English - Support to Participatory Constitution Building in Nepal ...

Specifically, participants wanted to be
clear on issues like the right to selfdetermination,
minority and Dalit rights
in the federal structure, ethnic autonomy,
and the significance of provinces based on
ethnicity. They wanted to hear about the
basis of restructuring the state, why so many
provinces are proposed, and why some were
given ethnic names. They hoped to pressure
the concerned stakeholders to manage
issues of ethnicity in federalism.
Presentation on Federalism, an
introduction to Nepal’s Federal Future:
Prof. Khanal introduced federalism in
the context of a future federal Nepal. He
highlighted that Nepal will be a federal state
with a definite geographic and administrative
structure. Although internally the structure
will provide for different identities for
different groups, externally there will be a
single nation with one identity in the world.
He made clear to the participants that it is
not practically correct to say that only large
countries practice federalism. China is a very
large country, but does not have a federal
structure, whereas the small country of
Switzerland is a federal state.
After the presentation the participants
added their views about federalism in Nepal.
Mr. Pan Bahadur Gharti wondered whether
the concept of federalism is only a matter of
discussion, considering that there has been
no change in the thought of the different
political parties and the government
administrative mechanism. On the other
hand, concern was expressed about how the
ethnic structure of federalism could sustain
ethnic harmony in Nepal in the future.
Mr. Bhim Karki, the UML representative
from Manang questioned the rationality
of restructuring the state on the basis of
recognizing ethnic identity. He felt it will
increase the chances of allocating provinces
to more groups in future.
Participants raised various questions to Prof.
Khanal concerning the implementation of a
federal system in Nepal. Some are recorded
here:
Q. How can conflicts created by
communities who are not provided
provinces on the basis of ethnicity be
addressed? -Khemraj Adhikari
A. The names of the provinces should not
create conflict. However, if there is growing
internal discrimination, conflict will be
generated. The development of federalism
in Nepal is the demand of the Nepali people.
Q. Would it be practically reasonable in
federalism to plot the state on the basis of
economy and geography? -Shambhunath
Mishra
A. In Nepal except for the Tarai, the demand
for federalism is not for geography but for
identity. Thus in our context federalism is
not possible on the basis of geography. In
India also states are created on the basis of
language but they are not recognized as
ethnic states.
Q. Why are there different opinions about
federalism among Nepali intellectuals?
These opinions might affect the common
people. - Rajendraraj Panta
A. One argument fears that federalism
will cause parts of the country to secede.
Proposed Tamuwan Province Report 15