Nepal has made rapid advances, but obstacles lie ahead – report by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

Nepal has made rapid advances, but obstacles lie ahead – report by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

United Nations, 27 April 2007 –

The peace process in Nepal has made “remarkable progress” since the start of last year, but complex questions remain about how to monitor the management of arms and armed personnel, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in his latest report to the Security Council on the situation in the Himalayan country.

Mr. Ban also warns that the upcoming election of a Constituent Assembly must be conducted in a manner that reflects the genuine will of the Nepalese people, including those communities that have been marginalized traditionally.
- FULL STORY-

Posted under News on Saturday 28 April 2007 at 9:53 am

UN experts stress on eliminating caste based discrimination

UN experts stress on eliminating caste based discrimination

Kathmandu- Apr 28 07. UN human rights experts have stressed the need of eliminating caste based discrimination and social exclusion in Nepal.

Speaking at a press conference at the end of week long visit to Nepal on Friday they said that all forms of caste based discrimination should be eliminated from the country.

Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental rights of indigenous people Rudolfo Stavenhagen stressed on ending the existing discrimination faced by the indigenous minorities.

He also stressed on the need for ratification of international instruments to strengthen laws for eliminating discrimination.

Chung Chin-sung, a member of the Sub-Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights stated that the team was embarrassed to see the discrimination within the discriminated groups and the degree of the discrimination was different.

Doudou Diene, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, said the OHCHR was here to support the people of Nepal, and has been doing what the UN can do best.

The team also expressed its interest in investigating the forms and degree of discrimination to take the issue to the UN General Assembly in September. (pb )

Click here for: >>>
Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism and racial discrimination Doudou Diene speaking at a press meet organized by OHCHR after their seven days visit. Diene said the demands of indigenous people of Nepal should be widely recognized by rest of Nepalese society as well as in the law and political process, Friday, Apr 27 07. nepalnews.com/ANA

Source: www.nepalnews.com

Posted under News on Saturday 28 April 2007 at 12:10 am

DHRO makes changes and elects its new executive

It gives me great pleasure to write to you as the newly elected President of the Dalit Human Rights Organization (DHRO). I am also pleased to be able to tell you that, following a period of reflection and reassessment, we have embarked upon and committed ourselves to fundamental changes that will make DHRO a role model for NGOs in Nepal. Significant changes have already been made to our governance, particularly in the way we elect democratically our Executive Board, but also in the range of different Dalit groups and the geographical areas from which they are drawn.

A promotional presentation that followed our Special General Assembly meeting on 21st April attracted general members. We were very encouraged and impressed by their quality and enthusiasm which we hope promises well for the strength and leadership of DHRO in the years ahead. Our plans include a substantial growth in active membership in the districts as well as Kathmandu.

I am a Dalit activist and my home is in Jhapa. The following colleagues (Name, Designation, Address, Area of interest given in order) have been elected with me to lead DHRO for the next three years:

Gopal Ramtel (Sarki), General Secretary, Sindhuli, Engineering

Raju Paswan (Terai Dalit), Treasurer, Saptari, Human Rights Defender

Tek Tamrakar, Member, Dadeldhura, Advocate

Baburam Bishwakarma, Member, Sindhuli, Human Rights Defender

Suman Paudel, Member, Palpa, Social Worker/Professional

Bhojman Lamgade, Member, Ilam, Advocate

With regards,

Tulsa Gautam (Pariyar)

President, DHRO

Posted under News, Organizations Bay on Tuesday 24 April 2007 at 8:35 am

सरकारले दिने दर्ता छुट दलितले पाउन सकेका छैन

दर्ता छुटबारे दलित अनभिज्ञ

कान्तिपुर संवाददाता
दाङ, वैशाख १० - जग्गा दर्तामा सरकारले दिएको छुट थाहा नहुँदा दलितले पाउन सकेका छैन । जग्गाको स्वामित्व बढाउन २० प्रतिशत छुटको व्यवस्था भएको नौ महिनासम्म कसैले पनि पाएका छैनन् । मालपोत अधिकृत केशवराज आचार्यले जग्गा किन्ने दलितले प्रशासनबाट सिफारिस लिई आएमा छुट दिने बताए । दलित सञ्जाल जिल्ला अध्यक्ष निर्मल नेपालीले मालपोतले यसबारे जानकारी नदिएकाले छुटबाट वञ्चित भएको बताए । प्रशासकीय अधिकृत मोहन जीसीले प्रशासनमा सिफारिसका लागि आएका एक दलित सिफारिस मागेपछि हालसम्म नआएको बताए ।

