INTERVIEW WITH JWALA SINGH

By Tilak Pathak

Excerpts of a telephone interview with Nagendra Kumar Paswan alias Jwala Singh, the coordinator of one of the three factions of the Jantantrik Terai Mukti Morcha, which has been waging a separatist armed struggle in the Terai region:

Q. Will you come to the negotiating table or not?

Jwala Singh: Why should we come for talks? We have already declared Terai as a separate state. No chance of talks with this government. Q. So there is no possibility of talks at all? Singh: No. Why should we come to the negotiating table when the army has been mobilized? On the one hand, the Home Minister warns of suppression, while on the other Ram Chandra Poudel stages a drama of talks. Q. But the government has said it is in touch with you? Singh: This is simply false. No contact has been made with us. We are not in the favor of holding talks and there won’t be any talks. Q. Won't you sit for talks even if the government invites you seriously? Singh: The Pahade monopolist state has been continuously exploiting the Madhesi people for the last 240 years. While the Rana and Panchayat regimes always suppressed the Madhes, we had to begin an armed struggle after we realized that the current democratic government, too, does not want to give us our rights. Earlier, we had declared a ceasefire as a rebel group. But we were ignored even after declaring a unilateral ceasefire with clear demands. Now, we are already running a separate state. Now even if talks take place, then it will be only for demarcating the borders. Q. Don't you think your statement is totally out of place? Singh: We have been contributing 85 percent of the country’s total revenue (to Nepal government). The transport system is in Terai. We are ahead in terms of geography and population as well. We don't need to hold dialogue with the Pahade monopolist state and the Pahade terrorists. Now, they need to hold talks with us. Q. The issue of separating Terai from the rest of the country is being opposed from within Terai itself. What do you say? Singh: There were some Indians who were against India’s struggle for freedom (from the British). In the same way, a handful of power brokers and thugs, who have been fulfilling their vested interests banking on the Pahade monopolist state, have stood against us. We plan to contain such people. Q. You stay in India and raise the issue of a separate Terai. Is India encouraging and protecting you? Singh: This is absolutely false. We don't stay in India. Though the cell phone on which you are right now talking to me has an Indian number, I am actually talking to you from within Nepal by connecting an antenna to mislead the Pahade administration. I have nothing to do with India. Our relationship with India is limited to only a few districts and certain Indian nationals. And this relationship is concerned only with marriages and livelihoods. It’s not that we are being operated by India. I can't be pro-Indian at any cost. Nor can I become a royalist either. Q. You may not have any relation with the Indian establishment, but it seems you have some kind of nexus with the regional/ local Indian leaders? Singh: We don't have any relations with any leader, administration and state of India. If anyone finds any evidence (of such relations) then I am ready to hang myself. Q. What about the royal palace? Singh: It's not us, but the eight parties themselves are royalists. Q. But the way you were freed from army custody is considered suspicious? Singh: Leaders do get arrested and released. Two of the five of us who were arrested had managed to escape. The army had chased and killed the remaining three. Q. What is the chance of your alliance with the other Madhesi groups? Singh: Some time back, a meeting was held in Patna (Bihar, India) at our initiative. The campaign to form a broader political front by including the Madhesi Tigers, (Madhesi People's Rights) Forum, Goit (faction of JTMM) and other existing groups is moving ahead positively. Q. How are you relations with the Madhesi Forum and the Goit faction? Singh: My front and I extend moral support to any group fighting for the liberation of Terai. I will also support the ruling Sadbhavana Party-Anandi Devi and Upendra (Yadav) if they come up with good programmes. Q. What then are your capabilities? Singh: We have enough soldiers to protect Terai. We have trained our fighters and have kept them in a standby position. We won’t allow the Constituent Assembly elections to take place. If the Pahade government tries to forcefully hold the elections then the consequences will be grave. And the Pahade rulers will be responsible for that.

Posted on: 2007-07-30 09:49:35

(Source : ekantipur.com)