NFIN organises valley bandh pressing for amendment in constitution

The Valley bandh organized by Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NFIN) has affected the normal life and traffic movement in the major areas of the capital valley.

The NFIN activists have staged protest rally and obstructed movement in places like Chabahil, Kalanki and Koteshwore, among others. The protest has affected volume of traffic movement.

A deserted look of Sundhara-Bir Hospital stretch of the road during the Valley bandh (general strike) called by the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities on Thursday, Feb 15 07. Vehicles remained largely off the road while businesses and education institutions were mostly closed down due to the bandh. nepalnews.com/ANA

The NFIN had announced the Valley bandh on Thursday to press for its demands to amend the interim constitution by addressing the grievances of indigenous community.

"There should be proportional representation electoral system based on ethnic population. There should be guarantee of federal structure based on ethnic, regional and lingual identities. Mother languages of indigenous community should be recognized in government works. These demands should be enshrined in the interim constitution through necessary amendments," said Pasang Sherpa, president of NFIN. He said fulfillment of these demands were necessary to ensure the proper representation of ethnic communities in the Constituent Assembly (CA).

Sherpa claimed that NFIN had to announce programs like bandh as earlier programs did not draw the attention of the political parties.

The NFIN has decided to take up negotiations as well as struggles side by side. It is currently in talks with the government committee headed by Minister Mahantha Thakur, which was formed to resolve the issues raised by Madhesis and indigenous community. nepalnews.com sd Feb 15 07