Monday, February 19, 2007

Bahun Federalism Is No Federalism At All



Proposed Constitution

Federalism is just a word for the Bahuns. They feel the pressure, and so they say it, but their heart is not in it. Now that they are forced to pay lip service to the word, their next step strategy is to offer federalism in word but not in deed, and that includes the Maoist Bahuns.

Maoist federalism is the Soviet model, the Chinese model. In the Chinese model, Tibet is an autonomous region, but we all know what that means.

We want a federalism whose shape is democratically decided by the people. The Madhesi Movement has clearly shaped the boundaries of the Madhesh state, but these Bahuns are using all their powers to malign the very concept of that Madhesh state. They have not stopped talking disrespectfully of the Madhesi Movement and its martyrs.

First they will offer MahendraPath federalism. You will have decentralization, you will have reorganized zones and development regions. They will want to create regions, not states.

When they say federalism, they mean decentralization. You are talking apples and oranges.

When you say federalism in Nepal, you are talking of about 10 states. And just like in India, they are going to be ethnic, lingual states. The Madhesi want that. The Janajati want that.

Federalism is about democracy. If the people want federalism, they are going to get federalism. If the Madhesi people want a Madhesh state, that is what they are going to get. No force on earth can prevent the creation of a Madhesh state. Who are the Bahuns?

The Bahuns are not preparing to obstruct the creation of the Madhesh state. They are preparing to lose elections. They are preparing to get wiped out of the Madhesh.

The concept of a Madhesh state is the Madhesi Movement's gift to me.

The Bahun mindgame is not taking the Bahuns anywhere this time.

If they were democrats, they would compete to match their political programs with the aspirations of the people. But they are not democrats, they are Bahuns. They are not driven by the democratic spirit, they are driven by Bahun prejudice.

First they will pay lip service to federalism. Then they will want to go into the elections without any specific map. They will tell us all that will be decided in the assembly. Then they will come up with a map in the assembly that does not grant the Madhesi and the Janajati their states. And then they will try to suggest that such are regions and not states, just bigger and better districts. That is their gameplan.

And if all fails, and they are forced to give the Madhesi and the Janajati their states, they will do all to make sure those states have as little power as possible.

We have to understand their gameplan, and we have to defeat the same.

We want a Madhesh state that will have its own parliament. The Madhesh state will retain at least half the revenue it generates. As for the other half that goes to the center, the Madhesh will have MPs that are proportionate in number to the population of the Madhesh. The center should not have any power to dismiss a democratically elected state government.

We have to get very specific about the federalism that we want. Otherwise these Bahuns are going to play mindgames every step of the way.

It is urgent that the Janajati Movement produce a specific map for federalism.

Work To Defeat Them

The goal of the Madhesi Janajati Movement should not be to convince the Bahuns to change their minds. The goal should be to defeat them. The goal should be to force upon them fair procedures for the constituent assembly and then to beat them at the polling booth.

The Madhesi Janajati Movement needs to work to form its own political party.

Nepal Sarkar Needs To Set Up A Tribunal
Krishna Sitaula's Resignation: Why It Is Important
Of Hindu Supremacists And Muslim Martyrs
चुनावी जंग
Upendra Yadav Interview

In The News

MFJ announces fresh stir NepalNews the MJF would also carry out agitations in coordination with other protesting groups including janajatis (indigenous nationalities). ..... publicity campaign, mass meetings, peaceful rallies, chakka jam (transport strike) and bandhs (general strikes).
King's message stirs hornet's nest; parties term it grossly inappropriate
King's Democracy Day message; says Feb 1 was result of compulsion
Registration of arms over; UN team submits report
Prachanda expects interim cabinet in a week
Civil society leaders denounce King's message
Students demonstrate against King's statement
Government yet to start talks; more protest likely The government has not even started talks with the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NFIN). The NFIN has been continuing its protest programes as the government is yet to initiate dialogue with it. ....... People of Mahesh and Indigenous Nationalities expressed dissatisfaction over the government's attempt to initiate the process of amending the interim statute without holding talks with them.
Prachanda wants to declare republic
Jamiat Ulama-E-Nepal highlighting their demands for representation in the state mechanism.

