The Nepal Association of Indigenous Nationalities (Nefin) has formed a joint committee to press the government and political parties into ensuring identity-based federalism in the new constitution. Nefin had previously launched a similar struggle under the Indigenous Nationalities Joint Struggle Committee before the dissolution of the first Constituent Assembly.
Nefin leaders said the new committee will be a revival of the old one and comprises 59 ethnic groups, Nefin sister organisations and marginalised groups, among others. Ang Kaji Sherpa, former general secretary of Nefin and a standing committee member of the Federal Socialist Party Nepal, said the group will begin a nationwide campaign to exert pressure on the CA to adopt identity-based federalism in the new constitution. “The struggle committee will be announced this week. We have already completed necessary work,” said Sherpa.
Nefin, an umbrella organisation of 56 ethnic communities, has been pressing the parties to stick to the federal model presented by the State Restructuring and Devolution of the State Power Committee, which proposed 14 federal units and 23 autonomous states. The Nefin leadership has timed the protest to coincide with the constitution-writing process. Due to the remarks made by the leaders of major parties against identity-based federalism, the Janajati communities have reportedly felt the need to press the leaders to stand by the past agreements.
The government on May 2012 signed an agreement with the Nefin to incorporate identity-based federalism into the constitution following a nationwide protest of indigenous communities.
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