Elections In November

1. Declare federal republic now.
   
2. Go for interim federalism.
   
3. Bring forth new interim constitution, new interim government, new interim cabinet. 40% seven parties, 25% Madhesi Alliance, 25% Janajati Alliance, 10% Dalit Alliance, 1/3 women in each category. Upendra Yadav interim president, Om Gurung, interim vice president.
   
4. Conduct a census.
   
5. Issue citizenship papers to 60 lakh not 30 lakh.
   
6. Make the Maoists abide by the letter and spirit of the peace agreements. If not, give them the cold shoulder. Enough appeasing. They are going to become a political party, or they are going to leave the country.
   
7. Pass a law saying all political parties must make their book keeping public. Now.
   

Plan B

1. Home Minister resign.
   
2. Form a probe commission to look into the state terror visited upon the Madhesi Movement.
   
3. Go for proportional elections for the constituent assembly.
   
4. Hold comprehensive talks with the Madhesi Janajati Movement. Bring all Madhesi factions to the table including the armed ones. Mainstream the three armed factions like the Maoists have been mainstreamed.
   
5. Televise the talks. Live broadcast.
   

In The News

Delay in formation of interim govt due to PM: Nepal Kantipur Nepal also stated that the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections should not be postponed at any cost
CPN-M apologizes for inappropriate conduct in parliament
Armed Madhesi Tigers abducts 11 from Saptari
UML MPs call on Speaker; discuss Maoist MP’s “armed” challenge
Father of missing Maoist recruit demands whereabouts of his ward
Strikes continue to cripple life in Terai The Madhes bandha(total shutdown) called by the Laxman Lal Karna-led Nepal Sadbhavana Party, expressing solidarity with the Madhesis’ and the Indegenous nationalities’ movement, has paralyzed normal life in Terai. ..... demanding re-distribution of electoral constituencies based on population and a population census before the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections ....... Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, Siraha, Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, and Makwanpur ..... The inflow and outflow of daily commodities via the Sunsari customs office, Koshi barrage, Bhantabari and Devangunj customs check posts remained nil after the MPRF cadres locked up the offices. ..... MPRF, Morang, has said that vehicles carrying school children would be allowed to run on the streets. ...... Nawalparasi too has been hard hit by the strike ...... strike has brought traffic on the Araniko Highway to a halt.
PM, Indian envoy; Speaker, US envoy discuss Maoists’ inclusion in new govt
NOC operates with profit after four years
Terai leaders want end to ongoing protests
CIAA grills Kamal Thapa
Govt-Maoist discuss interim govt, CA polls
अन्तरिम सरकार गठनको गृहकार्य
बन्दले जनजीवन प्रभावित
बन्दमा बिहे, दोहोरी र फुटबल
बन्दमा किसान
चु“डिएको कूटनीतिक चंगा
उत्तर र दक्षिणको दबाबमा मधेस
भयभीत होली
मधेसी व्रि्रोह ः चुनौती र अवसर

JTMM (Singh) Accepts Government's Offer of Talks Nepal human Rights News, Nepal The party's central working committee recently accepted the government's offer of talks for resolving the Terai issues, apart from declaring ceasefire and pursuing peaceful agitations. ..... It has warned of taking physical action against those involved in looting and extortion in the name of JTMM...... JTMM has issued a public notice against individuals misusing the group's name for extorting, terrorizing and threatening the general public.
Complexity in Nepali Politics United We Blog, Nepal almost 70% of the respondents pointed out that the foremost challenge before the government is to maintain law and order situation. ..... frequent and increasingly violent indefinite strikes, shortages and unavailability of essential food items, rocketing price rise with shrinking job opportunities, growing insecurity ..... it appears that the government is not even present in the capital or in the district headquarters. ..... the SPA government stood as a silent spectator even when the Maoists violated every single article of peace accord citing lame excuse of ‘fragile peace process’ and ‘still looming threat of reactionary and regressive forces’ ...... Passive posture of the government to take any concrete stand on any issue has cost the nation dear. Continuous and intentional violations of peace deal and meekness of the government to take any corrective measure created a vicious cycle of state-of-flux and lawlessness. ....... After massive Terai uprising, at economic cost of about Rs. 96 billions and loss of human lives, the government and all political parties in the Interim Parliament, including the Maoists, acceded to the concept of federalism; however, model, modality, relationship (between the central and federal governments) and administrative structure are still unknown. ...... Other political parties are said to be ‘working’ on the model of federalism. ..... it appears that the government may not be in position to hold the Constituent Assembly elections
NEPAL: Maoists and Madhesi activists clash in Terai Reuters AlertNet, UK
Terai leaders want end to ongoing protests Kantipur Online, Nepal Koirala made his second address to the nation pledging a federal form of government and 49 percent seats in parliament to the 20 terai districts.

