End of the era of Pan-Nepalism

Zeina Mvemba

3:00 PM

10/23/09

Political officials and supporters of political parties have chosen to split Nepal into many different ethnic based provinces. In hopes of gaining more ethnic minority group votes, the UCPN of Nepal proposed the country be split into 13 regions. Eleven of which will be ethnically based. After many forewarnings and controversy over the countries split, officials have moved forward with the proposal. The UCPN who is part of a political party called Maoists insists that these ethno-centric federal structures or ethnic states are the best way to make groups of minorities come together and be unified. However, many fear that putting theses states into solitude would not only anger them further, and insult them by not being able to make their own decisions. Through many cases on ethnic conflict, it seems that most issues arise from an official’s greed for power. Whether it is over a need for votes, or to seem established in their government, many officials go through great lengths to accomplish a vast number of people who support them. It seems very extreme to split up a region based on ethnic background, just because a political party wants votes from a certain ethnic group. It makes more sense to just campaign to these people, not change their whole life. Also, you have to factor in whether or not the people being split up actually want to be relocated to a whole new land. If they do not have the desire to go, this may cause further conflict and lead to greater problems. http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=10783