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Madheshi Janadhikar Forum (MJF)

Formation

The Madheshi Janadhikar Forum (MJF), also known as the Madheshi People’s Rights Forum, was formed in 1997 at Biratnagar in the Morang district as a Non-Governmental Organisation. It was started by a group of Madheshi academics and students to discuss their concerns and issues and also to promote the Madheshi causes.

Objective

The MJF demands complete autonomy of the Terai region from the parade (hill people) rulers, and has started an armed struggle to secure this objective. According to MJF leader Upendra Yadav, the Madheshis are the victims of ‘internal colonialism’ as well as regional and racial discrimination by the pahade (hill people) rulers.

Key Demands

  • Federal democratic republic

  • Proportional electoral system

  • Autonomy to Madhesh region

  • End of internal colonisation

  • Regional autonomous governance system including right to self-determination

  • Rights on the land, natural resources and biological diversity of Madhesh

  • To end racial and regional discrimination

  • Provide citizenship certificates to all Madhesis without discrimination

Leadership and Cadre

Upendra Yadav is the chairman of the MJF and is assisted by two Vice-Chairmen - Kishor Bishwas and Bhagyanath Gupta. Ram Kumar Sharma is the Secretary General. The MJF also consists of other leaders like Sitananda Rai, Ramchandra Rai, Amaresh Kumar Singh, and Manoj Singh.

S.N. Mehta, the Sunsari District president of the Madhesi Youth Forum, the MJF’s youth wing, claims that around 800 cadres are undergoing training in Sunsari, and they are planning to increase the number of cadres to 1,500 soon, and would expand their base and activities to cover all the Terai Districts.

Areas of Operation

MJF is present in almost all the districts of the Terai region, particularly in Siraha, Dhanusha, Morang, Sarlahi, Bara, Saptari, Mohattari, Rupandehi, Banke, Bordiya, Sunsari, Bhairahawa and Rautahat.

Incidents involving MJF

2011

July 10: Lawmakers of the MJF-L Ramananda Manandal and Karima Begum received letters from their party seeking clarification within 72 hours on their alleged tilt towards the UCPN-M.

June 24: Chairperson of Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (Republican) Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta, while speaking at a programme organised in Sunsari District headquarters Inaruwa to inaugurate party office and to honour martyr's families and conflict victim families, claimed that the country was still in the conflict-ridden state since the state did not seriously hold talks with conflicting armed groups in Madhes and mid-eastern mountainous region.

June 19: As the deadline to finalise the Army integration model comes closer, it has become certain that the AISC will miss the deadline to fix the number of former combatants to integrate and the model of integration. The committee had set a deadline of June 19 (today) to finalise the integration model and determine the number of former combatants to be integrated. Leaders of the major political parties have blamed each other for the delay. (MJF-Loktantrik) leader and AISC member Jitendra Dev claimed, the process has been delayed due to the internal rift in the (UCPN-M).

June 8: The MJF-L Chairman Bijaya Gachchadar said that around 6,000 former PLA combatants could be integrated into the Security Forces. The party also demanded that Nepal Army start recruiting 10000 Madheshi youths for bulk entry and ensures a separate unit for them. The party further said that if the constitution does not clearly state the autonomous provinces, including Madhesh province, such a constitution would not be acceptable to them. It also reiterated its demand for implementation of the eight-point agreement reached between the Government and the Morcha on February 28, 2008.

May 24: Eight persons were injured when a clash broke out during the management committee meeting of the Khochadas Lower Secondary School in Ranganj Sinuwari in Sunsari District. The clash erupted between supporters of the MJF-L and the UCPN-M after they had disagreement on the appointment of two new teachers under the women and general teacher relief quotas.

May 21: Three coalition partners decided to put forth common proposal to take the peace process to a logical conclusion. Coalition partners -UCPN-M, CPN-UML and MJF made such agreement. Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal, Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and MJF Chairman Upendra Yadav decided to bring a common proposal at the meeting. According to the prime ministers press advisor Surya Thapa, the leaders agreed to bring common proposal following consultations with the Nepali Congress.

May 4: MJF, CPN-United, CPN-ML Socialist also joined govt. He inducted eight ministers and four state ministers from the UCPN-M, three ministers and a state minister from the MJF and one minister from each CPN-United and CPN-ML Socialist.

