Monday, February 19, 2007

Bahun Federalism Is No Federalism At All



Proposed Constitution

Federalism is just a word for the Bahuns. They feel the pressure, and so they say it, but their heart is not in it. Now that they are forced to pay lip service to the word, their next step strategy is to offer federalism in word but not in deed, and that includes the Maoist Bahuns.

Maoist federalism is the Soviet model, the Chinese model. In the Chinese model, Tibet is an autonomous region, but we all know what that means.

We want a federalism whose shape is democratically decided by the people. The Madhesi Movement has clearly shaped the boundaries of the Madhesh state, but these Bahuns are using all their powers to malign the very concept of that Madhesh state. They have not stopped talking disrespectfully of the Madhesi Movement and its martyrs.

First they will offer MahendraPath federalism. You will have decentralization, you will have reorganized zones and development regions. They will want to create regions, not states.

When they say federalism, they mean decentralization. You are talking apples and oranges.

When you say federalism in Nepal, you are talking of about 10 states. And just like in India, they are going to be ethnic, lingual states. The Madhesi want that. The Janajati want that.

Federalism is about democracy. If the people want federalism, they are going to get federalism. If the Madhesi people want a Madhesh state, that is what they are going to get. No force on earth can prevent the creation of a Madhesh state. Who are the Bahuns?

The Bahuns are not preparing to obstruct the creation of the Madhesh state. They are preparing to lose elections. They are preparing to get wiped out of the Madhesh.

The concept of a Madhesh state is the Madhesi Movement's gift to me.

The Bahun mindgame is not taking the Bahuns anywhere this time.

If they were democrats, they would compete to match their political programs with the aspirations of the people. But they are not democrats, they are Bahuns. They are not driven by the democratic spirit, they are driven by Bahun prejudice.

First they will pay lip service to federalism. Then they will want to go into the elections without any specific map. They will tell us all that will be decided in the assembly. Then they will come up with a map in the assembly that does not grant the Madhesi and the Janajati their states. And then they will try to suggest that such are regions and not states, just bigger and better districts. That is their gameplan.

And if all fails, and they are forced to give the Madhesi and the Janajati their states, they will do all to make sure those states have as little power as possible.

We have to understand their gameplan, and we have to defeat the same.

We want a Madhesh state that will have its own parliament. The Madhesh state will retain at least half the revenue it generates. As for the other half that goes to the center, the Madhesh will have MPs that are proportionate in number to the population of the Madhesh. The center should not have any power to dismiss a democratically elected state government.

We have to get very specific about the federalism that we want. Otherwise these Bahuns are going to play mindgames every step of the way.

It is urgent that the Janajati Movement produce a specific map for federalism.

Work To Defeat Them

The goal of the Madhesi Janajati Movement should not be to convince the Bahuns to change their minds. The goal should be to defeat them. The goal should be to force upon them fair procedures for the constituent assembly and then to beat them at the polling booth.

The Madhesi Janajati Movement needs to work to form its own political party.

Nepal Sarkar Needs To Set Up A Tribunal
Krishna Sitaula's Resignation: Why It Is Important
Of Hindu Supremacists And Muslim Martyrs
चुनावी जंग
Upendra Yadav Interview

In The News

MFJ announces fresh stir NepalNews the MJF would also carry out agitations in coordination with other protesting groups including janajatis (indigenous nationalities). ..... publicity campaign, mass meetings, peaceful rallies, chakka jam (transport strike) and bandhs (general strikes).
King's message stirs hornet's nest; parties term it grossly inappropriate
King's Democracy Day message; says Feb 1 was result of compulsion
Registration of arms over; UN team submits report
Prachanda expects interim cabinet in a week
Civil society leaders denounce King's message
Students demonstrate against King's statement
Government yet to start talks; more protest likely The government has not even started talks with the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NFIN). The NFIN has been continuing its protest programes as the government is yet to initiate dialogue with it. ....... People of Mahesh and Indigenous Nationalities expressed dissatisfaction over the government's attempt to initiate the process of amending the interim statute without holding talks with them.
Prachanda wants to declare republic
Jamiat Ulama-E-Nepal highlighting their demands for representation in the state mechanism.

