Change to constitution rejected
Print Edition
Nepal’s ethnic minorities have rejected a constitutional amendment, dashing hopes of an end to a political crisis that has led to fuel shortages and hampered deliveries of relief materials to survivors of last year’s earthquakes.
More than 50 people have died since the ethnic Madhesis, backed by some other smaller ethnic groups, launched protests in the landlocked, Himalayan country’s southern plains against the amendment to the constitution.
Protests at the border have prevented trucks from entering from neighboring India since September, causing fuel shortages and rationing in Nepal. Deliveries of relief supplies to communities hit by earthquakes in April and May last year have also been disrupted.
The Nepalese people had hoped the charter, the country’s first since the abolition of the monarchy in 2008, would bring peace and stability after years of conflict.
However, the Madhesis, who have close familial, linguistic and cultural ties with Indians across the border, say Nepalese authorities have failed to meet their aspirations for greater participation in government.
The 597-member parliament voted 461-7 late on Saturday in favor of a provision of “proportionate inclusion” of minority groups in all government institutions including the army, and to carve out electoral constituencies on the basis of their population to increase their representation in parliament.
The rest of the lawmakers either did not vote or walked out.
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