Monday, July 16, 2007

मधेशी अान्दोलनको गन्तव्य: नभम्बर चुनाव


संिवधान सभाको चुनावबाट सबैभन्दा फाइदा कुनै समुदायलाई भने त्यो मधेशी समुदाय होबन्दुक उठाएकामधेशी समुहहरूसँग सत्तामा रहेका पहिरयाहरूले अादरपुर्वक शान्ित वार्ता गिरिदए हुन्थयो भन्ने मलाईनलागेको होइनपुर्ण समानुपाितक िनर्वाचन गिरिदएको भए हुन्थ्यो भन्ने पिन मलाई लागेको होतरपहिरयाहरूको सद्बुद्िधमा नै मधेशी अान्दोलन िनर्भर रहने हो भने त्यो मधेशी अान्दोलन नै होइनमधेशीअान्दोलन सफल वा असफल पार्ने भनेको मधेशी जनताले होसडकमा उत्रन सक्ने मधेशी जनता, शहीद हुनसक्ने मधेशी जनताले भोट पिन खसाल्न सक्छत्यो सोंच्नुपर्यो

हरताल गर्ने, चक्का जाम गर्ने, तराई बन्द गर्ने मधेशी अान्दोलनको फेज समाप्त भयोअब संगठनिवस्तार गर्ने, कार्यकर्तालाई प्रिशक्षण िदने, अाम सभा गर्ने, चुनावकालािग मधेशी मोर्चा गठन गर्ने फेजशुरू भएको मधेशी अिधकार माग्न िगिरजा, रामचन्दर िसटौलाकोमा जाने सोंच मानिसक दासताको सोंचहोमधेशी अिधकारकालािग चेतना जगाउन मधेशी जनताकोमा जानुपर्छमधेशी शक्ितको स्रोत मधेशीमतदाता हो

१० वर्ष रक्तपात मच्चाए पिछ अािखर माअोवादी ब्यालट बक्सको राजनीितमा नै अाउनु पिररहेको स्रीलंकामा तिमल टाइगरले २५ वर्षको रक्तपातपिछ के पाएका छन्? युरोपमा फ्रान्स जर्मनी एक देशबन्न चाहन्छन्तराईलाई अलग देश बनाउने नाराले मधेशी शक्ितलाई फोकस हुनबाट रोक्छ मात्र, अनावश्यक रूपमा जनधनको क्षित मात्र हुन्छज्वाला, गोइत, िवस्फोट, टाइगर, कोब्रा, भाइरस अािदसमुहहरूले यो कुरा बुझ्नुपर्योअायरल्याण्डमा िसनफेनले जस्तो सेना राजनीितक पार्टी गरी दुई दुईसंगठन तयार गरेर चुनावमा जानुपर्योसीजफायर गर्नुपर्योिक सीजफायर गरेर फोरम सद्भावनालाईचुनावमा नैितक समर्थन िदनुपर्योचुनावमा िक सहभागी हुनुपर्यो, िक चुनाव सफल पार्ने कसरतगर्नुपर्योचुनाव िबथोल्ने कुरा सोंच्नै हुँदैन

बरु त्यो चुनाव न्यायपुर्ण हुने कुरा तर्फ ध्यान िदनुपर्योअिहलेको प्रधानमंत्री क्यािबनेट चुनाव पिछपिन कायम रहने कुरा उट्पट्याङ कुरा होचुनावपिछ जुन दलीय समीकरणको बहुमत अाउँछ उसले सरकारबनाउँछचुनाव अगािड नै को सत्तामा जाने कुराको िनर्णय लोकतान्त्िरक हुँदै होइनत्यो चुनावी अभ्यासकोउपहास हो

