Human Rights and Peace Society

9^th National Council Meeting

Summary of Annual Activities of the Central

Executive Committee [CEC]

         [17 July 2005-15 July 2006]

1) Membership and Honorary Membership: Despite authoritarian regime and the state fomenting human rights violation, there was no decline in the flow of HURPES membership. During this period, as many as 1,191 individuals applied for membership while 889 existing members renewed their membership, reaching the current total registered membership of HURPES to 2,080. The total number of people taking membership of HURPES since its inception has reached 5,369. HURPES did not award any honorary membership in this period.

 

2) Identity Card: During period, HURPES issued 917 identity cards to its members.

 

3) Suspenson Lifted: HURPES Central Meeting lifted the suspension of Dolakha, Sunsari, Pyuthan, Jajarkot, Jhapa district committees and reformed, as they completed necessary criteria under the coordination of Dipshankar Chaulagai, Khemraj Dahal, Yogendra JC, Janak KC, and Dr. Rajkumar Pokharel  respectively. The CEC lifted the suspension of  Udayapur DC which was suspended on Janaury 5, 2006, reformed under the chairmanship of Mohan Gole. Kavre and Doti DCs which were passive have also been reformed under the chairmanship of Arun Pande, and Dandiraj Ojha respectively and  recognized by the CEC meet.

 

4) New DC

Okhaldhunga DC was formed on 16 august, 2005 while Taplejung DC on 26 November, 2005 and Khotang DC on 3 Janaury, 2005 under the chairmanship of Toyanath Kafle, Dilli Raman Baral and Rajan Sainju respectively, reaching the totle number of  HURPES DC's 62. Among 62 DC's, Baitadi, Rautahat, Rukum and Saptari DCs are not active.

 

5) Ninth National Council Meeting

HURPES Ninth National Council Meetining was concluded in Rupandehi District's Navagagriti Coopetative building on 24 September, 2005 with the slogan of "Human Rights Movement against Violence and Autocarcy" amidst a huge ceremony. In the inagural ceremony PANCHAKANYA lighted lamps in panas and peace song and welcome speech were followed  by. In the program NC, UML, NC (Democratic), and PFN representatives, AI Chair Pradip Pokharel, Insec Chair Subodhraj Pyakurel, HURPES founding Chair Krishna Pahadi, HURPES Rupendehi Chair Krishna Parajuli, Coordinator of organizing comittee Mahendra Thapa, Rupandehi DC Secretary Harish Dhakal expressed their views. The meeting was chaired by Purushottam Dahal. On the occasion, Lekhnath Gyawali was honored for long time contribution to the Human Rights and Press Freedom and Sita Laxmi Neupane, the spouse of martyr Yadav Nath Alok for her cotribution to Nepal's democratic movements.

     In the second session of the meeting, the annual report presented by the CEC General Secretary was discussed and passed later. Similarly, in the third session, Treasurer Balaram Aryal presented finincial report, while Vice Chair the 2006/2007 action plan and annual budget. These were also endorsed in this session. The Dang, Sindhupalchok, and Palpa DCs were declared the Best DCs  and honored in the inagural ceremony.

     Dr. Tulsi Prasad Bhattarai was the Chief Guest of the closing ceremony. The Guest Bhattarai opined that the human rights campaigning should be focused on stablishing democracy and peace in society.

     In the meeting, Gangadhar Adhikari and Ramaji Dahal were assigned as the rapporters while Jivlal Kharel and Gangamaya Angdembe the trailer. The session thanked organizing DC for facilitating and conducting the meet successfully. A day prior to the meeting, a peace rally was organized where there was massive participation of teachers, students, journalists, professor, lawer, human right activists, and general public. The rally was started from Chauraha and ended at Traffic Chowk. Krishna Pahadi and Pusushottam Dahal had addressed the rally.

 6) HURPES honoured.

Fedetation of Nepali Journalists, Rupandehi Chapter honoured the HURPES with       the 'SURYALAL SHANTI TATHA MANAB ADHIKAR PURASKAR  -2061' awardd carrying a purse of Rs 10,000 and a certificate. It was conferred on by the award founder Suryalal. HURPES Chair Purushottam Dahal received the honor on behalf of organization.

 7) Nomination: On 11 January, 2006 HURPES nominated Mr. Suman Shrestha in accordance with the HURPES Statute 2053 as the Membership Development Coordinator citing the position vacant since 1 August, 2005.

 8) The CEC meetings held during this period made various decisions.

9. National Secretariat [NS]: There are 2 permanent staff members working at the national secretariat. In spite of pressure in work, the CEC has not decided to add staffs and provide overtime.

 

10. Library: The peace society library in the central office of the organization presently has 1,118 books and several hundreds of journals.

 

11. Peace Journals/Fortnightly Mailing: A quarterly publications was published during this period and 13 fortnightly mailings dispatched.

