KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Nepal ruled out on Sunday granting autonomy to the Madhesh plains in the south until this year's key elections, despite deadly protests that threaten to jeopardise chances of long term peace in the country.
At least 45 people have died in the violence over the pastyear, two of them in the recent cycle of protests by ethnicMadhesi groups shutting down shops, factories and schools inthe region, which borders India.
The turmoil has clouded the twice-delayed elections for aconstituent assembly, the centrepiece of the 2006 peace dealwith the former Maoist rebels who ended their decade-long civilwar.
The protesters want the government to turn Madhesh, home tonearly half of the 26 million people, into an autonomous statewith the right to self-determination before the polls set forApril 10.
They also want electoral reforms for greater representationin the assembly to prepare a new constitution, proportionalrepresentation in government institutions including the army,compensation for everyone killed or injured in the protests,and peace talks with rebel groups in the region.
"We are ready to meet their demands except the one for theautonomy before the elections," said Jhalnath Khanal, a seniorleader of the Communist UML party, the third biggest group inthe alliance.
"This interim government does not have the mandate todelineate the geographical borders of just one autonomousprovince which can be done only by the elected constituentassembly."
The government has already committed to turn Nepal into afederal state after the vote, giving more power to theprovinces.
But protest leaders are not satisfied.
"The seven political parties could not address the genuinedemand that the whole Madhesh be declared as an autonomousstate," said Upendra Yadav, chief of the Madheshi People'sRights Forum, a leading protest group. "Our protests willcontinue."
The government says it will go ahead with the electionsdespite the crisis.
(Reporting by Gopal Sharma; Editing by Krittivas Mukherjeeand Jerry Norton)
