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Agreement between the GoN and Madheshi Janadhikar Forum, Nepal

  • Country/entity

    Nepal
  • Region

    Asia and Pacific
  • Agreement name

    Agreement between the GoN and Madheshi Janadhikar Forum, Nepal
  • Date

    30 Jul 2007
  • Agreement status

    Multiparty signed/agreed
  • Interim arrangement

    Yes
  • Agreement/conflict level

    Intrastate/local conflict ( Nepalese Insurgency (1996 - 2006) )
  • Stage

    Framework/substantive - partial
  • Conflict nature

    Government/territory
  • Peace process

    Nepal related-local processes
  • Parties

    Sd. Upendra Yadav
    Coordinator
    Madheshi Janadhikar Forum,

    Sd. Ram Chandra Poudel
    Coordinator
    GoN Talks Team

    Sd.
    Upendra Yadav
    Coordinator
    Madheshi Janadhikar Forum, Nepal
  • Third parties

    -
  • Description

    An agreement between the Government of Nepal and the Madheshi Janadhikar Forum done in advance of the development of Nepal's constitution.


Groups

  • Children/youth
    Groups→Children/youth→Other
    Page 2, 19: To create a search team to conduct a special investigation into the abduction and disappearance of Jitendra Sah, chairperson of the Madheshi Youth Forum and to immediately make his status public.
  • Disabled persons
    Groups→Disabled persons→Substantive
    Page 1, 2. To provide relief to those injured, rendered blind and disabled during the Madhesh movement and to provide immediate medical treatment for all injured people who are yet to receive treatment.

    Page 1, 4. To ensure proportional representation and partnership of Madheshis, Adivasi/Janajatis, Dalits, women, backward classes, disabled people and minority communities, including Muslims, who have been excluded for generations in all organs and levels of government and in power structures, mechanisms and resources.
  • Elderly/age

    No specific mention.

  • Migrant workers

    No specific mention.

  • Racial/ethnic/national group
    Groups→Racial/ethnic/national group→Rhetorical
    Page 1, Untitled Preamble: Realising the sentiments of the movement of the Madheshi people as a continuity of the historic People’s Movement of 2006/07, and in order to end all forms of discrimination against Madheshis, Adivasi/Janajatis, Dalits, women, backward classes and minorities, including the Muslim community, practised by the centralised and unitary state for a long time and to create an environment enabling all Nepalese people, inclusive of Madheshis, to join the single national mainstream and move forward by restructuring the state as an inclusive democracy and federal structure, the Government of Nepal and the Madheshi Janadhikar Forum [Madheshi Peoples' Rights Forum], Nepal, today, conclude the following agreement:...
    Groups→Racial/ethnic/national group→Anti-discrimination
    Page 1, 10: To fully guarantee human rights by ending all discriminations based on ethnicity, language, sex, religion, culture, national and social origin, political and other ideologies.
    Groups→Racial/ethnic/national group→Substantive
    [Summary] The entire agreement refers to the Madheshi group in Nepal.

    Page 1, 4: To ensure proportional representation and partnership of Madheshis, Adivasi/Janajatis, Dalits, women, backward classes, disabled people and minority communities, including Muslims, who have been excluded for generations in all organs and levels of government and in power structures, mechanisms and resources.

    Page 2, 14: To adopt a balanced and just policy for the distribution of revenue and income from the State to the Madhesh and remote regions.

    Page 2, 20: To immediately establish a High-level Task Force for Inclusion to formulate policies and laws necessary for the inclusion of Madheshis, Adivasi/janajatis, Dalits, women, etc. in all organs and levels of the State.

