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With the generous support of Swiss
Government and Swiss Campaign to Ban Landmines Ban Landmines Campaign Nepal (NCBL)
organized one day National Seminar on the theme "Emergency and
Landmines" in Kathmandu on 7 February 2002. |
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On the occasion of the Seminar the State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arjun
Jung Bahadur Singh said that the process to sign the mine Ban Treaty 1997 is
at the final stage.
"The process to sign the landmines Ban Treaty 1997 is at the final state
" state Minister Singh said while addressing in the seminar." I hope
the government will sign the treaty very soon." He said" The
government is now is assessing the potential impacts after signing it. We are
accumulating inputs from the experts".
Speaking on the occasion, chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Human Rights
Committee of the House of Representatives Som Prasad Pandey, urged the Maoists
to stop planting the landmines targeting the individuals. " That group
(Maoist) should think and become serious about this", he said.
Pandey also asked the government to sigh the Landmine Ban Treaty as soon as
possible.
Deputy
Inspector General of the Armed Police Force, Rabi Jung Thapa, addressing the
function said the Maoists have not only claimed personal lives, but have also
created a psychological terror by planting the landmines. DIG Thapa also said
the police have not been using the landmines and booby traps. Addressing the seminar lawmaker Chitra Bahadur
KC, leader of Rastriya Prajatantra Party Jog Mehar Shrestha, lawmaker and
leader of CPN-uml, Rajendra Pandey, former speaker Damannath Dhungana and
Coordinator of Ban Landmines Campaign Nepal Purna Shova Chitrakar urged the
government to sign the treaty and be a member of state party, help survivor
make awareness among the people, etc. and the Maoists stop using the landmines.
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Interaction
program on "Role of Educational Institution to Eliminate Landmines and to
Promote Peace" (April 20, 2001)
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Ban Landmines Campaign Nepal (NCBL) organized an interaction on "Role of
Educational Institution to Eliminate Landmines and to promote peace" on
April 20, 2001.
Presiding over the program, member of NCBL Kamala Shrestha shed light on
various efforts made and programs carried out by the NCBL.
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Chairman of Nepal Teachers' Association Keshav Prasad Bhattarai stressed on
the need of creating awareness among the school children of the mine affected
districts like Rukum, Rolpa, Salyan, Jajarkot and other districts. Moreover,
Landmines has to be in corporated in school curriculum.
Bijay Bajracharya, Headmaster of Himalaya High School said as the children are
very receptive and eager to learn, they should be informed about the danger of
landmines.
Coordinator of NCBL Purna Shova Chitrakar informed that NCBL would initiate
video show , signature collection campaign and picture competition to generate
awareness among the school children, she said that in order to save the
country from the peril of landmines, governmental, non-governmental section
and the civil society have to take initiative to ban landmines.
A video prepared by Unicef and photos and posters from different country were
also shown on the occasion.
In that program participants from different teachers' associations, teachers
from different schools, students and representatives from Junior Red Cross
were participated.
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National
Seminar on "BAN LANDMINES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND WORLD PEACE: THE NEED OF
PRESENT" (11-12 December, 2000) |
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Opening Ceremony (11 December 2000)
Hon'ble Mr. Jeevan Prem Shrestha, A parliamentarian of the ruling
Nepali Congress Party at the Upper House chaired the inaugural session of the
National Seminar. In his inaugural speech, he said that he would make the best
effort in pressurizing the government to sign the Ottawa Treaty.
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Member of National Human Rights Commission, Hon'ble Mr.Sushil
Pyakurel, chaired the second session of the two-day seminar. Speaking from the
chair he said that the Commission would urge the government to sign the Ottawa
Treaty.
The judge of the Supreme Court Hon'ble Mr. Laxman Prasad Aryal
inaugurated the Seminar as the chief guest. Mr. Aryal spoke on the issue of
landmine at length. This is expected to boost the moral of intellectuals,
legal experts and the government to sign the Ottawa Treaty on the ban of
Landmines.
Hon'ble Mr. Tilak Prasad Neupane, a lawmaker of ruling party
also participated in the seminar as a guest and delivered his speech. It is
believed that the ruling party will be aware with the concern of ban the
landmines and need to sign the Ottawa Treaty.
Leaders of other main political parties also took part in the
seminar. Mr. Shanker Pokhrel, the leader of the Communist Party of Nepal
Unified Marxist and leninist (CPN-UML), Mr. Jagat Bahadur Gurung of the
Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Mr. Prem Kumar Shrestha of RPP took part in
the seminar as the representatives of the political parties. Lt. General Mr.
Gurbir Man Singh of ICRC, New Delhi, Mr. Gauri Pradhan of CWIN, also took part
in the seminar and emphasize that they are in favor of banning the landmines.
