Trend Analysis - Last Updated: July 15, 2016

More than six decade-long desire of Nepali people to draft constitution through Constituent Assembly has reached final stage. The secretariat of Constituent Assembly has unveiled the plan to promulgate the constitution at 5 pm on September 20. Secretariat has prepared to promulgate the constitution after sorting out amendment proposals, articles and annexes through voting. Dr Ram Baran Yadav would make the declaration of promulgation of the constitution. CA chairperson Subash Nembang is going to Shital Niwas on September 15 to extend invitation to make the declaration. Meanwhile, the voting on articles of the revised draft constitution Bill 2072 is going on. On September 13, article 1, 2 and 3 were endorsed. On September 14, 54 articles have been endorsed.

The wish of the Nepali people to draft a constitution through Constituent Assembly (CA) has finally reached its final phase. The Constituent Assembly has endorsed three articles of the revised draft of the constitution on September 13. The endorsed articles are the ones proposed as amendments to the articles of the draft which called for the amendments to part of the draft constitution.

There was no news of progress the whole day today regarding talks despite the postponement of constitution drafting and call of the three major parties to hold dialogue. Leaders of agitating sides and UCPn-M have demanded extension of constitution drafting stating that time is not enough for striking a consensus. Madhes-based parties are still not decided on talks. The agitating Samyukta Madhesi Morcha has announced that it would not sit for dialogue unless its demands are met. However, some leaders of Madhes-based parties have formally said that they are willing to hold dialogue with three major parties. Some protests held in Tarai today were peaceful. Locals said that life has been harder due to the indefinite curfew orders imposed in Jaleshwar of Mahottari and Janakpur.

Ongoing protests in various parts of the country for last 29 days have turned violent day-by-day. Agitating sides do not seem to be serious despite calls for resolution of dispute through dialogue from all sides. Five protestors have died today in police firing in Dhanusha and Mahottari. The protestors dragged out Armed Police Force’s ASI Thaman Bahadur BK from the ambulance at Shankar Chok of Jalehswar as he was being taken to Janakpur Zonal Hospital for further treatment and beat him to death. The prolonged protests have made normal life harder. Looking into some activities during the protests, there are suspicions that the protest might have gone out of control of Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha.

Indifferences over federal demarcation have taken violent turns at a time when the second Constituent Assembly elected through people’s votes has concluded most of the tasks relating to constitution making. At least 31 persons have lost their lives in a span of one month. The accounts of damages to public and private property are yet to be taken. In this context, there have been appeals urging the government and protesting sides to free the country from violence and confusion through dialogue. Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC) today issued a press statement calling on the government to adopt all possible measures to avoid loss of lives and property while maintaining public order and respect the right of protesters to put forward their demands in a peaceful manner.

Some districts in Tarai-Madhes remained more tensed today due to the ongoing protests over the demarcation of proposed federal states. Four protestors died in police firing while the protestors tried to set policemen on fire in Morang. The deceased all sustained bullets to their chest while the injured also received injuries to their head and chest. Live ammunition is used as a last resort to bring situation under control according to international law; however, today’s incidents did not show that police firing took place in such situation.

News of journalists, who are working with the intention to disseminate right information at right time to the common people, being attacked by state and non-state sides are coming out. It has been seen that the journalists are being targeted for not disseminating news as per their interests and according to their wish. Bikram Rauniyar has been beaten up by police in the evening of September 7 in Janakpur of Dhanusha while journalists were mistreated and threats were issued to set radio station on fire by Tharuhat/Madhes protestors in Banke some days ago. What was the reason for a journalist to be assaulted in Dhanusha? No existing laws of Nepal support such incident. The act of beating him with lathi and kicks is itself illegal as legal action can be taken even if one is found involved in acts declared illegal by law. The local administration has to bring the concerned policemen to justice in order to deter such illegal act. Respect to rule of law comes through practice. Below are the brief news of protests taking place across the country:

Be it any rally or political protest, participation of children – more or less – is visible in Nepal. Even those who have expressed commitment that ‘Children are Zone of Peace’ are not behind in exploiting children as per their interests.

Normal life has been hit harder in various districts as the ongoing indefinite strike in Tarai-Madhes against the province delineation enters 23rd day. Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha stage protests while news of arson in three government offices in Sarlahi has been reported. The schools which had been shut because of the agitation launched by different parties will open in Kailali on September 6 after a meeting of the all concerned parties on September 5 expressed commitment that they would not disrupt the studies. The decision to allow schools, which are zone of peace, to operate is definitely a positive step. It is necessary to create a safe environment where students can continue studies and schools can be operated in all other districts as well where there are protests taking place.

INSEC representatives have reported that the ongoing indefinite strike in Tarai-Madhes for past 21 days has made life harder. Three weeks of bandh has caused shortage of oxygen required for patients in hospitals. Black-marketing has been seen as there is lack of food items, petroleum products owing to the bandh. Long and short route vehicles all stayed off the road while markets, factories, banks and offices remained close. The bandh has made life much harder for those who earn livelihood by daily labor. It has been learnt that the price of consumer goods have gone six times up due to the bandh. There are reports of many passengers and drivers being injured when hit by stones and beer bottles hurled by protestors at the vehicles escorted by police.