Gurung nat'l convention to stress enthic-based federalism

KATHMANDU, Jan 23: With the aim to spread a clear message among all political parties and citizens that not ethnic states but ethnic identity is their demand, the Gurung National Council is holding its second national general convention on 2, 3 and 4 February at Birtamod of Jhapa distirct.



The council´s first general convention was held in Chitwan on 28 March 2008.[break]



Speaking at a press meet held in the capital on Tuesday, general secretary of the council Resham Gurung said that the reason behind the death of constituent assembly is the failure of some major political parties to accept federalism based on ethnic identity.



“Some extremist groups are trying to manipulate the message for their political gain, or else there is no threat for national unity in granting what we have demanded -- guarantee of ethnic identity,” Gurung said. “Restructuring the country as an ethnic-based federation is a must to bring the discrimination against and marginalization of the indigenous people to an end.”



According to Gurung 15 representatives from Gurung organizations in different countries including India, USA, UAE, UK, Saudi Arabia and South Korea and 1,200 representatives from inside the country will be participating in the convention. Among many important guests, the president of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Bimal Gurung from Darjeeling will also attend the convention.



“We have set up a main committee and 28 sub-committees for the success of the convention. The three-day convention will definitely serve for the unity for Gurungs, but national agenda is more important to us than anything - the convention is also to pressurize for constitution,” Gurung said.



“Some parties are hell bent on preventing the change, the death of the constituent assembly was due to their deliberate effort. But there is no choice of going ahead with national consensus for identity-based federalism,” he added.



Similarly, talking to Republica, central committee member of the council and president of Gurung Women´s Aassociation Chandrakala Gurung said that no country stands strong or prospers if it does not recognize its diverse groups of people or respect their uniqueness.



“The general convention is to bring the Gurungs living in and outside the country together for a while, and at the same time to pressurize the main political parties and leaders to forge consensus and pave the way for identity-based federalism,” said Chandrakala.



Meanwhile, she also stressed that representation of women in all state mechanisms should be ensured in New Nepal. Criticizing the parties and organizations for not fulfilling their promise to give opportunity to women, Chandrakala stated that the people in important positions should begin to translate their promises into action.

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