The Campaign to restore archaeological Kamal Pokhari in Thamel has condemned the “inadequate, irresponsible and false” reply provided by the Government of Nepal in response to the joint letter sent by four UN mechanisms to the Government concerning violations of the rights of indigenous Newars, including to their lands and resources and culture, due to construction of mega business complex Chhaya Center in Kathmandu.
As per the Campaign, the violations have occurred because a private Nepali company Chhaya Devi Complex Pvt. Ltd has constructed Chhaya Center, “the biggest business complex in Nepal’s history” after unlawfully acquiring the communal trust lands – traditionally holding a holy pond and its surroundings structures and areas – of the indigenous Pradhan Newar community in Kathmandu’s tourist district of Thamel. Despite local opposition and protests, including by human rights and cultural activists, the business complex officially opened in 2018 currently houses 200 retail stores, including high-end brand outlets, multiplex theatres, corporate offices, banquet and conference halls, casino, discotheque, etc., as well as a five-star hotel Aloft Kathmandu Thamel of the Marriott International, Inc.
Indigenous Majhi communities of Ramechhap and Sindhuli districts in eastern Nepal have demanded cancellation of Sunkoshi-2 Hydropower Project stating that the Project will result in large scale displacement of the Majhi communities and other locals and even wipe out the identity and existence of the Majhi people from their ancestral lands.
On Thursday (30 September), hundreds of Majhis from various villages of Ramechhap and Sindhuli districts clad in their indigenous attire took out a protest rally playing their traditional drums and musical instruments in Manthali – the district headquarter of Ramechhap. They carried boat- and fish-shaped placards and chanted slogans calling for, among others, annulment of the Sunkoshi-2 Hydropower Project, respect for their Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and creation of an autonomous Majhi protected region. The Majhis led by the Sunkoshi-2 Hydropower Project Joint Struggle Committee also submitted their letter demanding cancellation of the Project to the Chief District Officer of Ramechhap, Dipak Kumar Pahadi, and the Mayor of Manthali Municipality, Ramesh Kumar Basnet. They assured the Majhi representatives that the local authorities were serious about their demand and that it will be conveyed to the concerned national authorities. Following submission of the demand letter, the rally converged into a corner assembly in Manthali town center, whereby the Majhi communities’ representatives and Committee officials relayed their concerns and demand.
सुनकोशी मरिन डाइभर्सन बहुउद्देश्यीय आयोजनाबाट रामेछापको डुबान क्षेत्रका आदिवासी माझी र अन्य स्थानिय समुदायमा पर्ने असर र आयोजनाको सन्दर्भमा भएका राम्रा प्रयासहरु सम्बन्धि अध्ययनको प्रतिवेदन आज राष्ट्रिय मानव अधिकार आयोगमा पेश गरिएको छ ।
आयोजनाको मस्यौदा वातावरणीय प्रभाव मुल्यांकन प्रतिवेदन तथा अनलाइन र पत्रपत्रिकामा प्रकाशित सम्बन्धित समाचार र प्रसारित सामग्री लगायत अन्य सान्दर्भिक पुस्तक प्रतिवेदनको समिक्षा गर्दै २०७७ पुस ४ र माघ ३ गते क्रमशः रामेछाप जिल्लाको मन्थली नगरपालिका वडा नं ६, हात्तिटार र खाँडादेवी गाँउपालिका वडा नं ४, रजगाउँमा आयोजना प्रभावितहरुसंग गरिएका अन्तत्र्रिmया, छलफल र भिडियो अन्तर्वार्ता तथा प्रभावितहरुसँग गरिएको प्रभावित क्षेत्रको अवलोकनबाट संकलित जानकारीको आधारमा सो प्रतिवेदन तयार पारिएको हो । प्रतिवेदनमा आयोजनाबाट प्रभावितहरुको समितिमार्फत विभिन्न मितिमा सम्बन्धित निकायहरुमा १३ बुँदे मागसहितको ज्ञापनपत्र बुझाउँदा भएका अन्तरक्रियाको संस्लेषण तथा आयोजनाको सन्दर्भमा नेपालको हकमा लागु हुने सम्बन्धित राष्ट्रिय तथा अन्तराष्ट्रिय कानुन र अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय महासन्धिको कार्यान्वयन सम्बन्धी अनुगमन गर्ने समितिहरुले गरेका सिफारिसहरुको विश्लेषण पनि गरिएको छ ।
