KATHMANDU: Almost three weeks after unrest erupted in Nepal’s Terai plains, the government failed to fight the crisis even as at least three more protesters died taking the toll to 19.
Almost a week after his address to the nation fell on deaf ears and ethnic protesters continued demonstrations in the southern plains, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala yesterday held a meeting with the leaders of the three other biggest parties in parliament to discuss the deteriorating law and order situation.
Maoist chief Prachanda and the top leaders of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist and Nepali Congress (Democratic) held hurried consultations with the PM in the capital.
Media reports said Koirala could make a second address to the nation soon.
While the government dithered in the capital, the plains continued to burn.
Curfew remained enforced in at least three key towns, shops and markets remained closed and parts of the highway connecting Nepal and India stayed paralysed. There was increasing UN concern at the use of lethal force by security forces.
Lena Sundh, Nepal representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said though security forces have a difficult task in ensuring law and order, “the imposition of a curfew does not justify the use of live bullets in non-life threatening situations”.
This is the second time in less than a week that the envoy, whose office monitors human rights violations in the kingdom, has expressed concern at the mounting violence in the Terai.
On Sunday, three more protesters died due to police firing in Malangawa town in Sarlahi district, taking the toll to at least 19. All of them barring two have been due to police firing.
Though the government formed a three-member team of ministers to start talks with the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, the group leading the protests, and other Terai organisations, the team so far has been able to accomplish nothing due to the protesters’ insistence on three conditions.
Upendra Yadav, chief of the forum, has asked for the resignation of Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula over the deaths caused by security forces. He is also asking for the Maoist guerrillas responsible for killing an 18-year-old student last month to be arrested and tried in the court.
Finally, the forum is also asking for an end to state repression in the plains. However, none of the demands has been heeded by the government. – IANS
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