F OCHA Nepal Situation Overview Issue No. 21, covering the period 01 February – 29 February 2008 Kathmandu, 3 March 2008 Highlights : • Agreements between the Government and Madhesi and ethnic groups break deadlock • Preparations for Constituent Assembly (CA) elections delayed but on course • Terai strike paralyses the country, triggers commodity price hikes • The World Food Programme (WFP) reports dwindling food stocks • Destruction of government offices continue to affect the ‘reach of state’ • Humanitarian and Development actors continue to face access challenges • Displacements reported in Eastern Nepal • Nepal allocated US $6 million in CERF underfunded window • IASC Contingency planning workshop held CONTEXT Chandra Poudel and including a representative of each member of the SPA with the task of engaging in talks with the agitating Politics and Major Developments groups. Despite frequent appeals to all protesting groups, Political tensions reached a high level in February, and affected including the UDMF, to sit for talks, a first meeting between economic and social life across the country, causing significant UDMF representatives and the Prime Minister was held on 15 disturbances to daily routines and considerable suffering to February. The protracted negotiations lasted until 27 February, common people. A gradually worsening situation in the Terai, when a consensus was almost derailed by a late demand by the and also some hill districts, triggered by prolonged Madhesi leaders to postpone the date of the election by a bandhs/strikes, curfews and fuel shortages threatened to month. However, the eventual agreement included a reference become a serious challenge to the peace process and the to the agreed date of the polls. However, the 8-point agreement planned elections to the Constituent Assembly (CA). was rejected by various armed groups in the Madhesh and the Technically, preparations for the 10 April elections were going nature and extent of the FRNF’s demands made an agreement ahead, with the Election Commission (EC) doing its best to with that group uncertain. Talks with the other ethnic-based stick to the election timetable. Although the Government and groups were underway after long delays and were concluded its major political components had announced to go ahead with two days after the Government/UDMF deal. Both agreements the scheduled elections ‘at all cost’, doubts whether the election contain commitments to a Republican, federal Nepal, would be held on schedule remained until last minute deals recognition for ‘martyrs’, the implementation of earlier were struck. On 28 February, the Government and the agreements and a more equitable representation of hitherto agitating Madheshi parties (UDMF) were able to reach an 8- neglected or excluded communities. Specific arrangements, point agreement which ended the Terai strike (see also OCHA however, need to be worked out by the Constituent Assembly. Nepal Situation Update of 22 February), and cleared a major obstacle for keeping the 10 April elections on schedule. On 1 By the original deadline of 20 February for the submission of March, the Government signed an agreement with the ethnic candidate lists for the proportional representation (PR) race of group umbrella organisation FRNF ending another long- the election, only 37 of the 74 registered political parties had lasting political standoff and strikes that had been called by the submitted lists. The EC, upon request from the government FRNF’s member organisations. extended the deadline for nominations for the proportional representation (PR) segment of the election first to 24 On 8 February three Madheshi political parties united to form February, in order to allow other political parties that had not the “United Democratic Madheshi Front” (UDMF); a tactical complied with the deadline to submit its list. A further two alliance to negotiate collectively with the SPA Government and parties submitted lists, but not the Madheshi parties in to engage in protest action in the Terai. The three parties are negotiations with Government for whom the deadline had been the Madheshi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF), the Nepal extended. Finally, with the second extension of the deadline Sadbhavana Party (SP- Mahato) and the Terai-Madhes following the two landmark agreements, another 16 parties Loktantrik Party (TMDP - Mahant Thakur). Subsequently, the filed nominations by 2 March, bringing the total number of new alliance presented six immediate demands, including a candidates up to 5882. constitutional amendment to establish one autonomous Terai state within a federal democratic republic with a right to self- While the agreements with the UDMF and the FRNF are determination of the Madheshi people. On 13 February, the significant achievements and cleared the way to the 10 April UDMF started an indefinite strike that led to the closure of elections, a number of political parties, such as three smaller government offices, disruption of public services, declaration of parties in the Seven Party Alliance (PFN, NWPP, ULF) and a curfews in certain districts and clashes between protestors and number of armed groups in the Terai have been quoted as the security forces resulting in the death of at least 9 (including opposing the deals. two police) and injury to several hundreds. Bandhs were also called from 13 February by member organizations of the During the reporting period, the main political parties started Federal Republican National Front (FRNF); in the Limbuwan campaign activities for the CA election, with tensions also region (eastern hills) by the Federal Democratic National simmering among some of the partners in the governing Seven Forum (FDNF) and, in the western Terai, by the United Tharu Party Alliance (SPA). In particular the activities by the Young National Front (UTNF) in Bardiya, Dang and Kailali districts. Communist League (YCL) and other organizations associated with the CPN-Maoist aimed at disrupting electioneering On 11 February, the ruling alliance constituted a new team activities of other political parties as well as the heavy-handed headed by the Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Ram response by the security forces led to a number of altercations OCHA Nepal Situation Overview, Issue No. 21 / February 2008 1 between the CPN-Maoist and its SPA partners. On 5 February, Conflict and Security a Nepali Congress (NC) Member of Parliament and former The Government’s special security plan to support the Minister, police and civilians were injured when attacked by a forthcoming CA elections entered its second stage which will mob allegedly mobilized by CPN/M affiliates in Darchula last until April 10, the date set for CA elections. The deployment district of Far Western Region. Similar tensions among of a 'Special Task Force' (STF) consisting of Nepal Police and political parties were also reported in other parts of the Armed Police Force (APF) in the Terai region that had begun in country. Confrontations and occasional violence has also December 2007 continued. Also, the Government ordered the continued among the various students organizations affiliated deployment of elements of the Nepal Army to guard strategic with the major political groups. installations across the country in order to free up police and armed police personnel for CA election security. An increase in arrests by security forces has been reported during this period. However, the impact of these measures on the security situation could not be immediately felt. In particular in rural areas, police presence has been reported to have decreased. Bandhs and spontaneous blockades called by various groups continued to affect the security situation across the country. From 13 February, daily life and public transport were paralyzed in all regions except the Far West. Curfews were imposed by local authorities in much of the Terai district headquarters, in particular in Banke, Bara, Parsa, Nawalparasi, Sunsari, Mahottari, Dhanusha and Saptari. Nepalgunj (Banke) was severely affected by a 24 hour curfew for several days. In Siraha, Birgunj, and Rupandehi the District Administration Offices enforced prohibitory orders to control the situation. Similarly, in response to the strike in the Terai, which blocked fuel tankers from reaching the Kathmandu valley, the Government imposed curfews along the main routes and United Democratic Madhesi Front protests rally - Police forces were provided armed escorts for tankers, eventually using security on high alert when the indefinite strike hit the Terai. UN Photo forces to drive the trucks after drivers had refused to do so, citing continued security risks. In another development, the Nepal Sadbhawana Party (NSP- Killings in the context of protests or curfew violations among Anandidevi) left the Seven Party Alliance, in protest against others, were reported, especially in eastern and Central Terai. what it stated as continued discrimination by the Government Between 13 February and 28 February, 9 people were against the Madheshi community and the failure of the SPA to reportedly killed across the country, 7 by security forces while sack the industry Minister as had been suggested by the party. enforcing curfews and 2 policemen were killed while on duty. The party however continues to be affected by an internal split, Operational Space as the faction led by Minister Gupta continued to support the Government and has submitted a list of nominations for the CA Different groups, notably Madheshi Tigers, factions of JTMM