प्रतिवेदन बुझाउने क्रममा प्रभावित समुदायका काठमाडौंमा उपस्थित प्रतिनिधि र सम्बन्धित अधिकारकर्मीहरुले आयोजनाको सन्दर्भमा समुदायका गुनासो तथा प्रभावितहरुको संविधान प्रदत्त विभिन्न हक अधिकार र आदिवासी अधिकार उल्लंघन भएको जानकारी गराउँदै आयोगलाई स्थलगत भ्रमण तथा अन्य आवश्यक कदम चाल्न आग्रह गरेका थिए। आयोगका माननीय अध्यक्ष टोप बहादुर मगरले आयोगले प्रतिवेदनको अध्ययन गरी प्रभावित समुदायका समस्या समाधान गर्न कदम चाल्ने आश्वासन दिनुभएको थियो ।
१८ जनवरी २०२१ (वि. सं. ५ माघ २०७७), मन्थली, रामेछाप
सुनकोशी मरिन डाइभर्सन बहुउद्देश्यीय आयोजनाबाट रामेछापका आदिवासी माझी र अन्य स्थानीय बासिन्दाले आयोजना सम्बन्धि प्रभावितलाई पर्याप्त जानकारी नदिइएको, अर्थपूर्ण परामर्श नगरिएको र जग्गा अधिग्रहणलगायत आयोजनाका निर्णयमा प्रभावितसँग सहमति नभएको भन्दै जिल्ला प्रशासन लगायतका स्थानीय निकायहरुमा १३ बुँदे मागसहित ज्ञापनपत्र बुझाएका छन्।
रामेछाप जिल्लामा पर्ने आयोजनाको डुबान क्षेत्रका ६ गाउँबस्तीका ३०० भन्दा बढी प्रभावितहरुको हस्ताक्षरसहित सुनकोशी मरिन डाइभरसन बहुउद्देश्यीय परियोजना प्रभावित समितिले आइतबार जिल्ला प्रशासन कार्यालय, मन्थली नगरपालिका, खाँडादेवी गाउँपालिका, मालपोत कार्यालय लगायत जिल्लाका प्रतिनिधि सभा र प्रदेश सभा सदस्यहरुलाई पनि ज्ञापनपत्र बुझाएको हो। साथै, जिल्ला प्रशासन कार्यालयमार्फत उर्जा, जलस्रोत तथा सिँचाई मन्त्रालय र प्रधानमन्त्री तथा मन्त्रीपरिषद्को कार्यालयमा पनि ज्ञापनपत्र पठाइएको छ।
सुनकोशी नदीको पानी मरिन खोलामा झारी बागमती नदीको सिंचाई मार्फत् तराईका ५ जिल्लाका १,२२,००० हेक्टर जमिनमा सिंचाई सुविधा पु¥याउन राष्ट्रिय गौरवको परियोजनाको रुपमा निर्माणाधीन सुनकोशी मरिन डाइभर्सन बहुउद्देश्यीय आयोजनाबाट आदिवासी माझी र अन्य स्थानीय समुदायले परम्परादेखि भोगचलन गर्दै आएको पुख्र्यौली जग्गा जमिन, नदी खोला र बगरक्षेत्र, घाट, आदि डुबानमा पार्ने र त्यसबाट माझी र अन्य स्थानीय विस्थापित हुने, कृषि गर्ने, माछा मार्ने, डुंगा चलाउनेलगायतका तिनको जिविकोपार्जनबाट वञ्चित हुने र तिनको धार्मिक, साँस्कृतिक र सामाजिक जीवनमा प्रतिकुल असर पर्ने ज्ञापनपत्रमा भनिएको छ।
डुबान क्षेत्रमा बसोवास गर्ने मध्ये करिब ९० प्रतिशत अति सिमान्तकृत माझी समुदायका छन् । तर माझी समुदायको प्रभावकारी प्रतिनिधित्वबिना निर्धारण गरिएको डुबान क्षेत्र र नेपाल सरकारबाट २०७७/५/२८ गते प्रकाशित जग्गा प्राप्ति सम्बन्धी सूचनाबारे प्रभावित समुदायमा अन्यौल रहेको र तिनको प्रतिनिधित्वबिना मुआब्जा निर्धारण समितिबाट तय गरिएको मुआब्जाको दररेटमा पनि तिनको असहमति रहेको ज्ञापनपत्रमा उल्लेख छ।
प्रभावित समुदायका निम्नानुसारका १३–बुँदे माग रहेको भन्दै ती मागहरुको सम्बोधन गर्न १५ दिनभित्र ठोस कदम नचालिएको खण्डमा प्रभावित समुदायले चरणबद्ध आन्दोलन गर्ने जनाएको छ।
१. सुनकोशी मरिन दाइभर्सन बहुउद्देश्यीय आयोजना सम्बन्धि वातावरणीय प्रभाव मूल्यांकन प्रतिवेदन लगायतका जानकारी प्रभावित समुदायले बुझ्ने भाषा र रुपमा उपलब्ध गर्नुपर्ने ।
२. प्रभावित आदिवासी माझी र अन्य समुदायसँग अर्थपूर्ण परामर्श गरी आयोजनाबाट समुदायलाई असर पर्ने निर्णयहरुमा प्रभावित समुदायको स्वतन्त्र, अग्रिम र सुचित मन्जुरी (Free, Prior and Informed Consent – FPIC) लिनुपर्ने ।
३. आयोजनाबाट लालपुर्जा भएको वा नभएको घरजग्गासहित नदी बगर र समुदायको अन्य भूमि र श्रोतसाधनमा पर्ने असर र जग्गा अधिग्रहणको विषयमा प्रभावित समुदायमा अन्यौल र असहमति रहेको हुँदा आयोजनाले असर गर्ने वा अधिग्रहण गरिने घरजग्गा र जमिनको बारेमा सम्बन्धित समुदायको सहभागितामा पुनः फिल्ड सर्भे (field survey) गरी उचित मुवाब्जा तथा क्षतिपूर्ति निर्धारण गर्नुपर्ने । विशेषतः मुआब्जा निर्धारण समितिमा प्रभावित प्रभावित समुदायकै प्रतिनिधित्व हुनुपर्ने ।
