मितिः २०६३/०७/३०

श्री दलित अधिकारको सरोकारवाला महानुभावज्यूहरु,

विषयः आरक्षण सम्वन्धी मुद्दाको अन्तिम सुनुवाई सम्बन्धमा ।

महोदय,

उपरोक्त सम्वन्धमा नेपालमा लामो समयदेखि दलित आन्दोलनले आरक्षणको लागि सवाल उठाउदै आएको र राज्यले सुनेकोनसुन्यै गर्दैआएको पृष्ठभूमिमा यस संस्थाद्वारा देशको संविधान र अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय कानून बमोजिम आरक्षण सम्वन्धी स्पष्ट कानून अविलम्व निर्माण गर्न परमादेशको आदेश माग गरी सार्वजनिक सरोकारको मुद्दा सम्मानित सर्बाेच्च अदालतमा मिति २०६१ साल माघ १ गते दायर भै सो उपर सरकारका नाममा कारण देखाउ आदेश जारी भैसकेको र सो मुद्दाको अन्तिम सुनवाई मिति २०६३ साल मंसिर ४ गते हुने भएको व्यहोरा जानकारीको लागि अनुरोध गर्दछौं ।

…………………….
रत्नबहादुर बागचन्द
कार्यकारी निर्देशक/ संस्थापक अध्यक्ष

Find a copy of a press report here.

Dalit Students’ Mass Introduction Program

Nepal Independent Dalit Students Organization(NIDSO) is going to held a Mass Introduction Program (Brihat Parichayatmak Karyakram) in presence of prominent leaders of Eight-Students Union-Alliance and reknown leaders of Dalit Political Parties (Sister Organazations) in Kathmandu on 16 Mansir (2nd Dec.2006) from 11:00 am to 4:00 PM at Balmiki Campus. All Dalit students and well wishers are invited to participate the program.

For Contact:
Lokesh Biswokarma (President)-9841453958
Ram Nepali (Vice President)-9841440302
Balu Nepali (General Secretary)-9841444612
Sambhu Biswokarma (Member)-014271034

Organized by:
Nepal Independent Dalit Students Organization (NIDSO)
(Nepal Swatantra Dalit bidhyarthi Sangathan)

U.N. Committee takes up recommendations on Nepal

On November 8, 2005, the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice delivered a statement to the U.N. Committee against Torture urging the Committee members to investigate the extent of torture against Nepal’s lower-caste members, Dalits. The CHRGJ drew attention to the heightened vulnerability of Dalits in the current political climate in Nepal. It further identified the absence of reference to caste in Nepal’s report to the Committee. The Center also identified a series of questions that the Committee could put to the Nepalese delegation. These questions included a request for data disaggregated by caste and for further information on steps taken by Nepal to ensure accountability for torture, including through more diverse caste and ethnic representation in Nepalese police and army structures.

A number of the Center’s concerns were taken up directly by the Committee Against Torture both in questions put to Nepal and in its Conclusions and Recommendations issued 22 November, 2005. Specifically, the Committee in its Conclusions and Recommendations:

* Expressed concern “that the long standing pattern of caste discrimination is being further heightened by the current conflict in the country” (para. 27);
* Stated that Nepal “should undertake specific steps to… ensure that accountability mechanisms are in place guaranteeing that caste is not used as a basis for abuses, unlawful detention and torture and take steps to ensure more diverse caste and ethnic representation in its police and security forces” (para. 27);
* Emphasised that Nepal “should include information on caste discrimination in its next periodic report” (para. 27), including through data disaggregated by caste (para. 37).

For a copy of the CHRGJ statement to the U.N. Committee Against Torture see here.
For full copy of the Conclusions and Recommendations (22 November, 2005) see: http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cat/docs/CAT_C_NPL_CO_1_CRP.3.doc

On the 4th of November 2006, an interaction program was organized by the Nepaldalitinfo Network Support Group in Kathmandu. On the occasion, a warm welcome was accorded to the founder of the nework Dr. D.P. Rasali, and a letter of appreciation was handed over to him by the Hon. Minister of Environment, Science & Technology, on behalf of Dalit Welfare Organization. Dr. Rasali was on a short visit to Nepal from Canada after he left for Canada 8 years ago. On his initiation, a nepaldalitinfo yahoogroup was started in May 2003, followed by a website www.nepaldalitinfo.20m.com running as a resourceful site of Nepalese Dalit movement from the same year. More recently, in his coordination, and the support of his wife Ms. Krishna Rasali, Dr. Laurie Vasily and Mr. Sage Radachowsky, a new site with more features and additional resources has been up and running. The site www.nepaldalitinfo.net is now registered in net for 5 years.

The reception program was organized at Hotel Orchid, Tripureswor, Kathmandu, Nepal from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm. The program was organized in the Chairmanship of Dr. Laurie Vasily – the moderator of nepaldalitinfo yahoo group. Chief Guest of the program was Hon’ Man Bahadur Bishwakarma – the State Minister of Science & Technology, who honored the Special Guest – Dr. Rasali. Coordinator of the World Dignity Forum and a senior Dalit Activist – Mr. Moti Lal Nepali handed over the letter of honor to Hon’ Minister for awarding it to Dr. Rasali. Mr. Om Prakash V.K. – another senior Dalit Activist welcomed all the distinguished guests presenty in the program, while Mr. Pratik Pande – Moderator of nepaldalitinfo yahoo group highlighted the objectives of the program. Whereas, Mr. Hira Vishwakarma – a senior Dalit Activist, who was a key contributor forming this group briefed why and how was this group formed. Dr. Rasali was then given floor to express his words. Then the program was followed by the statement of Hon’ Minister and then the floor was made open for interactions with all the participants. The questions and interests that the members of the group raised was responded by Dr. Rasali. Mr. Suman Poudel – the moderator of this nepaldalitinfo yahoo group expressed his vote of thanks to the participants for their precious time dedicated for this program. And finally, Dr. Laurie Vasily – the Chairperson of the program concluded the program formally after her expressing the assertative views on nepaldalitinfo network.

