Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KATHMANDU215
2009-03-17 09:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

NEPAL: THARU STRIKE ENDS, QUESTIONS REMAIN

Tags:  PGOV KDEM NP 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 2517
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000215 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV KDEM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: THARU STRIKE ENDS, QUESTIONS REMAIN

Classified By: Ambassador Nancy J. Powell. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).

Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000215

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV KDEM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: THARU STRIKE ENDS, QUESTIONS REMAIN

Classified By: Ambassador Nancy J. Powell. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).

Summary
--------------


1. (SBU) On March 14, the Government of Nepal (GON) signed a
six-point agreement with several Tharu organizations, ending
a nearly two-weeklong general strike across the Terai. The
strike had badly affected the entire country because
transportation and supply links with India for all hill and
mountain districts, including Kathmandu, pass through the
Terai. The agreement provides, among other points, that
constitutional and legal arrangements that hinder the Tharus'
independent identity would be amended, but it does not
address the sensitive issue of what the Terai should be
called. Madhesis in the government are insisting that no
amendments be allowed that would jeopardize the position of
the Madhesis and the establishment of one Madhesi state
across the Terai.

Tharus Strike To Protect Identity
--------------


2. (SBU) Several Tharu organizations called a general strike
across the Terai on March 2 to protest the GON's
categorization in an ordinance in February of Tharus as
Madhesis. (Note: Tharus are an indigenous nationality of
Nepal's plains -- Terai -- region on the southern border with
India. They are the second-largest indigenous nationality in
Nepal overall. Madhesi is the name given to more recent
migrants over the past century from India to the plains area,
which they refer to as Madhes. End note.) The ordinance
provided for quotas for government employment for certain
disadvantaged groups, including women. Agitating for an
identity separate from Madhesis, Tharus from a range of
political parties supported the strike, which also had the
support of Muslims and Dalits ("Untouchables"). The strike
virtually closed the western Terai and severely affected
pockets of the central and eastern Terai, including
transportation and supply links to India. Kathmandu
experienced a fuel shortage and spike in food prices as a
result.

Six-Point Agreement
--------------


3. (SBU) After three rounds of talks that failed over the
issue of changing "Madhes" to "Terai" in the interim
constitution and other legislation, Peace Minister Janardan
Sharma on March 14 signed a six-point agreement with leaders
from four Tharu organizations and the Nepal Federation of

Indigenous Nationalities in the presence of Prime Minister
Pushpa Dahal. The six points state:

-- First: The GON understands that all indigenous and ethnic
groups in the Terai -- including Tharus, Muslims, Dalits,
Madhesis, and other minorities -- have their own special
identities. Current constitutional and legal provisions will
be amended to reflect this.

-- Second: The GON is committed to the proportional
inclusiveness of all underrepresented groups in the state
structure, including employment in the civil service, police
and army and access to health and education.

-- Third: The GON declares four Tharus killed during the
agitation as martyrs and obligates itself to provide
financial assistance to their families.

-- Fourth: The GON will make arrangements for the treatment
of people injured and compensation for properties damaged
during the agitation.

-- Fifth: The Home Ministry will release people detained
during the protests.

-- Sixth: All of the protesting organizations will end the
strike as of March 14.

So, Terai or Madhes?

KATHMANDU 00000215 002 OF 002


--------------


4. (SBU) Media reports indicate that the talks succeeded
after the Tharu leaders agreed to the GON's proposal to
replace "Madhes" with "Terai-Madhes" in the interim
constitution and other statutes. The Madhesi People's Rights
Forum, which is the third largest party in the governing
coalition and the largest Madhesi-based party, and the Terai
Madhes Democratic Party, which is in the opposition and the
second-largest Madhesi party, opposed the compromise. They
emphasized the GON had originally recognized "Madhes" only
after a long Madhesi struggle. The Madhesi parties have
accused the Tharus of undermining Madhesi rights and the "One
Madhes, One Pradesh" call of the Madhesi political parties.
None of the six points in the agreement addresses the
terminology issue.

Comment
--------------


5. (C) The Nepali Government's six-point agreement with the
Tharus, like the Government's similar March 16 agreement with
the Muslim community, should be seen as an interim measure.
With the exception of the provisions on compensation and
release of arrested protesters, neither of these agreements
have the level of detail needed to truly resolve the issues
concerned. Post does not expect that Tharu protests -- or,
for the matter, Muslim protests -- have ended permanently.
As the country's new structure is spelled out as part of the
constitution-drafting process, we expect further protests and
agitation. The Tharu-Madhesi division in fact may prove to
be the main fault like in the sensitive issue of how to
handle the Terai/Madhes, and the Terai/Madhes itself is
likely to be the largest fault line in the country's wider
federalism debate.
POWELL