    Page 2, 21: To accord constitutional guarantee for the rights of ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities based on the principles upheld by the United Nations and international human rights organisations on the rights of minorities.
  • Religious groups
    Groups→Religious groups→Rhetorical
    Page 1, Untitled Preamble: Realising the sentiments of the movement of the Madheshi people as a continuity of the historic People’s Movement of 2006/07, and in order to end all forms of discrimination against Madheshis, Adivasi/Janajatis, Dalits, women, backward classes and minorities, including the Muslim community, practised by the centralised and unitary state for a long time and to create an environment enabling all Nepalese people, inclusive of Madheshis, to join the single national mainstream and move forward by restructuring the state as an inclusive democracy and federal structure, the Government of Nepal and the Madheshi Janadhikar Forum [Madheshi Peoples' Rights Forum], Nepal, today, conclude the following agreement:...
    Groups→Religious groups→Anti-discrimination
    Page 1, 10: To fully guarantee human rights by ending all discriminations based on ethnicity, language, sex, religion, culture, national and social origin, political and other ideologies.
    Groups→Religious groups→Substantive
    Page 1, 4: To ensure proportional representation and partnership of Madheshis, Adivasi/Janajatis, Dalits, women, backward classes, disabled people and minority communities, including Muslims, who have been excluded for generations in all organs and levels of government and in power structures, mechanisms and resources.

    Page 1, 9: To give public holidays on major festivals of the Muslims. To enact laws to protect Madrassa Board as well as the community, language, sexes, religion, culture, and customs and traditions of the Muslims.

    Page 2, 21: To accord constitutional guarantee for the rights of ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities based on the principles upheld by the United Nations and international human rights organisations on the rights of minorities.
  • Indigenous people
    Groups→Indigenous people→Rhetorical
    Page 1, Untitled Preamble: Realising the sentiments of the movement of the Madheshi people as a continuity of the historic People’s Movement of 2006/07, and in order to end all forms of discrimination against Madheshis, Adivasi/Janajatis, Dalits, women, backward classes and minorities, including the Muslim community, practised by the centralised and unitary state for a long time and to create an environment enabling all Nepalese people, inclusive of Madheshis, to join the single national mainstream and move forward by restructuring the state as an inclusive democracy and federal structure, the Government of Nepal and the Madheshi Janadhikar Forum [Madheshi Peoples' Rights Forum], Nepal, today, conclude the following agreement:

    Page 1, 4: To ensure proportional representation and partnership of Madheshis, Adivasi/Janajatis, Dalits, women, backward classes, disabled people and minority communities, including Muslims, who have been excluded for generations in all organs and levels of government and in power structures, mechanisms and resources.
    Groups→Indigenous people→Substantive
    Page 2, 20: To immediately establish a High-level Task Force for Inclusion to formulate policies and laws necessary for the inclusion of Madheshis, Adivasi/janajatis, Dalits, women, etc. in all organs and levels of the State.
  • Other groups
    Groups→Other groups→Anti-discrimination
    Page 1, 10: To fully guarantee human rights by ending all discriminations based on ethnicity, language, sex, religion, culture, national and social origin, political and other ideologies.
  • Refugees/displaced persons

    No specific mention.

  • Social class
    Groups→Social class→Rhetorical
    Page 1, Untitled Preamble: Realising the sentiments of the movement of the Madheshi people as a continuity of the historic People’s Movement of 2006/07, and in order to end all forms of discrimination against Madheshis, Adivasi/Janajatis, Dalits, women, backward classes and minorities, including the Muslim community, practised by the centralised and unitary state for a long time and to create an environment enabling all Nepalese people, inclusive of Madheshis, to join the single national mainstream and move forward by restructuring the state as an inclusive democracy and federal structure, the Government of Nepal and the Madheshi Janadhikar Forum [Madheshi Peoples' Rights Forum], Nepal, today, conclude the following agreement:

    Page 1, 4: To ensure proportional representation and partnership of Madheshis, Adivasi/Janajatis, Dalits, women, backward classes, disabled people and minority communities, including Muslims, who have been excluded for generations in all organs and levels of government and in power structures, mechanisms and resources.
    Groups→Social class→Anti-discrimination
    Page 1, 10: To fully guarantee human rights by ending all discriminations based on ethnicity, language, sex, religion, culture, national and social origin, political and other ideologies.
    Groups→Social class→Substantive
    Page 1, 12: To solve the following Dalit-related problems:
    a) Make provision for severe legal punishment for practising caste discrimination and untouchability.
    b) Effectively implement the policy of free and compulsory education, at least up to primary level, for Dalits.
    c) Make provision for special opportunities and reservations in education and employment.
    d) Make provision for alternative means of livelihood for landless Dalits by providing them with land for building houses.