April 26: Samyukta Loktantrik Madheshi Morcha said promulgation of a new constitution has no meaning unless the peace process is taken to its logical conclusion. The Morcha argued that there is no alternative to launching a protest as the Government is non-serious over the Madheshi issues. Senior leaders of the three Madhesh based parties - MJFN-L, TMLP and Nepal Sadbhavana Party - were present in the press meet. They said if a constitution was promulgated sidelining the Madheshi issues, such a statute will not be acceptable to them.

April 18: A group of MJF-N cadres attacked 'Chairman' Upendra Yadav's vehicle in Birgunj in Parsa District after the Parsa District Committee of the party was dissolved. Senior leaders of the party Renu Yadav and Hari Narayan Yadav were injured in the attack.

April 14: MJF 'chairman' Upendra Yadav has said that the term of the CA could be extended, but the parties must convince the people beforehand. Yadav said the CA's deadline should not be extended without getting full support from the citizens, saying the ground behind it should be tacit and rational. He also urged all Madhesh-based parties to come under a single platform to defend the rights of Madheshi people.

April 6: MJF chairman Upendra Yadav has asked all armed groups operating in Terai Districts to cease violence and come to dialogue with the Government and political parties. Talking to reporters, Yadav said detonating explosives in public places and buses cannot be called a revolution and that such activities would never bring about any positive change in the society.

March 29: The CC meeting of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Nepal decided to join the Government under the leadership of Chairman Upendra Yadav. The meeting also decided to send either CC members or Constituent Assembly members as ministers to the Cabinet, and the meeting authorised Chairman Yadav to choose the candidates based on the criteria passed in the Parliamentary Party meeting on March 26.

March 27: Further, MJF-N approved four-point deal the party had signed with ruling CPN-UML and UCPN-Maoist last week to pave the path for its joining the Government. A parliamentary party meeting of MJF-N approved the deal signed between party chairman Upendra Yadav, Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal and Maoist Chairman Dahal.

March 22: MJF led by Upendra Yadav decided to join the Jhala Nath Khanal led Government after an agreement with present coalition partners UML and Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist UCPN-M.

February 27: The MJF announced that it has formed a youth wing, Madhes Rakshya Dal, and assured that the new outfit will not carry weapons like UCPN-Maoist's YCL. Making a formal announcement about the formation of the youth wing in Biratnagar, MJF said Kanaiya Lal Sah will lead the group. Sah later told reporters that his group would always work to "safeguard and support" Madhes and Madhesi people. He also claimed that the group would be "fully trained".

February 11: The MJF laid out conditions to join the CPN-UML-led Government. The central committee meeting of the party forwarded a 16-point condition, seeking guarantee of new statute and completion of the ongoing peace process on time, among others. The party also demanded written commitment on "autonomous Madhes state" and integration of Maoist combatants from the CPN-UML. According to MJF chairman Upendra Yadav, a six-member team has been formed under the leadership of the party secretary Ram Raya Yadav to hold discussion on the conditions and power-sharing with the UML. "Based on the outcome of the upcoming talks with the CPN-UML our party will decide whether or not to join the Government," Yadav said.

February 4: MJF said the party will join the new Government led by CPN-UML if the latter agrees to address Madheshi demands and respect previous pacts between the Government and Madheshi parties. Clarifying his party's decision to boycott PM election, MJF chairman Updendra Yadav set such condition to join the Government led by CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal. "If UML assures us completion of remaining tasks of the ongoing peace process, promulgation of new statute and addressing the Madheshi issues, the MJF will decide to join the Government," Yadav clarified while addressing a programme in Kathmandu.

January 20: MJF Chairman Upendra Yadav said that the rotational leadership of Government proposed by the three major parties is harmful to the country. Speaking at a press conference of his party, Yadav said all 28 parties represented in the Constituent Assembly should get to lead the Government if the rotational system is adopted. "In such a situation, how many days a party gets to head the government?'' Yadav said a consensus government is the priority of his party, but hastened to add that a majority dispensation will do if it offers a way out of the political impasse.

