Alliance for Independent Madhesh

The Alliance for Independent Madhesh (AIM) was a Nepalis' coalition of Madhesi people made up of activists, parties and various organisations working for establishing an independent and sovereign Madhesh state out of Nepal. After signing an 11-point agreement with the government of Nepal, it resulted in ending his separatist movement with KP Oli.[1]

Alliance for Independent Madhesh
PresidentC.K. Raut
Founded2006
DissolvedMarch 2019
Succeeded byJanamat Party
IdeologyMadhesh self-determinism
Non-violence
Liberal democracy
Website
madhesh.com

In 2007, AIM announced its manifesto and revealed its programs through a press conference in Kathmandu on 21 May 2012.[2][3] It aims to achieve independence of Madhesh through peaceful and non-violent means. It demands an end to what it calls Nepal's colonisation in Madhesh, an end to racism, slavery and discrimination imposed on Nepali people of Madheshi origin.

AIM's three pillars were:[4]

  1. An independent Madhesh
  2. Non-violence and peaceful means
  3. Democratic system

Activities

edit

AIM holds awareness programs, rallies and mass assemblies demanding independence. It also participates in social work and environmental campaigns. In 2016, it initiated a so-called "One Million Neem Plantation Movement".

Referendums

edit

In 2015–2016 AIM claimed to have held mock referendums in several districts of Madhesh, in which people overwhelmingly voted in favor of Free Madhesh.[5] As a result, the government "intensified its brutal suppression against Madhesi activists" according to the activists themselves.[6]

International response

edit

Amnesty International,[7] Human Rights Watch,[8] Asian Human Rights Commission,[9] Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales[10] etc. have acknowledged and defended peaceful means used by AIM and demanded from the Government of Nepal for human-rights protection of the activists. They have also demanded for the rights to organise, peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.

References

edit
  1. ^ "CK Raut forms Janamat Party". Setopati. 18 March 2019. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022.
  2. ^ "New demand for Madhes". eKantipur. 22 May 2012. Archived from the original on 22 September 2014.
  3. ^ "मधेश राउत, मधेशवाणी, 2012 May 25". Archived from the original on 2014-09-26. Retrieved 2014-04-12.
  4. ^ "Alliance for Independent Madhesh (AIM)". Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  5. ^ "Madhesh Files" (PDF). Madhesh. 5 June 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 December 2022.
  6. ^ "Nepal: Treason charges against 3 for referendum on independent Madhes". hindustantimes.com/. 2016-01-04. Retrieved 2017-07-24.
  7. ^ "Nepal: Authorities must unconditionally release CK Raut with immediate effect". Amnesty International. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 2017-07-24.
  8. ^ "Nepal: Drop Sedition Charges against Madhesi Activist". Human Rights Watch. 2014-10-14. Retrieved 2017-07-24.
  9. ^ "FREE CK RAUT — Asian Human Rights Commission". www.humanrights.asia. Archived from the original on 2016-04-12. Retrieved 2017-07-24.
  10. ^ "UK Bar urges govt to release CK Raut". Retrieved 2017-07-24.