Agreement between the GoN and Madheshi Janadhikar Forum, Nepal

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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)
Inspired by the Maoist insurgency in Peru in the early 1990s, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) – CPN(M) – declared war on the Nepalese government in February 1996. A key demand was the transformation of Nepal from a monarchy into a ‘People’s Republic’. Following a pronounced Maoist military strategy, the CPN(M) focused their insurgency on the rural areas. They gained significantly in strength and it took heavy international military support to stabilize the Nepalese government in 2002. After public protests escalated in Kathmandu in 2004, the Nepalese King Gyanendra took authoritarian control over the government. In the cities, a strong popular movement for democracy emerged, forcing the government into fast progressing peace negations in 2006 that concluded with the signing of a Comprehensive Peace Accord on 21 November 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.

Agreement document: NP_070730_GoNandMadheshiJanadhikarForum.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

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