 

12. Transparency: As per the organization's strong policy of transparency, the account and audit report, and the annual activities report of the year 2004-2005 were made public through press. While doing this, the media was also asked to approach the organization within three days to obtain further information, if have any queries.

 

13. Financial Assistance: As HURPES has adopted the policy of not applying anywhere for funding, it totally depends on its own fund raising, membership fee, advertisement, selling of its publication and donations from its well-wishers. The details are mentioned in its financial reports. 

 

14. Research Mission/Visits: Though the HURPES CEC did not conduct any research missions/visits, the Makawanpur DC of the organization, in collaboration with other organizations, carried out a research on the clash between security forces and Maoist at Phaparbari on BS 31 January, 2006 while Palpa DC on Tansen Attack by the Maoist and details of the damages on 21 January, 2006, Dang DC on 'the Atrocities on Political Activists Meted Out by the Administration at the time of so called election of 2062 BS'.

 

Similarly, a research on the Khairawa Accident was conducted under the coordination of Sarlahi DC Chair, Laxman Raya.

 

For such endeavor, HURPES wants to thank to the concerned ones through Mr. Tej Bahadur Godar-Makawanpur, Puskar Raj Regmi-Palpa, Binod Shrestha-Dang, Laxman Raya- Sarlahi and others related to the research.

 

In this period, reports on the incidents of extra-judicial and indiscriminate killings were made and made public in Bhairahawa, Pokhara, Chitwan, and Siraha. Makwanpur, Bara and Dolakha branches of the HURPES also published 3 different research reports.

 

15) A) Campaign: HURPES launched campaign on "Free Media for Human Rights" (October-November), "End of Violence and Autocracy: Commitment to Human Rights" (November-December), "Immediate Need of CA Elections for Peace and Stability " (June-July 2006).

 

B) Besides these, HURPES gave continuity to the programs centered against autocracy. The HURPES actively participated in the programs organized by FNJ, SAFMA, Nepal Bar Association, and other organizations including CMDP and civil Society.

 

C) Similarly, the HURPES had active participation in the Peoples Movement (6 April- 24 April 2006). Wherein HURPES Founding Chair Krishna Pahadi was arrested on 7th Magh and kept in detention till 25 April, 2006 while HURPES Treasurer Balaram Aryal seriously wounded. Moreover, Kathmandu DC Chair Mahesh Acharya, Udayapur DC Vice-Chair Laxmi Pariyar, Okhaldhunga DC Treasurer Minkumar Ghimire, Udayapur DC Chair Mohan Gole, Former Rupandehi DC Chair Mahendra Thapa were severely beaten by the police. Police arrested friends from almost all district committees in-between the so called Municipality elections to the Peoples Movement 2006. The arrested HURPES members are Narayan Dutta Kandel- Central Member, Punya Chaulagai- Central Fundraising Coordinator, Madan Bahadur Kunwar- Achham DC Chair, Devi Prasad Timilsina- Kaski DC Chair, Bijay Basnet- Lalitpur DC Chair, Laxman Raya- Sarlahi dc Chair, and other members Tulasi Bhattarai, Bishnu Bivu Ghimire, Jiblal Kharel, Ramaji Dahal, Bhanu Kandel- Vice Chair Kaski DC, Kama Poudel, Toplal Khanal, Basanta Pande, Pitriraj Koirala, Kusumakar Neupane, Prem Kumar Khatri, and Nambahadur Shah.

 

The above mentioned names are stated here as received in the CEC by the respective DCs, if anyone has further information, please send it to the CEC. The missing names will be archived. HURPES had clear policy in the Peoples Movement to be active in their respective area.

 

16. Programs: In the stipulated period, the HURPES conducted the following programs:

 

A) Democratic Assembly: The HURPES Sindhupalchowk DC organized a civic assembly for peace on 30 December,2005 while Dang DC on 9 January, 2006. The assembly was addressed by Founding Chair Krishna Pahadi, CEC Chair Purushottam Dahal and General Secretary Homa Kanta Chaulagai (Melamchi). In both the assemblies, politician, journalist, professor, teachers, lawyers, students, human rights activists and general public had enthusiastic participation.

