Call to ensure rights of indigenous communities after constitution amendment

Kathmandu, Dec 24: Lawmakers and politicians from the indigenous nationalities communities have stressed the need for ensuring their rights if the constitution amendment process was forwarded.     

At a national seminar on issues of indigenous nationalities in Nepal's constitution organized by Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities organized on Tuesday, the speakers said that their additional rights should be ensured in the constitution and cautioned the concerned sides from their rights being curtailed.     

"We should be aware to the purpose of constitution amendment. Constitution amendment could also be a door to ensure the rights of indigenous nationalities. And, also it could be a betrayal to curtail the existing rights," lawmaker and former minister Sudan Kirati said.     

He was of the view that the indigenous nationalities should get ready to make their voices heard by making a common forum for their rights.     

Kirati argued that the country could plunge into conflict if the proportional system in the constitution were reduced and added that the constitution should rather embrace fully proportional electoral system and directly-elected prime ministerial system.     

Likewise, lawmaker Hemraj Rai said that all communities should be united to safeguard their rights in the constitution's amendment.     

Nepali Congress leader Jeep Tshiring Lama, however, expressed doubt to the advancement of the process for the constitution amendment but stated that fully proportional electoral system should be there if constitution amendment process progressed.     

Almost 20 lawmakers of the House of Representatives and National Assembly from the indigenous communities were present at the seminar.     

On the occasion, advocate Shankar Limbu presented a working paper on the rights of the indigenous nationalities and claimed that at least 11 provisions in the constitution were against the spirit of their rights.(RSS)