Govt, Tharus reach 6-point pact All protests withdrawn
GHANASHYAM OJHA
(Updated with details)
KATHMANDU, March 14: The talks between the government and the Tharu groups on Saturday ended in a six-point agreement that called for recognizing Tharus and other indigenous ethnic communities in the "Tarai" as distinct groups.
This was decided after the talks between the Tharus and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal at the latter´s official residence at Baluwatar. Among the agreement is replacing "Tarai" with "Tarai Madhes" in the constitution, amending the ordinance that called for representation of "Madhesi" in state organs, declaring the four dead protestors as martyrs, the government bearing the cost of treatment of the injured protestors, and releasing those arrested.
As part of the agreement, the Tharu protestors have withdrawn all protest programs, including the banda that was called for Sunday.
The government has to implement the agreement by March 29, the day when the session of Legislature-Parliament begins. The agreement will be tabled in the parliament for endorsement.
"The government has agreed to make legal and constitutional amendments to meet the demands of the agitating Tharus vis-à-vis their identity," said Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Janardan Sharma.
The Tharu groups, led by Raj Kumar Lekhi of Tharu Kalyankari Sabha and Laxman Tharu of Tharuhat Joint Struggle Committee said, after the talks ended, that since the government agreed to recognize separate identity of the Tharus and other indigenous groups from the "Tarai", the word "Madhes" in the interim constitution stands redundant.
However, minister Sharma said that the government has agreed to make necessary changes so as to replace the word "Madhes" with "Tarai Madhes".
Hridayesh Tripathi of Tarai Madhesh Democratic Party who participated in the talks as an observer also said that "Madhes would be replaced with "Tarai Madhes".
The talks between the government had earlier broken down after the Tharu representatives refused to continue dialogue with the Sharma-led government talks team saying it lacked authority to strike an agreement with the agitators. They insisted holding a dialogue with only the prime minister.
It was then Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal started talks with an agitating Tharu groups.
The talks began shortly after a meeting of five ruling and two opposition parties gave mandate to the prime minister to find a solution acceptable to Madhesi parties and the Tharus over the ongoing Tharu stir.
The Tharu groups have been protesting for the last two weeks demanding a separate identity for their community.
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Govt, Tharus Reach 6-point Pact All Protests Withdrawn
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