August 23, 2007
HEAVY DAMAGE FROM MONSOON
Although monsoon season is coming to an end, the toll of floods, flashfloods and landslides has created havoc for Nepalis, particularly in the low-lying southern districts. Nearly 300,000 natives have been seriously affected, more than 20,000 families have lost their homes and the death toll is now nearing 150. Rescue efforts have been minimal. The biggest health concern is now about outbreaks of water borne diseases, as villagers slowly begin to return to their homes.
But there is an ugly political side to the annual natural disaster caused by summer monsoons.
India and Nepal blame each other for the flooding—some of the worst in decades, which has affected 25,000,000 people. Officials in Bihar, the Indian state worst affected by the inundation, said neighboring Nepal has failed to build dams to control water surging down from the Himalayas.
Nepali officials promptly pointed out that the dams unilaterally built by India along the Indo-Nepal border are responsible for submerging many houses and huge tracts of arable land in Nepal. Khurdalotan barrage in Rupandehi District, Bagmati Check dam in Rautahat, Bajaha Sagar and Siswa Sagar barrage in Kapilvastu, were some of the Indian physical infrastructures that had caused much of the trouble. By constructing such illegal dams, India has stopped the natural flow of water thus submerging Nepal’s Terai and converting Nepali habitable lands into a huge water reservoir.
MADESHI UNREST CONTINUES IN SPITE OF FLOODS
There has been growing tension between the Madeshi and Padeshi communities in southern Nepal, ever since large numbers of Padeshi migrated from the northern hills and lower mountain areas to the Terai in the 1950s following the eradication of malaria. Since then, the Padeshi have dominated politics and the local economy to become more affluent and privileged than the Madeshi—even though the Madeshi are the majority and were there first. By the beginning of 2007, many of the Madeshi struck back.
The number of Madeshi militant groups in the Terai has been increasing and spreading fear among the Padeshi. Among the most feared are the Madeshi Tigers, Cobra Group, two factions of Jantantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) and nine other similar groups who are bent on cleansing the Padeshi from the Terai region, according to some local rights NGOs who requested anonymity for fear of attacks from these armed groups. They expressed concern that new anti-Madeshi groups are also being formed. These include the notorious Terai Virus Cleaners, the Ajingar Group, Bhawar Ulka and the Chure Bhawar Ekta Samaj (CBES), which are expected to give rise to more inter-ethnic tension
and possible further displacements—this according to a new Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) report.
Some IDP experts are also concerned that it is not only the Padeshi who are vulnerable but also the Madeshi population living alongside them in hilly districts. "The Madeshi people could also suffer from displacement and lose their only means of survival," said the NRC's Amrita Shrestha.
"Now it is only the government who can prevent further displacement and inter-ethnic tensions between people of the hills and the Terai," said Pradeep Jha, protection officer from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The Times of India reported last week that many residents, including government officials, in Southern Nepal's Sarlahi district have fled their homes after being threatened by Jwala Singh’s group, one of the three factions of the JTTM, (and which has been waging a separatist armed struggle in the Terai). Some 900 government officials have vacated their offices in the Terai region and moved to Kathmandu, due to the sense of insecurity felt by them. "We left…after getting calls from the group which demanded one million Nepalese Rupees and warned to take physical action if we failed to pay the ransom," said one of the victims.
To give an idea of the fury simmering in southern Nepal, excerpts from a recent interview with Jwala Singh, is quoted below. Journalist Tilak Pathak conducted the interview.
INTERVIEW WITH JWALA SINGH
Tilak Pathak: Will you come to the negotiating table or not?
Jwala Singh: Why should we come for talks? We have already declared Terai as a separate state. No chance of talks with this government.
Tilak Pathak: So there is no possibility of talks at all?
Jwala Singh: No. Why should we come to the negotiating table when the army has been mobilized? On the one hand, the Home Minister warns of suppression, while on the other Ram Chandra Poudel stages a drama of talks.
Tilak Pathak: But the government has said it is in touch with you?
Jwala Singh: This is simply false. No contact has been made with us. We are not in the favor of holding talks and there won’t be any talks.
Tilak Pathak: Won't you sit for talks even if the government invites you seriously?
Jwala Singh: The Padeshi monopolist state has been continuously exploiting the Madeshi people for the last 240 years. While the Rana and Panchayat regimes always suppressed the Madeshi, we had to begin an armed struggle after we realized that the current democratic government, too, does not want to give us our rights. Earlier, we had declared a ceasefire as a rebel group. But we were ignored even after declaring a unilateral ceasefire with clear demands. Now, we are already running a separate state. Now even if talks take place, then it will be only for demarcating the borders.
Tilak Pathak: Don't you think your statement is totally out of place?
Jwala Singh: We have been contributing 85 percent of the country’s total revenue (to Nepal government). The transport system is in Terai. We are ahead in terms of geography and population as well. We don't need to hold dialogue with the Padeshi monopolist state and the Padeshi terrorists. Now, they need to hold talks with us.
Tilak Pathak: The issue of separating Terai from the rest of the country is being opposed from within Terai itself. What do you say?
