Kathmandu, May 4:

In a memorandum submitted today to the Chief Election Commissioner Bhoj Raj Pokhrel, the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities expressed its concern about exclusion of 28 indigenous nationalities from the Constituent Assembly.

NEFIN president Pasang Sherpa said the CEC assured him to do his best to include the excluded groups. He said the exclusion was against the constitution and the pacts made by the government with the Janajati leaders.

Sherpa, who was nominated by CPN-UML in the PR list, has withdrawn his nomination demanding representation of the excluded indigenous nationalities.

Sherpa said he took the step to express solidarity with the indigenous groups left out of the CA. “More indigenous CA members may withdraw if the authorities concerned fail to include excluded communities.”

He said the NEFIN was lobbying with the parties to have more indigenous communities represented in the CA and they would wait until the final result of the polls is published and plan further protests thereafter. Of 59 indigenous nationalities Sunuwar, Meche, Dhanuk, Dolpo, Ba-ram, Balunge, Pahari, Topkegola, Kusunda, Bankariya, Raute, Surel, Hayu, Raji, Kuswadiya, Singmama, Thudam, Bote, Bhote, Darai, Tajpuriya, Chhantyal, Free, Larke, Lepcha, Chhyarotan, Tingaule, Thakali and Kisan have no representation in the CA.