NEFIN convention ends

CHITWAN, July 9: A national convention of Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) concluded by issuing a 20-point Sauraha Declaration in Chitwan on Friday.



The NEFIN declaration has demanded the political parties to immediately agree to develop calendar of events of the Constituent Assembly (CA) to ensure promulgation of new constitution on time.



In the 20-point declaration, the NEFIN has sought recognition of the indigenous people´s right to natural resources as their fundamental right, free higher education to indigenous nationalities and halt in encroachment of forests.



The NEFIN also announced a series of protest programs to press the government to ensure rights of indigenous nationalities.



According to NEFIN General Secretary Ang Kaji Sherpa, they will hold a series of peaceful protests for 28 days starting July 18. The protests include submission of memorandum to leaders of political parties, district administration offices across the country, and gathering and orientation programs.



Sherpa said they also plan to impose a blockade to Kathmandu to pile pressure on the government to meet their demands.



NEFIN Chief Raj Kumar Lekhi said they will hold a torch rally on August 14 across the country and enforce a blockade to Kathmandu if the government did not heed to their demands.



Over 250 representatives of indigenous nationalities from 65 districts participated in the three-day convention.

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