एमालेले पुर्ण समानुपाितक िनर्वाचन चाहेको होपुर्ण समानुपाितक िनर्वाचन गरे कम्युिनष्ट भोट खेरजाँदैन, तयसैले त्यो ंमाअोवादीको पिन िहतमा देउवा काँग्रेससँग एकीकरण गर्ने मनसाय िगिरजाको किहलेपिन हुँदै भएको होइनएकीकरणको कुरा गिरराख्ने तािक देउवा काँग्रेस संगठन िवस्तारमा नलागोस् भन्नेसोंच हो िगिरजाकोपुर्ण समानुपाितक िनर्वाचन देउवा काँग्रेसलाई पिन चािहने कुरा हो। नत्र भने एमालेबाट फुटेर गएको मालेको हाल होला। समयमै चेतना भया।

मानव अिधकारको घोषणापत्रमा भिनएको , शान्ितपूर्वक भेला हुने अिधकार भनेर, त्यो भनेको जनजाितपार्टी, दिलत पार्टी खोल्न पाइन्छ भनेकोपाइँदैन भनेर कानुन बनाउनै पाइँदैन

होइन यिद समानुपाितक िनर्वाचनमा गइँदैन, िमस्रीत चुनाव नै हुन्छ भने पिन मधेशी अान्दोलनलाई खासै बेफाइदा छैन। प्रत्यक्ष िनर्वािचत मध्ये अािध जित सीट तराईमा छ अब। २४० सीट समानुपाितक िनर्वाचनबाट अाउने कुरा छ। त्यसको फर्मुला भने हेर्दा उट्पट्याङ छ।

House approves CA bill proportional seats to women, Dalit, Madhesis, Janajatis and others for the 240 seats set aside for proportional representation-based elections during the CA. .... Of the total 497 seats of CA, 240 each have been set aside for first-past-the-post and PR based elections. The remaining 17 members will be nominated by the cabinet. ...... for Madhesi men and women, 15.6 percent each have been set aside. For Dalits men and women, 6.5 percent each have been allocated and for ethnic Janajatis men and women 18.9 percent each have been set aside. Two percent each have been allocated for men and women, respectively, of backward region and 15.1 percent each have been earmarked for men and women from 'other' category. The PR-based elections will follow the closed (list) system model. ..... a political party cannot field its candidates in less than 10 percent of seats. .... Nine districts have been named as backward region including Achham, Kalikot, Jajarkot, Jumla, Dolpa, Bajhang, Bajura, Mugu, and Humla.

31% Madhesi
13% Dalit
38% Janajati
4% Karnali
30% Bahun, Chhetri
Total = 116%

जम्मा १००% हुनुपर्ने होइन? मैले नबुझेको हो िक?

सद्भावना र फोरम जस्ता पार्टीले पहाडका जनजाित, बाहुन क्षेत्री, कर्णाली कहाँबाट ल्याउने कुरा उठेको छ। मलाई लाग्छ यस फरमुलाबाट फोरम र सद्भावनालाई पिन खासै बेफाइदा छैन। उदाहरण िलउँ। सद्भावना अानन्दीले २४० जनाको िलस्ट तयार पार्यो ह रे। पिहलो ७४ नाम उसले मधेशी मिहला र पुरुष राख्यो, अािध अािध। त्यसपिछ ३१ जना तराईका दिलत मिहला र पुरुष। तयसपिछ ९१ जना थारु, िधमाल, राजवंशी, चेपाङ अािद इत्यािद। कर्णालीबाट काठमाण्डु पढ्न अाएका प्रशस्त छन्, जागीर खाएर बसेकाहरू। तराईमै बाहुन क्षेत्री छन्। िलस्टमा अन्ितम ितर उनीहरूलाई रािखिदए पिन भयो।

तर सद्भावनाले १००% मत त ल्याउँदैन। उसले ३१% मत ल्याउँछ भने उसको िलस्टमा रहेका सबै मधेशीहरू संिवधान सभािभत्र िछर्ने भए र बाँकी निछर्ने भए। यो दलीय समानुपाितक िनर्वाचन जस्तै भयो। यही कुरा जनजाित र दिलत पार्टीलाई पिन लागु हुन्छ। बरू पहाडका दिलत र जनजाितलाई मधेशी नामहरू चािहए हामीले िदउँला।

