Madhesi and Janajati forces are drumming up international support for their identity movement. Their Sanghiya Gathabandhan on Thursday held a meeting with the diplomatic community and major international donors, briefing them on the shortcomings of the new constitution, the protesters’ struggle for greater autonomy and the atrocities committed by the state security forces during the Madhes agitation.

The meeting comes a day after the Gathabandhan, a tactical alliance between fringe Madhes-based parties and indigenous forces, announced to wage a united struggle against the constitution beginning with district-level campaigns. Earlier this week, the Gathabandhan had put forward a 26-point joint demand. The concerns are related to federal boundaries, autonomy of provinces, identity and inclusion.

“We informed them about the movement and drew their attention to cases of human rights violation by the government during the protest,” said Rajendra Mahato, chairman of the Sadbhawana Party.

Besides Mahato, representatives of 10 parties affiliated to the alliance, including Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party Chairman Mahantha Thakur, Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal chief Upendra Yadav, Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party Chair Mahendra Raya Yadav and Kumar Lingden of the Sanghiya Limbuwan Party were present during the meeting held in the Capital.

Representatives of the diplomatic missions from China, India, the United States, the European Union, the United Nations, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank in Kathmandu were present at the interaction. Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Wu Chuntai was the only head of the mission to attend the briefing. 

“They enquired us about our new protest plans, demands and progress made during negotiations with the government. We clarified to them about our position,” said an SSFN leader present at the meeting.

Gathabandhan leaders told the representatives of the international community that the government was doing little to address the concerns of the agitating parties.