WUNRN
http://time.com/4019663/nepal-violence-constitution-tharu-medhesi/
Nepal–Political Unrest–Constitution Reform Protests–Ethnic & Religious Issues-Women
Prakash Mathema—AFP/Getty Images
Some fear the changes would marginalize their
communities
Nepalese
police killed five protesters in
the south of the country Tuesday as demonstrators, angry at the government’s
plan to change the constitution, clashed with authorities.
Police said four people were
shot dead in the town of Birjung (40 miles south of the capital Kathmandu),
when protesters threw stones and petrol bombs at a police post. A fifth person
was killed in a separate clash in a neighboring town of Kalaiya, reports
Reuters.
A new constitution has been
under review since the monarchy was abolished during a Maoist insurgency in
2008. The proposed changes would federalize the Himalayan nation, dividing it
into seven states.
Supporters hope the charter
will bring political stability and boost economic development in the country,
which is still recovering from two devastating earthquakes earlier this year.
But the Tharu and Medhesi
minorities who live in the country’s southern plains, say the proposed
demarcations would marginalize their communities. In a series of protests in
recent weeks, several ethnic groups have demanded statehood in the new charter.
At least 20 people have been
killed in violence since the draft constitution was announced two weeks ago.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Hindu protesters clashed with police in front of the assembly building in Kathmandu Tuesday. They are demanding that Nepal be declared a Hindu state in the new constitution, reports the Associated Press.