MPRF to resume peaceful yet intensified protests Kantipur
Nation to see another Feb 1 move if timely CA elections don't take place: Nepal Nepal said "Democratic behavior is also not seen, even in our own party", adding that the establishment of a federal Nepal on the basis of ethnicity was impossible but that rights of the ethnic groups, however, must be secured. ...... Nepali Congress leader Narahari Acharya said that the political parties are still undecided over the type of the federal setup that Nepal will have ..... Nepal Sadhbhavana Party (Anadidevi) leader Sarita Giri said that it was unfortunate that even after Home Minister Sitaula himself apologized over the Terai unrest, the eight parties continued to remain silent on the issue.
57th Democracy Day being celebrated across nation
NC rejects temporary voters’ list
Monarchy end must for federalism: Prachanda Prachanda claimed it was time to declare the country a republic state both from the parliament and the street simultaneously. ..... Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai, Matrika Yadav and Ram Bahadur Thapa (Badal) also addressed the meet. ...... Bhattarai and Yadav termed Upendra Yadav, chairman of the Madhesi People's Rights Forum, a puppet of both the palace and the Bharatiya Janata Party. ...... Maoist cadres and other people from Koshi, Mechi and Sagarmatha zones gathered in the city. ..... Maoist volunteers took control of the traffic operation in Biratnagar since morning. Over 50,000 people gathered at the venue, observers estimated. The party claimed it had congregated over 300,000 people from across the eastern region. ...... Prachanda was projected as the Supreme Commander of the People's Liberation Army of the Maoists rather than chief of the party. ..... Some 20 vehicles arrived at the airport to receive Prachanda. The number plate of a government vehicle used in the security convoy read PLA-1. Maoist combatants patrolled around the motorcade in a pick up with installed siren and red lights.
Eight party discussion on interim statute amendment concludes, contentious points unresolved