४. घरजग्गा अधिग्रहण गर्नै पर्ने भए प्रभावित परिवारको इच्छाअनुरुप अधिग्रहण गरिने घरजग्गाको मुआब्जाको लागि समान प्रकृति र मूल्यको घरजग्गा सट्टामा दिने व्यवस्था गर्नुपर्ने । त्यसरी नै प्रभावित आदिवासी माझी समुदायले परम्परादेखि भोगचलन गरि आएको लालपुर्जा नभएको घरजग्गा, गोठ, जमिन र श्रोतसाधनको पनि उचित व्यवस्था हुनुपर्ने ।
५. अध्रिग्रहण गरिने घरजग्गा, जमिन डुबानमा नपरेसम्म प्रभावित समुदायले प्रयोग गर्न पाउनुपर्ने र डुबानबाट प्रभावित हुने बाली, रुखबिरुवाको पनि उचित क्षतिपूर्ति दिइनुपर्ने ।
६. प्रभावित क्षेत्रको प्रत्येक घरपरिवारलाई आयोजनामा सिप र क्षमताको आधारमा एक घर एक रोजगारीको व्यवस्था गर्नुपर्ने । ती प्रभावितको क्षमता बढाउन आयोजनाबाट निशुल्क तालिम व्यवस्था हुनुपर्ने ।
७. आयोजनालाई कम्पनीमा लगी प्रभावित आदिवासी माझी र प्रभावित स्थानीय बासिन्दालाई निशुल्क आयोजनाको शेयर र त्यसबाट उत्पादन हुने बिजुली वितरण गरिनुपर्ने ।
८. आयोजनाको सामुदायिक विकास कार्यक्रम अन्तर्गत प्रभावित क्षेत्रका स्थानीय सरकारलाई दिइने रकम बिशेष गरी प्रभावित आदिवासी माझी र स्थानीय समुदायको हित हुने कार्यक्रममा ती समुदायकै सहभागितामा प्रयोग गर्नुपर्ने । विशेषतः डुबान क्षेत्रमा शिक्षा, स्वास्थ्य, यातायात, विद्युत्, खानेपानी, संचारलगायतका विकासका पूर्वाधार निर्माण गरिने नमुना वस्ती विकास गरिनुपर्ने । साथै डुवानक्षेत्र वरिपरि रहेका गाउँबस्ती, जग्गाजमिन, विद्यालय लगायतका भौतिक पुर्वाधारको सुरक्षाको लागि आवश्यक सर्वेक्षण गरी पक्की पर्खाल निर्माण गरी संरक्षण गरिनुपर्ने ।
९. आयोजनाबाट स्थानीय र प्रदेश सरकारलाई प्राप्त हुने २५/२५ प्रतिशत राजस्व प्रभावित आदिवासी जनजाति माझी र स्थानीय समुदायको हितको लागि प्रभावित समुदायकै सहभागितामा प्रयोग गरिनुपर्ने ।
१०. आयोजनाबाट बन्ने जलाशयमा प्रभावित आदिवासी माझी समुदायको परम्परागत सिप र जीविकोपार्जनको संरक्षण हुने गरी प्रभावित माझीहरुकै स्थानीय समितिमार्फत पर्यटकीय र डुंगा चलाउने कार्यक्रमहरु संचालन गर्नुपर्ने र त्यसको लागि सरकारले आवश्यक सहयोग गर्नुपर्ने ।
११. आयोजनाबाट प्रभावित आदिवासी माझी समुदायका घाटहरु (डुंगा तार्ने र जात्रा गर्ने स्थान) डुवानमा पर्ने लगायत तिनको संस्कृतिमा गम्भीर नकारात्मक असर पर्ने कुराको मूल्यांकन नभएको हुँदा प्रभावित समुदायकै सहभागितामा सांस्कृतिक प्रभाव मूल्यांकन गरिनुपर्ने । आयोजनाबाट समुदायकै सहभागितामा माझी जातिको संस्कृति, भाषा र भेषको जगेर्ना गर्न कार्यक्रम कार्यान्वयन पर्ने । विशेषतः माझीहरुको पितृ चढाउने स्थल, माछा मार्ने ठाउंको व्यवस्था गरिनुपर्ने । साथै मठमन्दिर, धार्मिकस्थल, पाटीपौवा लगायत सार्वजनिक स्थलको उचित संरक्षण र विकास गरिनुपर्ने ।
१२. आयोजनाबाट प्रभावित क्षेत्रका महिला, बालबालिका, ज्येष्ठ नागरिकको संरक्षण र विकासको लागि विशेष कार्यक्रम ल्याउनुपर्ने ।
१३. आयोजनाको कार्यन्वयनको क्रममा आदिवासी अधिकार सम्बन्धि अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय श्रम संगठनको महासन्धि १६९ लगायत अन्य अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय कानुन बमोजिम आदिवासी माझी र स्थानीय समुदायको अधिकार सुनिश्चित गरिनुपर्ने । विशेषतः स्थानीय श्रोतसाधनमा प्रभावित आदिवासी माझीको विशेष अधिकार कायम हुनुपर्ने ।
रामेछाप जिल्ला प्रशासन कार्यालयमा बुझाइएको ज्ञापनपत्र पूरा पढ्न यहाँ क्लिक गर्नुहोस्।
Indigenous Majhi and other communities affected by the Sunkoshi-Marin Diversion Multipurpose project in Ramechhap district in eastern Nepal have submitted a 13-point memorandum to the local authorities on Sunday expressing their discontent with the project. They have alleged that they have not been adequately informed and meaningfully consulted about the project and that there has not been an agreement on the decision making of the project, including in relation to land acquisition.
