KATHMANDU: Tensions between the government and local stakeholders are escalating in Pathibhara-Mukkumlung, located in Taplejung in the far east of Nepal.
A movement is underway demanding that the proposed cable car project not be built in the area.
However, as the government, which has backed investors and businessmen, attempts to push forward with the project, the situation has escalated, leading to an increase in clashes, shootings, and injuries.
Negotiations were attempted between the government and the protesters, but these talks have not been successful.
Now, both sides have come to a stand-off, with no one stepping forward to mediate the situation.
The protesters have accused the government of using vigilantes to instill fear and suppress dissent, claiming that human rights are being violated.
They also allege that the government is spreading false propaganda, alleging that protesters have set fire to people’s houses.
On the other side, private sector entrepreneurs, including Chandra Dhakal, who have invested in the cable car project, argue that an environment conducive to investment must be established.
Ruling party leaders maintain that the construction of a cable car in Pathibhara will open up new avenues for development in Taplejung.
Against this backdrop, Khabarhub organized a large-scale discussion at its office in Durbarmarg on Sunday to address the ongoing dispute surrounding the cable car project in Taplejung-Mukkumlung and explore possible resolutions.
Chandra Dhakal, a key business figure behind the investment, was invited to participate, but he declined to attend the discussion with the protesters.
Is the anti-cable car movement a local or national concern?
The ongoing protests against the cable car project in Pathibhara and the government’s strong-handed response have raised the question of whether this is a minor issue confined to the people of Taplejung or a matter of national significance.
Could this dispute have a lasting impact on the peace and development of the entire country? Stakeholders are urging a serious and comprehensive analysis of the situation.
Some have emphasized that the issue of the cable car in Mukkumlung should not be taken lightly.
Speaking at the “Pathibhara Mukkumlung Cable Car Dispute Causes and Solutions” discussion hosted by Khabarhub, several participants pointed out that this matter goes beyond mere development; it is also tied to the religious, cultural, and identity concerns of the local communities.
Voices against the cable car project
Some speakers at the event argued that building a cable car in Mukkumlung is not true development but merely a commercial venture.
They emphasized that development should not be understood solely in terms of physical infrastructure but must also account for the cultural, religious, and human rights aspects of the local community.
Prem Yakten, Chairman of Kirat Yakthung Chumlung, who participated in the discussion, strongly opposed the construction of the cable car, stating that Mukkumlung is not a suitable location for such a project.
“This is business, not development. This is not the right place for the construction of a cable car,” he said. “Further discussions can only take place if the cable car project is scrapped.”
Similarly, senior advocate and constitutional expert Dinesh Tripathi also weighed in, arguing that cultural, natural, and archaeological sites should not be destroyed in the name of job creation.
Speaking at the interaction, he urged the government to learn from the experiences of Taplejung and take a more informed approach.
“Cultural heritage cannot be sacrificed for the sake of job creation,” he stated. “Businessmen have hijacked the state, and leaders are amassing more wealth than industrialists and businessmen.”
Additionally, Ram Bahadur Thapa Magar, Chairman of the Indigenous Nationalities Commission, expressed concern that, under the guise of national development, indigenous communities are losing their land.
He pointed out that the Constitution of Nepal guarantees the rights of indigenous peoples and criticized the government’s actions.
“In Mukkumlung, when locals tried to protect their religion and culture, the government went as far as opening fire,” Thapa Magar lamented.
Similarly, former member of the National Human Rights Commission, Mohana Ansari, criticized the government’s mentality of suppressing the people, a trend she has observed recently in Nepal.
She noted that this same approach is evident in Mukkumlung, where the government is pushing forward with the controversial cable car project.
Ansari emphasized that the cable car should not be seen merely as a business venture and called for an end to the human rights violations being perpetrated by the state.
Bimala Subedi, Chairperson of the Law, Justice, and Human Rights Committee of the Federal Parliament, condemned the police repression in Taplejung, stating that it goes against fundamental and human rights.
She argued that the local community should have the right to decide how their area is developed.
“The police repression currently taking place in Taplejung is a violation of fundamental and human rights,” Subedi said.
“The decision on how to develop the region should be made by the people of Taplejung. The state must take their concerns seriously and engage in meaningful dialogue.”
Former General of the Nepali Army, Ananta Bahadur Thebe, highlighted the strategic importance of Taplejung and urged the government to take the concerns raised over the cable car project seriously. He also stressed that environmental and cultural issues are non-negotiable.
“There can be no compromise on environmental and cultural matters,” Thebe stated. “The construction of the cable car should be scrapped.”
He also pointed out that the trees cut down for the project would take hundreds of years to regrow.
Conflict expert Dhirendra Nalbo observed that the tensions in Mukkumlung did not arise overnight but are rooted in a historical context.
He expressed concern that if the situation is not handled delicately, the conflict could persist for generations.
“This conflict has an emotional aspect, and if not managed properly, it will continue to affect future generations,” Nalbo warned. He called for a sensitive resolution to the issue.
Infrastructure expert Suryaraj Acharya suggested that while environmental concerns regarding the cable car project in Mukkumlung could be addressed, all three levels of government must work within a logical framework to resolve the dispute.
He also stressed that development should not be obstructed simply for the sake of protest.
“Development should not be hindered by mere opposition,” Acharya said. “However, the government needs to have a national plan regarding where cable cars are necessary.”
Chitragupta Sawan, central president of the CPN-UML-backed Democratic Limbu Sangh, argued that the construction of the cable car in Taplejung would not harm the region’s identity.
He stated that the project would promote development in the district and that issues of identity should be shared collectively.
Filmmaker Nabin Subba questioned why political parties cannot accept that the state belongs to all Nepalis.
He criticized the current development efforts, stating that they are creating division when they should be fostering unity.
“Why can’t political parties accept that this country belongs to all of us?” Subba asked. “From political parties to the media, our diversity and plurality are not being represented correctly.”
Likewise, Khinu Longwa Limbu, a member of the Koshi Provincial Assembly from the Unified Socialist Party, expressed concern about the large sums of money involved in the cable car project, particularly regarding land ownership in the area.
She argued that the land is a matter of concern for all Limbus and called for accountability.
Limbu also demanded the resignation of the Home Minister and action against the police commander who ordered the shooting during the Mukkumlung protests, as well as the Chief District Officer (CDO) who gave the order.
“The talks should be conducted at a higher level, not at the joint secretary level,” she added, expressing her frustration with the lack of meaningful dialogue.
Suman Sayami, a social activist from Kathmandu, argued that the only way to solve the issue is by addressing corruption directly. He stated that the corrupt should be punished for the situation in Mukkumlung.
“The corrupt should be hanged,” Sayami remarked, criticizing the lack of policy implementation and planning.
He noted that the current situation is a result of poor planning and the undue influence of businessmen over government decisions.
“The state should not forget that the civilization we have today is built by the people over thousands of years,” Sayami said.
Similarly, Raman Pandey, a central member of the Rastriya Mukti Party led by Rajendra Mahato, emphasized that Mukkumlung is a sacred site for the Kirat people, according to their religious scriptures, and that the construction of a cable car there represents an attack on their culture.
He voiced his party’s support for the local movement, saying that the Madhesi people would also back the cause.
Comment