    Page 2, 20: To immediately establish a High-level Task Force for Inclusion to formulate policies and laws necessary for the inclusion of Madheshis, Adivasi/janajatis, Dalits, women, etc. in all organs and levels of the State.

Gender

  • Women, girls and gender
    Page 1, Untitled Preamble: Realising the sentiments of the movement of the Madheshi people as a continuity of the historic People’s Movement of 2006/07, and in order to end all forms of discrimination against Madheshis, Adivasi/Janajatis, Dalits, women, backward classes and minorities, including the Muslim community, practised by the centralised and unitary state for a long time and to create an environment enabling all Nepalese people, inclusive of Madheshis, to join the single national mainstream and move forward by restructuring the state as an inclusive democracy and federal structure, the Government of Nepal and the Madheshi Janadhikar Forum [Madheshi Peoples' Rights Forum], Nepal, today, conclude the following agreement:

    Page 1, 4: To ensure proportional representation and partnership of Madheshis, Adivasi/Janajatis, Dalits, women, backward classes, disabled people and minority communities, including Muslims, who have been excluded for generations in all organs and levels of government and in power structures, mechanisms and resources.

    Page 1, 9: To give public holidays on major festivals of the Muslims. To enact laws to protect Madrassa Board as well as the community, language, sexes, religion, culture, and customs and traditions of the Muslims.

    Page 1, 10: To fully guarantee human rights by ending all discriminations based on ethnicity, language, sex, religion, culture, national and social origin, political and other ideologies.

    Page 2, 20: To immediately establish a High-level Task Force for Inclusion to formulate policies and laws necessary for the inclusion of Madheshis, Adivasi/janajatis, Dalits, women, etc. in all organs and levels of the State.
  • Men and boys

    No specific mention.

  • LGBTI

    No specific mention.

  • Family

    No specific mention.


State definition

  • Nature of state (general)
    Page 1, Untitled Preamble: Realising the sentiments of the movement of the Madheshi people as a continuity of the historic People’s Movement of 2006/07, and in order to end all forms of discrimination against Madheshis, Adivasi/Janajatis, Dalits, women, backward classes and minorities, including the Muslim community, practised by the centralised and unitary state for a long time and to create an environment enabling all Nepalese people, inclusive of Madheshis, to join the single national mainstream and move forward by restructuring the state as an inclusive democracy and federal structure, the Government of Nepal and the Madheshi Janadhikar Forum [Madheshi Peoples' Rights Forum], Nepal, today, conclude the following agreement:
  • State configuration
    Page 1, Untitled Preamble: Realising the sentiments of the movement of the Madheshi people as a continuity of the historic People’s Movement of 2006/07, and in order to end all forms of discrimination against Madheshis, Adivasi/Janajatis, Dalits, women, backward classes and minorities, including the Muslim community, practised by the centralised and unitary state for a long time and to create an environment enabling all Nepalese people, inclusive of Madheshis, to join the single national mainstream and move forward by restructuring the state as an inclusive democracy and federal structure, the Government of Nepal and the Madheshi Janadhikar Forum [Madheshi Peoples' Rights Forum], Nepal, today, conclude the following agreement:

    Page 1, 5: To immediately establish a commission of experts for state restructuring and ensure that its constitution is inclusive.

    Page 1, 6: While restructuring the state, provision shall be made for a federal governance system with autonomous provinces/states, while keeping the sovereignty, national unity and integrity of Nepal intact. The rights, nature and limits of the said autonomy will be as determined by the Constituent Assembly.

    Page 3, NOTE: While still demanding the establishment of a republic and a proportional electoral system, the Madheshi Janadhikar Forum, Nepal shall give top priority to the Constituent Assembly election and shall participate in it while continuing its efforts to make it a success.
  • Self determination

    No specific mention.