वार्ता सुरु भएन, पुनः आन्दोलन तयारी 'हामीले सरकार कति संवेदनशील छ भनेर हेर्‍यौं, तर कुनै किसिमको गम्भीरता पाइएन,' फोरमका अध्यक्ष उपेन्द्र यादवले कान्तिपुरस“ग भने- 'अब हामीस“ग थप आन्दोलनको विकल्प रहेन ।' उनले बैठक सोमबार बिहान पनि बस्ने बताए । उनले भने- 'हामी समीक्षा गर्दै भावी कार्यक्रम बनाउ“दै छौं ।' महासंघको पर्ूवघोषित कार्यक्रमअनुसार आइतबार भेरी, कर्ण्ााली, सेती र महाकाली अञ्चल बन्द गर्‍यौं । आदिवासी जनजातिले फागुन १६ गतेसम्मको कार्यक्रम यसअघि नै र्सार्वजनिक गरिसकेका छन् । उनीहरूले दोस्रो चरणको आन्दोलन फागुन १६ गते नेपाल बन्द गरेर टुंग्याउने तय गरेको छ । .... वार्ता नै नगरी संविधान संशोधनको प्रक्रिया अघि बढाइएकोमा मधेसी तथा आदिवासी जनजातिहरू थप आक्रोशित बनेका छन् । ...... दुवै पक्षले वार्ताप्रति सरकारको धारणा हलुका रहेको स्पष्ट भएको प्रतिक्रिया दिएका छन् । 'सम्बोधनमा भएको कुरामात्र रहेको हु“दा यसले आदिवासी जनजातिलाई छु“दैन भन्ने हाम्रो पर्ूवअडान कायमै छ,' महासंघका अध्यक्ष पासाङ शर्ेपाले भने- 'साथै वार्ताबिना नै संविधान संशोधन प्रक्रिया थालनी गर्नुले वार्ताप्रति सरकार गम्भीर नरहेको स्पष्ट पारेको छ ।' ...... फोरमका अध्यक्ष यादवले पनि सरकारको रबैया वार्ता उन्मुख नभएको बताएका छन् । 'उहा“ आफैं संविधान बनाउनु हुन्छ, आफैं उल्लंघन गर्ने र संशोधन गर्ने गरिरहनुभएको छ,' उनले भने- 'वार्ता गर्ने भनिसकेपछि त्यसपछिको निष्कर्षा पो संशोधन हुनुपर्ने हो । यो उहा“हरूको अहंकार हो ।' ...... आदिवासी जनजातिले जातीय, भाषिक र क्षेत्रीय आधारमा संघीय राज्य प्रणाली र सूचीमा आधारित पर्ूण्ा समानुपातिक निर्वाचन प्रणालीको माग गरेका छन् । साथै अन्तरिम संविधानमा रहेको सम्पर्ूण्ा विभेदकारी व्यवस्थाहरूको खारेजीको माग गरेको छ ।
माओवादीद्वारा धीरेन्द्र शाहको घर कब्जा
महेन्द्रनगर-टनकपुर सडक बन्ने
राजतन्त्रको अन्त्य गरेपछि मात्र ँसंघीय स्वशासन’ सभामा ५० हजारभन्दा बढी सहभागी थिए । सभामा माओवादी अध्यक्ष प्रचण्डलाई दलका नेताभन्दा बढी जनसेनाका सर्वोच्च कमान्डरको रूपमा प्रस्तुत गरिएको थियो । कार्यक्रमको मञ्चमै जनसेनका सर्वोच्च कमान्डर प्रचण्डको स्वागतमा ८ फिटको व्यानर लगाइएको थियो । ..... अब संसद र सडकबाट राजतन्त्रको अन्त्य भएको उद्घोष गरी गणतन्त्रको घोषणा गर्ने समय आइसकेको बताए ..... वरिष्ठ नेता संयुक्त क्रान्तिकारी जनपरिषदका संयोजक डा. बावुराम भट्टर्राईले राजतन्त्रको अन्त्य नभएसम्म मुलुकमा संघीय शासनको स्थापना हुन नसक्ने बताए । उनले भने, राजतन्त्र एकात्मक शासनको मेरूदण्ण्ड हो । यो रहेसम्म विकेन्द्रीत संघीय शासन लागू हुन सक्ने कुरालाई सामान्य राजनीति बुझेकाले पनि मान्न सक्तैन । ...... 'संघीय राज्यको माग गर्दै आन्दोलन गर्ने दरवारिया प्रचण्डको पुत्ला जलाउ“दै मधेसको खोल ओढेर राजालाई बचाउने षडयन्त्र गर्दैछन् ।' मधेसको आन्दोलन दरवारियाको षडयन्त्र होइन भने त्यहा“ राजतन्त्रविरुद्ध नारा र पुत्ला जल्नुपर्ने थियो । ... पार्टर्ीी पर्ूर्वी कमान्डर रामबहादुर थापा -बादल) को सभापतित्वमा भएको सभामा प्रचण्ड पत्नी तथा केन्द्रीय सल्लाहाकार सीता, केन्द्रीय सदस्य एवं डिपुटी कमान्डर वलदेव, केन्द्रीय सदस्य गोपाल किरा“ती र पर्ूर्वी डिभिजन कमान्डर प्रवानाको पनि उपस्थिति थियो । ... सभामा विभिन्न भेषभूषका झा“की र नृत्य पनि पर््रदर्शन गरिएको थियो ।
