Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Terai peace loving population opting for violence is puzzling

Babin Shrestha, Student, Political Science, TU

Basically, all the Madhesi demands look reasonable to me. The issue of age-old discrimination is valid. I also agree to re-demarcation of electoral constituencies, introduction of proportional election system and a federal system of governance. To me the demand of autonomy appears unreasonable. You can talk of everything but no to bifurcation of the country!

And I slightly differ also in that there has not been enough representation from the Madhesi community in the influential sectors. I believe that the present Prime Minister G.P.Koirala, the UML chief Madhav Nepal and others like Hridesh Tripathi, Rajendra Mahato, Ram Bran Yadav, Prabhu Narayan Choudhary were all born in the Terai, they are all Madhesis, thus it would be unwise to claim that the Terai stands underrepresented. They were all given equal opportunities to prosper. If one thinks the other way round then it becomes a communal issue. Further, I feel that the methods of conveying their demands are also not acceptable. The Madhesi community could have easily adopted peaceful means for voicing their issues. If the Maoists could choose peace over violence why cannot they toe the Maoist line? More so, the present violence in the Terai is provoked by the reactionary forces. Otherwise, it was unexpected of the peace loving population in the Terai opting for violence.

The Maoists’ lack of care to the Madhesi issue is not surprising to me. There may be hidden political agenda that the Maoists’ do not want to disclose. And there may be old feud over some issues between the two parties that are not of concern for laymen like us. The Maoists’ nonchalance over the Madhesi issue may have surfaced due to the possible hidden agendas of the current Madhesi leaders in the streets or their attachment to some forces that do not want to see the prevalence of peace in this country. And there is also a fact that it is not admissible and suitable to invite groups that prefer to divide the country for talks.

The Maoists’ were first to raise Madhesi demands

Mahadev Rokka, Student, Nepal Humanities Campus, TU

I hail from hilly region in Nepal . Problems in the Terai are not common to me. Lately informed while reading newspapers and watching television I feel deeply for the Terai Community. If the Madhesi community is really discriminated then this is the right time to come forward with their genuine demands.

In a democratic system all should get equal opportunity to compete in all sectors but that should be in accordance of democratic methods and procedures. The present chaos in the Terai does not suggest that methods adopted are democratic ones.

While comparing this protest to that of the nineteen daylong nationwide protests last April, I feel that then it was fought for the freedom of the entire nation, whereas this one is fought for the benefit of a single community. Also, the current Madhesi demands are not new ones; they were already raised by the Maoists. The concerned authority has already given their words to fulfill these demands after the CA polls. In this circumstance this is puzzling for the Madhesi groups to come up with same demands and create chaos in the country. Thus I feel there are some internal and external forces provoking violence while supporting these groups in the Terai who want a share in the interim government.

I seriously feel that some Hindu extremists groups too have come to the scene from India who object to Nepal being declared a secular state thus creating problem in the Terai.

Maoists’ undemocratic ideology blocking talks with Madhesis

Ashok Thapa , Nepal Humanities Campus, Kathmandu

There are several small groups emerging from the Terai separately coming forward with their demands. Instead, I suggest these small groups to unite first, and then initiate dialogue with the government. This way their demands will be forcefully heard by the concerned authority.

The Madhesi demands are genuine. They are demanding equal rights; this is their right as they belong to a democratic nation. But the process of pressurizing the government is not acceptable. I think that it is the lack of significant education among the leaders and their cadres in our country that violence is always chosen over peace while objecting differing views. This is what the Maoists and other political parties chose in the past and the Madhe si community is just repeating their acts.

To add, I also see that there is a problem with the Maoists these days. I cannot fully understand why they do not favor talks with the Madhesi outfit? It is perhaps their undemocratic ideology that may have prevented the government to initiate talks with the Madhesi groups.

The Maoist attitude to repress the present Madhesi demands proves that they are yet to become fully democratic. They fought for the restoration of democracy along with the democratic parties but could not adopt democratic credentials as democracy was restored.

Madhesi leaders themselves have betrayed their community

Kismat Lama , Nepal Humanities Campus, Kathmandu

The Madhesis’ must be inducted in the mainstream politics of the State affairs. They must come to the power structure. They must be given equal rights. The Madhesis must come forward peacefully to put forward their demands. Their problems must be addressed by the government as soon as possible.

Another point is that the problem has come up because the leaders coming from the Terai in the past were all a bunch of corrupts. In fact, the Madhesi leaders are representing major parties like NC, UML and the Maoists as well since long time. It is true that the Maoists are still to come to the power but the Madhesi leaders in the NC and the UML have all exercised power in the government. Yet the Madhesis are poor, underrepresented and discriminated which amply means that their own leaders have betrayed their own community.

Finally, I suggest the Madhesis to adopt right procedures while putting forward their demands so as not to hurt others’ sentiment.

Why the Madhesi community is left in the cold each time?

Naren Lama , Nepal Humanities Campus, Kathmandu

The Madhesi community had equally participated in the struggle for freedom that lasted nineteen days in April last year. They had also hoped for the fulfillment of their demands like other communities. But why it is always the Madhesi community that is discriminated every where? This community also has sacrificed their sons and daughters in all the struggles that have taken place in this country over the years. Yet they are left behind in all sectors. This is the moot question.

But I still believe that the struggling party/parties should come up with demands that are acceptable to all the Nepalese. May be it is their own demands that is keeping them away from the talks with the government. This could also be the reason that the Maoists do not want to talk to the groups claiming to represent the Madhesi community at the moment.

Finally, I recommend the annoyed groups to abandon the methods of bunds, chakka jams that cripple the whole country.