Deprived and endangered humanitarian crisis in Nepal for Buddhists

Deprived and endangered humanitarian crisis in Nepal for Buddhists

Mr. Ban ki Moon

Secretary - General                                                                                                                    

United Nations

New York, NY 10017  

Subject:  Appeal to caution the marauding of Buddhist cultures, heritage and historical sites by unlawful representation of Buddhists’ by non- Buddhist representatives seeking the support of the UN.

Dear Secretary-General,

Nepal is the birthplace of Buddha. We indigenous Buddhists until 1990- have been discriminated marginalized and persecuted under a Hindu state. After the Peoples’ movement in 2006, having overthrown the Hindu monarch, Nepal was declared a secular state and the Preamble of the Interim Constitution continued to specify Nepal as a democratic, republican, secular, federal, inclusive state.

We Buddhists of Nepal are compelled to bring to your attention the unjustifiable and unlawful representation of non-Buddhists marauding our historical, religious and, cultural heritage of profound significance.

Our appeal

However, the four party governments have obstructed and failed in drafting a constitution for the fourth time- seeking extension by holding its multi -ethnic, multi-religious peoples as bondage for the sole purpose of power brokerage. Besides the one-caste, multi-party government has seriously engaged itself in pro-activating ordinances, bills and pogroms unlawfully and unconstitutionally- marginalizing, discriminating and exploiting non- Hindu citizens.

At this critical juncture of historical transformation from a feudalistic state to a democratic state, our peoples and communities are deprived and endangered of equal rights and justice. We are continually experiencing the state run government repressing, encroaching and manipulating our historical, religious and cultural rights, based on our identity.

Protection of Buddhist rights in Secular Nepal.

Given the exigency of protecting Buddhist civilian rights in Nepal, we urge you to send several clear messages to Mr. Pushpa Kamal Dahal who is headed to meet you on Nov 8th 2011 in the UN to generate foreign aid in  the development of Lumbini.

However, the records in the past have shown every pilot projects in Lumbini failed, due to the unwillingness to incorporate the free will of the Buddha, Dharma and the Sangha, without impartiality. Promoting Lumbini continued for the sole purpose of plundering and pillaging our historical religious site of great insignificance to its Buddhist citizens, to Nepal and for all Buddhists globally.

More recently, we are seeing many Buddhist seminars, programs and projects being implemented by non Buddhists without prior information, consultation and approval of the concerned Buddhist communities. The interim government is forcefully following oppressive Buddhist sanctions by unlawful representation.

The Humanitarian Crisis

Although Nepal generates the maximum interest for Mt.Everest and Lumbini internationally; nationally, those communities whose origin is connected in giving value to its importance continue to face humanitarian crisis. As Nepal has entered into an interim period of transformation, and the latest hostilities continue to be based on identity rights governed by discriminatory oppressive rule.

As a result, such State manipulation in the name of Buddhists will have disastrous impact on the well-being of the Buddhist civilian population, depriving them of their identity rights and justice.

This unlawful process of seeking support for Lumbini projects- both APEC and UNIDO - without prior consultation with the concerned stake holders will not only compound the identity hostilities by confusion but will critically invite the conflict of neighboring states in particular, dragging the peace loving Buddhist civilians to a dangerous geo political crisis and threatening the very sovereignty of Nepal as a nation state.

Solution for Peace Building

To avoid such political manipulation of genuine stakeholders rights specified by -ILO 169,CERD,UNDRIP and UNESCO conventions, ratified by the Nepal government, we insist and urge your wise insight in taking maximum feasible precautions to protect civilians and avoid indiscriminate or disproportionate  ongoing hostilities assuming  under political entities violating the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, distinction and proportionality .

As the humanitarian crisis deepens, we recommend you make several crucial points: Make clear to Mr. Dahal and his team representatives that any plan to raze Lumbini in the pretext of industrial development will not be tolerated under international humanitarian law by its own people

Non Buddhist Representatives for Buddhist Concerns

The current team does not represent Buddhist aspirations and concerns as they are non Buddhist practitioners; their representation for Buddhists cause is woefully inadequate to deliver and expand Buddhist well being both in spirit and development. They do not express any scholastic aptitude to promote Buddhist knowledge and interest and put at risk our own representation.