राज्य पुनःसंरचनाको आन्दोलन तर्राई, पहाड र हिमालमध्ये तर्राई र हिमाल वर्षौंदेखि पछि पर्दै आएका छन् । ...... मधेस तीनवटै भू्भागमध्ये सबैभन्दा पछि परेको क्षेत्र हो । स्रोतसाधनले अगाडि तर विकासमा पछाडि पारि“दै आएको छ । ...... राज्यको कुनै पनि क्षेत्रमा मधेसको उचित प्रतिनिधित्व छैन । देशमा जुन शासक आए पनि मधेसलाई उपयोग गर्ने प्रवृत्ति फेरिएन । मधेस र मधेसीहरूको इतिहासलाई उपेक्षामात्र गरिएको छ । सरकारलाई मधेस चाहिने तर मधेसीचाहि“ नचाहिने, मधेस नेपालको भूभाग हुने तर त्यहा“ बसोबास गर्ने मधेसीलाई विदेशीजस्तो व्यवहार गर्ने । त्यस विरुद्ध आवाज उठायो भने राष्ट्रियताप्रति प्रश्न गर्ने गरिएको छ । ....... देशमा जति पनि राष्ट्रघाती सन्धि-सम्झौता भएका छन्, त्यसमा कुनै पनि मधेसी मूलको व्यक्तिको हस्ताक्षर छैन । सेनामा मधेसको प्रतिनिधित्व न्यून छ । प्रहरी प्रशासनमा एकाध प्रतिशतमात्रै छ । निजामती क्षेत्र फरक छैन । न्याय क्षेत्र उस्तै हो । ...... ००७ सालको राणाविरोधी आन्दोलन, ०३६ सालको जनमत संग्रह, ०४६ सालको पञ्चायतविरोधी आन्दोलन, ०६२-६३ को १९ दिने ऐतिहासिक आन्दोलनमा मधेसी जनताको भूमिका उल्लेखनीय छ । प्रत्येक आन्दोलनमा मधेसका जनताले बलिदानीपर्ूण्ा योगदान दि“दै आएका छन् । प्रत्येक शासकले त्यसलाई उचित मूल्याङ्कन गरेको छैन । मधेसको उचित मूल्याङ्कन र अवसरको बा“डफा“डको आवाज उठ्यो भने कुनै एउटा अवसरवादी पात्रलाई ल्याएर राख्ने गरिएको छ । ........ मधेसी जनता दिनदिनै गरिबीको रेखामुनि घस्रि“दैछन् । रिनमा डुब्दै गएका छन् । ....... दोस्रो ऐतिहासिक जनआन्दोलनबाट प्राप्त अन्तरिम संविधानमा मधेसबाट उठाइ“दै गरेको आवाज समेट्न सकिएन । ...... मधेसको आन्दोलन यति सशक्त ढङ्गले उठेको यो पहिलोपटक हो । मधेसमा आन्दोलन चर्को भयो भने काठमाडौंमा विखण्डनवादीको आरोप लाग्ने गरेको छ । आन्दोलनको मुद्दा समानुपातिक निर्वाचन प्रणालीलाई धेरै दलले उठाएका छन् । समानुपातिक प्रणाली समग्र देशका लागि मागिएको हो, नकि मधेसका लागिमात्र । यसलाई कसरी विखण्डनवादी भन्न सकिन्छ - ....... तेस्रो प्रमुख माग भनेको संघीय शासन व्यवस्था हो । यो माग पनि देशका धेरैजसो प्रमुख राजनीतिक दलहरूलेे आफ्नो नीति बनाएकै छन् । ..... मधेस आन्दोलनका आयोजकले गणतन्त्रको नारा लगाएका छन् । ..... संविधानसभा चुनाव मधेसीको लागि त्यत्तिकै आवश्यक छ । .... आगामी राज्य पुनःसंरचनाको खाका र प्रक्रियाबारे अहिल्यै गम्भीर गृहकार्य थालनी गर्न आवश्यक छ

