KATHMANDU, August 14

The Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) on Friday announced protest programmes expressing serious objection to the demarcation of the provinces.

The umbrella organisation of all the indigenous nationalities of the country revealed protest programmes, including nationwide shutdown, organising a press conference here on Friday.

Accusing the leadership of NEFIN of betraying the indigenous movement, a separate organisation was formed under the leadership of veteran human rights activists Padma Ratna Tuladhar.

The Indigenous Nationalities National Movement Nepal (INNM-N) has been organising protest programmes demanding identity-based federalism. NEFIN Chairman and Nepali Congress lawmaker Nagendra Kumal said the indigenous nationalities of the country would torch the draft of constitution on August 18. He said the NEFIN would interact with indigenous CA members about secularism on the same day. From August 18 to 22 NEFIN would organise gatherings to warn the authorities, he said. Kumal said NEFIN had also called nationwide general strike on August 23 and 24 and from August 25 to 27 gatherings would be organised in different districts.