THRD Alliance

Last updated
Terai Human Rights Defenders Alliance "THRD Alliance"
Founded2011;12 years ago (2011)
Founder Dipendra Jha
TypeNon-profit
NGO
Headquarters Jaleshwor, Nepal
Location
  • Nepal
ServicesPromoting and protecting human rights
FieldsHuman Rights Monitoring, Documentation, Litigation, Research, and Lobby and Advocacy
Website www.thrda.org

Terai Human Rights Defenders Alliance (commonly known as THRD Alliance or THRDA [1] [2] ) is a non-governmental human rights organization working for promotion and protection of human rights and human rights defenders [3] in Nepal, with special focus in Terai region. It monitors, investigates, documents and researches on torture, extrajudicial execution, arbitrary arrest and detention, citizenship, inclusion and caste-based discrimination among other human rights issues in the Terai. [4]

Contents

Major works

Human Rights Situation Update/Analysis

THRD Alliance prepares the updates and analysis on human rights situation in Nepal, especially in Terai region. In 2015 and 2016, the organization extensively monitored, investigated and documented the constitution related protests [5] in Nepal. [6] TheKathmandu Post cites in THRD Alliance in this news story: [7] "National rights organisations, except Tarai Human Rights Defenders Alliance (THRD Alliance), have not report on protests in the southern plains of the country."

Human rights issues identified by THRD Alliance include:

  1. Resistance Continues over Nepal Constitution [8]
  2. Nepal: Flood menace in Nepal's Terai [9]
  3. Nepal Govt. ensures relief and recovery aid to flood-hit tenant farmers through petition launched by THRD Alliancel [10] [11]
  4. Monitoring Excessive use of Force by the State in Nepal [12]
  5. Nepal Government needs to ensure fair trial in Mahottari [13]

Special Report: Nepal Protest and Repression [14]

THRD Alliance and Asian Human Rights Commission investigated the protests and deaths in Tikapur (Kailali), Birgunj (Parsa), Janakpur (Dhanusha), Jaleshwar (Mahottari), Rajbiraj, Bhardaha (Saptari) and Rangeli and Dainiya (Morang) districts. While not investigating the two incidents in Tikapur (Kailali) and Bhagawanpur (Mahottari) in which protestors were responsible for the killing of eight police and one APF officer, the AHRC and THRD Alliance condemn these killings in the strongest terms. Based on the findings of their investigation, the rights organizations demanded an independent investigations, prosecutions, and reparation in the cases by both side and measures as required by law. The report has been submitted to United Nations Human Rights Council. [15]

Nepal Universal Periodic Report Submission and Update

THRD Alliance in collaboration with other human rights organizations led by TRIAL submitted the report to the United Nations Universal Periodic Review on Nepal in 2015. In April 2013, It has also collaborated with TRIAL to issue written information for the adoption of the List of Issues by the Human Rights Committee with regard to Nepal's Second Periodic Report.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Nepal</span> Political system of Nepal

The politics of Nepal functions within the framework of a parliamentary republic with a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the Prime Minister and their cabinet, while legislative power is vested in the Parliament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre)</span> Political party in Nepal

The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) (Nepali: नेपाल कम्युनिस्ट पार्टी (माओवादी केन्द्र)), abbreviated CPN (Maoist Centre), CPN-Maoist Centre, CPN Maoist Centre, or CPN (MC), is the third largest political party in Nepal and a member party of Socialist Front. It was founded in 1994 after breaking away from the Communist Party of Nepal (Unity Centre). The party launched an armed struggle in 1996 against the Nepalese government. In 2006, the party formally joined mainstream politics after signing a peace agreement following the 2006 Nepalese revolution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tharu people</span> Indigenous ethnic group of Nepalese and Indian peoples

The Tharu people are an ethnic group indigenous to the Terai in southern Nepal and northern India. They speak Tharu languages. They are recognized as an official nationality by the Government of Nepal. In the Indian Terai, they live foremost in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The Government of India recognizes the Tharu people as a scheduled tribe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terai</span> Region in northern India and southern Nepal

The Terai or Tarai is a lowland region in northern India and southern Nepal that lies south of the outer foothills of the Himalayas, the Sivalik Hills, and north of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. This lowland belt is characterised by tall grasslands, scrub savannah, sal forests and clay rich swamps. In North India, the Terai spreads from the Yamuna River eastward across Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. The Terai is part of the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands ecoregion. The corresponding lowland region in West Bengal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Assam in the Brahmaputra River basin is called 'Dooars'. In Nepal, the term is applied to the part of the country situated north of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Nepal's Terai stretches over 33,998.8 km2 (13,127.0 sq mi), about 23.1% of Nepal's land area, and lies at an elevation of between 67 and 300 m. The region comprises more than 50 wetlands. North of the Terai rises the Bhabar, a narrow but continuous belt of forest about 8–12 km (5.0–7.5 mi) wide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dhangadhi</span> Sub-Metropolitan City in Sudurpashchim Province, Nepal

