ISHWAR RAUNIYAR KATHMANDU, JULY 15 |
Seventeen different organizations submitted a memorandum on Wednesday to the Ministry of Education asking for legal ban over corporal punishment. The memorandum calls for "prohibition of physical and psychological tortures to the students…teachers found guilty should be punished according to the law." The organisations have launched a campaign to submit a memorandum on the 15th of every month until the government meets their demands. Last month, Rojina Lamichhane and Prashna Sharma, both grade 10 students at Prashanti Siksha Sadan at Kapan, Kathmandu, were beaten up by their principal, and were admitted in Om hospital for treatment. Their crime was that they ate in the 'canteen', which was against the rules. In a similar incident last year, Hittan Ramjali, a grade nine student, was beaten up by three teachers of Tripureshwor Secondary School. He was blamed for leaking the air out of his teacher's cycle. After the beating, he disappeared for 11 days, and was later found dead. Psychologist Ganga Pathak shared one such incident. She said, "A boy was forced to write 'I am a cheater, I am a liar' a hundred times because he didn't do the homework. The boy was depressed for many weeks after that. Most schools in the Valley mete out corporal punishment to students." However, Dr. Bidhyanath Koirala, lecturer at Tribhuvan University, thinks parents are responsible as well for such incidents. He said, "Parents shouldn't use physically hit their children." He said there are two types of such teachers: those who were themselves beaten up when they were young, and those who enjoy such beatings. Koirala also said, "Students are of two types as well: one, who are pampered at home and need to be controlled, and the other who are physically abused at home |
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Call to ban corporal punishment
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Motorcycle theft on the rise
Durkaman Maharjan of Kirtipur had a similar fate; however, his motorcycle was stolen from outside his house on Sunday morning as well.
K.C. and Maharjan were both at the Traffic Police office to file reports. But they are not the only ones. Kathmandu is seeing an increasing number of motorcycle thefts, and according to police records, 132 motorcycles were reported stolen this month. Include the past six months, and 983 motorcycles owners registered cases with the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division. Of the 983, the police have just found 193 motorcycles so far.
"Motorcycle thefts are increasing as people from different parts of the country are coming to the capital," said Bibhuti Raj Pandey, Deputy Superintendent of Police at the Kathmandu Metropolitan Traffic Office.
He also said that much of the youth is unemployed, and this is an easy way to earn some quick bucks.
Traffic Police Inspector Roshan Acharya added, "Motorcycle owners should be careful while parking their vehicles at their homes at night." According to him, most motorcycles are stolen from the premises of the owners.
However, motorcycle owner Ramesh Aryal from Old Baneshwor blames the police for the rise in thefts. He said, "The police has not been mobilised to every part of the city, which has made robbers more confident."
The police also say there are at least 10 to 12 thefts per month from the 28 paid parking spots inside the city. Despite paying a sum of Rs. 5 per hour for two-wheelers, Namraj Dhakal, chief, department of revenue collection at the Kathmandu Metropolitan Office, said, "There are no rules that the parking tender holders have to pay for any thefts." He added, "It is the duty of the police to look after and control these kinds of activities."
Pandey, however, disagrees with Dhakal's statement. He said, "We have been requesting the Metropolitan Office to make an agreement where parking tender holders are responsible for any thefts from the paid parking area. But they have ignored our requests."
There are nearly 334,000 motorcycles registered in Bagmati. There are also nearly 350 motorcycles at the traffic police compound, whose owners have not claimed them. The motorcycles were brought to the office for investigation of theft charges
Rising impunity ticking off citizens
But delve deeper into the tendency, and one finds that it is a culmination of several factors which have collectively become a sort of ‘tipping-point’ for society.
Two factors seem to point towards this trend of increasing mob tendencies: people don't have faith in the administration, or that they don't fear they will get punished.
“This trend has been rapidly increasing for a decade in the absence of justice,” said Gagan Thapa, Constituent Assembly member, said. “There are no cases where people have been punished while becoming involved in criminal acts such as demonstrations or other killings. This has increased the confidence of those who want to commit crime.”
