Nepal minister quits over ethnic protests

KATHMANDU, Jan 29 (Reuters) A Nepali minister from the ethnic Madhesi community resigned today, accusing the ruling alliance of not being serious in addressing Madhesi grievances that have led to violent protests in the southern plains.

The demonstrations by ethnic Madhesis, who live in the fertile lowlands, have left at least seven people dead over the last two weeks and more than a 100 wounded, paralysing the region that borders India.

The storm of violent protests in the Terai, also called Madhesh, has taken the sheen off a peace process that has seen former Maoist rebels join an interim parliament this month.

Madhesi activists say their community has been discriminated against by ''hill-dominated'' political elites who run the mainly Himalayan nation, resulting in its under-representation in government, security agencies and the highest levels of politics.

The resignation by Hridayesh Tripathi, the country's commerce minister, is the first by a senior Madhesi politician and comes amid rising criticism that the government has not called protest leaders for talks.

''The eight parties (ruling alliance and Maoists) have not been able to form a consensus to amend the constitution, making way for federalism,'' Tripathi told Reuters, adding that the government should redraw constituencies so the Madhesis are better represented in parliament.

''The speed with which Madhesh is burning is dangerous.'' Madhesi leaders were angry after the parliament passed an interim constitution which did not meet their demands for federalism and proportional representation, according to the analysts.

''This (violence in Madhesh) is a failure of the government and governance. These demands could have been addressed earlier,'' Lok Raj Baral of the Nepal Centre for Strategic Studies said.

''These are genuine demands but it seems Koirala (Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala) acts only under pressure.'' Madhesis are ethnically, culturally and linguistically closer to people living in neighbouring India than to Nepalis living in the mountains.

More than 50 MPs from the Terai, impoverished Nepal's bread basket and industrial hub, urged Koirala yesterday to meet the demands of Madhesi protesters.

Three towns in the Terai are still under curfew and media reports say tensions are high in parts of the region.

Madhesi protesters yesterday beat up local reporters and attacked local radio stations in the troubled town of Birgunj, Nepali media reported.

REUTERS BDP PM1538