FLPN intensifies protests for Limbuwan state

ILAM, Aug 13: Federal Limbuwan Party Nepal has continued its protests to press for its demands that include, among others things, naming state number 1 as Limbuwan State. Stating that the parties are conspiring to declare Nepal a Hindu nation, as against the secular status enshrined in the Interim Constitution, and also toss out the issue of identity-based federalism, Federal Limbuwan Party Nepal has launched protests from August 12 which it plans to continue till August 16.

Since the top parties went public with the proposed six-province model, various ethnicity-based parties like FLPN, who are pushing for identity-based federalism, have stepped up efforts to ensure that the states are named to reflect ethnic identities.As part of its agitation, the party has shut down public offices, schools, hospitals and halted transportation services for the second consecutive day today.

The strike has affected the locals Ilam, Panchthar, Taplejung, Tehrathum, Jhapa, Sunsari, Dhankuta and Sankhuwasabha districts.

According to the FLPN, it decided to launch protests over the government's reluctance to come out clear on several important agendas such as the naming of the states. FLPN has long been demanding that the eastern province in the new federal structure be named Limbuwan State.

Unlike in case of other proposed states, protestors with FLPN are not unhappy with the delineation itself.

Among all the proposed states, the federal province 1 is considered to hold the strongest potential in every aspect, from access to natural resources, trade routes to very high literacy rate and higher prospect of industrial development, among others.

The state consists of 14 districts straddling all the three ecological regions of mountains, hills and Tarai, and shares its borders with both India and China.

Fifty-one percent of about 4.5 million people in the state are literate. It has 727 industries and 14 hydro power plants in operation.

"It seems that the constitution they are preparing to deliver will deceive us once again. They are reluctant to recognize diverse identities of various ethnic groups," said Damber Limbu, leader of the Limbuwan Party of Ilam.

He warned that the people of the state would never accept decisions that go against their aspirations.

"We will be forced to launch indefinite strike if the government does not fulfill our demands," he added.

Meanwhile, historian Mohan Singh Thebe said that the people might not be happy with the constitution, but this particular state is indeed a very strong state in every aspect.

"From its availability of natural resources to sites of historical and cultural importance, it appears to be an ideal model for a federal state," he said.

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