14 October 2015
This report has two sections. The
first section covers the situation after the promulgation of the Constitution
and the second section deals with the aftermath of elections of the new prime
minister.
After the promulgation of
constitution
On 20 September, when the major
three parties Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and CPN-M had promulgated the
constitution, Satrudhan Patel, a resident of Pakwaha, VDC Mainapur, Parsa, was hit
by a police bullet in his right eye while protesting in Birgunj. He later died
in hospital. Sixteen other protesters were also injured on the same day (20
September). These incidents took place when the people had participated in the bandh (general strike) declared by
United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF).
After the promulgation of new
constitution Nepal got polarized into two sections: those who celebrated
dipawali to welcome the constitution and those who burnt the constitution and participated
in a two-hour “blackout” throughout the Terai region claiming the constitution
regressive. After that, the protest escalated with the blockade at the Indo-Nepal
border. In the no man's land the protesters staged their protest and sporadic
dispute between the police and protesters were seen. For instance, in Sunauli the
situation became tense when Police arrested former Minister of state for
defense, Ram Bacchan Yadav, 55, a local resident of Ramgram Municipality, Ward No. 4, Yadavall.[1]
On 5
October 2015, cadres of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) came to sit
on the Indo-Nepal border, at Belahiya, Siddharthnagar-1, opposite the Area
Police Office Belahiya, to continue their border centric protest. Around 500 to
600 protestors had come to sit on the border by 1 pm.
After half
an hour, by 1.30 pm, when SI Rambahadur Baniya had issued an order to arrest
former Minister of State for Defense Ram Bacchan the protestors got violent.
Among them, Ramu Ahir Yadav, 44, a resident of Siddarthnagar Municipality, Ramesh
Yadav, 48, a resident of Nabalparasi and Shivadas Yadav, 48, a local resident
of Majagawa got arrested by the police when they tried their best to prevent
Rambacchan from being arrested by the police.
Eight
police personnel also got injured when the angry mob pelted stones at the police.
There were 600 to 700 police presence on the spot including both Nepal Police
(NP) and Armed Police Force (APF).
Police took
the three arrestees to the Belahiya Police Camp where DSP Rameshwar Karki,
Rambahadur along with 12/15 other APF personnel who had put masks on their face
beat them up. “These dhotis are seeking Madhes province, they are leaders! We
should beat them up", shouted Rameshwar Karki. Karki also beat them up 5
to 7 times and later Rambahadur Baniya and other police beat them up with
bamboo sticks, canes and plastic pipe for half an hour. The police also shouted
verbal abuse against them.
Police took
them to District Police Office Rupandehi at 4 pm and detained them. They teased
them - "These dhotis are real nationalists, welcome them in the
custody" and the detainees who were in the custody also beat them for half
an hour. Police beat mercilessly only to Ramu Ahir Yadav (the youth coordinator
of UMDF). When Ramu lost his sense due to excessive beating, police took him to
Bhim Hospital but later he was referred to Universal Medical College. Again
police brought him to Police Office where they kept him for an hour.
Again at 8
pm he was taken to the Universal College of Medical Science for treatment in
the supervision of police. He was admitted in the emergency ward. At 9 pm
police called his brother Bramhu Yadav, 32 to the hospital telling him to stay
with Ramu and then police personnel vanished. He returned home on 6 October
after getting medical treatment for 19 hours. The District Police Office refused
to accept his application when he went there to lodge a complaint. He was
detained illegally and beaten mercilessly. Because of beatings, he has
difficulty sitting and standing on the floor. He cannot walk comfortably.
His whole body aches and there are bruises on his back, shoulder, hand and leg.
Similarly, the blockade
has brought several problems in the daily life of people throughout the nation.
The protesters claim that this blockade is political and will only end after
their demands will be incorporated in the constitution. At the same time, local
HRDs found excessive use of force from the police to lift the blockade. On 5
October, in Morang district the police arrested Shrawan Mandal, 29, a local resident
of Jogbani, accusing him of making a petrol bomb and beat him up. Police also
arrested Sambhu Sah, 28 a local of Itahari accusing him of making a bomb. The
leaders associated with the UDMF are asking why the police are using force and
conspiracy theories to force them to lift the blockade on the border.
After PM
election
The people in the Terai,
basically those who overwhelmingly participated in the protest regularly, burnt
the effigy of Oli and chanted the slogans "Oli is anti-Madhesi", in
districts like: Dhanusha, Siraha, Mahottari, Saptari, Sarlahi, Bara and Parsa.
They also started calling the parliamentarians of UDMF traitors because they voted
in the PM election on 11 October. While the UDMF was on the ground, the protests
were in its grip but after the voting process the ongoing protest seems to be
switching towards radicalism. On 11 October people from different walks and
villages filled up Birgunj with traditional weapons. They abused both KP Oli
and leaders of UDMF and seemed they were seeking for new leaders. Moreover, the
protesters chanted, "Madhes should be separate nation". Still in the
Terai those who are reluctant to be part of such line are worried about doing
prophecy that if the government will not address the Terai issues quickly, the
line of radical splinter may be sharpening and result in a serious headache for
the state.
Similarly, Bijay
Gachhadar and his party Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Democratic have ignited the
Tharu community after the decision of joining cabinet. Gachhadar joined the
cabinet at the same time when 20 Tharu leaders[2] are sent to
jail in Kailali on the basis of Kaiali District Court order. These leaders are
accused of the Tikapur incident.[3] The larger Tharu community considers
this prosecution as malicious and biased.
Conclusion
We would like to alert
national and international stakeholders that the Terai is moving towards
radicalism after the promulgation of the constitution and after the Madhesi parliamentarians
have participated in the PM election. The protest is beyond the grip of any
leaders. They have started protesting against the Madhesi leaders and parties accusing
them as being co-opted. And, extremists could soon cash this anger.
In such critical situation,
we should pressurize the new government to seriously and politically address
the genuine political agendas through early amendment of the new constitution. Any
delay tactic adopted by the government would ultimately increase frustration
and radicalization in the Terai.
[1]
The statement of victim Ramu Ahir Yadav
in the italics form
[2]
Laxman Tharu, Lahu Ram Tharu, Ram Prasad Chaudhary, Prem Bahadur Chaudhary,
Hari Narayan Chaudhary, Rajkumar Kathariya, Dil Bahadur Chaudhary, Sundar Lal
katariya, Ram Kuman Katariya, Rajesh Chaudhary, Brijmohan Dangouriya, Kishan
Lal Chaudhary, Shanta Lal Chaudhary, Bir Bhadur Chaudhary, Ram Naresh
Chaudhary, Jeet Bahadur, Danguria aka Bishram, Santosh Tharu aka Sangam,
Bishram Chaudhary, Tahabour Atijaga and Pradeep Chaudhary.
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