Proposal at British parliament seeking probe of Saptari incident

A motion has been registered at the UK Parliament urging Nepal government to amend the constitution to allow for fair representation of marginalised people of Madhes, according to a record of proposals published by the UK House of Commons.

 Ann Clwyd Labour MP for the Cynon Valley tabled a motion at the parliament on Thursday stating that British Parliament should urge the Nepal government to conduct election only after amending the constitution.

“This House is concerned that the Madhesis minority from the Southern plains, known as the Terai region, will continue to be marginalised in Nepal unless constitutional amendments are passed before local elections in that country,” read the motion numbered 1165. The motion has been supported by only one Member of Parliament.

Clwyd, in her motion, stated that although the Madhesis represent over 33 per cent of the population of Nepal, they hold only 12 per cent of the government positions.

Expressing worry about ongoing human rights violations being committed in the Tarai region, the motion has urged the Nepal government to investigate the killings of five protesters by security forces using excessive force on March 6, 2017 in Saptarai district of Nepal and to bring those responsible to justice. 

In the motion, the British MP has called on the British Government to carefully assess for compliance with international human rights criteria before funding the Nepali security forces.

“The local elections in Nepal are due to be held for the first time in 20 years on 14 May 2017, hopefully paving the way for the consolidation of democracy and allowing for provincial and national elections in the autumn,” read the motion.

MP Clwyd’s proposal comes a month after Dipendra Jha, among other rights activists, had paid a visit to the British leader. They had urged MP Clwyd to raise the issue of excessive force used by the state during the recent Madhes movement, claiming that it curbed the human rights.

The motion has urged the political activists and protestors in Nepal to carry out their activities peacefully.