8 Bunde Agreement

Agreement between the GoN and Samyukta Loktantrik Madheshi Morcha

Respecting the sentiments and aspirations of the Madheshi people of Nepal, expressed
during the protests and movements that they have organized time and again for equal
rights, this Agreement was signed between the Government of Nepal and the Samyukta
Loktrantik Madheshi Morcha [United Democratic Madheshi Front] to ensure the
establishment of federal democratic republic in Nepal for multiparty democratic system
of governance, to guarantee equality, freedom and justice for all, and to end all forms of
discrimination. This Agreement shall be implemented at once. The points of the
agreement are as follows:

1. The State shall declare those killed during the Madhesh Movement as martyrs, and
shall provide appropriate compensation to those maimed and yet to receive
compensation. Similarly, arrangements shall be made for those injured during the
Movement to receive medical expenses and those martyred shall be given due
recognition and their families shall be provided with relief at the rate of Rs 1 million,
and those arrested shall be immediately released.

2. Nepal shall become a federal democratic republic by accepting people’s aspiration for
a federal structure with autonomous regions, including the Madheshi people’s
aspiration for an autonomous Madhesh state. In the federal structure, power between
the Centre and the states shall be divided clearly according to a list. The states shall
be fully autonomous and shall enjoy full rights. The structure, full details of the lists
of the Centre and the states and the division of power between them shall be
determined by the Constituent Assembly, keeping Nepal’s sovereignty and integrity
intact.

3. The existing legal provision of 20 per cent in Sub-section 14 of Section 7 of the
Election of Members to the Constituent Assembly Act 2064 shall be changed to 30
per cent.

4. The Government shall execute appointments, promotions and nominations in a
manner that ensures inclusive and proportional participation of Madheshi people,
Adivasi, Jananati, women, Dalits, backward regions and minority communities in all
state bodies, including the security bodies.

5. Proportional, inclusive group entry of Madheshi people and other communities into
the Nepal Army shall be ensured to impart national character to Nepal Army and to
make it more inclusive.

6. The Government of Nepal and the United Democratic Madhesi Front together request
all armed groups agitating in the Terai to begin negotiations for a peaceful political
process and to find solutions to all outstanding problems through dialogue. The
Government of Nepal shall take necessary steps to create an environment conducive
to this purpose. We appeal everyone to help conduct the Constituent Assembly
election on April 10 in an environment which is peaceful, non-violent, impartial, fair
and free of fear.

7. The Government of Nepal shall immediately release all those who have been
detained, withdraw cases filed against Madheshi leaders and party cadres of the
Forum as well as of other parties, and immediately implement all other points of the
22-Point Agreement signed between the Government of Nepal and the Madheshi
Janadhikar Forum on August 30, 2007.

8. All protest programmes called by the United Democratic Madhesi Forum shall be
immediately withdrawn.

The Government of Nepal shall be responsible for the constitutional, legal, political and
administrative aspects of the issues mentioned in this Agreement. The Government shall
form a high-level monitoring committee, comprising, among others, members of the
Front, to monitor the implementation of this agreement.

Signatories to the Agreement:
Sd. Sd.
Rajendra Mahato Girija Prasad Koirala
National Chairperson Prime Minister
Sadbhavana Party Government of Nepal

Sd.
Upendra Yadav
Central Coordinator
Madheshi Janadhikar Forum, Nepal

Sd.
Mahanath Thakur
Chairperson
Terai Madhesh Loktrantik Party

 (February 28, 2008)

Nepali Version