, Dalit and women groups.

3. Inclusion in practice of Madheshi people in all kinds of State approved programmes and opportunities. Both the government and the Madhesh Movement groups should agree on penalties for non-compliance.

4. Government should immediately redirect donor communities, international agencies, and INGOs to develop and implement socio-economic development programmes in Tarai districts.

5. Both the government and the Madhesh Movement groups should agree on declaring and respecting all the Madheshi people killed during the Madheshi Movement as “Martyrs”. The government should compensation and rehabilitate the martyr’s families under an acceptable package.

6. Government should bear all the expenses for treating all the injured persons now hospitalised in Nepal and India. Government should immediately pass an ‘order’ and direct the concerned ministries to comply. Some of the injured persons are amputated and some of them would not be able to work for their living as normal person. Government should compensation and rehabilitate them and their families under an acceptable package.

7. Government should immediately and effectively stop use of brutal police force against the protests and demonstrations and immediately remove curfew in Tarai districts.

8. The government should form a judicial commission to investigate the killings in Tarai and perpetrators should be brought to justice.


Dr. Shree Govind Shah
Environmentalist and Policy Analyst
Chair Person, Adhoc Committee, Federation of Madheshi Community Nepal
P.O. Box 8975, EPC 1830
Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone: (977-1) 5526 903
Email: sgsjune10@yahoo.co.uk
sgs@erma.wlink.com