Two persons killed in emerging ethnic conflict

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 14 March: Police shot dead two persons and nine were injured, including six policemen, overnight in a clash in Dang in a brewing ethnic conflict between Tharus and Madeshis in the terai bordering India.
Police fired on a crowd of Tharus obstructing a movement of vehicles under heavy security escort during curfew along a highway 350 kms southwest of the capital.
Dang authorities declared an indefinite curfew in Deukhuri, Dang, Saturday as preparations were being made for the funeral of the killed protestors.
Local authorities in Dang moved two police outposts to secure areas as a preventive measure.
Tharus who claim they aren’t Madeshis, were killed in the firing.
Authorities have been escorting vehicle convoys along highways under curfew to ease shortages of essential goods and fuel amid extreme shortage as Tharu protests entered the 13 day Saturday.
In the capital, Prime Minister Prachanda Saturday agreed to hold a dialogue with protests to discuss their demands.
Tharus are demanding de-listing from Madeshi group claiming they are Nepal’s indigenous people; Tharus believe Madeshis are immigrants from India.
Hill tribes have supported Tharus.
Tharus are demanding an amendment in the interim constitution that says the south bordering is not Madesh as written in the hastily drafted constitution.
Tharus Friday rejected a government proposal Friday to describe the flatland in the south as Terai/Madesh.
Tharus are demanding the region should be called Terai only.
Government/Tharu talks are expected to continue Saturday.
The protests have hampered the work of parliamentary groups to collect opinion for a new constitution.
An amendment to the interim constitution to meet Tharu demands has been proposed even as little work has been registered in drafting a new constitution by May 2010.
Several lawmakers collecting public opinion have confessed ignorance of questions they are they are asking the limited people they have met.
Madesh Janaadhikar Forum, the largest political party in the south and a coalition partner in the Maoist-led government has opposed proposed amendments in the interim basic law to meet Tharud demands.
Muslims, who live mainly in the south, are also in an agitating mood.
They have demanded an immediate census to determine their population in a country dominated by Hindus.
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