In 22 February 2022, an orientation was held in Dharan, Sunsari on legal and constitutional provisions including international human rights laws that are linked to protect Indigenous Peoples rights to land territories and resources, cultural heritages, religion including autonomy and self- determination in the context of protecting Khuwaling.
Khuwalung- sacred rock and cultural heritage of Kirant that stands at the confluence of the Tamor and Arun River at Tribenighat, from where the mighty Saptakoshi river flows in eastern Nepal. Mundhum – an ancient folk literature and the world view of Kirat that governs the Kirat communities (Rai IPs in particular) – describes the significance of Khuwalung on their belief system.
The Indigenous rights activists are claiming that the sacred rock is going to be destroyed in the pretext of making easy waterways (running steamers) and promoting tourism. On February 21, 2021, former Prime Minister, KP Sharma Oli expressed the intention to remove the hurdles and rocks to develop the smooth water transportation.
In budget speech for the fiscal year 2021-22 in late May, the former Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel announced to operate the water transport from Chatara to Bhojpur on the Koshi River by removing obstacles.
Since then, the Kirat communities (Rai, Sunuwar, Yamphu in particular) have been protesting against the government's intention on Khuwaling.
The orientation focused on how to strengthen communities' movement to protect Khuwaling and what the legal actions would be. In addition, legal provisions on Special, Protected and Autonomous regions including cultural protected areas have been discussed to encourage the participants to make their demands for autonomy in their ancestral territories. The Indigenous rights activists and leaders, who are defending the Khuwaling, participated in the orientation.
The orientation has been organized in collaboration with Khuwalung Protected Committee. Advocate Bhim Rai and Durga Yamphu facilitated the orientation.