B) International Human Rights Day: On the 57^th International Human rights Day, HURPES organized a three-day interaction beginning from 22 Mangsir (December 7, 2005) on the theme of "Need of Joint Campaign Against Growing Attack on Civic Freedom". Rajendra Pande of the CPN-UML, Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat of Nepali Congress (Democratic), Shasi Shrestha, Central Member of Peoples Front Nepal, HURPES Founding Chair Krishna Pahadi, FNJ Chair Bishnu Nisthuri, writer Dr. Tulasi Bhattarai, Chairman of Nepal Progressive Writers Association, Prof. Ananda Dev Bhatta spoke in the program. The program was presided over by CEC Chair Purushottam Dahal while Vice Chair Suresh Chandra Pokharel and Kathmandu DC Chair Mahesh Acharya shed light on the theme. On 9 December,2005, the program was organized under the theme of "Democracy and Peace for Human Rights". Senior politician Nilambar Acharya, political analyst Prof. Dr. Lokraj Baral, parliamentarian Prof. Dr. Mangal Siddhi Manandhar, HURPES Founding Chair Krishna Pahadi, AI Nepal Chair Pradip Pokharel, and former chair of Nepal University Teachers' Association, Prof. Khagendra Bhattarai, expressed their views at the program. The program was presided over by CEC Vice-Chair Suresh Chandra Pokharel while General Secretary Homa Kanta Chaulagai delivered welcome speech. Similarly, on 10^th December HURPES organized a program on the theme of "End of Violence and Autocracy: Commitment to Human Rights". Senior litterateur Bairagi Kaila, General Secretary of Nepal University Teachers' Association Rameshwor Upadhyay, HURPES Founding Chair Krishna Pahadi, Director of AI Nepal Rameshwor Nepal, Secretary of Human Development and Peace Campaign Basudev Devkota spoke in the program where poplar democratic poet Arjun Parajuli recited the poem. The program was presided over by HURPES DC Chair Mahesh Acharya.

 

C) Participation: On the occasion of the International Human Rights Day, (10^th December) HURPES Banke DC organized an interaction on the theme of "End of Violence and Autocracy: Commitment to Human Rights". On the same day HURPES cec Chair Purushottam Dahal addressed a protest rally organized by FNJ Banke and participated in the program organized by AI Nepal, Banke. CEC Chair Purushottam Dahal addressed a mass meet organized by RKJS on the occasion of the Human Rights Day and the Radhakrishna Tharu Day as well.

     Founding Chair of HURPES Krishna Pahadi returned home on November 26 after the completion of his visit to India, USA and other European countries begun from 4 October. The visit named "Krishna Pahadi Speakers Tour" was coordinated by the Amnesty International. On the occasion, Founding Chair Pahadi called the international community to support Nepalese democracy and peace. HURPES CEC organized a press meet on 28 November 2005 to hold discussion on the tour.

 D)  Nationwide Campaign on "Free Media for Human Rights"(28 October--5 December). As part of the campaign, HURPES CEC organized a discussion program on 30 October 2005. CPN-UML leader Pradip Gyawali, NC (Democratic) leader Hom Nath Dahal, senior journalists Harihar Birahi, and Gopal Thapaliya expressed their views in the program. CEC Vice-Chair Suresh Chandra Pokhrel presented a concept paper while General Secretary Homa Kanta Chaulagai shed light on the relevance of the program. The program was presided over by CEC Chair Purushottam Dahal.

 E) Campaign against Army's Violation of Human Rights: HURPES CEC organized an interaction on the theme of "Human Rights and International Concern over the Role of Nepali Army" in the central office on 15 February 2006. The program zeroed in on the context that Amnesty International urged to reconsider the role of Nepali Army in the international arena. Expressing their views at the program were Prof. Kapil Shrestha, Subodh Raj Pyakurel, Charan Prasain, Gopal Chintan, Rameshwor Nepal, Babu Ram Giri, Suresh Chandra Pokahrel, Homa Kanta Chaulagai, Mukunda Rijal and others. The program was presided over by CEC Chair Purushottam Dahal.

F) Arrest of Leading Human Rights Activist and Campaign against Detention: On 24 March 2006, HURPES launched a campaign against the arrest and detention of Founding Chair of HURPES Krishna Pahadi, leader of civic movement Devendra Raj Pandey, Dr Mathura Shrestha, and Shyam Shrestha including other politicians. HURPES CEC directed its District Committees to act accordingly. The administration arrested Krishna Pahadi including others on 19 January 2006 and handed down a 90-day detention chit them.

     Prof. Kapil Shrestha, Prof. Dr. Rajesh Gautam, Charan Prasain, Padma Lal Biswokarma, Suresh Chandra Pokhrel, Homa Kanta Chaulagai had delivered speech. The program was presided over by CEC Chair Purushottam Dahal.

 G) Protest Program:  HURPES organized a protest program at Maitighar Mandala on 62-12-15 against the detention of HURPES Founding Chair Krishna Pahadi, Dr Devendra Raj Pandey, Dr. Mathura Prasad Shrestha, Shyam Shrestha and for the campaigning of nonviolence, peace, human rights and democracy where there was the participation of the political leaders as General Secretary of UML Madhav Kumar Nepal, Ramchandra Poudel and Narahari Acharya of the Nepali Congress, and parliamentarian Mahadev Gurun, human rights activist, journalist, lawyer, teachers, professors, engineers, doctors and political activists. On the occasion, former justice Laxman Prasad Aryal said, "The despotic regime is shortening its term by illegally detaining human rights activists and nonviolence advocates." The protest program was addressed by CEC Chair Purushottam Dahal too. Founding Chair of HURPES Krishna Pahadi, including all other prisoner of conscience, was freed on 25 April 2006, a day after the royal declaration on 24 April.