Jwala Singh: There were some Indians who were against India’s struggle for freedom (from the British). In the same way, a handful of power brokers and thugs, who have been fulfilling their vested interests banking on the Padeshi monopolist state, have stood against us. We plan to contain such people.
Tilak Pathak: You stay in India and raise the issue of a separate Terai. Is India encouraging and protecting you?
Jwala Singh: This is absolutely false. We don't stay in India. Though the cell phone on which you are right now talking to me has an Indian number, I am actually talking to you from within Nepal by connecting an antenna to mislead the Padeshi administration. I have nothing to do with India. Our relationship with India is limited to only a few districts and certain Indian nationals. And this relationship is concerned only with marriages and livelihoods. It’s not that we are being operated by India. I can't be pro-Indian at any cost. Nor can I become a royalist either.
Tilak Pathak: You may not have any relation with the Indian establishment, but it seems you have some kind of nexus with the regional/ local Indian leaders?
Jwala Singh: We don't have any relations with any leader, administration and state of India. If anyone finds any evidence (of such relations) then I am ready to hang myself.
Tilak Pathak: What about the royal palace?
Jwala Singh: It's not us, but the eight parties themselves are royalists.
Tilak Pathak: But the way you were freed from army custody is considered suspicious?
Jwala Singh: Leaders do get arrested and released. Two of the five of us who were arrested had managed to escape. The army had chased and killed the remaining three.
Tilak Pathak: What is the chance of your alliance with the other Madeshi groups?
Jwala Singh: Some time back, a meeting was held in Patna (Bihar, India) at our initiative. The campaign to form a broader political front by including the Madeshi Tigers, (Madeshi People's Rights) Forum, Goit (faction of JTMM) and other existing groups is moving ahead positively.
Tilak Pathak: How are you relations with the Madeshi Forum and the Goit faction?
Jwala Singh: My front and I extend moral support to any group fighting for the liberation of Terai. I will also support the ruling Sadbhavana Party-Anandi Devi and Upendra (Yadav) if they come up with good programs.
Tilak Pathak: What then are your capabilities?
Jwala Singh: We have enough soldiers to protect Terai. We have trained our fighters and have kept them in a standby position. We won’t allow the Constituent Assembly elections to take place. If the Padeshi government tries to forcefully hold the elections then the consequences will be grave. And the Padeshi rulers will be responsible for that.
MAOISTS FLEEING CANTONMENTS SET UP AFTER THE 2006 PEACE AGREEMENT
About 31,000 former fighters are housed in 28 camps under a November 2006 peace deal between the government and the Maoists, who last year ended their decade-long civil war that killed more than 13,000 people.
But according to Reuters, at least 1,000 former rebels have left a camp in Nawalparasi district in southwest Nepal in the past six months, saying camp commanders were ignoring them. The Maoist party is supposed to receive funds from the government to maintain the camps, as well as pay allowances to the fighters.
"They [the government] haven't even provided the salary and allowances released by the government in our name," Maoist leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai was quoted as saying of his seniors in the camp. He said fighters injured during the war were not getting treatment more than a year after the conflict ended. There was no immediate comment from the government in response to Bhattarai’s accusation.
What is certain is that the conditions in the cantonments are deplorable. To give one example, hundreds of cadres, sequestered at the second division in Shaktikhor, Chitwan, have fallen ill do to the monsoon floods. They were left with no choice but to drink contaminated water and the result is high fevers and jaundice.
YOUNG COMMUNISTS LEAGUE, (YCL) JUNIOR DIVISION OF MAOIST PARTY ACCUSED OF ONGOING VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION.
Since the beginning of the year, clashes between the YCL and non-Maoist factions have given the YCL a nasty reputation of taking the law into their own hands while Maoist leaders look the other way.
The Maoists claim that the YCL has more than 300,000 cadres currently operating around the country and they plan to increase that number to over 500,000 in the next few months. According to BBC News, “…what is intriguing is the fact that the YCL is led by former Maoist fighters—including ‘key assassins’ who until recently were wanted by the Nepalese police. Many of the ‘key assassins’ are more radical, and eager to pursue ‘ideological politics’. They do not want to remain confined to UN-monitored cantonments…”
Sagar, the YCL leader in Kathmandu, counters that his group is merely involved in social and community work, including cleaning up neighborhoods, supplying drinking water and arresting corrupt officials, businessmen and criminals.
Prachanda, head of the Maoists, vehemently denies Maoists are involved with any illegal activities.
More recently—August 2—according to Deutsche Press-Argentur, curfew was imposed on a town in northeastern Nepal after YCL stormed a district administration office and clashed violently with police.
August 7: According to Indian E News, “A popular radio station in Nepal, which had been able to survive the draconian censorship imposed on the media by King Gyanendra's regime, was forced to close down after Maoists muscled into its office in the capital late Tuesday and padlocked its units. The Himalayan Broadcasting Corporation (HBC), a popular private radio station that had been on air since 1999, stopped broadcasting from 6 p.m. Tuesday after over five dozen Maoist cadres forced their way past the guards and disrupted its programs.
