Terai struggles: A threat overlooked as history repeats

Back in 1996 when the Maoist first started their armed struggle, it was treated casually, even a nuisance that would go away. That lead to a decade of violence and a regime change. It will be another serious folly of the present so called democratic transitional authorities if they relagate the JTMM struglles for the Terai people. Just half-defeating autocratic power on the back of Nepalese people, who genuinely want a new direction for the country, is not going establish a democratic system. The attitude needs to change too and grievances have to addressed and accomodated.

I am from in between area, where the hill and the terai meet. I have traveled quite a bit in the hilly region and spent quite some time in my education, treks, travels in the hills. I was surprosed when I had an opportunity to stay in terai region for few months. I feel the terai grievances are legitimate. It could see that there were no real representation of the terai people in their own area where I lived (Malangawa). This was my first lperception of how the administrative system was set up--they were dominated by the people from the hills. Granted this was from the Panchayat era about 20 or so ago, but I do not perrceive much has changed.

The government does not seem to have clue on the gravity of the situation. It was asked the Maoists to bring them to table. That is fine, but that alone will not be enough if the central government does not take the matters seriously and listen and address their grievances. Hence this exerpt of news today makes me wonder and worry how far Nepalese politics has come if the division between Nepalese continues. Dismissal, neglect and disconcern does not bode well for the new democratic Nepal.


JTMM bandh cripples life in Terai
Himalayan News Service

Siraha, January 12:The first day of the three-day Terai bandh called by the Jay Krishna Goit-led Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) demanding an independent Terai state saw a near-total disruption of life in the region. The other demands of the JTMM include rule of the native people over Terai, use of revenue collected from Terai for development work only in Terai and appointing only native Terai people in the army, police and administration in the region.Factories, business houses, shops and academic institutions in all districts of the region shut down today. All shops except a few medical stores were closed. In Siraha, Siraha bazaar and Lahan bazaar were completed closed. Only a few rickshaws, cycles and motorcycles plied.