In Nepal, Dalits are protesting the preliminary results of the constitution drafting process as Dalit concerns have not been duly reflected in the proposed 1st draft.
A large group of Dalit civil society leaders including Durga Sob (FEDO), Gajadhar Sunar (DNF), and Bhakta Bishwakarma (NNDSWO) from IDSN member and associate organisations, were taken into police custody while demonstrating peacefully for the inclusion of Dalit provisions in the Constitution which have not yet been addressed properly.
FEDO issued a press statement (in Nepali) demanding the release of Dalit leaders and they were in fact released on the same day.
Dalit organisations have been campaigning tirelessly for years for the comprehensive inclusion of Dalit issues in the draft constitution and have had substantial dialogue with the CA drafting committee. They are therefore very disappointed at the indications that the draft will not have properly included their demands and will continue to protest and raise the issue till they see a change.
UPDATE (30 May, 2012) The Government have now once again postponed the release of the draft constitution till later this year.
More Information
See IDSN’s Nepal country profile page for background information on Dalits in Nepal