Kathmandu, November 8:

Three indigenous organisations today said the historic agreement signed between the seven-party alliance and the CPN (Maoist) at midnight on Tuesday had failed to address the aspirations of the indigenous nationalities. They urged the parties to ensure proportionate representation of the indigenous people in the upcoming Constitutional Assembly elections.

The Nepal Magar Students’ Association (NMSA) said the indigenous nationalities should be given equal opportunities to involve themselves in the development of a New Nepal. The indigenous nationalities are ready to fight if conspiracies are hatched against the Nepali people, it said. The Nepal Tamang Students Ghedung (NTSG), however, expressed dissatisfaction over the agreement. It said the agreement may not lead the nation

towards a democratic republic. President of the NTSG Bijaya Singh Lopchan, in a release, said the agreement has not addressed the agendas being raised by indigenous nationalities, Dalits, Madheshis and women.

“We ask the Tamang community and students to be ready to fight for their rights.” Nepal Tamang Ghedung said: “There is no alternative except to fight for the rights of people by forming a front of nationalities, Madhesi and Dalits.

The Dalit NGO Federation Nepal said “the agreement has not addressed the issues of Dalits properly.”

The Dalits need reservation for their reasonable representation in the CA polls and proportionate representation in the interim legislature and interim government,” it said.

Peace deal hailed

KATHMANDU: Various political parties and organisations have lauded the historic agreement between the seven-party alliance and the Maoists in the early hours of Wednesday. In separate press releases, the Rastriya Janamukti Party, Nepali Congress (Democratic) and the Rastriya Prajantantra Party said the move “has paved way for a lasting peace”. The Human Rights and Peace Society and the Association of District Development Committees of Nepal also welcomed the ‘historic’ agreement. — HNS