The response of major political parties are important for influencing the
decision making of the government. Mr. Venerat Iwara Rao a resident
representative of Embassy of Republic of India also attended the seminar.
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Second
Day Session (12 December 2000)
In the second day, five papers were presented. They were on 'The growing
problem of landmines in Nepal' by Hon'ble Mr. Prem Bahadur Singh, the former
Minister of Law and Justice,'Penetrating Missile and Blast Injuries in Police
Hospital in the Aftermath of the socalled Peoples War' by SSP Dr.Megh RajGurung,'Landmine |
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and its Effect on Human Health and Ban on Landmines' by Dr.
Mathura Prasad Shrestha, the former Minister of Health, 'The Ottawa Process
and Non-State Actors' by Lt. General Mr. Gurbir Man Singh from ICRC New Delhi,
and 'The use of Landmines and its Challenges Against Human Rights and the
Question of its Ban' by Advocate Mr. Hari Phuyal. The session was chaired by
Hon'ble Sushil Pyakurel, Member of National Human Rights Commission.
You can read all papers in our publication.
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Six Different Meetings
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Meeting with Political Parties (23 October 2000)
Leaders of the ruling Nepali Congress including former Prime Minister Hon'ble
Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba, Spokesperson of NC, and Mr. Narahari Acharya, central
working committee member, Mr. Arjun Narsingh KC, Former Home Minister Mr. Purna
Bahdur Khadka were invited to the interaction, but due to an emergency meeting
of the Nepali Congress Central Working Committee, they could not atten the program.
However, other leaders of NC and other political parties participated
in the interaction. The main opposition Party CPN (UML) which has 68 seats in
the parliament, the National Democratic Party (RPP-Thapa) which has 12 seats
in the parliament, National Democratic Party (RPP-Chand) 2 seats in Upper House
participated the interaction program.
Common Issue of Concern raised by the Speakers of the Political Parties.
1. Forward the united move to resolve the problem of landmines.
2. Build up the solidarity to the campaign on banning landmines.
3. Pressurize the government to sign the Ottawa Treaty on Ban Landmines.
4. To force the government immediately to start the peace dialogue with Maoist
rebels to resolve the problem.
5. To raise awareness among the people about landmines, create public
opinion
against the use of landmines, pressurize the government and the Maoists for
talks to end the violence.
6. To keep a close watch on border entry points to check the import of explosives.
7. To raise voice to ask China, India (two big beighbors of Nepal) and america
to sign the mine ban treaty.
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Meetings With Youth Organizations (1 November
2000)
Representatives of influential and nationwide youth organizations Demoratic
National Youth Federation (Mass organization of CPN (UML), National Democratic
Youth Organization (Mass organization of National Democratic Party), Junior
Red Cross, National Democratic Youth Organization (Mass organization of
RPP-Chand), Layamha Pucha (NGO), Friendship Youth Club, Democratic National
Youth Federation (Mass organization of CPN-ML), Tarun Dal (Mass organization
of Ruling Nepali Congress), Layaku Doza Club, Everest Youth Club participated
the interaction program. The youth participants were actively engaged in the
social works.
The issues of common concern came out from this program.
1. Build up pressure to the government to sign the Ottawa
Treaty.
2. Check the entry points at the border areas to stop the illegal entry of
raw materials for explosives.
3. Build up the pressure for the mapping of the mine prone areas.
4. Build up the pressure to relocate the gunpowder factory from the
capital.
5. Alert other political parties not to resort the use of mines.
6. To provide the training to the health workers of the mine-affected
areas to treat mine victims.
7. Give training to army and police for the dictation of mines.
8. Mobilize army and police as per the customary laws.
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Meeting With Professional Organizations (12 November
2000)
The professional organizations could play an important role in building
awareness among the people about landmines and they could also be vital in
stopping the use of mines, representatives of national and local level
professional organizations were also invited to the interaction.
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Medical doctors, nurses, professors, health assistants, teachers and
government employees took part in the interaction program. They are Nepal
Trade Union Congress, Federation of Professional Organization, Inter
Corporation Employees Association, Nepal Teachers Association, Nepal National
Teachers Association of Nepal, Nepal Government Employees Organization,
Alliance Nepal, Nepal Oil Corporation Employees Association, Nepal Electricity
Authority Employees Council, JEMC, School Executives Forum of Nepal.
The issue of common concern came out from this program:
1. The intellectuals have come to the conclusion that the Government
must be pressurize to sign the Ottawa Treaty.
2. Both the government and Maoists must be appealed to shun
the violence and urged to NCBL to take initiatives to repeal clauses of
Article three of the Ottawa Treaty.
