English - Support to Participatory Constitution Building in Nepal ...
English - Support to Participatory Constitution Building in Nepal ...
English - Support to Participatory Constitution Building in Nepal ...
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of political prime rights. The dispute on the<br />
terri<strong>to</strong>ry of Tamuwan, however, rema<strong>in</strong>s<br />
unresolved as the CSRDSP boundary (138<br />
VDCs, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g two municipalities, <strong>in</strong> 6<br />
districts) is much less than the his<strong>to</strong>rical claim<br />
for Tamuwan as a land located between the<br />
Kali Gandaki and the Budi Gandaki which<br />
encompasses eight hill districts (Gorkha,<br />
Tanahu, Syangja, Lamjung, Kaski, Parbat,<br />
Manang and Mustang).<br />
Natural Resources and Economic Prosperity:<br />
Participants were excited by the bright<br />
economic future for Tamuwan. They listed<br />
many natural resources, i.e. rivers, lakes, streams,<br />
mounta<strong>in</strong>, caves, land, m<strong>in</strong>es, and herbs <strong>in</strong><br />
the prov<strong>in</strong>ce. They <strong>in</strong>cluded other sources of<br />
<strong>in</strong>come and development such as his<strong>to</strong>rical<br />
monuments, <strong>to</strong>urism, hydro power, fac<strong>to</strong>ries,<br />
horticulture, pastureland, and conservation<br />
activities. After hear<strong>in</strong>g the actual and potential<br />
economic prospects of this prov<strong>in</strong>ce, one of<br />
the Magar participants, who has land <strong>in</strong> both<br />
Magarat and Tamuwan, said he was tempted <strong>to</strong><br />
settle permanently <strong>in</strong> Tamuwan.<br />
A Self-Reliant Prov<strong>in</strong>ce: Participants sought<br />
<strong>to</strong> ensure that Tamuwan prov<strong>in</strong>ce will be a<br />
self-reliant unit while understand<strong>in</strong>g that<br />
<strong>in</strong>terdependence among the prov<strong>in</strong>ces is an<br />
essential <strong>in</strong>gredient of federal structure. They<br />
identified specific risks on <strong>in</strong>ter-prov<strong>in</strong>cial<br />
relation on two areas: terri<strong>to</strong>rial disputes<br />
(many VDCs of Gorkha, Kaski and Lamjung<br />
have been placed <strong>in</strong> Narayani prov<strong>in</strong>ce) and<br />
over the shar<strong>in</strong>g of natural resources.<br />
For Decentralized Federalism: Through<br />
their <strong>in</strong>teraction with the resource persons<br />
and discussion among themselves,<br />
participants learned that the division of power<br />
between center and prov<strong>in</strong>ce approved by<br />
the CSRDSP report provides greater power <strong>to</strong><br />
the center. They strongly recommended that<br />
this be reversed and stressed that they also<br />
preferred a decentralized revenue collection<br />
system <strong>in</strong> favor of the prov<strong>in</strong>ce.<br />
Identification of M<strong>in</strong>orities and their<br />
Rights: For constitut<strong>in</strong>g Au<strong>to</strong>nomous<br />
Regions and Protective Areas – as provided<br />
by the CSRDSP under the section of Special<br />
Structures – participants identified the<br />
follow<strong>in</strong>g list of ethnic groups <strong>in</strong> Tamuwan:<br />
Dura, Chepang, Kusunda, Bhujel, Majhi,<br />
Hyolmo, Kumal, Dura and Loo-dorsap. Apart<br />
of other rights that these Au<strong>to</strong>nomous<br />
Regions and Protective Areas are entitled <strong>to</strong><br />
enjoy, participants suggested the provision<br />
of reservations, positive discrim<strong>in</strong>ation,<br />
protection of their traditional occupations<br />
and the promotion of their own language<br />
and culture.<br />
Less Concern for Cus<strong>to</strong>mary Law: The<br />
impact of modernization and the legacy<br />
of the past process of cultural assimilation<br />
are evident <strong>in</strong> Tamuwan. Despite the<br />
participants, at times, wish<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> support<br />
cus<strong>to</strong>mary law and governance structures,<br />
the participants were less <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> and<br />
less knowledgeable about this aspect of the<br />
discussions.<br />
Dalit and Women’s Quest for Political<br />
Space: Women and Dalits – two large<br />
excluded groups who do not have their<br />
own prov<strong>in</strong>ce under the federal structure<br />
– sought <strong>to</strong> maximize their own rights and<br />
representation <strong>in</strong> the state apparatus at all<br />
levels. Female participants pleaded for their<br />
representation <strong>to</strong> be <strong>in</strong>creased from 33%<br />
<strong>to</strong> 50% <strong>in</strong> all elected bodies of the state.<br />
The Dalits advocated for a greater political<br />
representation than the proportion of their<br />
population size as compensation for their<br />
his<strong>to</strong>rical discrim<strong>in</strong>ation and deprivation.<br />
This is similar <strong>to</strong> what was heard dur<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
Federalism Dialogues <strong>in</strong> other prov<strong>in</strong>ces<br />
as well.<br />
Proposed Tamuwan Prov<strong>in</strong>ce Report 11