January 19: The Central Chairman of the MJF, Upendra Yadav, said that the UCPN-M advocating the rights of the proletariats was not willing to make constitution from the Constituent Assembly. He said, "As the Maoist wants to move ahead with people's revolution, it wants the constitution to suit its interest." Once the new constitution is written, the Madheshi, indigenous and marginalized classes will be provided every right, he said, accusing the big three parties of eclipsing the peace process.

January 6: The cadres of the MJF Nepal assaulted a team of RJM activists led by senior leader Rashmiraj Nepali in Birgunj area of Parsa District. Issuing a press statement in Kathmandu, RJM Chairman Chitra Bahadur K. C. condemned the ‘violent and undemocratic act’ against its cadres by the MJF cadres. The RJM has been conducting a nationwide campaign "for peace, nationalism and republicanism" and against federalism.

2010

December 28: An unidentified group shot dead a cadre, belonging to the MJF, identified as Hari Narayan Dev, (55), elder brother of MJF ‘general secretary’ Jitendra Dev, in near Rajbiraj District. He was shot at when he was coming to District headquarter Rajbiraj from his ancestral home in Boriya.

December 26: The Minister of State for Physical Planning and Works Sanjay Kumar Sah has been expelled from the post upon the recommendation of MJF-D. Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal ousted Shah as per the Clause 8 (c) of the article 38 of the Interim Constitution-2063BS, informed the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.

December 21: The MJF-L led by Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar is in the verge of a vertical split with central committee member Sanjaya Shah announcing a new group 'Madhesh Kranti Forum'. Shah said that he and his supporters formed a new party as MJF-L did not play an effective role in the Constituent Assembly on the issues of Madhesh.

December 19: A meeting of the MJF Parliamentary Party decided to join the NC and the CPN-UML in foiling the UCPN-M proposal to start a new process of Government formation in the special session of the House.

December 9: The MJF-N announced indefinite Nawalparasi District bandh (general strike) from in protest of the misbehaviour meted out against its cadres. The MJF-N called indefinite bandh alleging Superintendent of Police Krishna Prasad Gautam of misbehaving with three cadres of the party on November 22.

November 24: According to the Chairman of MJF Upendra Yadav accused UCPN-M of breaching the CPA by involving their former combatants in the party's ongoing 6th extended meeting being held in Palungtar of Gorkha District. Talking to media-persons in Janakpurdham he said that the AISC should take the matter seriously as the former Maoist combatants have now been brought under it.

November 17: The MJF chairman Upendra Yadav said that the UCPN-M should stop talking about army integration if it involves cantoned combatants in the party's upcoming central plenum.

October 8: Chairman of MJF Upendra Yadav said the Maoists' insistence not to relinquish weapons remains the main hindrance for the successful conclusion of the peace process. Speaking at a press meet organised in Birgunj of Parsa District , he said the fact that the Maoists can't and won't give up their weapons is clear from the idea and ideology the party follows and the on and off remarks made by its top leaders.

September 7: MJF breached the alliance with other three Madhesh based parties, but did not participate in the voting process. MJF-L lawmakers did not turn up at all for the voting. MJF-N, whose leaders had said earlier they would vote for Maoist candidate Prachanda, changed their mind at the last moment after they saw their votes alone would not be sufficient for the Maoist candidate to get a majority.

September 6: The MJF, which boycotted the meeting of the UDMF, has made up its mind to vote for the UCPN-M in the Prime Ministerial run-off election scheduled for September 7. An MJF leader told that his party will vote for the Maoists. We will strive to convince the other parties of the Madheshi front to vote for the UCPN-M to end the current deadlock before deciding unilaterally to vote for the Maoists, he said.

September 3: The MJF and MJF-L indicated that they might back Maoist chairman Prachanda in the sixth round of the PM. "Maoists are more positive now on the proposal of the Front UDMF. We can back the Maoists if they agree on the proposal," MJF-L spokesperson Jintendra Dev said.

August 29: In an all-party discussion convened by PM Madhav Kumar Nepal in Kathmandu, the Constituent Assembly parties suggested that UNMIN’s term should be extended for the last time with a revised mandate. However, the UCPN-M and the MJF stayed away from the all-party meeting.

MJF will not remain neutral in the sixth round of election for a PM. The MJF chief, Upendra Yadav, announced his party, which has remained neutral in the previous five rounds of election for a PM along with three of its alliance partners in the UDMF, will definitely participate in the sixth round of PM election.

