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The Nepalese American Council (NAC) has expressed serious concern over the Nepal government's handling of Nepalgunj riots and recent unrest in the Terai.
A press release issued by the NAC said, "We are concerned about the role of security forces, particularly in Nepalgunj and Janakpur incidents. NAC is troubled by the disproportionate use of force against protestors in eastern Terai resulting in 28 deaths."
Many Nepalis have the perception that the non-intervention of police in Nepalgunj may have been driven by ethnic differences between the police force and the victims of the riot, the statement added.
NAC believes that a fair and equitable treatment of everyone is critical in establishing durable peace and harmony in the country, the statement added.
NAC has called on the government to undertake a prompt investigation of Nepalgunj incident and other recent Terai events in a fair and impartial manner and that the outcome of such investigation be made public.
NAC also called upon the government to take appropriate action against the responsible individuals who may be found guilty.
NAC has also appealed to everyone in the affected areas to refrain from vandalising private and public properties, and to exercise tolerance, appreciate the diversity and to help maintain the long-held communal harmony in Nepal. nepalnews.com pb Feb 22 07
This is a milestone. Otherwise for the longest time I have thought rather low of this crowd. This statement is belated, but better late than never.
Notice that NAC's call for an investigation into the state terror unleashed upon the Madhesi Movement mirrors that of the leader of that movement, the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF).
I think the
NAC now has to go one step further and firmly ally itself with the concept of a federal republic in Nepal. The entire diaspora has to come around to it. NAC has paved the way for others to follow.
The NAC also needs to come out lashing against the forcible Maoists disruptions of the political programs by other parties and organizations. Royal dictatorship was not okay. Maoist dictatorship is not going to be okay either.
And I hope the NRNA follows suit with a clear stand of its own. Vague commitments to peace and democracy will no longer work, if it ever did. The NRNA has to get much more specific than that.
This is the time to take sides. A social justice movement is on. We should be thankful of its basic nonviolent character. Regardless of our ethnic backgrounds, we have to stand by people's right to free speech, peaceful assembly, and peaceful protests.
NAC needs to go one step further and demand the Home Minister's resignation. That is basic to building a democratic culture in the country. 38 deaths are too much weight for the Home Minister to get by with.
So, yes, the effort is great, but still not good enough. NAC still has a long way to go. The Pahadi diaspora has its homework cut out for it.
Also stop calling it the Terai unrest. Start calling it the Madhesi Movement. Calling it the Terai unrest is not exactly demonizing it like calling it the work of the royalists and the BJP, but it is half way there.
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