Ethnicity is class - Nepali Times

Constitution Supplement
Ethnicity is class
Santosh Budha Magar, president, Magarat National Freedom Front

FROM ISSUE #481 (18 DEC 2009 - 24 DEC 2009) | TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Language, culture, economy, psychological make-up and territory combined make up nationality. Magarat is the nationality of Magar but other castes live there too.

The Maoists have come up with nationalities as the basis of federal units because the ethnic basis is impossible to implement. It won't be practicable to make a separate province for an ethnicity that claims a couple of hundred members. We can make 13 broad provinces based on nationality. There will be sub-provinces within the provinces. Ethnic minorities will be given autonomy at regional and village levels as required, with provisions of reservation for marginalised communities. Those without territory such as women and Dalits should be represented proportionately and inclusively.

The freedom of Magarat is the freedom of the people living there at large. However, Magars should get special political rights to utilise resources in the Magarat region. The preservation of language and culture too should be a priority.

The right to self-determination is the right to take decisions on our own. It should be acceptable to all to ensure the rulers cannot betray us. It means in principle that if the rulers try to curtail the rights of the people, they can secede.

Ethnicity in itself is a class. Magars in general are poor. Ethnic issues can be resolved much earlier than class issues. In Europe, there is no discrimination based on language and culture but even now there are issues of class: rich and poor.

Federalism alone cannot resolve ethnic issues, however.

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1. pweasd
"Ethnicity is class" .. my ars .. Mr Magar, do you even know what class means?

Posted on: 19 DEC 2009 | 9:10 AM NST

2. Maaiili
"Magars in general are poor". Agree. Bahuns, Chettris, Tharus in the remotest parts of Nepal are equally poor. Instead of beating the drums- "we are Magars so notice us!", you HAVE to work HARD. To come out of poverty, you have to WORK. HARD. You have no institutional discrimination to face anywhere in the country. You have voting rights. You have the right to fight for a section officer. You can be in the military. My saying is, a chunk of blacks in America didn't rise to power with their rights to vote. If they did, its because they worked hard. Other blacks, with all rights from voting to property are still living like shit on the streets. So no hard work, no gain.

Posted on: 21 DEC 2009 | 4:49 PM NST

3. jange
Sad to see Nepali political leaders regurgitating the entitlement politics of the so called liberal left wing of US/Europe with no idea of what they are saying, what it means, what it implies and how it would work in practice. Can hardly blame them though, Nepali Times is a much better example of that tendency.

Posted on: 22 DEC 2009 | 9:52 AM NST