Sunkoshi-Marin Diversion Multipurpose Project Affected Committee submitted the memorandum with signatures of more than 300 affected persons of six villages that lie within the inundation area of the project in Ramechhap district to the District Administration Office, Manthali municipality, Khadedevi rural municipality, Land Revenue Office as well as representatives to the federal and provincial parliaments from the district. The memorandum was also submitted to the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation and the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet of Minister through the District Administration Office.
Aimed to provide irrigation facilities to 122,00 hectares of land in five districts in southern Nepal by diverting water from Sunkoshi river to Marin Khola, the Sunkoshi-Marin Multipurpose Diversion Project – termed as project of national pride – will also generate 28.62 MW of hydroelectricity. As stated in the memorandum, the under-construction project will inundate ancestral lands, riverbanks and sacred sites of indigenous Majhi and other local communities that they have traditionally used or acquired. That will displace the communities, deprive them of agriculture, fishing, boating and other livelihoods and negatively impact their religious, cultural and social lives.
Around 90 percent of the people living in the inundation area belong to highly marginalized Majhi community. However, as per the memorandum, the inundation area determined without effective representation of the Majhi community and the land acquisition notice published by Nepal government in September 2020 have caused uncertainties among the affected communities while they also do not agree with the rate of compensation fixed by the official Compensation Determination Committee without their representation.
The Committee representing the affected communities has warned of series of protests if the authorities do not take concrete steps to address their following 13-point demands within fifteen days.
Information related to the Sunkoshi Marine Diversion Multipurpose Project, including the Environmental Impact Assessment Report, should be made available in language and form understandable to the affected communities.
Affected indigenous Majhi and other communities should be meaningfully consulted and their Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) must be obtained on the decisions of the project impacting the communities.
As there is uncertainty and disagreement among the affected communities about land acquisition and other impacts of the project on the properties (houses, lands, sheds, etc.) as well as the riverbanks and other lands and resources of the communities with or without their legal titles, a field survey should be redone with participation of the concerned communities to ascertain the impacts of the project or acquisition of properties and lands and to determine fair compensation. In particular, there should be representation of the affected communities in the Compensation Determination Committee.
If the land and properties must be acquired, arrangement should be made for land for land and house for house compensation of the same quality and value for the land or house acquired as per the desire of the affected household. Similarly, proper arrangements should also be made for the houses, cowshed, lands and resources of the affected indigenous Majhi communities that they have traditionally used or occupied but do not hold legal ownership titles to.
Affected communities should be allowed to use the lands and properties that will be acquired until inundation and the crops and trees affected by the inundation should also be provided fair compensation.
Each family in the affected area should be provided an employment per household in the project based on skills and capacities. There should be a free training from the project to increase the capacities of those affected.
The project should be transformed into a company and the affected indigenous Majhi and locals should be provided free shares of the project and free electricity generated from it.
The money that will be provided to the local government of the affected areas under the Community Development Program of the project should be used especially for the benefit of the affected Indigenous Majhi and local communities in participation of the communities. In particular, model settlements should be developed in the inundation area through the development of education, health, transportation, electricity, drinking water, communication and other infrastructures. In addition, necessary survey should be undertaken, and concrete walls should be constructed for the protection of the villages around the inundation area, including lands, schools, and physical infrastructure therein.
The revenue received from the project by the local and state governments (25% each) should be used for the benefit of the affected Indigenous Majhi and local communities with the participation of the affected communities.
In the reservoir formed by the project, tourism and boating programs should be conducted through local committees of the affected Majhi communities to preserve their traditional skills and livelihoods, and the government should provide necessary assistance for such programs.
As no assessment has been made of the serious negative impacts on the culture of the Indigenous Majhi affected by the project, including the inundation of the ghats (sites for boat landing/crossing and holding fairs), cultural impact assessment for the project should be undertaken with participation of the affected communities. The project should implement programs to preserve the culture, language, and costumes of the Majhi tribe with the participation of the communities. In particular, funeral sites (sites for making offerings to the departed) and places for fishing of the Majhis should be managed. In addition, public properties including temples, religious sits and rest houses should be properly protected and developed.
