Nepal's Government urges minority groups to join talks ahead of elections

Nepal has urged ethnic minority groups to come forward for talks to discuss their demands for autonomy and a more active role in government ahead of planned elections, a senior minister said Thursday.

Several groups from southern Nepal have organized demonstrations and strikes over the past year to demand greater rights for minorities there, more seats in the national legislature and a guaranteed number of representatives in the administration.

There are about 20 ethnic minority groups in the south who say their region has been largely ignored in favor of the more populous north and complain government fiscal policies discriminate against them.

"I have urged them to come for talks and resolve whatever problems and concerns they have," said Peace Minister Ram Chandra Poudel.

"We are ready to resolve the problems through dialogue," Poudel told The Associated Press.

Poudel said it was critical to reach agreement with these groups to end their protests and strikes as soon as possible so elections planned for April 10 can be held.

"This is the right time for them to address their demands and we are urging them not to let go of this opportunity," Poudel said. He said there had not been an immediate response from the groups to the government proposal.

Officials have not set a deadline for the talks, but Poudel said the government was determined to hold elections on schedule.

The newly elected constituent assembly is expected to rewrite the constitution to end Nepal's centuries-old monarchy and decide the nation's future political system. The country's main political parties agreed last month to abolish the monarchy immediately after the April elections.

Katmandu, Thursday, AP