MPRF to resume peaceful yet intensified protests Kantipur
Nation to see another Feb 1 move if timely CA elections don't take place: Nepal Nepal said "Democratic behavior is also not seen, even in our own party", adding that the establishment of a federal Nepal on the basis of ethnicity was impossible but that rights of the ethnic groups, however, must be secured. ...... Nepali Congress leader Narahari Acharya said that the political parties are still undecided over the type of the federal setup that Nepal will have ..... Nepal Sadhbhavana Party (Anadidevi) leader Sarita Giri said that it was unfortunate that even after Home Minister Sitaula himself apologized over the Terai unrest, the eight parties continued to remain silent on the issue.
57th Democracy Day being celebrated across nation
NC rejects temporary voters’ list
Monarchy end must for federalism: Prachanda Prachanda claimed it was time to declare the country a republic state both from the parliament and the street simultaneously. ..... Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai, Matrika Yadav and Ram Bahadur Thapa (Badal) also addressed the meet. ...... Bhattarai and Yadav termed Upendra Yadav, chairman of the Madhesi People's Rights Forum, a puppet of both the palace and the Bharatiya Janata Party. ...... Maoist cadres and other people from Koshi, Mechi and Sagarmatha zones gathered in the city. ..... Maoist volunteers took control of the traffic operation in Biratnagar since morning. Over 50,000 people gathered at the venue, observers estimated. The party claimed it had congregated over 300,000 people from across the eastern region. ...... Prachanda was projected as the Supreme Commander of the People's Liberation Army of the Maoists rather than chief of the party. ..... Some 20 vehicles arrived at the airport to receive Prachanda. The number plate of a government vehicle used in the security convoy read PLA-1. Maoist combatants patrolled around the motorcade in a pick up with installed siren and red lights.
Eight party discussion on interim statute amendment concludes, contentious points unresolved
वार्ता सुरु भएन, पुनः आन्दोलन तयारी 'हामीले सरकार कति संवेदनशील छ भनेर हेर्‍यौं, तर कुनै किसिमको गम्भीरता पाइएन,' फोरमका अध्यक्ष उपेन्द्र यादवले कान्तिपुरस“ग भने- 'अब हामीस“ग थप आन्दोलनको विकल्प रहेन ।' उनले बैठक सोमबार बिहान पनि बस्ने बताए । उनले भने- 'हामी समीक्षा गर्दै भावी कार्यक्रम बनाउ“दै छौं ।' महासंघको पर्ूवघोषित कार्यक्रमअनुसार आइतबार भेरी, कर्ण्ााली, सेती र महाकाली अञ्चल बन्द गर्‍यौं । आदिवासी जनजातिले फागुन १६ गतेसम्मको कार्यक्रम यसअघि नै र्सार्वजनिक गरिसकेका छन् । उनीहरूले दोस्रो चरणको आन्दोलन फागुन १६ गते नेपाल बन्द गरेर टुंग्याउने तय गरेको छ । .... वार्ता नै नगरी संविधान संशोधनको प्रक्रिया अघि बढाइएकोमा मधेसी तथा आदिवासी जनजातिहरू थप आक्रोशित बनेका छन् । ...... दुवै पक्षले वार्ताप्रति सरकारको धारणा हलुका रहेको स्पष्ट भएको प्रतिक्रिया दिएका छन् । 'सम्बोधनमा भएको कुरामात्र रहेको हु“दा यसले आदिवासी जनजातिलाई छु“दैन भन्ने हाम्रो पर्ूवअडान कायमै छ,' महासंघका अध्यक्ष पासाङ शर्ेपाले भने- 'साथै वार्ताबिना नै संविधान संशोधन प्रक्रिया थालनी गर्नुले वार्ताप्रति सरकार गम्भीर नरहेको स्पष्ट पारेको छ ।' ...... फोरमका अध्यक्ष यादवले पनि सरकारको रबैया वार्ता उन्मुख नभएको बताएका छन् । 'उहा“ आफैं संविधान बनाउनु हुन्छ, आफैं उल्लंघन गर्ने र संशोधन गर्ने गरिरहनुभएको छ,' उनले भने- 'वार्ता गर्ने भनिसकेपछि त्यसपछिको निष्कर्षा पो संशोधन हुनुपर्ने हो । यो उहा“हरूको अहंकार हो ।' ...... आदिवासी जनजातिले जातीय, भाषिक र क्षेत्रीय आधारमा संघीय राज्य प्रणाली र सूचीमा आधारित पर्ूण्ा समानुपातिक निर्वाचन प्रणालीको माग गरेका छन् । साथै अन्तरिम संविधानमा रहेको सम्पर्ूण्ा विभेदकारी व्यवस्थाहरूको खारेजीको माग गरेको छ ।