Source: ekantipur.com as posted on: 2007-04-23 22:30:32

Posted under News on Monday 23 April 2007 at 11:32 pm

नया“ नेपालको कार्यसूची

नया“ नेपालको कार्यसूची

देवेन्द्र पौडेल

राज्यको अग्रगामी पुनःसंरचनाको प्रक्रिया शुरू गर्नुभन्दा पहिले दर्ुइवटा महत्त्वपर्ूण्ा कार्य सम्पन्न गरसिक्नुपर्नेछ । पहिलो हो, जसरी पनि संविधानसभाको निर्वाचन सम्पन्न गरेर संविधान जनता आफै“ले बनाउने प्रक्रियाको प्रारम्भ गर्नु । दोस्रो, सम्पर्ूण्ा सामन्तवादी अवशेषहरूलाई खारेज गर्नु र लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्रको स्थापना गर्नु । यतिबेला गणतन्त्रात्मक सङ्घीय राज्यप्रणाली स्थापनामा सबैभन्दा बाधक तत्त्व राजतन्त्र नै हो । यसको समाप्तिबिना नया“ नेपाल निर्माण सम्भव छैन ।

विडम्बना के हो भने क्रान्तिकारी, जुझारु र अग्रगामी शक्तिको उपस् िथतिलाई सामान्य रूपमा पनि पचाउन नसक्ने यथास्थितिवादीहरूको कार्यशैली उस्तै छ । दरबारयिा तथा साम्रँज्यवादी शक्तिहरूले नेपाली जनतालाई नया“ स्तरमा उठाउन चाह“दैनन् । उनीहरूको स्वार्थ पूरा गरििदनेबाहेक अरू कार्यमा उनीहरूको सहयोग नहुने कुरा पनि स्पष्ट नै छ । त्यसैले वास्तवमै नया“ नेपाल निर्माणको प्रक्रियामा राज्यलाई प्रवेश गराउन जनताको अग्रगामी पहलकदमी आवश्यक छ । राज्यमा जर्जर र अवैज्ञानिक भइसकेका मन्त्रालय, कर्मचारी प्रशासन, सुरक्षा निकाय, कूटनीतिक अङ् गहरू, संस्थान, निजी तथा र्सार्वजनिक सङ्घसंस्  था, भूमि, कृषि, शिक्ष्ँा, रोजगारी, आवास, उद्योग, व्यापार, संस्कृति, पर्यटन, समाज कल्याण आदि सबै क्षेत्रका संयन्त्रहरूलाई गुणात्मक रूपमा बदल्नु आवश्यक छ ।

प्रायः शाहवंशीय शासनकालमा बनाइएका राज्यका यी सबै क्षेत्रका पुरानै संयन्त्रबीचबाट हामी नया“ नेपाल निर्माणको रटान लगाइरहेका छौ“ । तर, लोकतान्त्रिक मान्यता र संयन्त्रहरूलाई अघि बढाउन पुराना र अवैज्ञानिक ढा“चाका“चा निश्चय नै अवरोधक बन्ने गर्दछ । दरबारयिा प्रतिगामी तत्त्वहरूलाई राज्यबाट निलम्बित गर्ने मात्र नभई, पर्ूण्ा रूपमा पराजित गरेर मात्र त्यो अवरोधलाई हटाउन सकिनेछ । त्यसपछि मात्रै नया“ नेपाल निर्माणको प्रक्रिया अघि बढ्न सक्दछ ।

