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Nepal team to talk to protesters | Nepal team to talk to protesters |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The Nepalese government has announced a three-member team to negotiate with groups that have been staging protests in the southern plains area. | The Nepalese government has announced a three-member team to negotiate with groups that have been staging protests in the southern plains area. |
Fourteen people have been killed in clashes in the south, where members of the Madheshi community say they are discriminated against. | Fourteen people have been killed in clashes in the south, where members of the Madheshi community say they are discriminated against. |
The protesters have also been demanding autonomous regional status. | |
The trouble comes as the threat from Maoist rebels diminishes following an invitation to join the government. | |
Former Maoist rebels have expressed sympathy with Madheshi demands. | Former Maoist rebels have expressed sympathy with Madheshi demands. |
Senior minister Mahantha Thakur, who comes from the southern plains area, will head the team which will negotiate with groups involved in the protests. | Senior minister Mahantha Thakur, who comes from the southern plains area, will head the team which will negotiate with groups involved in the protests. |
The move followed Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's appeal earlier this week for a dialogue with the protesters. | The move followed Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's appeal earlier this week for a dialogue with the protesters. |
Violent protests began in the region a fortnight ago. On Wednesday, a policeman and a protester were killed. | Violent protests began in the region a fortnight ago. On Wednesday, a policeman and a protester were killed. |
Autonomy | Autonomy |
The Madheshis say they want more autonomy and more seats in parliament. | The Madheshis say they want more autonomy and more seats in parliament. |
They want a federal system for Nepal. But they have rejected federal proposals outlined by the prime minister on Wednesday. | They want a federal system for Nepal. But they have rejected federal proposals outlined by the prime minister on Wednesday. |
The Madheshis say they will be severely under-represented in the new parliament, and their concerns have still not been adequately addressed. | The Madheshis say they will be severely under-represented in the new parliament, and their concerns have still not been adequately addressed. |
They say that local people - including many Indian people who have crossed over the open border between the two countries - are often denied citizenship certificates and other government documents. | They say that local people - including many Indian people who have crossed over the open border between the two countries - are often denied citizenship certificates and other government documents. |
The group has been leading protests in the plains of Nepal - known as the Terai - since 19 January. | The group has been leading protests in the plains of Nepal - known as the Terai - since 19 January. |
Maoist leader Prachanda said that while he did not support violence that had flared in the south, the Madheshis had "genuine demands" which must be addressed. | Maoist leader Prachanda said that while he did not support violence that had flared in the south, the Madheshis had "genuine demands" which must be addressed. |
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