The public position paper rejects the current seven-province structure, calling it a ‘single-caste dominance’. Their main demand is the re-demarcation and nomination of ‘10+1 provinces’ with the right to self-determination.
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The ‘Indigenous Peoples Collective Initiatives’ has made public the common view and 16-point position paper of indigenous peoples for the upcoming House of Representatives elections. The group has demanded that indigenous rights be made the main political agenda in this election, which is being held against the backdrop of the Gen-G movement.
In the public position paper, the current structure of seven provinces has been rejected, calling it ‘single ethnic dominance’. Their main demand is the re-delimitation and nomination of ‘10+1 provinces’ with the right to self-determination. In addition, pressure has been put on the parties to amend the constitution to ensure the identity and rights of indigenous people and to make Nepal a multinational state.
In the position paper, the current district structure is making it difficult to make federalism effective and a commitment has also been demanded from the parties to abolish the district structure to empower the provinces. The statement demands that the 753 local levels (metropolitan cities, sub-metropolitan cities, towns, rural municipalities and wards) created by fragmenting the lands, territories and populations of indigenous peoples be renamed and demarcated in a way that respects the geography and lands of indigenous peoples, while ensuring an end to structural discrimination against them.
Special emphasis has been placed on the demand that indigenous peoples should have control over their lands and natural resources. 'Free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) of indigenous peoples should be made mandatory while implementing any development project,' the statement says. It states that the state should make a concrete commitment to protect Mukkumalung, stop the protests against road expansion and stop land encroachment.
The statement also demands that the mother tongue be made the language of government work and that mother tongue education should be made mandatory up to the secondary level. In addition, it has been urged to repeal laws that are against the principles of secularism, demanding public holidays on August 9 (International Day of Indigenous Peoples) and September 5 (International Day of Indigenous Women) .
Demanding that the electoral system be made fully proportional, the manifesto states - parties and candidates who do not show a clear commitment to the issues of indigenous peoples will not be given votes. It has also been warned that if political parties ignore these demands, they will exercise the right to 'no vote'.
The joint signatories include intellectuals, social activists and indigenous leaders from various fields. Similarly, it has also been demanded to express commitment to the implementation of the 10-point agreement signed between the representatives of the Gen-G movement and the Nepal government on November 24, 2008.