मधेशी मोर्चा बनाउने कुरा छ। मोर्चा बने पिन ठीक, नबने पिन बेफाइदा छैन। पहाडीहरू मोर्चाबन्दी बेगर नै लड्न सक्छन् भने सद्भावना र फोरमबीच प्रितस्प्रधा िकन हुन सक्दैन? तर मोर्चा बन्न सके रामरो। एक मधेश, एक प्रदेशको नारा मुिन सबै मधेशी समुहहरू गोलबन्द हुन सके राम्रो।

त्यसैले बन्दुकधारी समुहहरूले एकतर्फी सीजफायर गर, सबै समुह संगठन िवस्तारमा लाग, एक मधेश, एक प्रदेशको नारा मुिन सबैले एउटा मधेशी मोर्चा बनाउ, तािक मधेशको पर्त्येक िनर्वाचन क्षेत्रमा मधेशी मोर्चाको एक मात्र उम्मेदवार होस्। समानुपाितक िनर्वाचनमा चािहं प्रितस्प्रधा नै होस्।

अप्िरल क्रान्ित अभूतपूर्व िथयो। मधेशी क्रान्ित अभूतपूर्व िथयो। तर नभम्बर चुनावले ती दुवैलाई मात गर्नेछ। अप्िरल क्रान्ित र मधेशी क्रान्ितमा भन्दा नभम्बर चुनावमा जनसहभािगता बढी रहनेछ। तयसकारण। दमजमकालािग यस्तो मौका पिहले किहले पिन अाएको िथएन। यो मौकाको भरपुर प्रयोग गरौं।

मधेशी मोर्चा बनाअो। देशका पहला राष्ट्रपित मुझे एक मधेशी दे दो।


In The News

UNMIN seeks immediate resumption of PLA verification NepalNews
Government to form common security mechanism for CA polls security mechanism for top Maoist leadership, whereby armed Maoist men will form an inner ring of security to top leaders while Nepal Police and Armed Police Force will form an outer ring of security for them.
Gaur probe panel submits report to govt the government would bring the culprits of the Gaur killings to justice. ... at least 27 Maoists were killed and over 50 others wounded in Rautahat district headquarters Gaur on March 21. ... The Maoists have been saying that their unarmed cadres were murdered in cold blood by armed MJF activists with the help of hired Indian criminals.
Use YCL to provide security for CA election, says Prachanda Prachanda has said that using only the Armed Police Force (APF) to provide security for the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections would be 'suicidal.' .... Prachanda claimed that even former US president Jimmy Carter – during his visit to Nepal last month – had suggested using YCL and police together. .... he suspects there is conspiracy not to integrate PLA into Nepali Army (NA).
JMCC meeting inconclusive
EC registers four more politcal parties Samajbadi Prajatantrik Janata Party Nepal with election symbol Moon, Nepal Rastriya Bikash Party (election symbol Radio), Samajbadi Party Nepal (election symbol Bicycle) and Rastriya Janamukti Party (election symbol House). .... List of the registered political parties and their election symbols would be declared gradually ... Nearly 100 political parties had filed application at the EC for contesting CA polls slated for November 22.
Kalyan Gurung elected NSU president Gurung secured a total of 449 votes beating his nearest rival Nrip Bista with a margin of 61 votes. Six candidates had contested the election for NSU presidency. .... Pratima Gautam has been elected general secretary and Top Bahadur Rawat, Roshan Shrestha, Rajesh Gyanwali, Shiva Kumar Shrestha and Nabaraj Bhatta have been elected joint general secretary. .... five vice-presidents: Dambar Khadka (eastern region), Ratna Karki (central region), Guru Baral (western region), Rishikesh Shah (mid-west) Nain Singh Mahara (far-west).
Tarun Dal general convention begins in Chitwan