3. There has been to suggestion to create employment
opportunities for the youths so that they could not be de motivated towards
violent activities.
4. Make the massive publication on the negative impacts of
conflicts.
5. There has been an urged to clear the mines used by the army during
the training. The participants have urged to relocate the Royal Nepalese
Army's gunpowder factory from Swoyambhu area.
6. They also requested the government and the concerned parties to
put forward the agendas rose during the interaction program and urged all
governmental and non-governmental organizations to create awareness among the
people about the scourge of mine.
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Meeting With Religious Organizations (19 November 2000)
Nepalese people have strong allegiance to religion and religious leaders.
Nowadays, religion in Nepal is not confined to only the temples and shrine
rather it has spread itself to every nook and corner of the Kingdom. Tens of
thousands of people
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attend preaching at different places daily. Therefore, in
keeping with the reach of such organizations and their influences on fostering
non-violence in the society, the NCBL invited representatives of different
religious sects to the interaction program. They were Pranidhi Purna Mahabihar,
Bharma Chakra Bihar, Vishow Samikchha, Baudha Upashana Kendra, Ananda Bhuwan
Bihar, Adwailt Sanstha Nepal Religious Parliament, Dharma Shanti Parishad
Nepal, Bramha Kumari Rajyog Sewa Kendra, Biswo Shanti Bihar Antarastriya
Baudha Bhawana Kendra and Yuba Baudha Samuha.
The issue of common concern came out from this interaction
program:
1. The spiritual leaders expressed the views that peace marches should
be organized in order to distract people from violent activities.
2. They also said that if the government keeps on ignoring to
sign the Ottawa Treaty, a pressure group has to be formed to press the
government to sign it.
3. They also suggested including landmines in the text books of school
curriculum and not to give weapon toys to children to please them and to raise
awareness among the people about landmines at public gathering and other
occasions as well.
Meeting With Student Organizations (25 November 2000)
An interaction was also held among the representatives of various students'
organizations of national levels. They were Nepal Students Union (Student wing
of Ruling Nepali Congress), All Nepal National Free Students Union (Students
wing of main opposition party), All Nepal National Free Students Union
(Student wing of CPN-ML), National Democratic Student Union (Student wing of
RPP), Free Student Union (Tribhuvan University), A Seed Asia, and Free Student
Union of Shankar Dev Campus.
The issue of common concern came out from this interaction
program:
1. A segment of the students are affected by the use of landmines.
2. The students' organizations can play a vital role in the
campaign to ban landmines.
3. They urged the government to tighten security at the entry points
between Nepal-India border and urged the big nations to stop the production,
transfer, stockpile and use of landmines to wipe out it from the entire world.
4. They also suggested that the powerful countries must stop army
interference in the domestic issue of some other countries.
5. to raise the issue of landmines in school level in a massive way it
should be included in the school's curriculum conducted in the school level.
6. Use the social gatherings and festivals to speak against the use of
landmines.
7. It is pointed out that the media should play a powerful means of
information dissemination and use it to create awareness among the general
people.
8. To give pressure to both the government and the Maoists to end the
ongoing conflict and
9. To evaluate the implementation of the international conventions
which are signed by Nepal so that the implementation of Ottawa treaty would
not be weak, if signed.
Meeting with Women Organizations (1 December 2000)
Different women organizations were invited to participate in the interaction
program they were; All Nepal Women's Association, Nepal Democratic Women's
Association, ABC-Nepal, TSDCBD, LACC, SPARK, Tharu Mahila Utthan Kendra, Women
Forum for Women, Kanuni Paramarsha Kendra, WILPF-Nepal, Digdarshan Mahila
Samuha, Women Development Society, Women Welfare Society, Women Awareness
Center, Third Approach Group Nepal, Women Rights and Development Center.
Issues of common concern came out from this interaction
program:
1. All women and non-governmental organizations should pressurize the
government to sign mine ban treaty.
2. The awareness building programs must be organized for the youths so
that they would not be involved in violent activities.
3. It is required to create awareness among the minority
ethnic communities as they are mostly affected by the landmines.
4. Government should accelerate the development works and stop violent
activities which it has been carrying out ever since the People's War broke
out.
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Second National Conference on "Towards The Global Ban On Anti-Personnel
Landmines" 4 July 1999
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A second national conference on "Towards the Global Ban on Anti-Personnel
Landmines" was organized by NCBL on 4 July 1999. One minute silence was
observed in the beginning in memory of the deceased caused by landmines. Hon'ble
Sher Bahadur Deuwa, former Prime Minister, inaugurated the conference by
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lighting Panus. Delivering speech on the occasion Mr. Deuwa said, 'Landmine has created
terrible problem worldwide. It has made the lives restless. Hundreds of
thousand people have either been killed or hand copped due to the application
of landmine. Princess Diana, herself initiate to ban landmines. Nepal herself
is no far from the terrible problem. Many more people have experienced bad
omen in Nepal, as landmines are prepared domestically in different districts.