  • Referendum

    No specific mention.

  • State symbols
    Page 1, 7: To accord national recognition to the dresses, languages and cultures of the Madheshis.

    Page 1, 9: To give public holidays on major festivals of the Muslims. To enact laws to protect Madrassa Board as well as the community, language, sexes, religion, culture, and customs and traditions of the Muslims.

    Page 1, 11: To establish a trilingual language policy consisting of (a) mother tongue, (b) the Nepali language and (c) English for official transactions, education and international communication.
  • Independence/secession

    No specific mention.

  • Accession/unification

    No specific mention.

  • Border delimitation

    No specific mention.

  • Cross-border provision

    No specific mention.


Governance

  • Political institutions (new or reformed)
    Governance→Political institutions (new or reformed)→General references
    Page 1, 4: To ensure proportional representation and partnership of Madheshis, Adivasi/Janajatis, Dalits, women, backward classes, disabled people and minority communities, including Muslims, who have been excluded for generations in all organs and levels of government and in power structures, mechanisms and resources.

    Page 1, 8: To ensure appropriate proportional representation in all political appointments made by the government and all services, including in Foreign Service and the education sector, as well as in commissions.

    Page 2, 17: Both parties to stay committed to conducting the Constituent Assembly election in an impartial, peaceful and fear-free environment. In order to ensure the impartiality of the Constituent Assembly, make necessary arrangements to prevent the misuse of the State’s mechanisms, resources and power, including by the current Legislature-Parliament.

    Page 2, 20: To immediately establish a High-level Task Force for Inclusion to formulate policies and laws necessary for the inclusion of Madheshis, Adivasi/janajatis, Dalits, women, etc. in all organs and levels of the State.
  • Elections
    Page 2, 17: Both parties to stay committed to conducting the Constituent Assembly election in an impartial, peaceful and fear-free environment. In order to ensure the impartiality of the Constituent Assembly, make necessary arrangements to prevent the misuse of the State’s mechanisms, resources and power, including by the current Legislature-Parliament.

    Page 3, NOTE: While still demanding the establishment of a republic and a proportional electoral system, the Madheshi Janadhikar Forum, Nepal shall give top priority to the Constituent Assembly election and shall participate in it while continuing its efforts to make it a success.
  • Electoral commission

    No specific mention.

  • Political parties reform

    No specific mention.

  • Civil society

    No specific mention.

  • Traditional/religious leaders

    No specific mention.

  • Public administration
    Page 2, 20: To immediately establish a High-level Task Force for Inclusion to formulate policies and laws necessary for the inclusion of Madheshis, Adivasi/janajatis, Dalits, women, etc. in all organs and levels of the State.
  • Constitution
    Governance→Constitution→Constitutional reform/making
    Page 1, 5: To immediately establish a commission of experts for state restructuring and ensure that its constitution is inclusive.

    Page 2, 21: To accord constitutional guarantee for the rights of ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities based on the principles upheld by the United Nations and international human rights organisations on the rights of minorities.

Power sharing

  • Political power sharing
    Power sharing→Political power sharing→General
    State level
    Page 1, 4: To ensure proportional representation and partnership of Madheshis, Adivasi/Janajatis, Dalits, women, backward classes, disabled people and minority communities, including Muslims, who have been excluded for generations in all organs and levels of government and in power structures, mechanisms and resources.
    Power sharing→Political power sharing→Other proportionality
    State level
    Page 1, 8: To ensure appropriate proportional representation in all political appointments made by the government and all services, including in Foreign Service and the education sector, as well as in commissions.
  • Territorial power sharing
    Power sharing→Territorial power sharing→Federal or similar sub-divided government
    Page 1, 6: While restructuring the state, provision shall be made for a federal governance system with autonomous provinces/states, while keeping the sovereignty, national unity and integrity of Nepal intact. The rights, nature and limits of the said autonomy will be as determined by the Constituent Assembly.
  • Economic power sharing

    No specific mention.

