Kathmandu, March 26. An interaction of the Central Committee member of the Buraku Liberation League (BLL), Japan Mr. Yamamoto Yoshihiko with Nepali Dalit leaders and activists took place at the premises of Dalit NGO Federation, Kamalpokhari. The visiting leader shared his experience of Buraku Liberation since 1922 when the League was founded. He informed that until 1960s the process of real emancipation of Buraku could not take place as the organization was more focussed on small small welfare activities and not rights issues. They were able to achieve success only when they were able to organize Buraku people. Since the very beginning of their movement they also included members of other non Buraku communities who were discriminated on many other ways. He informed that there are 300,000 members of BLL and contribute Rs. 700 per month as membership fee and also subscribe magazine at the rate of Rs. 200 which are the major source of funding. By mobilizing Buraku and other excluded groups they have been able to send the representatives to the local governments and parliaments. They do not get funds from national government but from local governments with that they have been able to transform their life which can be compared with the squatter’s settlement at the Bagmati river of Kathmandu.

The interaction was facilitated by Ms Mashako Tanaka and accompanied by Mr. Etsuzo Inamoto, an architect byprofession and representative of Asian Commission for Human Rights.

The interaction programme was attended by the executives of DNF and its member organizations. Speaking on the occassion Mr. Bombahadur Vishwakarma, General Secretary of DNF highlighted the importance of such visits which will bring solidarity to our movement. The programme was also atttended by the representative of NCDHR, India Dr. Umakant, who is in Kathmandu in connection with people’s SAARC.

Report by:
Hira Vishwakarma