Thapa added, “Political factor is also responsible towards the situation.” Hinting at the recent clash between student wings of two rival parties, he said it's not only about “why the bullet was shot”, but rather the confidence among the groups to “actually fire bullets”.
Human Rights activist Subodh Pyakurel blames the police for not working and political players for making the police weak. He said, “The police are deceiving people by not giving out full information. The police should find out why so many children are being abducted; it's not only for ransom.” According to him, 40% of abductions are for ransom, while the motives of 60% are unclear.
Chief of Metropolitan Police Office, Kathmandu, Navaraj Silwal said, “Impunity is increasing in society due to unemployment and the deprived who feel that it is the best time for revenge.” But, he denies the fact that distrust towards the police has anything to do with it.
He said, “People want to punish the accused themselves, and they feel that arrested culprits will be treated according to the law, which, for others, is sometimes not enough.” Silwal also said that the emotional factor has been high after the murder of Khyati Shrestha.
According to police records, they have been successful in securing the release of the hostage in 27 out of the 29 cases.
Psychologist Ganga Pathak sees the civil war as a factor that led to people being used to hearing news of murder and abduction. She feels political instability is another prominent factor. “The state is in a transitional phase, and the government is not functioning well. This has given space for these kinds of crimes.” She also said that the Nepali people haven't had an ideal political role-model in the past few decades, and “the Maoists coming into the government has also left an impression on society that killing thousands can result in forming the government.”
For civil society, it seems the police must do something to enhance their presence, and must give an impression that crime will be punished. However, Silwal counters this by saying that they have mobilised patrol groups inside the valley regularly. Also, they have been “conducting classes to make students aware about the issue.” Pyakurel has an interesting point; he says, the media sensationalizes such cases, and this has further increased paranoia levels among society.
Friday, January 30, 2009
रिपोर्ट ; सरकार मान्दैन जनता जान्दैन