Maoists engaged in strategic homework NepalNews Analysing that their role will be further minimised if the transitional period prolongs ..... prolonging transition has reduced their role in national politics. .... also pointed out that Nepali Congress (NC) has 'pressed' the party the most. "NC has pressed us everywhere ....... The party plenum will also take up the issue of its relations with the Revolutionary International Movement (RIM). The RIM has expressed dissatisfaction with the agenda of 'democratic republic' currently accepted by the Maoists.
EC proposes new ceiling for CA elections Rs 459,000.
“Diplomatic march” for reinstatement of democracy in Bhutan a ‘diplomatic march’ from regional and international agencies and missions based in New Delhi and Kathmandu .... NFD chairman Thinle Penjor
EC starts registering political parties; 'hammer & sickle' is Maoist election symbol Parties registered so far are Nepali Congress, CPN (UML), CPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress (Democratic), Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP), Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi Devi), Rastriya Janamorcha, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Rastriya Janashakti Party (RJP), CPN (United), CPN (Marxist, Leninist and Maoist Centre). ..... NSP-U 'sickle'.
MJF warns of fresh stir in Terai Madheshi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) has after a relative silence warned that it would again start a ‘peaceful movement’ in Terai. ..... In what was clearly a response to Home Minister Krishna Sitaula’s two weeks ultimatum to rebel groups active in Terai to come to the talks table, the MJF’s fiery speaker made it clear that his party would only come to the negotiating table after Sitaula tenders his resignation and government provides compensation to the families of those killed in recent Terai unrest and addresses the demand of the various armed groups in Terai. ..... Saying that it is beyond the Home Minister and senior minister Ram Chandra Poudel, who heads the government's talk team, to solve the Terai problem now, Biswas said that MJF would now hold direct talks with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.
UNMIN chief intensifies effort to resume PLA verification
Yami says ADB has given 'green signal' to proceed with Melamchi
Fistfights, vandalism spoil NSU election
New CA date: Reality or another farce?
Extra security in the Nepal-India border during elections
Terai extremists are terrorists: Maoist leader
Budget for palace is natural, says MK Nepal

Home Minister gives two-week talks deadline to rebel groups NepalNews Sitaula has asked various rebel groups active in Terai region to come to the negotiation table within the next two weeks. ..... if the armed groups did not come to the table within the given period, the government would dispatch the security forces against them. .... the government was set to massively beef up security in Terai in view of the upcoming elections. ..... Situala named two rebellion groups, Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM, led by Jaya Krishna Goit and Jwala Singh) against which the government might concentrate its action after the given time.
Construction of Syafrubesi-Rasuwagadhi highway to start within 3 months with 100 percent assistance from the government of China.... links Nepal with Tibet .... Estimated to cost 1.33 billion rupees ..... eight bridges
PLA deputy commander suspects UN intention "It is not the UNMIN but another UN agency, which we found has been advancing the application of DDR (Disarming, Demobilisation and Reintegration) model on our PLA." .... the Maoists are not satisfied with disqualification of some combatants during the process.

‘Terai problems not addressed in budget’ Kantipur Jagadish Prashad Rathi, central council member of Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI). .... Rathi expressed dissatisfaction that the budget lacks programs to solve problems facing business community in terai. He criticized the failure to include measures to compensate huge financial loss suffered by industries during the terai unrest. Months of unrest caused losses worth more than Rs 1 billion to industries based in terai, according to local businessmen. ..... Ashok Murarka, president of Morang Industry Association (MIA). Murarka flayed the budget for lacking a clear policy to bail ailing industries out of crisis. ... continuation of Value Added Tax (VAT) in ailing sugar mills would further erode their competitiveness.

