‘Federalism wrong path for Nepal’

http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=133764

Kantipur Report KATHMANDU, Jan 9 2008 - Politicians and legal experts here Tuesday said the decision of the government and the major political parties to restructure the nation as a federal state could be the beginning of Nepal's disintegration.

Legal expert himarjunAcharya, speaking at an interaction organized by the National People's Front (NPF) in the capital, claimed that by embracing federalism the country would be heading in a completely opposite and wrong direction.

"There are three clear reasons for adopting federalism: to create a strong nation by unifying scattered states; to unite states that are on the verge of separation; and to liberate states from a colonial power," Acharya said.

Hence, he added, there is no relevance and logic for adopting a federal system in Nepal's case. "We are trying to bring about the disintegrate of a nation that is already united and organized," he said. "This can be the most dangerous thing for national integrity." According to him, Nepal could have been structured as a federal nation before its unification by King Prithvi Narayan Shah. "There is no country in the world that could avoid disintegration after transforming itself from a unitary to a federal structure," he claimed.

Criticizing the idea of the right to self-determination being raised from certain quarters, Acharya stated that after being conferred this right any state could opt to secede and then might go on to join another country. He was of the opinion that opting for a federal model on the basis of ethnicity would be the biggest political blunder.

Acharya also claimed that though the slogan of the April Movement was for inclusive democracy, later the leaders translated the term "inclusive democracy" into "federal democracy" as per their own convenience.

Dila Ram Acharya of NPF presented a paper prepared by Mohan Bikram Singh, General Secretary of CPN-Masal.

"Lately, apart from a federal system, voices are being raised for right to self-determination and right to secede. This will clear the way for disintegration," Singh's paper said.

He accused the seven political parties of adopting a federal system largely due to Indian pressure rather than on the basis of their own conscience.

‘UN representatives transgressing mandate’

Acharya also said that many statements made by United Nations representatives in Nepal are contrary to the UN's norms and standards. "Some UN officials are frequently found to be saying that the madhesi and other communities should be given the right to self-determination," he said, adding, "Such statements by UN representatives are against UN norms."

Posted on: 2008-01-08 21:17:24 (Server Time)