Rajendra Mahato, General Secretary of Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi Devi)

The prime minister's address has paved the way for Madhesis' rightful participation in the constituent assembly (CA) elections. Only the CA can address the other issues raised by various groups.

Since the prime minister's address has pledged a federal model and representation for the terai region in the CA in proportion to population, besides a proportional share in all state organs, it is meaningless to continue with the protests. Once the amendment is passed by parliament there will be no legitimate ground for protests in Madhes. The amendment process should not be postponed on the pretext of addressing all issues in a package after talks with the Janajatis.

The terai has already suffered a lot and the poor should not be made to suffer any further.

Continuity of the movement in the terai will derail the constituent assembly polls. Madhes should not become a cause for derailment of elections that will give the people the power after 237 years of suppression.

Bimalendra Nidhi, General Secretary, Nepali Congress (Democratic)

The state's promise to go for a federal structure has addressed the issues of not only Madhesis but also all those who were demanding a federation of autonomous states. Those who are engaged in the current protests should take this fact seriously. Continuation of the protests in the terai has already posed a serious challenge to implementing the commitments made by the prime minister as it has disturbed the constitutional amendment process. Demand for the resignation of the home minister or any other minister for that matter is not a demand of the Madhesi people. It's a non-issue; therefore, calls for the home minister's scalp are unjustified. The Madhesi People's Rights Forum should immediately end its protest programs and sit for dialogue.

Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, Assistant General Secretary, Nepali Congress

The prime minister's second address to the nation has resolved 99 percent of the problems faced by the terai region. The Constitutional Amendment Bill, which we are going to discuss in parliament from Thursday, will institutionalize the prime minister's commitment.

The demand for a full proportional representation system of elections is rigid and unjustified. People also want to vote for candidates of their individual choice along with the preferred party. Proportional representation based on ethnicity is almost impossible in a heterogeneous society like ours. The terai alone has more than 25 castes. Madhes is a community, not a caste. Similarly, the demand for the home minister's resignation is unjustified. Sitaula's contribution to the peace process cannot be forgotte just because of some errors on his part.

Dr Bansidhar Misra, CPN-UML lawmaker and leader of Loktantrik Terai Front

The home minister's resignation will facilitate a dialogue with the Madhesi People's Rights Forum. I am confident that MPRF will sit for talks once Sitaula quits. Formation of a probe commission is also essential to calm the Madhesi people's anger against the government.

We (Madhesi lawmakers) are holding a meeting tomorrow to take immediate initiative for addressing the problem. We will suggest to our leaders to step up pressure on the prime minister to create an atmosphere for talks with terai groups and to form a probe commission.

The Maoists in recent weeks seemed indifferent towards the terai's problems and are fueling the confrontations. There are also attempts to give the Madhesi movement a communal color.

रतन झा: मधेसी व्रि्रोह ः चुनौती र अवसर

मधेसी वासिन्दा व्रि्रोहमा उत्रिएका छन् । देशकै एउटा भागमा बस्ने समूहले व्रि्रोह गरेपछिको अवस्था राज्यले चुनौती र अवसर दुवैको रूपमा हर्ेर्नुपर्छ । झन्डै साढे दर्ुइ सय वर्षेखि अविछिन्न रूपमा सामन्ती केन्द्रीकृत निरंकुश राजतन्त्रात्मक शासन व्यवस्थामा पिल्सिएका मधेसीको मनमा गुम्सिएको कुण्ठा विष्फोट भएको हो ।

संसारका धेरै देशमा जात, रंग, क्षेत्र, धर्म र विभिन्न सिद्धान्तका आधारमा अन्तरदेशीय द्वन्द्व भएका छन् । अहिलेको र्सवाधिक सम्पन्न र विश्वकै प्रमुख शक्तिशाली देश अमेरिकामा पनि ४०-५० वर्षअघिसम्म काला र गोराबीच रंगका आधारमा चर्को र अत्यासलाग्दो विभेद हुने गरेको थियो । अल्पमतमा रहेका कालाजातिका लागि संसारको स्वप्न देश अमेरिकामा जीवन निकै कष्टकर थियो । जुनसुकै रेष्टुरा“मा उनीहरू निर्वाध जान सक्ने थिएनन् । कालाका लागि छुट्टै रेष्टुरा“, र्सार्वजनिक शौचालय, स्कुल, अस्पताल आदि थिए । सरकारी नीति निर्माण तहमा कालाको कुनै सहभागिता थिएन । सामान्य सरकारी कर्मचारीमा पनि कालालाई स्थान नदिइने परम्परा थियो । त्यस विरुद्ध कालाहरू अमेरिकामा स्वतन्त्रता र समानताका लागि व्रि्रोह गरिरहेका थिए ।