अधिकांश भुटानी शरणार्थी नेपालकै मानिस हुन् भन्ने थिम्पूका सर्वसाधारणदेखि प्रधानमन्त्रीसम्मको भनाइ विपरीत शरणार्थीका हातहातमा भुटानी नागरिकता र जग्गाको तिरो तिरेको रसिद देखिन्थ्यो। थिम्पू र झापाबाट फर्केर ईश्वर रौनियार ले तयार पारेको रिपोर्ट ईश्वर रौनियार भुटानका नयाँ राजा जिग्मे केशर नामगेल वान्चुकको २० कात्तिक २०६५ मा थिम्पूमा गरिएको राज्यारोहण समारोहपारोस्थित भुटानको एकमात्र विमानस्थलमा र्झ्दा चारैतिर देखिएका सुन्दर पहाड र सेताम्मे हिउँले ढाकिएका हिमालले नेपालमै छु कि भन्ने भान गराइरहेको थियो। औपचारिक प्रक्रिया पुर्याएर हामी राजधानी थिम्पूतिर लाग्यौं। “यहाँ त आन्दोलन, बन्द भएको मलाई थाहा नै छैन”, मलाई नेपाली भनेर चिनेका चालक सिथार छिरिङ्गले यात्राको क्रममा कुराकानीको सुरुआत गर्दै भने, “नेपालमा त धेरै आन्दोलन भएको सुन्छौं र टिभीमा पनि हेर्छौं। साह्रै अचम्म लाग्छ, आन्दोलनमा सार्वजनिक सम्पत्ति तोडफोड गरेको देख्दा। आखिर ती सम्पत्ति नेपालीकै त हुन् नि, होइन र?” बोल्नु केही थिएन, बोलिनँ। “नेपाली मूलका भुटानीहरूलाई यहाँबाट किन खेदिएको?” केहीबेरको मौनतापछि अकस्मात् मैले सोधेको यो प्रश्नले सिथारलाई अप्ठेरो पार्यो। उनलाई जे जानकारी गराइएको थियो त्यही भने, “ती भुटानी थिएनन्, आतङ्ककारी थिए। तिनलाई भुटानको शान्ति मन पर्दैनथ्यो।” यात्रा अवधिभर पूर्वी नेपालका शरणार्थीहरू भुटानी हुन् भनेर मान्न उनी तयार भएनन्। भुटानका नयाँ राजा जिग्मे केशर नामगेल वान्चुकको राज्यारोहणबारे समाचार सङ्कलन गर्न बीबीसी विश्व सेवाका नेपाल सम्वाददाता चार्ल्स ह्याभिल्याण्डसँगै म २० कात्तिक २०६५ मा त्यहाँ पुगेको थिएँ। राजधानी थिम्पू बेहुली जस्तै सिँगारिएको थियो। पुगेकै रात रात्रिभोजमा डिचेन डोल्मा नाम गरेकी एक युवती नजिकिइन् र निकै सहयोगी जस्तो पनि देखिइन्। भोलिपल्ट स्थलगत समाचार सङ्कलनको क्रममा चार्ल्सले “नयाँ राजाका लागि देशका विभिन्न चुनौतीसँगै भुटानी शरणार्थी समस्या समाधान पनि एउटा चुनौती हो” के भनेका थिए, भुटानी साथीहरूको हामीप्रतिको दृष्टिकोणमै परिवर्तन भयो। अघिल्लो दिन नजिकिएकी डिचेन भोलिपल्ट चार्ल्सको नामै सुन्न नचाहने भइन्। फर्कंदासम्म पनि भुटानी साथीहरूको हामीप्रतिको मनोभावनामा परिवर्तन आएन। झापाको गोलधापस्थित भुटानी शरणार्थी शिविर।वास्तविकताको जानकारी नभएका सिथार, डिचेनलगायतका भुटानीहरूबाट व्यक्त प्रतिक्रिया अस्वाभाविक थिएन। सिङ्गो भुटानले शरणार्थी समस्याका बारेमा त्यति नै कुरा थाहा पाएको छ, जति सरकारी मुखपत्र कुन्सेल ले लेख्छ वा सरकारी रेडियो र टेलिभिजनले सुनाउँछन्-देखाउँछन्। बाहिरका सञ्चारमाध्यममा आउने कुरा तिनले पढ्न, सुन्न र बुझन पाएकै हुँदैनन्। नेपाली मूलका भुटानीलाई खेद्न शुरु गरिएको सन् १९९० को दशकदेखि नै भुटानमा न बाहिरी पत्रकारहरूलाई प्रवेश दिइएको थियो, न बाहिरिया सञ्चारमाध्यमसम्म आम भुटानीको पहुँच हुन दिइएको थियो। भुटान बसाइँकै क्रममा भेटिएका एक परराष्ट्र अधिकारीले मलाई सोधे, “आप दूरदर्शन से है?” थिम्पू टेकेदेखि नै मैले यही प्रश्न सुन्दै आएको थिएँ। “होइन, म बीबीसीबाट” हाँस्दै नेपालीमा भनें। “ए, तपाईं नेपाली” भन्दै म नजिकै आएर उनले सोधे, “तपाईंहरूले बीबीसीको रिपोर्टमा पनि उल्लेख गर्नुभएको झ्ापा वरपर बसेका भुटानी शरणार्थी भनाउँदाहरूलाई कसरी हेर्नुहुन्छ?” मैले आफैं त गरिब मुलुक त्यसमाथि शरणार्थी, यो नेपालका लागि ठूलै समस्या बनेको छ भन्ने प्रतिक्रिया जनाउँदै “अब नयाँ राजाले केही त गर्लान् नि” मात्रै के भनेको थिएँ उनले एक्कासि आक्रामक हुँदै भने, “तपार्इंलाई आफ्नै देशका मान्छे पनि समस्या लागे हगि!” “मतलब?” मेरो छोटो प्रश्नको जवाफमा उनले भने, “ती सबै नेपाली हुन्। काम गर्नुपर्दैन, भत्ता पाइन्छ भनेर वरपरका मानिसहरू शिविरभित्र बसेका हुन्। यहाँबाट गएका त बढीमा सय जना पनि छैनन्।” मैले उनीहरू