18th September, 2015
Nepal”s Constituent Assembly (CA) voted by a two-thirds majority on the evening of 16th September, 2015, to approve the new constitution and keep the country a secular nation, rather than revert to being a Hindu state.
Christian believers, along with Muslims, Buddhists and other religious groups took to the streets during the past month to protest a constitutional draft, proposing a Hindu state.
A national call for three days of prayer and fasting by Christians in a solemn assembly, were held in the capitol of Kathmandu, on 10th to 12th September, while the Constituent Assembly was meeting to vote on a revised draft and amendments.
Throughout the nation small groups of believers were also praying together during that time.
Following the CA decision for religious freedom, some Hindu groups took to the streets in protest, burning churches and a police station with explosives.
There has also been much controversy and heightened tensions for a couple of months over the proposed draft, by marginalized groups protesting the re-districting. This led to protests, clashes with law enforcement and curfews resulting in nearly 40 deaths, 10 of them police officers and minors including an eighteen-month-old baby. Many houses were torched while residents were inside, as well as a few people shot due to crossing curfew boundaries.
On Wednesday, when the CA endorsed the revised Bill 2072, some marginalized parties boycotted the voting. Now, on 20th September, the constitution will commence.
– KATHLEEN HENDRICKS, ASSIST News Service