August 2: MJF Chairman Upendra Yadav remarked that the Madheshi front’s decision to stay neutral has nothing to do with political bargaining. He accused the big three political parties of holding the nation hostage of indecision. The MJF Chair made such remark a day after MJF-L said that it is high time to bargain with the parties over the demand of ‘One Madhesh, One Province’.

July 31: The Whip of the MJF parliamentary party Abhishek Pratap Shah claimed that the UDMF will vote for the Maoists in the PM election scheduled for August 2. "We will form a majority Government first which would turn into a national consensus Government later," he claimed while addressing a face-to-face organised by Reporters Club in Kathmandu.

July 28: The MJF chairman Upendra Yadav said the UDMF, the alliance of four Madheshi parties including MJF, will not stay neutral in the third Prime Ministerial run-off slated for August 2. "We have been discussing that we should not stay neutral in the next voting for the prime minister. We will arrive at a decision by then," Yadav said while speaking at the Reporters Club in Kathmandu.

July 26: MJF decided to withdraw all protest programmes including indefinite closure of markets and transportation in Nawalparasi District after the District administration office acknowledged mistakes committed by local police personnel. MJF had declared indefinite strike in the District to protest against Police accesses on their local cadres over minor issues.

July 22: A meeting of United Democratic Madheshi Front, resurrected by the four Madhesh based parties MJF, MJFL, TMLP and the SP decided to list their conditions to lend their support to the candidates for the post of the Prime Minister in the runoff election.

July 19: The Madhesh Loktantrik Morcha (MLM) has hinted at joining the Government under the UCPN-M leadership if the latter agrees to address the issues of Madhesh. The MLM floated its condition to the Maoists during its meeting with the Maoists at Singha Durbar (Parliament). The Maoists should be ready to address the issues of peace, constitution, and Madhesh if they want us to support their leadership and join the Government, MJF Chairman Upendra Yadav said.

July 16: All four Madheshi parties, MJF, MJFL, TMLP and SP agreed to reactivate their past alliance and form a common position during the new Government formation. Their alliance had got side tracked after the division of MJF at the time of the CPN-UML-led Government formation. "Besides forming an alliance, Madheshi parties decided to remain committed towards statue writing within the scheduled deadline and submission of a common position on new Government formation," chairman of SP, Rajendra Mahato said.

June 10: The MJF Chairman Upendra Yadav said that the country requires a Prime Minister who can be accepted unanimously by all the political parties. Talking briefly to media persons at Biratnagar airport, Yadav said "There should not be any dispute regarding the next Prime Minister and the leader who is supported by all the political parties should lead the next Government." Yadav also claimed that the new Government would not last long if the Maoists and MJF were excluded.

May 22: The MJF publicly paraded its trained combatant squad, Madheshi Raksha Dal (MRD), in Bara District. The squad, 64 trained youths, would be joined by thousands of MJF youth cadres in coming days, said the party Chairman, Upendra Yadav, at the training closing ceremony held in Kachorawa of Bara District.

May 19: Expressing grave differences with the Unified CPN-Maoist on CA term extension, the MJF has pulled out of its alliance with the former. The MJF vice chair J. P. Gupta told reporters, "We have grave differences with the Maoists on their stance of not extending the CA term without the PM's resignation, but instead declare a constitution from the street. To say, the CA's term cannot be extended without the resignation of the PM, is not only an irresponsible expression, but also a grave conspiracy to push the country towards a crisis. The chances of our alliance with the Maoists is slim."

May 9: Chairman of the MJF Upendra Yadav said Prachanda should come up with an alternative if he fails to garner support in his bid to become the next Prime Minister. "He should come up with an alternative and shun his thinking that he is the only capable candidate," Yadav said.

April 8: The general strike enforced by the MJF has affected life in Terai districts. The MJF has been waging a protest movement calling for implementation of the 22-point agreement reached between the Government and the Madheshi parties in the past.

MJF condemned the arrest of 15 of its protesters including their Mahottari District chairman Tej Narayan Yadav during their mass protest. Armed Police arrested the cadres to resume the general strike called by the party.