Special programs should be put in place for the protection and development of women, children and senior citizens of the project affected areas.
The rights of indigenous Majhi and local communities should be ensured in course of the implementation of the project in accordance with Convention No. 169 of the International Labor Organization (ILO C169) and other international laws. In particular, the specific rights of the affected indigenous Majhi to the local resources should be guaranteed.
Click here to read this website post in Nepali and the original memorandum in Nepali.
Workers have a history of taking to the streets and carrying out struggles when their employers do injustice and exploit labor. However, it has been found that today’s workers have started to engage in various unwanted activities to protect their employers instead of protesting against the black acts committed by their employers and investors.
It has been found that the so-called leaders of the workers working at the Chhaya Devi Complex built by occupying Kamalpokhari in Thamel have threatened the rights activist fighting for heritage conservation. Banker and billionaire businessmen Prithvi Bahadur Pandey, Suman Pandey and owner of Hotel Aloft and Chhaya center, Suhrid Ghimire have been found to have used their employees like local thugs to threaten the activist.
Bhagwat Pradhan, a heritage rights activist, has been threatened by the workers of the Chhaya Devi Complex built on the land of Kamalpokhari, which was grabbed by 43 land mafia. Alleged labor leaders came to his house to threaten him. “My wife was threatened at home. I was threatened by Ram Bahadur Shrestha, the secretary of GEFONT (General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions),” Bhagwat told the Diyopost.
On behalf of the 1,200 workers employed at the Chhaya center, the three leaders threatened him with a three-day ultimatum. Their letter reads as follows:
27 Dec 2021
Mr. Bhagwat Narsingh Pradhan
Currently Sitapaila, Kathmandu.
Subject: Regarding anti- labor activities
Concerning the above subject, this letter is written with regards to the concerns of the workers related to the Aloft Hotel and Chhaya Devi Complex located at Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Ward No. 26 Thamel and Casino Waldo, night club, travel, trekking restaurant and other businesses operating therein.
It has been reported that unethical and unwanted attacks are being carried out at your initiative against the Chhaya Center and other businesses including the Aloft Hotel [therein] that have come in operation after recent completion of construction as there was no order from the esteemed courts to stop the construction of the Chhaya Devi Complex as per your demand in frequent petitions filed by you.
Against the constitutional right of operating business activities of the Chhaya Devi Complex and the businesses operating therein, you and others regularly intervene to provoke the customers, put pressure on the guests, special guests and prominent guests not to participate in any event at the Chhaya Devi Complex or Chhaya Center as well as pressurize international headquarters of Marriott International, VFS Global (International Visa Facilitation Office) and various national and international relations and spread false messages through social media channels to undertake systematic attacks on promotion of business partnership and reputation [of the Chhaya Center]. Due to these attacks, even the livelihoods of around 1200 labor and self employed businesses in the Chhaya Center have been risked. Thus, you are requested to stop above-mentioned unwanted activities and misinformation and attacks on the business and express loyal commitment to the order of the esteemed court on the petition filed by you yourself within 3 days at the Central committees of the Nepal Independent Hotel, Casino and Restaurant Workers Union and the Union of Trekking Travels Rafting Workers Nepal (UNITRAV). Otherwise, it is informed that the workers will be forced to fight for their rights, including their livelihoods, against your unwanted activity.
Signed
Surya Bahadur Kunwar
Chairman, Nepal Independent Hotel, Casino and restaurant Workers Union,
Translated from news report in Nepali published on the Diyopost at the link https://www.diyopost.com/12/84466/?fbclid=IwAR05ojzQPLH2wO5ga5g8JDM6ZHBO6U8hrYysZoyFPwiraGsjw9KHRQOxdyY
