TAPLEJUNG UPDATE: NO-CABLE-CAR-GROUP PRESENTS THREE PROPOSALS FOR NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE GOVERNMENT

The “No Cable Car Group” has put forth three proposals for negotiations with the government. They demand that the cable car construction be halted​ at the earliest opportunity, that the armed police team be withdrawn from the Kaflepat​i area, and that their three detained members be released unconditionally.

Protesters have continued to block the Mechi Highway and Tamor Corridor for a second day. Activists stationed at various points along the highway are preventing vehicles, including motorcycles and tempos, from passing. This has caused significant difficulties for patients trying to reach hospitals and for ordinary citizens.

The political and peace dialogue committee formed by the Koshi Provincial Government has called for formal negotiations on Tuesday. However, Prem Ekten, the central president of the Kirat Yakthum Chumlung, stated that they have not received any information regarding the negotiations and no official notice has been provided. He expressed that there was little point in negotiating with the provincial government, stating, “This ​[the cable car issue​] is a decision made by the federal government, so it is a matter for the federal level.” He added that they have only seen the provincial government’s decisions through media reports and have not received any official information.

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Kamal Thapa, the member secretary of the provincial government’s dialogue committee, noted that they publicly called for negotiations because they were unaware of the identities of those involved in the protests. He said that if they claim not to have received this information, discussions will take place within the committee. The committee has urged participants to come for formal and informal contact with committee members.

​Federal Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak also discussed the situation with MPs from Taplejung, Ilam, and Sankhuwasabha on Tuesday. According to ​Federal Representative​ for Taplejung, Yogesh Bhattarai, if necessary, the federal government is also prepared to negotiate. “As the cable car issue is related to tourism and physical infrastructure, the Home Minister expressed a willingness to coordinate with the relevant ministries to form a negotiation committee,” Bhattarai stated. The Home Minister mentioned forming a committee under the leadership of a joint secretary from one of the ministries.

The provincial dialogue committee is chaired by Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Ram Bahadur Magar, with members including Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development and Health Bhupendra Rai, Minister for Internal Affairs and Law​, ​Ms Revati Raman Bhandari, and Member Secretary Kamal Bahadur Thapa.

On the 12th of Magh, clashes occurred between the No​-Cable​-Car​-Group and the police in the Kaflepat​i area of Pathibhara. The police arrested Laxman Limbu and Chandra Sagar Limbu on the same day, while Pradeep Maden was detained on Tuesday for allegedly threatening the life of Neetr​a Prasad Sharma, the ​Chief ​District Officer ​crushing the protest. Three people injured in the clash are currently receiving treatment at a teaching hospital in Kathmandu. The government reported that 21 police officers and five civilians were injured in the incident.

Although the matter is under the federal government’s jurisdiction, the protesting group has expressed a willingness to reconsider dialogue if an official letter from the provincial government is received regarding the negotiations.