नया“ नेपाल निर्माणका न्यूनतम आधारहरूको सही र वास्तविक पहिचान गर्नुपर्छ । ती न्यूनतम आधारहरू हुन्, कृषिमा आधुनिकीकरण, यसका लागि भूमिमा रहेको सामन्ती, अर्धसामन्ती एवम् नोकरशाही पु“जीवादी उत्पादन सम्बन्धको अन्त्य, आधुनिक कृषि विकासका लागि वैज्ञानिक भूमिसुधार आवश्यक छन् । राज्यले भूमिहीन तथा गरीब किसानहरूलाई समेत न्यूनतम जमीनको व्यवस् था गर्नुपर्दछ । कृषि उत्पादनमा सामूहिक सहकारी प्रणाली लागू गर्नुपर्दछ । बीउबिजन, सि“चाइ, खेती प्रणाली, कृषि उपजहरूको उचित बजार व्यवस् थापन, कृषि प्राविधिकहरूको ठूलो पङ्क्ति निर्माणजस्ता विषयमा आमूल नीतिगत परविर्तन आवश्यक छ । सबैखाले कृषि ऋणहरूबाट वास् तविक किसानलाई मुक्ति दिलाउ“दै नया“ प्रकारको लगानी प्रबन्ध अपनाउन सक्नर्ुपर्दछ । त्यसरी मात्रै कृषिमा क्रान्ति हुनेछ र देश आत्मनिर्भर कृषि प्रणालीमा अघि बढ्नेछ ।

नेपालको र्सार्वभौमिकताको सुरक्षा, सामाजिक अपराध नियन्त्रण र जनताको जीउधनको सुरक्षाका लागि अत्यन्तै समर्पित, कर्मठ र योग्य लोकतान्त्रिक सुरक्षा निकायको आवश्यकता पर्नेछ । दर्ुइ विशाल छिमेकी देशका बीचमा रहेको हाम्रो देशको सामरकि महत्त्व स्पष्टै छ । यसका भौगोलिक विषमता नै विविधताका रूपमा अवस्थित छन् । खुला सिमानाका कारण सीमापारबिाट भित्रिने आपराधिक गतिविधिहरू हाम्रँे देशको मधेशी भू-भागमा ज्यादै बाक्लो रूपमा देखिएका छन् । यसबाहेक, पुरानो सामन्तवादी पारविारकि शासन संयन्त्रको पर्ूण्ारूपमा अन्त्य नहु“दासम्म नया“ नेपाल निर्माणको प्रक्रियामा अवरोध पार्न सक्ने भौतिक प्रतिरोधहरू हुन सक्दछन् । सामाजिक सद्भावलाई खलबल्याउनेे व्यक्ति हत्या, चोरी, डकैती र लुटपाटजस्ता विकृतिहरूलाई राज्यबाट पर्ूण्ा नियन्त्रण गर्नुपर्दछ ।

पर्ूण्ा लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्रमा आधारति तथा जनताको निगरानी र नियन्त्रणमा रहने वैज्ञानिक राज्यप्रणाली मुख्य आवश्यकता हो । यसका लागि राजकीय सत्ताका स्वामी स्वयम् जनता नै हुने राज्य व्यवस्था लागू हुनर्ुपर्दछ । लोकतान्त्रिक मान्यतामा आधारति विभिन्न तहका जनप्रतिनिधिसभा र जनसमितिहरूलाई राज्यसत्ताका अङ्गहरू बनाउनर्ुपर्छ । सबै तहका जनप्रतिनिधिसभाहरू जनताद्वारा बालिग मताधिकारका आधारमा निर्वाचित हुनर्ुपर्दछ । देश र जनताप्रति समर्पित तथा कुनै कलङ्क नलागेका निष्पक्ष व्यक्तिहरूलाई यस्ता सभा र समितिहरूमा निर्वाचित गराउने प्रणाली लागू गर्नुपर्दछ ।

देशमा व्याप्त गरबिी, अशिक्षा, बेरोजगारी, आत्मविश्वास, परनिर्भरताको अन्त्य गर्दै आत्मनिर्भर उद्योग वाणिज्य, बित्त र पर्ूवाधार विकासको जग बसाल्नुपर्नेछ । दलाल तथा नोकरशाही पु“जीपतिहरूको स् वामित्वमा रहेको पु“जीलाई राष्ट्रियकरण गर्ने र त्यसलाई उत्पादनमूलक कार्यमा विनियोजन गर्नु आवश्यक छ । देशमा ठूलो सङ्ख्यामा रहेका घरेलु उद्यमीहरूलाई तथा राष्ट्रिय पु“जीपतिहरूलाई संरक्षण र उचित प्रोत्साहन दिनर्ुपर्नेछ । उदार र खुला अर्थतन्त्रका नाममा प्रवेश गर्न खोज्ने र नेपाली सीप, साधन र स्रोतको प्रयोग गरेर देशको पु“जी पलायन गराउने सबैखाले तत्त्वहरूप्रति राज्य र्सतर्क हुनर्ुपर्छ ।

