A day before Prime Minister KP Oli's visit to Beijing, Madhesi and Janajati dissenters met the Chinese ambassador to Nepal to seek China's help for a 'peaceful settlement' of their political issues.
At a two-hour meeting at Sangrila Hotel in Kathmandu on Friday, they asked Wu Chuntai to convey their message to the Beijing establishment so that there can be 'diplomatic dialogue' with Kathmandu to ensure their political demands are addressed peacefully.
A memorandum that Madhesi and Janajati leaders submitted to the Chinese envoy says Nepal's ruling parties are pushing Nepal into a civil war by not addressing their demands. The statement reads: "It (a civil war) may be beyond the control of the present political parties."
Madhesi leader Laxman Lal Karna told Nepali Times: "We wanted to explain to China why we are fighting against the Nepali state."
Madhesi parties have been agitating against Nepal's new constitution since August of last year, saying it is a regressive charter against the principles of inclusion and proportional representation. Janajati political outfits have also expressed solidarity with Madhesi parties.
Backed by India, Madhesi parties had even staged a sit-in at Birganj-Raxaul trade point for five months giving reason for New Delhi to cut off supply to Nepal. When China donated petrol to a fuel-strapped Nepal amidst the Indian blockade, Madhesi protesters burned Chinese flags in some parts of the Tarai.
Karna told us this week: "It was not our decision to burn Chinese flags. It was some irate youth. But that happens in an agitation. Even Indian flags were burnt."
But ahead of Oli's China visit, Madhesi parties decided to meet the Chinese to urge Beijing to ask Kathmandu to address their demands. Manish Suman, another Madhesi leader, told us: "The Chinese envoy listened to us very attentively."