April 6: MJF demanded the ouster of the incumbent Government led by the CPN- UML. The party claimed that the Government cannot promulgate the constitution on time and take the peace process to a logical conclusion.

April 4: Chairman of MJF Upendra Yadav warned of overthrowing the incumbent CPN-UML led Government during the winter session of House. "If needed, the Government will be toppled in order to find out solution to the national crisis and for the nation's benefit," he said. He also charged that the alliance of three major political parties—Unified CPN-Maoist, NC and CPN-UML— has held the country in captivity.

MJF took out a torch rally in Rajbiraj of Saptari District as part of their second phase of Madhesh agitation. The rally that started from local Shiva temple was led by MJF Chairman Upendra Yadav, Co-Chairman Jayprakash Prasad Gupta and Treasurer Renukumari Yadav.

March 31: MJF took out a motorcycle rally as part of its second phase of Madhesh general strike.  The motorcycle rally which started from MJF in Prasa District office in Tejarathtol conversed into a corner assembly at Ghantaghar. The speakers at the assembly warned of intensifying the agitation if the Government does not immediately implement the agreements that the Government signed with the MJF and Loktantrik Madheshi Front.

March 16: The main opposition parties Unified CPN-Maoist and MJF chose to skip the all party meeting called by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal in his office at Singha Durbar (Parliament).

March 14: The main opposition Unified CPN-Maoist is preparing to challenge the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led Government by tabling a no confidence motion against it at the Parliament. The Unified CPN-Maoist chairman Prachanda has met the top leadership of MJF seeking the latter's support in his party's campaign to find an alternative to the current Government. MJF leader Jaya Prakash Gupta confirmed that Dahal met the top leaders of the party to request for their support in the Maoist drive against the Government. 

March 12: MJF and Tharu organisations announced their respective struggle plans to have their demands met by the Government. The MJF has claimed that they were forced to begin the second phase of their movement because the eight-point agreement with the Government signed by the Joint Democratic Madheshi Front and a 22-point agreement signed with the MJF Nepal earlier have been ignored.

February 25: The MJF withdrew the general strike that it had imposed throughout Kapilvastu District since February 21, protesting against the manhandling of its cadres by the police. A MJF lawmaker said that the party decided to lift the general strike after reaching an agreement with the local administration.

February 21: The MJF called a bandh on February 21, to protest Police action against its cadres on February 20, at Krishna Nagar of Kapilvastu District. According to MJF chief whip and Constituent Assembly member Abhishek Pratap Sah, a team from Armed Police Force Base Camp, Krishna Nagar, misbehaved and beat up his party cadres. Vehicular movement, factories, educational institutions and markets have been shut down due to the bandh in the District.

February 3: The MJF chairman Upendra Yadav called the Madheshi people to revolt "since the other political parties were preparing to impose a presidential rule in the country instead of drafting a constitution" in Rajbiraj of Saptari District. Yadav urged his party cadres to come out with batons to ‘safeguard’ the region.

January 27: The MJF and Tharuhat Struggle Committee came together for a joint agitation against what they call the disintegration of Madhesh into two States. Earlier, the two ethnic groups were against each other.

January 4: MJF, which on December 4 had announced the second Madhes movement, again decided to start protest programmes from mid January. However, the party was yet to unveil the details of the protest programmes likely to begin from January 16.

2009

December 4: Upendra Yadav, the Chairman of MJF said that his party would launch peaceful protest, starting December 5, to press the Government to implement agreement signed with the party including the demand for 'One Madhesh One Province.

July 15: Two persons were injured in a clash between activists of the Nepali Congress and MJF at Harpur in the Nawalparasi District. Cadres of the two parties clashed after MJF activists accused NC activist Paras Yadav of kidnapping a child.

June 17: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal expanded his cabinet for the third time, but failed to form a full-fledged cabinet as three Madheshi parties - the MJF, TMLP and Sadbhawana Party (SP) - didn't send their representatives.

June 9: A faction of the MJF led by Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar registered a new party, the Madheshi Janadhikar Forum-Nepal, at the Election Commission (EC). Ram Janam Chaudhari, chief whip of the new faction, said they registered the new party with the support of a majority of the Constituent Assembly members of the MJF.

