Immediate Hiccups
As the deal has come under fire from some sections of both the government and MJF side, the celebrations could be premature
By SANJAYA DHAKAL
The signing of the 22-point deal between the government and the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) – which had spearheaded Madhesi agitation earlier this year – had boosted the confidence of the people and pushed the country further towards successful Constituent Assembly (CA) election.
But it now appears that the celebrations could be premature. A major constituent of ruling coalition, the Maoists, and a dissident faction within MJF have rejected the deal throwing cold water over the optimism.
No sooner had the chief government negotiator and Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Ram Chandra Poudel signed the deal with MJF chief Upendra Yadav, chairman of Maoists, Prachanda, issued a statement lambasting the deal in most negative terms. Prachanda termed the deal as 'extremely objectionable, flawed and deceptive' and a conspiracy to befool the people of Madhes by promoting a certain faction.
Prachanda has also accused that the deal was signed without consulting with his party. He has pointed at the 15th point in the deal, which mentions about returning the weapons of Maoists to its owners, and said that it smacked of conspiracy against Maoists.
Another senior Maoist leader Dev Gurung went on to accuse that India was behind the deal. "He probably forgot that the 12-point deal between seven parties and the Maoists, too, was midwifed by India in New Delhi. At least, here they have signed the deal in Kathmandu within the premises of the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction," said a political observer.
On the other hand, a dissident faction led by four central leaders of MJF have rejected the deal and accused Yadav of selling out Madhesi causes. They have formed a separate committee led by one Bhagya Nath Gupta and announced removal of Yadav from the position of MJF chief.
In a statement issued jointly by Gupta, Kishore Kumar Bishwas, Ram Kumar Sharma and Jitendra Sonal, the dissidents have reiterated the MJF demands for an autonomous region with the right to self determination, federal democratic republic, end of monarchy and full proportional representation based election system for Constituent Assembly (CA).
Upendra Yadav, on the other hand, has accused the dissidents of being royalists. "The people of Madhes have earned a huge victory through this deal. They want to participate in CA election," Yadav said. He has appealed to MJF workers to prepare for the election.
Yadav also hit back at Prachanda for denouncing the deal. He said that Prachanda could not digest the deal that has empowered the Madhesi people.
The Deal
In the 22-point deal, the government has agreed with MJF's demand for federalism with autonomy. The nature and scope of the autonomy, however, will be determined by the Constituent Assembly (CA). The MJF, too, agreed to embrace the mixed electoral system for the upcoming constituent assembly election and has announced withdrawal of all the agitation programs, which was to start from September 6.
Earlier, the MJF had pushed for fully proportional representation-based election system. "Madhesi people have gained important achievement from this deal. While the April movement of 2006 ushered republic in the country, the Madhes agitation of 2007 paved the way for federal autonomous restructuring of the country," said MJF chairman Upendra Yadav.
The 22-point agreement reached between the two sides includes compensation to those killed during the Terai movement, guarantee of inclusion of Madhesis and other marginalized groups in the constituent assembly, immediate compensation to families of those killed during Madhes agitation, withdrawal of charges against MJF leaders and cadres, national recognition of Madhesi language, culture and customs, among others. Both the sides agreed to immediate form a commission on restructuring the state. The government has agreed to adopt a three-language policy – mother tongue and Nepali for official and education purposes and English for international communication. They also agreed to provide land, housing and jobs for Dalits. They also agreed to form industrial security force.