Dhangadhi is a sub-metropolitan city and the district headquarters of Kailali District in Sudurpashchim Province of Nepal. It shares a border with Uttar Pradesh, India in the south, Godawari and Gauriganga Municipality in the North, Kailari Rural Municipality in the east and Kanchanpur District in the west. Dhangadhi is a sub-metropolis divided into 19 wards. It has a population of about 147,181 and thus is the 10th biggest city of Nepal. It has an area of 261.75 km2 (101.06 sq mi). It is one of the major cities of Far - West Province of Nepal along with Mahendranagar.

Kamaiya and Kamlari were two traditional systems of bonded labour practised in the western Terai of Nepal. Both were abolished after protests, in 2000 and 2006 respectively.

Madheshi people is a term used for several ethnic groups living in the central and eastern Terai region of Nepal. It has also been used as a political pejorative term by the Pahari people of Nepal to refer to non-pahari people with a non-Nepali language as their mother tongue, regardless of their place of birth or residence. The term Madheshi became a widely recognised name for Nepali citizens with an Indian cultural background only after 1990. Madheshi people comprise various cultural groups such as Hindu caste groups, Muslims, Marwaris, Brahmin and Dalit caste groups, ethnic groups like Maithils, Bhojpuri, Awadhi and Bajjika speaking people and indigenous people of the Terai. Many of these groups share cultural traditions, educational and family ties with people living south of the international border in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Tharu people and Pahari people living in the Terai do not consider themselves as Madheshi. In recent times, some politicians and journalists use the term for all Nepali citizens of the Terai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madheshi Jana Adhikar Forum, Nepal</span> Political party in Nepal

The Madhesi Jana Adhikar Forum, Nepal (MJFN), or the Madhesi People's Rights Forum, Nepal, was a political party in Nepal. It was initially not a political party as such but a political advocacy movement demanding ethnic self-determination rights with the formation of a Madhes autonomous region for Teraibasi people, an election system based on proportional representation, and the setting-up of a federal republic in Nepal. The MJFN includes former leaders of other political parties like the Nepali Congress and CPN (UML).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajendra Mahato</span> Nepali politician

Rajendra Mahato is a Nepalese politician, who was serving as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development since 4 June 2021 but was removed from the post by Supreme Court on 22 June 2021 making the tenure of just 18 days and shortest till date. He was the parliamentary party leader of the People's Socialist Party, Nepal, although the status matter of conflict within the party. Though weak today due to continuous party change, he once was a well known leader of Terai-Madhesh based political alliance. Now, he is thought to move to Sarlahi 4. He has previously contested the election from Sarlahi and Dhanusha where his party could win no local level head position and got clean swept in recent election.

United Democratic Madhesi Front was a political alliance of Madhesh-based political parties in Nepal created for the Madhes Movement. It was formed in 2008 by Madhesi Jana Adhikar Forum, Nepal, Nepal Sadbhavana Party and Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tikapur</span> Municipality in Sudurpashchim Province, Nepal

Tikapur is a Municipality in Kailali District in Sudurpashchim Province of Nepal that was established in January 1997. Tikapur Municipality was further expanded on 10 March 2017 through merger with the two former Village development committees Narayanpur and Dansinhapur. It lies on the bank of Karnali River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uma Singh</span> Nepali journalist

Uma Singh, a Nepalese journalist for the Janakpur Today newspaper and Radio Today FM radio station from Janakpur, Nepal in the Terai region, focused on women's rights before she was murdered for her journalism and close connection with women's activism. According to BBC News, Singh was the first female journalist to be killed in Nepal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CK Raut</span> Nepalese activist, MP and engineer

Chandra Kant Raut, popularly known as CK Raut, is a Nepalese Member of Parliament (MP), computer engineer, former United States Defense programmer, author, politician and activist. He is a gold medalist in the Bachelor of Engineering from Pulchowk Campus, a central campus of Institute of Engineering (IOE), Tribhuvan University. He was active in the Alliance for Independent Madhesh, to establish a country for the Madhesi people. However, he surrendered before the Nepalese state in 2018 and chosed to participate in main stream politics. In 2022 Nepalese general election, he was elected as a Member of Parliament of the Pratinidhi Sabha.