 H) Meeting with the Representative of FRONTLINE: HURPES organized a discussion program with the representatives of FRONTLINE, an organization working for human rights defender, Andryu Anderson, regarding the situation of human rights defenders in Nepal on 24 April 2006. Representatives of various human rights organizations, journalist, writer, legal practitioners, teachers, and professors were present in the discussion. FRONTLINE representative Andrew said Krishna Pahadi was his friend; and recalled his visit to Pahadi in prison. He lauded the commitment of Nepalese to human rights and freedom.

 

Various personalities shared their experiences they had during people's movement. Prof. Kapil Shrestha, FNJ President Bishnu Nisthuri, President of Nepal Progressive Writer's Association, Prof. Ananda Dev Bhatta, Chair of SAFMA Nepal- Gopal Thapaliya, General Secretary of HURON- Babu Ram Giri, former secretary of the Government of Nepal- Bijay Raj Bhattarai, litterateur Dr. Tulsi Bhattarai, former HURPES treasurer -Kumar Ghimire, from HURPES Kathmadnu DC, HURPES CEC Member Ratna Laxmi Shrestha, General Secretary Homa Kanta Chaulagai, Vice-Chair Suresh Chandra Pokhrel expressed their views in the discussion program. The program was presided over by CEC Chair Purushottam Dahal. In addition to this, HURPES CEC members participated in a program organized by UNOHCHR and other international human rights organizations. HURPES actively participated in the programs organized by citizens' movement for democracy and peace as well.

 

17) Participation: After the fall of autocratic regime, Founding Chair and CEC Chair of HURPES addressed the assembly organized in Gorkha on 2 May 2006 and Nawalparasi on 7 May 2006 while CEC Chair Purushotta Dahal the program organized by Chitwan DC.

     Earlier, FNJ Chair Bishnu Nisthuri and CEC Chair Purushottam Dahal went to Sindhuli on 3 March 2006 in order to rehabilitate HURPES member and journalist Krishna Hari Ghimire and journalist Dwarika Kandel who were displaced due to the threats leveled by the administration. In the meantime, HURPES Chair participated in a program organized by HURPES Sunsari DC on 3 April 2006, Udayapur DC AGM on 7 March 2006, Morang DC's program on 9 March 2006. Moreover, Chair Dahal participated in the programs organized by International Media Mission in coordination with FNJ Nepal in Pokhara, Syangja, Palpa and Butwal. On the occasion, the Mission held meetings with the CPN-Maoist's deputy commander of Gandak Area, Janardan Sharma also known as Prabhakar and appealed to him for the commitment to human rights and press freedom. The meeting was held at Gothadi village of Palpa district.

 

18) Establishment Day: Marking the 11^st Establishment Day on 1^st June, HURPES organized an interaction on the theme of "CA Elections for Peace and Peaceful Voting Rights." NC Central Member Baldev Majgainya was the chief guest at the program where Hom Nath Dahal of Nepali Congress Democratic, Founding Chair Krishna Pahadi, leading human rights activist Dr. Devendra Raj Pandey, HURON Chair Charan Prasain, litterateur Dr. Tulsi Bhattarai, former secretary Bijay Raj Bhattarai, Director of AI Nepal Rameshwor Nepal, HURPES Vice Chair Suresh Chandra Pokharel, General Secretary Homa Kanta Chaulagai expressed their views in the progarm. The program was presided over by Purushottam Dahal.

 

On 25, 26 & 27 of June 2006, Hurpes Chitwan, Parsa and Makwanpur District Committees organized programs under the theme of " Immediate CA Elections for Peace and Stability" respectively. Prof. Krishna Khana, Founding Chair Krishna Pahadi, and CEC Chair Purushottam Dahal addressed the program. They also addressed the program organized by Civil Society on 24th June 2006 at Kurintar, Chitawan.

 

19) Other Activities:

A) Press Release: During this period, HURPES issued 72 press releases in order to draw the attention of concerned authorities on the issues as illegal detention, arrest, murder, abduction, and disappearance.

 

B) Time Movement: HURPES CEC completed all of its programs at the accurate time as part of the time movement.

 

C) Special Request: HURPES Bara DC chair SATYA Prasad Shrestha was wounded due to the indiscriminate gun firing of a group of Maoist on 24 March 2006. HURPES instantly condemned the condemnable act and appealed to the Maoist not to do such inhuman act.