June 8: The MJF has called for a shutdown in the Terai Districts protesting against the Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal’s decision to appoint Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar as the Deputy Prime Minister without the party’s recommendation.

Shutdown enforcers and businessmen clashed in Rautahat in the course of the Madhesh shutdown call given by the MJF. The shutdown was organised to protest the appointment of Bijay Kumar Gachhadar for the post of Deputy Prime Minister. Six persons were injured in the clash.

June 5: The MJF is all set to withdraw its support to the CPN-UML-led Government, after the party expelled seven senior leaders, including its parliamentary party leader Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar, from the party. In a press conference, the MJF chairman Upendra Yadav announced that the central committee meeting of the party held in the morning decided to expel parliamentary party leader Gachchhadar, who was appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister on June 4, Sarad Singh Bhandari, party spokesperson Jitendra Dev, Rameshowr Raya and Upendra Jha, among others. Yadav also announced the withdrawal of support to the CPN-UML-led coalition Government and a one-day general strike in all Terai Districts on June 8. He blamed Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and the Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala for plotting to divide the party.

May 26: The MJF put forward four conditions to be included in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) for joining the new Government. The party demanded implementation of the eight-point understanding signed between United Madhesi Democratic Front and Government, Terai centered multi-dimensional development projects, inclusive bill and the review of all commissions formed by the then Unified CPN-Maoist-led Government. The party also demanded a clear stance from big parties in the coalition on 'One Madhes One Province' and possible number of states to be created.

May 21: The MJF decided to send representatives to the proposed Madhav Kumar Nepal-led Government. Its central committee decided to join the Government after a debate but failed to finalise who would lead the party in the new coalition.

May 17: The CPN-UML -led coalition submitted 350 signatures of lawmakers to Speaker Subas Nemwang for formation of a majority Government under the leadership of senior UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal. Altogether 22 political parties including Nepali Congress, MJF, Terai Madhesh Loktantrik Party (TMLP), Nepal Sadbhawana Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party and CPN-United extended their support to UML to form the new Government. Only two others, Unified CPN-Maoist and Nepal Workers and Peasants' Party (NWPP), did not sign in favour of Nepal.

May 15: The MJF took a decision that they would join the next Government only if it is formed under their leadership with the backing of other parties. They also decided that they would give outside support to the other parties or coalition forming the Government, provided an agreement is made in writing to implement the eight-point agreement signed by the Government with United Democratic Madhesi Front in February 2008, should they fail to garner support in forming the next government under their leadership.

May 13: The MJF, a key player in the formation of a new Government, failed to reach a final decision regarding its support to the new coalition during its parliamentary party meeting. Though most lawmakers demanded voting to decide the party’s position, president Upendra Yadav and vice president Jay Prakash Prasad Gupta, who have been opposing the idea of supporting any possible CPN-UML-led Government, postponed the meeting until May 15.

May 7: The Minister for Education Renu Kumari Yadav, who is a central leader of MJF, is said to have issued the death threats to a Journalist. Saptari District correspondent of Avenues Television Baidha Nath Yadav had filed a news report about teachers associated with MJF smearing soot over the district education officer's face protesting the latter's decisions.

The MJF agreed to support the CPN-UML to lead the next coalition Government. The deal was made at a late night meeting between Nepali Congress (NC) president Girija Prasad Koirala and MJF leaders Upendra Yadav and Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta, who met at Koirala's residence in Maharajgunj.

May 5: An all-party meeting was called by the CPN-UML, the third largest party in the CA, but the Unified CPN- Maoist and the MJF did not take part.

April 22: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s call for an all-party backing on his move to take action against the Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), Rookmangud Katawal, went largely unheard in the all-party meeting. Political leaders said a majority of the parties at the meeting urged the Prime Minister to defuse the present crisis through political dialogue, ensuring that the Army remains free from political interference. Key coalition partners like the CPN-UML and MJF remained "reserved" regarding whether action should be taken against the Army Chief.

March 21: A group of seniorMJF leaders dissociated themselves from the parent party on March 21 and formed a new group, the Madhesh-Terai Party. The new group formed an 11-member central committee headed by Amar Yadav. "We will formally launch our party next week," said Yadav, who had earlier defected to the MJF from the Nepali Congress.