“'This is not just an attack on an individual radio station,' said Achyut Ghimire, production manager at HBC. 'It's the start of a systematic attack on all FM stations.'
“The Maoist move comes after a series of attacks earlier this year targeting three of the biggest newspaper houses - Kantipur Publications, Nepal's largest media house, Kamana Publications and International Media Network.
“The HBC management said the trouble started after a Maoist-affiliated union, Ganatantrik Radiokarmi Manch Nepal, gave an 18-point demand, that among other things, asks for a whopping salary raise and the inclusion of three cadres in the management committee.
“Currently, a senior Maoist leader, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, heads the information and communications ministry. The new attacks on the media are whipping up doubts whether the Nov 22 election - that will choose between monarchy and a republic - would be free and fair.”
August 11: According to International Press Institute (IPI), the publication of the Himalayan Times and the Annapurna Post dailies, owned by the Asia Pacific Communication Associates (APCA), was disrupted by the Maoist-affiliated All Nepal Communication, Printing and Publication Workers Union (CPPWU), which sought to prevent distribution of the newspapers. The CPPWU said they acted because both newspapers carried unfavorable news reports about the organization.
MORE BAD NEWS FOR KING GYANENDRA
At the beginning of August, a new national anthem was unveiled which scrapped all reference to the monarchy.
Far worse news came this week when the government began a process to take over King Gyanendra’s inherited property within 15 days, thus nationalizing the murdered king, King Birendra’s family’s assets. Along with the crown, Gyandendra inherited his slain brother’s property, including mansions, parks, priceless jewelry and unspecified cash in bank accounts. The government is acting swiftly. Today, August 23, the cabinet okayed the decision to nationalise the Narayanhity palace, Kathmandu’s biggest landmark, as well as three more palaces in Kathmandu valley: the Hanumandhoka durbar, a heritage site, and the palaces in Bhaktapur and Patan.The old Gorkha palace is also to be taken over by the government as well as the palaces in Lamjung and Nuwakot districts.
“The state move will be a cause for alarm for all royal relatives who now face the possibility of government deciding to take away their excess property as well.” According to DNAIndia, “there has been a rush among some of them to sell their property, fearing such a contingency.”
CHINA EXERTS PRESSURE & TIBETAN REFUGEES LOSE OUT
Expressing its commitment to 'One China' policy, Nepal’s interim government has announced that it opposes Taiwan's attempts to seek membership in the United Nations. It comes at a time when China has announced a USD 6.5 million financial assistance to the Nepal government, which has also sought duty free entry of over 400 items into Chinese market.
The financial aid may also be connected to the deplorable event in July, in which a Tibetan exile was handed over to Chinese authorities.
According to International Campaign for Tibet (ICT): In apparent contravention of international refugee law, a young Tibetan man who had been living in exile in India after escaping from Tibet has been handed over to the Chinese authorities by the Nepalese government after being held in custody of the immigration department in Kathmandu. It is the first documented case of a government-sanctioned refoulement (the forcible return of a person to a country where they fear persecution) from Kathmandu since a well-known May 2003 case, when 18 Tibetans (including ten minors) were removed from jail in the Nepalese capital and delivered to Chinese authorities in Tibet, where they were tortured and held in detention for some months.
Twenty-five year old Tsering Wangchen, from Kyegudo (Chinese: Yushu) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai province (in the Tibetan area of Kham), was handed over to Chinese officials and police on the Friendship Bridge, which marks the border between Nepal and Tibet, on July 16. According to an eyewitness source in Nepal: "Wangchen initially refused to get into the Immigration Department's vehicle [to take him to the border] because he was afraid, knowing he was going to be deported to China. But he got into the vehicle when immigration officers told him that he would be sent to India." Nepalese immigration officials had also reportedly assured staff of the Tibetan Refugee Reception Center in Kathmandu, which protects the welfare of Tibetans in transit to India, that he would be released into their care.
The situation for Tibetan refugees in Nepal, both on the journey to Nepal, and once in Nepal while in transit to or from India, is deeply insecure, largely due to China's heavy footprint on Nepal. In recent years, there has apparently been a quieter approach to refoulement of Tibetans by the Nepalese police. While the UNHCR was not aware of any cases of refoulement in 2006, it acknowledges that what happens in the border areas is largely unknown in Kathmandu - even given the resumption of UNHCR's official monitoring missions to these areas in 2006.
For the full story, go to International Campaign for Tibet’s website. International Campaign for Tibet
SCHEDULE RELEASED FOR THE NOVEMBER 22 POLLS
This week Nepal set the ball rolling for the country's crucial Constituent Assembly elections, with the Election Commission announcing that the final list of candidates will be released on October 10 and the candidates will be allotted their election symbol on October 11.
Under the proportional electoral system, political parties must submit an enclosed list of candidates on September 30. The final list will be released on November 2, when the election symbols will also be distributed.
Under the direct voting system each candidate will have 39 days for the election campaign and under the proportionate or parallel system they will have 17 days for canvassing.
The Constituent Assembly will rewrite the Constitution and decide the fate of the monarchy. The polls are part of a peace deal between the government and Maoists who joined the country's unity government early this year.
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