माओवादीद्वारा धीरेन्द्र शाहको घर कब्जा
महेन्द्रनगर-टनकपुर सडक बन्ने
राजतन्त्रको अन्त्य गरेपछि मात्र ँसंघीय स्वशासन’ सभामा ५० हजारभन्दा बढी सहभागी थिए । सभामा माओवादी अध्यक्ष प्रचण्डलाई दलका नेताभन्दा बढी जनसेनाका सर्वोच्च कमान्डरको रूपमा प्रस्तुत गरिएको थियो । कार्यक्रमको मञ्चमै जनसेनका सर्वोच्च कमान्डर प्रचण्डको स्वागतमा ८ फिटको व्यानर लगाइएको थियो । ..... अब संसद र सडकबाट राजतन्त्रको अन्त्य भएको उद्घोष गरी गणतन्त्रको घोषणा गर्ने समय आइसकेको बताए ..... वरिष्ठ नेता संयुक्त क्रान्तिकारी जनपरिषदका संयोजक डा. बावुराम भट्टर्राईले राजतन्त्रको अन्त्य नभएसम्म मुलुकमा संघीय शासनको स्थापना हुन नसक्ने बताए । उनले भने, राजतन्त्र एकात्मक शासनको मेरूदण्ण्ड हो । यो रहेसम्म विकेन्द्रीत संघीय शासन लागू हुन सक्ने कुरालाई सामान्य राजनीति बुझेकाले पनि मान्न सक्तैन । ...... 'संघीय राज्यको माग गर्दै आन्दोलन गर्ने दरवारिया प्रचण्डको पुत्ला जलाउ“दै मधेसको खोल ओढेर राजालाई बचाउने षडयन्त्र गर्दैछन् ।' मधेसको आन्दोलन दरवारियाको षडयन्त्र होइन भने त्यहा“ राजतन्त्रविरुद्ध नारा र पुत्ला जल्नुपर्ने थियो । ... पार्टर्ीी पर्ूर्वी कमान्डर रामबहादुर थापा -बादल) को सभापतित्वमा भएको सभामा प्रचण्ड पत्नी तथा केन्द्रीय सल्लाहाकार सीता, केन्द्रीय सदस्य एवं डिपुटी कमान्डर वलदेव, केन्द्रीय सदस्य गोपाल किरा“ती र पर्ूर्वी डिभिजन कमान्डर प्रवानाको पनि उपस्थिति थियो । ... सभामा विभिन्न भेषभूषका झा“की र नृत्य पनि पर््रदर्शन गरिएको थियो ।
राज्य पुनःसंरचनाको आन्दोलन तर्राई, पहाड र हिमालमध्ये तर्राई र हिमाल वर्षौंदेखि पछि पर्दै आएका छन् । ...... मधेस तीनवटै भू्भागमध्ये सबैभन्दा पछि परेको क्षेत्र हो । स्रोतसाधनले अगाडि तर विकासमा पछाडि पारि“दै आएको छ । ...... राज्यको कुनै पनि क्षेत्रमा मधेसको उचित प्रतिनिधित्व छैन । देशमा जुन शासक आए पनि मधेसलाई उपयोग गर्ने प्रवृत्ति फेरिएन । मधेस र मधेसीहरूको इतिहासलाई उपेक्षामात्र गरिएको छ । सरकारलाई मधेस चाहिने तर मधेसीचाहि“ नचाहिने, मधेस नेपालको भूभाग हुने तर त्यहा“ बसोबास गर्ने मधेसीलाई विदेशीजस्तो व्यवहार गर्ने । त्यस विरुद्ध आवाज उठायो भने राष्ट्रियताप्रति प्रश्न गर्ने गरिएको छ । ....... देशमा जति पनि राष्ट्रघाती सन्धि-सम्झौता भएका छन्, त्यसमा कुनै पनि मधेसी मूलको व्यक्तिको हस्ताक्षर छैन । सेनामा मधेसको प्रतिनिधित्व न्यून छ । प्रहरी प्रशासनमा एकाध प्रतिशतमात्रै छ । निजामती क्षेत्र फरक छैन । न्याय क्षेत्र उस्तै हो । ...... ००७ सालको राणाविरोधी आन्दोलन, ०३६ सालको जनमत संग्रह, ०४६ सालको पञ्चायतविरोधी आन्दोलन, ०६२-६३ को १९ दिने ऐतिहासिक आन्दोलनमा मधेसी जनताको भूमिका उल्लेखनीय छ । प्रत्येक आन्दोलनमा मधेसका जनताले बलिदानीपर्ूण्ा योगदान दि“दै आएका छन् । प्रत्येक शासकले त्यसलाई उचित मूल्याङ्कन गरेको छैन । मधेसको उचित मूल्याङ्कन र अवसरको बा“डफा“डको आवाज उठ्यो भने कुनै एउटा अवसरवादी पात्रलाई ल्याएर राख्ने गरिएको छ । ........ मधेसी जनता दिनदिनै गरिबीको रेखामुनि घस्रि“दैछन् । रिनमा डुब्दै गएका छन् । ....... दोस्रो ऐतिहासिक जनआन्दोलनबाट प्राप्त अन्तरिम संविधानमा मधेसबाट उठाइ“दै गरेको आवाज समेट्न सकिएन । ...... मधेसको आन्दोलन यति सशक्त ढङ्गले उठेको यो पहिलोपटक हो । मधेसमा आन्दोलन चर्को भयो भने काठमाडौंमा विखण्डनवादीको आरोप लाग्ने गरेको छ । आन्दोलनको मुद्दा समानुपातिक निर्वाचन प्रणालीलाई धेरै दलले उठाएका छन् । समानुपातिक प्रणाली समग्र देशका लागि मागिएको हो, नकि मधेसका लागिमात्र । यसलाई कसरी विखण्डनवादी भन्न सकिन्छ - ....... तेस्रो प्रमुख माग भनेको संघीय शासन व्यवस्था हो । यो माग पनि देशका धेरैजसो प्रमुख राजनीतिक दलहरूलेे आफ्नो नीति बनाएकै छन् । ..... मधेस आन्दोलनका आयोजकले गणतन्त्रको नारा लगाएका छन् । ..... संविधानसभा चुनाव मधेसीको लागि त्यत्तिकै आवश्यक छ । .... आगामी राज्य पुनःसंरचनाको खाका र प्रक्रियाबारे अहिल्यै गम्भीर गृहकार्य थालनी गर्न आवश्यक छ