Accountability

We welcome your calls for a thorough investigation into their plans to turn Lumbini or any Buddhist heritage sites into an industrial zone.  This is an alleged serious violation of international humanitarian law. We believe an impartial international investigation is required to look at sanctioning such master plans infringing the rights of the indigenous Buddhists as well as other rightful stake holders.

An international investigation would be an important way of demonstrating that the United Nations is deeply concerned about the fate of the stakeholders’ identity rights to drag us into further conflict. The investigation should look at not only intensifying such projects putting at risk the social, political and economic rights of its rightful stakeholders. A thorough investigation on the intent is of essential concern, as Mr. Dahal expresses his ambitious political strategy in overriding his moral obligation to the sovereignty of the country and its stake holders. Lumbini stands at this critical moment of uncovering key facts and thus encouraging all of us to truly establish peace in Lumbini as a symbolic peace zone where political parties cannot abuse authority.

Appeal to rights and justice

We see your office as the best route to establishing such an investigation. While we recognize that the focus of your intention of Mr. Dahal’s visit is to build peace in Lumbini, equally important is for you to investigate the political/ identity factors of such a visit which will not violate the will of civilian accountability.

We have called on the parties to respect our cultural dignity and rights and warning them that trespassing of our human rights is serious crime against the human spirit and law and will not be further tolerated. We are confident that technically being the Secretary General of the UN, symbolically we would like to consider you as the father of all nations for whom peace is not only a fact but a value of coexistence in Buddha‘s key message to humanity. We would appreciate in your full capacity to be the harbinger of peace.  You would be well advised to send an international team to investigate before such projects are approved. We believe that your announcement of an international investigation of the cause, consequences and effects on national stakeholders would not hinder protection of civilians and accountability for crimes committed.

We are calling on your common sense value to evaluate such unethical and manipulative proposal in our name. We are unwilling to accept any non Buddhist representation for Buddhist programs and projects without prior information and consent of our communities. In doing so, such unethical representation of Lumbini Development Program will be considered as deterring human violation and we will be obliged to take a decisive approach in guarding peace in our respective spiritual/religious sites by organizing our own community security force.

The international community must not only watch dog such predatory acts with diplomatic complacence but send a crucial message of supporting human rights values in protecting wholesale crimes against humanity.  In  doing so, such crucial signal may help to deter future state violations.

Sincerely,

Coordinator

Shakun Sherchand

Date: 8th 11-2011

 E-mail : news.mongol@gmail.com

website: www.samabad.com

Council of Buddhist organizations:

