Kathmandu, December 15:

American Diversity Visa Victims’ Association today decided to begin fresh protest programmes against the American Diversity Visa System starting tomorrow.

DV victims have decided to launch their second phase of protest programmes during their first general assembly today. They are alleging that the American Embassy has not fulfiled the promise made eight months back to review the cases of those whose DV visas were rejected by the American Embassy in the past years.

Ghanshyam Basyal, American Diversity Visa Victims’ Association’s ex-president, said: “We are holding a protest rally tomorrow from our office in Baluwatar and gherao the American Embassy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.” He said that new protest programmes would be announced shortly, determining the exact framework of protest programmes.

“The American Embassy has intermittently cheated us, said Basyal,” adding: “Firstly, they rejected our visas baselessly, later on when we held various protest programmes for justice, the then ambassador James F Moriarty promised to review our cases, but almost eight months have passed without any positive indication.”

DV victims had started their first phase of protest programmes from October 2006, alleging that the embassy baselessly rejected their visa applications after making them spend huge amount of money. They organised a sit-in out side the embassy for two months, 24-hours relay hunger strike for 105 days and fast-unto-death from April 9 to 16.

After the American Embassy in April 16 assured to review their cases, all protest programmes were called off.

DV victims have been demanding closure of the Diversity Visa system in Nepal, necessary compensation from the American Embassy to all the DV victims and end to interference of the United States in Nepal.