NEPAL: THARU STRIKE ENDS, QUESTIONS REMAIN

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