अवैज्ञानिक एवम् रुढीवादी शिक्षाप्रणाली र सांस्कृतिक मान्यताहरूको अन्त्य गर्दै जनपक्षीय संस्कृति र वैज्ञानिक शिक्षा प्रणाली अपनाए मात्रै नया“ नेपाल अघि बढ्न सक्दछ । आमजनसमुदायमा देशप्रेमको भावनालाई जागृत गराउनु, श्रमजीवी उत्पीडित जनताप्रति आदर, सम्मान, वैज्ञानिक मूल्य-मान्यताहरूमा आस्था जगाउनु, श्रमप्रति श्रद्धा एवम् सामाजिक र्सार्वजनिक सम्पत्त्रि्रति चासो र उत्तरदायित्व जगाउन सक्नर्ुपर्दछ । त्यसैगरी, शिक्ष्ँालाई र्सवसुलभ, न्यूनतम तहसम्म निःशुल्क र अनिवार्य गराएर मात्रै अशिक्षाको अन्त्य हुनेछ । पुराना अवैज्ञानिक र अव्यावहारकि पाठ्यपुस्तकहरूको खारेजीस“गै सीप, श्रम र दक्षता विकाससहितको उत्पादनमूलक र व्यावहारकि नया“ शिक्षा प्रणाली नया“ नेपाल निर्माणको अर्को महत्त्वपर्ूण्ा शर्त हो ।

राज्यमा प्रत्येक नागरकिले न्यूनतम स् वास् थ्य र समाज कल्याणको हक उपयोग गर्न पाउने प्रणालीलाई जसरी पनि कार्यान्वयन गर्न जरुरी छ । न्यूनतम स् वास् थ्य सेवालाई निःशुल्क बनाउने, दर्ुगम र विकट तथा विशाल देशका गाउ“बस् तीहरूमा स्वास् थ्य सेवा पुर्‍याउने योजना राज्यस“ग हुनर्ुपर्दछ । धामीझा“की, झारफुक, मन्त्र आदि जस्ता पुराना रुढीवादी पद्धतिको पर्ूण्ा अन्त्य गरेर आधुनिक र वैज्ञानिक चिकित्सा प्रणाली अपनाउनुपर्नेछ । त्यसैगरी जनयुद्ध र जनआन्दोलनमा अपाङ्ग, घाइते भएकाहरू, अन्य प्राकृतिक वा विविध कारणले अपाङ्ग भएकाहरू, वृद्ध, असहाय आदिलाई उचित प्रकारले ध्यान दिने प्रकारको समाज कल्याणका पद्धतिहरूको विकास गर्नुपर्नेछ ।

वर्गीय, जातीय, क्षेत्रीय र लैङ्गिक उत्पीडनको अन्त्य गर्ने गरी ती वर्ग र समुदायलाई राज्यले उचित प्रकारको लोकतान्त्रिक समावेशी प्रणाली लागू गर्न सक्नुपर्नेछ । एकात्मक शाहवंशीय राज्यसत्ताबाट उपेक्षित ती समुदायलाई निश्चित परयिोजनाको परििधभित्र ल्याएर माथि उठाउने र सबै जनतालाई अधिकार सम्पन्न गराउने सङ्घीय र समावेशी प्रकारको राजकीय संरचनाको विकास गरेर मात्रै नया“ नेपाल निर्माण प्रक्रिया अगाडि बढ्न सक्नेछ ।

जनसङ्ख्याको आधा हिस्सा ओगटेका महिलाहरूमाथि भए-गरएिका पितृसत्तात्मक शोषणका सबै रूपहरूको राज्यबाट पर्ूण्ा अन्त्य गर्न जरुरी छ । महिलाहरूलाई सबै क्षेत्रमा पुरुषसरह सबै अधिकार दिए मात्रै महिलाहरूको विकास सम्भव हुनेछ । बच्चाहरूको लालनपालनदेखि राजकीय सत्ताका सबै निकायहरूमा समान सहभागिताका लागि विशेषाधिकारको व्यवस् था गर्नुपर्नेछ । वादी, झुमा, वेश्यावृत्ति, चेलीबेटी बेचबिखन आदि जस्ता क्रियाकलापहरू सामाजिक अपराध भएकाले त्यस्ता क्रियाकलापहरूलाई राज्यले पर्ूण्ा नियन्त्रण गर्न सक्नर्ुपर्दछ । प्रेम, विवाह र सम्बन्धविच्छेदबारे नया“ र वैज्ञानिक मूल्यमान्यताहरू स्थापित गर्दा सबै तहमा महिलाहरूलाई माथि उठाउने प्रक्रिया अपनाउनुपर्नेछ ।

सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र अनुरूपको राज्यप्रणालीमा हिन्दू वर्ण्ााश्रम व्यवस्था अनुसारका उत्पीडित दलित जातिहरूमाथि विगतदेखि ह“ुदै आएको शोषण-उत्पीडनका सबै रूपहरू अन्त्य गरनिर्ुपर्दछ । साथै, उत्पीडित दलित जातिहरू अन्य नागरकिसरह सम्मानजनक रूपमा समाजमा रहन-बस्न पाउने ग्यारेन्टी राज्यले मिलाउनुपर्नेछ । छुवाछूत र छोइछिटो प्रणालीलाई पर्ूण्ा रूपमा अन्त्य गर्नका लागि कसैले छुवाछूतको व्यवहार वा क्रियाकलाप गरेमा समाजमा दण्डित हुने नियमहरू बनाउनर्ुपर्छ । क्षमता र योग्यतालाई समेत विकास गर्नका लागि राज्यका प्रायः सबै निकायहरूमा दलित समुदायहरूको उचित समावेशीकरणमा विशेष पहलकदमी लिनुपर्नेछ ।

सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्रको मान्यतामा आधारति स्वतन्त्रता र राष्ट्रिय अखण्डताको रक्षा गर्ने, गणतान्त्रिक र्सार्वभौमसत्तँको रक्षा गर्ने, जनताको हित एवम् समृद्धिको रक्षा गर्ने तथा सबैखाले साम्राज्यवादी र विस् तारवादी नीतिहरूले विरोध गर्ने स् वतन्त्र, र्सार्वभौम र निष्पक्ष विदेश नीति तथा कूटनीतिक प्रणालीलाई नया“ नेपाल निर्माणका क्रममा अपनाउनुपर्नेछ । मुख्यमुख्य प्राकृतिक रमणीय स् थानहरूमा न्यूनतम यातायात र सञ्चारको सुविधा पुर्‍याएर कम लगानीमा अत्यन्तै बढी फाइदा हुने पर्यटन व्यवसायलाई विशेष प्राथमिकता दिनु आवश्यक छ ।

यिनै आधारभूत विषयहरूलाई अघि बढाउन र्सवप्रथम राजनीतिक स्थिरता र प्रतिबद्धताको आवश्यकता पर्दछ । यतिबेला राज्यमा अझै पनि राजनीतिक रूपमा स्थिरता पैदा हुनसकेको छैन । राज्यका सामु उभिएका तीन एजेण्डाहरू, जसरी पनि संविधानसभाको निर्वाचन, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्रको स्थापना र त्यसपछि राज्यको अग्रगामी पुनःगठन आदि कार्य सबैले मिलेर गर्न जरुरी छ । देशलाई बर्बादीतिर धकेल्नका लागि प्रतिगमनकारी तत्त्वहरू क्रियाशील छन् । संविधानसभाको चुनावै हुन नदिने षड्यन्त्रहरू भइरहेका छन् । त्यसैले कोही कसैले कसैस“ग पर्ूवाग्रह नराखी नया“ नेपाल निर्माण गर्न सबै खाले यथास्थितिवादी प्रवृत्ति, विचार र कार्यशैलीलाई सच्याउ“दै अघि बढ्ने राष्ट्रिय एकता एवम् सहमतिको नया“ आयाम आवश्यक भएको छ ।

Source: Nepal magazine, Kathmandu, Sunday, April 22, 2007 (Baisakh 9 2064)
*पौडेल नेकपा (माओवादी) का केन्द्रीय सदस्य हुन् ।

Posted under Perspectives / Analysis on Sunday 22 April 2007 at 2:36 pm

Nepal Apex Court delivers verdict against Haliya system

Court verdict recognises Haliya’s rights [ 2007-4-19 ]
RSS

KATHMANDU, Apr. 18: The Supreme Court has handed down a historic verdict in connection with the Haliya system which had been pending for four years.