त्यसपछि अमेरिकाले समावेशी संरचना अपनाएको थियो । सरकारले आफ्नै नागरिकको सम्मानका लागि तय गरेका नीतिका कारण अहिले अमेरिकी राष्ट्रपतिपछिको दोस्रो महत्त्वपर्ूण्ा पद विदेशमन्त्रीमा काला जातिकी अझ महिला कोन्डालिजा राइस पुगेकी छन् । पर्ूवराष्ट्रपति बिल क्लिन्टनले गोराका स्कुलमा कालाहरूलाई आफैं तानेर भित्र छिराएका थिए । अमेरिकी सरकारले कालाका समस्यालाई सम्बोधन गरेपछि अहिले अमेरिकामा कालो-गोरो छालाका आधारमा कुनै भेद छैन । अहिलेको युवा पुस्तामा त झन् रंगभेद पटक्कै छैन ।

उता दक्षिण अप्रिmकामा पनि स्वतन्त्रतापछिको संक्रमणकालमा जातीय विभेद अत्यन्त तीव्र थियो । आफ्नो अस्तित्वका लागि काला र गोराबीच तीव्र विवाद त छ“दै थियो, अझ क्षेत्रीय र वर्गीय विभेद पनि चर्को थियो । त्यसको प्रजातान्त्रिक सरकारले उनीहरूका समस्या समाधानका लागि गरेका वार्ताको प्रत्यक्ष प्रसारण गरिएको थियो । मुक्तिकामी नेता र सरकारबीच कैयौं दिन प्रत्यक्ष प्रसारण गरिएका वार्ताको परिणाम कति सुखद भयो भने अहिले दक्षिण अप्रिmका विश्वका धनी देशमा स्थापित हुन थालेको छ ।

अमेरिका र अप्रिmकामा जस्तो जटिल समस्या नेपालका मधेसी र अरू वर्गमा छैन । जनस्तरमा सहिष्णु भावना छ । अहिले जतिसुकै ठूलो आन्दोलन तर्राईमा भए पनि त्यसलै साम्प्रदायिक दंगाको रूप लिएको छैन । साम्प्रदायिक दंगाको अवस्था सिर्जना भयो भने दर्ुभाग्य हुनेछ । हामी गैरआवासीय नेपालीको मुख्य चासो यही हो । सरकारले मधेसीका जायज र सम्भव माग पूरा गर्न ढिलो गर्नु हु“दैन । किनभने जनस्तरमा को पहाडी को मधेसी भन्ने विवाद छैन । अझ एकअर्काका संस्कृति र रीतिरिवाजलाई सम्मान गर्ने संस्कृतिको विकास नेपालीमा भइसकेको छ ।

करिब तीन वर्षघि न्युयोर्कमा भएको एक नेपाली सम्मेलनमा केही मधेसीले कर्ुता-पाइजामा लगाएर आउ“दा सबैले भारतको कुन ठाउ“ घर भन्दै सोध्ने गर्थे, दोस्रो त्यस्तै सम्मेलनमा नेपालको कुन जिल्ला भनेर प्रश्न सोध्नेहरूले अमेरिकाव्यापी हालै सम्पन्न तेस्रो सम्मेलनमा धोती लगाएर हि“ड्दा सुहाएको र आफूलाई पनि एउटा ल्याइदिन आग्रह गर्ने गरेको अवस्था छ । जनस्तरमा सम्बन्ध सुध्रिएको उदाहरण हो यो । यो सुमधुर सम्बन्धलाई राज्यले पनि सम्बोधन गर्नुपर्छ ।