January 23: The newly elected president of the Madheshi Janadhikar Forum (MJF), Upendra Yadav, said the second general convention of the party held recently in Birgunj has adopted social democracy as the political ideology of the party.

January 20: The second general convention of the MJF concluded in Birgunj, the headquarters of Parsa District, re-electing Upendra Yadav as party chairman and appointing a 31-member central working committee.

2008

December 23: The Parliamentary Party meeting of the MJF directed its Constituent Assembly members to raise its long-held demand for a 'one Madhesh, one autonomous province' within the Constituent Assembly and its concerned committees.

December 18: The MJF chief and Foreign Minister, Upendra Yadav, said that the slogan ''One Madhesh, One Pradesh'' remains the ideal of the party. Earlier, Bijaya Gachhadar, a minister and senior MJF leader, had claimed that ''One Madhesh, One Pradesh'' has now become merely a political slogan for the MJF.

November 3: MJF staged demonstrations at Biratnagar in Morang district in protest against killing of its cadre Karan Yadav during a fight that erupted over tender opened by Morang District Development Committee.

October 27: The cadres of MJF captured land belonging to 14 people of Nasahi Village Development Committee-2 in Nawalparasi district. According to the locals, the MJF cadres captured the land, claiming that it was public property where a school would be built. One Gauri Shankar Koiri led the MJF cadres.

October 23: A school teacher, identified as Sunil Raya Yadav, was shot dead by an unidentified group in Prempur Village Development Committee of Rautahat district. He was an active cadre of the MJF. Nobody has claimed responsibility for the murder.

September 14: The MJF has withdrawn the 13 day long transport strike in Siraha after the district administration expelled the Dalits and locals who were using the land and houses seized by the Maoists recently. The MJF had been demanding immediate return of the seized properties.

The government has decided to release NR 240 million to compensate for losses incurred during the Madhes movement two years ago. A large number of vehicles, houses and other private property was partly or fully destroyed across the Terai in the 29-day Madhes movement spearheaded by the MJF during January-February, 2007.

September 10: The MPRF has shut down the government offices in the district headquarters, Golbazaar and Mirchaiya, protesting against the seizure of land and houses of general people by the Maoists.

September 7: The YCL and MPRF cadres clashed in the Morang district in the evening following dispute over an appointment of a temporary teacher in Kalika Secondary School at Takuwa. The YCL area in-charge, Ramraj Das, and Dev Narayan Das of MPRF received injuries during the clashes, sources said.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and MPRF Coordinator, Upendra Yadav, called on his party cadres to resort to a strong retaliation against the YCL. Saying that the YCL is carrying is out criminal activities, Yadav directed the MPRF cadres to retaliate. He also accused the Maoists of capturing private residences of MPRF cadres in the Mirchaiya area of Siraha district and converting them into inns.

September 5: An unidentified group assaulted Constituent Assembly member and the MJF leader, Shatrudhan Prasad Singh, at Asanpur in the Golbazaar area of Siraha district. The group comprising local residents vandalised Singh's house after cadres of the MJF assaulted tractor driver, Binod Kumar Yadav, on the charge of defying a transport strike called by their party. The MJF had called a transport strike in the district from September 4 to protest the Maoists' act of seizing a house and land of one Birendra Shah in the Ramnagar area of Mirchaiya-5.

September 4: Activists of the MJF called an indefinite transport strike in Siraha to protest the seizure of a private property by the Maoists. The strike comes after the Maoists reportedly seized 11 bighas of land, including a 16-room building worth NR 80 million, belonging to one Birendra Saha of Kalyanpur-6 at Ramnagar Mirchaiya-5 on August 31. Issuing a release on the same day, the MJF had protested the Maoists' move saying that it was against the pact reached among the coalition partners and the comprehensive peace accord and also had given a 48-hour ultimatum to the Maoists to return the seized property.

July 9: The MJF chairman Upendra Yadav warned of a third Madhesh Revolution if the Government did not implement the new Bill. As per the amendment, there would be an autonomous province in the Terai region.

July 3: Upendra Yadav, chairman of MJF, one of the Madhes-based parties, has said the demand of a single province in the southern plains would not disintegrate Nepal.

April 11: A MJF election candidate was arrested by the Armed Police Force personnel near a vote-counting venue in the Malangwa of Sarlahi district for illegal possession of weapons.