  • Military power sharing

    No specific mention.


Human rights and equality

  • Human rights/RoL general
    Page 1, 10: To fully guarantee human rights by ending all discriminations based on ethnicity, language, sex, religion, culture, national and social origin, political and other ideologies.
  • Bill of rights/similar

    No specific mention.

  • Treaty incorporation
    Page 2, 21: To accord constitutional guarantee for the rights of ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities based on the principles upheld by the United Nations and international human rights organisations on the rights of minorities.
  • Civil and political rights

    No specific mention.

  • Socio-economic rights

    No specific mention.


Rights related issues

  • Citizenship
    Rights related issues→Citizenship→Citizen delimitation
    Page 2, 13: To solve problems related to citizenship by redeploying the Citizenship Distribution Teams to villages for easy and accessible distribution of citizenship certificates.
  • Democracy
    Page 1, Untitled Preamble: Realising the sentiments of the movement of the Madheshi people as a continuity of the historic People’s Movement of 2006/07, and in order to end all forms of discrimination against Madheshis, Adivasi/Janajatis, Dalits, women, backward classes and minorities, including the Muslim community, practised by the centralised and unitary state for a long time and to create an environment enabling all Nepalese people, inclusive of Madheshis, to join the single national mainstream and move forward by restructuring the state as an inclusive democracy and federal structure, the Government of Nepal and the Madheshi Janadhikar Forum [Madheshi Peoples' Rights Forum], Nepal, today, conclude the following agreement:
  • Detention procedures

    No specific mention.

  • Media and communication
    Rights related issues→Media and communication→Media roles
    Page 2, 18: The Ministry of Information and Communications to appoint Madheshi media experts and journalists in all organs and levels of government-owned media, including electronic and print media, and to ensure inclusive proportional representation of Madheshis in the government communication commission, agencies and delegations.
  • Mobility/access

    No specific mention.

  • Protection measures

    No specific mention.

  • Other

    No specific mention.


Rights institutions

  • NHRI

    No specific mention.

  • Regional or international human rights institutions

    No specific mention.


Justice sector reform

  • Criminal justice and emergency law
    Justice sector reform→Criminal justice and emergency law→Reform to specific laws
    Page 1, 12: To solve the following Dalit-related problems:
    a) Make provision for severe legal punishment for practising caste discrimination and untouchability.
  • State of emergency provisions

    No specific mention.

  • Judiciary and courts

    No specific mention.

  • Prisons and detention

    No specific mention.

  • Traditional Laws

    No specific mention.


Socio-economic reconstruction

  • Development or socio-economic reconstruction
    Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Socio-economic development
    Page 1, 8: To ensure appropriate proportional representation in all political appointments made by the government and all services, including in Foreign Service and the education sector, as well as in commissions.
  • National economic plan

    No specific mention.

  • Natural resources

    No specific mention.

  • International funds

    No specific mention.

  • Business
    Page 2, 16: To establish an Industrial Security Force to industrialise the country and to guarantee industrial security, as well as increasing production.
  • Taxation
    Socio-economic reconstruction→Taxation→Reform of taxation
    Page 2, 14: To adopt a balanced and just policy for the distribution of revenue and income from the State to the Madhesh and remote regions.
  • Banks

    No specific mention.


Land, property and environment

  • Land reform/rights
    Land, property and environment→Land reform/rights→Land reform and management
    Page 2, 12: To solve the following Dalit-related problems:
    ...d) Make provision for alternative means of livelihood for landless Dalits by providing them with land for building houses.
    Land, property and environment→Land reform/rights→Property return and restitution
    Page 2, 15: The process of returning houses, land and other property seized by the CPN (Maoist) is continuing and will be continued with urgency along with the return of weapons seized by them [CPN (M)] to their rightful owners.
  • Pastoralist/nomadism rights

    No specific mention.

  • Cultural heritage
    Land, property and environment→Cultural heritage→Promotion
    Page 1, 7: To accord national recognition to the dresses, languages and cultures of the Madheshis.

