http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=aFanata0va3qzpba3Va3sa.axamal&folder=aHaoamW&Name=Home&dtSiteDate=20071015
Dalit Leaders Back PR System of Election THT Online Kathmandu, October 15 Claiming that no Dalit can win if they were to contest first past the post system (FPPS) of election, Dalit leaders and activists on Sunday demanded all-out proportional election system for the constituent assembly. They said this while addressing a function organised by the Dalit NGO Federation Nepal (DNF-N). Dalit activist Dharma Biswokarma said only all-out proportional election system can ensure proper representation of deprived Dalit communities in the constituent assembly. Another Dalit activist Hira Biswokarma also stressed that all-out proportional election system was essential for the Dalit communities as they cannot win the FPPS election. He also demanded that the CPN-Maoist make it clear to the people about what sort of all-out proportional election system they were fighting for. Biswokarma further said that the Three-year Interim Plan has included most of the issues which were being raised by the Dalit communities. "We now focus on implementation of the plan," he said. President of National Dalit Commission Ram Lal Biswokarma, Dalit activist Shambhu Hajara Paswan, Jeevan Pariyar, Gajadhar Sunar and Bijul Biswokarma urged the government to adopt all-out proportional election system. "Dare to fight for the rights of your communities by crossing the party line," said senior Dalit rights activist Padam Sundas pointing at the Dalit leaders who were reluctant to go against their party politics. Tilak Pariyar, president of the Maoist-affiliated Dalit body, said election is not possible if all-out proportional election system is not adopted. During the function, Asmita KC, a ninth-grader at Rosebud School presented her views on the state of the Dalit communities of the nation.
