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The Nepalese Democratic Youth Council in USA (NDYCUSA) has been closely watching the latest political development in Nepal and our attention has seriously been drawn to the ongoing demonstrations and unrest in the Terai region of Nepal . As one of the leading Diaspora organizations continuously working for the restoration of democracy and peace in Nepal since October 2002, the NDYCUSA is strongly concerned over delay in addressing the genuine demands raised by our Madeshi sisters and brothers for creating a new Nepal with an inclusive, representative and participatory democracy. Our Madhesi sisters and brothers have been marginalized and deprived by the state for a long-time and we strongly urge the government of Nepal to ensure that the interim constitution provides equal rights and opportunities for Madeshi people as well as all other marginalized and underrepresented groups of Nepali society. We urge the government of Nepal to immediately start dialogue with the agitating parties including The Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) and address the issues of federalism, proportional representation, and equal opportunities. We would also like to urge all agitating parties to immediately hold dialogue with the high-level government committee recently formed by Nepal government to initiate talks with agitators. With the promulgation of interim constitution, Nepal is at the historic crossroads. Anything that derails Nepal ’s peace process and delays the constituent assembly elections will have a huge negative impact on creating a new democratic and prosperous Nepal . Thus, in order to ensure Nepal ’s new-found peace and a true democracy, all problems should be sorted out by dialogue and through non-violent means. The NDYCUSA is seriously concerned about the increased violence and unrest in Terai and believes that if the issues raised by ongoing Madesh movement are not addressed immediately, the violence may spiral out of control and the regressive forces will surely try to fish in the troubled water. We strongly believe that as the Terai unrest lingers, the regressive forces will be emboldened, the peace process with the Maoists will be derailed, and there will be delay in holding constituent assembly elections, which is the major achievement of April revolution and the main aspiration of Nepali people. Thus, we urge upon all agitating parties to come for talks with the government without any reservations and preconditions. We would also like to urge the seven-party alliance of Nepal and the Maoists to rise above the partisan politics by not manipulating Terai issues in their party favor and pressurize the agitating parties and the government to hold dialogue immediately. Moreover, the seven-party alliance and the Maoists should develop a culture of a good coalition in order to stir the country from this transition, counter and defeat all ploys of the regressive forces, and hold constituent assembly elections timely and peacefully. We urge the seven-party alliance and the Maoists to further consolidate their alliance and sort out all the difference in the eight party meetings. Anand Bist
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