Friday, April 13, 2007

Madesh Violence

The old leaders of all political parties carrying old thinking, old style, old methodologies, old culture and everything old on their backs with a purpose to build a NEW NEPAL proclaimed the Interim Constitution on January 15, 2007; opposition to which was started from the following day. People regard the "New Constitution" as no better than old hag in new clothes. Nepal Congress has the concept of inclusive democracy. CPN (UML) has adopted the policy of democratic inclusive replubic and the CPN (Maoist) is in favor of Ethnic/ Regional/ Linguistic Federal Democratic Republic and Proportional Representative Electoral System. But the CPN (Maoist) failed to convince SPA on their demands. Consequently, both Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the IC came on public excluding the interests and voices of people. This sentiment has had an overwhelming impact over the marginalized and disadvantaged communities and groups. In fact, the 11-yeats armed conflict of the CPN (Maoist) has created massive awareness that could not have generated within the evolutionary trend of 100 years. However, the IC did not offer rights compared to the consciousness of the masses. Madhes is burning with the slogan ' no rights without sacrifice.' There are six types of people involved in the Madhes movement. firstly, the MJF initiated and led the Madhes movement that was non-violent. But it turned violent as neither their organization and networking nor was leadership strong. Secondly, the common people ushered by their consciousness came together for their rights and duties, which was without leadership leading to increase in violence. The consciousness came together for their rights and duties, which was without leadership leading to increase in violence. The third are the Madhesi activities, who felt insulted by their own leadership within SPAM since long on the course to implement to their demands, have been involved actively in the movement. The fourth is the royalist force comprising of the NSP-M, cadres of RPP and Rastriya Jana Shakti Party, former Pancha (politicians of Panchayat Regime), the 'elected' members of Municipalities during king's sham Municipality elections. These have been intensifying the pockets of and support for the movement. It has been supporting the movement with finance and activitsm to fish in troubled waters. The fifth force is Hindu fundamentalists, including Indian and Nepali, with the purpose to reestablish Hindu Kingdom have been fueling the fire to reinstate Monarchy in Nepal. The sixth are both the factions of TJMM, which have withdrawn talks with the government and divide into the movement. All the above forces are unfolding violent struggle under the banner of MJF. On the other side, the lack of leadership on the Madhes violence, none of the political and civil society actors pressure enough the government to initate dialogue.

In the early period, the SPA became viewers to the tussle between the Maoists and MJF that the 'tiger' would devour the 'deer', but they have become bewildered as the Mashesi movement began targeting SPA. The PM's statement urging Maoist leaders to apologize for Lahan incident added fuel to violence in Madhes. The sole 'politics' of SPA is spearheaded to minimize the 'image' of Maoists in public.

The incidences in Madhes have wounds in the hearts of entire Nepali people and timely dressing and addressing to the wounds is pertinent to stop it spreading, otherwise it may develop into a cancer. The crisis is in reality identity clash in Nepal, which represents castes, classes, gender, regions, cultures, languages, etc. Nepal is a common of all Nepalis. All the political forces should timely and adequately comply to talks, dialogue, negotiations and cooperation for New Nepal. The present need is Federal Democracy and Proportional Election System including geographical representation. Special attention should also be given to sensitive zones like karnali who occurs about 15% areas of Nepal, but fewer populations. If not, violent conflict will be recurring that could intensify ethnic and communal violence.

Nepal has a legacy of upheaval reigning over dreams of Nepali people ar every 10 years' interval since 1950/51. In order to pragmatically fulfill people's interest, desires, aspirations and demands people ought to have their due rights, "otherwise Nepal is waiting the other type of war- and ethnic war or civil war"