On 24 August 2015, armed protestors affiliated with the Tharuhat Struggle Committee conducted an attack on security forces in Tikapur, a western city of Nepal. Protestors attacked officers attempting to enforce restrictions with axes, scythes, and spears killing eight, including seven police officers and a two-year-old baby. Police officer Ram Bihari Tharu was burned alive by the protestors. Supreme Court uphold the decision and decided on 16 May 2023 that Chaudhary should remain in prison until Falgun 13, 2094 BS. But disgracing the rule of law and ignoring the honourable Supreme Court decision, Council of Ministers of Nepal meeting held on 28 May 2023 decided to recommend Chaudhary for the presidential pardon to be granted on 29 May 2023. President of Nepal has granted pardon on 28 May 2023, to be released on 29 May 2023 on the occasion of Republic Day.

Madhesh Movement was a political movement launched by various political parties, especially those based in Madhes, for equal rights, dignity and identity of Madhesis Tharus, Muslims and Janjati groups in Nepal. In nearly a decade, Nepal witnessed three Madhesh Movements - the first Madhesh Movement erupted in 2007, the second Madhesh Movement in 2008 and the third Madhesh Movement in 2015. Ramesh Mahato was Madhesi martyr in 2007 at Lahan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Former administrative units of Nepal</span> Former administrative divisions of Nepal

Former administrative units of Nepal are administrative divisions during Kingdom of Nepal. In 2008 Nepal was proclaimed a federal republic and old administrative units restricted after adoption of new constitution on 20 September 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dipendra Jha</span> Nepal politician

Dipendra Jha is the first and incumbent chief attorney of Madhesh Province, one of seven provinces of Nepal. He assumed the office in February 2018. He is the legal adviser to the Chief Minister Lalbabu Raut and the Convener of Bill Drafting Facilitation Committee in Madhesh Province. Article 160 (5) of the Constitution stipulates: "The Chief Attorney shall be the chief legal advisor to the State Government. It shall be the duty of the Chief Attorney to give opinions and advices on constitutional and legal matters to the State Government and such other authorities as the State Government may specify."

Resham Lal Chaudhary, also Resham Chaudhary, is a Nepali former member of Parliament who has been sentenced to life in prison for his role in orchestrating and carrying out the 2015 Tikapur massacre. He has been freed on the occasion of Republic day in Nepal.

Witch-hunts are still occurring in Nepal in the twenty-first century, and the persecution of marginalised individuals of the community, especially women, still persists. Witchcraft is believed to be the exercise of supernatural powers by witches. Although Nepal does not have a recorded history of systematic witch-hunts, belief in the supernatural, magic, and humans capable of exploiting both to do good or harm is pervasive. In many instances, witch-hunts are simply tribal scapegoating measures carried out to serve ulterior motives, such as getting revenge or winning property disputes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kailali 1 (constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in Sudurpashchim Province, Nepal

Kailali 1 is one of five parliamentary constituencies of Kailali District in Nepal. This constituency came into existence on the Constituency Delimitation Commission (CDC) report submitted on 31 August 2017.

References

  1. Sharma, Mandira; Tamang, Seira (2016-10-25). A Difficult Transition: The Nepal Papers. Zubaan. ISBN   9789385932120.
  2. "The democratic treatment" . Retrieved 2017-10-18.
  3. "Nepal: Physical assault by security personnel from the Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force and the Riot Police against a group of 6 human rights defenders from different organisations". Worldwide Movement for Human Rights (in French). Retrieved 2017-10-19.
  4. "Human Rights". World Justice Project. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
  5. "THRD Alliance Report on Human Rights Violations during consultation on the draft Constitution in Terai | तराई मा संबिधान मस्यौदा परामर्श का बेला भएको मानब अधिकार उल्लङ्घन बारे प्रतिबेदन। |" . Retrieved 2017-10-19.
  6. Sharma, Bhadra (2015-11-22). "Nepal Police Kill 3 Protesters in Clashes Over Constitution". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2017-10-18.
  7. "Nepal govt should honour its commitment to OHCHR: NHRC" . Retrieved 2017-10-19.
  8. "THRD Alliance Resistance Continues as Nepal Observes the 2nd Anniversary of Constitution Promulgation – THRD Alliance". thrda.org. Retrieved 2017-10-19.
  9. "NEPAL: Flood menace in Nepal's Terai | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 2017-10-19.
  10. "Online petition drive in support of tenant farmers" . Retrieved 2017-10-20.
  11. "'Govt's package will cover tenant farmers'" . Retrieved 2017-10-20.
  12. "THRD Alliance update on situation in Biratnagar and Mahottari | विरातनगर र महोत्तरीमा थर्ड एलायन्सद्वारा स्थलगत अनुगमन। |" . Retrieved 2017-10-19.
  13. "THRD Alliance: Terai Human Rights Situation Update, as of March 25, 2016 |" . Retrieved 2017-10-19.
  14. AHRC humanrightsasia (2016-05-29), AHRC TV: JUST ASIA, Episode 124 , retrieved 2017-10-21
  15. "Report Submitted to UN HRC" (PDF).{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)