Finance Minister says palace will get a purse NepalNews the palace will still get around Rs 45 million for the new Fiscal Year. .... The budget for the palace will be managed by the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers. ..... the King and the royal family would get Rs 25 million as allowances and Rs 20 million for repair and maintenance of the palace. However, the budget for the employees working in the palace has been transferred to the Ministry of General Administration. ..... Rs 80 million had been allocated for the palace employees, who would be brought fully under the civil service within the next Fiscal Year.
Stalling of verification of Maoist PLA is violation of agreement, says Moriarty "I am surprised that the Nepali society isn't outraged, civil society isn't screaming and the press not going after it vigorously." ..... it was critically important for Nepal to hold Constituent Assembly elections in November. "This country will be in serious trouble (if the elections do not happen then)" ..... The Maoists must start to adhere to their commitments under the peace agreement, reign in the YCL and begin to act like a real political party. The extremist Madhesi groups must stop their violence in the Terai and begin to use peaceful, political means to address the legitimate demands of the Madhesi people ....... On the issue of some Madhesi extremist groups making demands for disintegration of Nepal, ambassador Moriarty said his government disagreed with the fundamental philosophy of disintegration of Nepal. But again, they must pursue peaceful course of debate ....... Personally, my analysis is if King wanted to save the monarchy, he should have abdicated. ...... one blunder he committed during his tenure here was to "hold out hope that the King would reach out to political parties." He said that he had given benefit of doubt to the King for too long. "It was only five months after (the King took over power on February 1, 2005) that I realized he had no intention of restoring democracy." ....... On the issue of Maoist chairman Prachanda's accusations that royalists were plotting to assassinate American diplomats here, he said, "That was (it turned out) not true. It just destroys his credibility and makes it that much difficult for them (to gain international credibility)." Prachanda had vowed to provide proof of his accusations but he did not. ..... "It is good not to have policy of pelting stones at diplomats. It will also be good not to have policy to attack common Nepali citizens, not to extort them or intimidate them."
Sitaula briefs House committee on govt's security plan the government had planned four tiers of security arrangements- for registration phase, election campaign phase, vote counting phase and post-election scenario. .... the Armed Police Force (APF) would be stationed in all 240 constituencies with arrangements to extend the security presence in the areas of need. ..... the Nepal Police would be provided with more than 550 and the APF will be given 400 vehicles for patrolling during the election period. ..... Pointing out the lack of momentum for the CA polls, Situala asked the political parties to come up with campaigns to build confidence in the people for the election.
Martin meets PM; discusses stalled PLA verification Prachanda is also learnt to have proposed to defer the second-phase verification citing the current "fluid political situation" and the recent promotion of Nepal Army (NA) generals as well as the "politically motivated remarks" made by NA chief Rookmangud Katawal.
JTMM-Jwala kills two of a family in Saptari Bishnu Shrestha and his sister-in-law Basanti Shrestha, who were abducted by a group of JTMM cadres from their house at Siswabelhi-7 Thursday night, were found dead at Dhangadhi VDC, Saptari, Friday morning ...... Jwala Singh, the chief of this armed outfit, in an interview with Naya Patrika daily on Thursday said his group would intensify 'physical action' against people from the hills residing in the Terai region. .... Two factions of the JTMM - another led by Jaya Krishna Goit - have carried out series of targeted killings of local Maoist leaders, government employees and civilians in Terai districts in recent weeks.
Sushila Koirala is no more
NRNA Australia elects new committee Nepali organisations, business communities, patrons, advisors, NRN ICC members, key community leaders and Nepali intellectuals in Australia NRNA International Coordination Committee, president Dr. Upendra Mahato, NRNA vice president for East Asia D. M. Hirachan, vice president for Australia region Indra Ban, and the Charge D'affaires of Nepali Embassy Shanker D. Bairagi attended the conference. ...... snapshot of the proposed NRN Bill, dual citizenship issues ..... leadership of Goba Katuwal. Dr. Ashok Shrestha and Yuba Raj Bhattarai are elected vice presidents, Dhurba Raj as National Coordinator, Bhoma SubediLimbu as Joint National Coordinator and Ramji Bista as Treasurer
Maoists grab land belonging to Thapa In Dhankuta, farmers affiliated with the Maoists have seized 1100 ropanis of land belonging to former prime minister and president of Rastriya Janashakti Party (RJP) Surya Bahadur Thapa. The activists of pro-Maoist peasant organisation descended on Thapa's land located at Uttarpani-Hile road section and hoisted their flags, say reports. The land-grabbers have accused Thapa of hoarding land beyond ceiling.

