KATHMANDU: Lawmakers representing indigenous nationalities on Saturday formed a caucus with the objective of fighting for the rights of indigenous nationalities in the country. Of the 218 lawmakers representing the indigenous nationalities in the Constituent Assembly, 135 signed a document of the caucus at a function here today. Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), the umbrella organisation of all indigenous nationalities in the country, organised the programme. The secretariat of the caucus will be set up at the NEFIN. Barsha Man Pun, law-maker of the UCPN-M, chaired the function. As per the understanding, at least a law-maker will represent his/her party in the caucus. All law-makers representing indigenous nationalities will be the members in the caucus. The caucus meetings would be chaired in turn by representatives of different parties and the meetings would discuss on the common agenda of all indigenous nationalities. The issues would be passed on the basis of consensus among all members, according to the understanding. The caucus would meet at least once a month. The caucus will fight for the formation of federal units with the right to self-determination and ethnic autonomy and special provision of mandatory representation of all the indigenous nationalities in all state organs, according to a press statement released today. “It also intends to ensure constitutional, legal and administrative provisions for the identity of indigenous women and end all forms of discrimination, ensure equal treatment to all languages, religion and cultures of the indigenous nationalities and the implementation of ILO convention 169 and UN declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples,” the statement added. It also aims to ensure the rights of indigenous nationalities on natural resources, including water, jungle and land, besides ensuring national unity by safeguarding identity of communities and their collective rights. Speaking on the occasion, CA chairman Subas Nembang said the commitments made by the caucus had to be implemented. “This is a positive sign. The political parties should forge similar consensus on other issues of national importance,” he added.