काठमाडौं- तराई/मधेस द्रुतमार्ग (फास्ट ट्र्याक) लगायत खोकना र बुंगमतिमा निर्माणाधीन वा प्रस्तावित विभिन्न पूर्वाधार विकास तथा सहरीकरणका परियोजनाबाट प्रभावित ती ऐतिहासिक बस्तीका आदिवासी नेवार समुदायले जेनेभास्थित संयुक्त राष्ट्र संघका दुई विज्ञहरूलाई ती परियोजनाले समुदाय विस्थापित हुने गम्भीर खतरा रहेको, तिनको भुमि र स्रोतसाधन माथिको अधिकार र सांस्कृतिक अधिकार उल्लङ्घन भएको र अन्य प्रतिकूल असर पार्ने भएकोले प्रभावित समुदायका अधिकार रक्षा गर्न तुरुन्त कदम चाल्न आग्रह गरेका छन्।
प्रभावित समुदायको दुई प्रतिनिधि समूहहरु (जनसरोकार समिति खोकना र बुंगमती) ले आदिवासी जनजातिका अधिकार र सांस्कृतिक अधिकारको क्षेत्रका संयुक्त राष्ट्र संघका विशेष समाधिक्षक (Special Rapporteurs) हरुलाई आज पठाइएका पत्रमा ती समाधिक्षकहरुलाई फास्ट ट्र्याकलगायतका परियोजनाबाट प्रभावित आदिवासी जनजातिका भुमि, स्रोतसाधन, पवित्रस्थल र संस्कृतिको अधिकार संरक्षण र प्रवर्द्धन गर्न नेपाल सरकारलाई संयुक्तरुपमा पत्राचार गर्न अनुरोध गरिएको छ। फास्ट ट्र्याकबाहेक बागमती कोरीडोर, बाहिरी चक्रपथ, थानकोट-भक्तपुर प्रसारण लाइन, काठमाडौं उपत्यकामा प्रस्तावित चारवटामध्येको एक ‘स्मार्ट सिटी’ लगायत लगायतका परियोजनाले आदिवासी नेवार समुदायका पूरै ऐतिहासिक बस्ती विस्थापित हुने पत्रमा भनिएको छ। तीमध्ये विभिन्न परियोजनालाई एशियाली विकास बैंकले प्रत्यक्ष वा अप्रत्यक्ष रूपमा सहयोग गरेको छ।
जनसरोकार समिति खोकना र बुंगमतीले विशेष समाधिक्षकहरुलाई सरकारलाई निम्न कदम चाल्न पत्राचार गर्न अनुरोध गरेका छन् :
निर्माणाधीन फास्ट ट्र्याक द्रुतमार्गको निर्माणकार्य तुरुन्त रोकी खोकना र बुंगमतीको कृषियोग्य र गुठी जग्गाको साथै ऐतिहासिक र सांस्कृतिक स्थलहरूको संरक्षण हुने तरिकाले द्रुतमार्गको रुट (alignment) परिमार्जन गर्नुपर्ने,
खोकनामा द्रुतमार्गको निर्माणको लागि बनाइएको नेपाली सेनाको शिविर (camp) र अन्य संरचनाहरू हटाई कब्जा गरिएका जग्गाहरू सम्बन्धित जमिन जग्गाधनीलाई फिर्ता गर्नुपर्ने,
द्रुतमार्ग लगायतका परियोजनाको सन्दर्भमा आफ्नो सरोकार र विरोधका आवाज उठाउन प्रभावित समुदायको शान्तिपूर्ण भेला हुने र अभिव्यक्ति स्वतन्त्रताको अधिकार सुनिश्चित गर्दै उनीहरूको सरोकारका विषयहरुमा सार्थक वार्ताको लागि वातावरण सिर्जना गर्नुपर्ने, र
प्रभावित समुदायहरूको जमिन र स्रोतसाधन माथि असर पार्ने फास्ट ट्र्याक द्रुतमार्ग र अन्य परियोजनाहरूको लागि समुदायको स्वतन्त्र, पूर्व र सूचित सहमति लिनुपर्ने।
यसअघि प्रभावित समुदायहरूले काठमाडौंमा रहेका अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय श्रम संगठन (आईएलओ), युनेस्को र संयुक्त राष्ट्र संघका कार्यालयहरूलाई पनि यस्तै पत्र पठाएका थिए। ती कार्यालयका प्रतिनिधिहरूले समुदायका सरोकार र मागहरु बुझ्न खोकना र बुंगमतीको स्थलगत भ्रमण पनि गरेका थिए। यद्यपि सरकारले प्रभावित समुदायहरूसँग अर्थपूर्ण वार्ता गर्न ती कार्यालयहरूले सहजीकरण गरिदिन सक्ने भनी गरेको पत्राचारको सरकारले सकारात्मक प्रतिक्रिया दिएको छैन।
वर्षौंदेखि, खोकाना र बुंगामतीका स्थानीयहरूले ती विभिन्न परियोजनाहरूको विरोधमा विभिन्न भेला, जुलुस, प्रदर्शन लगायतका कार्यक्रमहरु आयोजना गर्दै आएका छन्। ती प्रदर्शनहरुको प्रतिक्रियामा प्रहरी प्राय क्रूर दमनको साथ प्रस्तुत भएका छन्। असारमा फास्ट ट्र्याकको प्रस्तावित जिरो प्वाइन्ट खोकनाको खुदोलमा आयोजित “धान रोपाई” विरोध कार्यक्रममा प्रहरीले हस्तक्षेप गर्दा प्रदर्शनकारी र प्रहरीबीच झडप भएको थियो। प्रहरीले अश्रुग्याँस प्रहार गरी लाठीचार्ज गर्दा एक दर्जनभन्दा बढी प्रदर्शनकारीहरू र चार प्रहरी पनि घाइते भएका थिए। हालसालै, लगभग दैनिकजसो स्थानीयहरूलाई कोभिड-१९ को महामारीमा सर्वसाधारणलाई घरभित्रै बस्न प्रतिबन्धात्मक आदेश दिई प्रभावित समुदायको निजी तथा गुठी जग्गाहरूमा फास्ट ट्र्याक निर्माण गर्न खटाइएका ठेकेदारहरूसँग निर्माणस्थलमा चर्को विवाद बहस गरिरहनु परेको छ।
माघमा, खोकना र बुंगमतीका पचास भन्दा बढी प्रभावित स्थानीय र समुदायका प्रतिनिधिहरूले तिनका ऐतिहासिक बस्ती र त्यहाँका समुदायहरूको संरक्षणको लागि फास्ट ट्र्याक लगायतका विभिन्न “विकास” परियोजनाहरूको बिरूद्ध नेपालको सर्वोच्च अदालतमा रिट निवेदन दिएका थिए। तर, फास्ट ट्र्याकको निर्माण निरन्तर प्रगति भइरहेको छ भने अदालतले उक्त निवेदनमा सुनुवाई पटक-पटक स्थगित गरिरहेको छ। विशेष समाधिक्षकहरूलाई पठाइएका पत्रमा प्रभावित समुदायले नेपाल पक्ष राष्ट्र रहेको अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय श्रम संगठनको आदिवासी जनजाती सम्बन्धि महासन्धि १६९ (ILO C169) तथा आदिवासी जनजातिको अधिकार सम्बन्धी संयुक्त राष्ट्रसंघीय घोषणापत्रलगायत विभिन्न अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय र राष्ट्रिय कानुनमा प्रत्याभूत उनीहरूको अधिकारको हनन भएको जानकारी गराएका छन्।
थप जानकारीको लागि विशेष समाधिक्षकहरूलाई बुझाइएका पत्रहरुको अनुसूची (अंग्रेजीमा) पढ्न यहाँ क्लिक गर्नुहोस्।
थप विवरण वा सोधपुछका लागि जनसरोकार समिति खोकनालाई khokanajanasarokarsamiti@gmail.com मा सम्पर्क गर्नुहोस्।