सबैसँग भुटानी नागरिकता छ नि भनेर प्रतिवाद गरेपछि चाहिँ उनी “खोई कहाँबाट ल्याए नागरिकता!” भन्दै तर्किए र अरू प्रश्न सोध्नु अगावै पछि भेटौंला भनेर हिँडे। परराष्ट्र अधिकृतको भनाइ र सिथार, डिचेनलगायतको बुझ्ाइले सोच्न बाध्य पार्यो, के आम भुटानीको बुझाइ पनि यिनकै जस्तो हो। पछि मैले जतिलाई भेटें सबैमा करिब करिब त्यस्तै दृष्टिकोण पाएँ। भनेपछि, के त अब पूर्वी नेपालमा बस्दै आएका भुटानी शरणार्थीहरू कहिल्यै स्वदेश फर्कन पाउँदैनन्? यो प्रश्न हामीले कार्यवाहक प्रधानमन्त्री यसी जिम्बालाई सोध्यौं। उनले भने, “ती सबै भुटानी होइनन्, बढीमा तीन-चार हजार छन्। यदि फर्कन योग्य रहेछन् भने हामी आवश्यक प्रक्रिया पुर्याएर ल्याउँछौं।” त्यहाँ त एक लाख सात हजारको तथ्याङ्क छ नि प्रधानमन्त्रीज्यू भन्ने हाम्रो प्रश्नमा प्रम जिम्बाको जवाफ ती परराष्ट्र अधिकारीको भन्दा फरक थिएन। थिम्पूका सर्वसाधारण हुन् वा उच्चपदस्थ प्रशासनिक अधिकारी तथा राजनीतिक नेता, सबैको जवाफ एउटै पाइयो, “शिविरका अधिकांश नेपाली र केही मात्र वास्तविक भुटानी शरणार्थी हुन्। तिनै पनि खेदिएका होइनन्, स्वेच्छाले देश छोडेर गएका।” डुक्पा मूलका मात्र होइन, थिम्पू र आसपासका नेपाली मूलका भुटानीहरूको पनि शरणार्थीप्रति सद्भाव देखिएन। बरु तिनको भनाइ थियो, “शरणार्थीहरूको आन्दोलनले हाम्रो जीवनमा असर पारेको छ।” भुटानमा बस्दै आएका नेपाली मूलका भुटानीहरूको अवस्थाबारे चालक सिथारले सुनाएको एउटा प्रसङ्ग उल्लेखनीय छ। कोही आफन्त नेपालको शिविरमा भएको थाहा भएपछि १० कक्षामा भुटान प्रथम भएको उनको एउटा साथी सरकारबाट क्लियरेन्स लेटर नपाएर भारतमा छात्रवृत्तिमा पढ्न पाउने अवसरबाट वञ्चित भयो। सिथारको साथीको जस्तो नियति थुप्रै नेपाली मूलका भुटानीहरूले व्यहोर्दै आएको कुन्सेल का सम्पादक किन्ले दोर्जे पनि बताउँछन्। सम्पादक दोर्जे भन्छन्, “नेपालका शिविरहरूबाट सशस्त्र आन्दोलन गर्ने समूहसँग भुटानी सरकार त्रसित रहेकोले शरणार्थीहरूलाई भुटान फर्काउने सम्भावना कम छ।” हामीले सम्प्रेषण गरेको समाचारमा शरणार्थी समस्या उल्लेख भएको कारण भुटानको १० दिने बसाइँको अन्तिम रात कुटौँला झै गरी केही भुटानीले गरेको दुर्व्यवहार व्यहोर्दै हामी लाग्यौं पूर्वी नेपालस्थित शरणार्थी शिविरहरूतर्फ, जहाँको कथा थिम्पूको बुझाइभन्दा ठीक उल्टो थियो। त्यहाँ सबैका हातमा भुटानी नागरिकता र जग्गाको कर तिरेको रसिद थियो। थिएन त केवल भुटान फर्किन पाउने विश्वास।
यसी जिम्बा तेस्रो मुलक जान पाउने भएर रमाएका युवा शरणार्थीहरूले भुटानलाई लगभग बिर्सिसकेका छन्। अमेरिका उड्ने तयारीमा रहेका विष्णु द्यौराली भन्छन्, “हामीले फर्कने आशा मारिसक्यौं। अब राम्रो भविष्यका लागि अमेरिका जाँदैछौं। विश्वास छ त्यहाँ राम्रो हुनेछ।” सँगै जान लागेका उनका ५७ वर्षीय पिता भने अमेरिका प्रस्थानबाट खुशी थिएनन्। उनी भुटान नै फर्किन पाए हुन्थ्यो भन्ने आफ्नो सपना यत्रो वर्षसम्म पनि विपनामा परिणत नभएपछि छोराहरूसँगै अमेरिका जान बाध्य भएका थिए। भन्दै थिए, “के गर्ने, भुटान फर्कन नपाएपछि छोराहरूको भविष्यका लागि त्यतै (अमेरिका) भए पनि जानु पर्यो।” ३० कात्तिकमा हामी भद्रपुर विमानस्थल पुग्दा अमेरिकाका लागि काठमाडौं उड्न तयार द्यौरालीसहित केही शरणार्थीहरू अन्योल र रोदन मिसिएको अनुहारमा आफन्तहरूसँग बिदावारी हुँदैथिए। आफन्तलाई आश्वस्त बनाउन खोजिरहेका बुद्धमणि