Miscellaneous
UK parliament motion seeks Saptari probe
A motion has been registered in the UK parliament, urging the Nepal government to amend the constitution to allow for fair representation of the marginalised people of Madhes, according to a record of proposals published by the UK House of Commons.A motion has been registered in the UK parliament, urging the Nepal government to amend the constitution to allow for fair representation of the marginalised people of Madhes, according to a record of proposals published by the UK House of Commons.
Ann Clwyd Labour MP for the Cynon Valley tabled a motion at the parliament on Thursday stating that the British Parliament should urge the Nepal government to conduct the elections only after amending the constitution.
“This House is concerned that the Madhesis minority from the Southern plains, known as the Tarai region, will continue to be marginalised in Nepal unless constitutional amendments are passed before local elections in that country,” read the motion numbered 1165, which has been supported by only one Member of Parliament.
Clwyd, in her motion, stated that although the Madhesis represent over 33 percent of the population of Nepal, they hold only 12 percent of the government positions.
Expressing worry about the ongoing human rights violations being committed in the Tarai region, the motion has urged the Nepal government to investigate the killings of five protesters by security forces using excessive force on March 6 in Saptari district of Nepal and to bring those responsible to justice.
In the motion, MP Clwyd has called on the British government to carefully assess for compliance with international human rights criteria before funding the Nepali security forces.
“Local elections in Nepal are due to be held for the first time in 20 years on 14 May 2017, hopefully paving the way for the consolidation of democracy and allowing for provincial and national elections in the autumn,” read the motion.
MP Clwyd’s proposal comes a month after Dipendra Jha, among other rights activists, had paid a visit to the British leader. They had urged MP Clwyd to raise the issue of excessive force used by the state during the recent Madhes movement, claiming that it violated human rights.
The motion urges the political activists and protesters in Nepal to carry out their activities peacefully.