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VOL. 27, NO. 17, January 04, 2007 (Paush 20 2064 B.S.)
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"There Is A Possibility Of An Agreement Like 12-point Pact To Launch Decisive Agitation"
Rajendra Mahato 
RAJENDRA MAHATO , president of Nepal Sadbhvana Party, a regional party based in southern plain, is launching a joint agitation in Terai along with Madhesi Janadhikar Forum with a demand for autonomous region for Nepal ’s southern plain. Former minister Mahato spoke to KESHAB POUDEL on various issues regarding the planned agitation by his party and his future plan to press the government. Excerpts:
At a time when Madhesi political parties including yours have been saying that there is a genuine uprising in Nepal’s southern terai for the demand of equal status, prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala has recently said that Terai’s problem can be solved within a minute in case of India’s support? How do you look at it?
It is one of the irresponsible remarks of prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala. His remarks indicate that he is not sincere in fulfilling genuine political demands of Madhesi people. We are demanding our political rights as citizens of Nepal . Thus, it is the responsibility of Nepalese government to address our demand
If that is so, why prime minister Koirala, with whom you have had a long association in the last four years during the joint agitation against the king’s rule, might have said so?
As prime minister Koirala has recently corrected his statement, this chapter has already closed.
It means you don’t need support from outside country including India to solve the problems in terai?
There is a tendency in Nepal to blame India all the time for its internal failure. The Pahadi politicians have a long-held practice to chant anti-Indian slogans whenever they face internal problems. Of course, we need India ’s goodwill but it is the government in Kathmandu , which has to address the genuine demand of Madhesi.
Don’t you see the possibility of misuse of open border by armed rebels?
It is for the Nepali government to take necessary actions. The government must distinguish criminal activities and politically motivated activities
When armed groups are killing people, extorting money and kidnapping commoners in the name of political slogans, how will you suggest dealing with them?
When Maoists took similar actions, we treated them politically. We released all Maoists cadres and leaders involved in killing, extortion, kidnapping and other such acts. We can follow similar precedents to Madhesi armed rebels who have been waging armed struggle to establish the right of Madhesis.
As leaders of seven parties have claimed that they have addressed all the genuine demands including declaration of federal republic, election though proportional representation and other rights issues and they argue that remaining demands will be addressed after holding the Constituent Assembly polls, why has your party been calling for agitation?
SPA leaders have not fulfilled any of our demands. They have not accepted complete proportional representative system, regional based federalism with right to self determination and regional autonomy and equal status for all the Madhesis. So far as holding of CA is concerned, SPA leaders don’t want it. What SPA leaders have been doing is cheating people by preaching rhetoric of elections. Madhesi people want elections and our agitation is directed at holding the elections.
Do you mean SPA leaders are not serious about holding the CA polls?
They are not serious at all to hold the elections for CA. Madhesi people want CA so as our right can be established and our identity of Madhesis will be recognized.
Don’t you have identity as a Nepali now?
Our identity is questioned by hill rulers and we have not been treated as a Nepali. Thus, we want to be recognized first as a Madhesi then Nepali.
What are your major demands?
Our first demand is to implement article 33 which was placed after the martyrdom of 40 Madhesis in last January. According to the article, the government has to give equal rights and opportunities to all Madhesis in government services in accordance with the population. We want our equal representation in army, police, judiciary, executive and administration. We want our representation in all state apparatus. The country should be declared federal republic with Madhes as a single region with the right to self determination and election on the basis of proportional representation, which again has to be based on population.
How do you define your term of proportional representation?
The present preoperational representation will give just 32 percent of seats to Madhesis in CA whereas we have 68 percent votes. In the name of Pahadi Janjatis and Dalits, the numbers of seat for Pahadis have gone up. This is a fraud against Madhesi people. We want our votes to be used to choose our own representatives of Madhesh on the basis of population.
Have you discussed these issues with government?
They ignored it when they presented third amendment bill in parliament. I proposed amendment but seven party alliance bullied Madhesis demand. We are now left with the only option to launch a decisive agitation.
When will the agitation begin?
We have been launching the joint agitation with Madhesi Janadhikar Forum led by Dr. Upendra Yadav. The first round of agitation has already started from December 26. Madhesi people will launch second round of decisive agitation from January 19, 2008 .
Will other regional parties also back your agitation?
We have been talking with other regional parties including armed groups. They gave us assurances that all of them will support our agitation. This is going to be final and decisive.
As you said, your agitation will be supported by armed group. Don’t you think it is going to be violent?
We believe in peaceful agitation. If Maoists and Seven Party Alliance can launch successful peaceful agitation, there is no reason why Madhesis can't do it.
At a time when armed groups have been terrorizing people of terai particularly those of hill origin by issuing threats, don’t you think your agitation will fuel the fire?
Our agitation will be peaceful and it is not directed against any community but to establish the right of Madhesi people. Our aim is also to press armed groups that violence only ignites violence and that they should opt for peaceful agitation, which only can bring the change.
Do you think armed groups will join your call?
If Maoists can join agitation launched by seven parties against royal government and enter into peaceful politics, why do we suspect armed groups of Madhesi. When all of us are fighting for the cause of oppressed Madhes and Madhesis, there is a possibility to have an agreement like the 12-point pact to launch decisive agitation against the oppression of Pahadis.
In the name of Pahadi rulers, all Madhesi outfits have been denouncing people of hill origin living in terai and threatening them to vacate the place. Don’t you think this is other kind of suppression of minorities of Madhes?
Our agitation is not directed against people of hill origin living in terai as Madhesu struggle is aimed at establishing equal rights of Madhesis.
If that is so, why are Madhesi groups chanting anti-Pahadi slogans?
We are opposing discriminatory policy of Pahadi rulers but not the pahadis. Some people might have been victimized but we want harmonious relations will all communities of Madhes.
Since seven party government has amended the constitution and declared to hold election, why are you blaming them?
You have already seen how they are making a fool of people in the last one year by postponing the election twice. I can’t believe that they will hold the election again.
How do you see the role of newly launched Terai-Madhes Loktantrick Party?
This new party will play an important role to promote and protect the rights of Madhesis. Since this new party is led by senior political leaders like Mahanta Thakur, who has a long history of political struggle, our party has already invited them to join us in our decisive agitation.
Since your party and Mahanta Thakur’s new party both have similar objective to press a demand for a complete autonomy for Madhes, do you see any possibility to merge your party with them?
Of course, we have similar objectives but ours is the first party which raised the question for equality for Madhesis. We can form a kind of joint front but there is no question of merging with them.
You have been demanding autonomy for entire Madhes as a one political and geographical unit where different linguistic groups have been living. What would your autonomous region be like?
Madhes autonomous region will have its own judiciary, executive and legislative at regional level. We also want to have equal share in the center also at par with Pahadi community who discriminated against us. Furthermore, the constitution should guarantee us the right to self determination.
Do you mean you want the right to declare Madhes as a separate and independent state?
Of course, if discriminations continue, people should have the right to self determination. It is the right of the people to choose their own destiny.
If you are given regional autonomy and right to self determination, what will the official language of Madhes be?
Local regional language will be given official status. As people of Madhesis widely speak Hindi, our link language will be Hindi. Again, it will be up to the people to decide.
What about Nepali language?
Everything will be decided by the wishes of people.
Do you believe that your agitation will bring a new federal autonomous state in Madhes?
Yes, of course. We lived for long as a second class citizen under the oppression of Pahadis and now Madhesi people want to live as free citizens. If our demands for autonomy is not fulfilled, we even demand for independent Madhesh.
