EDITORIAL: Nepal Madesh continues to be neglected
Posted by barunroy on July 6, 2009
FROM GARHWAL POST
Nepal and India sharing open boarder with each other is the cause of a number of problems for both the nations. However, an open border also has few positive aspects as well. In the recent times, the open boarder is allowing groups of criminals to flourish. They commit crime in one country and then cross the boarder before being caught. Many armed groups are operating actively in both the countries but more so in Nepal due to the poor security management and political instability there. This is affecting the lives of thousands of people in the Tarai Madesh area, which is largely occupied by the Nepalese of Indian origin.
According to a study there are above 70 groups that seek to be recognised as ‘armed groups’ and most of them do not have any political background. Some groups are made up of as small as 3 or 4 number of people and taking up arms with the sole purpose of looting the people for survival. Around 30 groups are pro active in such activities. While it is affecting the whole country, the direct victims are the people living in the districts along the boarder sides.
After the Maoists ended their decade long insurgency and joined mainstream politics two years ago, this had had immediate impact upon social life of the people. This totally changed the picture of the then Nepal, which was soaked in blood. Tourism flourished once again, number of students going abroad also reduced as the local educational institutions began to come to the track and the people displaced from villages started returning to their place. The economy was prevented from further deterioration though it was taking time to rise up significantly. Overall, the Maoists joining the mainstream politics was a very big relief to the people of Nepal and they thought that it was the end of violence in their country.
However, now due to the armed forces operating openly, violence has become a part of life in the Tarai Madesh areas. Neither there is a strong and stable government to watch out and control such things, nor are the Maoists in control, who actually sowed the seed of violence in the country (as the Maoists came to power through the path of violence, armed groups kept on mushrooming) feels responsible for this and is ready to counter the problem. Even when Maoist chairman Prachanda was the Prime Minster of Nepal, he took least interest in this issue. Similarly, Tarai Madesh Loktantric party and Sadvawana party among others which were established as a powerful political parties after the constituent assembly election are not concerned enough about the problems of the people who voted them to power. There are enough number of Madeshi faces in the parliament now, still, the lives of the people in Madesh is equally hard.
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