The apex court, on April 16, gave its verdict in favour of the Haliyas in response to a case related to the abolishment of the Haliya system filed in 2003. The government and related bodies were made the defendants in the case.

National President of Nepal National Dalit Society Association, Bhakta Bishwakarma gave out this information at a programme the Association organised here Wednesday to disseminate the Supreme Court verdict in favour of the Haliya rights.

The Haliya system is a vestige of the base form of slavery among the many social practices existing in the nine districts of the Far Western Development Region of Nepal.

Under this system, the people from the Dalit community have to work for many generations as the ploughman for a small amount of credit taken from the lender without getting any wages. Similarly, the children and women members of the people from the Dalit community working as Haliya have to work for the lender without any wages. This system has been in existence since 105 years.

This verdict of the Supreme Court has freed the Haliyas from the bondage to their lenders as the Kamaiyas. The Association has urged the government and the concerned bodies for fully implementing the verdict which it said is a historic success of the oppressed and the downtrodden Haliyas.

Source: The Rising Nepal (www.gorkhapatra.org.np)
Also in: Zee News South Asia Bureau Report

The nepaldalitinfo adds:

The three pettitioners who file this case in the Supreme Court were Mr. Uttar Tamata, Advocate Trilok Chand Vishwas V.K. and Advocate Dharmanada Joshi.

Posted under News on Thursday 19 April 2007 at 11:13 pm

A US Radio Show DJ shaked for his racist slur

A Radio show disc jockey Don Imus has been sacked from his job after the huge controversy of the racial discrimination. He had used his vulgar and dominating words against African American communities during his radio show.

Read for the news details at this link: >>> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6547631.stm

A racism related news from the United States might be relevant to Dalit movement of Nepal. It is also a good example for the Dalit activists and human rights activists of Nepal to cite in creating awareness against caste discrimination.

Report by:
Rajan Sunar

Posted under News on Friday 13 April 2007 at 10:05 am

A Citizen Assembly for Dalits of new Nepal in the offing

Kathmandu- April 10. A number of Dalit activists from different organizations gathered together here in JMC today. This was in realization that the country is heading towards the election of Constituent Assembly (CA), and the issues of Dalits are still not any major agenda of either political parties or government. Therefore, it was analyzed that the time has come for all Dalits to spearhead a common movement to show the entire world that Dalits can and are united together to raise their own voices that must be addressed through this forthcoming CA.

The participants unanimously decided to organize National Citizen Assembly of Dalits in Kathmandu within a month time from today. The event has been named as Naya Nepal Ma Dalit Nagrik Sammelan (Dalits in New Nepal Citizen Assembly in English).

This Citizen Assembly will bring about almost 500/700 representatives of Dalits to Kathmandu, out of which almost half will be invited from out of the valley. The meeting decided to bring together Dalits of all the sectors in this common platform to organize this event, as participants of the meeting believed that this event would prepare official documents in favor of Dalits in relation to CA. But there has been strong mandate that the Royalists and Pro-Royalists will not be made part of this group and event. The proposed gathering will review the ongoing Dalit movement and decide for the future course of action unitedly. Participants of the meeting also decided that this event will not just be organized for sake of organizing event rather the a strong follow up will also be carried out regularly even after completion of this event.

To organize the event smoothly, meeting has also formed the following committees which are not full as of now and will be filled in within 7 days of today. The committees are:

Political Issue Identifying Committee:
Mr. Moti Lal Nepali – Coordinator
Mr. Bhojman Lamgade – Member
Mr. Birendra B.K. – Member

Secretariat:
Mr. Rem Bahadur B.K. – Coordinator
Mr. Pandav K.C. – Member
Ms. Indira Shankar – Member

Youth Committee:
Mr. Ram Nepali – Coordinator
Mr. Om Adhikari – Member

Women Committee:
Ms. Bishnu Pariyar – Coordinator
Ms. Gaura Nepali – Member

Minorities Committee:
Mr. Hari Gandhari – Coordinator
Ms. Maya Singh Nepali – Member
Mr. Sher Bahadur Parki – Member

Madhesi Committee:
Mr. Shambhu Hajara Paswan – Coordinator

Volunteer Mobilizing Committee:
Mr. Sahek B.K. – Coordinator

Media Mobilizing Committee:
Mr. Binod Pahadi – Coordinator
Mr. Suvash Kumar Darnal – Member

Fund Raising Committee:
Mr. Suvash Kumar Darnal – Coordinator

The meeting concluded handling over all the secretariat responsibility to Rem B.K. so that he would follow up with all the committee members to work effectively to organize the event smoothly.

