Alliance for Independent Madhesh
{{Infobox political party
| name = Alliance for Independent Madhesh
| native_name =
| logo = Alliance for Independent Madhesh (AIM) Logo.jpg
| colorcode = Green
| president = C.K. Raut
| founder =
| dissolved = March 2019
| successor = Janamat Party
| founded = 2006
| ideology = Madhesh self-determinism
Non-violence
Liberal democracy
| symbol =
| flag =
| website = [http://madhesh.com madhesh.com]
| country = Nepal
| footnotes =
}}
The Alliance for Independent Madhesh (AIM) was a Nepalis' coalition of Madhesi people made up of activists, parties and various organisations working for establishing an independent and sovereign Madhesh state out of Nepal. After signing an 11-point agreement with the government of Nepal, it resulted in ending his separatist movement with KP Oli.{{Cite web |date=18 March 2019 |title=CK Raut forms Janamat Party |url=https://en.setopati.com/political/142217 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128214600/https://en.setopati.com/political/142217 |archive-date=28 November 2022 |website=Setopati}}
In 2007, AIM announced its manifesto and revealed its programs through a press conference in Kathmandu on 21 May 2012.{{Cite web |date=22 May 2012 |title=New demand for Madhes |url=http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2012/05/21/nation/new-demand-for-madhes/235143.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140922060228/http://www.ekantipur.com:80/the-kathmandu-post/2012/05/21/nation/new-demand-for-madhes/235143.html |archive-date=22 September 2014 |website=eKantipur}}{{Cite web |url=http://madheshwani.weeklynepal.com/2012/05/25/news-article-13193/ |title=मधेश राउत, मधेशवाणी, 2012 May 25. |access-date=2014-04-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140926014056/http://madheshwani.weeklynepal.com/2012/05/25/news-article-13193/ |archive-date=2014-09-26 |url-status=dead }} It aims to achieve independence of Madhesh through peaceful and non-violent means. It demands an end to what it calls Nepal's colonisation in Madhesh, an end to racism, slavery and discrimination imposed on Nepali people of Madheshi origin.
AIM's three pillars were:{{Cite web |title=Alliance for Independent Madhesh (AIM) |url=http://madhesh.com/ |access-date=2023-06-05}}
- An independent Madhesh
- Non-violence and peaceful means
- Democratic system
Activities
AIM holds awareness programs, rallies and mass assemblies demanding independence. It also participates in social work and environmental campaigns. In 2016, it initiated a so-called "One Million Neem Plantation Movement".
Referendums
In 2015–2016 AIM claimed to have held mock referendums in several districts of Madhesh, in which people overwhelmingly voted in favor of Free Madhesh.{{Cite web |date=5 June 2023 |title=Madhesh Files |url=http://madhesh.com/files/2017/08/Free-Madhesh-profile-2017-lweb.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203142604/http://madhesh.com/files/2017/08/Free-Madhesh-profile-2017-lweb.pdf |archive-date=3 December 2022 |website=Madhesh}} As a result, the government "intensified its brutal suppression against Madhesi activists" according to the activists themselves.{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/world/nepal-treason-charges-against-3-for-referendum-on-independent-madhes/story-rY9ntG8IZ3bdfVhggLAZmJ.html|title=Nepal: Treason charges against 3 for referendum on independent Madhes|date=2016-01-04|work=hindustantimes.com/|access-date=2017-07-24|language=en}}
International response
Amnesty International,{{Cite web |date=17 October 2014 |title=Nepal: Authorities must unconditionally release CK Raut with immediate effect |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa31/007/2014/en/ |access-date=2017-07-24 |website=Amnesty International |language=en}} Human Rights Watch,{{Cite news|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/10/14/nepal-drop-sedition-charges-against-madhesi-activist|title=Nepal: Drop Sedition Charges against Madhesi Activist|date=2014-10-14|work=Human Rights Watch|access-date=2017-07-24|language=en}} Asian Human Rights Commission,{{Cite web|url=http://www.humanrights.asia/campaigns/c.k.raut/mainpage|title=FREE CK RAUT — Asian Human Rights Commission|website=www.humanrights.asia|language=en|access-date=2017-07-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412125644/http://www.humanrights.asia/campaigns/c.k.raut/mainpage|archive-date=2016-04-12|url-status=dead}} Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales{{Cite news|url=http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/printedition/news/2014-11-08/uk-bar-urges-govt-to-release-ck-raut.html|title=UK Bar urges govt to release CK Raut|access-date=2017-07-24|language=en}} etc. have acknowledged and defended peaceful means used by AIM and demanded from the Government of Nepal for human-rights protection of the activists. They have also demanded for the rights to organise, peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.