Various indigenous organizations in the country have agreed that a democratic republic was necessary for bringing about massive reforms in the country.

A typical Newari girl playing flute in a rally organised to mark the ?International Day of Indigenous People?, Wednesday, Aug 09 06. nepalnews.com/ANA

A typical Newari girl playing flute in a rally organised to mark the “International Day…
The 24-point Kathmandu declaration adopted by the national conference of the indigenous groups in the capital stated that the constituent assembly should ensure sovereignty, integrity, freedom of all communities and republican nature of the nation.

Reading out the declaration at a public function after a rally organized on the occasion of International Day of Indigenous People in the capital on Wednesday, general secretary of in the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Peoples (NEFIN) Dr Om Gurung said the constituent assembly should decide the fate of monarchy in the country.

The indigenous groups have demanded that in the proportional representative electoral system for the constituent assembly, all citizens above 16 years of age should be allowed to vote and those above 21 years should be allowed to give candidacy. The declaration stressed for 50 seats for women.

Speaking at the program, David Johnson, Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal, said the struggle of Nepal’s indigenous peoples for the recognition of their fundamental human rights has been a long one, and is entering an important period in this democratic transition. He further said as Nepalis work to end the long conflict and build lasting peace, and to transform the state in the democratic spirit of the People’s Movement, indigenous Nepalis rightly see this as a time to ensure that their rights are enshrined in the state’s policies and legal framework and that concrete action is taken to protect and promote those rights.

Other speakers of the programme said monarchy is no more relevant in Nepal.