NASO Community presents a Memorandum to Honorable Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal, Ms. Sahana Pradhan

Washington DC, Sunday, October 5- The President of NASO Community Mr. Dharam Bishwokarma handed over a memorandum to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal, Ms. Sahana Pradhan who is a currently a senior minister visiting the United States leading a Nepal’s delegation to the United Nations and the United States. Mr. Bishwokarma also gave her a introduction to NASO Community and its mission in the United States.

The memorandum put forth issues relating to the demands of the minority community (‘dalits’) in the forthcoming election and the government negligence in the recent Kapilbastu incident.

Several questions were asked to the visiting Foreign Minister on the issues of caste discrimination still rampant in Nepal. Ms. Sharda Khati, Medini Adhikari, Prakash Nepal and Dharam Bishwokarma were some of the people who put forward their quesions. It was one of the most effective presentations made from NASO Community so far. Prior to this interaction program, Mr. Krishna Sob presented the issues of our community. The other members present were Mr. DB Sagar, Kamala Bishwakarma, Deepak Jung Bishwakarma and Ichha Bishwakarma.

The video clips of the interaction program with the visiting Nepalese Senior Minister can be viewed from the following weblink:

http://nasocommunit y.com/PhotoGalle ry.aspx

The program was jointly organized by American-Nepali Women Association of Greater Washington DC (ANWA) and America Nepal Society (ANS).

The full text of the Memorandum submitted to the visiting Minister:

October 5, 2007

Honorable Foreign Minister
Ms. Sahana Pradhan
Government of Nepal
In Delegation Visit to UN and USA
Washington DC

Dear Hon’ble Deputy Prime Minister:

Treat your citizens equal: Kapilbastu Incident Must NOT be ignored

On behalf of the Nepalese and well-wishers of Nepal living in North America, we appreciate your and the alliance of seven political parties’ efforts in restructuring the nation’s political and economic as well as social systems. We fully understand its importance, complexity and challenges ahead. As aspired by the people’s revolution in April 2006, it has brought a hope to every citizen of the country for a total pluralistic, inclusive, and democratic nation. We see this as an opportunity to make ever lasting political changes and provide a direction for a better nationhood.

Inclusive governance with a total protection of human rights to every citizen of the country is undoubtedly the pre-condition for peace and sustainable development. Unfortunately, for the minority (“Dalits”), this has never been the case, which caused them to be socially, economically, and politically excluded for a long time in the history of Nepal. We minorities (Dalits are living with a hope that the present government will take initiatives to create provisions to eliminate caste discrimination completely from the country and create special provisions for minority’s (“dalits”) rights to live in dignity, with empowerment and without fear.
However, in order to ensure that no opportunity is missed to address minority’s (Dalits’) problem this time, unlike past, we urge you to consider the following which will establish a foundation to eliminate caste-based discrimination and concentrated development of minority communities:

1. Confer a state’s apology for age old oppression/discrimi nation against the minority (Dalits).

2. Formulate laws and by-laws to severely punish those perpetrators who practice caste-based discrimination and discriminate citizens based on their caste/ethnicity, gender, creed, race, age, class, physical appearance, religion, and/or ideological inclination. Avoid totally any term/sentence/ phrase or any syntax that contrasts or opposes this provision. Explicitly state Nepal as a secular nation that respects all citizens and strictly protects their human rights and dignity.

3. Establish an independent constitutional body, “Minority, Women, and Indigenous Commission”, on par with the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, to ensure that the rights and dignity of these minorities or disadvantaged groups are protected.

4. Ensure that all Nepali citizens will have choice to adopt first and last name on their own choice. Any citizen can chose surname on his/her own or families’ discretion or can select the first name of his/her father or mother as a surname.

5. Ensure that the Constitution Assembly (CA) will have proportionate (at least 20%) representatives consisting by minority (dalit) men and women. Also, ensure representation from minority (Dalit) community in all level of committees or units (in addition to CA) that will be formed in the development process of new constitution.

6. Establish and ensure effective implementation of Affirmative Action (AA) in hiring and promoting employees in all level of any organization (both government and private/non- government) , company, and institution to enhance minority (Dalit) men, women and children’s advancement and inclusion in the society. This includes proportionate number of (at least 20% this time) all public employment opportunities are provided to qualified minority (Dalit) men and women.

7. Make a provision to ensure that at least 20% of Government resources is allocated for minority’s (Dalits) empowerment/ development for about 30 years.

8. Lessons into the course books of school and college levels should be included that respect human rights, equality and individual dignity.

We appreciate your understanding of seriousness of the issues of ongoing minority’s (Dalits’) oppression, and facilitate eradicating the conservative dehumanizing discriminatory practices. This not only the voice of people living in North America but also complements the voice of minority (Dalits) living in Nepal. If these provisions are ignored, minority (Dalits) who make up 20% of the country’s population, will be bound to lose the hope from the existing government and leaders.

Kapitbastu Incident

We are very much hurt by the ignorance of Nepal Government in the Kapilbastu incident. We feel it is a well-planned incident by the ill elements who don’t want to see the democracy grow and bring piece in the country. Hundreds of innocent people have been slaughtered and thousand have fled to save their lives.

Unfortunately, by Nepal Government has totally turned blind to this incident. According to the local people, no government officials visited the place even after the incident. This is totally unacceptable.

We, hereby strongly demand with the Nepal Government to provide immediate relief to the victims family regardless of Madhesis or Pahadiyas. These are all our mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers. We request an immediate action to resettle the refugees and take necessary action to punish the culprits.

Respectfully,

Dharam Bishwakarma
President, NASO Community
Washington D.C.

Report by:
Prakash Nepal