Some of the victim children are also present in this program. This shows that
it has become a great challenge in Nepal too. This turns terribly
uncontrollable if we ignore it. It is a matter of pleasure that NCBL has
organized a program on landmines. Landmines should be banned all over the
world where Nepalese government should also pay its attention timely. The
members of parliament should initiate to make law on its ban. I wish the
success of this conference.
'The victims of landmines Gyan Bahadur Shrestha and Suntali Shrestha
of 14 and 12 respectively describing the incidents said, 'Had we know about
it, we would not have played with it.'
Suntali Shrestha (12 Years): My brother happened to bring a casket at
home. We did not notice what it was. We started to play with it and kept at
home the whole afternoon. Next day my mother husking machine with my brother
on her back. I was cleaning vegetables. I do not know what did my elder
brother do, the casket blasted after vomiting fire. My younger brother near
him died on the spot. His body was divided into parts. My mother started to
scream. I was severely wounded.
Gyan Bahadur Shrestha (14 Years): My brother happened to bring
a casket like thing from the office of Land Revenue. It was covered by
plastic. We were playing around hearth. I uncovered the plastic and kept one
burning peace of coal over it. It blasted with loud noise. I become
unconscious after I got hurt. Later I found myself in the hospital, where MP
Deb Shankar Paudyal and Kamal Chaulagain had taken us to. I notice that my
head, stomach and body were seriously injured. One of my eyes turned blind. I
knew afterward that my brother died near the hearth. The pasts of his body
were scattered. I had no idea that the casket like thing was mine. |
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"Role of Parliamentarians on Ban Landmines" 8 August 1998
Ban Landmines Campaign Nepal (NCBL) organized an interaction program on "Role
of Parliamentarians on Ban Landmines" on 8 August 1998 in Kathmandu. Members
of Parliament participating in the interaction expressed their solidarity with
the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and pledged to raise the
issue in the parliament to pressurize the government to sign on the ban landmines
treaty.
National Conference on "Landmines and Human Rights" 25, Nov. 1997
The Ban Landmines Campaign Nepal (NCBL) organized a national conference on "Landmines
and Human Rights" in Kathmandu on 25 November 1997. The program was held
to create awareness among Nepalese people about Landmines and to assist the
international campaigns for the total ban on Landmines.
As the chief guest, noted human rights activist and former minister Rishikesh
Shah inaugurated the conference lighting a candle and a video on Landmines was
shown simultaneously.
On the occasion, coordinator of the NCBL Purna Shova Chitrakar welcomed the
participants and informed that the campaign had invited prime minister,
ministers, parliamentarians, secretaries at concerned ministries, royal
Nepalese army chief and police chief. They during her visit with them had said
they're in favour of the global ban on Landmines but none of them took part in
the conference. She said their verbal agreement is only a lip service. They in
fact, don't want to sign on the treaty on the complete ban on Landmines. Their
absence is the evidence, she added. She said Landmines is a lethal and
indiscriminate weapon, which kills tens of thousands of people all over the
world. Apart from this, it has also turned millions of acres of land into
desert, dried the cource of water, affected the food source and polluted the
environment. More than 60 countries are affected by this. We may think this is
the problem of Cambodia, Angola, Sri Lanka, Vietnam etc. and Nepal is away
from it. But is not far from the problem. Laximan Gurung is a living victim
who has lost his right hand. Landmines have victimized thousands of Nepalese
in peacekeeping force and living abroad. Quoting former UN Secretary General
Butros Ghali, "uncleared Landmines are different from other weapons, it
is unique which causes damage to the entire human society," she said
Landmines killed 264,000 goats and sheep in 1995 in Afghanistan alone. She
also said Landmines kill 26,000 people around the world every year and around
110 million mines are laid throughout the world. The ratio of Landmines is 1
to every 12 children. The coordinator also informed that in October 1992, the
Mines Advisory Group joined with five other organizations to launch formally
the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL). The first International
NGO Conference on Landmines was held in London in May the following year,
bringing together representatives from 40 non-governmental organizations. Less
than 5 years later the ICBL is a coalition of 750 NGOs from 44 countries. This
time more than 200 NGOs and tousands of people are raising voice against
Landmines. Nepalese campaign carried out by Ban Landmines Campaign Nepal (NCBL)
is also a part of the global campaign for the complete ban on Landmines.
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