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Parmendra,

You have read the bahun mind-game in the right order. They are doing everything possible to divert the attention from the real issues that the Madhesi and Janajati movements are raising. In the past few weeks, we have witnessed the naked truth of the bahun politics. We find them active in every sphere. Their high level politicians, their so called intellectuals, their media, and even their small organizations are active in a coordinated fashion. At every level, they are trying to scare and confuse people. Bahun incompetent writers like Alok Bohara, Priti Koirala and such have so poorly tried to mince the other long-standing problems of Nepal with the burning issues of identity and autonomy that Madhesi and Janajatis are demanding today. They don't get it that we want our political rights today and all other social/economic problems will be solved after that. They don't get it that these other problems are faced by the marginalized groups the most and mainly because these groups don't have proper representation in the government. I should rather say, they get it very well, but they want it misunderstood as much as possible.

I am amazed at their coordination. They are all speaking the same language - word by word. Is it something in their blood or culture? After Janandolan-II my biggest concern was the conspiracies by the royalists. Although they are active as well, but I think the so called democrat Bahuns are more dangerous than the royalists. At least, the royalists don't pretend to be democrats. You are right that these bahuns are only giving the lip-service on the issue of federalism. Only recently, Deuba presented the ethnicity based federalism as a door for "national disintegration". What is more surprising is that even the Maoist leaders whom I considered much more progressive at one point are showing their true bahun colors now and give the same lip-service. I am surprised at the Janajatis and Madhesis in the maoists leadership such as Ram Bahadur Thapa, Dev Gurung, Matrika Yadav etc. Why aren't they also defecting from the Maoists like Upendra Yadav did and fight against these bahuns? In my opinion, if these bahuns continue playing such mind games, the Madhesis and the Janajatis will be forced to start demanding for a separate "country" with no bahuns in them. For now, lets just hope that Madhesi and Janajatis form a strong coaliation and like you said "beat" these bahuns. I truly believe we can do it. That is the only way to keep Nepal as one nation. These bahuns are not leaving any stones unturned for "disintegrating " the nation.

I also believe that once we achieve an inclusing democratic republic, where the janajatis and madhesis will have a majority, we will treat even these bahuns with respect. We can't be like them, we are not them.

Keep up your good work.

A Janjati supporter

Anonymous said...

Mr. Bhagat,

Being a Janjati I like many of the ideas you put forward and have similar take on most of the issues. I like to think of you as a man of courage to take it right up the pahade bahun's ass. Very few of us are willing to do that (why?, because these fucking pahade bahuns take advantage of our sincerity and give us a guilt trip of trying to cause national disintegration, well fuck them!), but what irks me is that you at times seem to have this penchant to self-gloat as well. Why? I may ask. There is no need to put it in bold letters that you are a leader in any form of activism. Doing so is more of a self-immolation, and adds no value to the points you are trying to make. Other then that keep raising your voice, we need to eradicate this disease of bahunbad once and for all!

Jai Limbuwan