Nepal’s govt ignores UN experts’ letters concerning alleged violations of indigenous Newar rights in the construction of the Kathmandu-Terai/Madhesh Fast Track Expressway and of the Chhaya Center business complex

On 30 March 2021, UN experts sent a letter to the Government of Nepal regarding alleged violations of the rights of indigenous Newar peoples over their lands, resources and over the loss of religious and cultural sites in the context of the construction of the Terai/Madhesh FastTrack Expressway and the construction of the Chhaya Center business complex in the tourist district of Thamel in Kathmandu.

The Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises; and three Special Rapporteurs on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, on the situation of human rights defenders and on the rights of indigenous peoples of the UN had sent the letter requesting a response from the government. However, the government has disgracefully ignored the letter and not sent any reply even within the period of 60 days as provided in the letter.

The allegation letter is available at the link https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=26282.

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खोकना र बुंगमतीका आदिवासी नेवार समुदायद्वारा काठमाडौं-तराई/मधेस द्रुतमार्ग र अन्य परियोजनाका कारण जोखिममा परेका आफ्ना अधिकार संरक्षण गरिदिन आग्रह गर्दै जेनेभास्थित संयुक्त राष्ट्र संघीय संयन्त्रलाई पत्र

१ डिसेम्बर २०२०, काठमाडौँ 

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।

Joint submission on the human rights situation of indigenous Newar communities made to the UN for the 3rd Universal Periodic Review of Nepal

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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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’.
  4. 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.
  5. 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).
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.

Click here to download the full submission

Campaign to restore archaeological Kamal Pokhari in Thamel urges ILO and UN to protect rights infringed due to construction of Chhaya Center

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”

Report of Nepal’s Indigenous Peoples for Voluntary National Review of Nepal Under the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

The report is prepared collectively by Indigenous Peoples’ Network for SDGs in Nepal to respond to the Voluntary National Review of Nepalese government under the UN High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, 10 – 19 July 2017. The report highlights progress of implementation of the SDGs in the country from the perspective of indigenous peoples. This includes challenges in SDGs implementation as well as recommendations from the network to the Nepalese government with regard to the realization of the SDGs. more “Report of Nepal’s Indigenous Peoples for Voluntary National Review of Nepal Under the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development”

Nepal’s activists submit memo to the UN for implementation of right to multilingual education on Indigenous Peoples Day

Nepal’s indigenous rights activists and educationists have urged the UN to take actions for implementation of the right to multilingual education in a letter of memorandum submitted to the UN country office on Tuesday for the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

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