    Page 1, 9: To give public holidays on major festivals of the Muslims. To enact laws to protect Madrassa Board as well as the community, language, sexes, religion, culture, and customs and traditions of the Muslims.
  • Environment

    No specific mention.

  • Water or riparian rights or access

    No specific mention.


Security sector

  • Security Guarantees
    Page 2, 16: To establish an Industrial Security Force to industrialise the country and to guarantee industrial security, as well as increasing production.
  • Ceasefire

    No specific mention.

  • Police

    No specific mention.

  • Armed forces

    No specific mention.

  • DDR

    No specific mention.

  • Intelligence services

    No specific mention.

  • Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces
    Page 1, 3: To withdraw all cases filed against the leaders and activists of the Forum during the Madhesh movement.

    Page 2, 15: The process of returning houses, land and other property seized by the CPN (Maoist) is continuing and will be continued with urgency along with the return of weapons seized by them [CPN (M)] to their rightful owners.

    Page 2, 22: To withdraw the various movements being carried out by the Madheshi Janadhikar Forum.
  • Withdrawal of foreign forces

    No specific mention.

  • Corruption

    No specific mention.

  • Crime/organised crime

    No specific mention.

  • Drugs

    No specific mention.

  • Terrorism

    No specific mention.


Transitional justice

  • Transitional justice general

    No specific mention.

  • Amnesty/pardon
    Transitional justice→Amnesty/pardon→Amnesty/pardon proper
    Page 1, 3: To withdraw all cases filed against the leaders and activists of the Forum during the Madhesh movement.
  • Courts

    No specific mention.

  • Mechanism
    Page 2, 19: To create a search team to conduct a special investigation into the abduction and disappearance of Jitendra Sah, chairperson of the Madheshi Youth Forum and to immediately make his status public.
  • Prisoner release

    No specific mention.

  • Vetting

    No specific mention.

  • Victims
    Page 1, 1: To immediately implement the government’s decision to honour all Madheshi activists killed during the Madhesh movement and to provide compensation to their families.
  • Missing persons

    No specific mention.

  • Reparations
    Transitional justice→Reparations→Material reparations
    Page 1, 1: To immediately implement the government’s decision to honour all Madheshi activists killed during the Madhesh movement and to provide compensation to their families.
  • Reconciliation

    No specific mention.


Implementation

  • UN signatory

    No specific mention.

  • Other international signatory

    No specific mention.

  • Referendum for agreement

    No specific mention.

  • International mission/force/similar

    No specific mention.

  • Enforcement mechanism
    Page 2, Untitled concluding paragraph: The GoN shall immediately fulfill those agreements that can be implemented promptly and shall fulfill other provisions in course of time. A joint Monitoring Mechanism shall be established to carry out and oversee the implementation process and to periodically review the implementation.
  • Related cases

    No specific mention.

  • Source
    Asian Study Center for Peace & Conflict Transformation (2011), From Conflict to Peace in Nepal: Peace Agreements 2005-2010.

Agreement between the GoN and Madheshi Janadhikar Forum, Nepal

Realising the sentiments of the movement of the Madheshi people as a continuity of the historic People’s Movement of 2006/07, and in order to end all forms of discrimination against Madheshis, Adivasi/Janajatis, Dalits, women, backward classes and minorities, including the Muslim community, practised by the centralised and unitary state for a long time and to create an environment enabling all Nepalese people, inclusive of Madheshis, to join the single national mainstream and move forward by restructuring the state as an inclusive democracy and federal structure, the Government of Nepal and the Madheshi Janadhikar Forum [Madheshi Peoples' Rights Forum], Nepal, today, conclude the following agreement:

1. To immediately implement the government’s decision to honour all Madheshi activists killed during the Madhesh movement and to provide compensation to their families.

2. To provide relief to those injured, rendered blind and disabled during the Madhesh movement and to provide immediate medical treatment for all injured people who are yet to receive treatment.