Indigenous Newar communities – affected by the Kathmandu-Terai/Madhesh Fast Track (Expressway) Project and other ongoing or planned infrastructure and urbanization projects in historical settlements of Khokana and Bungamati in the south of Nepal’s capital city, Kathmandu – have called on two UN experts in Geneva to take prompt actions for safeguarding their rights against the serious threats of displacement of the communities, violations of their land and resource rights as well as cultural rights and other impacts on them due to the ill-planned projects.
In separate letters sent today to the UN Special Rapporteurs on the rights of indigenous peoples and in the field of cultural rights, two local groups (Janasarokar Samiti of Khokana and Bungamati) representing the affected communities have urged the Rapporteurs to jointly examine the information submitted and correspond with the Government of Nepal to protect and promote the rights of the indigenous communities to their lands, resources, sacred places and culture in the context of those projects. As stated in the letters, besides the Fast Track Expressway, other ongoing or planned projects, including Bagmati River Basin Improvement Project (Bagmati Corridor), Kathmandu Outer Ring Road and Thankot-Bhaktapur Transmission Line Project and one of the four “Smart Cities” proposed in Kathmandu valley, will entirely displace the indigenous communities from the historical settlements. Asian Development Bank has directly or indirectly supported many of those projects.
The groups have requested that the Special Rapporteurs write to the Government to
immediately halt the ongoing construction of the Fast Track Expressway and revise its alignment to preserve the arable and communal (Guthi) lands as well as historical and cultural sites in Khokana and Bungamati,
remove the camp and other structures of the Nepal Army, which is assigned to construct the Expressway, installed in Khokana and return the occupied lands to the concerned landowners,
ensure the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression of the affected communities to voice their concerns against the Fast Track Expressway and other projects and create an amicable space for meaningful dialogue on their concerns, and
obtain the free, prior and informed consent of the affected communities for the Fast Track Expressway and other projects affecting their lands and resources.
Earlier, the groups had sent similar letters to the country offices of the International Labour Organization (ILO), UNESCO and the UN in Kathmandu. The representative of those offices had also undertaken field visits to Khokana and Bungamati to understand the concerns of the communities. However, the Government has not responded positively to the correspondence from those offices to facilitate a meaningful dialogue with the affected communities.
Over the years, the Khokana and Bungamati locals have organized various gatherings, protests and demonstrations to express their opposition to the various projects Those protests and demonstrations have often been responded with brutal police repression. In July, a clash erupted between protestors and police when the authorities intervened in a “paddy transplantation protest” organized in Khokana at the proposed zero point of the Fast Track. Over a dozen protestors were injured when police lobbed tear gas shells and charged batons while four police personnel were also injured. Recently, on an almost daily basis, the locals engage in heated arguments with the sub-contractors of the Fast Track Expressway who seek to undertake construction in private & communal lands of the communities amidst prohibitory orders for the general public to stay indoors due to Covid-19 pandemic.
In February, more than fifty affected locals and communities’ representatives of Khokana and Bungamati had filed a writ petition at Nepal’s Supreme Court calling for the protection of the historical settlements and the communities therein against the multiple “development” projects. However, the Court has repeatedly postponed hearings on the petition while the construction of the Fast Track Project progresses continuously. In their letters to the Special Rapporteurs, the groups have alleged violations of their rights guaranteed in national and international laws, including the ILO Convention 169 and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples that apply to Nepal.
