US Wants a Nepal Constitution That is Inclusive and Ensures Gender Equality
Only hours after India made a public statement to make a Nepali constitution that is inclusive and express its concerns about violence, the United States has followed suit. The United States has expressed its desire to see a Nepali constitution that is inclusive. It also advised that Nepal’s constitution should honor fundamental rights as gender equality. Those who can read between the lines know both of these subtle yet powerful messages are aimed to curb violence against Madhesis and discrimination against women in Nepal. Both of these groups have been agitating and holding protests to vent their grievances but the Nepali state has largely been ignoring their demands or providing false promises.
The tweet below by Dewan Rai, a journalist in Nepal, shows a protest organized by women that was attended by thousands of supporters.
A huge turn out to protest equal right for women in #Nepal. #happeningnow pic.twitter.com/1xshBloXRS
— Dewan RAI (@rdewan) September 9, 2015
Similarly, several female journalists, intellectuals, activists and leaders have been expressing their dissatisfaction over the discriminatory clauses in the constitution that denies a child the right to citizenship based solely on mother. A tweet by Manjushree Thapa, a popular Nepali author,reads,
“Nepal’s new constitution gives its first slap to 51% women, passing Clause 11, denying women’s right to confer citizenship independently.” — Manjushree Thapa (@manjushreethapa) September 14, 2015
A Nepali lawyer and rights activist writes,
Naturalization on the marriage is taken out by PDC under the pressure of Maddhesi and now only foreign women get citizenship, Patriarchy !
— Sapana Pradhan Malla (@SapanaPM) August 17, 2015
Similarly, Heema Rai, an engineer and global development student writes,
CA has denied Nepali women the right to pass on citizenship to their children rendering women 2nd class citizens. http://t.co/vYtUu1wbhB — Heema Rai (@HeemaRai) September 15, 2015
Similarly Madhesi activists have been documenting human rights violations with evidence that excessive force was used to suppress their demands for an inclusive constitution.
A popular Nepali journalist Anup Kaphle writes,
Talking about excessive use of force, here’s how bad things are in southern #Nepal right now http://t.co/tVPiWt3kIO pic.twitter.com/nfAtwee4Vu
— Anup Kaphle (@AnupKaphle) September 10, 2015
Likewise, Manjushree Thapa who has been advocating against violence and for gender equality writes,
34 people have been killed in the last 33 days in Nepal. It’s time for a negotiated settlement on Dalit, women, Indigenous & Madhesi rights. — Manjushree Thapa (@manjushreethapa) September 9, 2015
An advocate at Supreme Court, Dip Jha writes,
Just visited wife and 2 months baby of Rajkishor Thakur in Mahuliya Rauthat. He was also killed during protest. pic.twitter.com/ZJISo9FgYp
— Adv. Dipendra Jha (@dipjha) September 6, 2015
THRD Alliance, a human rights organization tweeted,
UN Human Rights Commissioner concerned over violence in Nepal – http://t.co/2APuc4uURj — The Himalayan Times (@thehimalayan) September 14, 2015
Adv. Dip Jha writes again,
NEPAL: Impunity and violence growing uncontrolled in Terai — Asian Human Rights Commission http://t.co/OL13UiP7ju
— Adv. Dipendra Jha (@dipjha) September 11, 2015
The Nepali media has interpreted both of these statements by India and the US as congratulatory notes. This exposes the alarming bias in media reporting in Nepal. A tweet by Rishikesh highlights the pro-government bias in media reporting in Nepal.
मरेका मधेसी र थारु र तिनका परिवारमाथि मिडियामा कुनै कथा आएनन्।काठमाडौंमा गोलीले कोही मरेको भए? चरी र घैटेजति पनि यिनीहरु होइनन्? #mediawatch — Rishikesh (@rishikeshdahal) September 2, 2015
The ruling parties, NC and CPN-UML had lost miserably in the first constituent assembly elections. Following their defeat, they were forced to operate under the leadership of CPN Maoists and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF). Now that they won more seats in the second elections, they are humiliating MJF and violating all past agreements. The ruthlessness of UML towards madhes-based parties and Madhesis is troubling. For example, UML leader KP Oli has made several derogatory remarks about Madhesis and called them “dhotis”. He has also called the struggle for rights by Madhesis as uneventful “falling of 4-5 mangoes from a tree“. He also conspired with fellow partyman and defence minister Bamdev Gautam to engage in brutal suppression of Madhesi voices through misuse of state security apparatus . Bamdev Gautam also accused India of fueling protests in Madhesh. His analogy refers to 30 Madhesi unarmed civilians who were killed during protests by Nepal Police and Armed Police Force. The quote from the press statement states,
We urge citizens to engage through peaceful, non-violent means, and call on the Nepali security forces to exercise restraint in responding to protests.
A partial list of all those who have died is in this Google Document, we started.
List of Protesters/Police Killed in Nepal Over Constitution
Here is the statement from the United States Department of State.
Department Spokesperson
The United States is closely following the debate as Nepal approaches the final stages of drafting and promulgating its constitution. The United States recognizes the utmost importance of this process for the Nepali people and for cementing Nepal’s democratic transition and providing the foundation for economic development.
As the vote in the Constituent Assembly continues, we hope that the document that emerges embraces the creativity, inclusiveness, and flexibility that will build a peaceful and prosperous Nepal. The constitution should have the broadest possible support and the outcome should honor fundamental rights such as gender equality and basic freedoms.
We urge citizens to engage through peaceful, non-violent means, and call on the Nepali security forces to exercise restraint in responding to protests.
Source: US Department of State website
