Nepalis against Ethnic Federalism: Carter Center
According to a Carter Center report released February 22, 2010, Nepalis expect their new constitution to provide peace, security, and address basic needs. They support measures to promote equality, inclusivity, and education for all; end discrimination; uplift disadvantaged communities; and improve access to the state and justice system.
The report is based on the most recent findings of Carter Center observers throughout the country, who have monitored the post-election peace and constitutional-drafting process since June 2009 and provided impartial information on progress to political leaders, civil society, the international community, and Nepali citizens.
The report explains that citizens who support federalism tend to associate it with decentralization of power and hope that the government will be brought closer to the people, allowing for greater access to the state, more accountable decision-making, improved service delivery, an end to discriminatory practices, and more equitable representation. However, some citizens raise concerns regarding federalism such as disintegration of the country, communal conflict, and being cut off from other areas.
“The concerns raised by citizens underscore the need for accurate and unbiased information about federalism to reach the local level to facilitate informed discussion and debate,” said Dr. David Pottie, associate director of the Carter Center’s Democracy Program.
Carter Center observers also found that indigenous and marginalized peoples’ organizations are increasingly active at the local level, particularly in promoting ethnic-based federalism, which they see as a means for decentralization, equitable representation, and ending discrimination. By contrast, national political parties remain largely inactive on constitutional issues at the local level with the exception of the Rastriya Janamorcha and the UCPN(M).
“Regardless of the federal model adopted, citizens and advocacy groups are both clear in their desire for decentralization and their opposition to the idea of domination by any one particular group within the new federal states,” said Pottie.
The Center offers the following recommendations to Constituent Assembly (CA) members and organizations that provide it with financial or technical assistance:
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Conduct an impartial and accurate awareness campaign about federalism at the local level.
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Widely publicize basic information regarding the constitutional process to inform citizens of progress achieved and ongoing debates within the CA to date.
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Conduct a genuine public consultation on the draft constitution that informs citizens of how the new constitution will impact their daily lives and incorporates lessons learned from the previous outreach program.
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Increase efforts to engage in dialogue with indigenous and marginalized groups that are using peaceful and democratic means to raise their demands.
(Carter Center Press Release)
Comments (2)
For the first time in these four years that carter center finally speak sense and the truth. Demarcation of federal states should not be on ethnicity, but on geographical, environment and financial terms to name a few, otherwise we will be like Balkans, one day divided into tiny states.
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Carter must be duped by Bahuns and Chetris to produce this report. I wonder how many Bahuns or Chetries are working at the Carter Center advising him in Nepal. Without uniformity, no unity is possible for Nepal. The only way to ensure uniformity is decentralization of power to the local communities. The local communities of Nepal are the indigenous community. This is a no brainer.