[Security stepped up as smaller
political parties and ethnic groups opposed to charter issue fresh threats of
violence]
By The Associated Press
 |
President
Ram Baran Yadav’s motorcade drives past people standing on
a street to celebrate the adoption of the country’s
new constitution in |
Nepal has formally adopted a much
anticipated and long-delayed constitution that took more than seven years to
complete following a decade of political infighting.
Security was stepped up across
the nation, with smaller political parties and ethnic groups opposed to the new
charter issuing fresh threats of violence.
President Ram Baran Yadav
signed the constitution and made the proclamation, setting off a roar of
applause from members of the constituent assembly in Kathmandu .
“We believe that the adoption
of the new constitution has now opened the path for development of the
country,” Yadav told the assembly.
The new constitution replaces
an interim one that was supposed to be in effect for only a couple of years but
has governed the nation since 2007.
Thousands of people who
gathered outside the assembly hall on Sunday cheered after the announcement was
made, waving the national flag as fireworks went off. In the streets of Kathmandu , people lit oil lamps and
candles and buildings were decorated with coloured lights.
“Congratulations to all
Nepalese” read a white and red banner strung across a street.
“This
really long chapter is now finally closed,” said Shyam Sharma, a student who
watched the president’s motorcade drive toward the assembly. “Now the country
can focus on other important issues like developing the country, improving the
economy. If these politicians had agreed a few years back, we would not have
wasted so much time, energy and money.”
The key part of the
constitution, passed on Wednesday after a decade of bickering and violent
protests, sets the country up as a secular federation of seven states, each
with a legislature and chief minister.
However, some ethnic and
religious groups say lawmakers ignored their concerns over how state borders
should be defined. They want more states, including ethnically based ones,
bigger territory for larger groups and more seats for ethnic minorities in
parliament and government.
Laxman Lal Karna, a senior
leader of the Madhesi ethnic group in southern Nepal
The violence over the past
several weeks has left at least 45 people dead. Police said clashes between
officers and protesters on Sunday left one demonstrator dead near Birgunj town
in southern Nepal
The three main political
parties backing the constitution have made a fresh appeal for Madhesi to join
talks.
“They may disagree with the
size and makeup of these states, but that is not a really big issue,” the prime
minister, Sushil Koirala, said on Saturday.
There are more than 100 ethnic
groups in Nepal
The main parties say those
issues can be fixed later.
“The constitution is not
something that cannot be absolutely changed. It can always be amended later
when needed,” said Khadga Prasad Oli of the Communist party of Nepal Unified
Marxist Leninist.
Some among the country’s
majority Hindu population also believe the constitution should have restored Nepal
Police said thousands of
officers were guarding streets across the nation and checking passengers on
highways.
Opposition parties called a
general strike to protest against the constitution, but it had little effect on
the traffic and markets remained open.
Neighbouring India Nepal
Gay right activists were among
those who welcomed the new constitution, saying it respected gay people’s
rights. “This constitution ensures our identity, rights, participation and
inclusion; a better path ahead for Nepalese LGBTs,” said Sunil Pant, a gay
rights activist.
