Alliance for Independent Madhesh
Alliance for Independent Madhesh (AIM) is 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.
Alliance for dependent Madhesh (AIM) Nepali: मधेश गठबन्धन | |
---|---|
President | C.K. Raut |
Founded | 2006 |
Ideology | Madhesh self-determinism Non-violence Democracy |
Website | |
madhesh.com | |
In 2007 AIM announced its manifesto and revealed its programs through a press conference in Kathmandu on 21 May 2012.[1][2] It aims to achieve independence of Madhesh through peaceful and non-violent means. It demands an end to what it calls Nepal's colonization in Madhesh (although madhesh was always the integral part of Nepal after the formation of modern Nepal), an end to racism, slavery and discrimination imposed on Nepali people of Madheshi origin.
It claims to have the following three pillars[3]:
- Independent Madhesh
- Non-violence and peaceful means
- Democratic system.
Activities
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
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.[4] As a result, the government "intensified its brutal suppression against Madhesi activists" according to the activists themselves.[5]
International response
Amnesty International,[6][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.
The issue of Dr. C.K. Raut has been raised in the UK Parliament.[11] India too have responded to the AIM's movement.[12]
References
- eKantipur, 2012 May 21
- "मधेश राउत, मधेशवाणी, 2012 May 25". Archived from the original on 2014-09-26. Retrieved 2014-04-12.
- Alliance for Independent Madhesh (AIM): Official Homepage
- "Madhesh Files" (PDF).
- "Nepal: Treason charges against 3 for referendum on independent Madhes". hindustantimes.com/. 2016-01-04. Retrieved 2017-07-24.
- "Document". www.amnesty.org. Retrieved 2017-07-24.
- "Document". www.amnesty.org. Retrieved 2017-07-24.
- "Nepal: Drop Sedition Charges against Madhesi Activist". Human Rights Watch. 2014-10-14. Retrieved 2017-07-24.
- "FREE CK RAUT — Asian Human Rights Commission". www.humanrights.asia. Archived from the original on 2016-04-12. Retrieved 2017-07-24.
- "UK Bar urges govt to release CK Raut". Retrieved 2017-07-24.
- "Nepal: Human Rights:Written question - 11243". UK Parliament. Retrieved 2017-07-24.
- "India courts radical Madhesis from Nepal". The Hindu. Retrieved 2017-07-24.