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Nepal Sarkar Needs To Set Up A Tribunal


There is an urgent need for the Nepal Sarkar to set up a tribunal that will look into the role of the state security forces in Nepalgunj in the last week of December, and also during the 21 days of the Madhesi Movement in eastern and central Terai.

This demand is basic. It is procedural. There is no way any legitimate, democratic government could avoid this. And if the Nepal Sarkar makes an attempt to sidestep this basic step, it will have lost its legitimacy and will be a legitimate target of a mass movement to get rid of it to install a more democratic, more representative government in place.

And if the Nepal Sarkar fails to do so, the Madhesi Diaspora will be compelled to take this matter into its own hands and in collaboration with the willing members of the larger Nepali Diaspora take this to the international courts as necessary.

A major crime has been committed in Nepal in the last week of December, and during the 21 days of the Madhesi Movement. Crime has to be followed by trial.

The public has a right to know what happened. Who gave the orders? When? Under what circumstances? And if national and international laws were broken, the guilty have to be brought to justice.

It is against the laws, for example, to shoot above the waist when the police are engaged in crowd control. But most martyrs were shot in the head. That is but one example.

On The Web

Tribunal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda [ Translate this page ]
WTI : World Tribunal on Iraq : Home
The Avalon Project : The International Military Tribunal for Germany
Project on International Courts and Tribunals
Michigan Tax Tribunal - Michigan Tax Tribunal
Court TV Casefiles: Bosnia War Crimes Tribunal
Military tribunal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Principles of the Nuremberg Tribunal, 1950
International War Crimes Tribunal
War Crimes Tribunal Watch
CNN.com - Saddam to face war crimes tribunal - Dec. 14, 2003
Bosnia: Local Trials Key as Hague Tribunal Winds Down (Human ...
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Rules of Procedure and ...
Bertrand Russell Vietnam War Crimes Tribunal - Contents
The Iraq Tribunal: Trying Saddam Hussein and Other Top Baath ...
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
International Tribunal on Genocide in Central America
Achieving Justice Before The International War Crimes Tribunal ...

In The News










Nepal Sarkar Needs To Set Up A Tribunal
Krishna Sitaula's Resignation: Why It Is Important
Of Hindu Supremacists And Muslim Martyrs
चुनावी जंग
Upendra Yadav Interview
Madhesi Alliance: Panch Pandav: Federal Republic, Madhesh State, Nonviolence
Press Release: Canada Forum For Nepal
Madhesi, Prepare For The Second, Final Wave
Royalist, Hindu Supremacist, Violent, Anything But A Madhesi Movement
Madhesh State Now
Sucheta Pyakurel's False Claim To Women's Rights
Alok Bohara: On Regional Autonomy And New Nepal
Kiran Sitoula Is A Short, Fat Idiot
Ram Sah: Concern Over State Excesses, And Diaspora Politics
Madhesi Legal Defense Fund, Madhesi Aawaz, Madhesi Movement II
Anand Jha At SEBS: Loha Lohe Ko Katta Hai
B. K. Rana And The Madhesi Janajati Question
Krishna Sitaula Not Going Risks Everything
NYC Gremlins

Mahatma Gandhi : Film : MAHATMA - Life of Gandhi, 1869-1948 (5hrs 10min)
Mahatma Gandhi : Film : MAHATMA - Life of Gandhi, 1869-1948 (2hrs 16min)

Mahatma Gandhi : Film : MAHATMA - Life of Gandhi (1869-1892, Part 01 of 14)
Mahatma Gandhi : Film : MAHATMA - Life of Gandhi (1893-1914, Part 02 of 14)
Mahatma Gandhi : Film : MAHATMA - Life of Gandhi (1915-1921, Part 03 of 14)
Mahatma Gandhi : Film : MAHATMA - Life of Gandhi (1931, Part 06 of 14)
Mahatma Gandhi : Film : MAHATMA - Life of Gandhi (1931-1932, Part 07 of 14)
Mahatma Gandhi : Film : MAHATMA - Life of Gandhi (1932-1934, Part 08 of 14)