3. To withdraw all cases filed against the leaders and activists of the Forum during the Madhesh movement.

4. To ensure proportional representation and partnership of Madheshis, Adivasi/Janajatis, Dalits, women, backward classes, disabled people and minority communities, including Muslims, who have been excluded for generations in all organs and levels of government and in power structures, mechanisms and resources.

5. To immediately establish a commission of experts for state restructuring and ensure that its constitution is inclusive.

6. While restructuring the state, provision shall be made for a federal governance system with autonomous provinces/states, while keeping the sovereignty, national unity and integrity of Nepal intact.

The rights, nature and limits of the said autonomy will be as determined by the Constituent Assembly.

7. To accord national recognition to the dresses, languages and cultures of the Madheshis.

8. To ensure appropriate proportional representation in all political appointments made by the government and all services, including in Foreign Service and the education sector, as well as in commissions.

9. To give public holidays on major festivals of the Muslims.

To enact laws to protect Madrassa Board as well as the community, language, sexes, religion, culture, and customs and traditions of the Muslims.

10. To fully guarantee human rights by ending all discriminations based on ethnicity, language, sex, religion, culture, national and social origin, political and other ideologies.

11. To establish a trilingual language policy consisting of (a) mother tongue, (b) the Nepali language and (c) English for official transactions, education and international communication.

12. To solve the following Dalit-related problems:

a) Make provision for severe legal punishment for practising caste discrimination and untouchability.

b) Effectively implement the policy of free and compulsory education, at least up to primary level, for Dalits.

c) Make provision for special opportunities and reservations in education and employment.

d) Make provision for alternative means of livelihood for landless Dalits by providing them with land for building houses.

13. To solve problems related to citizenship by redeploying the Citizenship Distribution Teams to villages for easy and accessible distribution of citizenship certificates.

14. To adopt a balanced and just policy for the distribution of revenue and income from the State to the Madhesh and remote regions.

15. The process of returning houses, land and other property seized by the CPN (Maoist) is continuing and will be continued with urgency along with the return of weapons seized by them [CPN (M)] to their rightful owners.

16. To establish an Industrial Security Force to industrialise the country and to guarantee industrial security, as well as increasing production.

17. Both parties to stay committed to conducting the Constituent Assembly election in an impartial, peaceful and fear-free environment.

In order to ensure the impartiality of the Constituent Assembly, make necessary arrangements to prevent the misuse of the State’s mechanisms, resources and power, including by the current Legislature-Parliament.

18. The Ministry of Information and Communications to appoint Madheshi media experts and journalists in all organs and levels of government-owned media, including electronic and print media, and to ensure inclusive proportional representation of Madheshis in the government communication commission, agencies and delegations.

19. To create a search team to conduct a special investigation into the abduction and disappearance of Jitendra Sah, chairperson of the Madheshi Youth Forum and to immediately make his status public.

20. To immediately establish a High-level Task Force for Inclusion to formulate policies and laws necessary for the inclusion of Madheshis, Adivasi/janajatis, Dalits, women, etc.

in all organs and levels of the State.

21. To accord constitutional guarantee for the rights of ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities based on the principles upheld by the United Nations and international human rights organisations on the rights of minorities.

22. To withdraw the various movements being carried out by the Madheshi Janadhikar Forum.

The GoN shall immediately fulfill those agreements that can be implemented promptly and shall fulfill other provisions in course of time.

A joint Monitoring Mechanism shall be established to carry out and oversee the implementation process and to periodically review the implementation.

Sd. Upendra Yadav

Coordinator

Madheshi Janadhikar Forum,

Sd. Ram Chandra Poudel

Coordinator

GoN Talks Team

Date:

August 30, 2007

NOTE:

While still demanding the establishment of a republic and a proportional electoral system, the Madheshi Janadhikar Forum, Nepal shall give top priority to the Constituent Assembly election and shall participate in it while continuing its efforts to make it a success.

Sd.

Upendra Yadav

Coordinator

Madheshi Janadhikar Forum, Nepal

Date:

August 30, 2007