INDIGENOUSVOICE POST
KATHMANDU, JAN. 11, 2014
Indigenous Peoples National Movement-Nepal (IPsNMN) on Sunday held meeting with the top leaders of major political parties about demands of indigenous peoples (IPs) that need to ensure in the new constitution.
Padma Ratna Tuladhar led IPsNMN had conducted meeting with Chairperson of UCPN(Maoist), Puspa Kamal Dahal-Prachanda, Chairperson of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Nepal Upendra Yadav, Chairperson of Tarai-Madhesh Loktantrik Party, Mahanta Thakur and 30 political party alliance and discussed on the vivid issues of IPs including the ethnic-identity based federalism.
In the meeting, Dev Gurung from UCPN-Moist, Matrika Yadhav Coordinator of United Madhesi National Movement, Jaya Prakash Gupta, coordinator of Tarai Madhesh National Movement, leaders of Khas Struggle Committee were also presented in the meeting.
The leaders from Nepali Congress and CPN-UML however were not presented in the meeting despite robust request and were sent to pick them up from their residence.
Talking to the Indigenous voice, Ang Kaji Sherpa, who was presented in the meeting said that gathering decided to organize a combined movement for addressing the rights and concerns of excluded communities in the new constitution.
Speaking at the meeting, Chairperson of UCPN (Maoist) Puspa Kamal Dahal urged to organize a movement collectively rather than holding dialogue and discussion with political party leaders who are in the power.
Only a few days left to end the last date that the political parties vowed to unveil new constitution, but the many contentious issues have yet left to agree upon. The IPs and 30-political parties' alliance led by UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Dahal have demanded 10-federal provinces as proposed by High Level State Restructuring Commission, in the earlier Constituent Assembly (2008-2012), on the basis of identity and capability. But the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML are stick in forming 7-provinces, which have resulted dispute in the house. The dispute has resulted doubt in bringing new constitution in the slated last deadline--January 22 say political analysts and legal experts.
