Patience And Consideration

The government is engaged in holding talks with different groups from the Terai to take stock of their demands and address their concerns through legitimate means and mechanism. In the same way, several rounds of talks have already been clinched with groups from other areas and regions to settle the impending issues and assuage their feelings and concerns. Though some issues are yet to be thrashed out properly, the government is keeping open rightfully the channels of communication with representatives of the indigenous nationalities, and it is hoped that their conditions and concerns would be given due and patient hearing on the part of the government. The talks with the Madhesi People's Rights Forum have, however, received the media spotlight because of the fact that the Terai issue is billed to be more serious and seminal. The government has already discussed the pertinent issues with the Forum for the fourth time, but principal subjects are yet to be settled and sorted out.

The major demands of the Forum include a federal state structure with regional autonomy, proportional polling system, determination of electoral constituencies based on population and proportionate participation of the Madhesi people and others in organs of the state. Earlier the Forum has also been demanding the dissolution of the interim parliament and formation of the caretaker government to hold polls to the constituent assembly. As the government is strengthening the talks team by including leaders from the major political parties, including the CPN (M), it is expected that the talks could be finalised with agreement on substantive issues soon. As the polls to the constituent assembly are drawing closer, and the Election Commission is making all preparations for holding it successfully, any delay would disturb the poll schedule announced formally in line with the second amendment to the Interim Constitution. No groups should, therefore, create any pretences and obstacles to hurt the process of holding the polls to the constituent assembly. As concerns of all the groups can be addressed after the polls to the constituent assembly is conducted, the agitating groups should be patient and considerate enough and negotiate successfully with the government.

Source: The Rising Nepal, August 7, 2007