1. Nepal Buddhist Nagarik Samaj- Swayambhu

2. Nepal Tamang Boudha Samaj-Swayambhu

3. Manang Samaj Sewa Samiti-Swayambhu

4. Tamang Ekta Samaj – Swayambhu

5. Rastriya Karuna Pratistan

6. Pavitra Pyaldor Samaj

7. Nepal Helmu Samaj

8. Akhil Nepal Himali Boudha Sangh

9. Dharma datu Foundation

10. Hariviya Varna Mahavihar

11. Himali Helmu Cheli Beti Sangh Samaj

12. Dolkha Tamang Ekta Manch

13. Boudha Jagaran Kendra

14. Tamang Saling

15. Thakali Sewa Samaj

16. Kungram Foundation

17. Gyang Ghuti Hyopen

19. Dharmadhara

20. Rinzesan Foundation Ghumba-Pharping

21. Samdeybing Gumba –Boudha

22. Manang Bikas Samiti

23. Dolpa Ekta Samaj

24. Buddha Kala Kendra

25. Nepal Tamang Rastriya Mahasang

26. Thupten Ghagailing Ghumba-Swayambu

27. Nepal Sherpa Sangh

28. Bhalwadi Maitrik Sewa Samiti

29. Kunsadling Bikash Samaj-Kavre

30. Swayambu Sewa Samaj

31. Tharu Kalyankari Sava

32. Tamu Sewa Samiti

33. Helmu Samaj Sewa Kendra

34.Tharu Adivasi Gairsarkari Mahasangh

35.NepalTamang Boudha Samaj-Swayambu

36.Sherpa Sewa Kendra –Boudha

37. Sindhupalchowk Sherpa Samaj-Sindhupalchowk

38. Sindhupalchowk Sherpa Sangh –Sindhupalchowk

39. Bardiyali Tharu Bikash Manch

40. Shanti Vidyalaya Boudha

41. Jhaipung Chokpa-Sindhupalchowk

42. Nepal Helmu Mahila Sangh Boudha

42.The Unity of  Damfhu

43. Mailung Tamamng Sewa Kendra

44. Nepal Ahamshibadi Boudha Dharma Bishwa Shanti Chakra Sangh –Nawalparasi

45. Kiti Bihar Ghyanmala Samuha

46. Siniyo Nepal Boudha

47. Ningma Fondation of Nepal –Jorpati

48. Sailung Samaj Sewa Kendra-Dolakha

49. Nepal Tamang Lama Ghedung

50. Choi Phelkundaling Gompa  Lisankho

51. Adivasi Mahila Uthan Samaj-Pepsicola

52. Boudha Sampadha Sangh-Bhaktapur  

53. Dipankar Gyanmala Bhajankhala-Bhaktapur

54. Parampara Boudha Dharma Sangh- Bhaktapur

55. Indarbana Mahavihar – Bhaktapur

56. Munivihar- Bhaktapur

57. Samtenling Gompha-Boudha

58. Jyapu Samaj-Lalitpur

59. Tamang Lungdtok Dechan Gompa-Lalitpur

60. Vajrakirti Mahavihar- Ombahal

61. Siddhimangal Boudhavihar- Lalitpur

62. Nepal Boudha Parisad

63. Meh Yubha Samaj-Kathmandu

64. Manjushree Mahavihar-  Kathmandu

65. Mahayana Buddhist Society

66. Kopan Ani Gompa

67. Dharmashila Boudhavihar-Pokhara

68. Nagadesh Boudha Samuha

69. Nepal Boudha Samaj-Tahachal

70. Nagi Gompa-Budanilkanta

71. Tamu Boudha Samiti Nepal

72. Yubha Boudha SamuhaSangaram-Pokhara

73. Boudhavihar Akcheswar-Makwanpur

74. Yeshodhara Samaj Sewa Parishad-Lalitpur

75. Kanching Sedep Singha Seto Gompa- Boudha

76. Kendriya Dayak Parisad- Kathmandu

77. Budhha Jayanti Samaro Samiti-Lalitpur

78. Buddha Jayanti Samaro Samiti- Kathmandu

79. Ananda Kuti Vihar-Kathmandu

80. Akhil Nepal Vikchu Mahasangh-Kathmandu

81. Chesum Pancho Konjyo Gompa-Kavre

82. Parampara Gompa Rmaechap (Podi)

83. Acharya Pujabidhi Lalitpur

84. Punyadaya Vihar –Harisidhi –Lalitpur

85. Mayurvarna Mahabihar- Lalitpur

86. Pragatishil Gramin Mahila Bikash- Nuwakot

87. Yubha Boudha Mandal- Lalitpur

88. Nepal Boudha Parishad- Jyobahal

89. Mehtok Choling Gompa-Makwanpur Dadakharka

90. Rinchin Phodel Gompa-Pharping

91. Vajrachariya  Samrakchan Guti-Lalitpur

92. Nagarmnadap Shree Kirti Bihar-Lalitpur

93. Dharmakirti Adhyan Gosti- Lalitpur

94. Samyak Dharma Samaj- Kathmandu

95. Swayambhu Sarsafai Samiti

96. CChesang Gompa  -Boudha

97. Antarastriya Bhabana Kendra-Buddhanagar

98. Helmu Kagyu Sangh Latok- Boudha