Human Rights & Peace Society (HURPES)

11^th National Council Meeting

Summary of annual activities of the Central Executive Committee [CEC]

(This report covers the period between 16 July 2007 -15 July 2008 Kathmandu)

 a)    Membership: As per its amended statute, this year HURPES has reached its total membership to 1,567. It is both life, and 2-year membership. Among the total, 76 persons became life members of  HURPES in this stipulated periods reaching the total number of Life Membership 102, while 708 applied for new members and 783 existing members renewed their membership. The total number of membership in this period reached 1491 & total number of the HURPES members reached 7272 till date since its inception. Although the number seems encouraging it is not enough. Last year, the number of new and renewed membership was 2,134. It is needed to expedite the membership promotion campaign.

    b)     District Branch: Although the district braches of the HURPES reached 64 till date, some have been inactive and other in need of restructure because they have failed to act as per the organization statute. However, some friends of HURPES in spite of being in remote parts of country have run the branch well. Kalikot district committee of the HURPES was formed on 11 February 2008 under the chairmanship of Daman Bahadur Bam while Jumla district committee under the chairmanship of Narendra Nath Yogi on 1 November 2007. These district committees were endorsed by the HURPES Central Working Committee (CEC) meetings on 9 May 2008 and on 1 January 2008 respectively. About other district committees, there are only 39 holding regular assemblies. Similarly, the suspended district committees are Nuwakot, Saptari, Gulmi, Rautahat, Sindhuli, Baitadi and Rukum.

    c)     Tenth National Council Meeting: With the main slogan, ‘People’s Right to Sovereignty: Constituent Assembly and Fear-free Voting’, the Tenth National Council Meeting of the HURPES was organized at Gaidakot of Nawalparasi on 22 September 2007. All expenses in the Meeting hosted by Nawalparasi district committee was managed by the same hosting committee, however supported by Chitwan district committee. As per the HURPES policy, all participants in the Meeting had to bear the travel costs. Altogether 187 persons including representatives and observers from 31 district committees had participated in the Meeting. The Meeting passed eight proposals including the demands to hold the elections to the constituent assembly in fear-free atmosphere, end impunity, adhere to the comprehensive peace accord, curb anarchy, and giving up arms by the armed gangs.

   Chief Guest at the Meeting inaugurated by panchakanya (five girls) was freedom fighter Mashewor Lal Shrestha. At the inaugural, Founding Chair Krishna Pahadi, Acting President of Amnesty International Dhruba Karki, representatives of various political parties and organizations had expressed their views while Chairman of Nawalparasi district committee Ram Hari Sharma delivered welcome speech. On the occasion, Baglung, Surkhet and Sarlahi district committees were honored with commendation letters as excellent branches of 2006 AD. Vijay Development Resource Centre (VDRC) was also provided commendation letter by the hosting committee for its regular support to the committee.

   The Meeting was presided over by Central Chair Purushottam Dahal. The Meeting passed the report on annual activities of the HURPES presented by General Secretary Hom Kant Chaulagain, and auditing and economic reports with annual work plan and estimated budget presented by Treasurer Bal Ram Aryal. Similarly, the Meeting also devolved authority to the CEC for the appointment of auditor for the coming year. A day before the Meeting, a peace rally was taken to Bhrikuti Chowk from Bijay Chowk as per the HURPES policy and also on the occasion of the International Peace Day. To hold the Tenth Central Council Meeting, a 21-member main organizing committee was formed under the convenorship of district committee chair Ram Hari Sharma where there were six sub-committees. The member secretary of the main organizing committee was Indra Jyoti Poudel.

    d)    CEC Meeting: The CEC held altogether four meetings during 2007-008 AD. The office bearers and members of the organization had to manage the travel costs on their own for participating in the meetings without any allowance.

    e)     National Secretariat: Now, there is a senior accounting officer in the National Secretariat while one program officer, and another office assistant totaling three staffs.

    f)       Library: The library set up and managed for long showcases 1,551 books. There were only 1,384 in the library last year.

    g)     Peace Journal and Weekly Mailing: Only two peace journals were published this year while 13 weekly mailings, as the campaigns consumed most of the time. Similarly 60 press releases were dispatched on different dates, drawing attention of the concerned bodies on murder, violence, violation and abuse of human rights.

    h)     Transparency: Transparency is one of the HURPES policies and discipline. As per this very policy, the CEC activities, press releases, programs, reports on finance, auditing and others were made public through press. Anyone, if have queries on economic report, were asked to contact the head office.