PM meets with Prachanda and Nepal NepalNews
Second phase PLA verification hits a snag yet again the Maoist leadership refusing to continue with the verification process. ..... citing the current “fluid political situation” and the recent promotion of Nepal Army (NA) generals as well as the “politically motivated remarks” made by NA chief Rukmangad Katawal. ....... Prachanda’s Naya Bazaar residence. UNMIN refutes media report on PLA verification refuted media reports that around 400 combatants of the Maoist army failed in the second round of verification that concluded recently at the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) cantonment in Chulachuli, Ilam district. ...... there are three categories of Maoist army personnel that will be disqualified through the verification process such as those who registered earlier in the year, but did not report for the verification process, those who joined the Maoist army after May 26, 2006 and those born after May 25, 1988.
Maoist ministers give thumbs down to interim cabinet's performance went on to blame Nepali Congress (NC) for the failure of the interim government. .... "Although the interim constitution clearly stipulates that decisions have to be taken based on political consent, NC works as if this is a one-party government," Gurung said.

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kfGy/, lnDa'jfg

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Rajendra Mahto In Town



Rajendra Mahto Live: Registering Dissent On Interim Constitution, January 15
Email To All Madhesis From Rajendra Mahto
Rajendra Mahto: नागरिकता विधेयक खोतल्दा
Nepal's Terai People In Deplorable Conditions: Mahto
To: Koirala, Nepal, KC, Pokharel, Tripathy, Mahto And The Rest
Phone Interview With Rajendra Mahato

Photos

Not long after he landed a few days ago on Thursday and was at Madhuji's place on the Upper East Side, Rajendraji called me up. We have been on the phone fairly regularly after the king's coup, we have had long conversations at many crisis points, but this was different. He was at the other end of the phone, and he was in town. He was only a train ride away. I was excited. He was eager to meet me. I said he just landed. There is the jet lag thing. Was he sure he did not want to rest for the rest of the day? Raat ko so lenge na, he said. I will sleep at night. He was mistaken. He, his wife and Ram Chandra Jha, the senior UML leader who is from Janakpur, my hometown, had come. All three went through the jet lag stuff for days. I told Mrs. Mahto a few days later, I think today, just when she was starting to feel normal that she should expect to have to go through this all over again once she is back in Kathmandu.

I got there at noon. We talked as we waited for Ram Chandra Jha to show up. He was staying at the Deputy Ambassador's place, also named Madhu. Jha was at the Mission's office. I was primarily wanting to know about the internal politics of the Sadbhavana. The Pahadi media in Kathmandu does not cover that, if it covers the party at all.

I wanted to buy daily passes for the three of them, and take them sightseeing. He called up the Mission and asked for a gaadi. For the next few days I witnessed all local Nepali bureaucrats organize their lives around Rajendraji. This was the first time I was witnessing such a thing. I am not used to seeing a Madhesi minister. I told him it was a sukhad ascharya for me, a pleasant surprise. Ek mantri hai to ye haal, panch rahenge to kya hoga? What if we end up with five ministers instead? Jaldi se jaldi rashtrapati ban ke aiye, tab aap ke saath White House chalenge, I said. Hurry up and become president and come, then I go to the White House with you.

The Misssion's driver Dhan Bahadur drove the four of us plus Ram Babu, a fellow Janakpuriya and a Mission bureaucrat, down to the Staten Island Ferry. By then I had the impression Rajendra Mahto has seen more of NYC than I have. This was his third trip. By the time we got off the Staten Island Ferry, Mrs. Mahto's body clock was giving up on her. So we cut short the rest of the places on my mental list and headed back to the Upper East Side. There was a dinner event on Roosevelt Island. She missed that. The rest of us went. I told him he might have seen all of NYC, but Mrs. Mahto has not. To aap usiko ghumaiye, he said. Take her around.

I have been to the Mahto home in Kathmandu I think in 1994. I have had a cup of tea from her. While I was there, some Sadbhavana guy showed up. The Janata Dal and them were not supposed to get along. I was surprised Mahto received this guy. I was like, what are you doing? Those are the bad guys. Mahto offered him a cup of tea, and then patiently listened to all he had to say. Then he politely disagreed and bid the guy farewell. I learned an important lesson in democratic exercise that day. Take the US Senate. Those 100 individuals are stuck with working with each other, they like it or not. And so it is important to keep open the possibility of maybe working down the line with even those Senators you might utterly disagree with and even despise.