घिमिरे आफैं रुँदै भन्दैथिए, “भिनाजु, डन्ट वरी! तपाईंहरूको पनि पालो आउँछ। हामी त्यहाँ पुगेर बस्ने व्यवस्था मिलाउँदै गर्छ म पुग्नेवित्तिकै हजुरलाई फोन गर्छु। यता दिदीको राम्रो ख्याल गर्नुहोला।” अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय आप्रवासी सङ्गठन (आई'एम)को प्रयासमा पूर्वी नेपालका सात वटा शिविरमा बसेका भुटानी शरणार्थीलाई तेस्रो मुलुकमा बसोबासको प्रबन्ध मिलाइँदैछ। फागुन २०६४ देखि शुरु भएको तेस्रो मुलुक आप्रवासन कार्यक्रम अन्तर्गत सन् २००८ को अन्त्यसम्ममा आठ हजार भुटानी शरणार्थी अमेरिका, क्यानाडा, नर्वे, अष्ट्रेलिया, डेनमार्क, नेदरल्याण्ड्स, जर्मनीलगायतका मुलुकमा पुगिसकेका छन्। र, जाने क्रम जारी छ। भुटानी शरणार्थी शिविर, गोलधाप, झापामा बस्दै आएको महानन्द लुइँटेलको परिवार ।गोलधाप शिविरमा बसिरहेको महानन्द लुइँटेलको परिवार पनि अरू धेरै भुटानी शरणार्थी परिवार झ्ैं अमेरिका उड्ने पालो पर्खिरहेको छ। लुइँटेलको भनाइ थियो, “तेस्रो मुलुक जानुको विकल्प भएन। बरु त्यता गयौं भने बालबच्चाको भविष्य सुदृढ होला।” तर महानन्दका बा-आमालाई भने सात समुद्रपार जान कत्ति पनि रुचि थिएन। अमेरिका जाँदै हुनुहुन्छ भनेर सोध्न नपाउँदै भक्कानिएकी आमा सुभद्रा लुइँटेल भन्न थालिन्, “जाने मन त कहाँ छ र! यत्तिका वर्षसम्म फर्कन पाइएला कि भनी पालेको झ्िनो आशा उता (अमेरिका) गएपछि त मर्ने नै भयो।” श्रीमतीलाई सम्झ्ाउँदै विद्यापति भन्दैथिए, “नगएर पनि के गर्ने! अरू छोरा, नातिनीहरू गइसके, हजुरबा कहिले आउनुहुन्छ भनेर सधैं फोन गर्छन्। त्यसैले पनि अब त जाने नै निधो गरेका हौं।” शिविरमा तेस्रो मुलुक जाँदै नजाने निर्णय गर्नेहरू पनि छन्। तिनैमध्येका एक हुन्, सङ्ग्राम (सशस्त्र सङ्घर्षमा लागेकाले वास्तविक नाम खुलाउन चाहेनन्)। आफ्नो अस्तित्वका लागि लडिरहेको र सास रहुन्जेल लडिरहने बताउँदै सङ्ग्राम भन्छन्, “हामी लडेरै आफ्नो फिर्तीका लागि भुटान सरकारलाई बाध्य गराउँछौं।”
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Just Few Words
Monday, January 26, 2009
Despair of WWII Gurkha 'widow'
Many Gurkha soldiers gave their lives during WW11
"At first it was so tough. All the time, his image kept dancing in front of my eyes. But now I am trying to adjust, even though my heart doesn't let me."
When her husband departed, they had been married for just one year. Mrs Limbu married when she was 14. She was devoted to her husband and did not marry anyone else after he disappeared.
"Although I didn't have time to get to know him properly, I loved him very much. He is my everything, so how can I marry anyone else?"
Mrs Limbu is now old, nearly 81, and has no children.
She didn't get much time to share and experience things with her husband.
She does not remember every aspect of his behaviour from the short time they had together। But she says he was a loveable and wonderful soldier, who never drank alcohol and never smoked. 
She has visited Indian and British government offices and met many officials from both countries, asking them to clarify her pension position and inform her of the fate of her husband. But they have not given her any response.