Following is the list of participants of the meeting:
Mr. Purna Singh Baraily – Jagaran Media Center (JMC)
Mr. Om Bahadur Adhikari – PDRC
Mr. Birendra Bishwakarma – PDRC
Mr. Sahek B.K. – COCAP
Mr. Bhojman Lamgade – DHRO
Ms. Bishnu Maya Pariyar – NDC – Nepal
Mr. Om Prakash V.K. – CDRD
Mr. Hari Prasad Gandhari – GCAO
Mr. Shambhu Hajara Paswan – NDC
Mr. Moti Lal Nepali – DNF – Nepal
Mr. Rem Bishwakarm – DNF – Nepal
Mr. Suvash Kumar Darnal – JMC
Mr. Ram Nepali – ADWON
Ms. Gaura Nepali – ADWAN
Ms. Indira Shankar – PDRC
Mr. Pandav K.C. – Creative Media Forum
Mr. Sunil Basnet – FEDO
Mr. Pratik Pande – JMC

Posted under News, Organizations Bay on Tuesday 10 April 2007 at 10:24 pm

Communities and organizations condemn untouchability practice in a Parbat School

Rasali’s Wrath:

I had gone through this myself along with five other classmates of mine in Rambha High School, Tanhoon in Palpa district way back in Kartik 2026 B.S. (1970). It was in the High School Sent Party in which we the Grade IX Class were to bid the farewell to outgoig Grade X class. School teachers, except one rational thinking human, ganged up with the rest of other (so called high) caste students in our class to disallow six of us to be part of a school’s party cooking team. I never thought, those classmates to be any higher than myself. Being a top boy in the class, all of my classmates were to bow their heads in front of me, especially when it came to coaching them some Maths or English. Being also the duly elected class monitor, it was my sole responsibility to lead the organization and management of the party including shopping, cooking and serving food; all others were to contribute to the agreed plan to make it a grand success. But, it was the gang of teachers led by no other than the Head Master of the High School, a MA in Special English, who orchastrated a drama to sideline the six of us conveniently; but due to our vehement opposition, it turned out to be a voilent physical fight ending totally our participation in the party. But, this happened more than 36 years ago, and now we are in the 21st century!

How can a teacher of a government run school dare discriminate students and practice a disgusting social crime such as caste discrimination and untouchability right at the premises of a PUBLIC school even now? All students from our communities must rise and oppose what these criminal teachers are preaching and practicing even today. Our communities must blacklist these social criminals as casteists/racists so that they will have to pay the price of their crime tag for life and beyond. Their offsprings will know what kind of disgraceful characters they possess.

We must put high pressure on the present government to dismiss those discriminating teachers of Parbat from their respective jobs immediately for their wrong doing in their duties.

Press release by Dalit NGO Federation (DNF):

DNF condemns the incident of untouchability practice in an educational instutution that happened in a School of Parbat district, and has demanded stern action against the culprit teachers. The DNF Press Release (in Nepali version) follows:

मितिः २०६३ चैत्र २६

प्रेस विज्ञप्ती

पर्वत जिल्ला माझफांट गाविसस्थित फड्केढुंगा निम्न माध्यमिक विद्यालयमा शैक्षिक शत्र २०६३/०६४ को अन्तिम परिक्षाको मति २०६३ चैत्र २५ गते भएको पाकशिक्षा विषयको परिक्षामा गरिएको छुवाछूतको घटना प्रति यस दलित गैरसरकारी संस्था महासंघको ध्यान आकर्षा भएको छ विद्यालयको परिक्षामा दलित विद्यार्थी भएकै कारण परीक्षामा सामेल नगरी अन्य काम अराएको र माथिल्ला जातीलाई मात्र पकाउन लगाईएकोमा त्यहांका दलित विद्यार्थीले त्यसको विरोध गरेको थिए । शिक्षा मार्गदर्शन दिने ठांउमा नै त्यस किसिमको विभेदकारी मार्गदर्शन दिन्छन भने भोलीको नेपालले कस्तो परिवर्तन गर्ला - एक सच्चा गुरुले सच्चा ज्ञान सिकाउनु पर्नेमा विभेदकारी ज्ञान र कुरा सिकाउछ भने त्यस्ता गुरुबाट निर्देशित विद्यार्थीहरु कस्ता होला र नेपाली समाजले तिनीहरुबाट के आशा राख्ने- यस्तो यो संवेदनशिल विषयमा छिटो भन्दा छिटो दोषीलाई कार्वाही गर्न र पिडितलाई क्षतिपर्ूर्ति दिलाउन नेपाल सरकार साथै सम्बन्धित जिल्ला शिक्षा कार्यालय लगायत सरोकारवाला सबै पक्षमा यस महासंघको जोडदार माग गर्दछ ।

तीर्थ बर्मा
कार्यकारी निर्देशक
दतिल गैरसरकारी संस्था महासंघ
कमलपोखरी, काठमाडौं ।
Dalit NGO Federation (DNF)
Kamalpokhari, Lohotse Marg, HN-70,
Phone: +0977-01-4413589/17, 2003124
Email: dnf@dnfnepal.org, Web: www.dnfnepal.org

Press release by Nepal Independent Dalit Student Organization (NIDSO):

Nepal Independent Dalit Student Organization (NIDSO) realesed a press statement (see below) against discrimination to the Dalit students in a school in Parbat. The subject specialist teachers of a lower secondary school in Parbat responsible for Food Lab course didn’t allow Dalit Students to take part in the Home/Food Science Practical Exam, practicing untouchability in the classroom in the government run school. Students were required to cook different food items in the practical exam of Home Science as a vocational subject. The so-called upper caste tribes did not accept food cooked by Dalits.

Please see the press statement below (in Nepali version):

NIDSO Press Release on Parbat Food Lab Scandal

Report by:

Ram Nepali

News from from Rajendraonline:

दलित विद्यार्थी पाकशिक्षाबाट वञ्चित

Posted under News, Focus on Monday 9 April 2007 at 8:59 pm

International fact-finding mission on the right to food in Nepal (April 8 to 20, 2007)

International fact-finding mission on the right to food in Nepal (April 8 to 20, 2007)

MONTREAL – April 8, 2007 – In collaboration with the Office of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, FIAN-International and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Rights & Democracy has organized an international fact-finding mission to Nepal from April 8 to 20, 2007 to assess hunger and food insecurity in Nepal from the perspective of the state’s obligation to respect, protect and fulfill the human right to food.

“The mission will assess persistent hunger in Nepal, identify its causes and propose solutions based on state obligations to respect, protect and fulfil the human right to food. A special emphasis will be put on the human rights of indigenous people, women and Dalits.”, says a Rights & Democracy news release dated April 4.

Arriving in Kathmandu on April 8, the 13-day mission will undertake visits to affected communities and conduct interviews with government representatives, as well as with UN and donor agencies, social movements and civil society organizations. Nepalese experts on food security will join representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization, the Human Rights Council’s Research Unit on the Right to Food, Rights & Democracy, FIAN International, International Indian Treaty Council and Action-Aid Malawi to form three teams for site visits in different parts of the country.

Nepal is classified as a least-developed country (LDC), ranking 138 out of 177 countries in the United Nations Development Program’s Human Development Report 2006. Poverty in Nepal is mostly a rural phenomenon, with 86% of the poor living in rural areas. Studies on food security have shown that about 50% of the people involved in farming, agricultural labour, share-cropping, portering non-tourist items and providing traditional rural services are hungry.

Preliminary findings will be released during a press conference in Kathmandu on April 19th. A mission report will be submitted later in the year.

Source: Rights & Democracy

Posted under News on Sunday 8 April 2007 at 1:15 pm
Next Page »
Site operated by Nepaldalitinfo Network. Inclusion of an article on this website does not constitute endorsement of its content. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information for research and educational purposes by visiting this site which is designed for this purpose. Powered by WordPress 1.5. RSS feeds: Entries and Comments.