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Indigenous organizations, including the Tharus of the Terai region, withdrew their protests after the signing of a six-point agreement with the government on March 14. Both sides agreed to amend the constitutional and legal provisions relating to the independent identities of indigenous nationalities, Muslims and other minorities. The president of the Tharuhat Joint Struggle Committee, Laxman Tharu told presspersons that they will “wait and see whether the government will be sincere in its implementation.” Prime Minister Dahal on his part, stating that it was “natural for all castes, ethnic and indigenous nationalities and others to seek their distinct identities,” asserted that the agreement had addressed the demands and voices of all people. The agreement calls for the acts relating to police, armed police, army, education, development, health service and Nepal special services that have been promulgated through ordinances will be amended to ensure proportional representation for minorities.1
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) commanders meanwhile urged Prime Minister Dahal to expedite the army integration process. During a meeting in Kathmandu attended by over 700 commanders of seven divisions on March 15, they drew the attention of Mr. Dahal to the problems being faced in the Maoist camps, among other issues. Earlier, Dahal had directed the PLA to stop recruitment of the ineligible combatants and assured its commanders that the government would find an alternate means to rehabilitate the disqualified combatants.2
In other developments, a two-day secretary-level meeting of Nepal-India Joint Committee on Water Resources concluded in New Delhi on March 12. The fourth meeting of the committee discussed a wide range of issues including ways to tap water resources potentials, flood and inundation control, re-construction of Koshi embankment, Pancheswor multi-purpose project, Saptakoshi high dam, electricity supply and building of transmission lines, among others.3 The meeting however failed to finalize the terms of reference on the Pancheshwar Development Authority.
- 1. “Nepali gov't, agitating ethnic groups ink deal,” China View, March 15, 2009, at http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/15/content_11013844.htm
- 2. “PLA urges PM Dahal to speed up integration,” kantipuronline, March 15, 2009, at http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=184666
- 3. “Nepal-India Water Meet Begins in New Delhi,” The Himalayantimes, March 11, 2009, at http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=aFanata0va2qzpla...