March 28: Cadres of the MJF and Sadbhawana Party clashed in the Sunsari district, leaving at least a dozen persons injured.

March 17: At least 10 persons were injured when the activists of the Nepali Congress and the MJF clashed at Narasingh in the Sunsari district. The clash ensued after MJF cadres, who were chanting slogans against Nepali Congress leader Sujata Koirala, resorted to snatching banners and flags from the Nepali Congress activists.

February 4: Eight MJF cadres, including president of the Youth Madhesi Forum Rajendra Yadav, were injured in a clash with police in Nawalparasi. The clash ensued as police tried to reopen the Butwal-Bardaghat road section. MJF supporters barred vehicles from plying on Basachowk of the road section along the Mahendra Highway.

2007

October 24: At least six activists of the MJF were injured as they were attacked by some members of the Nepali Congress in Janakpur.

September 17: Six persons, including some police personnel, were injured when MJF activists clashed with the Armed Police Force personnel at Nepalgunj in the Banke district. The activists were demanding the release of Hiralal Loniya - district chairman of the MJF, who was arrested for killing a Maoist.

September 5: A central committee meeting of the MJF expelled the four dissident leaders Kishore Kumar Bishwas, Bhagyanath Gupta, Jitendra Sonal and Ram Kumar Sharma and also decided that the MJF will take part in the Constituent Assembly election.

September 2: Six persons were injured in a clash between activists of the MJF and police in the Nepalgunj town of Banke district. The MJF activists also vandalised the vehicle of the Superintendent of Police.

July 4: Cadres of the MJF padlocked the office of the District Development Committee in Mahottari district for an indefinite period. The MJF said it padlocked the office as they were denied any role in the daily activities of the DDC and the VDCs.

June 18: The MJF demanded the ouster of the Maoists from the government and imposing of a ban on its youth wing, the Young Communist League (YCL). Speaking at a press conference in Mahottari, MJF chairman Upendra Yadav accused the Maoists of violating the peace accord and of not storing away all their arms in the containers monitored by the UNMIN.

June 13: Activists of the MJF abducted and subsequently killed two central members of the YCL, Binod Pant a.k.a. Jitendra and Sheshmani Lamichhane a.k.a. Mani, at Shivpur in the Gonaha VDC area of Rupandehi district.

June 3: The first phase of the formal talks between the government and the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) ended with agreement reached on one half of the 26-point demands put forth by the Forum.

April 4: One Maoist, identified as Shambhu Sharma, and another from the MJF, identified as Birendra Mandal, were injured in a clash between the Maoists and the MJF activists in Ramgunj Belgachhiya of the Sunsari district.

March 28: Three persons were injured in a clash between Maoists and the MJF activists at Barewa in the Rupandehi district.

March 21: At least 28 persons, including five women, were killed and over 40 persons injured at Gaur in the Rautahat district when Maoists and MJF activists clashed with each other.

March 12: A Maoist cadre, identified as Hari Basnet, the Prakashpur area in-charge, died in a clash between MJF activists and the Maoists during curfew-time at Inaruwa in the Sunsari district.

At least 35 persons were injured in a clash between students and the MJF activists in Inaruwa. MJF cadres vandalised 23 vehicles at Laukahi, injuring seven transport workers.

February 28: Two MJF activists were injured in a scuffle with Maoists at Gulariya in the Bardiya district.

February 27: Two MJF activists identified as Koili Kori and Khohade Kori, who were inured in the clash with the Maoists at Puraini VDC area in the Banke district succumbed to their injuries.

February 26: An activist of MJF, identified as Jille Ram Yadav, who was injured during a clash with Maoist cadres near Khairapur in Bardiya district on February 25, succumbed to his injury.

February 23: At least 15 persons were injured in a clash between the Maoists and MJF activists at Bhairahawa in the Rupandehi district. The injured include four Maoists, three MJF activists, two policemen and six civilians.

January 19: An activist of the MJF of Siraha district was shot dead by the Maoists in a clash that led to firing. The clash occurred when the MJF activists tried to stop two mini-buses, in which Maoists were travelling, ignoring the strike called by the MJF.

Note:Compiled from news reports and are provisional.

 

 

 

 

 

 
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