    i)    Financial Assistance: As done in the past, the HURPES has not taken any assistance from government, NGO, INGOs and foreign donor agencies. The HURPES is active in its campaign for dignity. It depends on the money collected from peace journal, books, and the contribution from the well-wishers. Similarly, other sources for the expense are the distribution of membership, identity card and help from the well-wishers. It is made clear in the economic report.

    j)        Research/Investigation: The HURPES carried out an investigation on a gory incident occurred in Kapilvastu district in August, September & October 2007. Even the report on this has been made public. The investigation team formed under the coordination of Rupandehi district committee chair Divakar Ghimire comprised of committee secretary Krishna Pangeni and members Sanjiv Kumar Raya, Kiran Gautam, Anil Pradhan and Ram Krishna Chapagain. The report was made public on 6 November 2007. Similarly, an incident occurred in Dang was also investigated with the initiative of Dang district committee.

   Moreover, the HURPES formed a probe committee under the coordination of Central Member Tej Bahadur Godar on the incident that Parsa district committee member Lila Prasad Lamichhane was murdered by an unknown gang on 18 June 2008. The probe team comprised of Parsa district committee chair Rameshwor Sedhai, Makwanpur district committee chair Rajan Mainali, Bara district committee chair Hari Thapaliya and members Paramananda Chaudhari, Tularam Bhattarai and Rup Narayan Jha.

    k)     Campaign: The HURPES launched three campaigns this year. They include:

   i)       ‘Campaign for Democratic Republic’ was continued. 

   ii)     A campaign was launched with the slogan, ‘Make CA elections Successful: Pave Way for Stable Peace’, collecting signatures of 11 main political parties on a 10-point commitment paper for the fear-free elections. Similarly, more than 55 seminars regarding human rights were held across the country in  March & April 2008. Earlier, more than 15 district committees had organized programs in August September 2007..

   iii)      Special concept papers on ‘Climate Change and Global Warming’ were prepared and interactions held in different 20 districts out of valley and 10 more in the valley.

   In all these campaigns, Founding Chair Krishna Pahadi, Chair Purushottam Dahal were present while Vice-Chairman Uddhav Lohani, General Secretary Homkant Chaulagain, Secretary Rudra Lochan Acharya, Treasurer Balram Aryal, central members Gangadhar Adhikari, Tej Bahadur Godar, Bharata Prasad Lamsal, Laxmi Pariyar, Radha Ghale, Mahesh Acharya, Anjana Basukala, Kathmandu Chair Kumar Raj Subedi, Baglung Chair Pratap Poudel, Coordinator of Membership Promotion Kumar Ghimire, Farmers’ Coordinator Laxman Raya participated in some of the programs in different places.

   The leaders to sign on the 10-point commitment paper on fear-free CA elections were- Nepali Congress President and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal, Chairman of CPN-Maoist Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Nepal Sadbhavana Party Anandidevi Chairwoman Andidevi, Chairman of Jana Morcha Nepal Amik Sherchan, Chairman of CPN-ML CP Mainali, Chairman of Rastriya Jana Morcha Nepal Chitra Bahadur KC, Coordinator of Nepal Communist Party-Unified Ram Singh Shris, Chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party Pashupati Shamser Jabara, Chairman of Rastriya Janashakti Party Surya Bahadur Thapa, and Chairman of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Upendra Yadav.

   Chitwan district organized five programs under the campaign for fair and fear-free elections. In course of the campaign, the 10-point commitment papers were distributed across over 1,000 villages, which obviously contributed to the fair and fear-free CA elections. Similarly, Kathmandu district committee organized maximum programs on Climate Change and Global Warming. 

l)        Programs:

i)    Seminar on Non-Violence Day: On the occasion of the International Non-violence Day (October 2), a seminar on ‘Nepali Society and Diversity: Non-Violence, Harmony and Tolerance’ was organized. Chief Guest at the program Speaker Subash Nembang, special guest UNMIN Chief Ian Martin, UML leader Pradip Nepal, General Secretary of Nepali Congress Bimalendra Nidhi, central member Narahari Acharya, central member of CPN-Maoist Dina Nath Sharma, HURPES Founding Chair Krishna Pahadi, AI Nepal Acting Chair Dhruba Karki expressed their views. The program was presided over by HURPES Chair Purushottam Dahal.

ii)    Book Release: On the same occasion, Speaker Subash Nembang and UNMIN Chief Ian Martin jointly released a collection of lyrics, ‘Bhangaloma Bandiyera Dhara’ penned by Founding Chair Pahadi. On the occasion, former HURPES treasurer Kumar Ghimire was provided commendation letter. Ghimire has been providing Rs 15,000 every year to the HURPES and expressed commitment to continue in future too.

