All that Madheshis want is to see the new constitution amended on the basis of previous agreements
I accompanied a Swedish documentary film maker to cover Madhesh protests in Birgunj, which has now become the epicenter of Madhesh movement. During our trip, we interviewed agitating Madheshi leaders, civil society leaders, journalists, businessmen, rights activists, youth, women and children living in areas near Birgunj.
We found that they were aware about Madheshis' demands and the reason for their participation in the movement. While interacting with us, they vented ire against government for killing Madheshi people and the mainstream media for bad coverage of the unrest. Most of them said the government's apathy makes them feel as if they are not Nepalis. But all agree that the movement has reached an aar ya paar (now or never) stage.
We visited Pokhariya village of Parsa district to meet the family of Chandan Kumar Patel, the four-year-child who was killed in police firing at Bethari of Rupandehi. "Police could have killed me. Why did they kill an innocent child?" Chandan's father asked. The child, according to him, was killed when he was shot when police indiscriminately opened fire at agitators halting supplies from India. We were stunned by his resolute support for the movement. Family members of Chandan said that they are ready to sacrifice many Chandans to have their demands addressed.
History of Madhesh to be written
There have been three major upheavals in Madhesh in less than a decade—in 2007, 2008 and 2015. The latest one has been running for two and a half months, probably the longest ever in the country's history. The Madheshi demands are clear. They want the new constitution amended based on the 22-point and eight-point agreements the state had signed with them in 2007 and 2008, respectively.
Yes, the new constitution has addressed some issues. But four key demands—electoral constituencies based on population, proportional representation of Madheshis in government bodies, identity-based provincial demarcation and equal citizenship provision for women marrying Nepali men—are yet to be accommodated. And so the latest Madheshi uprising.
The current movement has already dealt with two governments. Four attempts of talks between the government and agitating Madheshi parties have made no headway, owing, according to United Democratic Madheshi Front (UDMF), to the lack of seriousness towards the genuine demands of Madheshis/Tharus.
As of this writing, UDMF team is sitting for talks with the government. It is not clear whether this talk, described as the final one by UDMF, will be successful. But agitating UDMF leaders inform they will devise new strategies to press the government.
Madheshi civil society leaders label 'failure' of talks as government propaganda. When major parties attempted to incite communal feelings, people from hill communities in Madhesh organized solidarity rallies in support of Madheshi community. But the three major parties do not seem serious about ending the deadlock, says Dipendra Jha, Supreme Court advocate and Madheshi activist. He believes major parties want to thwart the Madheshi movement.
Instead of resolving Madheshi crisis, the government chose to import fuel from China. This is a good decision to ease fuel supply but ignoring Madhesh won't help. Channeling supplies through China alone while being indifferent to agitating groups can't be a permanent solution.
There is complete absence of state in Madhesh, except for presence of security personnel. All the government offices have been shut down for around three months. Police outposts in both rural and city areas have been removed due to fear from of attacks by agitating groups. Police presence is confined to district headquarters.
In Parsa district, people from different castes and villages take turns to stage demonstrations in district headquarters, Birgunj, and sit-in protests at Nepal-India border of Raxaul. As per the schedule, every day, several thousand locals come and join the daily protests. They are not willing to give up until their demands are honored.
People do not trust their leaders but they do not believe in government assurances either. They want to see their demands addressed soon for they feel that the government has already cheated them twice. Followers, especially the Madheshi youth, of CK Raut's radical ideology are also participating in the protests and are shouting for 'independent Madhesh.' The longer the government takes to address Madheshi demands, the stronger this agenda will become.
This is the right time to grant legitimate rights to Madheshis and Tharus who have been historically marginalized. If the state heeds them, it will strengthen our national integrity. Failing to do so will push the country to the brink.
@praveenyadava
