National
Tharus up in arms for ‘autonomous Tharuhat region’
Putting their longstanding internal differences aside, Tharu lawmakers, activists and civil society members from across the political line have come together to protestPutting their longstanding internal differences aside, Tharu lawmakers, activists and civil society members from across the political line have come together to protest the separation of Tharu communities in the proposed provinces.
A meeting of Tharu leaders on Monday announced a four-day general strike across the Tarai demanding a Tharuhat/Tharuwan autonomous region.
The announcement for additional protests comes in the wake of growing dissent against integration of Tharu-majority districts into Hill and Mountain districts.
Several districts of western Tarai including Kanchanpur and Kailali remained tense throughout Monday.
Leaders said Tarai districts from Mechi in the east to Kanchanpur in the west would be shut for four days starting on Wednesday against the six-state federal model.
“The four parties have deceived us once again and robbed the Tharu community of identity and inclusion in the new constitution. Our struggle will continue until we get equal rights,” said lawmaker Rukmini Chaudhary. Thirty-two Tharu lawmakers from the ruling NC, the UCPN (Maoist) and fringe parties have formed Tharu Lawmakers’ Unified Struggle Committee.
Tharu Kalyankarini Sabha, the umbrella organisation of Tharu communities in the country, and Tharuhat Joint Struggle Committee, a coalition of Tharu NGOs, are also in the group.
Dissident Tharu leaders had held meetings with the Madhes-based parties and the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities before announcing additional programmes of protest. Both Nefin and Morcha have expressed solidarity with their demand.
Tharu leaders have demanded that the state should be demarcated based on the five principles of identity and four principles of capability.
“The six-province model has done injustice to the Tharus. It should be revoked,” said Rajkumar Lekhi, Tharu leader and former Nefin chairman. Lekhi said the integration of Tarai plains into Hill provinces is against agreements signed with the Tharu community in the past.
Both Nefin and the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha have extended support to the protest. Morcha issued a statement backing the protest.
Asked if they were planning to launch a unified protest with Madhes-based parties, Tharu leaders said there had been no agreement about it.
Lekhi said the two sides had reached an understanding to extend support to each other’s protest.
“There could be a working alliance with Madhes-based parties in the long run,” said Lekhi.
Tharu lawmakers from the NC in particular are against forging an alliance with the Madhesi parties.
Tharu lawmakers from the CPN-UML, who have stayed out of the protest so far, are in internal consultation for joining the stir.