Vijaya Chalise

Despite the protests, obstructions and violence created by some regional fractions and newly formed Madhesi parties, led largely by the upper class ruling elite of the Terai, the general Madhesi people have shown their enthusiasm to cast their vote in the upcoming Constitution Assembly (CA) election. This enthusiasm shown in all the 240 constituencies has sent a message that no one should dare to oppose the elections slated for April 10.

Commitment
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, CPN-Maoist Chairman Prachanda and CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal have reiterated their commitment to holding the election on the stipulated date. However, the attitude of the Madhesi parties that go against the overall national interest and integrity is causing disturbances.

There was heavy participation across the country on the day of filing the nomination papers for the election under the first-past-the-post system. It also showed that people across the country, including the entire Terai region, are eager to cast their vote in the up-coming CA elections.

Except for some newly formed Madhesi regional parties and their leaders trying to play politics in the name of the Madhesi people, hundreds of contestants from all the major political parties, including a Terai-based party, and some independent candidates filled their nomination.

A total of 2,191 candidates - 18,798 from 33 major and small political parties and 493 independents - filed their nominations on Monday in 240 election constituencies to contest the upcoming CA polls under the first-past-the-post system.

Despite the repeated call by the government to reach a solution, the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) has been forwarding renewed demands. However, it is hoped that negotiations would be reached till late Thursday. Marathon meetings to find a solution have repeatedly failed following the insistence by the UDMF to postpone the election, amend the Interim Constitution and immediately establish a Madhesi battalion in the Nepal Army.

The seven-party alliance (SPA) has rejected the demands, including recognising the whole of Madhes as one autonomous unit with the right to self-determination raised by them. Obviously the SPA, including the interim parliament and the government, has no right and mandate to decide on such an issue that would have a far-reaching impact on national integrity.

On the contrary, the UDMF leaders have taken up the foreign-sponsored agenda of one ‘Madhes, one Province’ with the right to self-determination, while the Tharus and other endogenous citizens of the entire Terai region are dead against it. The question is, why are the agitating Madhesi leaders sticking to such demands which only the elected representatives of the Constituent Assembly can sort out? Except for the demand of one Madhes one Province with the right to self-determination, all the other demands of the UMDF have been agreed upon by the SPA. It has agreed to recognise the 45 people killed during the Madhes movement as martyrs and provide them due compensation, besides increasing Madhesi representation from 20 to 30 per cent in the selection of candidates for the CA polls.

The indefinite Madhes bandh called by the UDMF has turned very ugly. The indefinite Madhes bandh has created an economic blockade, targeting the rest of the country, including the Kathmandu Valley. A National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) report has indicated there have been gross human rights violations in the troubled Terai districts with the people deprived of their basic right to life.

The report says the ongoing agitation has affected daily wage earners, shopkeepers, educational institutions, industries, transportation and people from all walks of life living in the Terai.

Besides, it has seriously curtailed the Terai people’s right to free movement and enjoyment of the other fundamental rights. The indefinite bandh has even targeted the Kathmandu Valley, creating shortages of daily consumer goods in the capital. Even ambulances and vehicles of the Office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) as well as the Election Commission offices in the Terai districts have been targeted by the demonstrators.

Despite the flexibility shown by the alliance of the seven political parties and the government, the renewed demand that the CA elections be deferred by the UDMF, an alliance of three newly formed regional parties in the Terai, indicates that they do not want the election as they have no organisational base. Now they ought to realise that Madhes or Terai, by whatever name it is called, is not only the land of some agitating leaders like the Thakurs, Tripathis, Mishras, Yadavs and Guptas. There are many other indigenous and suppressed groups like the Tharus, Dhimals and Meches who ironically have been ruled not only by the Pahadis but by the elite and upper class Madhesis, most of them feudal landlords.

Also, there are many other national parties and leaders, other than those from the Madhesi regional parties, on whom the people have great faith and trust. For that reason, the leaders who are obstructing the election that aims at empowering the suppressed people by restructuring the country should think seriously. One must realise that playing political games will only help save the monarchy. Evidently, the CA elections have now become apparent. All the political forces should work to make it a success and protect nationality and sovereignty.

Obviously, all should be serious as the political situation at the moment is very volatile, and national integrity is in danger. At a time when anti-CA forces are working hard to get the election postponed or prove it to be a farce, the SPA members should be particularly alert. They should remember that even before reaching their 12-point understanding that laid the basis for the successful joint movement in April 2006, powerful forces from within and outside the country had tried to hinder it. After failing to do so, these forces tried to split the seven-party alliance. They are now active to stall the CA elections, which is the central achievement of People’s Movement-II.

It is a fact that the country is facing a deep crisis, and the SPA and the government are unable to resolve it. It is the demand of the time that all the republican democratic forces should be united and hold the CA elections to safeguard democracy and achieve the people’s sovereignty by establishing a federal democratic republic in Nepal. This is urgent as polarisation between the forces seeking the country’s structural changes through the CA elections and those in favour of the status quo by preserving feudalism in the country is surfacing.

Polarisation
Such a polarisation between the pro and anti-election forces has surfaced, with parties like the Rastriya Janashakti Party and some others refusing to nominate their candidates in line with the UMDF. In this critical period, minor grudges and complaints should not be used as pretexts to disturb the CA election. Otherwise, the people’s aspirations expressed through the people’s movement will never be fulfilled.

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