Terror on the Terai

In my post of 1st February I referred to the cover up over the pogrom that had taken place in Kapilvastu, south Nepal, last September. In what was a clear case of ethnic cleansing, extremists from the ethnic Indian (Madhesi) population had committed atrocities against the immigrant Nepali hill people (Pahadi) who have been living on Nepal's southern plains for the last couple of generations. The inquiry into the violence passed this off as just having been caused by criminal elements with no recognition of it having been inter communal strife. Today, as Nepal celebrates the declaration of a republic, I regret to have to write that this ethnic cleansing continues largely unreported.

The Esther Benjamins Trust has a major project activity in Bhairahawa, Rupendehi District, which is one along from Kapilvastu. I am reliably informed by a local contact in Rupendehi that Madhesi terrorist activities are being intensified there. Over the past week or two four Pahadis were killed in Rupandehi and over a dozen abducted, to be released only after payment of substantial ransoms. On 24th May the newly elected president of Bhairahawa's Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Mahendra Kumar Shrestha (a Pahadi) received a letter from one Madhesi faction (JTMM) demanding almost £20,000 as a "Terai Tax". It was mentioned in the letter that Shrestha should pay the amount within 72 hours as a tax for running business and owning property in the Terai. According to the letter every Pahadi who wishes to remain in the Terai should pay a Terai Tax or expect physical punishment or death. The letter has been followed up with phone calls to Shrestha, threatening his life if he didn't pay immediately.

This is a huge challenge to the new Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, with Madhesi rebel outfits demanding their own Pahadi-free province running right along Nepal's southern plains. This would cut across possible future federal boundaries that might run north south in an attempt to delineate Nepal's farrago of other ethnic groups. And whoever controls that southern strip can put a stranglehold on the country given imports from India must cross this troubled territory.

A critical time

It is quite difficult to read the situation in Nepal from here in UK, but to me it seems that the next day or two will be critical in determining whether or not successful elections to a new national constituent assembly (already twice postponed) can be held on schedule in April. The parties which represent the ethnic Indian (Madhesi) population in the south of the country have been insisting upon their rights and aspirations (which include autonomy and a right to self-determination) being recognised as a prerequisite to their participation. On the other hand the Prime Minister is saying that he will not countenance any political developments that could lead to a break up of the nation. The Madhesi have upped the ante by calling an indefinite strike in the south that has now entered its tenth day, preventing imports from India and led to the worst shortages - especially of petrol, diesel, kerosene and cooking gas - since 1990. Even the dead are disadvantaged by a strike which is preventing the import of cremation pyre wood to Kathmandu temples. The Madhesi parties have also ignored Wednesday's deadline to register their candidates with the Election Commission; everyone knows that if they don't participate in the elections they will be fundamentally flawed.

Now the deadline for electoral registration has been extended until Sunday and meantime, we are told, intense discussions are going on behind the scenes to reach some compromise in meeting the Madhesi demands. If these discussions fail it will represent disaster for the country.

As ever, we have to carry on working and managing as best we can under increasingly difficult circumstances. Just today we have agreed to take into our Bhairahawa refuge two more children of a prisoner held in the local jail. And I am working hard to raise the funds to purchase our new arts rehabilitation centre in Godwari, Kathmandu. This process got off to a good start this week following news that we had received a pledge of £50,000 towards the estimated £250,000 budget, courtesy of our regular funder, The Sylvia Adams Charitable Trust (see my post of 31st January). If another application that I have made to another Foundation comes through we'll be half way there.

Now all that the living need is for common sense and peace to prevail in Nepal. As for the dead, they can settle for the rekindling of the open air cremation fires along the sacred Bagmati river in Kathmandu, generating their strangely familiar aroma once again.