iii)   Human Rights Day: The 59^th International Human Rights Day was marked organizing programs for three days. The first program with the slogan, ‘Human Rights: Basis of Political Consensus’ organized on 3 December 2007 centered on the rights of disabled people. Minister of State for Labour and Transport Management Ramesh Datta Lekhak was the Chief Guest at the program organized jointly by Nepal Disabled Association and HURPES at the precincts of Khagendra Navajivan Kendra. Lions Club of Jorpati provided 10 wheel chairs to the disabled persons at the program.

iv)     Rally and Memorandum: Demanding the Myanmar military government to restore democracy and release all political prisoners including iconic leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and to end suppression on monks, the HURPES submitted a memorandum to the Embassy of Myanmar at Pulchowk, Laliputpur with a rally on 6 December 2007.

v)    Demonstration: A special demonstration was held at Maitighar Mandala in order to draw attention of the concerned bodies on ‘Human Rights: Basis of Political Consensus’. Organized on 10 December 2007, the program had special presentation by the comedian duo Madan Krishna Shrestha and Hari Bansa Acharya, and other artistes as JB Tuhure, Ramesh and Rayan, Nanda Krishna Joshi and Ramaji Nepali. Poet Arjun Parajuli who is always with the HURPES recited a poem.  Similarly, Professor Krishna Khanal, Kapil Shrestha, General Secretary of Nepal Medical Association Dr Kedar Narsingh KC, Chairman of DECONT Khila Dahal, human rights defender Nutan Thapaliya, Founding Chair Krishna Pahadi and others shed lights on the topic. Also speaking on the occasion were HURPES Chair Purushottam Dahal and General Secretary Homkant Chaulagain.

vi)    Press Meet: The 10-point concept paper on ‘Climate Change and Global Warming: Hazard on Human Civilization’ was made public organizing a press meet on 11 January 2007. Similarly, information on the campaign launched for free, fair and fear-free CA elections was provided at a press meet on 7 April 2008.

vii)   20-point Suggestion: A 20-point suggestion paper on ‘Fundamental Liberty and Human Rights: A Basis of Future Governance’ was made public on 14 January 2008. Programs on this topic were held nationwide earlier.

viii)  Handing Over a Commitment Paper: The 10-point commitment paper signed by the leaders of various political parties including CPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda for the fair and fear-free CA elections was handed over to the Chief Election Commissioner Bhoj Raj Pokhrel on 21 January 2008. Earlier, the paper only with other parties’ signature was handed over to him as the Maoist Chairman Prachanda denied signing first. However, it was later handed over to the Chief Election Commissioner Pokhrel and UNMIN Chief Ian Martin at a program at Maitighar Mandala on 31 August 2007 The program was attended by popular artistes, journalists, human rights defenders, university teachers, teachers, doctors, engineers, peasant leaders, literati, and other dignitaries. Similarly, the artistes of Sarbanam institution had interesting performance while Nanda Krishna Joshi and Ramaji Nepali presented songs and Arjun Parajuli a poem.

ix)     Interaction: As per the special campaign of the HURPES, interactions on ‘Climate Change and Global Warming’ were held in different phases. Keeping the concept paper in centre, ten interactions were held with different sectors as with the officers of security bodies on 1 February 2008, with human rights defenders on 6 February 2008, with disabled persons and workers in this sectors on 7 February 2008, with the representatives of civil society on 8 February 2008, with media persons on 12 February 2008, with AI Nepal representatives on 14 February 2008, and with the representatives of teachers' union, association and organization on 15 February 2008. Similarly, the HURPES held a discussion with the Speaker and chiefs of main political parties in the Speaker's office.  

x) Civic Assembly: Considering 10 April 2008 CA elections, the HURPES organized a special civic assembly at Maitighar Mandala on 3 April 2008, advocating free, fair, and fear-free elections. Founding Chair Krishna Pahadi, human rights defender Nutan Thapaliya, and Chairman of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists Bishnu Nisthuri, among others expressed their views at the program. Similarly, poet Arjun Parajuli recited poems while artiste Ramaji Nepali sang a song about the elections.

xi)  Dialogue: The HURPES continued dialogues with distinguished national and international persons associated with human rights and climate.

xii)   Participation: In addition to the HURPES programs on human rights, Founding Chair Krishna Pahadi, Chair Purushottam Dahal, and General Secretary Hom Kant Chaulagain and other office bearers and members participated in various programs considering the relevance and importance.

xiii)    Time Movement: As per its policy, the HURPES conducted all of its programs at the accurate time.