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Tharus’ Protest Continues
By KTM Metro Reporter in Kathmandu
March 10, 2009: Tharus have continued their protest against the government labeling them as Madheshi through the ordinance. They have been refusing to talk with the government until the government annulled the ordinance that has labeled them as Madheshis.
In a statement the Prime Minister had called on the protesting Tharus to come to a table talk for resolving all sorts of the problems through dialogue on Saturday, March 07, 2009. Thereafter the Minister for Peace and Reconstruction also invited the revolting Tharus to talk. They also held unofficial talks. However, the Tharus have continued their protest rallies and shutdown of the terai refusing to talk with the government until it annulled the ordinance that enlist them on the list of Madheshis.
For keeping their separate identities as indigenous ethnic groups and people rather than to be dumped under the shadow of the Madheshis, other ethnic groups also joined in the protest against the ordinance that has listed them on the list of Madheshis.
Shortages of daily necessities have been felt all over Nepal due to the terai shutdowns for more than a week. Hill areas have been heavily hit, as truck carrying food and medicines could not reach these areas. Similarly, the shortage of vegetables has been felt in Kathmandu, too. Nepal Oil Corporation has already hinted the possible shortage of fossil fuels in Kathmandu if the roads were not opened to transport the petroleum products.
Two protestors and one policeman were killed. Protestors killed the policeman using a khukuri during the curfew enforcement. The police fired the protestors for controlling the crowd killing two protestors.
The Cabinet has decided to list all ethnic groups as indigenous groups and declared two civilians killed as martyrs and provide their families with compensation for the loss of their lives.
In view of the Holi festival, the Tharus declared two-day break of the protest on March 10 & 11 but protests continued in some parts of terai.
