Unrest in Nepal

The Madhesi People's Rights Forum, which represents the largest disadvantaged ethnic group in Nepal, has threatened a fresh campaign starting on Wednesday to push for regional autonomy. 

The group plans a series of protest rallies in the Terai, a fertile belt of marshy grassland, savannah, and forest at the base of the Himalaya that is home to nearly half of the nation's 26 million people.

Madhesis feel discriminated against by Nepal's mountain-dwelling ruling elite and under-represented in the parliament, army and police. Two weeks ago, a Nepali minister and three deputies from the Madhesi community resigned, saying the government had ignored the problems of plains-dwellers. 

Protests have already left scores of people dead in 2007. Earlier this year, Madhesi anger was directed towards a Maoist political party in the country, who appeared to renege on pledges to introduce ethnic and regional federalism since signing a peace pact ending a ten-year insurgency in 2006.

This week may just be the beginning of unrest. Another round will start in January 2008 to mark the first anniversary of violent protests in the area.