Kathmandu, November 9, 2005

Over 3,000 people from all walks of like — human rights activists, lawyers, journalists, social workers, teachers, students and NGO activists — today sat in a 12-hour Satyagraha at Baneshwor, demanding total democracy. The event, held with the initiative of several human rights organisations and civil society leaders on the Constitution Day, was meant to press the government to respect the Constitution, restore democracy and guarantee press freedom and human rights. The sit-in began at 6.30 am, with writers, poets and human rights activists addressing the placard and banner-wielding protesters. They hoped that the symbolic sit-in would press the “unconstitutional” government to yield to the Constitution. Many prominent political leaders sat in the Satyagraha for a while to express solidarity with the protesters. Folk singer Rubin Gandharva and poet Arjun Parajuli were among those who spoke on the need to restore democracy. Charan Prasai, the chairman of Human Rights Organisations of Nepal (HURON) thanked the gathering for overwhelming response to the Satyagraha. “It proves that people are not satisfied with the political scenario and they have the courage, commitment and strength to seek restoration of democracy,” he said. Chairman of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, Bishnu Nisthuri, said, “The response to the Satyagraha shows how committed we are to have our demand fulfilled.”

Ignored NGOs fault donors’ way of picking partners

Kathmandu, November 9, 2005

Even as section of office bearers of the National NGO Network Group Against AIDS (NANGAN) have alleged that the donor agencies have ignored representative NGOs fighting against AIDS, the former have defended the way they have chosen the implementing partners. Donors have jointly pledged US $ 14.5 million for the next one year. The fund which has come following the passage of the National HIV Action Plan (NHIVAP) had been pledged by the Department of International Development (DFID), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Global Fund to Fight AIDS (GFATM). “We had pledged funds after a series of meetings which culminated in the passage of the action plan,” said Alex Haper, Head of Operations and Corporate at the DFID. He also dismissed the allegations and said that the selection of implementing partners was guided by the motive to expedite service “to groups most at risk.” However Jagdish Bhatta, Member Secretary, NANGAN, sees it differently. “The problem is they (DFID and others) overlooked organisations working in the area. They created an atmosphere, which was suitable to a section of the people,” he said.