A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Back to 500BC.
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Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Nepal: Violence in Southern Nepal: Mainstream Political Leaders should review their stand: Update No. 313
I had always maintained that without solving the contentious
issue of the delineation of provinces, the drafting of the new
constitution cannot be completed. This was the most serious issue
affecting the Madhesi and the Janajathi groups and some solution should
have been found before the final draft copy was handed over to the
Speaker.
But the brazen way in which the three main political parties- the Nepali
Congress and the Maoists went their way with the six province formula
was rather surprising and it inevitably led to protests and violence
from the Terai from 8th of August onwards.
What made it worse was the addition of a seventh province to satisfy the
Karnali region which led to the departure of the only Madhesi group -
Madhesi Janadhikar Forum ( democratic) of Gachhadar who had all along
gone with the mainstream group despite inviting the wrath from their own
constituents, from the constitution making process. With Sadhbhavana
party following Gacchadar’s exit, there is now left no Madhesi vote in
the Constituent assembly in finalising the constitution. This is a
serious flaw affecting the credibility of the new constitution that is
supposed to have consolidated the gains made in the 2006 Jana Andolan
agitation and 2007 Madhesi movement.
Violence has been widespread following hartals, stoppage of traffic and
closure of shops with the Police opening fire at many points. Many
civilian deaths have occurred.
The most critical incident was at Tikapur in Kalilali district where
seven Police men including the Senior Superintendent were lynched on
24th August. Five more Policemen were critically injured of whom one
succumbed to the injuries subsequently.
It is not clear how an unarmed Superintendent and two of his guards were
isolated and how they could have approached the mob of thousands
holding knives and sticks without waiting to get support of other armed
police groups from nearby. This lack of coordination among the Police
and resultant deaths that would demoralise the Police could have been
avoided. Tikapur as well as other neighbouring villages are now
desolate with all the young and old having fled the area for fear of
reprisal. It is hoped that the perpetrators of the killings are brought
to justice soon.
Instead of addressing the grievances and the reasons for violence, Home
Minister Bam Dev Gautam in an apparent reference to India had alleged
“foreign conspiracy” in instigating violence. He also alleged that
intruders from outside have entered many of the Terai districts.
The Home Minister’s statement was most inappropriate and rightly the
Indian ambassador while reserving his comments met the Home Minster
personally to convey his concern that the statement of the Home Minister
was not helpful for Indo Nepal relations.
The Prime Minister of India, soon after the Tikapur incident is said to
have had a telephonic talk with the Nepalese Prime minister Sushil
Koirala to discuss the latest political developments in Nepal.
In the wake of the inappropriate comments from the Home Minister, should
PM Narendra Modi have telephoned Nepalese PM at all? With the
agitation centered mainly in the Terai districts where the Madhesis
predominate any action or statement from the Indian side will be
misunderstood.
Earlier Prime Minister Modi, during his visit to Kathmandu in addressing
the Parliament maintained that India will not interfere and that Nepal
should find its own solution for all the problems faced by it. This
stand was universally applauded by all the political parties including
the Maoists in Nepal. However in a subsequent visit he made a
reference to the constitution making process and suggested that the new
draft should be inclusive. This nullified whatever good will that was
generated in the previous visit and the feeling gained in Kathmandu was
that India wanted the demands and the aspirations of the Madhesi groups
should be accommodated in the new constitution. The present call from
the Indian PM will not be liked by many in the establishment. One does
not know who in the PMO is advising the PM on matters relating to Nepal.
What needs to be done now is clear. There is a need to talk and the
Prime Minister Sushil Koirala should reach out to the Madhesi leaders to
desist from agitating and come to Kathmandu for talks. If there is
going to be delay in finalization of the new constitution, it will not
matter.
The Madhesi leaders instead of making “fiery and provocative” speeches
should allow a pause in the agitation and seek a dialogue with the
leaders of the three mainstream political parties. It does not matter
whether there should be one or two provinces in the Madhesh and they
should therefore formally give up the demand for one province for the
entire Madhesh area. The Tharus will also be happy with a second one
covering the western half of the southern districts.
On the question of the five disputed districts of Jhapa, Morang,
Sunsari, Kanchanpur and Kailali, instead of going for a federal
commission which apparently appears to be an “Indian suggestion” why not
ascertain the views of the voters of the five districts directly by
some form of a referendum?”
On the gender discrimination and citizenship rights, it is not clear why
at all, a change was being suggested when the provisions in the interim
constitution were adequate. Perhaps a status quo will be more
acceptable.
The only other important point that is being contested is in declaring
Nepal as a secular state. While the Maoists are insisting on a specific
mention of “secularism” why not consider the suggestions of some others
where freedom of religion could be embedded into the constitution?
It is time that normalcy is restored as soon as possible. With the
blockade of transport to Kathmandu Valley, the situation in Kathmandu
could become critical. The three major parties particularly the UML
should give up their rigid and brazen attitude towards constitution
making and at the same time, the Terai groups particularly- Upendra
Yadav should become more conciliatory and be ready for a compromise for
the well being of whole of Nepal.