Sajhedari Bikaas Quarterly Report #2 April-June 2013

The date of the Constituent Assembly (CA)-II was shifted from May to November, and action was taken against the elimination of the Kamalari system. However, disruption of voter registration and citizenship distribution work, the rise of the Kamalari Rights Movement, and landless peoples' agitation, as well as the seizure of private land by the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist), affected the operational area. The Interim Electoral Council of Ministers (IECM) announced the next Constituent Assembly (CA) elections for 19 November 2013. The announcement followed the promulgation of the final piece of electoral legislation, which had been delayed due to the High Level Political Committee's (HLPC) failure to agree on proposed electoral provisions. The provision barring people convicted of serious crimes from contesting elections was retained, while the one percent threshold of national votes to win a proportional representation seat was dropped. The announcement of the election date angered those parties that remain opposed to the process and IECM and HLPC, including the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist), the Madheshi People's Rights Forum-Nepal (MPRF-N), and the Federal Socialist Party (FSP). They claimed that the High Level Political Committee has not paid attention to their demands. On 16 June, together with a number of smaller opposing political parties, they enforced a nation-wide bandh. However, an expected program of protests did not materialize, perhaps reflecting ideological and tactical differences amongst this loose alliance. The operational space in Mid-West and Far-West regions was affected by various protests and land seizures. Tharu groups intensified their protest programs following the death of Kamalari Srijana Chaudhary, a 12-year-old girl from Dang District who worked as a bounded child laborer in Kathmandu. The Joint Struggle Committee imposed a bandh on five Terai districts from 16-17 April, claiming that the authorities failed to take action on the alleged murder. The agitating groups warned of launching sterner protests if their demands are not addressed, including further Terai bandhs. To pressure the Government to speed up the investigation of the death of Kamalari girl in Kathmandu, the United Committee for the Elimination of Kamalari Practice (UCEKP) enforced a bandh in the Terai districts of the Mid and Far Western Regions from 4 to 7 June. As a result, vehicle movement came to a standstill, and markets and educational institutions remained closed. This was particularly so in Dang District, where baton-wielding police charged a sit-in protest on 3 June. The bandh was called-off after demonstrators and the Government reached a 10-point agreement on 7 June. Land seizures continued as a source of tension in the Mid-West and Far-West regions. On 3 April, cadres of CPN-Maoist reportedly captured over 30 hectares of land in Bardiya District. There were also two reported incidents in Kailali District that CPN-Maoist cadres had planted their party flag on conflict-era seized land, reaffirming that the land is still under their control and warning the owner not to attempt to cultivate or sell the property. On 14 June, the All Nepal Peasants Association (ANPA) seized 20 hectares of land in Phattepur VDC of Banke District. The issue of land seizures may become even more salient as parties find they need to raise finances in advance of any new election. During this reporting period, USAID mobilized four implementing partner organizations to address Conflict Mediation and Mitigation under an APS mechanism. Mercy Corps and Saferworld will be working in the Mid-West and Far West regions on resolving conflict-era land disputes and promoting peaceful resolution of land-related issues. The Kamalari system, which involves the exploitation of Tharu girls as domestic helpers, remains a significant issue in the Mid-West and Far-West regions. The practice is considered illegal, but it is estimated that over 10,000 Kamalaris are still engaged across Nepal. The Joint Struggle Committee and the United Committee for the Elimination of Kamalari Practice (UCEKP) have been enforcing bandhs and protests to pressure the Government to take action against the practice. The situation in the Mid-West and Far-West regions remains tense, with ongoing protests and land seizures affecting the operational space. The Government's efforts to address the issues, including the announcement of the election date and the promulgation of electoral legislation, have been met with resistance from opposing parties. The situation is likely to remain volatile in the coming months, with the potential for further protests and land seizures.