The program was a grand success with participation of almost 80 Dalit Activists and friends of Dalits. Some other distinguished guests of the program were:

1. Mr. Padma Singh Bishwakarma, Former Chairperson – National Dalit Commission
2. Mr. Hari Gandhari, Former Member Secretary – National Dalit Commission
3. Mr. Shambhu Hajara Paswan, Former Member – National Dalit Commission
4. Mr. Bhakta Bishwakarma, Chairperson – NNDSWO
5. Mr. Man Bahadur B.K., Chairperson – JUP
6. Mr. Rem Bahadur B.K., General Secretary – JMC
7. Mr. Ratna Bahadur Baghchand, Chairperson – LANCAU
8. Mr. Tirtha Bishwakarma, Executive Director – DNF
9. Mr. Chakraman Bishwakarma, General Secretary – DWO
10. Mr. Min Bishwakarma – Nepal Dalit Sangh (D)
11. Dr. Chet Pariyar – Dalit Intellectual
12. Mr. Dal Singh Kami, Central Member – Nepali Congress (D)
13. Ms. Anita Pariyar, Female Dalit Activist
14. Mr. Thakur Baraily, Bishwakarma Ekata Samaj
15. Mr. Tilak Pariyar, EDWON – Nepal
16. Mr. Govinda Pariyar, Journalists
17. Mr. Desh Bahadur Sarki, Lawyer
18. Ms. Mina Sob, Female Dalit Activist
19. Ms. Shanti Burma, Female Dalit Activist

The program concluded that in today’s context, Information Technology (IT) is one of the major means to accelerate Dalit movement. In Dalit movement of 21st century, IT movement is different from traditional movement but plays vital role in addressing Dalits issues, I/nationally.

The program was organized in the financial and technical support of following organizations:

1. DNF
2. LANCAU
3. DWO
4. JUP
5. NNDSWO
6. JMC

Report by:
Pratik Pande

Nepaldalitinfo adds:

The Nepaldalitinfo Interaction Program held in Kathmandu on 4th November was covered widely by media and TV Channels in Kathmandu. The Kantipur TV broadcasted its news in its prime time the same evening and the following morning. The Image Channel TV broadcasted its in-depth report in its weekly feature called ” Image Serophero”; the video clip of the Image Serophero broadcast can now be viewed at:

सत्तारूढ सात दल र विद्रोही माओवादीबीच एघार वर्षे द्वन्द्व समस्या समाधान गर्न राजनीतिक एजेन्डा र हतियार व्यवस्थापनको मुद्दामा ऐतिहासिक समझदारी भएको छ ।
प्रधानमन्त्री निवास बालुवाटारमा सोमबार र मंगलबार [2063-7-22]आठ दलबीच भएको २१ घन्टा लामो गम्भीर वार्तापछि छ वटा शीर्षकमा ६७ वटा भिन्न भिन्न बुँदाहरु युक्त सम्झौता भएको हो । आठै दलका शीर्ष नेताले हस्ताक्षर गरी मंगलबार राति सम्झौता सार्वजनिक गरेका छन् ।
सहमतिअनुसार अन्तरिम संविधान समितिद्वारा मस्यौदा गरिएको संविधानलाई मंसिर ५ गतेसम्ममा पूर्णता दिइनेछ । जनआन्दोलन-२ को बलमा पुनःस्थापित प्रतिनिधिसभाले मंसिर १० गते अन्तरिम संविधानको घोषणा गर्नेछ ।

अन्तरिम संविधानको घोषणा गरेपछि वर्तमान संसद् भंग गरी सोही दिन अन्तरिम संसद्को घोषणा हुनेछ र त्यसले अन्तरिम संविधानलाई अनुमोदन गर्नेछ । मंसिर १५ गते अन्तरिम सरकार गठन गरिनेछ ।

आठ दलबीचको सहमतिअनुसार अन्तरिम संसद् एक सदनात्मक र ३ सय ३० सदस्यीय हुनेछ । अन्तरिम संसदमा कांग्रेसलाई सबभन्दा ठूलो दलको हैसियत दिइएको छ । त्यसपछि एमाले र माओवादीलाई ७३/७३ सिट दिएर समान हैसियतको दलको मान्यता दिइएको छ । राजनीतिक क्रम तालिकामा एमालेलाई माओवादीभन्दा माथि राखिएको छ । More www.dalitonlinenews.tk

Kathmandu, Nov 5, 2006. An orientation program on the role of moderators for a number of nepaldalitinfo network members representing various Dalit organizations was organized today. The program was held at Dalit Welfare Organization Head Quarters here.

The Nepalitinfo Moderator Dr. Laurie Vasily and its Founder Dr. D.P. Rasali conducted the orientation session.