स्वदेशमा पनि सरकारले यस्तै वातावरण बनाउनर्ुपर्छ । हामी सरकारले मधेसीका नाजायज माग पूरा गर्नर्ुपर्छ भन्दैनौं, तर मधेसीको पहिचान र सशक्तीकरण भने गर्न जरुरी छ । काठमाडौं केन्द्रित राज्यसत्ता विकेन्द्रीकरण नगरेसम्म देशको र्सवांगीण विकास हुन सक्दैन । अमेरिकामा संघीय प्रणाली अवलम्बन गरेपछि नै बढी विकास भएको हो । राज्यहरूले स्वतन्त्र रूपमा स्थानीय स्तरको विकास गर्छन्, कर उठाउ“छन् र खर्च पनि गर्छन् । अमेरिकामा वडा प्रहरी प्रमुखसमेत निर्वाचित हुने र गाउ“का मुद्दाको फैसला स्थानीय बुद्धिजीवीलाई गर्ने अधिकार दिइएको छ, जसले गर्दा पारदर्शिता र जनसहभागिता छ ।

मधेसी मागका सम्बन्धमा प्रधानमन्त्रीको तर्फाट आएको सम्बोधन स्वागतयोग्य छ । तर यसलाई प्रभावकारी रूपमा कार्यान्वयन गर्न पछि पर्नु हु“दैन । मधेसमा भएको जनधनको क्षतिको जिम्मेवारी लि“दै गृहमन्त्रीको राजिनामा माग गर्नुलाई अतिशयोक्तिपर्ूण्ा मागको रूपमा लिनु हु“दैन । यसबाट मधेसीले सम्मान र गौरव अनुभव गर्छन् भने कृष्णप्रसाद सिटौलालाई राज्य सञ्चालनमा अरू महत्त्वपर्ूण्ा जिम्मेवारी दिनर्ुपर्छ । उनको योगदानलाई कदर गर्नु हु“दैन भन्ने पक्षमा मधेसीहरू छैनन् । गृहमन्त्रीको राजिनामा उनकै लागि पनि बडप्पन हुन्छ । तर मधेसीहरूले पनि केवल गृहमन्त्रीको राजिनामामा केन्द्रित भई मुख्य मुद्दालाई कम प्राथमिकता दिने गल्ती गर्नु हु“दैन ।

कुनै पनि घटना भएपछि आयोग वा वार्ताटोली गठन गरेरमात्र हु“दैन । यस्तो 'सुगर कोटिङ'ले दर्ीघकालीन रूपमा समस्या समाधान हुन सक्दैन । अहिले सरकार र नागरिक समाजले समस्याको गहिराइलाई राम्ररी बुझ्न सक्नर्ुपर्छ । मधेसी मूलका व्यक्तिमा स्वतन्त्रताका लागि जीवनको आहुति दिने जुनुन सवार भइसकेको छ । यो जुनुन स्वतन्त्रता प्राप्त नभएसम्म ५० औं वर्षम्म पनि चल्न सक्छ । त्यतिबेलासम्म व्यापक जनधनको क्षति हुनेछ । मुलुक विखण्डनको स्थितिमा पुग्नेछ ।

हामी गैरआवासीय नेपालीले यो समस्या समाधानका लागि अन्तर्रर्ााट्रय विज्ञताको सहयोग गर्न सक्छौं । सरकारले घोषणा गरेको कार्यक्रमलाई समवेदनशील भएर प्रभावकारी कार्यान्वयन गर्न लाग्ने हो भने यो समस्या समाधान हु“दैन भन्ने हामीलाई लाग्दैन । भोलिको पुस्ताले विभेद र कुण्ठा पाल्नु नपर्ने अवस्था सिर्जनाका लागि गैरआवासीय नेपाली आर्थिक, प्राविधिक सहयोग गर्न पनि तत्पर छन् । जसरी अहिले घाइतेका लागि आर्थिक सहयोग गरिएको छ, त्यसैगरी अरू सहयोग पनि गर्न सकिन्छ ।

जनता जागेको बेला नेताहरू पछि परेको देखिन्छ । मधेसी नेताले पनि जनभावना बुझ्न कन्जुस्याइ“ गरिरहेको पाइन्छ भने सरकारमा बस्ने नेताले पनि यो आन्दोलनको गहिराइलाई बुझ्न खोजिरहेका छैनन् । यस्तै अवस्था रहिरह्यो भने अहिले देखिएको कुण्ठा र व्रि्रोह भयानक रूपमा विष्फोट हुन्छ । तर्सथ यो समस्या समाधानका लागि सरकार र मधेसी समुदाय वैज्ञानिक र र्सवस्वीकार्य रूपमा अघि बढ्नर्ुपर्छ । यो मुद्दालाई कुनै पनि राजनीतिक पार्टर्ीी पनि उपेक्षा गर्नु हु“दैन भने मधेसमा रहेका पहाडीले पनि आफ्नै समस्याको रूपमा लिनुपर्छ ।

Kantipur