Mahto has had a warm personality. He makes you feel included. He is for the most part polite. But he can talk tough as need be. He is a major asset in the Madhesi struggle for equality inside Nepal. He is a first class mind, intellectually curious, informed, engaged, with amazing people skills.

Friday we played phone tag twice, and finally when we talked we agreed to meet Sunday morning right before I took him over to the Alliance picnic that I was so looking forward to. My number one Nepali comrade in NYC, Anil Shahi, was now its president. (Alliance Sets The Tone For Diaspora Organizations) I was glad Rajendraji seemed to have plans to take his wife around town Saturday.

Saturday morning Binod Shah called me up. He wanted to organize a Madhesi gathering in the evening, could Rajendraji make it? I called up Rajendraji. He was eager.

After that Madhesi event, I went to Binod Shah's place in Yonkers - I said Kapileshwar, Jha said Mahuwa - that was totally unplanned. Just like with Upendra Yadav, Jha, me and Pawan Shah got the living room, Binod Shah and Bikram Shah, the two brothers, took the two rooms. (Upendra Yadav Was In Town) Jha got the mattress, Pawan and I got the large sheet. With Upendra Yadav, I had the mattress, Pawan had the sofa. Upendraji relayed stories of having to go out of the village and deep into the fields with a sheet and a mosquito net because he did not feel safe sleeping at home.

Jha, Binod Shah and I had a long conversation before going to sleep. Mostly we listened, Jha talked. After we had got off the Staten Island Ferry I had told him I sat for the SLC exams in 2046, and "I have been hearing of you since."

Before I came to the US in 1996, I was with the Nepal Samajwadi Janata Dal. I was a Vice General Secretary. Rajendraji was a Central Committee member. He casually mentioned that at the Madhesi dinner Saturday evening at Chicken Chilli. The Dal had two MPs, the Sadbhavana had two MPs.

Sunday morning, Binod Shah urged that I make a homepage for Jha, and so I did. With Upendra Yadav, he had urged me to make one for the MPRF, and I had. Now Shah wants one for himself as well.

When he drove me over to the train station, the last stop north on the 4 line, Binodji and I discussed ANTA. He wanted to hand over the NYC chapter leadership to someone else, one of the younger guys who showed up for the dinner event the evening before. Rajesh Sah, Satendra Shah, and one other guy were mentioned.

Back at Madhu Raman Acharya's place, Rajendraji and I had a long conversation in terms of the Madhesi struggle and the impending constituent assembly elections. We talked of the possibilities of a Madhesi Morcha. We discussed the Sadbhavana's internal politics. This private conversation was the crown jewel of the few days spent with him for me.

While we talked, Damien Mallen called. I called him back after we were done talking. Damien was my running mate and subsequently vice president when I was student body president at Berea College. Today he came in as an investor into my tech startup.

Then Rajendraji went to the closing ceremony of the Hindi convention he had come to attend, the reason for his visit. He was a major feature at the convention. He was the one who gave out prizes.

I went to the Alliance picnic. Rajendraji was running late. He got there right after some white guy state Senator had left. Rajendraji gave a great speech. Then it was Jha's turn to speak. Hum to bhool hi gaye, Bhanu ke bare mein aap hi bol dijiye, Rajendraji urged Jha. Jha was in his element. They spoke great.

I have three hours of video from Rajendraji's visit. They will be downloaded from my camera and uploaded online over the next few days. I promised Rajendraji I will send him CDs of the video, I will mail them to him.

The three of them hurried to the train station. The train left at six. They will be back Tuesday evening, and fly back Wednesday morning. I will not get to meet them. I have a major Obama event Tuesday evening. Hum to dekhiye Nepal mein bhi Madhesi, America mein bhi Madhesi, yahan bhi sangharsh chal raha hai, Obama rashtrapati banega, I told Rajendraji a few different times.

