NEPAL
A
leading Muslim group in Nepal said on Saturday it
would organize street protests if the government
does not meet its demand.
A
leading Muslim group in Nepal said on Saturday it
would organize street protests if the government
does not meet its demand to set aside seats for its
community in November elections.
The
elections will elect a constituent assembly to
prepare a new constitution and decide the fate of
the monarchy in the majority-Hindu nation.
Mohammed Nizamuddin, president of the Muslim group
Awam Sahara Nepal, said Muslims were left out.
"If
the government does not address our demand we'll be
forced to come to the street and protest for it,"
Nizamuddin told Reuters.
Nepal's interim parliament, which includes former
Maoist rebels, approved a law in June earmarking
seats in the assembly for ethnic Madhesis from the
southern plains and other indigenous groups that
have been protesting for more seats in the polls.
The
election, the first national vote in more than eight
years, will cap a peace process with the Maoists
ending a decade-long civil war which killed more
than 13,000 people.
Muslims comprise about 4 percent of the population.
Ijaharul Hak Mikrani, president of another Muslim
group, the Intellectual Muslim Association of Nepal,
demanded at least 50 seats for the Muslims in the
497-member assembly.
Source :
http://www.javno.com/en/world/clanak.php?id=58132 |