Editorial
Fuel on the fire
Perceiving the current volatility as a law and order issue could worsen mattersThe nation has been hit by violent protests in recent weeks. On Tuesday, five people died in Birgunj, the new epicentre of Tarai unrest.
A political solution to the federalism issue has not been found. So it seems likely that protests will continue. As we have repeatedly said, the problem can only be resolved if senior political leaders sincerely engage with the Madhesis, Tharus and other discontent groups. Simultaneously, it is necessary to scrutinise the manner in which the security forces have been deployed on the ground. For, there is a significant chance that the use of excessive force by security personnel can alienate communities, thus fraying the social fabric further.
The killing of eight police personnel in Kailali caused a great deal of outrage in Kathmandu. It was evident that many people in the Valley empathised with the plight of the police personnel, who played such an important role in helping the people in the aftermath of the earthquake. However, the same degree of empathy has not been apparent for the protestors who were brutally killed and hurt in the Tarai. Nor do the people in the Capital seem to be much concerned about the plight of the Tharus in the Far-West, even when there have been reports that thousands of them have been fleeing their homes due to fear of retaliation by the security forces.
It is not surprising that these incidents have not received much attention in Kathmandu. After all, the Capital has been insular to its peripheral areas—especially if these are home to the more marginalised sections of society—for centuries. Contrast this with the shock and outrage in the Valley had six people been killed on the streets of Kathmandu. It is in this context that one should understand the grievances of the inhabitants of places such as Birgunj and Kailali. They must be angry, fearful, sad and a lot more. In large parts of the Tarai, after all, the security forces have often been perceived as an instrument of coercion deployed by the centralised state.
The Chief District Officers (CDOs) and police officers in the districts need to not just ensure that the security personnel do not use excessive force, but also that they are not perceived to be biased or prejudiced in any way. This is where the political leadership becomes the key: if they try to resolve the current volatility merely as a law and order issue, it could get worse. In private conversations, security personnel are already talking about their inability to handle the situation long term in the absence of a political solution.
The current protests may be temporary, but the way that they are handled will have repercussions for a long time. The officials and political leaders at all levels need to display a heightened sensitivity and make all efforts to not provoke divisions between the state and the people, as well as between people of different communities.