Manhattan4Obama Kick-Off Organizational Meeting
When?
Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007, 7:15 PM
Where?
St. Vincent's Hospital Cafeteria
12th Street at 7th Ave
New York, NY 10011
Videos

Anil Jha, Nepal Sadbhavana Party 1
Anil Jha, Nepal Sadbhavana Party 2
Anil Jha, Nepal Sadbhavana Party 3
Madhesi Gathering In Prospect Park 1
Madhesi Gathering In Prospect Park 2
Ridgewood Dashain Party
Ratneshwar Goit, CPN (UML)
Aftab Alam, Nepali Congress 1
Aftab Alam, Nepali Congress 2
Aftab Alam, Nepali Congress 3
Bimalendra Nidhi And Friends 1
Bimalendra Nidhi And Friends 2
Bimalendra Nidhi And Friends 3
Bimalendra Nidhi And Friends 4
Upendra Yadav 1
Upendra Yadav 2
Upendra Yadav 3
Upendra Yadav 4
Upendra Yadav 5


Constituent Assembly: Best Madhesi Option


Impeach Bush-Cheney, Nancy Pelosi Gets To Become First Female President
Hillary Messed Up On Iraq, And Al Qaeda Is Strong, America Insecure
Jeff Kurzon's Living Room, Union Sqaure, Times Square, King Arthur
I Agree With Neocons, The War On Terror Is Same Magnitude As Cold War

Iowa Humanizes The Candidate
Yes, There Is A Hierarchy: Homework Is Online, Action Is Offline
Formula For Greatness
PBS Debate: Hillary Was Strong, Barack Was Warm, Edwards Was Composed
Some Recent Videos
Old Media Is The Reason Obama Is Lagging In The Polls
Michelle Obama Is Just Fabulous
1 Debate, 1 Major Policy Speech, 1 Rally, 1 Big Fundraiser A Month
I Touched Obama: Babel, Barack
Blair For Palestine, Blair For Europe
Hillary-Obama Vs. Rudy-Romney Vs. Bloomberg-Arnold
There Is An Albert Einstein On The Obama Campaign Staff
John Kennedy

FYI

United States Institute of Peace


Violence in the Terai and the Madhesi Movement: Prospects for Peace in Nepal
Public Event

Date and Time
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Please note new time:
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM

Location
U.S. Institute of Peace
2nd Floor Conference Room
1200 17th St, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Directions

transcript RSVP Today

Despite a peace agreement that ended a ten-year Maoist insurgency, the past six months have seen a spark of violence in the Terai (lowlands) region of Nepal fueled by a growing Madhesi movement. Concerns are being raised that such violence will threaten the peacebuilding process and fair constituent assembly elections scheduled in November. The Madhesi are culturally and ethnically close to the northern groups of India and are raising grievances including economic discrimination, disproportionate electoral representation and under-representation in the government, army, police and civil society organizations. A number of armed groups, claiming to support Madhesi grievances, have clashed with each other, police, and the Maoists. They have also engaged in kidnapping for ransom, extortion and killing of political party actors. A counter-Madhesi political group is forming and concerns are that it may turn to violence. Communal and ethnic tensions and fears are rising.

How can the Madhesi movement and the grievances raised by the Madhesi be resolved peacefully? How can moderate forces be given space to resolve the tensions peacefully? How can armed groups who use violence to promote their aims be brought into a more peaceful process of change? How can the government of Nepal constructively engage with the Madhesi movement and the growing number of armed groups? What could the role of the United Nations be in helping the government of Nepal with the Madhesi issues and to address the underlying grievances? Minister Rajendra Mahato will share his views on these and other issues related to peacebulding in Nepal.

Speakers

  • Minister Rajendra Mahato
    Nepal's Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, prominent Madhesi leader and vice president of the Nepal Sadbhawana Party-Anandidevi (NSP-A)
  • Colette Rausch, Moderator
    U.S. Institute of Peace

Media Inquiries

Please contact Ian Larsen (+1.202.429.3870) or Lauren Sucher (+1.202.429.3822) in the Office of Public Affairs and Communications.

RSVP

To RSVP, please send your name, affiliation, daytime phone number, and name of the event to rsvp@usip.org.