Shantamaya Limbu lives in the Sunsari district of eastern Nepal. As she has no children or support for her old age, she is now staying with a male relative.
He has no job, having returned from six years in Korea, and is now planning to go back there to earn more money. She has few other people that she can stay with.
Some months ago she was honoured by the Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen's Organisation (Gaesco).
It celebrates 27 November as Victory Day for Gurkhas because it was when they succeeded in forcing the British government to provide compensation for soldiers who were taken prisoner in Japan.
During the celebrations she was honoured and given some money.Pupils conquer fear of computers
Kamal says his parents were very excited when he told them about the computer and came to watch the very next day.
It was not only Kamal. His computer teacher, Shankar Prajapati, says all the pupils were afraid.
"They all worried they would catch some virus and fall ill or even die. But now they are familiar with computers," he says.
"Even we teachers are gaining knowledge from the E-library. It's really helpful for us, too.
"The students can see science experiments carried out on screen and search for whatever they want in the encyclopaedia."
E-libraries use audio, video and text technology। Their digital "books" cover various topics of the school syllabus, ranging from social science to literature and from mathematics to science. 
I also visited a much more remote school where the E-library project has just been set up. Villagers and students carried the computers up and down the steep hills and valleys to the Shree Koldung Devi secondary school, nearly two hours' walk from the main road.
Before this, anyone wanting access to computers or sizeable shops would have to walk two hours and drive two more, so the system has proved highly significant for local pupils. Most of the places where E-libraries have been set up so far are in the hills.
Sudarshan Shrestha, information and marketing director for Save the Children-Norway, says the system has been very helpful but notes that there are challenges.
He says students tend to get only about two hours' access per week "because there are not more than 10 computers for several hundred students".
For the library, Save The Children-Norway has developed awareness materials on subjects such as children's rights and child abuses.
Roshendra Dhoj Khadka of Help Nepal Network is very optimistic about the E-library project.
"I believe this information and communication technology project is essential. It may not be a basic requirement, but it's a tool to uplift the health and education sectors. And we're taking it forward. I hope we'll be able to cover all 75 districts some day."
So far it has reached six.