Click here to read the annex to the letters submitted to the Special Rapporteurs for more information.
Community Empowerment and Social Justice Network (CEMSOJ), Himalayan Human Rights Monitors (HimRights) and Save Nepa Valley movement today made a joint submission for the 3rd Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Nepal. The UPR is a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all UN Member States and is held under the auspices of the UN Human Rights Council. The submission presents key human rights challenges faced by indigenous Newar communities, particularly in the context of “development” projects in Nepal and examines the compliance of the Government of Nepal with seven recommendations received during the 2nd UPR cycle of Nepal related to the rights of Newar and other indigenous nationalities.
The groups making the submission have expressed concern that Nepal’s legislative processes and development policies and projects as well as private investments in the country violate the rights of indigenous Newar and other communities and their overall well-being. While those affected indigenous groups, particularly indigenous women, have limited participation in decision-making processes in Nepal’s State structures, they are further alarmed by restrictions on freedom of assembly in Nepal manifested through the use of excessive security force to supress protests, which makes it further difficult for those groups to demand remedies for the harms they suffer.
While discussing the human rights challenges faced by indigenous Newar communities, the assessment in the submission demonstrates that the Government has failed to effectively or fully implement the recommendations related to the rights of indigenous peoples and freedom of assembly as well as redress for discrimination in post-earthquake reconstruction, among others. Accordingly, following recommendations are made in the submission to address to ensure sustainable development with respect for the rights of individuals and communities.
The Government should recognize the rights of indigenous peoples to maintain and develop their own customary systems and institutions such as Guthi of Newars with separate legal arrangement and autonomy for Guthis, including full ownership and control of their lands and resources and management of their internal and local affairs.
The Government, in conjunction with the concerned indigenous communities and their customary and representative institutions such as the Guthis of Newars, should undertake appropriate measures to identify, demarcate and title their traditional lands and resources as well to return such lands and resources lost by the communities to State, business or other actors, where feasible, or provide effective remedy for such loss if return is not possible.
In the context of “development” projects such as Kathmandu Valley Road Improvement Project, Kathmandu – Terai/Madhesh Fast Track Project, Kathmandu Outer Ring Road, Smart Cities, Bagmati River Basin Improvement Project, Thankot – Bhaktapur Transmission Line Project and Chobhar Dry Port affecting indigenous Newar communities, the Government, in line with the recommendations of the UN’s Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) and the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, should
adopt appropriate measures to ensure that the concerned indigenous communities are meaningfully consulted, through their own representative institutions, and to obtain their Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) before launching any development project as well as in the planning and undertaking of such project that affects their traditional land or resources.
provide redress to the communities or affected families for their loss of land or access to natural resources (such as fair and adequate compensation for those forcibly evicted or whose houses were demolished for road expansion or return of land already seized for Fast Track highway) incurred without their free, prior and informed consent when that loss has occurred by the establishment of development projects’.
With regards to private and communal lands and resources of Newars and other indigenous communities acquired in the past for various State such as in relation to the Chobhar dry port, business or other projects, the Government should return them to the original landowners if those lands and resources are not used in their original purpose or the concerned landowners or communities do not agree with the changed purpose of the land or resource use in line with national and international legal obligations of Nepal.
The Government should, in conjunction with representative institutions of indigenous peoples, undertake a comprehensive program for amendments to the constitution and existing laws or formulation of necessary new laws, policies and plans for implementation of Nepal’s commitments under the ILO Convention 169 and the UNDRIP. Such program should particularly ensure the rights of indigenous peoples to their lands, territories and resources, to development and to self-determination, including for indigenous women, in line with the recommendation of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
The Government should halt reversal of affirmative measures such as existing legal provisions for reservation/quota for indigenous peoples and other marginalized groups and should strengthen implementation of those provisions to ensure access by members of marginalized indigenous communities, particularly indigenous women, to employment in civil service and public institutions.
The Government should immediately adopt multilingual policy for its official languages at federal, provincial and local governments with provision of necessary resources to promote use local indigenous languages in its works.
The Government should invest more resources to promote mother-tongue based multilingual education in public/community schools as well as to support indigenous communities or their representative institutions to set up their own educational institutions and systems.
The Government should undertake targeted measures with provision of adequate resources to support marginalized groups such as indigenous peoples in post-earthquake reconstruction of their private and communal properties with meaningful consultation with the concerned communities to obtain their consent on the reconstruction policies.
Campaign to Restore Archaeological Kamal Pokhari in Thamel has drawn attention of the ILO and UN offices in Nepal to the encroachment of traditional lands, including a historical pond and its banks, of indigenous Newa community in Kathmandu’s tourist district of Thamel for construction of Chaya Center business complex. The Campaign has thus called the ILO and the UN to push Nepal’s government for promotion and protection of the rights of the community. more “Campaign to restore archaeological Kamal Pokhari in Thamel urges ILO and UN to protect rights infringed due to construction of Chhaya Center”…
